The 5 Best Things To Do in Minca, Colombia

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Minca is a small village located in the tropical rainforest of northern Colombia. Once controlled by the guerrilla group FARC, Minca has been attracting more and more travelers since their departure. Among the dense jungle, you’ll find beautiful hiking trails, coffee plantations, waterfalls, and accommodations with unique views of the jungle canopy. It’s a delightful place to spend a few days and enjoy the natural surroundings, so read here about all the best things to do!

How to get to Minca?

When exploring this region of Colombia, you’ll typically travel through Santa Marta as it is the largest city in the area. Buses from Santa Marta go to Cartagena, Minca, Tayrona, Palomino, etc. The buses to Minca depart approximately every half hour from a location between Calle 11 and Calle 12. You can also find a large supermarket here. A one-way ticket costs around 8000 pesos / $7, and the bus ride takes about 45 minutes. Alternatively, you can take a taxi if you prefer to travel directly from the airport to Minca.

From Minca to a mountain accommodation

If you’ve booked one of the many beautiful accommodations in the mountains, you’ll need to arrange transportation from Minca to your hotel, as they are often located higher up in the mountains. The cheapest option is to hop on the back of a motorbike taxi and be taken up. The road is often filled with mud and large potholes, so it can be quite an intense ride. If that doesn’t appeal to you, you can also choose to be driven up by car. Of course, this option costs a bit more, but you can potentially share the car and split the cost with others. You can arrange both motorbike taxis and cars on the main street of Minca, near the bridge.

What to do in Minca?

Chances are your journey through Colombia has been quite intense so far. Many different impressions, bustling cities, and a lot of traveling. Minca is the perfect place to take a break, relax, and take it easy. However, there are still plenty of enjoyable activities to do here.

#1 Visit the waterfalls of Minca

What could be better than taking a refreshing dip in a waterfall? Cascada de Marinka is the most beautiful and impressive waterfall where you can swim. There are hammocks to chill in, and there is a restaurant where you can have lunch or a drink. This waterfall is about a 15-minute motorbike taxi ride from Minca. It’s recommended to go as early as possible to avoid the crowds. Pozo Azul is less impressive and often more crowded because there is a paved road leading to it, so unless you go extremely early, it’s better to skip it.

#2 Enjoy a delicious lunch at DUNI or Lazy Cat

Lazy Cat and DUNI are by far the best restaurants in Minca! Lazy Cat is run by a Colombian and English couple, and they serve incredibly good food. They have various tasty burgers, sandwiches, and noodles with lots of vegetables on the menu. DUNI is our favorite in Minca. Here, you will find many vegetarian dishes on the menu, such as avocado toast or a falafel sandwich. If you prefer meat, that’s not a problem either!

#3 Morning Yoga

If you feel like having a yoga session in a beautiful location, then you should visit Casa Yoga Minca. They offer Hatha yoga classes at 7:30 am that are beneficial for all levels, whether you have a lot of experience or you’re a beginner. They pay great attention to breathing in each yoga pose and incorporate special exercises to release tension in the back, lower back, neck, and shoulders.

#4 Visit a coffee farm

If you’re interested in learning about coffee production, you should definitely visit a coffee farm in Minca. Coffee has been cultivated in Minca for hundreds of years, and Finca Victoria is one of the oldest farms in northern Colombia. What makes Finca Victoria interesting is that they still use the same methods that were used when the farm was established in 1892. It’s best to visit La Victoria between November and February, which is the harvest season and will give you a better understanding of the process.

#5 Relaxing at Sierra Minca

Years ago, Casa Elemento was one of the most famous hostels in South America, mainly because of the giant hammock with breathtaking views at the top of the mountains in Minca. While Casa Elemento is no longer there, Sierra Minca was born in the same location. This hostel offers the same fantastic view and, of course, the enormous hammocks. You can choose to stay there or simply take a mototaxi to spend a day relaxing. The day pass costs around $5. They have a heated pool, 3 hanging nets, a zipline, and a cozy bar.

Our favorite places to stay in Minca

Hidden in the jungle of Minca, you’ll find some amazing accommodations. Each one is unique in its own way, and one thing is for sure, you’ll wake up to the sounds of the jungle. You can choose between accommodations in the village or higher up on the mountain for the best views. Our preference is to stay in the mountains simply because the views are the best there.

Casa Viejas is one of the most beautiful accommodations in Colombia. It is located in the mountains, and from the infinity pool, you can enjoy an incredible view. The sunset here is fantastic! Another delightful place hidden deep in the jungle is Finca Carpe Diem. It’s an adventure to get there along the bumpy road, but once you arrive, you can enjoy ultimate tranquility, three swimming pools, and a beautiful view. Finca Carpe Diem is located on the other side of the mountain, so it’s not possible to visit the places mentioned in this article from there. But don’t worry, from there, you can explore similar places that are much quieter. It’s ideal if you’re looking for more peace and serenity! If you prefer to stay in the village itself, Minca Ecohabs is a cool option. You’ll sleep in a bamboo bungalow with a balcony and a private hammock. Another beautiful accommodation in the village is Sweet Harmony.