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Are you traveling around in the north of Colombia? Then chances are you will find yourself in Minca one day wanting to travel to the beach town of Palomino. In this guide, I will let you in on everything you need to know about traveling from Minca to Palomino! Getting to Palomino from Minca is pretty straightforward so this article will be short and sweet! Here we go!
Oido del Mundo, Minca, Colombia
Minca is a cute mountain town located in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in the north of Colombia. It’s close to Santa Marta, the main travel hub on the Caribbean coast although the temperatures are much cooler here than at the coast.
The best things to do in Minca revolve around hiking, rivers and waterfalls, birdwatching, and relaxing. Pozo Azul and Marinka waterfalls are the two most popular waterfalls in Minca and the area around the town center is also great for cocoa or coffee tours in the nearby farms.
Minca also has a great accommodation scene. Although a little bit pricier than in the rest of Colombia, here you can find hostels with giant hammocks, eco-lodges built in earthship style, and beautiful fincas where you can laze away your days sipping the best coffee you have ever tasted!
Beach of Palomino
Palomino is a small town on the Caribbean coast located about 90 kilometers east of Santa Marta. It’s close to Tayrona National Park, one of the most popular parks in Colombia.
While having become extremely touristy in recent years, Palomino has everything that dreams are made of. You can choose to spend your days relaxing by the beach, tube down the Palomino River, or visit one of the nearby indigenous villages where you can learn about the Kogi or Arhuaco culture.
For a more secluded and off-the-beaten-path destination on the Caribbean coast, consider visiting Dibulla after your trip to Palomino, which is 30 minutes further away.
The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains
Palomino is located roughly 90 kilometers (56 miles) from Minca. While this seems not far note that, if you want to take public transport, it can take a long time to cover short distances due to traffic, road works or buses that break down.
The fastest but also most expensive option to get from Minca to Palomino is by hiring a taxi or a private driver to take you. You can arrange this easily through your accommodation in Minca and it should cost about 350.000 COP.
If you like to have things arranged before you embark on your trip, you can also book a private car online through Daytrip or contact Bukap Travels for a luxurious private transfer.
Taxis and private cars aside, here is how you get from Minca to Palomino by public transport, which is the most economical way of traveling. While both locations are not that far from each other in distance, there is no public transport that covers the route directly from Minca to Palomino. You will need to change buses in Santa Marta.
Another rather annoying thing is that the colectivos that leave Minca for Santa Marta don’t make a stop at the large transport Terminal in Santa Marta where big buses leave regularly for Palomino and other destinations on the Troncal del Caribe.
Instead, the collectives drive into Santa Marta town but, they make a stop first in Mamatoco, and there you can switch to a bus to Palomino.
Here is the complete breakdown of how to get to Palomino from Minca!
From your accommodation in Minca, make your way to the Cootrasminca bus station. The Cootransminca office is located near the yellow bridge in the center of Minca. You really can’t miss it since travelers are hanging around there every day getting in and out of the Colectivos.
Buy your ticket to get to Santa Marta first. This costs 10.000 COP (Jan 2024). The colectivos take about 45 minutes to reach Santa Marta. Now, instead of taking the minivan all the way to the center of Santa Marta, be sure to get out at Mamatoco.
If everything goes well, the driver will make a stop here anyway but if he doesn’t ask to get out at the Transportadora Sierra Mar Sas Minca office.
At the Transportadora Sierra Mar office, you can buy your bus ticket for Palomino. A ticket costs 12.000 COP and the bus ride will take around 2 hours to reach Palomino. The bus will drop you off at the main road near the D1 supermarket.
From there, it’s an easy walk to most accommodations in town. If your accommodation is located further out of town, both taxis and moto taxis are waiting at the bus station.
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.
Palomino has experienced a huge tourist boom in recent years and, as a result, accommodation options have become plenty. As a conscious traveler, there are many options to choose from. Eco lodges are on offer but also cozy homestays and small locally-owned hotels with pools.
Note that, during the main tourist season in Colombia which runs from late November to early February, accommodations can fill up quickly. During these months, you absolutely need to make a reservation in advance! Trust me!
Here are some great options to research before you travel to Palomino.
If you are looking for a budget option in Palomino then Posada Gallinas is a great choice. The rooms are simple but they are nicely decorated with a bit of a bohemian touch. The accommodation also offers a great outdoor seating and dining area with a well-equipped shared kitchen!
The location of this place is also great. It’s located between the main road and the beach but away from the busy road where most restaurants are. This way, you are close to everything, yet in a quiet location, away from the loud music.
Also, the two cats that live on the property are simple adorable!
Do you fancy having a place all to yourself when traveling? La Floristeria is a private house in Palomino that comes with its own pool! It’s the perfect place if you are traveling with a friend and are looking for a peaceful escape after a long period of traveling. The house comes with two bedrooms, each with a double bed. This is perfect too of course if you are two couples traveling together or even for families!
The house is located in the center of Palomino, yet far away enough from the busy street with restaurants to have a peaceful stay.
If you are looking for an eco-luxury experience, then staying at Aite Eco Resort is your best bet! This resort started as a small guesthouse in Palomino but has been built out throughout the years to become this wonderful eco-friendly accommodation.
The location is bit out of the center of Palomino but right by the beach. They offer beautiful double rooms or, if you have a little more money to spend, you can opt for one of the beach bungalows!
They don’t have a formal sustainability policy but you can check out their website to learn about what they do to protect the environment and to help the local community.
There you go! I hope this guide about how to get from Minca to Palomino was helpful. 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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