How To Get From Santa Marta To Minca, Colombia (2025)
January 12, 2025
One of the main reasons many travelers want to visit the small town of Minca is just because of one thing: waterfalls! While there are many places along the river in Minca where you can splash in the water, four waterfalls deserve your attention when traveling to this cute mountain town in Northern Colombia. This is your guide to the best Minca waterfalls including everything you need to know about entrance prices, opening hours, the exact locations, and what to expect. Here we go!
Sierra Nevada mountains, Minca, Colombia
Minca is a cute mountain town located in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains in the north of Colombia. It is known for its great waterfalls, coffee farms, gorgeous natural scenery, and activities like yoga, hiking, and birdwatching.
I wasn’t that fond of Minca when I first arrived in town on a weekend day during the Colombian holiday season. The streets of this little town were packed with tourists, taxi traffic jams, and loud music pumping out of the sound systems at many bars and restaurants. This was not what I expected of a place that was described by other bloggers as a serene small mountain town.
Luckily, things changed quickly when the weekend was over. Even though there were still a large number of tourists in town, the atmosphere became much calmer and it was fun to explore the lovely mountainous surroundings, visit a cacao farm, and try locally brewed beers.
This may not be important to you if you like to travel to busy, touristy places but I just wanted to say this for the conscious travelers who like to explore quieter places!
Waterfall no 2 Marinka Waterfalls
While there are many things to do in Minca, exploring waterfalls is one of the best things to do in this mountain town. There are a lot of waterfalls in Minca, some only known to the locals. This post focuses on four of the most popular waterfalls in Minca that you should certainly visit during your trip.
Note that, while these waterfalls are beautiful, you can be slightly underwhelmed if you have visited cenotes in Mexico with their clear blue waters or places like the Kuang Si Waterfalls in Laos that look otherworldly. Nevertheless, these waterfalls are absolutely worth it!
At the end of this post, I’ll also list a few more off-the-beaten-path waterfalls!
By far the most popular spot in Minca to go for a swim is Pozo Azul. Pozo Azul is a favorite among both domestic and foreign tourists and it gets packed during the holiday season from early December to early February.
As you arrive at Pozo Azul, it’s easy to see why this location is so popular. The area consists of a beautiful swimming hole surrounded by lush trees and is fed by a small waterfall. The pathway to the left of the swimming hole leads you to another small waterfall with a second pool perfect for cliff jumping.
Pozo Azul is only a short hike away from the center of Minca. It’s easy to visit the waterfall on foot, however, it’s also possible to take a collective or a motorcycle taxi.
Watch out if you type “Pozo Azul” into Google Maps! The suggested way to get to Pozo Azul that Google Maps gives is incorrect. Instead, type in “Sendero a Pozo Azul”. This will take you along the main road to a pathway that winds down to the waterfalls.
The entrance to Pozo Azul is free of charge, however, you will need to pay a small fee if you want to park a motorbike or if you want your moto-taxi to wait for you.
you can find everything you need to know about Pozo Azul in this complete Pozo Azul in Minca Guide!
Giant hammock at Marinka Falls
The Marinka Waterfalls near Minca are a completely different story compared to Pozo Azul. While Pozo Azul offers a more local experience with small coffee shacks and an authentic Colombian restaurant, the Marinka Waterfalls is a curated eco-friendly complex consisting of three waterfalls connected with each other by lovely pathways through lush landcapes.
Main swimming pool and waterfall at Marinka Waterfalls, Minca.
At two of the waterfalls, you can find crystal-clear pools and they are perfect for swimming. Furthermore, you can find a few simple café and restaurants dotting the pathways that offer cheap organic coffee and tasty food, with many plant-based options.
Eco-friendly bench made of bottle caps and the beautiful waterfall at the top of the complex
Do note that the Marinka Waterfalls get packed with tourists in the afternoon. My advice is to go in the early morning before the hordes of tourists arrive. At this time of the day, you can still get a sense of tranquility and seclusion here which is absolutely mesmerizing.
To learn everything you need to know about these waterfalls, read my complete Marinka Waterfalls Guide.
Swimming hole at Cascada Oido del Mundo
Oido del Mundo or “Ear of the World” used to be a hidden gem in Minca but, due to the rise of travel blogs and Instagram, it’s now a popular stop on the tourist trail. Oido del Mundo is a place that can easily be combined on a day trip with the Marinka Waterfalls.
Oido del Mundo is located on a dusty road that leads from the center of Minca to the Marinka Waterfalls. You can find its exact location here. You’ll see cars and motorbikes parked where the trail starts and winds down to the river.
Oido del Mundo is a lovely spot near the river with small waterfalls and large rocks that are perfect for sunbathing. The best spot for a swim is located away from the main area. When you cross the river and venture down to the rocks on your right, you will find a great swimming hole that is free from tourists.
There is only one downside to Oido del Mundo and that is that it is swarming with sand flies. These little creatures are very small and seem harmless at first but they give nasty bites that start itching tremendously a few hours later. Wear insect repellent and beware!
The entrance to Oido del Mundo is free of charge.
Lastly, Cascada Escondida, also called “Cascada Perdida” is another waterfall in Minca that is worth checking out. This waterfall can easily be combined with a visit to Pozo Azul since it’s only a short detour from the main road that runs through Minca.
Again, don’t let Google fool you where the trail is to Cascada Escondida. 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 leads down to the river, it’s not the most convenient one to walk on.
Instead, make your way to La Veranda Hotel which is located on a side street away from the main road. When you are standing in front of La Veranda Hotel, you will see a trail going down on the other side of the road.
This trail will take you past what seems like an abandoned accommodation to the river in 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 (there’s a rope) and continue further along the path until you reach Cascada Escondida. The entrance fee is 8.000 COP.
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.
As I previously mentioned, Minca town gets packed with tourists during the Colombian holiday season. And, since this is also the best time to visit Colombia for foreign tourists, you can find a lot of them too in Minca in December and January!
Here are some tips for visiting the waterfalls in Minca:
El Rincon de Tono river fun
If you can’t get enough of the waterfalls in Minca, here are a few other places you can visit. I haven’t visited them all personally, so I can’t say if they are worth it but be sure to contact me if you have given them a try! I would love to add the information to this article.
El Rincon de Tono is a restaurant located by the river in the center of Minca. It’s a very local place and you won’t find any tourists here. Domestic tourists love this place and you will see families here splashing around in the water all day.
Entrance to Cascada Amazilia
Furthermore, on the road to Pozo Azul, there are two more waterfalls that you can explore aside from Casa Escondida. On the sendero from the main road to Pozo Azul, you will pass by the gate pictured in the photo above.
This is the entrance to Cascada Amazilia and they claim that this waterfall allows you to enjoy the river away from the crowds. It’s a privately-owned waterfall and you will need to pay 10.000 COP. Camping spots are also on offer in this small nature reserve.
Sign and stairs for Pozo Cristal
Secondly, on the main road somewhere in between Cascada Escondida and the trail to Pozo Azul, you will find stairs that lead down to Pozo Cristal. I was tempted to visit this waterfall but the lady running the accommodation on the main road tried to charge us a higher price than what was indicated on the sign (2000 COP) so eventually I skipped it.
You can find the stairs to Pozo Cristal near Hostal Montes De Baraka on the road from Minca to Pozo Azul.
While there are accommodation options close to these waterfalls, I would opt to stay somewhere else in Minca. After spending a week in Minca, researching the various options, here are my favorite picks!
This cute guesthouse with only four rooms was a welcome change after I stayed for two nights in the center of Minca. Akainoie is located on a tranquil dead-end street within easy walking distance of the center of Minca.
The rooms are very serene and the accommodation offers a great kitchen, a huge fridge, free tea and coffee, and a large terrace overlooking the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta Mountains. Considering price and quality, this is a great deal!
Another good budget option to consider when Akainoie is fully booked is Minca Seasons.
This eco-lodge is located on the main road from Santa Marta to the center of Minca and is absolutely gorgeous! The architecture is pretty unique. The rooms are built in earth-ship style to reduce the pressure on the environment as much as possible.
Furthermore, Sol de Minca Eco Lodge offers amazing 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 short walk away where you find grocery shops, restaurants, and the bus station.
The most extraordinary 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 relax while soaking in the scenery.
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. The restaurant serves plant-based food and yoga lessons are available upon request.
This accommodation is located pretty close to Oido del Mundo.
There you go! I hope you enjoyed this post about the most popular waterfalls in the small village of Minca. Onwards travel plans after Minca can be to travel from Minca to Palomino or, if you prefer to travel more off the beaten path, the little beach town of Dibulla is a great destination!
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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