Wow… Minca is fantastic. It is a fairly new to the Colombian backpacking route and a great destination to chill at for a few days. The hostels are situated on the jungle trails up from the town and are quite Glastonbury-esque… mama earth loving, yoga and vegetarian food. However the town below still offers a very ‘real’ and traditional experience of Colombian life in the town.
The people were so friendly, and I loved seeing all the locals on their scooters zipping up and down the hill. I think the record we saw on one scooter was a family of five! I loved seeing the men walking home from work carrying a huge machete in it’s leather case, the families out at the weekend picking fruit, the makeshift drink stalls set up by locals on the jungle hikes and the horses with their wooden saddles.
As well as all of these lovely, traditional sights the town offers some great Western food including a brilliant French bakery; perfect for your mid-hike snack!
We spent a fantastic relaxed few days eating great food, jungle hiking and wildlife spotting. I really, really recommend adding Minca to your Colombia agenda.
GETTING TO HERE | We took a collectivo to Minca from the Santa Marta for £2 / 8000 COP. They leave from Calle 11 / Carrera 12 in the market and you buy your ticket from a little office right next to there. The locals will point you in the right direction, and the tuk-tuk leaves as soon as they are full. You go in the back and your luggage goes on the top! In typical South American style, our collectivo broke down two times. They were very efficient each time at providing a replacement and shifting all of the goods from one collectivo to the next!
When you get to Minca the collectivos will drop you off at the bridge. Moto-taxi drivers will offer you a lift up the hill to the hostels, price depends how far up your hostel is.
DO | Chill and chill….
Splash around in some waterfalls: Cascada de Marinka costs 3000 COP / £0.75 for entry. Pozo Azul is further up in to the hills and also charges. However, there’s another, better option: 15 minutes walk up from the town on your right hand side of the track there’s a make-shift gate. There may be some local’s bikes parked next to it. Walk down the trail to the local’s favourite waterfall. If you go during the day on a weekday you should have the entire place to yourself. Ask your hostel if you have trouble finding it!
Keep your eyes peeled for some brilliant wildlife. We spotted a toucan, a jesus lizard and some howler monkeys.
Casa Elemento Hostel has the famous hammock that you’ll see when you google Minca. Even if you aren’t staying there you can by a day pass for 10,000 COP / £2.50. This includes a drink, use of the pool and the hammock for the all-important photo! Make sure you check out their toilets (!), surely some of the best toilet views around! We hiked up here from our hostel. You can either choose the very boring road way, or the brilliant jungle trail.
STAY | We stayed at La Fuente. It’s a fantastic place, which includes a delicious breakfast as part of your stay. If you choose to have an evening meal there you’ll be served family-style alongside the other guests there. I really, recommend the food there. It’s a great atmosphere and they have a bar for beers afterwards!
Although La Fuente have rooms, we stayed in one of their tents (£12 / 48500 COP per night for a tent for 2) which really added to the jungle feel. It was amazing waking up and hearing the sounds of the forest in the mornings.
TIPS | The hostels in Minca are located quite far from the town, so remember that if you need supplies. Where we stayed at La Fuente is one of the first you come to as you hike up the hill. It took us 25 minutes to walk up from the town, and slightly less going down. Party hostel Casa Elemento is 2 hours from the town.
There are no ATMs in the town, so make sure you bring plenty of cash.
Also, remember that it’s the jungle so bring mosquito spray.. lots of it!
GETTING OUT | Collectivos leave for Santa Marta from where they dropped you off. The shop next to the bridge sells the tickets and they leave once full: £2 / 8000 COP per person. From Santa Marta you can easily get to Cartagena, Tayrona National Park or Palomino.
