Wildlife on the Lost City Trek: A Complete Guide

Wildlife Guide to the Trail to the Lost City

Expotur
April 16, 2026

imagen de animales del camino a ciudad perdida

Recognized as one of the world’s most important biosphere reserves, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is home to unparalleled natural wealth. The following article provides a detailed inventory of the native wildlife found along the trail to Teyuna (Lost City), offering key information for responsible wildlife viewing and the conservation of species along the route.

Introduction to the Guide to Wildlife Seen During the Trek to the Lost City

The road leading to the Teyuna – Lost City Archaeological Park follows the Buritaca River toward the highlands of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, passing through farmland, tropical rainforests, and cloud forests. The forests, streams, and rivers along the way teem with life, including more than 200 species of birds and 16 different species of frogs. At night, stealthy predators such as pumas and jaguars lurk in the forests, while during the day the trails are illuminated by swarms of yellow and orange butterflies.

Importance of the Guide

This guide was designed so that when you decide to visit Ciudad Perdida, you can be on the lookout for, identify, and enjoy some of the hundreds of species that can be found there. The mammals, birds, frogs, and butterflies included in this guide were selected for their striking colors, beauty, or rarity and, most importantly, because you have a good chance of seeing them. This guide also aims to encourage reflection on biodiversity conservation.

To date, scientists have recorded 13 endemic species in the watershed species found only in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and nowhere else on the planet as well as 11 other species classified as threatened or near threatened, whose survival depends exclusively on the forests that shelter this mountainous region. By visiting this wildlife refuge, you will be supporting an economic alternative to clearing forests for agriculture, thereby protecting biodiversity. We hope you find this guide very useful, and that your journey to Lost City Teyuna a is enriched by the wildlife you’ll encounter along the way.