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Each of our treks opens a unique window into the ancestral world of the Tayrona. Choose the experience that calls to you.
Bunkuany Ruins (Light - 1 Days)
Day hike to the Bunkuany archaeological site near Tayrona Park. Includes river crossing, waterfall, lunch, and return transport. 4–5 hours hiking, +300 m elevation — ideal for first-time trekkers.
From 550,000 COP per person
The 1-day Bunkuany light trek was perfect for us. We only had one free day and it was absolutely worth it. The ruins feel magical and the guide explained everything with real passion. A hidden gem near Santa Marta.
Sophie T.
03/01/2024
Incredible day adventure. We hiked through dense jungle and arrived at ruins that looked completely untouched by tourism. Kevin was fantastic, full of knowledge about the Tayrona civilization.
Marc D.
15/03/2024
Do not miss this if you are near Santa Marta. The 1-day format is very accessible even for non-hikers. Beautiful trail, fascinating history and a truly authentic experience away from the tourist crowds.
Elena R.
22/04/2024
Best day of our entire Colombia trip. The ruins of Bunkuany are extraordinary and the guide made us feel like real explorers. The light trek is perfectly paced, not too difficult and incredibly rewarding.
James W.
07/06/2024
We came as a family with two teenagers and everyone loved it. The 1-day trek gives just enough jungle and history to leave you wanting more. Guides were patient, funny and incredibly knowledgeable.
Camille B.
18/08/2024
Ancestral Ruins Bunkuany (2 Days)
Two-day overnight hike to the Bunkuany ruins with two stunning waterfalls, optional beehive tour, and all meals included. 6–8 hours hiking, +400 m elevation.
From 800,000 COP per person
The 2-day Bunkuany trek was a highlight of our Colombia trip. Spending the night in the jungle under the stars is something I will never forget. The ruins the next morning felt like a private discovery.
Thomas L.
10/02/2024
Absolutely extraordinary. Two days walking ancestral paths, learning about the Tayrona people and sleeping in the jungle. The guides share stories around the campfire that give you goosebumps.
Isabelle F.
25/03/2024
The 2-day format gave us time to really slow down and absorb the experience. The approach through the forest felt genuinely sacred. One of the best travel decisions I have ever made.
David M.
14/05/2024
We did the 2-day trek and it surpassed all expectations. The camp was comfortable, the food amazing, and waking up in the Sierra Nevada jungle is an experience unlike anything else.
Lucie V.
30/06/2024
Small group of 6 people, very personal experience. Adrian told us stories about his ancestors that completely changed how I see the history of Colombia. The ruins are spectacular.
Pieter K.
05/09/2024
Ancestral Ruins & Native Village (3 Days)
Three-day immersive journey: permaculture farm stay, Bunkuany ruins, waterfalls, and a night inside a Kogi village. All meals and transport included. 8–10 hours hiking, +600 m elevation.
From 1,170,000 COP per person
The 3-day trek including the Kogi village stay was life-changing. Meeting the indigenous community and hearing their vision of the world puts everything in perspective. A profound and humbling experience.
Clara H.
08/01/2024
Three days in the Sierra Nevada with Ancestral Hike was the best decision of my trip. The ruins, the Kogi village and the incredible biodiversity combined into something I cannot put into words.
Antoine G.
20/02/2024
The village stay on day two was extraordinary. The Kogi elder spoke to us about their relationship with nature and the cosmos. It felt like a privilege to be there. Everything was handled with great respect.
Maria S.
12/04/2024
If you have three days, do this trek. The combination of archaeological ruins, jungle camping and indigenous cultural immersion is absolutely unique. Kevin and Oscar are outstanding guides.
Romain P.
28/05/2024
I came as a solo traveler and joined a small group of four people. The intimacy of the group and the depth of the experience created real bonds between us all. The Kogi village was the absolute highlight.
Nadia C.
15/07/2024
Cerro Kennedy Trek (2 Days)
Rise above the clouds on a 2-day guided trek to 3,100 metres in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Stargazing at 2,450 m, a magical sunrise over snow-capped peaks, encounters with mountain farming communities, and panoramic views stretching from Palomino beach to the Caribbean Sea.
From 800,000 COP per person
The Lost City trek was without a doubt the most incredible experience of our six months in South America. Four days of pure jungle, river crossings up to our waists, and then 1,200 steps appearing through the mist. Arriving at Teyuna at sunrise was genuinely emotional. Oscar guided us the whole way.
Lucas & Marion
05/01/2024
I was nervous about the difficulty but the guides paced everything perfectly. The hammock camps were surprisingly comfortable and the food was amazing. Day three when we reached the Lost City terraces I actually cried. Ancestral Hike made everything feel personal and safe.
Charlotte P.
18/03/2024
We chose Ancestral Hike because they are local guides, not a big agency. Adrian knew the Kogi families along the trail by name. Swimming in the river after a long day of hiking was the best feeling. The Lost City itself is breathtaking.
Daniel & Sofie
02/06/2024
Five days completely disconnected from the world. No phone, no wifi, just jungle sounds and the rhythm of walking. I did this trek solo and joined a group of six. By the end we felt like family. Teyuna at dawn is something I will carry with me forever.
Emma V.
14/08/2024
After doing Machu Picchu I thought nothing could compare. I was wrong. The Lost City trek is harder, wilder, and far more authentic. No crowds, no ticket queues. Angel and his horses carried our heavy bags so we could enjoy the walk. Absolutely life-changing.
Mathieu R.
29/10/2024
Native Village & Tayrona Secluded Beach (2 Days)
Coastal adventure inside Tayrona Park: boat to secluded Playa Cinto, snorkeling on coral reefs, ecological jungle hike, and a night in a Kogi community. 6–8 hours hiking.
From 850,000 COP per person
The Tayrona and Kogi Village 2-day trek combined everything I love about travel. Jungle hike, boat to a secluded beach, indigenous cultural exchange and incredible food. An unforgettable combination.
Hugo B.
03/03/2024
This trek is unique because you finish at the coast of Tayrona Park. Walking from the jungle to the Caribbean beach felt surreal. The Kogi village stop in between made it a deeply meaningful journey.
Fiona M.
19/04/2024
An extraordinary 2-day adventure combining the cultural richness of a Kogi village with the natural beauty of Tayrona Park. The guides were exceptional and the logistics were perfect throughout.
Sebastien A.
08/06/2024
The alternative Tayrona route with the village stay was absolutely unforgettable. We learned about Kogi cosmology and traditional weaving, then walked onto a white sand beach. A reward from the universe.
Rachel T.
22/07/2024
Best two days in all of South America. Ancestral culture, lush jungle and Tayrona coastline — unbeatable. Angel and his horses made the trek feel effortless and joyful.
Julien N.
10/10/2024
2 Days Waterfall – Chocolate Factory
Two-day jungle escape: ancestral cacao & chocolate-making workshop, hidden waterfalls, private jungle cabin, evening bonfire, and guided birdwatching near Tayrona Park.
From 350,000 COP per person
The waterfall and chocolate making trek was a complete surprise. I booked it on a whim and it became one of the most joyful and relaxing experiences of my entire Colombia trip. Making chocolate from scratch in the jungle — incredible.
Leonie D.
14/02/2024
We did the waterfall trek as a couple looking for something relaxed and fun. The swimming under the cascade was amazing and the cacao workshop was genuinely fascinating. Everything was perfectly organised.
Paul V.
31/03/2024
Such a unique combination. Morning hike through jungle to a stunning waterfall, afternoon learning how local farmers process cacao into chocolate. We left with handmade bars and the biggest smiles.
Nina W.
05/05/2024
The chocolate making workshop alone is worth the trip. Learning the entire process from cacao pod to finished bar while surrounded by jungle sounds was genuinely magical. The waterfall beforehand was stunning too.
Carlos M.
17/06/2024
Perfect for families wanting a lighter outdoor experience with real cultural depth. My kids absolutely loved making chocolate and the waterfall was breathtaking. Guides were warm, funny and wonderfully patient.
Amelia J.
29/08/2024
Meet your guides
Behind every great trek is a team that knows the trails by heart and the stories by soul. These are the people who will walk beside you through the Sierra Nevada — each one with their own path that led them here.
Oscar
Senior Trek Guide
Oscar was born in a small village at the foot of the Sierra Nevada. As a child he would follow his grandfather along mountain trails, learning the names of every bird and plant they passed. At sixteen he began guiding his first hikers — nervous tourists from Bogotá who had never seen a jungle waterfall. Twenty years and over 500 expeditions later, Oscar still gets the same spark in his eyes every time a traveler sees the Bunkuany ruins for the first time. He says the mountains chose him, not the other way around. When he is not on the trail he grows coffee with his family and teaches his daughter the same paths his grandfather showed him.
Adrian
Trek Guide & Cultural Bridge
Adrian grew up between Normandy and Santa Marta, spending summers in Colombia with his wife and daughter. This double life gave him something rare — the ability to feel equally at home in both worlds. After studying in Caen he came back to the Sierra Nevada and realized that the stories the Kogi elders told him as a child deserved to be heard far beyond the mountains. He speaks French, Spanish and English with equal warmth and has a gift for making strangers feel like old friends within the first hour of a trek. He built Ancestral Hike not as a business but as a bridge between cultures.
Andres
Trek Guide & Naturalist
Andres discovered his passion for biology on a school trip to Tayrona Park when he was twelve. A teacher pointed at a hummingbird and said its name, and from that moment Kevin wanted to know the name of every living thing in the Sierra Nevada. He studied environmental science in Barranquilla, then returned home to combine his academic knowledge with the ancestral plant wisdom the Kogi had shared with his family for generations. On the trail he carries a small notebook where he sketches the orchids and insects he encounters. Hikers love him because he turns a jungle walk into a masterclass in biodiversity without ever making it feel like a lecture.
Gabo
Translator & Cultural Companion
Gabo was born in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, into the Wiwa people, one of the four indigenous nations descended from the ancient Tayrona civilization. From childhood he learned to read the mountain the way others read books — its rivers, its silences, its seasons — guided by the Mamos, the spiritual authorities of his community. While many of his generation left for the cities, Gabo chose to stay and deepen his knowledge of the ancestral law. He now dedicates his life to sharing the worldview of the Elder Brothers, the name his people use for themselves as guardians of nature and balance. For him, every hike is less a walk and more an invitation — a chance to remind the Younger Brothers, the rest of humanity, that the mountain is alive and still has much to teach.
Angel
Horse Keeper & Trail Veteran
Angel has spent his entire life in the mountains. His father kept horses, his grandfather kept horses, and now Angel keeps the tradition alive on the ancestral trails of the Sierra Nevada. He knows every river crossing, every shortcut, every rock where a horse might slip and every clearing where they can rest in the shade. His animals are more than transport — he treats each one like family, speaks to them softly in the morning and rewards them with panela at the end of every expedition. Hikers often say Angel is the quietest member of the team but somehow the most reassuring presence on the trail. When asked about his favorite part of the job he always gives the same answer — the silence of the jungle at sunrise.
Zulema
Operations & Guest Experience
Zulema is the first voice travelers hear when they book and the last smile they see when they leave Santa Marta. Born and raised in the city, she brings an organized mind and a warm heart to every logistical detail — from coordinating transport schedules to making sure dietary requirements reach the camp kitchen on time. She studied hospitality management and worked in hotels before joining Ancestral Hike, where she found a team that shared her belief that great service means making people feel genuinely cared for, not just processed. She handles last-minute changes with grace, answers WhatsApp messages at all hours, and somehow always remembers returning travelers by name. She says her secret is simple — she treats every guest the way she would want to be treated in a foreign country.
Why Choose Ancestral Hike?
We are not a travel agency. We are a community of local guides rooted in the Sierra Nevada, offering something no outside operator can — a real connection to the land, its people and its stories.
Premium Service
Discover the enchanting world of the Tayrona indigenous people with our premium hiking service. Our experienced guides will lead you on an unforgettable trek through the stunning Tayrona area, taking you deep into the heart of native villages. Immerse yourself in the rich culture and traditions of these ancient people and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Authentic Experience
Embark on an authentic and unique adventure with our hiking agency, as we take you on a trek through the beautiful Sierra Nevada, stopping to visit the traditional villages of the indigenous people who call this region home. With a maximum of 8 persons per group, you will truly enjoy the accessibility of our guides and local communities.
Meet Your Expectations
Choose between one of the many hiking options available. Feel free to contact our customer service to chat about the different routes and pick the one that will suit you the best. Each of them offers slightly different features and level of difficulty.
No Extra Fee
This is an all inclusive tour. There is no hidden cost and we will not try to promote products to buy on the way. If you want to support local native communities afterward we will gladly put you in contact with them at the end of the tour.
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