Santa Rita, Salento: All You Need to Know
April 26, 2024
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Colombia is full of surprises and one of them is the cute mountain town of Minca in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains. While you are probably traveling to the Caribbean Coast to have some beach time, Minca offers something different, only a 45-minute bus ride from the coast. In Minca, you can find lush mountains, inviting waterfalls, and coffee and cocoa farms in a gorgeous jungle setting. In this post, I’ll share everything you need to know about Minca, including what to do, how to get there, and where to stay!
Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta Mountains, Minca, Colombia
Minca is a lovely mountain town located in the Sierra Nevada mountains in the north of Colombia. It used to be very remote but it is now one of the most popular places on the backpacker trail in Colombia and Minca is also no secret to domestic tourists.
I have to be honest and say that, as a conscious traveler, I wasn’t too fond of Minca when I first arrived. I arrived in town on a Friday afternoon and the center of Minca, which only consists of two streets, was packed with tourists, loud music was playing and the main streets were jammed with traffic due to taxis that were trying to get guests to their accommodations in the narrow streets surrounding the center.
It was not what I expected of the quiet and peaceful mountain town that so many blogs talked about and I was quite disappointed. This luckily changed when the weekend passed and when I moved from an accommodation in the center of Minca to a lovely shared house in a dead-end street only a 10-minute walk from the center.
Minca is touristy, but you can still have a great time here if you know the best time to visit, where to stay to enjoy the natural surroundings, and when to plan your activities. I will disclose everything I know about Minca in this post!
There are a lot of things to do in Minca, especially in the area surrounding the town center. Be ready to do some serious hiking, you are in the mountains after all. The roads that lead to certain activities are quite steep and saying steep is even an understatement.
Here are the best things to do in Minca, Colombia!
One of the best experiences I had was visiting the Marinka Waterfalls near Minca. The Marinka Waterfalls is a curated eco-friendly complex with three waterfalls, a swimming area, restaurants toilets, and showers.
At first, it seemed like a tourist trap, because it is priced rather on the higher side for Colombian standards, but I quickly changed my mind after entering the site.
Marinka Waterfalls, Minca
At the complex, you can find giant hammocks, lovely pools with crystal-clear water that are perfect for swimming, and restaurants that serve good organic coffee and menus with plant-based food options.
The entrance to Marinka Waterfalls is 16.000 COP and the best way to reach it is on foot. For more information, check out my complete guide to the Marinka Waterfalls.
Plan B is a holistic sanctuary in the Sierra Nevada mountains focused on sustainable living and permaculture gardening.
They offer different kinds of workshops, from “farm to table” cooking where you’ll learn about conscious cooking methods like fermentation and edible plants to manifestation workshops that can consist of cacao ceremonies, meditation, dance, and brunch.
Do note that Plan B is not vegan. Even though their cooking workshops and brunches are plant-based, they do keep bees.
Plan B doesn’t have a website but you can contact them through their Instagram page.
Pozo Azul is the most famous waterfall and swimming hole in Minca and is loved both by domestic and foreign tourists. Compared to the Marinka waterfalls, Pozo Azul offers a completely different experience.
Pozo Azul is not curated but offers a lovely natural environment where you can enjoy a dip in the river. The main swimming hole is surrounded by a few shacks selling cheap tinto and a traditional Colombian restaurant.
Pozo Azul is located a one-hour walk from the center of Minca and is completely free to visit. Do note that, because of its popularity, it gets packed with tourists in the late morning and the afternoon.
The best time to visit is around 8 A.M. in the morning before the crowds set in and tour buses arrive from Santa Marta. You can read my full guide to Pozo Azul to learn more about this beloved place in Minca.
One of the best things to do in Minca is to go on a cocoa farm tour at Finca La Candelaria. This finca, located on the top of a mountain, involves a strenuous hike to reach, however, you can also hire a moto-taxi in town.
During a tour, you will learn everything about the process of chocolate, from growing the cocoa trees to harvesting the beans and turning them into chocoloate.
Cocoa farm tour, Minca Colombia
You will learn how to grain the beans, cook them in a funny improvised oven, and what additional elements need to be added to give the chocolate its delicious taste.
There’s no need to make a reservation, you can just show up and enjoy the next tour. Tours start roughly every hour and include an English-speaking guide.
One thing to keep in mind when you plan on hiking to Finca La Candelaria is that the location on Google Maps is wrong! It indicates that the finca is close to Plan B but that is not true. From that point, it’s another tough 30-minute walk uphill before you reach La Candelaria!
While towns in de Eje Cafetero like Salento and Filandia are the most well-known places in Colombia for coffee tours, there are also a few noteworthy places in Minca to check out.
Finca La Candelaria is not only a cocoa farm but it also grows coffee and you opt to go both on a coffee and cocoa tour while up there.
Another coffee farm that is located not too far from the center of Minca is La Victoria coffee farm. This is one of the oldest and largest coffee farms in northern Colombia and it was established by Charles and Alice Bowden in 1892.
Finca La Victoria is located not to far from Pozo Azul and it’s a great idea to combine both of these things on a day trip. Finca Victoria also has a small cafe with drinks and snacks where you can get a bite to eat and relax before or after your tour.
Happy Nebbi, Cerveceria Nevada, Minca Colombia
If there is one thing I didn’t expect to see in Colombia then it’s the incredible craft beer scene that you can find in many Colombian cities and towns. I encountered this before in Buga and Villavieja and to my surprise, the small town of Minca also has its own brewery.
Cerveceria Nevada is located on the property of Finca Victoria. what sets their beer apart is that it is made with mineral water (holy water as they say it) from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains giving it a unique taste.
There are some unusual creations on offer like the Happy Coca which is brewed using local coca leaves. You can visit the brewery while doing a coffee tour of Finca Victoria but you can find the beers too at most western-style restaurants in the center of Minca and even at La Miga Bakery.
“Ear of the World”, Minca Colombia
Oido del Mundo or “Ear of the World” used to be a hidden waterfall in Minca but, due to the rise of travel blogs and Instagram, it has now become another popular stop on the tourist trail. Oido del Mundo can easily be combined on a day trip with the Marinka Waterfalls.
Oido del Mundo can be found on the dusty road that leads from the center of Minca to the Marinka Waterfalls. You can find its exact location here and you will see motorbikes and even a few cars parked at the start of the path that leads down to the river.
Oido del Mundo is a wonderful spot near the river! It included a lot of small waterfalls and large rocks that are perfect for sunbathing. The best spot for swimming is located away from the main area. When you cross the river and climb down to the rocks on your right, you will find a perfect swimming hole that is largely free from tourists.
The only downside to Oido del Mundo is that it’s swarming with sand flies. These black creatures are very small and seem harmless but give nasty bites that start itching tremendously after a few hours. Wear insect repellent and keep your legs covered when you are not in the water!
The entrance to Oido del Mundo is free of charge but doesn’t have any amenities so bring water and snacks.
El Rincon de Tono, Minca Colombia
El Rincon the Tono is a restaurant in the center of Minca located on the Minca River. While the restaurant doesn’t cater to vegans, I did want to mention this lovely spot because of its scenic location and local Colombian vibe.
Minca is mainly geared towards Western tourists and finding this gem was a refreshing break from the French bakery, Lebanese restaurants, and Italian pasta in town!
At El Rincon de Tono, you can see local children splashing in the river while you relax with a local beer at one of the outdoor tables on the river rocks. It’s colorful, busy, and typical Colombian.
I wasn’t sure about bathing in the river though at this location. El Rincon de Tono is right in the center of Minca, downstream of the river. I don’t know anything about the sewer system in Minca but I suppose the water here can be quite dirty.
If you are an avid hiker then you will love Minca! Minca is a hiker’s paradise with countless trails leading to amazing viewpoints, hidden cocoa farms, and cute waterfalls.
The most famous hike in Minca is the Cerro Kennedy hike. This is a two-day hike that will lead you to some of the most magnificent views over the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, including the peaks of Cristobal Colon and Simon Bolivar which are the highest mountains in Colombia.
While the hike technically can be done in one day, the best thing to do is stay overnight at Hostel Moncho. This way, you can enjoy the magical views over the mountains both when the sun sets and rises again the next day!
Doing the trek can be done on an organized tour but also independently if that’s what you prefer.
The unique ecosystem of Minca makes it an ideal spot for watching wildlife, especially birds. To be honest, I haven’t seen any other wildlife in Minca aside from birds, although there should be howler monkeys and other wild animals around.
Birds that you expect to see are, for instance, the Sierra Nevada Brushfinch, the Santa Marta warbler, the Santa Marta Parakeet, and many kinds of hummingbirds.
If you want to go on a birdwatching tour, look no further than Jungle Joe to guide you. They specialize in taking tourists through the vast ecosystems of the Sierra Nevada mountains and do this in a sustainable and responsible way.
Ready for another waterfall? Cascada Escondida, also called “Cascada Perdida” is the fourth waterfall in Minca that is worth checking out. It can easily be combined with a visit to Pozo Azul since it’s located about halfway on the road leading to Pozo Azul.
If you are looking for the way to Cascada Escondida, don’t let Google Maps fool you. If you’re nearby, it says that you should take a path down at Jugos y Panaderia del Bosque. While there is a path there that takes you down to the river, it’s not the most convenient way to get down.
Instead, head in the direction of La Veranda Hotel, an accommodation that is located on a side street away from the main road. When you are standing in front of La Veranda Hotel, you can see a trail going down on the other side of the road.
This trail first takes you past what seems like an abandoned tourist accommodation before it continues down to the river. This takes about 10 minutes. When you arrive at the river, you have not reached Cascada Escondida yet!
At this point, you will need to cross the river with a rope and continue further along the path until you reach the waterfall. The entrance is 8.000 COP.
Minca offers an inspiring and serene setting for yoga retreats and both drop-in classes and private classes are also available at multiple locations in and around the center of Minca.
There are no yoga schools in Minca but instead, the classes are held at eco-conscious accommodations that have built a yoga shala on their property.
Accommodations that offer yoga classes include Selva Minca, Sol de Minca Eco Lodge, and Casa Loma Minca. A lot of blogs also mention Casa Elemento but, as far as my knowledge goes, this hostel doesn’t exist anymore.
Alternatively, a lot of accommodations around Minca have terraces with fantastic views over the mountains so you can also practice a little DIY if you bring your mat.
Credit: Selva Minca, Minca Colombia
If you want to stay at one of the most extraordinary places in Minca, look no further than Selva Minca. Founded by a couple that is passionate about preserving the natural surroundings of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains, this accommodation is as eco-friendly as it can get!
Selva Minca consists of sustainably constructed lodges, some that look like towering tree houses allowing you to have a panoramic view of the mountains from your bed.
Furthermore, there are a lot of wellness therapies, meditation classes, and yoga classes on offer, even tantric experiences for couples, and you can indulge here in delicious plant-based food that is locally produced.
Tayrona National Park, Colombia
Suppose you want to visit Tayrona National Park but don’t fancy staying in Santa Marta or one of the accommodations around the park. In that case, it’s very easy to visit Tayrona on a day trip from Minca.
You can easily find a private driver in Minca that can take you to the El Zaino or Calabazo entrance of the park. Alternatively, there are tours available to Tayrona National Park. Ask your accommodation to arrange this for you.
Nevertheless, it’s also very easy to get to Tayrona National Park from Minca by public transport. Take one of the minivans at the Cootrasminca office near the yellow bridge to Santa Marta and transfer at the Mamatoco station to a bus that heads to Tayrona National Park.
Do note that visiting Tayrona National Park requires a lot of hiking, so leave for the park as early as possible from Minca to get the most out of your day.
Ciudad Perdida trek in Colombia
If you are not keen on staying in Santa Marta either to do the Ciudad Perdida trek, this is something you can also arrange through your accommodation in Minca.
In case you are not familiar yet with what the Ciudad Perdida trek is, this is a very rewarding multi-day hike through the jungle of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It leads to the archaeological site of “The Lost City”, an ancient city that is believed to be even older than Machu Picchu in Peru.
Note that accommodations in Minca organize this trek, for example, Casa Loma, but the start of the tour will take you back to Santa Marta first to register for the trek at the Baquianos office.
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.
To reach Minca, you first need to make your way to the city of Santa Marta. Santa Marta can easily be reached from all the corners of Colombia, either by a flight or long-distance bus.
From Santa Marta, you can either choose to reach Minca by taxi (50.000 COP/taxi) or minivan (10.000 COP/per person). The distance between Santa Marta and Minca is only 17 kilometers (about 10 miles).
Read my comprehensive transport guide about getting from Santa Marta to Minca, either from the center, the airport of the Santa Marta Bus Terminal.
Using your own two feet is the best option to get to the nearby attractions that surround Minca town. Most of the waterfalls around Minca can be reached by doing short hikes and even nearby surrounding mountains, for instance, the road up to Plan B and Finca La Candelaria are doable on foot if you prepare yourself for the steep upwards climb.
Alternatively, moto-taxis are readily available at the Motomink station in town or you can opt to rent a motorbike yourself and drive yourself. Do note that the roads often go over uneven terrain and can be quite bumpy.
If your accommodation is located way out of the town center, for example, Sierra Minca hostel, a rented motorbike might be a necessity if you are planning to stay in Minca for a few days.
The best time to visit Minca is during the dry season, from December to the end of March. Alternatively, you can also visit during the wetter months as the tourist crowds will be less and prices will be lower.
If you are visiting during peak season, try not come to Minca in December and January. This period marks the holiday season for Colombians and prices for accommodation increase hugely during these months.
On top of that, because so many Colombian are holidaying, accommodation options tend to sell out quickly. Making a reservation in advance is absolutely necessary during this time of the year.
If I would return to Colombia I would choose to travel in March when the weather is still good but the Colombian holiday season is over.
The church in the center of Minca, Colombia
There are many accommodation options in Minca and they range from dorm beds to luxurious tree houses. Personally, I found the accommodation prices a bit inflated in Minca.
I’m not sure if it was due to being peak season or because the town is geared so much towards Western tourists. While I had no problem anywhere else in Colombia finding accommodation that was below $20/a night, in Minca it was not easy.
Also, the dorm beds in the hostels here are expensive compared to regular hostel prices because of their locations up in the mountains and unique layouts (often with giant hammocks overlooking the mountains).
I would also like to recommend not staying in the center of Minca. During the weekend, things can get pretty loud there. Having stayed on my first two nights at Hospedaje Silvia in the town center, I knew I had to move away further afield and I’m glad I did.
Here are my recommendations for where to stay in Minca!
This wonderful guesthouse consisting of only four rooms was the change I needed after staying for two nights in the center of Minca. Akainoie is situated on a lovely dead-end street within easy walking distance of the town center.
The rooms are simple but beautiful and come with air conditioning or a fan. Furthermore, the accommodation offers a clean kitchen, a big fridge, free tea and coffee, and a cozy terrace overlooking the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta Mountains. Considering the price and quality and this place, this is a great deal!
Minca Seasons is another budget accommodation in Minca in a quiet and serene location but only a short walk away from the shops and restaurants in the center of Minca.
The property is non-smoking and, if available, you should pick one of the rooms on the second floor. These rooms come with a terrace and offer wonderful views over the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains.
Don Luis, the owner, speaks English perfectly, which is a nice bonus if you can’t express yourself that well in Spanish and are tired of using Google Translate. 🙂
This eco-lodge is located on the main road from Santa Marta to the center of Minca and is absolutely stunning! The architecture is pretty unique and you won’t find anything else like this in Minca.
The rooms are built sustainably, in earth-ship style, to reduce the pressure on the environment as much as possible. How beautiful is that?
Furthermore, Sol de Minca Eco Lodge offers incredible 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. In town, you can find grocery shops, restaurants, and the bus station.
If you are looking for an eco-lodge with a bit of a hipster vibe, then you will surely love Casa Loma in Minca.
Accommodation options are plenty here, from simple dorm rooms and hammocks to open-style bungalows and houses that come with a style inspired by the indigenous communities that live in the forests around Minca.
The true eyecatcher of Casa Loma is the terrace with a sunset bar that offers an incredible view over Minca and the mountains. Here you can grab a cocktail or juice and relax after a day full of hiking and chasing waterfalls.
The on-site restaurant “Soul Kitchen’ offers a vegetarian menu with vegan options.
The most otherworldly of all the accommodation options in Minca is located a few kilometers from the center of Minca and is called SelvaMinca.
Selva Minca is a sustainably run hotel where you can connect with nature, nurture your well-being, and pamper yourself with all kinds of treatments, from massages to tantric sessions with your partner.
The one-bedroom chalets come with a living room and private kitchen but the real stars of the show here are the open-air tower bungalows that look a bit like open-air treehouses. The restaurant serves vegan and vegetarian food and yoga lessons are also available upon request.
Traditional Colombian almuerzo at Casa Christi in Minca Colombia
Even though Minca is a very small town, foodwise you can find almost everything you want from pizza and burgers to Lebanese food and Mexican burritos.
Coming to such a small town, I’d expected otherwise and I was a bit disappointed that there weren’t more local Colombian restaurants around that offer cheap menu del Dia’s.
If you are looking for a Colombian restaurant with an authentic vibe and incredibly helpful staff, head to Casa Christi. It is located at the border of the town center on the road to Marinka Waterfalls.
I had a delicious vegan lunch here including soup and a main plate consisting of grilled eggplant, rice, yucca fries, and salad.
Organic plant-based burger at Duni restaurant, Minca Colombia
Furthermore, you can find an exquisite plant-based restaurant in Minca called Duni. It is located in the center of Minca right behind the church. You can’t miss it since it has a unique architectural style that is both hip and interesting.
The menu includes many vegan options like arepas and sandwiches and they even serve vegan ice cream which can be a delight after longs days of exploring in the heat of the sun.
La Miga bakery, Minca Colombia
Other great options in Minca include La Miga Bakery where you can get fresh whole-wheat and sourdough bread in the morning and Kombucha. I found it a bit odd though that there was no Colombian panaderia in town. I’m not that big of a fan of Colombian bread but still, weird!
Lastly, I couldn’t get enough of the pizzas at a local restaurant across the street from Duni. It’s a very basic place but the quality of the pizzas here is incredible and considering how large they are, the price is pretty decent.
A large-sized pizza is enough for two people and, if you are vegan, you can ask them not to use cheese (they don’t have vegan cheese to replace it though).
The name of the restaurant is El Nuevo Sabor Pizzeria but, if you want to search for it on Google Maps, you need to look for ‘Pizzeria Donde Chiqui“.
No! There is no ATM in Minca. However, if you are desperately in need of cash you can go to the ATM Multipagos Bank near the yellow bridge in the center of town. It’s not a real bank, but you can withdraw money here.
Do note that the fees for getting money are high! For example, if you want to withdraw 1.000.000 COP ($ 250) you will need to pay a fee of 60.000 COP ($ 15).
There is another “bank” using the same technique near La Miga Bakery called ATM Embassy Bank Minca. I don’t know if the fees there are the same
There you go! I hope you enjoyed this Minca travel guide and that you found many useful travel tips here. Minca is well on the tourist trail but it is absolutely worth visiting this town because of its unique location in the Santa Marta Mountains.
What’s next on your itinerary? Are you planning to travel from Minca to Palomino? If you are looking for a superb off-the-beaten-path destination by the Caribbean Sea that is free from other tourists, try Dibulla!
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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