Minca Santa Marta Guide: A Colombian Mountain Getaway
While researching areas to visit on your trip around Colombia you’ll definitely hear about Minca and Santa Marta. People searching for “Minca, Santa Marta” will quickly learn both are in the same area however they are two separate places. Santa Marta is a larger city along the coast, whereas Minca is a small quiet town tucked into the mountains above Santa Marta. While both places are worth a visit, if I had to choose between the two I would go to Minca. It’s hard to beat a laidback town with fresh mountain air.
Visitng Minca was one of our highlight stops during our time in Colombia. There are activies we did that I still think about today, and some I wished we had gotten a warning on. This guide will show you how to experience Minca properly. If you’re trying to take a break from the bigger city’s or looking for a more wild experience, Minca is the perfect place to slow down and take in rural Colombia. If you visit, just please swing by Hostal Colibri and say hello to “Mclovin” for me.
Table of Contents
Why visit Minca?
Most people travel to northern Colombia to spend time on the coastline. They are drawn by stunning and warm cities like Cartagena, Santa Marta, or even flying north to the beautiful islands of San Andres and Providencia. However less then one hour inland from the coast will take you into the Sierra Nevada mountain range where the thick heat becomes a cool mountain breeze and the pristine sandy beaches submit to the overwhelming jungle. And at the heart of it all sits Minca.
Minca is one of those towns with a quiet magnetism. It just has a funny way of sucking you into its vortex, just like Pai. Fortunately for us the hypnotic trance of this town was much easier to leave, I will chalk that one up to being more experienced. The draw of Minca includes its laidback atmosphere, quiet mountain trails brimming with jungle wildlife, waterfalls and of course the beautiful sunsets. After the awesome chaos that is Medellín or bigger centers like it, relaxing in Minca is almost more of a necessity as opposed to an option. Even if small towns aren’t your jam Minca is worth a short visit and you’ll probably find yourself staying longer anyway.
Getting to Minca from Santa Marta
Getting to Minca is easiest from the city of Santa Marta. This is the last major city before you hit the Venezuelan border. Hitching a ride from Santa Marta is simple enough, just walk to “Mercado Publico de Santa Marta” or the Public Market of Santa Marta. It’s a lively and chaotic area with vendors inside the huge building as well as smaller vendors set up on the street. You’ll find everything from fresh fruit to a hot lunch and most importantly this is where you can catch a bus either to Palomino or Minca. The bus station is inside of the main building, however you don’t need to look too hard. Simply walk down the road and you will be approached by numerous people all asking where you are headed, eager to try and sell you a ticket to your destination.
If you are headed to Palomino expect a full size bus, the transportation to Minca will be a different experience. Most travelers will take a small bus or collectivo. I’ve had mixed feelings about collectivos ever since almost getting hit on the side of the road during my Marathon in Peru, however you can’t beat the price. It costs about $2-$4 USD for a ticket to Minca via Collectivo, and compared to the $20-$30 USD for a private car, it’s a steal. The private car would be more comfortable however the ride is only 45-60 minutes depending on traffic, I’ll almost always take a bit of discomfort and pay 10% of the price. With our bags strapped to the roof and us crammed shoulder to shoulder with other travelers in the collectivo, we set off and began climbing the winding road toward Minca.
Things to do in Minca
As mentioned, in a similar fashion to Pai, time moves at a different pace in Minca. While there is no shortage of things to do from coffee tasting and birdwatching to chasing waterfalls and watching sunsets, don’t do everything in a single day.
Part of the charm of Minca is it’s unhurried rhythm and how slow it moves, the best experiences come from slowing down with it. Ultimately the best things to do in Minca aren’t about checking off a list, they’re about slowing down a noticing what’s around you. Minca will reward you for taking your time, whether that’s watching the sunset dip behind the jungle covered mountains, enjoying a cup of locally grown coffee, or simply spending an afternoon with nowhere to be.
Our Minca Itinerary
During our time in Minca we witnessed the best sunset we encountered during our time in Colombia, rode through the jungle on a questionable motorbike loop, learned how coffee and chocolate were made (with plenty of tasting along the way), and finally watched toucans in their natural habitat amongst the trees (while trying to ignore all the spiders up there with them).
Day 1 Arriving in Minca from Santa Marta
Stepping out into the fresh mountain air was a welcome relief after sitting shoulder to shoulder in a full collectivo for almost an hour. Worth it to save some money but I was glad the ride wasn’t much longer. After spending the morning relaxing and eating ice cream in Santa Marta, we arrived in Minca in the late afternoon. Not enough time to do anything except get our bearings walking around the small mountain town.
Perched on the slopes of the Sierra Nevada, Minca is a place where most things are a climb. Our hostel was no exception and about a 10 minute walk uphill. During our walk we met a guy who told us the best spot to watch the sunset in town was at a hostel not far from ours, another 10 minutes uphill. Just like that we had plans for the evening, all we needed to do was drop our bags off at our hostel. Waiting for us at the front door was Mclovin.
It’s the jungle, it’s the wild, I get it. I’m the visitor here stepping into a world home to more plants and animals than I could ever hope to count, that doesn’t mean I always have to like it. Suspended directly above the only path leading to our hostel’s front door hung Mclovin, a massive Colombian spider whose web stretched across the walkway. Naming him was a desperate attempt to make it feel slightly more reasonable to walk beneath him several times a day. It didn’t really work, but at least it gave us something to call the creature that seemed determined to guard the entrance. It took about a day before I stopped shivering every time I walked under his web.
Finishing Day 1
The sun was beginning to set on our first day in Minca, which meant it was time to find the perfect place to watch it disappear behind the mountains. We said our goodbyes to Mclovin for the evening and made our way further up the hill toward Casa Loma Minca.
The recommendation we’d received earlier turned out to be an solid one. Perched above the town, Casa Loma offered panoramic views across the jungle-covered valleys and distant mountains. As the sky shifted through shades of orange, pink, and gold, it immediately stood out as the best sunset we had seen anywhere in Colombia so far.
With a cold beer in hand and the green jungle stretching in front of us toward the coast, it was hard to imagine a better way to end the day. As darkness settled over the mountains and the sounds of the jungle began to take over, I couldn’t help but feel excited about what the next few days in Minca had in store.
Day 2 Chasing Waterfalls on the Minca Bike Loop
Motorcycle loops are something I discovered later in life, and they’ve since become one of my favorite travel experiences. The road from Santa Marta to Minca and the trails into the Sierra Nevada mountains provide no shortage of opportunities to explore on two wheels. It’s the easiest way to visit the waterfalls and viewpoints around town, however it is a tricky ride, the hardest I’ve ever done. It probably didn’t help that it had rained non-stop in the days before we arrived, a fact that we would learn the hard way.
With a quick morning breakfast we set off to rent our bike for the day, who else would we rent it from other than Jungle Joe. We never got the opportunity to meet the legend in person but we saw his name everywhere. Jungle Joe has made a name for himself running tours and rentals in town, if you want to do anything but have someone else handle the logistics he’s who most people talk to.
A Doomed Trip
We arrived at the rental shop to discover that there was only one bike left available. The good news is that it had just returned from the mechanic, the bad news was that the steering head was overtightened and it was pretty difficult to steer. Looking back I probably should have took that as a warning sign, however I was caught up in the excitement for the day. With more confidence than common sense we set off into the mountains.
The beginning of the route was simple enough, following a dirt road through the jungle. However that swiftly changed and the path became more challenging. Instead of one solid road the trail was covered in deep muddy ruts due to the rain, aside from two concrete strips on each side, wide enough for car tires. The ruts were impossible, I had to choose the least destroyed concrete path, occasionally switching between them. Balancing along the narrow strip with stiff steering of the bike took all of my concentration, more time spent watching the road than enjoying the jungle around me.
Stranded in the Jungle
I was so focused on not tipping over or crashing in a rut that we totally missed the first waterfall on our trip, “Oido Del Mundo”. This waterfall is only a 30 minute walk from town, easy enough to come back and visit later. We did stop at the “Marinka Waterfalls”, a touristy but nice set of waterfalls with a swimming hole at the bottom. Continuing along the loop the road did not improve. We started actually gaining decent elevation so if anything the steep inclines made it worse. Despite the struggle of driving we managed to make it to the beautiful hostel “Sierra Minca” and the viewpoint “Los Pinos”. Both sit at the top of the loop and overlook the jungle toward the coast, an incredible view that made the climb feel more worthwhile.
By this point we were halfway around the loop, at it’s highest point and the furthest from town we could be. Again I was balancing on the concrete strips that made up the road however now we started to go downhill. Not wanting to go too fast on my slim path I hit the brakes, a little too hard. We slowed down but we slowed down too much and tipped over. Not a huge deal we weren’t going very fast so we didn’t get hurt but the bike wasn’t as lucky. When the bike hit the ground it landed directly on the clutch lever and snapped it clean off.
There we were in the middle of the jungle with no clutch to drive the bike, no cell service, and no quick way out during the hottest part of the day. I tried keeping a level head but I knew we didn’t have much for options. The only choice was to start the 3-4 hour walk back into town and hopefully find someone to come back with us to fix the bike. Just as we were about to leave the jungle seemed to have spat out a man who was now standing in the middle of the road, he asked us a simple question.
“Are you guys alright?”
The Kindness of Strangers
“No dude, we are definitely not alright.”
I could have been a little more gentle speaking to someone for the first time, however I was a little worked up considering we now needed to walk hours through the jungle and hopefully get to town before the sunset. He walked over and inspected our bike, took one look at our clutch level and said ” Ah ok” then walked away and gestured us to follow him, so we popped the bike in neutral and pushed it down the trail. I was clearly not in normal state of mind and so fixated on our predicament that we forgot to exchange names, he came out of nowhere when we needed him most so for the sake of this story, I’ll call him Angel.
As luck would have it we crashed just outside of Angel’s property, and he was just coming out to close his gate and head into town. Had we been stranded half a kilometer ahead or behind where we were, or been 5 minutes later, we would have missed him entirely. Angel led us to his property, a still under construction but absolutely stunning hostel, overlooking the jungle just down from the other stunning viewpoints at the top of the loop. It was here where we met Edgar, Angel’s friend and handyman helping him build his hostel. Edgar spoke no English, however Angel translated for us. Essentially he would be able to fix the lever as well as extend the clutch cable as the new lever changed the length needed. All for 15,000 Colombian Pesos, $4 USD.
Absolute legends, saved us for the price of a coffee. We of course gave him more than what he wanted, he earned all of it and then some. While Edgar fixed our bike we chatted with Angel, again never getting his name but learning about where he was from and what brought him to Colombia. One of the best parts of travel is the incredible people you meet on the road.
30 minutes later and our bike was ready to go with a shiny new clutch handle. We profusely thanked Edgar and said goodbye. Angel being the gem that he is, offered to follow us back to town incase there were any more issues. There were none, the road got better as we descended down the other side of the loop and the two narrow concrete strips were replaced with an actual concrete road. We made it to town and waved goodbye to Angel as he continued the drive onto Santa Marta from Minca.
Finishing Day 2
We both decided that we had enough excitement for one day and brought our bike back to Jungle Joe. I mentioned the clutch handle to him but he hardly cared, didn’t really look over the bike at all. With that we quickly left, not wanting to stick around and wait for him to potentially find any other imperfections. Drinks were in order to celebrate surviving the day, while out at a small bar we got talking to an older Irish guy that had lived in Minca for years. He mentioned that the bike loop was a terrible ride after it rains and was surprised we did it at all.
“You’re literally the first person in this town to tell us that.”
Although it’s tough to say for sure if we would have listened had we got that warning earlier.
We didn’t make it to all the stops we wanted to on the Minca motorbike loop for obvious reasons. I understand the weather played a huge part of it but even with taking that into account this has been my least favorite motorbike loop to date. If anyone is visiting Minca and wants to do it make sure it hasn’t rained in the last week, if it has its honestly not worth it.
Day 3 The Coffee and Chocolate of Minca
The area around Minca and Santa Marta is known throughout Colombia and increasingly around the world for producing some of the finest coffee and chocolate out there. After the stress and chaos of yesterdays motorbike adventure, the itinerary today was simple. Relax, drink fantastic coffee, and eat too much chocolate. There are many different coffee plantations in the area, we chose to visit La Victoria. Partly because it was close to town and partly for its rich history. For the chocolate side of things, who else can you trust but Jungle Joe. They run a tour where you learn this history of chocolate and how it’s made, then end up making your own chocolate bar at the end of it all. Say no more Joe I’m there.
La Victoria Coffee Farm
More then simply a coffee farm, this plantation is a piece of Colombian history. It was founded in 1892 by a British owned company, it still operates with the same British machinery over 100 years later. The whole place is also powered with hydroelectricity from the mountain streams, it’s interesting to see the older and newer technology blend together. The tour was about an hour, our guide spoke in both Spanish and English and walked us through the process from picking the coffee beans off the plant to packaging the ground coffee for distribution. Watching the century old machinery still performing it’s job was a unexpected highlight.
The star of the show was of course trying out their coffee at the end of the tour. The high elevation of the Sierra Nevada mountains mixed with the abundant rainfall in the jungle make perfect growing conditions for coffee, it had the taste to back it up. We enjoyed coffee on the plantation terrace, with the sounds of the jungle in the background. For 40,000 Colombian Pesos ($8-$10 USD) it was a great way to spend the morning.
Jungle Joe's Chocolate Factory
Fueled by the copious amounts of coffee we had that morning we were full of energy and ready for the rest of the day. We made our way to Jungle Joes Ecolodge, a cool hostel located just outside of town. Here you can coordinate everything that Jungle Joe has to offer which is actually a lot. Today we were here to learn about chocolate and more specifically, eat it. We arrived unannounced, the staff member said normally this was something that needed to be booked. However he seemed to realize that if he was on a tour he wouldn’t have to do other hostel duties and suddenly there was a spot available.
We spent the next few hours learning the history of how cacao was discovered and eventually produced into chocolate, personally grinded down cacao beans into a paste and made a 100% natural chocolate bar. Then worked with processed cacao and made chocolates to take home. The whole experience was very hands on and exceeded my expectations, hard to beat a day full of fresh coffee and fresh chocolate.
We did the chocolate factory workshop, a 2 hour event for $14-$15 USD. There is also a full day option that includes a gourmet lunch, waterfall hike and all transportation along with the workshop. The full day option is roughly $50-$55 USD.
Day 4 Birding and Returning to Santa Marta from Minca
It was our fourth and final day in Minca before catching a collectivo back to Santa Marta that evening. There was just one activity left to experience during our stay in Minca, bird watching. Colombia is home to more species of bird than any other country, the region around Minca has hundreds of different species with many exclusive to the area. The combination of elevation changes and mountain slopes along with the tropical jungle make this area a bucket list destination for birders.
Can’t say bird watching has been something that ever interested me but what better place to give it a try. We booked our bird watching tour and finished our time in Minca with the one and only, Jungle Joe. We arrived at the meeting point for 6am as the early hours of the day are the best time to seek out birds. After signing in and getting fitted with our binoculars we saw a familiar face. The same employee from the chocolate factory tour yesterday walked out and greeted us. We learned that he is an avid birder, so much so that he could name birds by their call. Safe to say whether it was chocolate or birds, we were in good hands.
We wandered around the trails along the outskirts of town while our guide managed to spot the smallest of birds off in the distance. With every sighting he would getting more visibly excited, I’ve never seen someone get so animated yet remain so quiet. The star of the show is undoubtedly the rainbow toucan, the moment he spotted one his face lit up while silently motioning us over. I have to admit it is an absolutely beautiful bird, and the highlight of the morning. I was glad we got to see one. Along with the rainbow toucan we saw banana toucans, giant macaws, and numerous other small colorful birds.
My only complaint with birding was while looking up in the trees to find birds you would inevitably find hundreds of spiders sitting patiently in their webs as well. However it was oddly satisfying when a bird would come make one a meal.
Saying Goodbye to the Birds and Minca
After wondering the trails our guide eventually brought us to the Minca Bird Observatory. Located a few kilometers out of town, the reserve has numerous feeding stations that attract a variety of birds. The feeders are strategically positioned so that you can sit and enjoy or coffee or beer while the birds come to you, I think it’s my preferred method of birding. We enjoyed one last coffee with a view in the Sierra Nevada mountains and said goodbye to the birds, and with that walked back into town. Our itinerary complete we packed our bags and made our way to back Santa Marta from Minca.
Our Minca Itinerary Condensed
We managed to get a taste of Minca during our stay here however there are some things we missed. Here’s a shortlist of our itinerary and the costs.
- Arrive in Minca and explore the small, quiet town. Watch a sunset at Casa Loma. Free unless you buy a beer, $3-$6 USD
- Rent a motorbike and ride the Minca loop, weather permitting. $30-$60 USD depending on if you rent for a full day or by the hour.
- Chase waterfalls, we only saw Marinka falls. $4.50 USD entry and another $6-$8 if you need a round trip cab. 1 hr. walk each way
- La Victoria coffee farm. $8-$10 USD
- Jungle Joes Chocolate Workshop. $14 USD
- Jungle Joes Birdwatching Tour. $30 USD
The only things we missed that we’ll catch next time are Pozo Azul and Cerro Kennedy. Pozo Azul is another waterfall, this one is free. We missed it due to our wonderful bike issues. Cerro Kennedy is an adventures hike much higher up in the mountains above Santa Marta and Minca, on a clear day you can see snow capped mountains along with the Caribbean sea in the same view. To get the full experience should be done as a 2 day 1 night trek, something we didn’t have time for.
How Much Does Minca Cost?
Just outside Santa Marta, Minca still feels remote despite being a popular destination. While it sits firmly on the tourist trail Minca offers incredible value for money, especially when comparing major cities like Cartagena. You can experience everything Minca has to offer whether your budget is backpacker or luxurious.
Accommodation is affordable, hostels range from $10-$20 USD in town and $30-$60 USD if staying at boutique ecolodge. Food is also budget friendly, meals can range from $5 USD street food to $18 USD average restaurant meals, higher depending on the dish.
A moto taxi is roughly $4 USD one way, although almost all attractions around Minca are walkable. As long as you’re ok with longer walks, some are a couple hours one way. Guided tours are roughly $20 USD per activity in Minca, some will be higher and some will be lower.
Of course you can also simply pull up a hammock, soak in the jungle views and sounds, and reconnect with nature for awhile, and that’s entirely free.
Overall expect $25-$45 per day on a backpacker budget, $45-$90 per day for a fancy holiday.
FAQ
Is Minca Worth Visiting?
Absolutely, Minca is a nice mountain escape from the heat of the coast where you can relax and reconnect with nature. Whether its a day trip or a several night stay, Minca is worth the visit.
How Long Should I Stay In Minca?
Three days will give you enough time to experience everything, any shorter and it’ll be a rush to see it all.
Is Minca Safe?
Minca is considered one of the safest tourist destinations in Colombia, however as with anywhere be smart with your belongings and don’t willingly put yourself into dangerous situations. We did not have a single issue during our stay.
What should I Pack For Minca?
Lightweight, breathable clothing and good shoes are the most important. Next I would say a raincoat just in case and plenty of bug spray.
Where Should I Stay In Minca?
Minca offer numerous hostels and ecolodges, it all depends on your budget. While we didn’t stay there we were impressed with all of Jungle Joes tours and would consider staying there next time. Sierra Minca has one of the best views you can wake up to.
Where Should I Eat In Minca?
Minca has plenty of local and foreigner food options, I recommend Montana Viva Minca they have incredible seafood. It’s hard to have bad seafood when you can see the ocean. Other good options are Amora Cocina Saludable for coffee as well as a farmers market on the right hand side as you come into town, a portion of money made here goes back to the farmers and community. Groceries are hard to find in town, they’ve got the basics but beyond that you’ll need to bring food from Santa Marta if you don’t want to eat out everyday.
Final Thoughts on Minca
The visit to Minca from Santa Marta quietly surprised me. I wasn’t sure what to expect from a mountain town along the coast but that blend of atmosphere is what makes it unique. I can see how some of people come to visit and simply never leave.
Colombia is a country full of contrasts however these contrasts never clash or compete with each other, they simply coexist. Minca captures that perfectly, the town is a vacation, history lesson, and adventure rolled into one. Whether you’re trekking through the jungle chasing waterfalls and viewpoints or relaxing in a hammock listening to toucans, Minca is fully experienced at that crossroads. The pace on which you experince it is up to you.
