Why You Need to Visit Minca, Colombia
Visiting Minca?
Famous for its chocolate and coffee farms, the sparsely populated town of Minca lies nestled in the hills and mountains of Colombia's Sierra Nevada.
Recently growing in popularity with travellers, it's the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of Santa Marta and indulge in the luscious green hills surrounding the town.
With an array of hiking trails at your feet, hiking in Minca will take you to some incredible viewpoints. Get out those trekking toes because you're about to experience some incredible landscapes in Colombia.
It would be great to take you with me on an adventure around Minca, but for now, I'll have to resort to listing out amazing things to do in Minca on your next visit to Colombia!
Sunsets in Minca
Everything you need to visit Minca, Colombia
Dive into Cascada de Marinka
Around a 2-hour walk from the main town of Minca, head to the Cascada de Marinka for a refreshing dip into the waterfalls.
With natural pools of fresh water, it's perfect for swimming or lying in one of the many hammocks at the foot of the hill.
There's an entrance fee of $5,000 COP and a restaurant by the waterfall.
Handy tip: Download maps.me or AllTrails on your phone before your hikes in Minca. It's pretty easy to take the wrong route and then have to backtrack.
Cascada de Marinka
Indulge in coffee and chocolate farms
A trip to Colombia wouldn't be complete without a visit to a local Finca. There are many coffee farms scattered around Minca offering daily tours and a chance to buy locally produced coffee directly from producers.
La Candelaria also includes daily chocolate tours where they take you through the production of cacao into chocolate.
As it involved chocolate, this was easily one of my favourite tours! My recommendation? Come in the afternoon and ask the tour guide to taste the cacao bean when it's sweet. It's strange for it to taste very sweet and then really bitter at the end of the chocolate-making process. You'll even get to finish the tour with a chocolate face mask!
La Candalaria
La Victoria, a coffee plantation farm that also produces beer, and has daily tours. It's around a 2-hour walk from the main town or 20 minutes on a motorbike.
Hike to a 365 degree panoramic view
If you do anything in Minca, do this!! My advice? Head there for sunset and bring a torch!
To get to the panoramic views, head to Hostel Mundo Nuevo.
From Mundo Nuevo, hike up the hill for about 10 more minutes until you get to a sign that points to Mirador 360.
Keep heading up the hill, and there's a clear sign at the end for Finca Alesia. Turn left. You'll see some houses on the right and a sign on a tree that points you towards Mirador 360.
You'll be walking along a narrow path for around 10-15 minutes. Look out for a small sign on the left pointing you in the direction of a very narrow trail.
Follow the trail to the top for stunning views and a breathtaking sunset.
If you're unsure, ask the staff inside Mundo Nuevo. The cats are really friendly!
Mirador 360 - honestly my photos don't do it justice!
Take a moment at Los Pinos
Los Pinos is a beautiful viewpoint over the valley and Santa Marta. It's best to go on a clear day, as the clouds can obscure visibility.
From Minca, it's around 3-4 hours walking, and on a hot day it can be pretty exhausting. A good idea is to take a motorbike there and hike back.
Chill out in a hammock and do nothing
Yep. This is totally a thing. Especially in Minca, where they're reputed to have more hammocks than people.
Casa Elementor is a favourite, but there are better ones IMO, especially ones where you don't need to pay for a view of the mountains. Mundo Nuevo, Casa Viejas and Loma Nevada all have stunning views.
My favourite hammock!
Underneath a mandarin tree overlooking the mountains in Minca
Bird watching
There are over 300 species of birds in the Sierra Nevada, the highest diversity of birds on the planet. In Minca, you have the opportunity to see 162 species.
It's an early morning tour with Jungle Joe and one of the highest-rated activities to do.
Hike up to Loma Nevada
In fact, the hike up to Loma Nevada is totally worth it. It's cooler and fresher, and you can even have a drink on their terrace as you soak up the wonderful mountain air.
More hammocks!
Dine at Casa Loma for dinner
The hostel Casa Loma, nestled in the hills, has beautiful views and a delicious vegetarian meal every evening at around 8 - 8:30 pm.
All ingredients are fresh, and due to limited space, you'll need to get there early to register unless you're already staying in the hostel.
Hike in a loop around Minca
Limited for time? If you're feeling adventurous, the entire loop around Minca can be done in 9-10 hours. Either clockwise or counter-clockwise, you'll head past Cascada de Marinka, the waterfall Pozo Azul and Los Pinos.
Stunning luscious green mountains!
Watch the sunset from Mundo Nuevo
My recommendation would be to stay at Mundo Nuevo. Full stop.
When I popped by for directions to Mirador 360, the serene, calm atmosphere and beautiful views prompted me to stay in Minca for 3 more nights!
Every evening, everyone gathers at the bottom of the ledge to watch the sun go down on Minca as the sky lights up in dusty hues of pink and amber.
It's definitely one of my top five places I've stayed in South America!
Head to Donde Raul for Friday night Salsa
Looking for a place to let loose for an evening? Donde Raul is a popular place where locals and tourists gather to salsa and dance the night.
If you're like me and can't dance, don't worry! There's always someone around to help you out and even teach you a step or two!
Where to eat in Minca
For one reason or another, most recommendations included going to the Lazy Cat, apparently one of the best places in town.
Whilst I ate there a couple of times and it was all lovely, I didn't find it to be anything special. But maybe that's just me.
Casa de Loma is high up on my recommendations, and Duni is absolutely amazing.
If you're looking for something simple, the French bakery, La Miga, in town does some delicious homemade baguettes with various dips of hummus.
Yep! Another gorgeous sunset!
How to get to Minca
Outside Mercado Público in Santa Marta, there are regular buses/jeeps that leave for Minca.
Stock up on insect repellent
During the dry season, the mosquito situation wasn't too bad. However, if you are planning on hiking in the mountains, definitely bring insect repellent.
The best kind is locally sourced. Casa de Graciela, located on the main road, with a sign for selling honey outside, two houses down from the butchers, sells the best insect repellent around for $7000 COP. And it's natural!
It did the trick and I barely got bitten!
Just ask a few locals, they'll point you in the right direction if you tell them you're looking to buy 'repellente' at 'Casa de Graciela'.
You can even show them this picture.
Natural Insect Repellent
How to get around
Most people hike to get to places. However, it can get really hot, and there are motor taxis you can take to pretty much anywhere. The drivers are next to the 'bus stop' in town. Prices are fixed and vary depending on where you go.
Where to stay in Minca
For amazing mountain views
Mundo Nuevo
Did I mention Mundo Nuevo?!
My biggest recommendation is to spend a couple of nights in the mountains, enjoying delicious food, sunsets and beautiful views.
Mundo Nuevo was so amazing that I ended up extending my stay in Minca. Their outdoor bathrooms are pretty cool and the hammock underneath the mandarin tree is the perfect place to chill as you watch the sunset over the mountains. They also had great wifi.
For the organic coffee farm experience
Minca Sintropia - Sustainable Lodge & Organic Coffee Finca
With breathtaking views, this place is special. With cosy bungalows that look out to incredible sunsets, this place is a 10/10.
For a budget-friendly option
Sol de Minca Eco Lodge
An elegant, lower-cost alternative, it’s a great place to disconnect and relax. The sunsets are amazing, and there’s a lovely chill-out zone with hammocks.
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