What to do in Minca, Colombia
What to do in Minca, Colombia
What to do in Minca? There are many fun things to do around the mountain village of Minca. If you love nature, this is definitely the place for you. Check here our tips for what to do in Minca, walking, with an organized tour or on the back of a mototaxi!
6 Must do’s
1. Relax in the iconic giant hammocks at hostal Sierra Minca (Casa Elemento)
You don’t have to stay at the hostal to relax in the giant hammocks of hostal Sierra Minca (formerly Casa Elemento). With a day pass, you can stay as long as you want in the hostal high in the mountains above Minca. You can get there with a 30 minute ride by mototaxi. If you would decide to walk, it’s a tough 3-hour hike uphill.
Information (2025)
- Price mototaxi: around COP35.000/$8
- Basic Day Pass: Around 15,000 COP /$4. This pass gives you access to the hostel’s facilities, including the hammocks, swimming pools, and panoramic mountain views
- Day Pass with Lunch: Around 40,000 COP /$10 USD. This option includes the basic access plus a meal at the hostel’s restaurant.
- Best times to visit hostal Sierra Minca:
-Around 9 a.m., when it is still nice and quiet
-For the best views go around sunset - Tip: Book a moto taxi for a half or full day and also stop at the other highlights in the area, such as Mirador los Pinos, waterfalls and coffee fincas.
- Check out our travel story for an example of such a day tour.
2. Hike to the Marinka waterfall
From Minka, hike to the Cascada de Marinka in about an hour. There are two waterfalls you can go to, a restaurant, restrooms and a viewpoint (mirador). There are also several large hammocks in which you can relax.
In late 2023, several works of art were installed, made of colorful caps. Therefore, the entrance cannot be missed!
Info
- Ticket price: COP16,000/$4 (2025)
- Prefer to take the mototaxi? The price is around COP15.000/$3.75
- Best time to visit: early; around 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m. and off weekends
Insider’s Tip:
Stay overnight at the gorgeous Reserva Natural Tierra Adentro. From this lodge in the midst of nature, you can walk to Cascada Marinka in only 10 minutes.
3. Spot birds
Minca and its surroundings belong to the best places in Colombia for bird watching, including hummingbirds, parrots and toucans. True enthusiasts can spot birds accompanied by an experienced guide on a tour. In nature reserves such as Sol de Minca and Tierra Adentro (see photo) you can also spot birds, during a walk on the grounds, or even from the comfort of your lazy hammock. The best place in the village to see hummingbirds is Hotel Minca La Casona, where hummingbirds feed from trays of sugar water (especially a “show” during breakfast). Hotspot among avid bird watchers is the exclusive ProAves bird sanctuary & ecolodge El Dorado, a 2-hour drive from Minca. This reserve has the highest number of bird species in all of Colombia.
4. Chill in the pools of Pozo Azul
The pools and small waterfall of Pozo Azul, are popular with locals and tourists alike and are easier to reach than the waterfalls at Cascada Marinka. You can reach Pozo Azul in 30-45 min. walk from Minca.
Info
- Free access
- Prefer to take the mototaxi? The price is around COP12000/$3 (15-20 minutes)
- Best time to go: early or after 4 p.m. and outside weekends and vacation periods. Pozo Azul is on the route of tour buses coming from Santa Marta, so it can get quite crowded here.
5. Enjoy an ice-cold locally brewed beer
Most cafes in Minca, sell the beer from local brewery Cervecería Nevada, with names like the Happy Tucan and Happy Coca. Local ingredients are added to the beer, such as coffee and coca leaves. A unique feature of the beer: it is brewed with mineral water from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. The brewery is located next to coffee finca la Victoria, so you can also sample a beer at the finca’s restaurant, el Bistro de la Victoria.
6. Check out the tastiest restaurants
Time for snacks and drinks? Then check out our favorites here:
#1 Hotel Minca la Casona
Good Colombian food with a great view of the mountains and the many hummingbirds. (especially during breakfast)
#2 Lazy Cat
Favorite among travelers for its laid-back atmosphere and cozy happy hours with special prices on Mojitos and burgers.
Read more tips for the best restaurants and cafes in Minca.
Organized tours
Tours
There are several tour operators in Minca who can take you to do bird watching, hike to waterfalls or do a motorcycle or jeep tour. With this Best of Minca Motorbike tour you can ride a motorcycle yourself, or get on the back of an experienced driver if you have no experience.
You can also visit coffee and cocoa farms, with this full-day tour, where you will also go swimming in the river. With this coffee and cocoa tour, also includes a jungle trek.
DAY TOUR BY MOTORCYCLE TAXI
The moto taxi is a convenient and fun way to see the best sights around Minca in a day or half a day, such as Cascada de Marinka, Pozo Azul, coffee finca la Victoria, cacao finca la Candelaria and at the Sierra Minca hostal. Curious? Then read the travel story about our own experience.
COFFEE TOUR FINCA LA VICTORIA
La Victoria is one of the oldest coffee fincas in Colombia. The 45 minute tour includes a guided walk through the historic coffee farm with equipment from the early 1900’s. You get insights into their traditional production methods, and you can enjoy a cup of their locally brewed coffee. The tour can sometimes be done in English, but when we were there, we were the only non- Spanish-speaking travelers and the tour was done in Spanish. After the tour, you can have something to eat and drink at El Bistro de la Victoria. Tip: the coffee tour is perfect to combine with a visit to Pozo Azul, because you pass by it on your way to the finca.
Information (2025)
- Price coffee tour around COP15,000/€3.75
- Price mototaxi: around COP15000/€3.75 (30-40 mins)
- If you want to walk, it is 1.5 hours uphill. Back is about 50 minutes
- Best time to visit: The finca can be visited year-round, but between November-February there is the most action on the finca, due to the harvest time of the coffee beans.
Cacao tour finca La Candelaria
During the tour (40 min.) you will get to see the process of roasting the cacao beans, chocolate milk -from scratch- will be made for you and you will get a choco face mask. After the tour, you can have a cup of coffee or chocolate tea on the terrace and try the homemade chocolate cake.
Information (2025)
- The tour is done several times a day. Not always possible in English
- Price cocoa tour: around COP25,000/$6, minimum 2 people
- The entrance to the coffee and cacao finca is an hour’s walk from Minca.(15 min. by mototaxi) From the entrance, you have to walk for another fifteen minutes up coffee and cacao plantations.
- Price mototaxi: around COP20.000/$5
Now that you’ve read about what to do in Minca, you may also find the following tips interesting, about transportation in Minca, the best restaurants in Minca, where to stay in Minca and practical information about Minca.
5-star tours
Day trips
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