8th January 2025

We woke rested and feeling better after yesterdays travel day. Even early in the morning the heat was making its presence known. Despite being the warmest climate we had been exposed to, interestingly Santa Marta had the lowest UV index, due to the thinning of the ozone in Patagonia and the high altitude we had been in since then.

While getting changed, I noticed my shorts were missing, not returned from the washing we had done in Cusco. If I needed shorts anywhere, it was here. We wondered into town looking for shops but found only beach, food establishments and souvenirs shops. Suffocated by the heat and humidity, and unsuccessful in our shorts-search we took refuge in Vívolo Café, where we had some of the best coffee we’ve had on this trip so far. We then got a Uber to the shopping mall where we walked away successful with a pair of shorts and a large bounty of snacks for our upcoming four day hike to the Lost City. We were both anxious about this Trek, it’s not as well walked or documented as the Salkantay or O Circuit and the research we had stumbled upon was very inconsistent.

In the evening we watched a hazy sunset by the docks (pictured) before continuing on to the main square in Santa Marta where live music echoed. We ate at Ouzo, the fanciest place we had eaten at since coming to South America and the food did not disappoint. We sat outside under trees with branches that dipped downwards and then levelled off, adorned with fairy lights, enjoying live music from street performers.

With full, satisfied stomachs we wandered back to the hostel to ready ourselves for the unknown adventure of tomorrow.