Why You’ll Fall in Love With Minca, Colombia’s Hidden Gem

The tiny town of Minca, Colombia isn’t on the typical Colombian backpacker trail. Perched on top of a mountain in the Colombian Sierra Nevadas overlooking Santa Marta and the Caribbean Sea, with a population of 800, Minca is if nothing else isolated. But at only 45 minutes away from the much more popular coastal town of Santa Marta, and only 5 hours away from bustling Cartagena, Colombia, it is well worth the detour. If you are planning a trip to Colombia, here’s why you need to make sure Minca is included in your itinerary!

Here’s what you find in this complete guide to Minca.

Minca, Colombia: Off the Beaten Path

We came across a copy of Lonely Planet’s “South America on a Shoestring” in Santa Marta. It was two years old. Minca wasn’t in it. We weren’t surprised.

Lia actually visited Minca on her very first trip to Colombia, 3 years ago. She loved it so much that she planned our trip to retrace her steps, including staying in the exact same hostel, Casa Loma Minca. After 3 years, the town of Minca hadn’t changed much, but there were a LOT more backpackers!

Since Lia’s first trip to Colombia, Minca has boomed (relatively). It’s finally made the Lonely Planet! It even has its own page in WikiVoyage – which is sort of like the big leagues, if you’re the kind of person that uses WikiVoyage religiously (me). Tourists are flocking to Minca because it is the major gateway to La Cuidad Perdida, The Lost City.

Soon, Minca will be the only gateway, according to a volunteer working at a non profit shop in town. But there is more to Minca than trekking, the most famous hammock in South America, fresh organic coffee, artisanal bread, waterfalls, mototaxis through the jungle, cool mountain breezes,  and incredible sunsets. Against all odds, tiny Minca, Colombia was one of our favorite destinations in Colombia!

What to Do in Minca, Colombia

Minca has loads of activities for travelers and backpackers. Here are some of our favorite things to do in Minca.

1. Cliff jumping off a waterfall!

Pozo Azul is a collection of three swimming areas on the river that runs by Minca. It’s a great swimming hole with a big waterfall and a perfect spot for cliff jumping! To get there, you’ll need to either take a mototaxi  from town for about 6.000 COP/$2, or take a scenic walk through the jungle for about an hour. If you opt to hike, walk through town and follow the road up the hill for about 45 minutes. Enjoy the scenery, drink plenty of water, and look for fallen mangos on the side of the road as you walk! You’ll pass a few small restaurants and businesses and eventually see a big sign for Pozo Azul. Take the marked trail downhill for  10 minutes to reach the water. There are three pools to choose from. We went up the treacherous trail on the left side to the second one, were you can cliff jump right off the waterfall into the pool below. If you don’t feel like hiking back, there are always mototaxis waiting at the entrance of the pools, and in our opinion it’s worth the $2 to experience riding through the jungle on the back of a motorcycle!

2. Tour a coffee farm!

Although it’s not in the famous Coffee Region of Colombia, Minca boasts some amazing local coffee. One of the most popular ones is Finca La Victoria Plantation, up the hill from Pozo Azul. It’s a completely self-sustaining coffee farm, running solely on water power from nearby mountain streams. From the main intersection in town, it takes about 90 minutes of hiking through absolutely stunning scenery. Tours cost 10,000 COP/ $3.25 USD and include a cup of coffee.

3. Tour a CHOCOLATE and coffee farm!

The only thing better than fresh, delicious coffee is fresh, delicious chocolate, and you can have both at Finca La Candelaria. From the main intersection, head out of town towards Santa Marta (away from Pozo Azul). Immediately, you’ll pass a bridge, then a police station. Turn right to find a trail. Follow that trail for about 75 minutes and you’ll hit La Candelaria Farm.

4. Have an outdoor adventure!

Jungle Joe is a local bird collector and tour guide. He’s sort of a one stop shop for guided tours. He offers tubing, canyoning, bird watching (of the 300 species of birds in Colombia, the Sierra Nevadas have 162 of them), coffee tours, and more. You can chose a tour a la carte, or book a full day of activities.

5. Trek to La Cuidad Perdida!

La Cuidad Perdida, aka The Lost City, is the most famous trek in northern Colombia. You’ll be hiking for 4 days through the jungle of the Sierra Madre, past homes still occupied by local indigenous Kogi & Wiwa Indians, to the famed Lost City: Teyuna. Teyuna was abandoned by the Tayrona Indians when they realized the danger that Conquistadors posed to thriving indigenous civilizations. Rather than submit to the conquistadors, with their roving diseases and guns, they quietly withdrew. It was a smart tactic: they’re still peacefully living and farming as they please to this day. You’ll need an official, state sanctioned tour guide to do this trek, much like Machu Picchu. Look for a tour guide of Wiwa or Kogi heritage – it is still their home, after all these years, and welcoming you into it should be on their terms. We didn’t do the hike ourselves, but after reading the Ciudad Perdida guide by Wandering Bajan, we wish we would have!

6. Eat fresh baked artisanal bread!

Speaking of local Tayrona Indians, Duni is an artisanal bread shop in Minca that serves delicious fresh baked treats made from locally sourced wheat and chocolate, much of which is grown & farmed by Tayrona Indians. You may just meet a traditionally dressed Tayrona Indian dropping off a few supplies. Seeing traditionally dressed Indians is actually just a regular thing in Minca – they live next door! Read up on Duni in our spotlight post. You’ve got to go there! If the smell of fresh baked bread wafting across the town doesn’t tempt you, the strong WiFi should.

7. Shop for locally made gifts!

Due to the increase in tourism, some new shops and pop-up businesses have taken hold in little Minca. We visited one across from the church. To our delight, all proceeds from the shop went to Mision Gaia, a non profit organization that provides the many animals in Minca with spaying and neutering. In the shop you can find local handmade bags (made by, you guessed it, the talented Tayrona Indians), clothing, delicious hot sauce (seriously, it’s amazing), postcards, jewelry, and more. Take care of your souvenir needs and benefit the local economy all at once! We love sustainable and conscientious tourism.

 8. Relax in a giant hammock!

Casa Elemento is one of the most popular hostels in Minca, and certainly one of its claims to fame: at Casa Elemento you’ll find the world’s largest hammock.  It’s a two hour hike (or 20 minute taxi… or mototaxi!) from town, but the views are amazing. From the main intersection, head towards the church, but keep going…and going. It’s more like a trapeze net. You don’t have to stay there to enjoy it either! Pay 10.000 COP for a day pass.

9. Just sit quietly and watch the sunset.

Watching the sunset is the equivalent of Casa Loma Minca’s movie night. Everyone gathers in the lounge to kick back and watch the sunset on the world’s largest screen. Then they hang out until dinner is served at the shared community tables, at 8pm. It’s peaceful, social, and relaxing as hell. Grab a hammock, bring a book (and maybe a camera), or just be in the moment.

Travel Tips for Visiting Minca, Colombia

We highly recommend spending a few days enjoying Minca! Before you go, here are a few tips to help you prepare. Please note that this post contains affiliate links. If you use our links to make a purchase, we will recieve a small commission at no cost to you which will go towards helping us pay for the costs of running this site and fueling our debilitating 

• Minca’s weather is VERY different from the heat of Santa Marta. The nights can get chilly. Bring layers. We swear by our Permethrin sprayed sweatpants – they’re not only warm, but they repel bugs, too!
• Speaking of bugs, bring plenty of bug spray. We swear by Maxi-DEET for our skin and Permethrin spray for our clothing. We were far less itchy than everyone else we met.
• During the summer it rains every day around 2, as we found out when we arrived at 2 (whoops). Bring some travel-friendly Ultra-Light Rain Jackets (His & Hers) and Waterproof Socks!
• Bring a lot of cash. There are no ATMs, and almost no one takes cards. Stop in Santa Marta to stock up.
• Pack or buy water, or bring filtration. The water is not safe to drink in Minca. I speak from dismal experience myself. We watched folks at our hostel drink ONE glass of tap water and become sick almost instantly.  We purified our water using a rechargeable Steri-Pen Water Purifier. (Note: you can also use a Sawyer mini filter or water purification tablets, both of which we brought just in case, but we found that we preferred the Steri-Pen for ease of use and taste.)

• Bring some Immodium, just in case. Just trust me on this one. I’ll spare you details, but the first time I visited Minca, a kind stranger gave me a few blessed Immodium pills and they were incredibly helpful. My 2nd time in Minca, I did the same for someone else in need. Best to have them on hand.
• Be ready for a hike. Some of our favorite things to do in Minca can only be accessed via hiking. We would have been screwed without my Camelbak Hydration Pack that fits 100oz of water and our anti-bacterial Merino Wool hiking shirts (his & hers). I know it sounds counter-intuitive, but merino wool is seriously the best hiking fabric ever. It keeps you cool when it’s hot, warm when it’s cold, resists smells, lasts forever, and we’re totally obsessed with it.
• If you plan to sleep in a hammock, bring a Silk Liner Travel Sheet sprayed with Permethrin! It will cut down on bug bites and keep you toasty warm (and clean!) without needing to schlep around an actual sleeping bag.  I was never as thankful for these tiny, lightweight lifesavers as I was in Minca!
• Bring a flashlight in case you want to go for a night-time stroll (or bathroom visit).  Minca, as you can imagine, is not blessed in the streetlamp department and it’s very dark at night. We’re obsessed wit our Solar Powered Flashlights. We haven’t had to think about batteries once, but we always have light when we need it.

• Say hi to the locals in Minca. The people are incredibly friendly!
• Respect Minca’s isolation. Blossoming tourism is an exciting but unpredictable phenomenon. This community is warm and inviting, but it’s still theirs. Be respectful.
• Plan to stay a few days. Remember the Americans with whom we shared our taxi to Minca? We saw them three days later in Minca hopping into the back of a truck with some locals, with no idea what adventure awaited them (literally, they said they didn’t know where they were going, but were excited to find out). I guess they realized one day wasn’t enough – we agree!

How to Get to Minca, Colombia

The easiest way to get to Minca is from Santa Marta. Santa Marta is easily accessible from Cartagena or most places near the coast as it’s a major tourist destination (if you’re looking for a party. Which we weren’t, so we weren’t  big fans).  Hop on any bus from Cartagena headed for Santa Marta, about 5 hours away.

From Santa Marta, we took a collectivo, a shared shuttle, the 45 minutes into the mountains to Minca. This is by far the budget option – the alternative is a pricey taxi or, if you’re up for it, a moto-taxi, which is what Lia took the first time she visited Minca. If you’re carrying a heavy backpack or a suitcase, though, a moto-taxi isn’t a great option.

You can find the Minca collectivo in Santa Marta at Estacion Minca, at the corner of Calle 11 y Carrera 12, near the Mercado Publico in Centro. Which is basically what we repeated to random people over and over until enough helpful Colombians had pointed us in the right direction and we finally found it! The collectivo costs 8.000COP/$3 per person.

After they loaded up the “shuttle,” which was actually just a regular car, Lia and I hopped in with two other Americans. Whenever Americans meet each other abroad, it’s super exciting because it’s pretty rare. So of course, we all got to talking. They told us they were just staying in Minca for the day. 3 days later, they waved to us from the back of a pickup truck, laughing as they headed off to have some amazing adventure in the jungle. They had never left!

As our packed little car wound up through the mountains away from sunny, seaside Santa Marta, it started to rain. It was light at first… and then, suddenly, it was very heavy. So heavy, in fact, that we saw the painful aftermath of a bad motorcycle accident (note: maybe don’t take a mototaxi in the rain). Our taxi driver called the authorities to help the injured driver, and drove carefully the rest of the way – bless him, he’s probably the only Colombian who knows the meaning of careful driving (that’s one of those things no one tells you about Colombia).

Luckily, we channeled the Boy Scouts and we were prepared: we had our rain gear. Except it wasn’t on us. It was in our bags. After being dropped off in the pouring rain, at the only major intersection – it’s a TINY town, y’all –  we grabbed our backpacks, said goodbye to our American taxi friends, and made a run for the nearest awning.  Lia wrangled a makeshift rain cover for her bag out of a trash bag she’s held on to for this exact reason. Note: just buy a backpack cover. I have one. Lia was just too frugal to spend $30 when “a trash bag is just as good”.

Turns out, the ease of mind is worth the expense, because nobody wants to struggle with a trash bag in the pouring rain. By the time Lia had mostly covered her bag, the rain was officially torrential. At this point, frustrated with the trash bag situation, Lia suggested we find a restaurant, eat lunch, and wait out the rain. I said that would take too long and we should just power through it. Well, let the record stand: I was wrong.

The minute we arrived at our hostel, it stopped raining. Figures.

We had learned the first lesson of Minca: it rains every day, like clockwork, but stops shortly after it starts.

Where to Stay in Minca, Colombia

For such a tiny town, there are a surprising number of options for places to stay in Minca! Here are some of our favorite options.

Stay in an Eco-Hotel

Eco hotels are surrounded and integrated into their lush natural surroundings, while still being comfortably posh. Staying at an eco hotel means you can blowdry your hair and also watch toucans playing outside of your window in front of a gorgeous mountain backdrop, which for some of us (me) is basically heaven.

• Sweet Harmony is a 12 minute walk away from central Minca, nestled into the hillside and overlooking the gorgeous mountains of Minca. The hotel is a haven for birds: keep an eye out for toucans and hummingbirds! Check prices
• Minca Ecohabs is as eco as it gets! Gorgeous thatched roof bamboo huts in the jungle will make you feel like you’re one with nature. There’s a toucan that eats papaya every morning which is the cutest thing ever. Munch on exotic fruits as you watch the sun rise over the mountains, you beautiful jungle princess, you. Check prices

Stay in a Finca

Finca means farm in Spanish, and there are tons of Fincas in the lush green hills surrounding Minca. Staying at a Finca is a totally unique experience and an awesome way to glimpse an authentic slice of life in the mountains – without having to actually like, do farm work, of course. If you’re looking for a quiet place to stay, surrounded by nature and gorgeous scenery, a finca is the perfect choice.

• Finca Hostal Bolivar is situated directly on the river, just a minute’s walk from an inland beach and only 5 minutes walking away from central Minca.  A common kitchen and dining area gives you an opportunity to meet your fellow travelers.  Check prices
• Finca Carpe Diem is situated in the Paso del Mango, a valley near Minca – the area is studded with fresh, juicy mango trees, of course.  Finca Carpe Diem is situated on the river, full of natural swimming holes and waterfalls. Stay in their beautiful thatched roof eco-huts and swim in the pool, learn about growing coffee and cacao or making cheese, hike through the surrounding jungle, or just relax and enjoy your natural surroundings.  Check prices
• Finca San Rafael is an eco-friendly cacao farm. Yes, y’all: there’s chocolate! And it’s environmentally friendly, too! Finca San Rafael has awesome coffee too, which is important to coffee snobs like us. This finca is a 30 minute walk from town, or a quick jaunt on a moto-taxi which is my favorite form of transportation ever ever. Take a horseback ride, hike, or just relax (WiFi free) at this authentic finca. Check prices

Stay in a Hostel

We love budget-friendly hostels. Not only do they free up funds that can be used for amazing tours, food, and other vacation splurges, but they’re a great way to meet other travellers! There are a few awesome hostels in Minca that you should consider if you’re travelling on a budget.

• Casa Loma Minca was where we stayed, and we can’t rave about it enough. Seriously, we wrote a lot more about it below. It truly feels like a giant treehouse, with the most incredible view in the world right on its front porch. We opted to stay in a hammock  – the cheapest possible option – but you can splurge on some absolutely gorgeous private rooms overlooking the most incredible sunset in the universe (we aren’t even exaggerating). Family style meals and a WiFi free zone cultivate an awesome social vibe that we loved. A 5 minute walk above central Minca. Check prices
• Casa Elemento is famous in Minca – and in Colombia – for having the largest hammock in Colombia, if not the world. Located a brisk 2-hour hike or so outside of Minca (or just take a moto-taxi) Casa Elemento is one of those must-visit places in Minca that everyone raves about. If you stay at Casa Elemento, you’ll wake up to the sound of toucans and howler monkeys and be treated to some of the best views in Minca. Check prices
• Mundo Nuevo is outside of Minca’s town center, but worth the moto-taxi ride to get up to this gorgeous hostel overlooking a stunning view of Minca’s mountains and valleys. Family style meals are cooked from veggies grown on site. The perfect spot for hikers and, apparently, monkey lovers! Check prices

Our hostel in Minca was a big part of why we loved our stay so much. But it wasn’t the easiest place to find…

Casa Loma Minca: Our Favorite Hostel in Minca, Colombia

Our hostel in Minca, Casa Loma Minca, was one of our absolute favorites in all of Colombia (read about our other favorite hostels in Colombia). But reaching Casa Loma Minca from tiny downtown Minca was an adventure.

Here were the walking instructions from Casa Loma Minca:

1. Find the church
2. Find the pathway to the left of the church
3. Climb the stairs
4. Pass the school and basketball court
5. Continue up the stairs
6. Walk between two houses,
7. Continue on the path for ten minutes.

Huh?? We felt like we were following a pirate’s treasure map. But follow it we did, as the rain soaked through our bags, clothes, and shoes. We seemed to be making progress …until I lost the trail. Typical.

We slipped and slid our way back down to town and asked some friendly locals where to find Casa Loma Minca. Turns out we had to go back to the church, duck behind it, dig up a chest of treasure, and follow the road up to a slightly different set of stairs that I swear did not exist 5 minutes earlier. Did I mention it was raining like crazy?

For those of you not up on your Spanish, “Loma” means hill – Casa Loma Minca is Minca’s House on the Hill. And man, that hill is rough. There is nothing more truly awful than lugging 35 pounds of misery on your back in the pouring rain as you slip and slide up a hill that defies the laws of friction. It felt like we were climbing for hours. Sans bags and rain, the hill takes only about 5-8 minutes to climb. By the time we huffed and puffed ourselves to the top of the hill and finally reached Casa Loma Minca – 14 switchbacks later, I counted – it felt like the gates of heaven themselves had opened up. We’ve never been more grateful for a dry hammock to lay on in our lives!

For all of its hilltop isolation, we loved Casa Loma Minca. The first thing you notice is the view: from Casa Loma’s open-air lounge, you can see all the way to Santa Marta and the blue waters of the Carribbean!

Casa Loma Minca hostel is really a collection of tree-house like structures (dorms, hammock shelters, private bedrooms, etc), but the main hub is “La Casa,” an open-air lounge, with tables, couches, hammocks, fridge, kitchen (staff only), games, library, and reception. It truly feels like a giant treehouse, with the most incredible view in the world right on its front porch.

The meals at Casa Loma Minca are not included, but the price is super reasonable and the food is incredible.  Breakfast runs from 4.000-8.000 COP, lunch is 12.000 COP, and dinner (with included dessert) is 17.000 COP. Dinner, served family style, is an event not to miss out on: it’s social and cozy, the kind of intimate hostel environment we found ourselves missing as soon as we left Minca. We ate most of our meals at the hostel and found it to be reasonable, budget friendly, and a great way to socialize.  Plus, the food is delicious!

The staff at Casa Loma Minca is super friendly, and mostly volunteers – what a great spot to work and live! But the highlight of Casa Loma Minca by far is the incredible atmosphere. The lack of Wi-Fi allows for  (forces? necessitates?) social interaction, and the type of people attracted to the isolated hill-top eco-hostel seem to coexist on the same wavelength. In California speak, the vibe is super chill.  There are board games, card games, books to read, hammocks to lounge in, music always playing,  and beer always available.  You see the same few people staying at little Casa Loma Minca over and over again during your stay, and you all sit together for meals at communal tables. Soon, you become friends.

By the end of your stay, you and your new Casa Loma friends have played 53 games of BS and Gin Rummy, performed a sing-along rendition of Sweet Child of Mine on the ukelele,  hiked to a waterfall – and then all jumped off it together – and had several in-depth  philosophical discussion in 8 different languages.

One of our new friends summed it up well. The Casa Loma Minca is a social hostel, but not a party hostel. Everyone talks to each other, invites each other on day trips, plays cards, shares drinks, maybe sings a song or two together (not quite “kumbayah,” but close: there were actually guitars and we actually all sang together and it was magical) and enjoys each other’s company.We met some fantastic people at Casa Loma Minca, who we ended up meeting again and again as we continued travelling through Colombia. In fact, we made more friends while staying at Casa Loma Minca than we did at any other point during our trip. Casa Loma Minca was a truly special and memorable hostel and we cannot recommend it enough! Be sure to reserve early – the hostel is small and popular, and fills up quickly. Check current prices.

We hope we convinced you to make a stop in Minca next time you’re traveling through Colombia! Have you ever been to Minca? Did we skip anything you’d like to know about? Leave us a comment!

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