Minca
Colombia · Americas
About Minca
Minca is a small town 20 km away from Santa Marta in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Colombia. It sits 580 m above sea level with a slightly cooler climate than the coast, within a lush tropical forest, and as such is a popular retreat for tourists looking for a relaxed atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle of Santa Marta.
Minca travel guide
Understand
It is famous for its organic coffee and has a much cooler temperature than the sweltering Santa Marta. The village is charming and has, in the past few years, grown as a traveler and birdwatching destination. It attracts mostly backpackers who want a week or two off from the beaten track and indulge into tranquility. It's a great base for hiking, mountain biking, bird-watching, and other outdoor activities, offering a fresh mountain breeze, over 300 bird species and spectacular views.
Getting there
The road leading to Minca was rebuilt in 2015 and is in good condition. Local Santa Marta taxi drivers are willing to take you up to Minca for about COP$200,000 for the day. They will drive you around and wait for you and then take you back to town. There are direct buses to Minca from Santa Marta, Taganga, Tayrona and Palomino (plus a few other destinations on the coast) run by a company called Minca Bus. Tickets for these can be booked on their website. Shared taxi vans (called colectivos) leave from the Plaza de Mercado in Santa Marta. In Google Maps you can also search for 'bus stop to Minca'. The journey costs COP$9,000 (Sep 2023). The van leaves when it is filled up, which can take 20–30 minutes. The last shared van departs Santa Marta around 17:00. You can also pay a car to take you instantly for COP$50,000 (June 2023). The journey to Minca takes 30–60 minutes, however, on weekends and public holidays it may take longer. From the Santa Marta airport, take the bus until the Plaza de Mercado. From there take the shared taxi van to Minca. From El Rodadero many buses go to the Plaza de Mercado, for example the ones to Yucal or Bonda. From there take the van to Minca. Or take a bus from El Rodadero to Yucal, exit at the Panadería Rosalia and take the mototaxi from there. Coming with the bus from Taganga, you can leave that bus near the Plaza de Mercado and take the shared taxi van to Minca. In the Terminal de Transporte the prices of mototaxis and taxis to Minca might be inflated. You can cross the highway and ask there. There is said to be a direct bus from the Terminal de Transporte to Yucal during daytime. Go until the Panaderia Rosalia. There are mototaxis who head to Minca for COP$8,000 (Sept 2021). In the evening it's COP$10,000 (Sept 2021). The mototaxi prices are not fixed, drivers try to inflate it. To get a good price to Minca, ask mototaxi drivers who do not approach you. From Palomino or the Tayrona national park, get off the bus shortly before the Rum
Getting around
Mototaxis can be found in front of the Mono Mink office. They charge COP$10,000 (and can be haggled down, Jan 2023) for little trips around Minca which are sometimes the only way to quickly access your guesthouse as most roads around the village are dirt roads. Relying on these numerous times over one day may end up making your stay in Minca more expensive than expected – think about it when booking a remote accommodation. A ride to the famous Casa Elemento Hostel takes about half an hour and costs COP$20,000. Be careful about overcharging. The price should be appropriate for the length of your ride. An alternative is public transportation: the road to Cerro Kennedy is very good, and a bus goes in the morning, at noon, and in the afternoon. Many agencies in the town center offer 4x4 transportation at excessive prices (> 10 times the moto-taxi price, and attempts to bargain have been unsuccessful, Jan 23) which may easily double the cost of your stay in Minca. Bear in mind that combining other transportations and short walks will always get you where you need, and trucks are usually not necessary.
See
1 Pozo Azul. is a popular swimming hole with two small waterfalls. You can jump from the top of the second waterfall into the refreshing water below. Reached by walking for about 45 minutes from Minca town: if you're coming from the church, walk to the junction, then turn right and follow the signs. There is no entry fee. With mototaxi it's around COP$8,000 one-way (Sep 2021). (updated Sep 2021) 2 Oido del Mundo waterfall. From Minca it's around 45 minutes hiking. You can walk through the flowing river or relax on the big rocks. The entry is for free. From here you can continue to the Marinka waterfall and Los Pinos. (updated Sep 2021) 3 Marinka waterfall. A beautiful waterfall with a natural pool for swimming down below. You can walk there in around 1:30h or take a moto taxi for approx COP$6,000 (June 2016). The entry is COP$5,000 (Jan 2021). (updated Jan 2021) 4 Los Pinos (The Pine trees). From Los Pinos you have an amazing view all over the mountains of Minca and all the way to the coast and Santa Marta. It takes 2½ hours from town to walk there or you can make a trip of it by visiting the Marinka waterfall, sleeping in a hostel up there and then walking the last bit the following morning, or just pay a mototaxi to take you up there. There are two roads leading to the spot: one is the main road and the other is off-track, taking small paths leading you through coffee-plantations. Ask your hostel for information. On the way to Los Pinos are the Marinka waterfall and the Oido del Mundo. (updated Sep 2021) 5 Cerro Kennedy. The end of this hike is the viewpoint of Los Nevados. From here you can almost see the entire Sierra Nevada and the sea. If the weather is good the two highest mountain Pico Cristóbal Colón and Pico Simón Bolívar are also visible. The difference in elevation between Minca and the mountain top is 2,200 meters. To make the most of the experience, it is recommended to stay at one of the two hostels about 3-4 km from the top. Both offer cheap rooms an
Do
1 La Candelaria Coffee Farm, ☏ +57 321-588-7985, [email protected]. Offers interesting chocolate and coffee tours. You can also stay overnight and buy organic coffee and cocoa. Included is a pet toucan ("Tuci"), which was rescued as a baby and now inhabits the house. Reached by a one hour hike, with good views, or take a moto taxi (COP$12,000-15,000) to the entrance path and walk the remaining 10–15 min. COP$20,000. (updated Aug 2016) 2 La Victoria Coffee Plantation. A completely self-sustaining coffee plantation, using water from mountain streams to power generators. Coffee beans are moved and processed using only gravity and power from the generators. People who own the plantation will sell you a cup of coffee they make and will be pleased to give you a tour of the place COP$10,000. (updated May 2015) 3 Aiwa Spa Biomassage, ☏ +57-310-610-0863. Offers relaxing massages with a technique called biomassage which is a mix of chiromassage, kinesthetic massage and reflexology/shiatsu, with natural and locally produced oils. Certificated practitioner. English spoken. Turn left after the church and follow the "Aiwa Spa" signs. One session lasts one hour. COP$80,000. (updated Oct 2019)
Buy
You may want to go to an ATM before going to Minca as there are no ATMs. There are only agencies which withdraw money from your credit card for a 6% fee (September 2021). The next ATM i
Overview adapted from Wikipedia, travel guide fromWikivoyage (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.