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Located in the lush green landscapes of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta you can find this beautiful gem: The Marinka Waterfalls. I must be honest and tell you that I wasn’t too keen to visit these waterfalls. They seem really commercialized and the pretty high price according to Colombian Standards put me off. However, the Marinka Waterfalls became one of the most pleasant surprises during my time in Minca. Read on to find out everything you need to know about these lovely waterfalls!
Views over de Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Minca, Colombia
Minca is a small village located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. It’s about 18 kilometers from the Santa Marta Bus Terminal, a large transport hub on the Caribbean Coast, and offers a much cooler climate than the seaside areas.
One of Minca’s most attractive features is its lush green landscape which is home to a variety of fauna and flora. Minca is a haven for birdwatchers and you find numerous hiking trails here that lead you to amazing viewpoints like Cerro Kennedy.
While my first impression of Minca was that it was way too touristy, after a few days, I really began to appreciate the atmosphere of this place. When you venture out of the small town center, the surroundings are dotted with ecolodges and cacao plantations, and you can find numerous incredible waterfalls in Minca.
In this post, I’ll tell you everything about one of the best things to do in Minca, which is visiting the Marinka Waterfalls!
The Marinka Waterfalls, or “Cascada de Marinka” in Spanish, is a beautiful waterfalls complex located about 4 kilometers (2,5 miles) from the center of Minca. It consists of three waterfalls that are connected with each other by lovely pathways through lush greenery.
At two of the waterfalls, you can find a crystal-clear pool and they are perfect for swimming when you want to escape the tropical heat. The waterfalls are surrounded by thick vegetation and provide a stunning backdrop of greenery. When you go early in the morning, before the hordes of tourists arrive, you can still get a sense of tranquility and seclusion here that is absolutely mesmerizing.
Furthermore, you can find cozy café/restaurants dotting the pathways that offer cheap coffee and delicious food, with many plant-based options.
The main attractions of the complex are of course the waterfalls. While most blogs only mention two waterfalls, at the time of writing this, I can confirm that the Marinka Waterfalls now consist of three waterfalls.
The first waterfall is in the middle of the complex and is in my opinion the most attractive one. It cascades beautifully down into a large pool that is perfect for swimming.
Marinka Waterfalls, Minca, Colombia: Waterfall nr. 1
Furthermore, the area surrounding the pool is beautifully landscaped to fit the natural surroundings. The floors are made out of stone of wood and recycled wood has been used to create benches.
One downside is that there is not much seating area here, which can be problematic when the place gets swarmed with tourists in peak season.
Waterfall no 2 is the upper waterfall of the complex. It requires a little upward climb on designated pathways through lush greenery. While this waterfall is absolutely stunning, it doesn’t have a pool that lends itself well to swimming.
The main thing people that people do here is stand on the rocks under the waterfall to get a massive natural massage from the water that pours down. It’s also a popular Instagram spot.
Waterfall no 3 is the latest addition to the waterfall complex. It is a much smaller waterfall than the two others and you find this one in the lowest-lying section of the complex.
Marinka Waterfalls nr 3, Minca, Colombia
While this waterfall is less spectacular than the two other ones, you can find a nice swimming pool here that is less crowded than the pool at waterfall no 1.
Beware of the steps though at this swimming pool, they were quite slippery when I visited!
Aside from these beautiful waterfalls, here are the facilities you can find at the Marinka waterfalls.
At the time of my visit, there were three restaurants operating inside the Marinka Waterfalls complex. They all had a simple design and were all made out of wood to fit into the natural surroundings.
Pathways inside the park and restaurant menu
An organic black coffee costs only 3000 COP and, on the menu, you can find many plant-based options like vegan rice and vegetarian burritos, burgers, and pizza that can probably easily be veganized.
You can also find large hammocks attached to some of the restaurants where you can laze the afternoon away, enjoying the wonderful natural surroundings.
you cannot only find these hammocks near the restaurants but also just past the entrance. From these hammocks, you have a wonderful view over the waterfalls and they are big enough to accommodate a large bunch of people.
I spent an hour here reading a book and, even though there were a few other tourists, it was still a peaceful experience.
If there is something you don’t need to worry about when you visit the Marinka Waterfalls, then it’s finding a shower or toilet. You can find these at the restaurant areas inside the complex.
A funny thing about the downstairs toilets and showers was that the back of the building was actually open, so you could still see the greenery and be connected with the natural environment while you were inside the toilet/shower.
What amazed me the most about my visit to the Marinka Waterfalls as a conscious traveler was how eco-friendly they are operating. This was not only evident in how the whole complex is designed but also in little details.
Bench from bottle caps and lamps from glass jars
I’m pretty sure you cannot see it when you look at the photo but the chair you see there is actually made of plastic bottles caps. And the lamps that you will find in the toilets are made out of wheels and recycled glass jars. Just wonderful, right?
Short answer: Yes, you can swim at the Marinkal Waterfalls. The place to swim is at waterfall no 1 which is located in the middle of the complex. The water is deep enough here to do some serious swimming.
Waterfalls nr. 1 & 2
Do note that the water is cold! Due to its location in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains, this water originates from higher elevations where temperatures much are cooler.
Even though the surrounding area is warm, the water retains a refreshing and sometimes brisk temperature as it cascades down into the pools below at any time of the day.
Here are the websites I use when I travel to Colombia:
Booking.com: For the best guesthouses, homestays, or small hotels
Hostelworld: To find the best hostels located in the cities
Homestay: For a unique immersive homestay experience in the big cities or the countryside
Busbud and Redbus: The best transport websites for long-distance buses in Colombia. Note that 12Go also works in Colombia but the tickets they will buy for you are open-seat tickets and don’t guarantee a seat on the bus you book online.
Uber: Uber is a convenient and cheap ride-hailing app that can be used in the bigger cities of Colombia. Other apps are Cabify or Didi.
Skyscanner: For affordable flights to Bogota and intercity flights in the country.
Viator and Get Your Guide: book all kinds of activities from the Ciudad Perdida trek to a guided private tour of Comuna 13 in Medellin.
Citizens of many countries, including the United States, Canada, the European Union, Australia, and New Zealand, do not require a visa for short tourist stays (typically up to 90 days). However, this can vary, so it’s always best to check iVisa for the specific requirements for your nationality.
If you’re looking for travel insurance, the one with the best benefits online is undoubtedly Heymondo! It’s very easy to ask for a quote on the website and, if you book with this link you’ll get 5% off!
Access mobile data immediately when entering the country with a Colombian E-sim or a Latamlink E-sim when traveling through multiple countries. If you are already in Colombia, the best local prepaid sim card is Claro.
The small town of Minca is the gateway to Marinka Waterfalls. Minca is accessible from Santa Marta by taxi, moto-taxi, or local bus. Once in Minca, you have several options you can choose from to make your trip to the waterfalls.
One of the best ways to reach the Marinka Waterfalls is on foot. The hike from Minca to the waterfalls takes about 1 to 1,5 hours depending on your pace and your starting point in Minca.
The trail is not hard. Basically, you just need to continue your way on the same (dusty!) street until you see a sign on your left to the Marinka Waterfalls.
The path is a bit hilly and you will get sweaty in the heat of midday. Also, note that sandflies are common to encounter on the way. I can highly recommend wearing long trousers or insect repellent.
On the way to the Marinka waterfalls, you can also find another waterfall that is free of cost, Cascada Oido Del Mundo, or “ear of the world”. I got 63 sandfly bites here though, so beware!
Here is the Google Maps location of the Marinka Waterfalls.
If you are looking for a quicker and less physically demanding way to reach the waterfalls, there are moto-taxis available in the center of Minca near the yellow bridge.
The journey by moto-taxi takes about 20 to 30 minutes from Minca. Note that the dirt road to the waterfalls is very uneven. The ride will be very bumpy! Prices hover around 10.000 COP.
You will get dropped at the Marinka Waterfalls sign on the main road and will need to walk another 10 minutes to reach the entrance.
If your health is bad and you do not fancy taking a moto-taxi there are possibilities to ply the route to the Marinka Waterfalls by a 4×4 jeep.
I have to be honest here and tell you that I do not know exactly how to book these in Minca but I’ve seen possibilities online to book 4×4 guided tours with a jeep to Marinka Waterfalls from Santa Marta so they should run from Minca too.
Note that this is a very expensive option!
The best time to visit the Marinka Waterfalls is during the dry season, which runs from December to April. Do note that the Colombian holiday season also runs from December to early February and that the waterfalls can overrun with tourists during these months.
Regardless of when you visit, it’s best to start your trip to the waterfalls early in the day. This will help you avoid the larger crowds that show up later in the day and you will be able to enjoy the tranquility of the waterfalls much more.
The official opening hours of the Marinka Falls are from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. However, I arrived at 8:30 A.M. and they already opened the gate at 8:40 A.M. so it’s worth it to go early.
I was a little surprised about the entrance fee. Most of the blogs out there mentioned an entrance price of 10.000 COP but this has changed now to 16.000 COP per person.
When I asked why the prices had increased so drastically, they said that it was due to a third waterfall being recently opened and they also mentioned something about included insurance (the latter being bullshit I suppose).
Anyway, 16.000 COP it is, otherwise, you can’t get in.
There are no accommodation options inside the Marinka Waterfalls complex, however, there are some guesthouses nearby that offer accommodation.
Check out the Reserva Natural Tierra Adentro for an exceptional stay in the nature reserve that surrounds the Marinka Waterfalls.
The most logical place to stay when you want to visit the Marinka Waterfalls is in the small town of Minca which is 4 kilometers (2,5 miles) away from the waterfalls. You can find various accommodation options here and especially lots of eco-lodges!
Note that the center of Minca can get really noisy during the day and in the evening. It’s better to look for accommodation that is a bit further afield in the little streets surrounding the center.
This small guesthouse with only four rooms was a welcome retreat after I stayed for two nights in the center of Minca. Akainoie is located on a quiet dead-end street within easy walking distance of the center of Minca.
The rooms are very peaceful and the accommodation offers a large kitchen, a big fridge, free tea and coffee, and a large terrace overlooking the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Considering price and quality, you can’t go wrong here!
Another good budget option, which was unfortunately fully booked when I was there, is Minca Seasons.
This ecolodge is located on the way from Santa Marta to the center of Minca and is absolutely stunning! The architecture is pretty unique. The rooms are built in earth-ship style to lessen the pressure on the environment as much as possible.
Furthermore, Sol de Minca Eco Lodge offers vegan food, a picnic area, an à la carte included breakfast, and a yoga shala with lessons on request. The center of Minca is only a 15-minute walk away. What’s not to like?!
The créme de la créme of all the accommodation options in Minca is located half an hour’s walk from the center of Minca and is called SelvaMinca. Here you can connect with nature, nurture your well-being, and allow yourself to just be.
The one-bedroom chalets come with a living room and private kitchen but the real eyecatchers here are the open-air bungalows that look a bit like treehouses. yoga classes are available and the restaurant serves plant-based food.
Pozo Azul, Minca
If you have little time on your hands during your visit to Minca you might wonder: should I pick Pozo Azul or Marinka waterfalls? What you should choose highly depends on your budget and what you want to get out of the experience.
The Marinka Waterfalls are a curated complex with comfortable restaurants, showers, and toilets and giant hammocks. This comes a price of course and you will need to pay 16.000 COP to enter.
Pozo Azul on the other hand is free to enter. It offers a more local experience with small coffee shacks and an authentic Colombian restaurant. Plastic chairs are on offer (but I’m not sure you need to pay for them) but most people just try to find a spot on the rocks to place their towel.
I loved them both. They each have their own unique charm. All I can say is that you should stay in Minca longer to experience both locations! 🙂
There you go! I hope you enjoyed this guide to the Marinka Waterfalls. A great destination to visit after Minca is the authentic town of Dibulla. Most travelers flock from Minca to Palomino and Tayrona National Park but, if you are looking for more local vibes away from the tourist trail, then Dibulla is a great alternative.
Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions or drop me a message through my contact page.
Also, don’t forget to check out my resources page with my favorite booking platforms and tips to start planning your trip. Additionally, have a look at my favorite travel gear if you want to pack more consciously!
ENJOY!
Disclaimer: This post may include affiliate links. If you click on them, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Hi! I am Annelies and this is Travelers & Dreamers, a blog about conscious travel which means traveling in a more mindful way, with a positive impact on the world and yourself!
On this website, I cover different topics like slow travel, plant-based food guides, responsible travel, sustainable packing, eco-travel, and more!
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