FAQ | Expotur

Frequently Asked Questions

Below you will find sections, the answers to the most common frequently asked questions that national and foreign tourists have, regarding Tours to Ciudad Perdida, Punta Gallinas, Cabo de la Vela, Tayrona Park and Minca.

For additional information you can write to our official mailbox: info@expotur-eco.com

What should I take to the Lost City Trek?

For the Lost City Trek you should take a small or medium backpack with your personal stuff as clothes, toiletries, insect repellent, a bottle of water (1 liter) and flashlight. Remember to pack light as you have to carry your own backpack during the entire trek. It is important to take boots or trekking shoes, comfortable clothes for the day and long sleeve shirts and pants for sleeping. (See Recommendations on the tour description).

What should I take with me for the tour to Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela?

For Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela tours you should take a light backpack with your personal items as clothes, toiletries, insect repellent, water (2 liter per day). It is important to take sports shoes, comfortable clothes for the day and long sleeve clothes for sleeping. (See Recommendations in the description of the tour).

Which date do the tours start?

The tour to Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela can start every day whether there is a group of minimum four (4) people interested in doing it.

What days does the Lost City Trek leave?

The Lost City tour departs every day from the city of Santa Marta. In Expotur we organize the groups and dispatch it daily in order to supply the high demand of travelers interested in visiting this wonderful destination.

If I do not have a small backpack. What should I do?

As much as possible, you should get a small backpack to carry your essential belongings for the trek. If you do not have a small backpack, you can buy one in the city center for a good price. We recommend that you contact us at the office to be able to help you so you can buy it in advance and you can avoid to delay the departure time.

Can I take photos during the tours?

Is it possible to take pictures during the Lost City Trek?

You can take pictures of the landscapes during the Lost City Trek. It is possible to take pictures of the members of the indigenous communities, but you should ask for their permission.

Can I take photos during the tour to Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela?

You can take photos of the different places of interest during the tours. It is possible to take photos of the indigenous (Wayuu) but you must have their permission first.

Which vaccine should I have to go to Punta Gallinas?

There is no vaccine required, however, we recommend you to have yellow fever vaccine.

Where can I store my luggage?

For the Lost City Trek, Punta Gallinas or Cabo de la Vela, you only need a backpack with the things that we recommend you to bring, you can leave your main luggage in our office of Santa Marta (for the Lost City Trek) or in our office of Riohacha (for the Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela tour) where it will be safe while you are enjoying the tour.

Which vaccine should I have to go to the Lost City?

There is no vaccine required, however, we recommend you to have yellow fever vaccine and tetanus vaccine.

What is the schedule for departure and return?

We pick you up from your accommodation between 8:00 am and 9:00 am

If you arrive by your own you must be at 9:00 am at the Expotur office for the registration process.
The departure of the tour is between 9:00 am and 9:30 am from Expotur office.
The return to Santa Marta city is between 4:00 and 6:00 pm we take you to your accommodation in Santa Marta, Taganga or El Rodadero.

What is the schedule for departure and return to Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela tours?

We pick you up at your accommodation in Riohacha between 8:00 am and 8:30 am. The returning time is around (In normal circumstances) 4:00 pm to Riohacha.

Do I need to bring my sleeping bag?

No, you do not need to bring your sleeping bag because in each of the camps along the route blankets are provided. However, if you consider it very necessary, you can bring your own sleeping bag, but remember that the things you carry in your backpack affect the weight of it and your comfort during walks. The idea is that you avoid carrying extra weight.

In Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela, hammocks are available.

What are the weather conditions in the area?

What are the weather conditions in the Lost City?

The area where the Lost City trek takes place has a hot and humid weather; the lowest temperatures are around 16 ° C overnight.

What are the weather conditions in the Lost City?

It is warm during the day; the temperature can be around 40°C as it is a deserted zone. It is cool at night; the temperature at night is around 20°C with fresh breeze.

Can I spend a night at the Lost City?

No. By direction of the Colombian authorities (National Army, National Parks Unit and the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History, ICANH), overnight is prohibited in protected sites, in order to ensure traveler safety and respect to sacred sites of indigenous peoples. The permanence of the travelers at the Lost City will be temporary, fitted the preset itinerary.

Can I stay in a private room?

Can I stay in a private room in the Ciudad Perdida Tour?

No. The lodging along the route to the Lost City is provided by locals and the camps do not have private rooms.

Can I stay in a private room in the Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela tour?

The tours include accommodation in chinchorros (wider hammocks) in shared rooms; nevertheless it is possible to have a private room with beds for an additional price, depending on the availability.

Do I need to bring my sleeping bag?

In Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela, hammocks are available.

Where will we sleep during the Tour?

Where will we sleep during the Tour to the Lost City?

During the Lost City Trek you will stay in different cabins owned by locals (indigenous and farmers). There is accommodation in hammocks, beds and / or tents (tents), depending on availability; we always provide blankets and mosquito nets at night.

Where will we sleep during the Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela tour?

During the tours, you will sleep at “Rancherías”, typical houses built by Wayuu people. The accommodation is in chinchorros (wider hammocks).

What type of car will transport us?

What type of car will transport us to the Lost City?

For the Lost City trek we provide 4WD vehicles to transport traveller from Santa Marta to the starting point of trek (El Mamey) and then back.

What type of car will transport us to Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela?

For Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela tours we have comfortable 4 wheel drive (4WD) vehicles to transport travelers during the entire tour. The transport can change into boats, depending of weather conditions.

Where does the car leave from?

From where does depart the vehicle to Lost City?

The vehicle with the groups of travellers departs from the main Expotur office located at Carrera 3 # 17-27 Local 3 Edificio Rex in the historic center of the city of Santa Marta.

From where does depart the vehicle to Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela?

The car leaves from your accommodation place in Riohacha.

Can I get any special menu during the tours?

Can I get any special menu during the tour to Ciudad Perdida?

Yes. If you have any special requirements or preference for foods that you can eat, you must communicate at Expotur office to organize everything about your food preferences; however, we cannot offer anything extraordinary out of chef’s capacity in the camps.

Can I get any special menu during the tour to Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela?

Yes, you can. If you have any particular food requirement, as vegetarian or allergies, you should communicate to Expotur in order to organize your meals. Nevertheless we cannot offer you any extraordinary meal out of the plan.

What kind of food is offered during the tours?

What kind of food is offered during the tour to the Lost City?

During the tour to Ciudad Perdida we offer a varied menu with typical preparations of the region. We include fruits, bread, eggs, coffee, chocolate, rice, beans, meat, chicken, soup, pasta.

What kind of food is offered during the tour to Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela?

During the tours we offer a varied menu with typical preparations of the region such as fish, chicken, creole goat.

Are there restaurants in the Lost City?

There is a restaurant at the starting point of the trek (El Mamey), here we will have lunch first and last day.

At the camps you can buy some things like soft drinks (sodas), water, beer and snacks.

What other languages do the guides speak?

Who will be our guide during the tour to Ciudad Perdida?

They will be guides – drivers from the region, trained by SENA (National Learning System), so they are enabled to provide wide cultural, historical and anthropological information.

Who will be our guide during the tour to Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela?

All our tours are guided by local people with great experience in the area, and with a great sensitivity to the natural environments and respect to the communities and travelers.

Who will be our guide during the tours?

What other languages do the Lost City guides speak?

We work with guides are from the region, so they speak Spanish. Expotur has 3 guides who are in the process of learning English, so they speak intermediate level. Nevertheless as guides take turns to do the tour they are not always available. Expotur organizes tours with translator service, which are subject to availability.

What other languages do the Punta Gallinas guides speak?

We work with guides – drivers from the region, so they speak Spanish, some of them speak local indigenous languages (Wayùu).

What physical conditions do I need to do these tours?

What physical conditions do I need to do the Ciudad Perdida Tour?

Keep in mind that this is one of the most important treks in Colombia, so it requires physical effort. If you exercise regularly this tour will be a great experience for you, also if your activity is not constant, depending on the itinerary you will have shorter walks with sufficient rest periods. Not recommended for children under 13 years old and adults over 70 years.

What physical conditions do I need to do the tour to Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela?

For these tours you must be in good health. Not suitable for people with motor disabilities by not having service for them. Not recommended for children under 8 years old and adults over 70 years.

What is included in the travel insurance?

The travel insurance include illness or accident, transportation from the place of event to the hospital by car or helicopter (in cases of total immobility) if it is necessary.

In case of emergency, what should I do?

Normally there are not many emergencies during the tours; nevertheless in those cases, you must communicate to your guide, they are trained to manage those situations.

Do I need to take my passport for the tours?

Do I need to take my passport for the tour to Ciudad Perdida?

It is not necessary to take your passport. A photocopy of your passport will be enough for the tour, so you avoid the risk of it get damaged or lost during the tour.

Do I need to take my passport for the tour to Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela?

It is not necessary to take your passport. A photocopy of your passport will be enough for the tours, so you avoid the risk of it get damaged or lost during the tours.