The Complete Guide to Minca, Colombia’s Sleepy Hidden Gem

The tiny city of Minca, Colombia isn’t on the standard Colombian backpacker path. Perched on prime of a mountain within the Colombian Sierra Nevadas overlooking Santa Marta and the Caribbean Sea, with a inhabitants of 800, Minca feels a bit remoted.

However at solely 45 minutes away from the way more standard coastal city of Santa Marta, and solely 5 hours away from bustling Cartagena, Colombia, it’s nicely definitely worth the detour. If you’re planning a visit to the northern coast of Colombia, you’ll wish to embody Minca in your itinerary!

The primary time I (Lia) visited Minca was 5 years in the past. It was the primary time I’d ever been to Colombia, and I fell in love with it, onerous. Since then, I’ve been again 3 instances (and counting) and Jeremy’s been again twice. It’s one of the particular locations we’ve ever been, and we expect you’ll like it too!

We’re so excited to share all one of the best issues to do in Minca. Right here’s what you discover on this full information to Minca:

Psst: We’ve bought a ton of different sources for Colombia that you simply’ll wish to take a look at earlier than your journey!

Minca, Colombia: Off the Overwhelmed Path

We got here throughout a duplicate of Lonely Planet’s “South America on a Shoestring” in Santa Marta. It was two years previous. Minca wasn’t in it. We weren’t shocked.

Lia truly visited Minca on her very first journey to Colombia, 5 years in the past. She beloved it a lot that she deliberate our journey to retrace her steps, together with staying in the very same hostel, Casa Loma Minca. 5 years and three journeys later, the city of Minca hadn’t modified a lot, however there are a LOT extra backpackers!

Since Lia’s first journey to Colombia, Minca has boomed (comparatively). It’s lastly made the Lonely Planet! It even has its personal web page in WikiVoyage – which is type of like the massive leagues, when you’re the sort of individual that makes use of WikiVoyage religiously (me).

Vacationers are flocking to Minca as a result of it’s the main gateway to La Cuidad Perdida, The Misplaced Metropolis. Quickly, Minca would be the solely gateway, in accordance with a volunteer working at a non revenue store on the town. For these questioning if Minca is secure – sure it’s! However as at all times, be sure you observe these safety tips when touring.

However there’s extra to Minca than trekking, the most famous hammock in South America, recent natural espresso, artisanal bread, waterfalls, mototaxis by means of the jungle, cool mountain breezes,  and unimaginable sunsets.

Towards all odds, tiny Minca, Colombia was one in all our favourite locations in Colombia!

The best way to Get to Minca, Colombia

The best solution to get to Minca is from Santa Marta. Santa Marta is definitely accessible from Cartagena or most locations close to the coast because it’s a serious vacationer vacation spot (particularly when you’re on the lookout for a celebration. Spoilers: it’s probably not our scene).

To get to Santa Marta, you’ll wish to hop on a bus from Cartagena to Santa Marta, about 5 hours away. For extra particulars, we’ve bought an enormous information on how to get from Cartagena to Santa Marta!

From Santa Marta, you may have a couple of choices relying in your price range. Minca is about 45 minutes away from Santa Marta.

You’ll be able to rent a taxi or perhaps a moto-taxi, however hiring your personal driver makes these the dearer choices. Additionally, when you’re carrying a heavy backpack or a suitcase, or it’s raining, a moto-taxi isn’t an important possibility. In case you do go for a moto-taxi, like Lia did on her first go to to Minca, remember to put on a helmet!

The budget-friendly possibility is to take a collectivo, a shared shuttle. You could find the Minca collectivo in Santa Marta on the nook of Carrera 9 and Calle 12, within the Mercado Publico in Centro. We mainly repeated this deal with to random individuals time and again till sufficient useful Colombians had pointed us in the suitable path and we lastly discovered it! The collectivo price 8.000COP/$3 per individual (as of February 2018, our most up-to-date go to to Minca).

Once we lastly discovered the “shuttle,” which was truly only a common automotive, we hopped in with two different People. At any time when People meet one another in off-the-beaten-path locations, it’s tremendous thrilling as a result of it’s fairly uncommon. So after all, all of us bought to speaking.

They informed us they have been simply staying in Minca for the day. However 3 days later, we noticed our new mates once more – waving to us from the again of a pickup truck, laughing as they headed off to have some superb journey within the jungle. That they had by no means left!

What to Do in Minca, Colombia

Minca has a great deal of actions for vacationers and backpackers. Listed here are a few of our favourite issues to do in Minca.

1. Cliff leaping off a waterfall!

Pozo Azul is a set of three swimming areas on the river that runs by Minca. It’s an important swimming gap with a giant waterfall and an ideal spot for cliff leaping!

To get there, you’ll must both take a moto-taxi from city for about 6.000 COP/$2, or take a scenic hike on the highway previous jungle and rolling hills and farms. The hike takes about an hour.

We favor to moto-tax to the waterfall, as a result of it’s uphill, and hike again downhill admiring the view. To take a moto-taxi, simply head to the primary nook on the town (it’s simple to seek out – search for a bunch of moto-taxis and guys standing round) and hop on. The journey by means of the jungle is thrilling!

In case you choose to hike from city, you’ll observe the highway up the hill for about 45 minutes. Benefit from the surroundings, drink loads of water, and search for fallen mangos on the aspect of the highway as you stroll. You’ll go a couple of small eating places and companies and finally see a giant signal for Pozo Azul. Take the marked path downhill for 10-20 minutes to achieve the water.

There are three swimming pools, so if the primary one is simply too crowded (or too shallow) in your tastes, simply cross the water and head for the path on the left aspect of the pool. Climb the brief path and also you’ll quickly attain 2 extra swimming pools, one in all which has EXCELLENT waterfall cliff-jumping!

In case you don’t really feel like mountaineering again, there are at all times moto-taxis ready on the entrance of the swimming pools, and in our opinion, it’s definitely worth the $2 to expertise driving by means of the jungle on the again of a bike.

2. Tour a espresso farm!

Though it’s not within the well-known Coffee Region of Colombia, Minca boasts some superb native espresso.

One of the vital standard ones is Finca La Victoria Plantation, up the hill from Pozo Azul. It’s a totally self-sustaining espresso farm, operating solely on water energy from close by mountain streams.

From the primary intersection on the town, it takes about 90 minutes of mountaineering by means of completely gorgeous surroundings. Excursions price 20,000 COP/ ~$5 USD and embody a cup of espresso. The final tour of the day is at 4:15 PM, however bear in mind sundown is at all times round 6, so give your self loads of time to hike again down.

3. Tour a CHOCOLATE and occasional farm!

The one factor higher than recent, scrumptious espresso is recent, scrumptious chocolate, and you’ll have each at Finca La Candelaria.

From the primary intersection, head out of city in direction of Santa Marta (away from Pozo Azul). Instantly, you’ll go a bridge, then a police station. Flip proper to discover a path. Observe that path for about 75 minutes and also you’ll hit La Candelaria Farm.

4. Have an out of doors journey!

Jungle Joe is an area fowl collector and tour information. He’s type of a one cease store for guided excursions.

He affords tubing, canyoning, fowl watching (of the 300 species of birds in Colombia, the Sierra Nevadas have 162 of them), espresso excursions, and extra. You’ll be able to select a tour a la carte, or ebook a full day of actions.

5. Trek to La Cuidad Perdida!

La Cuidad Perdida, aka The Lost City, is probably the most well-known trek in northern Colombia and the most effective issues to do in Minca.

You’ll be mountaineering for 4 days by means of the jungle of the Sierra Madre, previous properties nonetheless occupied by native indigenous Kogi & Wiwa Indians, to the famed Misplaced Metropolis: Teyuna.

Teyuna was deserted by the Tayrona Indians after they realized the hazard that Conquistadors posed to thriving indigenous civilizations. Slightly than undergo the conquistadors, with their roving illnesses and weapons, they quietly withdrew. It was a wise tactic: they’re nonetheless peacefully residing and farming as they please to at the present time.

You’ll want an official, state sanctioned tour information to do that trek, very like Machu Picchu. Search for a tour information of Wiwa or Kogi heritage – it’s nonetheless their residence, in any case these years, and welcoming you into it ought to be on their phrases. We didn’t do the hike ourselves, however after studying the Ciudad Perdida guide by Wandering Bajan, we want we might have!

6. Eat recent baked artisanal bread!

Talking of native Tayrona Indians, Duni is an artisanal bread store in Minca that serves scrumptious fresh-baked treats created from regionally sourced wheat and chocolate, a lot of which is grown & farmed by Tayrona Indians.

It’s possible you’ll simply meet a historically dressed Tayrona Indian dropping off a couple of provides. Seeing historically dressed Indians is definitely only a common factor in Minca – they stay subsequent door!

Read up on Duni in our highlight put up. You’ve bought to go there! If the odor of recent baked bread wafting throughout the city doesn’t tempt you, the sturdy WiFi ought to.

7. Store for regionally made items!

As a result of improve in tourism, some new outlets, and pop-up companies have taken maintain in little Minca that includes native artisans and craftspeople. Store there to assist the local people.

Among the outlets even donate their proceeds to native communities: one throughout from the church, for instance, offers all of its earnings to Mision Gaia, a non-profit group that gives the numerous stray animals in Minca with spaying and neutering.

Within the outlets you’ll find native handmade baggage (made by the proficient Tayrona Indians), clothes, scrumptious scorching sauce (critically, it’s superb), postcards, jewellery, natural bug repellant, and extra. Maintain your memento wants and profit the native economic system ! We love sustainable and conscientious tourism.

 8. Calm down in a large hammock!

Sierra Minca is likely one of the hottest hostels in Minca, and positively one in all its claims to fame: at Sierra Minca every of the cabins have large hammock nets overlooking the view!

It’s a two hour hike (or 20 minute taxi… or mototaxi!) from city, however the views are superb.

From the primary intersection, head in direction of the church, however maintain going…and going. It’s extra like a trapeze web. You don’t have to remain there to get pleasure from it both! You should buy a day go for 15,000 COP, or get a go with lunch included for 40,000 COP (about $10).

9. Go on a hike!

Minca is an out of doors lovers paradise, and mountaineering in Minca is likely one of the greatest methods to discover this stunning a part of Colombia – plus, you simply may meet some monkeys or toucans!

Though most of Minca’s greatest hikes will take you thru lush, humid jungle, the mountains present a little bit of reprieve from the warmth – and a waterfall doesn’t assist, both. Listed here are among the greatest locations to go mountaineering in Minca:

• Simple: Las Piedras: Simply quarter-hour out of city you’ll discover Las Piedras, which marks a lovely spot on the River Minca. It’s solely quarter-hour from the village, so it makes a good way to spend a calming morning.
• Medium: Las Cascadas de Marinka. In case you communicate a little bit Spanish, you already know what’s ready for you on this hike: waterfalls! The hike takes about an hour and also you’ll be rewarded with cool water and a surprising photograph op. To get there, stroll previous the church on the primary city highway) (retaining the church in your left) and head up the hill. Maintain going till you see an indication that reads “Finca la Esperanza, La Cascadas Minka.” Convey some money: it prices 5,000 COP/~$1.30 to enter the falls.
• Arduous: Los Pinos. This 5-7 hour lengthy trek will take you previous Pozo Azul and Las Cascadas in a pleasant, lengthy loop. The toughest a part of the hike is about 2 hour uphill climb. It’s greatest when you begin your journey early within the morning, particularly as a result of on a transparent day on the highest level of the trek, you possibly can generally catch a glimpse of snowy mountains within the distance! Pack loads of water and snacks.
• Even Tougher: Cierro Kennedy. Trekking to Cierro Kennedy will take you 2 days and 1 in a single day, however you’ll be rewarded in your efforts with a surprising view of the snowy peaks of Los Nevados! In case you’re like, SUPER rugged, you possibly can try this trek by yourself, however we suggest hiring a information on the town as an alternative.

For extra particulars and instructions for every of those hikes, ask for assist on the town: Casa Loma Minca, our favourite place to remain in Minca, is a good useful resource for all of those hikes.

10. Simply sit quietly and watch the sundown.

Watching the sundown is the equal of Minca’s film night time. If you may make it as much as a good vantage level, you’ll have an ideal view over the inexperienced Sierra Nevada mountains all the way in which to the blinking lights of Santa Marta and the Caribbean Sea.

At our favourite hostel in Minca, Casa Loma Minca, sundown is a nightly occasion. Everybody gathers within the lounge to chill and watch the sundown on the world’s largest display. Then they hang around taking part in video games and listening to music and studying and enjoyable till dinner is served on the shared neighborhood tables, at 8pm.

It’s peaceable, social, and enjoyable as hell. Seize a hammock, deliver a ebook (and possibly a digicam), or simply be within the second.

Journey Suggestions for Visiting Minca, Colombia

We extremely suggest spending a couple of days having fun with Minca! Earlier than you go, listed below are a couple of ideas that can assist you put together.

• Minca’s climate is VERY completely different from the warmth of Santa Marta. The nights can get chilly. Convey layers. We swear by our travel sweatpants – They’re light-weight and tremendous stretchy – good for warm nights or lengthy aircraft rides. They’ve a number of pockets, one in all which is hidden inside one other pocket (pocketception!). And most significantly, they’re ethically produced and made with sustainable supplies
• Talking of bugs, deliver loads of bug spray. We swear by light-weight Picaridin lotion for our pores and skin and Permethrin spray for our clothes. We have been far much less itchy than everybody else we met.
• Throughout the summer time it rains on daily basis round 2, as we discovered once we arrived at 2 (whoops). The rain begins like clockwork, pours for about an hour or two, after which vanishes. To verify it doesn’t cramp your fashion, pack some travel-friendly Extremely-Mild Rain Jackets (His & Hers) and Waterproof Socks for mountaineering!
• Convey a variety of money. There aren’t any ATMs, and nearly nobody takes playing cards. Cease in Santa Marta to top off.
• Pack or purchase water, or deliver filtration. The water shouldn’t be secure to drink in Minca. I communicate from dismal expertise myself. We watched of us at our hostel drink ONE glass of faucet water and grow to be sick nearly immediately.  We purified our water utilizing a chargeable Steri-Pen Water Purifier. (Notice: you too can use a Sawyer mini filter or water purification tablets, each of which we introduced simply in case, however we discovered that we most well-liked the Steri-Pen for ease of use and style.)
• Pak a backpack, not a suitase. Minca’s dusty streets aren’t nice for dragging a suitcase round on, and suitcases are tough to hold on moto-taxis, the primary type of transportation on the town. We love this carry-on sized Pacsafe backpack, and produce it with us on all of our brief backpacking journeys!

• Convey some Imodium, simply in case. Simply belief me on this one. I’ll spare you particulars, however the first time I visited Minca, a sort stranger gave me a couple of blessed Imodium tablets they usually have been extremely useful. My 2nd time in Minca, I did the identical for another person in want. Greatest to have them available.
• Be prepared for a hike. A few of our favourite issues to do in Minca can solely be accessed by way of mountaineering. We’d have been screwed with out my Camelbak Hydration Pack that matches 100oz of water and our anti-bacterial Merino Wool mountaineering shirts (his & hers). I do know it sounds counter-intuitive, however merino wool is critically the greatest mountaineering cloth ever. It retains you cool when it’s scorching, heat when it’s chilly, resists smells, lasts endlessly, and we’re completely obsessive about it.
• In case you plan to sleep in a hammock, deliver a Silk Liner Travel Sheet sprayed with Permethrin! It should reduce down on bug bites and maintain you toasty heat (and clear!) while not having to schlep round an precise sleeping bag.  I used to be by no means as grateful for these tiny, light-weight lifesavers as I used to be in Minca!
• Convey a flashlight in case you wish to go for a night-time stroll (or toilet go to).  Minca, as you possibly can think about, shouldn’t be blessed within the streetlamp division and it’s very darkish at night time. We’re obsessive about our Solar Powered Flashlights. We haven’t had to consider batteries as soon as, however we at all times have mild once we want it.
• Say hello to the locals in Minca. The individuals we’ve met in Minca have been all extremely pleasant!
• Respect Minca’s relative isolation. Blossoming tourism is an thrilling however unpredictable phenomenon. This neighborhood is heat and welcoming, however it’s nonetheless theirs. Be respectful. Within the 5 years that we’ve been visiting Minca, not terribly a lot has modified, and that’s one thing we love about it.
• Plan to remain a couple of days. Bear in mind the People with whom we shared our taxi to Minca? We noticed them three days later in Minca hopping into the again of a truck with some locals, with no thought what journey awaited them (actually, they mentioned they didn’t know the place they have been going, however have been excited to seek out out). I suppose they realized someday wasn’t sufficient – we agree!

The place to Keep in Minca, Colombia

For such a tiny city, there are a stunning variety of choices for locations to remain in Minca! However for us, there’s 1 place that we maintain coming again to repeatedly… and once more: Casa Loma Minca. 

Casa Loma is a hostel, and in our opinion, the most effective hostels in Colombia and admittedly, all of South America. We love staying in budget-friendly hostels once we journey as a result of not solely do they unlock funds that can be utilized for superb excursions, meals, and different trip splurges, however they’re a good way to fulfill different vacationers! And Casa Loma Minca is a very particular sort of hostel.

The entire place seems like a large treehouse, perched on prime of a lush hill with probably the most unimaginable view on the planet overlooking the Sierra Nevada Mountains all the way in which to the intense blue Caribbean sea.

To get to this treetop paradise, you’ll want to seek out the trail and climb up the hill, which isn’t the simplest activity (and also you positively gained’t wish to be hauling up a clunky suitcase!). There are extra particulars in our Casa Loma review.

We’ve stayed at Casa Loma Minca in a shared double room, a hammock (the most affordable possibility) and in one in all their gorgeous personal huts overlooking probably the most unimaginable sundown on the planet (we aren’t even exaggerating).

Household fashion meals and a WiFi free zone domesticate an superior social vibe that we fell in love with. However look, one sentence doesn’t seize our love for this place – we’ve bought an entire assessment right here. 

Let’s simply say that Casa Loma was a giant a part of why we beloved our keep a lot, and why we’ve been again to Minca 3 instances – and stayed in the very same hostel 3 instances!  Check prices.

Different Locations to Keep in Minca

Not thrilled by the thought of a hostel, or the climb. to get to it? In Minca, you’ll discover every little thing from eco-friendly inns to fincas/farms, to hospedajes/residence stays!

It doesn’t matter what you select, many of the locations to remain in Minca are surrounded by and built-in into their lush pure environment, whereas nonetheless being tremendous snug.

• Minca Ecohabs is as eco-friendly because it will get! Attractive thatched roof bamboo huts within the jungle will make you are feeling such as you’re one with nature. There’s a toucan that eats papaya each morning which is the cutest factor ever. Munch on unique fruits as you watch the solar rise over the mountains, you stunning jungle princess, you. Check pricing.
• Finca San Rafael is an eco-friendly cacao farm. Sure, y’all: there’s chocolate! And it’s environmentally pleasant, too! Finca San Rafael has superior espresso too, which is essential to espresso snobs like us. This finca is a 30 minute stroll from city, or a fast jaunt on a moto-taxi which is my favourite type of transportation ever. Take a horseback journey, hike, or simply loosen up (WiFi free) at this genuine finca. Check pricing.
• Casa Colibri is a stunning hospedaje that we stayed in on one in all our journeys. We had a pleasant personal room strolling distance from the middle of city. Most significantly, there was nice espresso each morning, and the host household was beautiful! Check pricing.
• Sweet Harmony is an eco-friendly resort situated a 12 minute stroll away from central Minca, nestled into the hillside and overlooking the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountains. The resort is a haven for birds: maintain an eye fixed out for toucans and hummingbirds! Check pricing.

Hey, we’ve bought a ton of different sources for Colombia that you simply’ll wish to take a look at earlier than your journey!

We hope we satisfied you to make a cease in Minca subsequent time you’re touring by means of Colombia!  What questions do you may have about journey in Colombia? Depart us a remark beneath.

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