A mere 42km from the Caribbean coast, the world’s largest coastal mountain range towers above its surrounds, reaching its zenith at the 5775m Pico Cristóbal Colón, Colombia’s highest peak, within the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta national park. Established in 1964, the sanctuary is unique in both its natural and cultural attractions. Few places on the planet are home to such diverse ecosystems: tropical dry forests, rainforests, plains, and snow-covered peaks. A number of indigenous communities reside in the area, including the descendants of the native people who established Ciudad Perdida (The Lost City). This spectacular archaeological site is the cradle of an ancient Indian civilisation, and is believed to have been established in 800AD, more than half a century earlier than Machu Picchu.