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.
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.
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.
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$8,000 (Sep 2021). 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$30,000 (June 2016). 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 Rumbodromo Mamatoco. Cross the street and take a taxi or mototaxi to Minca. From the Rumbodromo Mamatoco you could also take one of the frequent buses for COP$2,000 (Sept 2021) to Yucal until the Panaderia Rosalia. There are mototaxis who head to Minca for COP$8,000 (Sept 2021).
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.
Pozo Azul, 11.1340°, -74.1015°. 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 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 (Sept 2021). 2021-09-13
Oido del Mundo waterfall, 11.129862°, -74.120085°. 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. 2021-09-13
Marinka waterfall, 11.1171°, -74.1179°. 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). 2021-01-04
Los Pinos (The Pine trees), 11.1068°, -74.1090°. 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. 2021-09-13
Cerro Kennedy, 11.1129°, -74.0358°. 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 2,200meters. It takes at least a day to hike up and is recommended for experienced hikers. A moto-taxi takes around 1:30hours. 2021-09-13
Paso del Mango, 11.2020358°, -74.0866313°. Continue up past the police station, and after a few hundred meters you will see the first sign - the whole way is signposted, but some signs can be missed or misinterpreted, so pay attention. The hike takes around 6 hours, and as you get closer to Paso del Mango, you can swim in the beautiful mountain rivers and waterfalls. You can also do this hike from the bus station in Bonda. From there it's just 2 hours hiking. 2019-10-09
Minca Museum, 11.14394°, -74.11837°. As of September 2021 it's closed and might be open again in 2022. A wonderful place to learn about the history of coffee, indigenous people, civil wars and political conflicts in Minca.
On some maps is shown a chocolate museum, which is actually a chocolate shop.
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 is at the Yucal gas station or in the Buena Vista shopping centre (BBVA), both in the outskirts of Santa Marta.
There are several tiendas in the village for your basic needs – expect to pay a bit more. Minimarkets with higher prices are Minca Express and the Tienda de la Union right next to each other on the main street. Minca Express accepts credit cards - for extra fee of 10%. A big Olimpica supermarket is in Yucal, and in Santa Marta where the shared taxi vans depart from.
There are several restaurants in town and near the waterfalls.
There is tasty street food / Colombian snacks which you may not have found elsewhere. It's in Minca itself.
There are several bars and clubs in Minca. The most central one is just beside the bridge. Restaurant Santisabella also has a very nice bar with exotic drinks. If you want to dance go to Donde Raul. The hostels will sell you beers as well (COP$3,000-4,500). Locals also sell beers at the waterfalls (COP2,500). At Los Pinos lookout ask for a delicious milkshake. The Lazy Cat Cafe is also a popular spot for travelers, offering burgers, quesadillas, and woks.
The only place in town with Wi-Fi outside of hotels and hostels (Spring 2016) is the Lazy Cat restaurant (closed every Friday). There is an internet café next door with just a couple of computers. It is a good idea to buy a SIM card with a data plan (very inexpensive) before arriving here if you want to remain connected.
Beware of sand flies (phlebotomines). Like mosquitoes, they are known for their nasty bite. It is common to see tourists with legs covered with dozens of bites and repellents won’t help : long clothes will be your best friends. Sand flies may be vectors of diseases such as Leishmaniosis.
All of these places have hostels and private rooms:
Santa Marta – Take a moto back down to Yucal and from there one of the frequent buses to Santa Marta. Or wait in Minca for a colectivo to fill up (both about COP$7-8,000)
Palomino, Tayrona National Park, Las Tinajas, Calabazo, El Zaino, Los Naranjos, Buritaca and Guachaca – Take the shared taxi van for COP$8,000 (Sept 2021) or a moto-taxi for around COP$12,000 (Sept 2021) and get off shortly before the Rumbodromo Mamatoco. Cross the street and flag down a white bus in the direction of Palomino.
Taganga – Take the shared taxi van to the Plaza de Mercado. Ask there where the bus departs nearby to Taganga.
Cartagena – Take the shared taxi van to the Rumbodromo Mamatoco. There take a bus/taxi/moto-taxi to the Terminal de Transporte of Santa Marta. You can also take a moto-taxi from Minca to the Terminal de Transporte for around COP$15,000 (Sept 2021).