Ciudad Perdida

Ciudad Perdida, meaning "Lost City," is an ancient Tairona settlement built around 800 CE in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains of Colombia. It is regarded as one of the largest known pre-Columbian cities in South America. It is comprised of over 200 terraces carved into the mountainside.

The site remained unknown to the outside world until 1972, when local guaqueros (treasure hunters) stumbled upon it while following ancient stone pathways. Archaeologists from the Colombian Institute of Anthropology began excavating the terraces a few years later. It is significantly older than the more famous Inca ruins of Machu Picchu.

The only way to reach the ruins is by hiking a strenuous 27-mile (44 km) trek through dense jungle, usually taking four to six days round trip. Travelers must cross the Buritaca River multiple times and sleep in indigenous camps along the way. The trek requires an authorized guided tour to enter the protected area.

The city was constructed by the Tairona civilization, an advanced society known for its goldwork and architectural terracing. The settlement was completely abandoned during the Spanish conquest in the 16th century. Today, the indigenous Kogi, Arhuaco, and Wiwa peoples consider the site sacred.