An Honest Review of the Lost City Trek
The Realities Behind One of South America's Must-Do Hikes
¡Hola, Buenas!
I had a four-day holiday earlier this week. I decided to spend it doing the Lost City Trek near Santa Marta, as I'd heard it was one of the must-do hikes in South America. I was eager to dive into this adventure, but my experience was quite different from what I had anticipated. Here's my honest review of the hike.
The Hike
The hike itself was a mixed experience. Our group consisted of 11 people, making accommodating everyone's needs and preferences challenging. This led to a fast-paced journey that felt underwhelming as I learned a little about the surrounding nature. Despite the region being rich with rivers and waterfalls, we didn't have time to explore these beautiful spots.
Our guides were fantastic and very knowledgeable, and I greatly respect them. However, their primary goal was to ensure everyone's safety by getting us from point A to point B, limiting our ability to benefit from their insights. This made the journey less enjoyable, as truly immersing in nature and learning about it is very important to me. They mentioned that doing the trek in a private group could offer a more personalized experience.
The Interactions With Indigenous
While the interactions with the indigenous people were respectful and interesting, they lacked depth. They showcased their activities, but there was little explanation behind them. For example, they mentioned closing the trek for a month each year to "clean the energy" but didn't elaborate further when asked. I wanted to be more immersed in their rituals—seeing them chew coca leaves every day, why not offer us a chance to participate? These small touches would significantly enhance the immersion. They are very spiritual, but I couldn't connect with that aspect because it was presented as "this is very important to us spiritually" without further explanation.
Reflecting on this, I wonder if this situation is similar to what happens in some regions in Brazil. An article from Unicamp discusses the paradoxes of tourism commercialization and its effects on local cultures. It raises the question of whether Indigenous experiences are being tailored to meet tourist expectations rather than presenting their authentic cultural practices. This makes me ponder whether a similar dynamic occurred during the Lost City Trek.
The Lost City
The Lost City itself is breathtaking. It offers a captivating sense of ancient history. With its terraces and stone paths, the city feels like a step back in time, allowing visitors to imagine what life might have been like for the indigenous people who built it centuries ago. We spent about three hours there, walking around and learning about it, which was plenty of time. Our guide team explained everything we wanted about the Lost City and were very honest about the uncertainties, saying, "No one knows what this was made for, but we have some theories".
One of the most memorable parts of the trek was meeting the Mamo, the spiritual leader of the Kogi tribe. He lives in the Lost City and is so significant that he is featured on the 50,000 pesos bill. We were lucky to meet him. He offered bracelets he makes to bless and protect from nature's hazards, and you could pay whatever you wanted. This encounter stood out as a highlight of the journey. He blessed us individually with the bracelets, and when he gave me an extra one without explanation, it made me feel extraordinary. It was a small but deeply personal gesture that added a sense of connection and meaning to the whole experience.
Overall, the Lost City Trek has the potential to be an iconic adventure. I wouldn't recommend it to those seeking deeper meaning or a rich cultural experience. Still, it could be a great fit for those looking to challenge themselves physically and capture some stunning photos at the end.
Ultimately, the only way to know if you'll enjoy an experience is to try it yourself.
Shoutout to my new friends Uffe, Joseph, Yu Ai, Papaya, Louis, Bo, Edna, David, Emma, and Darah. Thanks for the laughs and sharing this hike with me.
Shoutout to Antonio, Pilar, Pecho and Fernando. Thanks for taking great care of us.
Thanks for reading,
Nomad Phil