So this is my last photo from the ‘Ciudad Perdida’ trek, the rain kept coming down hard and the rivers swelled even more making the crossings harder and harder.
My camera broke (Canon G10) very dissapointed, I’ve only had it just over a year, apparently a really big problem with canon compacts the lens gets stuck out and fails to retract (should have gone with the Panasonic - LX5).
On the biggest river crossing one guy got swept away, fortunately dragged out of the river further downstream by another member of our group. As the water kept rising we were pulled across the river in a steel frame cage.
The last day of the trek involved lots of very deep wet mud, well over my boots at times - a beer had never tasted so good as at this finish line!
Rather bedraggled photo of myself in the ‘Lost City’ - shame the weather wasn’t any better for photos, however the cloud/mist certainly made the city seem more remote/lost.
Getting really wet, good job my boots spit out the water!
Lost City in the Mist
There are 169 terraces, upon which houses used to stand, it is believed to have once housed 2000 to 8000 people, the terraces also act as a burrial ground which the grave robbers pillaged upon its discovery on 1972.
Day 4 revealled around 1200 steps up through the jungle, this was my first glimps of the ‘Lost City’.
I think there were 18 river crossings in total, time for very wet feet, on day three the weather changed… apparently this region has 4000mm of rain a year, it showed. Clothes wouldn’t even dry overnight, horrible having to put wet clothes on in the morning! However felt surprisingly good, our group were great, really nice guys!
Koguis Indians - all the children dress the same, apparently the boys carry bags and the girls wear necklaces…
We met quite a few children who were very friendly (wanting sweets) cutest kids we saw were taking the smallest pigglet I have ever seen for a walk on a lead!
So the first two days were pretty easy going, only the heat took its toll on the long slogs uphill. First propper treck in my Alt Berg Jungle boots, wearing in well!
Our first night was spent in Hammocks, I slept far better than expected! Food was pretty good aswell…
“We advise against all but essential to travel to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, including the ‘Lost City’. Armed groups are still active in this area, there is extensive cultivation of illegal drugs and the risk of kidnap remains high. While tour organisers may assure you that the trek to the ‘Lost City’ is safe, we do not believe it to be so. Armed groups are still active in parts of the Sierra Nevada, there is extensive cultivation of illegal drugs and the risk of kidnap remains high. Only visit beach areas and resorts you are reliably advised are safe and should not venture inland as illegal armed groups are active and drugs are grown and processed in the area.” (British Foreign Office Advice)
Well we went anyway… Checked out many different countries travel advice and all the sensible countries (e.g. NZ & AUS) didn’t have a problem only the uptight ones!
This photo is of the Kougis housing that we passed on day two.
