Lost City trek: which operator, and is the fifth day worth it?

Operator or agency: what the difference means in practice

The Lost City may only be guided by licensed operators that hold agreements with the indigenous communities and the ICANH authority. Expotur, Magic Tour, Turcol and Baquianos are among them; they have their own guides, their own offices and decades of experience. Agencies such as Econnection Colombia, To'Buru or Impulse Travel resell their treks, often with their own transport, English-speaking support before the start and a more careful inclusions list.

On the trail you rarely notice the difference: you walk with an operator's guide, sleep in the same camps and eat the same food. You notice it before and after – with questions, changes, pickup and the question of who is responsible if something goes wrong. If you want the shortest chain, book direct; if you value pickup rules, insurance and clear commitments, you will find them more readily with the agencies.

The seven products one by one

Expotur (USD 760, 4 days, up to 16). The operator with the most reviews on the platform, 9:30 am start at its own office, suitcases stay there or are forwarded to El Mamey, drop-off as far as Palomino. Against it: the sloppy list – entrance fee, transport and insurance are missing, help with luggage is excluded. Children from 13, up to age 80.

Baquianos (USD 580, 4 days, up to 12). Lowest list price and the smallest group among the operators, park fee and private vehicle in the list, children from 8. English “or a translator with the guide”, four dinners for three nights in the list – ask. Up to age 70.

Magic Tour (USD 750, 4 days, up to 15). Second-most reviews, translator, insurance and community contribution per the description, mule bookable. But: no refund on cancellation, breakfast on day one excluded, itinerary in Spanish only, level “high”. Ages 18 to 65.

Turcol (USD 720, 4 days, up to 16). Long-established operator, guide also in French, cabins with beds – but an inclusions list naming only “four lunches” and an itinerary in which days 2 and 3 are identical. Three reviews. We show it with a caveat.

Econnection (USD 595, 4 days, up to 15). The most complete list in the comparison: entrance fee, accident insurance, community contribution, luggage storage, kilometres per day, pickup across the urban area, Minca free as start or end point. Interpreter “upon request”, manual confirmation, booking cut-off the evening before. From age 12, up to 75.

To'Buru (USD 650, 4 days, up to 4). The smallest group, all fees included, donation to social projects. Caveat: the itinerary ends in Palomino, the pickup note names Santa Marta; manual confirmation, booking cut-off two days before, eight reviews. Ages 16 to 60.

Impulse Travel (USD 1,312, 5 days, up to 8). The only five-day version: one more night at Camp 1, return split in two, entrance fee and pickup in the list. Caveat: outdated PCR test note in the text, day 5 names the wrong camp, confirmation only final after 48 hours. From age 13.

4 or 5 days: what the fifth day gives you

The Lost City is visited on day 3 whether you book four or five days. The fifth day changes only the return: instead of six to seven hours from Camp 2 to El Mamey in one go, groups walk four hours to Camp 1, spend the afternoon by the river and walk the remaining two to three hours out the next morning. That is kinder to knees, to children, to anyone who does not see the trek as a feat – and on the platform, with Impulse, it costs almost double. A three-day trek that some agencies advertise does not currently exist on Viator as a product of its own; it only makes sense for very fast groups anyway.

The products side by side

Prices per person, as of 25 September 2026. Group: maximum group size per the platform.

Questions about choosing an operator

Sources and check status