A civilization lost to time. Ciudad Perdida. Spanish for “The Lost City”. The name alone stirs up many images in our minds of exploration and adventure, but the name of this site refers to the remains of a once thriving culture that is now more than 1,200 years old and is spread across 7,400 acres of dense tropical forest.

Built high in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of Northern Colombia, Ciudad Perdida—a lost city older than Machu Picchu—is a marvel of pre-Columbian architecture. Perched atop terraces, this UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserve attracts thousands of tourists each year. Visiting Ciudad Perdida involves a 17-mile trek through tropical forests, mountains, and rivers. It’s an experience of a lifetime—and a journey not for the faint of heart.

Ciudad Perdida is located in Northern Colombia’s Sierra Nevada Mountains. Photo courtesy of US Embassy Bogotá.

Ciudad Perdida was founded around 800 CE and predates the Aztec empire. It was built by the indigenous Tayrona civilization, but was abandoned a century later for unknown reasons. The city remained hidden until it was rediscovered in 1975 by local looters and grave robbers who stumbled upon the site while looking for a tomb; they then looted anything that seemed valuable to them. Archaeologists soon arrived on the scene and excavations began, revealing an extensive network of terraces and roads leading to this archeological site.

On May 6, 2022, Global Heritage Fund had the honor of escorting the United States Ambassador to Colombia on a visit to Ciudad Perdida, where our Director of Latin America Programs, Santiago Giraldo, guided the Ambassador and his team through all the site has to offer. “I am excited to visit this magical ‘Lost City’ for the first time and learn about its unique and sacred meaning” Ambassador Philip S. Goldberg said. 

The Ambassador met with the local communities and the leaders of El Mamey, and he emphasized his appreciation for the relationship between the United States and Colombian governments.

Photos courtesy of US Embassy Bogotá

As part of our preservation efforts, we work with the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History (ICANH) to document, scan, and map the unique vernacular structures of Ciudad Perdida using state-of-the-art LiDAR technology that will allow people to visit the park virtually and will help prevent the looting of Ciudad Perdida’s cultural assets. Thanks to the support of the US Embassy Bogota, we are able to use this cutting-edge technology to protect this Lost City and its rich and diverse heritage.