Ciudad Perdida

16/04/11  The Lost City.  We've just spent 5 days treking throughout the Colombian rain forest in Parque Nacional Tayrona.  The purpose was to visit the site of an old Tayrona City, but just experiencing the rain forest was epic.

Generally it was incredibly hot and humid and it rained most afternoons.  On Day 1 we left a little late and were caught up in torrential rain - like on film sets.  We marched on through the mud and rivers like a scene out of Platoon.  Hardcore!

Up...

...Down... All the way.  Steep and sweaty!

Luckily the river was cold and when we had time we swam.  When we didn't have time we waded through the rapids, trying not to drop the camera or break our toes on the rocks.

We had a guide (Omar) with us, full of all the classic useful info (like the fern tattoo).  He was neccessary to negotiate and keep us safe from the bad guys.  The trip was quite pricey, but it turns out wads of cash went to paying off the farmers, native Tayronas, Government Military and the Paramilitary.  We didn't fund the FARC though. 
Ps. Colombian men love to walk round with their bellies out, John is still working on that one.

Each night we stayed in camps with roofs for rain and basic facilities.  Always on the river with a natural swimming pool and high dive rock to jump off :)

We had a cook (Jason) who stuffed us, made us hot chocolate in the morning and showed us the best rocks to jump off into the river.

We slept in Hammocks.

 Had some good folk in our group too :)

Who cares about leaf cutter ants?  Have you seen the size of that spider?! Mosquitos, mosquitos, mosquitos...

1 of 100.

The indigenous Tayronas seem to pretty much live an un-touched life in their Parque Nacional.  They have there own language, worship the sun and the moon and have Shamans to connect to the spiritual world. Their ancestors were the original inhabitants of the Ciudad Perdida, but they haven't built anything on that scale since. 

They wear only white and are tiny! (Although these two are actually kids.)

Mules.  Can carry up to 4 Graces each!

Morning jungle :)

On the afternoon of day 3 we set off up the thousand-something stairs up to the Ciudad.  Crazy like the Incas.

The Colombian government have left the site largely unrestored, worried that by removing the trees they may loose most of it to land slides.  It gives the place a spooky and undiscovered aura.

 Spooky.

There's a map.

An old overgrown Shaman hut.

And a sweet spot for an infinity pool ;)

Ciudad Perdida.

Group shot!  Seriously, smile (and nod, and do anything they ask!)