One Week in Colombia, Curated by Marine Humeau

Stop 1: Ciudad Perdida

If you want to properly disconnect (and challenge yourself), start here. The three-day, roughly 45km trek to Ciudad Perdida (the “Lost City,” also known as Teyuna) is physically demanding, humid, messy, and completely worth it. Days are spent hiking (for around 10 hours each day) through dense jungle, crossing rivers, and climbing steep stone paths with almost no distractions besides your own thoughts. There’s no luxury here, and that’s exactly the appeal.

The journey begins with a 4am departure from Santa Marta followed by a three-hour drive before the trek even starts. Over the next few days, expect long hikes through relentless humidity, basic jungle accommodations, and very little signal. Accommodation throughout the trek is simple but completely sufficient: clean shared shelters, early dinners around 6pm, single beds with mosquito nets, and no private rooms. But comfort isn’t really the point. What you get instead are real conversations, shared effort, and a sense of connection with the people around you that feels increasingly rare while traveling.

The highlight comes on day two: the climb up the 1,200 stone steps leading to Teyuna. Leave camp before sunrise if you can. Reaching the terraces before the crowds transforms the experience entirely. At the end of the journey, you’re rewarded with a blissful feeling that’s a mix of physical exhaustion and total mental clarity.

Ciudad Perdida 101

• Guide to Book: You need a guide for this trek. We used and loved Expotur. • What to Pack: Quick-dry everything, trail shoes, and as little as possible. My Salomon trail shoes and Osprey backpack were essential. • Insider Tip: Some guides can arrange overnight stays closer to the terraces, which is worth asking about in advance.

Finca Boutique El Diamante · Medellín

Stop 2: Finca El Diamante

After Ciudad Perdida, a stay at Finca El Diamante feels like exhaling. Set in the hills outside Medellín, the finca is owned by a Franco-Colombian couple and has the kind of atmosphere that makes you instantly slow down. Mornings at the understated boutique hideaway begin with coffee and mountain air, afternoons drift between hammocks and the pool, and dinners stretch late into the evening. It’s warm without trying too hard, the kind of place where everything feels shared and deeply personal. Rooms are spacious and simple, with warm interiors and incredibly comfortable beds.

The food is one of the highlights of the stay: homemade croissants in the morning, comforting Colombian meals at night, and endless fresh fruit throughout the day. While lounging is always encouraged, there are many things to do here as well. You can horseback ride through the coffee plantations, visit El Techo del Mundo (a mountaintop viewpoint) at sunset, or do a three-hour coffee tasting and plantation tour (El Diamante roasts its own coffee—and it’s amazing!)

Stop 3: Cartagena

Cartagena hits immediately: the heat, the music, the colors, the humidity in the air. After the calm of the mountains, the city feels vibrant and alive. One minute you’re walking through crowded streets lined with colonial facades, the next you’re stepping into a quiet courtyard hidden behind heavy wooden doors. The best way to experience Cartagena is slowly. Stay somewhere inside the old town and spend your days wandering without much of a plan. Move between shaded streets, cafés, churches, bars, and long lunches.

My Cartagena Shortlist:

• Coffee: Café La Manchuria for a great pour-over. • Cocktails: El Barón, which has inventive drinks and a great bar atmosphere. The “Yang Long,” with corn and tortilla notes, is a must-try. • Dinner: Celele in the local-feeling neighborhood of Getsemaní for an exciting tasting menu. • Culture: Walk by the Torre del Reloj, explore the fortifications and the streets, and don’t miss San Pedro Claver Church. • Hotel: Sofitel Santa Clara, a 17th-century convent–turned hotel with a great courtyard. Also great mojitos and live music. • Beach Escape: The Rosario Islands or Barú. Sabai Beach Hotel is a lovely beachfront stay with white sand, mangroves, an infinity pool, and a slow pace that feels worlds away from the city.