Day 88-89 - Ciudad Perdida

The Lost City is accessed by a 40 km hike and 1200 steps. It is made up of 169 circular terraces, where straw huts once stood, and series of paths connecting them. It is believed to be the largest and most sacred city of the Tayrona people, who abandoned the city during the Spanish conquests. Unlike most of the indigenous cultures, the Tayronans living at the Ciudad Perdida were not conquered by the Spanish. In fact, the city wasn't "discovered" until 1972 when treasure looters stumbled upon it.

Now it only has a few inhabitants, Kogi ancestors of the Tayrona people. According to the online encyclopedia, it is in an area that "is currently in the geographic center of a war between the Colombian army, right-wing paramilitary groups (AUC) and left-wing guerilla groups like Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN) and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). On September 15, 2003, ELN kidnapped 8 foreign tourists that were visiting Ciudad Perdida, demanding government investigation of human rights abuses in exchange for their hostages. ELN released the last of the hostages three months later. The AUC has declared itself protector of this area." I'm glad I read that after the hike. =)