We did not expect to love Minca as much as we did. It came at exactly the right time, a little oasis up in the mountains after a few too many beach days in Northern Colombia. We wouldn’t suggest sticking around Santa Marta for too long, though it does have its perks - scuba diving, an airport, and access to even more gorgeous beaches to the north. But we can say Minca is hundo p worth it if you’re in the area.

QUICK AND DIRTY

IN A SENTENCE?

Super chill place to relax in the mountains for a few days.

WORTH IT?

Would recommend.

HOW LONG?

A day or two or more depending on how much TLC you need.

OUR FAVORITE?

The hostels (and that’s a first for us).

OUR LEAST FAVORITE?

You essentially have to go to Santa Marta first to get here.

RECOMMENDED DAILY BUDGET?

120,000 PESOS PER PAIR

LOCATION?

The mountains about an hour south of Santa Marta.

Minca

What to Do

10:00 Catch a ride in a lorry (15,000 - 20,000 pesos per pair)

Collectivos head up to Minca from Santa Marta fairly frequently from the corner of Calle 11 and Carrera 12. The fair is supposedly 7,500 pesos per person. Because we were staying out of town, we had the hostel call one for us for 10,000 pesos a ticket, plus the benefit of luggage storage while we were gone (remember to bring a swimsuit and something warm to Minca!). We stayed at The Dreamer’s Hostel the night before after hearing a lot of hype. If you’re like us, save your money: it’s not worth it. It was a party hostel on the outskirts of Santa Marta. We totally get it if you’re in the mood for a fun night out, but why not enjoy the beach or the city or the people as well. There are plenty of other hostels to choose from in Santa Marta. Or, skip staying the night all together and head straight to Minca.

11:00 Cool off at Pozo Azul (0 - 15,000 pesos per pair)

Minca is a lovely respite from the scorching sun on much of the Caribbean coast. When you get into town, make a beeline for Pozo Azul, a pretty little waterfall with a pool you can swim in. It’s absolutely free and you can walk there in under an hour. It’s also possible to catch a ride on a moto (bargain for under 10,000 per moto).

2:00 Grab a cheap lunch (15,000 - 20,000 pesos per pair)

After walking back to town, you’ll be in the mood for some nosh. We heard good things about Fat Cat, but to be honest, it looked a bit underwhelming and over priced. Minca has some good local spots where you can get decent set meals. Save your money for tastier food to come. Humble little Yukiyu cafe worked just fine for us.

3:00 Go for a hike to a Coffee Farm (0 - 30,000 pesos per pair)

Here’s the thing: Minca is located in the mountains. Once you get there, you’ll see a ton of tourist maps which will orient you better, but basically the town is in the lower range and all the good views and hostels are up higher. We absolutely refused to hire a moto, but took the opportunity to save some money and trek up the hill. We also left our big bags in Santa Marta - if you want to make this walk, that’s absolutely essential. Most of the time will be on a dirt road. Once you get to Victoria Coffee Farm, if they’re open, you can have a cup of their coffee and maybe even try a craft beer (15,000 pesos) from the new brewery there. If not, snooping around is fun too. The walk will take a few hours, so plan accordingly and bring water

6:00 Check into a Hammock at Casa Viejas (20,000 - 60,000 pesos per pair)

After La Victoria, there’s a shortcut up through their coffee farm to the lovliest little hostel. Just ask for “Casa Viejas” when you get there. This is the final destination of your hike, and well worth it. Instead of renting a bed, why not slip into a hammock (10,000 pesos a night)? They’re cheap and the hostel will give you enough blankets to make you nice and toasty. Also, because it’s cool at nighttime in Minca, they’re not a miserable sweaty mess like they can sometimes be.

8:00 Enjoy the View - with Craft Beer and Organic Food (26,000 - 100,000 pesos per pair)

In the evening time, Casa Viejas offers tasty group meals (about 13,000 pesos a person). It sounded like they were all veg, but hearty enough. The owners are French, so it’s a nice change from the large amount of fishy and meaty Colombian fare you’ve undoubtedly had thus far. There’s also some of that local craft beer if you missed the brewery on the way up. And spectacular views. They’ll likely put on a fire if you ask. In the morning, they also have fresh breakfasts (between 6,000 and 20,000 for a plate)

10:00 Hike up to Los Pinos (0 pesos per pair)

The next day, walk a little farther up the mountain to a grove of pines with a spectacular view all the way down to Santa Marta. Fun fact, if you have a tent, you can camp here for something like 5,000 pesos a spot. Some people got rather lost on this walk. We had no trouble and found that there were signs at all the forks in the road. However, ask the hostel for directions before you go and keep an eye on that map.

11:00 Stop off at the Biggest Hammock in the World (0 - 30,000 pesos per pair)

This claim may be unsubstantiated, but still. It’s time to head back to Minca proper. On your way down the hill, stop at Casa Elemento. They have a huge, and very famous, hammock, that hangs out over the trees. Buy a snack or a beer and enjoy it for a few minutes. We wouldn’t recommend staying here. The atmosphere isn’t as chill, it’s more expensive, and you have to book ahead. Casa Viejas is much cosier!

1:00 One more Waterfall (6,000 pesos per pair)

As you continue your hike back into town, you’ll pass Marinka. It’s a nice place to cool off for a few minutes and enjoy more of the natural beauty around Minca. Unfortunately, there’s a small entry fee for this one (3,000 pesos).

2:00 Head back to reality (15,000 - 20,000 pesos per pair)

In another hour, you’ll make it back to Minca! It’s a good idea to check the collectivo times back to Santa Marta when you first get into town. They seemed to be pretty frequent during the day time. It will be the same price as the original route (7,500 pesos). We were headed to the airport, and were able to split at 50,000 peso taxi with new friends. This will save you time if the airport is your final destination, because you won’t have to transfer to a bus in Santa Marta.