La Expedición Nativa - Sierra Nevada (3 Días Awesomes View Points)

This was an amazing experience that exceeded our expectations. It had everything from magnificent views of the Sierra Nevada clouds, dense jungle forest and natural waterfalls. This was the highlight of our vacation to Colombia. We were accompanied by our Guide Reynel, who grew up and lives in these mountains and knows everything there is to see. We also were accompanied by a translator / Guide named Ade who brought great energy with her. Reynell and Ade both had great humour, were very warm and high in energy. We stayed at local houses and were the only ones on the trails as they are mostly used by the locals living there. Also the food was very good, and we even got a tour through a fruit and coffee garden tasting there is (Reynel’s free supermarket. At first we were looking do a lost city trekking, but we chose this instead because it seemed more authentic. It exceeded our expectations on all counts. This is a 10 out of 10 trekking without a doubt, and special thanks to Pinche Carnalito, Reynel’s characterful dog that accompanied us halfway theough the trekking :)

My experience in Colombia will stay with me forever. Accompanied by my guide Leo, I had the incredible opportunity to explore and hike to the summits of Cerro Kennedy, wander through the breathtaking valleys of the Sierra Nevada, and discover stunning waterfalls along the way. Throughout the trek, I met local farmers who take care of the fincas hidden in the mountains. I tasted their fresh juices, authentic food, the best coffee in the world, and, above all, experienced their incredible hospitality and rich culture. The landscapes are absolutely breathtaking — so much so that I already dream of returning one day. This trek is a true adventure and a real challenge: long hours of hiking, often in wet conditions, on trails known only by locals. But that’s exactly what makes the experience so special and unforgettable. I chose the 3-day option, and honestly, I should have done the 4-day trek because I loved every single moment. Leo is an outstanding guide — extremely knowledgeable, passionate about nature, and deeply connected to his region. He is friendly, professional, and adapts perfectly to his clients. I highly recommend this expedition. If you decide to embark on this adventure with Leo, you will not regret it.

Absolutely incredible experience! From the very first moment, this trek was nothing short of amazing. We’ve never been on such an authentic and well-guided trek before. We did the four-day trek, and our guide, Leo, was funny, friendly, and incredibly knowledgeable. He guided us through the jungle while teaching us so much about the nature, animals, and people living there. We stayed at beautiful local farms and met some truly wonderful people along the way. If you’re ever in Colombia, you MUST try this trek, it’s an unforgettable experience!

We had the most wonderful three days with Leo in the mountains. It was quite simply the best hike ever. We experienced different habitats, saw howler monkeys and just loved the kindness and opportunity to spend time with families in the mountains. We had complete trust in Leo. The mules are never far away with your kit and in case you are struggling. Our top tips would be that this is tough and you do need to be physically fit. The first day is a long hike before lunch at 1pm so go with a good litre of water and maybe some electrolytes and enough energy snacks to keep you going for 6 hours. We had good boots and poles and were grateful for our decent kit. Ask the families to put your boots near the stoves to dry out as they will get wet. It is cold at night at the top so take a base layer or two. Also he says flip flops but we would suggest thick socks and crocs/slippers/sliders type thing. Also your pack will go on the mule so we wished we had a tiny daysack each or bum bag to carry our water and snacks. It it a tough three days but it is quite simply the most wonderful experience you will ever have. There is plenty of food on the trip and the accommodation is simple but clean and charming.

Amazing experience!! It's the best hiking I have done in my life. Given the sharp geography you can experience all temperatures, vegetation and landscape. The Sierra Nevada offers this unique change within few hours, just amazing. I made a tour for around 450 dollars, the price here seems to be bigger. Better if you contact them and ask directly

My girlfriend and I both did treks in the jungle before (Peru and Suriname) and have been on many hikes in the mountains, but we were absolutely impressed by this trek put together by Leo. Getting up early and ascending thousand of meters is more than worth the spectacular views you are rewarded with. Each little house you stay at for lunch or dinner is charming, with great food provided by the families that live there. We also loved the animals at each farm, we befriended so many dogs! Specific shout-out to Copito, who did not make it easy at first but earned a place in our hearts during the trek! For us Leo was the perfect guide. He knew the answer to all of our questions and taught us many extra things. He was not only very knowledgeable and good company, he also knew perfectly went to give us a moment to ourselves. He was also a great translator allowing us to communicate with the locals. Our highlights: the stay and views at Lenin's place (first night) and the sunrise of the last morning "palace of clouds", giving you an astonishing above the clouds view. Tip: if for the last day Leo proposes to get up at 4 am to look at the stars and hike up 200 meters at 5am to find a better spot for the sunrise, do it, you can thank us later.

We went on the 3-day-hiking tour with Leo - it was a wonderful and unforgettable experience. The tour was perfectly organized. The stops at the various fincas for meals or to stay for the night were all charming, the hosts very welcoming, open people, the food very tasty. Our favourite was „The palace of the clouds“ with a spectacular sunrise the next morning. Leo is a patient, sensitive and knowledgeable guide. He let us all the time we needed for occasional rests or admiring the nature, he pointed out interesting animals or plants on the way and didn’t let a question unanswered. He even spotted a beautiful Quetzal-bird. The hike was demanding for us, but totally worth the effort. Thumbs up from Doris and Martin.

My partner and I try to do hiking trips whenever we travel, and I I can say that what Leo and his farmer partners are putting together out in Santa Marta is something extremely special. We traveled from Cartagena specifically to do this trip, and we're so glad we did -- it was the highlight of our time in Colombia. This is a tough 3-day hike. Don't let the distances fool you, Day 1 and Day 2 are no joke. But you'll be rewarded with spectacular views, great wildlife, warm people, and a journey way, way off the beaten path. Leo is a joy to spend the days with and helps keep things interesting with his encyclopedic knowledge of the local flora and fauna. Some tips: Bring something warm to sleep in. The farm stays are comfortable, but it can still get cold up in the mountains. Would also recommend bringing a life straw or filter water bottle -- the main source of water along the way are mountain streams (which look perfectly clean, but we didn't want to risk it). If you have any questions, Leo was super communicative by Whatsapp. If you like to hike, don't miss this one.

This is the best trek that I have ever been on. The scenery the whole way was incredible, passing through different environments constantly. Every place I slept had everything you could need and all the hosts were extremely kind and enjoyable to be around. The different creatures and animals you will see along the walk are like none you will have ever seen before. My guide Leo was incredible, very knowledgeable on everything in the areas we walked and was a great hiking partner to guide you. The whole trek you are secluded from the rest of the world, and this create the perfect environment for the walk. The whole experience was perfect, highly recommend this to anyone who is up for a tough but rewarding challenge.

Lenin and Leo have created an amazingly unique experience, and Marga our translator kept things light & fun! Truly a magical 3 days trekking through uninhabited indigenous jungle and cloud forest, followed by comfortable private rooms with welcoming local families. Be ready for an adventure, and a challenging journey, but also for the tranquility and invigoration in sharing this beautiful piece of Colombia. My wife and I feel luck to have found this tour, and have no regrets besides not wearing long sleeve shirts and pants (the insects are very friendly!).

This hike was fantastic! Highly recommended to experience the rainforest and meet some local people. I will remember this trip for the rest of my life. Leo is an excellent guide, friendly and kind, with loads of knowledge about the local flora and fauna. The forest is stunning, intertwining green life everywhere. The various folks whose farms we stayed at were very warm and welcoming. And it was a treat to meet several Wigwa on the trail and see their villages. If you want to do something a bit different, make time for this hike in your visit to northern Colombia. I went for the 3 day Sierra Nevada Experience. I'm an experienced hiker, I live in East Tennessee and visit the Smokies and various parks in the area and happily hike 10-12 miles in a day. 14 or a little over on a good day. Also backpack once or twice a year for a few days. This trek stretched my abilities. The terrain is steep and hard going and those km's are long! Though mostly in the shady forest there are some areas exposed to the hot sun. On the last part of the last day you hit the "Macho Killer" -- a steep 1 km vertical over 5 km hike out of the valley. I needed help w my bag (thank you Leo!) and I wasn't traveling v heavy. But wow, what a hike! The 3 day is the same route as the 4 day and I thought I'd save time but would recommend taking 4 days if you can. The extra time spent at the Cloud Palace farm will not disappoint! Such a beautiful farm and garden on a steep ridge overlooking the valley. Señors Antonio and Lenin are really cool. A couple of recommendations: wear some light long-sleeve clothing in bed to keep mosquitoes away & take a lightweight water filter for water from the streams that you'll want to drink. 100 % recommend this hike or anything else with this company. Well worth the time and money to experience local cultures and ecology.

One of the most memorable tours we’ve ever done. To see Colombia from this side was nothing but a blessing. The tour was filled with beauty, amazement and wonder. The tour guide was extremely helpful and patient with us and gave a much information about the surroundings of animals we encountered. We feel very lucky to have experienced this and cannot wait to continue hiking in future after having such a wonderful experience the first time. To anyone doubting about this tour, we can fully recommend it, the Sierra Nevada is something to see in your lifetime!

Leo is an amazing and fun guide. This was a great authentic insight into the nature and culture of the Sierra Nevada and its people.

If you are looking for a pure and true rainforest adventure, look no further - this tour is the one for you. I had an unexpected change in vacation plans and decided to book this trip the NIGHT before, and my guide Leo was very accommodating and had an amazing attitude despite my rude last-minute booking. Haha. We saw countless birds (including toucans, macaws, and parrots), a mountain crab, a tarantula hawk attack, and even howler monkeys. Leo was very knowledgeable of all the species. The beautiful scenery was just as abundant as the wildlife, as was the friendliness and hospitality of the families we stayed with. I would recommend this tour to anyone in decent hiking shape wanting an unforgettable Colombian experience. I certainly will be back someday!

We did the trip in June 2022. It was a tough hike (do not underestimate it!) but Leo is an awesome guide who supports you and does everything to help you. In this way, you can still enjoy the difficult parts and views, which are indeed AWESOME. We didn't meet any other people, except for the farmers where we slept. They were extremely hospitable, served tasteful food and it was great to spend some time with them. Leo is knowledgeable about the nature and animals in Sierra Nevada and shares a lot of interesting information while hiking. If you are in good shape and would like to do an off the beaten path hike in Sierra Nevada, i can definitely recommend this one. Bring good walking gear, as some paths go through dense jungle and creeks.

I did the 3 day / 2 night trek with Leo in July, im travelling solo and there were no other bookers so it turned into a private tour. I booked as an alternative to the busy ‘lost city’ trek with its uncomfortable campsites & facilities. Other than the farmers we stayed with, we didn’t meet any other people on the way so it was a real ‘off the beaten track’ activity. I can honestly say this was one of the most challenging, enjoyable and rewarding things I have every done. The heat & humidity make the going pretty tough, as do the narrow paths / steep slopes and bugs. However the incredible views, meeting the local farmers & the sense of accomplishment make it all worthwhile. Leo is an excellent guide with a sharp eye for spotting the various creatures that we encountered along the way. He was able to explain in fluent English all about the various plants, animals, eco systems & cultural practices, whilst ensuring we arrived safely at each destination. I would absolutely recommend this trek & the guide services of Leo to anybody visiting the area, especially if you want to get away from the crowds and truly experience the beauty of this region. Thank you Leo for a great trip !

We spent 3 days hiking in the mountains and jungles above Santa Marta with Leo from Native Expeditions. The nature was stunning and the remoteness and pure nature was a joy. Staying with local farmers each night at their homes was a highlight of this hike. Hearing about their lifestyle, seeing how they live etc was incredible. They were so friendly and welcoming The meals were basic, but very flavorful, and we loved each meal we got. I truly wish we could have spent more time with these families. A few things to point out for future travelers considering this trip: 1) It is a tough hike. Some days were long. You need to be in shape for this. Train prior! Do NOT underestimate the physical challenge. The "trail" is almost non existent in places. 2) The sun can be brutal, it gets warm! 3) Bring a small gift or thing to share with the local farmers, we wish we had brought more. 4) We did the 3 day trip / 2 nights. This seemed like a good balance. It may have been nicer to have had a "relaxing day" if you have the schedule to allow for it. 5) You will see some bugs, mosquitoes, ticks, etc. Prep accordingly. 6) Pack light!

Leo was an amazing guide - both knowledgeable and inclusive. He translated for us and taught us many things along the trail. I’d highly recommend this tour!

We are a danish couple who wanted to experience the Colombia nature and culture. This trekking tour indeed gave us what we expected and even more. Our trip with Native Expedition was a once in a life time experience! We experienced the most amazing and beautiful nature, the sweetest Colombian families and a tough physical trekking! 😃🙌🏾 Leo picked us up at our hostel in Santa Marta early morning and together we drove half an hour out of the city with taxa. Here we where meet by three guys and their motorcycles which where going to take us an hour further into the jungle through small roads. The rest you have to experience yourself! 😃. Don’t hessitate to book this trip! Next time we will go for the 4-day trekking ☝🏾😄👍🏾.

Leo was our guide and it was an incredible experience, the farm houses we stayed in were very clean and the food was great. The views were incredible & I would highly recommend anybody thinking of this hike!!!

The rest of the reviews are true. This is an amazing experience and you will not be around any other tourists. The hike was challenging but worth it. The views are spectacular. The host families on the farm are incredibly welcoming. They take you in as a friend, not a guest. We had mules for the challenging part to carry our backpacks which was great. It is a true experience not a touristy thing. Book a hike you won’t regret it.

Plus points: - amazing scenery - most beautiful sunrises - friendly guide (who speaks good English) and knows a lot about the forest - apart from the hosts, no people. You can really zone out. - diverse environment - you really get to know the locals and how they live Possible disadvantages (if you care): - long motorcycle ride to starting point/from end point - not really something to do in the evenings (obviously) - the walks are demanding (but not extreme)

Think carefully before going on this tour. I lived in Colombia from 2015-2016 and returned on holiday in 2017 and 2019 so I've visited most touristy locations. This was no doubt the biggest waste of time and money in my total 14 months in the country. Primarily when undergoing these events you need to feel safe and looked after. I felt neither so left after a day. I don't know why the other review was raving about the food. I know good Colombian food and lunch on the first day was the same standard as the usual "corriente" slop you can get in any restaurant for 8000 COP. Dinner was worse (mashed potato, scrambled egg and 3 thin slices of chorizo). Feel free to contact me if you want a blow by blow account. If I save someone cash I've done my job. (yomisalami@hotmail.com)

My girlfriend and I did the 3 day views hike in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, and we couldn't have imagined how truly amazing it was. The views were incredible and pictures don't do it justice. While the hiking is strenuous, every step was worth it. We went through a variety of terrains and elevations, which kept things interesting throughout the hike. We did not come across anyone else while hiking, and we really appreciated how it was off the beaten path. It turned out to be one of the most authentic and least touristy trips of our life. For the two nights we we stayed with local farmers in the mountains. They are very nice and generous people. They made us feel at home and we got to experience some interesting conversations with them. We even learned how to milk a cow. The food and drinks are also delicious and plentiful. Highly recommend the sugar cane tea! Our guide, Leo, is incredibly knowledgeable with the routes we were taking, the history of the locals and surrounding area, as well as the flora and fauna (especially the birds.) His English is good and while we knew some (very little) Spanish, he did a great job filling the gap and translating for us. I was sick on the first day of the trek which made hiking even more difficult, but Leo made sure I was staying hydrated and did well adapting to the situation. He even ended up finding a horse for me to ride from one of the local farmers so that I could get a break. This trek was truly was an adventure of a lifetime. It was a humbling and a truly unique experience like none other. We cannot wait to come back to Colombia so we can do another adventure with Leo and Native Expeditions. -Anthony & Emily

We went for 4 days with Léo in the mountains of the Sierra Nevada. It was a simply incredible experience! We walked through the tropical forest, in the middle of breathtaking landscapes, we swam in the waterfalls and above all we met wonderful families who welcomed us into their homes in extraordinary places. Léo is a passionate guide, with whom we not only learned about this Sierra and the people who live there but also spent some very good times talking and laughing. I recommend this tour without hesitation. We had an experience that will remain etched forever. Mathis x Inès

Recommended activity that perfectly combines all the assets of the region. It is an unforgettable journey through jungle, past indigenous tribes, through farms and plantations, past giant waterfalls and beautiful vistas. No other tourist seen along the way, really unique! Leo will give you passionate explanations about all fauna and flora in excellent English. This made the trip extra interesting. We have seen so many critters, both in the jungle and in the evenings on the farms. The walks themselves were sometimes challenging, but brought us to unseen beautiful places. After some suffering, it's so beautiful. The welcome at our places of stay was always cordial and warm with delicious local meals. Without great luxury but with everything needed to have a comfortable night. In summary, a unique, authentic experience that we will not soon forget!

It is an adventure to go to the Sierra Nevada which is the highest coastal mountain in the world. The coffee grown in the mountains is the “Castilla” variety, which predominates in the region due to its resistance to rust (pests or diseases) and also because it allows coffee farms to benefit economically, among others. allows it to be sustainable and friendly with nature. This farm is looking for a better international positioning, which is why it has been called “special coffee.” It is a brutal experience.

walk about 35 km, The road is difficult but it is worth it with magnificent landscapes in the middle of lush vegetation, visiting waterfalls, etc. Well organized, very well received and installed on the two peasant farms. I was able to see the indigenous community called Wimake. But not the lost city, the only thing I needed was to know the lost city walks about 35 km, The road is difficult but it is worth it with magnificent landscapes surrounded by lush vegetation, visiting waterfalls, etc. Well organized, very well received and installed on the two peasant farms. I was able to see the indigenous community called Wimake. But not the lost city, all I needed was to know the lost city

An impressive and spectacular tour we experienced with Leo. The three days were perfectly organized and extremely impressive. Far away from the hustle and bustle of tourists we hiked through the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta. Discovered the diverse plant and animal world about which Leo was able to give us competent information. We stayed at the farmer's house in the middle of the jungle far from any civilization in spectacular locations. We enjoyed beautiful sunrises and sunsets with a view of the highest mountains in Colombia. The hikes are challenging and good fitness is required. We would definitely do the tour again.

Challenging hike through the jungle with breathtaking viewpoints and ascents. Away from the tourist hustle and bustle - we didn't see any other tourists during the three days. We stay with families who have welcomed us incredibly warmly. A very impressive experience! Contact with Leo was very easy and good. Our guide Reynel knew the region very well as he is from there and did everything to make us feel comfortable. Thank you!

Excellent view, unique world, pleasant climate, and totally natural. I invite you to know such a beautiful place.

We did the Wildlife experience with Leo for 3 days in various areas of the Sierra de Santa Marta. It was everything we expected. We walked a lot (we love walking and demanding trails) and saw a lot of birds, insects, monkeys... In addition to appreciating wonderful waterfalls, meeting small coffee producers, and life in the mountains. It was touching and exciting.

I join the many positive reviews about Native Expeditions, Leo Guide and this trek. It was truly a unique and exceptional experience. The description given corresponds well to reality. Leo is very professional and 100% reliable. He knows the fauna and flora well, especially birds. It is indeed a private tour as indicated, and we did not meet any (other) tourists.. which is a real luxury these days. The inhabitants of the farms are very welcoming, friendly, warm and interesting. The food is simple but very good. There is no road or any other way than that of the trek so the food comes almost exclusively from the farm. The accommodation is "poco rustico" but comfortable - I slept very well. There are toilets and showers. I confirm that a good physical condition is necessary to make the trek without mules. There's not much food. The landscapes, waterfalls, nature in general and the different types of forests are beautiful, as described in the other opinions. Very good experience then. I do not understand the person who wrote a negative review - probably a casting error.