Eco-hotel Tip in Minca

Travel Guide Minca

Staying in a nature reserve

Minca has had a tourism “boom” in recent years, and for such a small village, the range of accommodations is very large. Need inspiration during your scavenger hunt on the Internet? Then check out our hotel tip!

Nature Reserve
Our choice fell on Sol de Minca because of its convenient location: in the middle of a nature reserve, yet within walking distance of the village. The ecolodge was set up by a Colombian-Argentine family, with the vision that nature, animals and people, should all work well together. The family is closely involved with the Native American community, which gives them inspiration and teaches them “what the earth wants.”

Rooms
The rooms are simple and overlook the nature reserve. My room was half – open and separated from the outside only by mesh. The sounds of the rainforest worked super relaxing to fall asleep.

Outdoor showers
The communal facilities are fine, but basic. For example, there is a dry composting toilet. That took some getting used to, but turned out to be super easy and clean. And best of all, from the bathroom, you look right out into nature. Only biodegradable shampoos are allowed. I hadn’t taken that into account, but there was a shampoo ready for common use. Also getting used to: there was no mirror…. my mascara had to be applied using the selfie mode of the smartphone -;)

The view
In the common area near the restaurant, you can chill in the hammock, overlooking the nature reserve. There are also binoculars, which you can use to look for birds such as toucans.

Food
Only vegetarian dishes are served, such as burritos and Mote de queso, soup with chunks of white cheese and patacones (green banana pancakes). Even as a non-vegetarian, I found the food tasty.

To do’s
You can hike alone (or with owner Federico) in the nature reserve. You can also do other activities, such as a cooking workshop. Activities must be booked in advance, though. Hostess Sonia can help you book tours outside the lodge, such as a day tour by mototaxi.

Family business
What made my stay at Sol de Minca extra special was the warm, personal welcome. Federico and Jaime explained with verve how Sol de Minca was set up -from scratch- in 2013. Each family member contributed their own talent: owner Federico comes from a real estate background, his wife is an ecologist, his sister-in-law is an anthropologist and grandpa Jaime loves woodworking. Full of pride, Jaime took me on a tour of the property once to show me his work.

Follow your passion
Federico said that during the startup phase, people often asked him if he was not too ambitious…. What if the project did not succeed? His answer: “Once you follow your passion; never look back!”.
Because of the passion of Federico and his family, I left the lodge extra inspired after my stay!

Travel date: September 2019.

Click on the link to see Eco-lodge Sol de Minca, book or read about our other favorite lodge in a nature reserve in Minca here, Tierra Adentro.

Want to know more about Minca? Then read the complete travel guide Minca.

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Jeanette and Shelly

Writers and Travelers, Colombia My Way

 

Restaurants in Minca

Travel Guide Minca

Home 9 Category: Travel Guide Minca

Restaurants in Minca cater to every budget and taste. Here you can read our tips for the best restaurants, cafes and ice cream parlors in Minca.

We have been to Minca twice: the first time in 2019 and the second time at the end of 2023. The last time we noticed how many restaurants have been added in a few years. For a small village like Minca, there is quite a lot of choice, including Parilla, Mexican, Lebanese and traditional Colombian food. Even if you have certain dietary requirements, such as vegetarian and gluten-free, you can go to a number of restaurants in Minca. You will not enjoy a long dinner in Minca as most restaurants close at 8:30 pm.

Our tips

COFFEE AND ICE CREAM

CAFICOSTA

Caribbean Coffee Shop

You can go to Caficosta between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. for a good cup of coffee. It is a spacious and modern coffee café with a beautiful interior. You can also buy packs of coffee to take home.

LA MIGA

Panaderia

The specialty of this little bakery is its chocolate rolls. You can take the rolls with you or eat them on the cozy terrace with a coffee or chocolate caliente

IL GELATO NEVAO

Ice cream parlor

Here you can go for a real Italian ice cream. The ice cream parlor is on a side street and can be recognized by its colorful murals.

RESTAURANTS

HOTEL MINCA LA CASONA

Oour favorite in Minca

You don’t have to stay at the hotel to join us for breakfast, lunch or diner in hotel Minca la Casona. We ate here several times and each time we found the food very good. The grilled chicken was the juiciest we have eaten in Colombia! But the real recommendation is the breakfast. Not only for the delicious waffles, but especially for the many hummingbirds that make a real show of it. Hummingbirds fly by throughout the day, but they are especially active during breakfast. In any case, we couldn’t get enough of the view and on our next visit this restaurant will definitely be at the top of our list again! You’ll find Hotel Minca almost as soon as you enter Minca, on the right. It is a bit hidden, due to the long driveway to the hotel.

LAZY CAT

Happy hour, happy prices!

Lazy Cat is a household name among travelers. Here you can enjoy international dishes in a relaxed atmosphere and sip on a nice cocktail. Our favorite: the Lazy Cat Margarita with corozo, a typical purple fruit of the Caribbean coast. Normally you pay COP24,000/€6 each, but between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. we paid COP30,000/€7.50 for 2 Margaritas. Furthermore, there are special prices during happy hour for Mojitos and burgers. Vegetarian and vegan meals are also on the menu.

RESTAURANTE MARHABA

El auténtico sabor libanes

We liked the idea of eating something a little different from traditional Colombian food during our tour of the Caribbean coast, so we went to eat at this Lebanese restaurant. We had the Shawarma roll pollo with an Aguila beer. You can order the Shawarma roll in different sizes and the medium roll was fine (and affordable) for us for a small appetite. We paid COP23,000/€5.75 for the roll + beer.

DUNI DE LA SIERRA

Vegetarian

DUNI can be found behind the church in the park. Here you can have breakfast and lunch and there is a lunch special every day. One of the house’s specialties is the arepa. Duni uses local, organic products. There are also gluten-free options.

BURURAKE

Grill restaurant

Meat lovers beware! For a juicy piece of meat from the grill, Bururake is the place to be. The meat is prepared for you in the open kitchen. The restaurant is located in the back garden of the restaurant, by the river.

CHIQUITA BRAVA

This cafe with a cozy terrace, near the Hotel Minca la Casona, is something you see almost as soon as you enter Minca. It’s a nice place for a cocktail or a locally brewed beer with a pizza.

#ToColombia Tips

Going to Minca? Then check out our tips for transportation in Minca, what to do in Minca, where to stay in Minca and practical information about Minca.

Tierra Adentro Nature Reserve in Minca

Travel Guide Minca

Tierra Adentro Nature Reserve in Minca

Home 9 Category: Travel Guide Minca

Hotel tip Nature Reserve Tierra Adentro in Minca

Looking for a beautiful, quiet place in the mountains to enjoy nature during your roundtrip along the north coast of Colombia? Read here about our stay at Nature reserve Tierra Adentro in Minca in September 2023.

When we were planning our trip, this nature reserve caught our eye. The description of Reserva Natural Tierra Adentro appealed to us; cabañas in the middle of nature with views of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and within walking distance of the waterfall Cascada Marinka. The fact that the nature reserve also takes in animals rescued for various reasons only whetted our curiosity. We tied the knot and decided to book 2 nights. In combination with a night in the village of Minca, we thought this would be the perfect stop on the north coast to enjoy nature.

There was one more thing: Reserva Natural Tierra Adentro is “off the beaten track” and you can only get there by mototaxi or 4-wheel drive car. We arranged transportation by 4×4 through the hotel. Once the time came, we arranged for driver Jesús to pick us up at Hotel Minca- la Casona. His solid car was definitely not a luxury, because it was an intense drive of over half an hour on a bad road, so we were glad to be in a good car. Jesús was very experienced and maneuvered the car past boulders, potholes and through streams that flowed onto the road.

This drive was an adventure in itself and after we passed the Marinka waterfall, it was another short drive to the nature reserve. Once we arrived, it was an oasis of calm. We installed ourselves on the terrace -with mega hammock- and spent the rest of the afternoon just enjoying the amazing view and the sound of the river and twittering birds.

The resort
This is a small resort with 8 double rooms and 2 cabañas,accommodating a total of 22 guests. We had the Superior Double room with terrace, which turned out to be a good choice. Right next to us was such a similar room, but we had no neighbors during our stay, so all privacy.

There was a larger building a little higher up where the other double rooms were located. Those rooms shared a common terrace and it seemed to be a bit busier there. Because of the higher location, the view from here was also very nice.

There is also a family room, the Cabaña Jardín. Located near the animal shelter, the cabaña has a private pond (where you can watch the geese chill out), with an umbrella and sunbeds.

The room
Our room was comfortable with a minibar, coffee maker, good wifi, TV (Spanish-language channels only) and there was an umbrella and a poncho at the ready. Outside there is a seating area with table and chairs and a sitting hammock. The shower had (lukewarm) hot water and the towels and bath products were of good quality. The bathroom also had a dehumidifier which kept it from getting damp. The water at the resort is filtered, so you can drink the water from the tap. We found it a bit hot in the room and asked for a fan, but it is also possible to leave the door open to the outside as it has mosquito netting.

The restaurant
The hotel’s restaurant offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. Since there are no other restaurants nearby (except at Cascada Marinka), we ate all meals at the restaurant. You won’t find traditional Colombian cuisine here. Meals are geared toward travelers, with various international dishes, such as quesadillas. Breakfast included fruit, juices, cruesli with milk and almond milk. After this, we had the option of pancakes with fruit or eggs.

During breakfast, mama peacock and her little one adorably paraded by!

What did we do in Reserva Natural Tierra Adentro?

1) Relaxed a lot and enjoyed nature!
This is the ultimate place to unwind. The mountain views, the birds and the sound of the river provide the ultimate relaxing feeling. The terrace is a wonderful place for a cup of coffee or a -locally brewed- beer. We saw beautifully colored butterflies, hummingbirds (who descended on the trays of sugar water on the terrace) and parrots flying around.

Through a short trail, we came to a quebrada (creek), a beautiful serene place.

2) Toured the animal shelter.
Receptionist Maira gave us a tour of the various animals taken into care at the wildlife sanctuary after being injured or seized in illegal trade.

Maira is from the organization and told us how the animals ended up in the nature reserve. These include monkeys confiscated at the Santa Marta airport and parrots, toucans and geese.

Bambi, the adorable 8-month-old baby deer, was taken in after she was attacked by a dog. She was only too happy to let us pet her!

The birds have “free days,” where they fly around freely and return to their cages on their own. Twice a week a veterinarian comes to Tierra Adentro to check on the animals. We walked up to the animal shelter one more time towards the evening and then the animals were sleeping, the monkeys -very cute- in their hammocks.

3) Hiked to the waterfall Cascada de Marinka
This waterfall is a 10-minute walk from the hotel. Going back takes you a little longer because it is uphill.

I had also been to Cascada Marinka 4 years ago, but now I almost didn’t recognize the place. Recently, all kinds of artwork have been placed at the entrance, made of colored caps. The eye-catcher is the hot air balloon.

More giant hammocks have also now been installed, so you can now have a nice view of the falls from several places, from the lazy hammock.

There is also a mirador (viewpoint) and a restaurant. The entrance fee is COP10,000/€2.50.

#Colombia Tips

Tip #1
Check this link for more information and the different room options at Reserva Natural Tierra Adentro.

Tip #2
We paid (COP100,000/€25) for the drive by 4×4 from Minca to Reserva Natural Tierra Adentro. If you travel with a backpack, you can also catch a mototaxi for about COP25,000/€6 per person (Motomink). Keep in mind, though, that the ride is very bumpy. If it has rained a lot, the road may be very bad and you may be better off with a 4×4.

Tip #3
If you like hiking, you can hike further up to Mirador Los Pinos from Reserva Natural Sierra Adentro.

Tip #4
Next to Tierra Adentro is a coffee plantation. Upon request, you can take a coffee tour with Jose.

Tip #5
We used the hotel’s laundry service. For COP30,000/€7.50, a large bag full of laundry was done.

Tip #6
Check out our travel guide Minca, with tips on what to do in Minca and the surrounding area and much more.

ToColombia

Practical information about Minca

Travel Guide Minca

Practical information about Minca

Home 9 Category: Travel Guide Minca

Here you will find practical information about Minca: useful information about the climate and the best time to travel, how many days do we recommend to stay in Minca, can you use pin, are there supermarkets and what about wifi in Minca.

Climate

Climate
Due to its higher elevation, at about 650 meters, it is cooler in Minca than Santa Marta and its surroundings. May-September is the hottest period, the coolest months being January and February. December through April is the dry season, September through mid-November is the rainy period, with October being the wettest month.

Best time to go

Minca can be visited all year round. When it’s rainy season (Sept-mid-Nov), it generally doesn’t rain so much that you have to limit yourself in your planning. You can just go out and bring your rain jacket. If it has rained a lot, though, the roads can get muddy, so you may ‘n have to take a jeep instead of a mototaxi. Minca is busiest on weekends, vacations and Puentes (long weekends).

How long to stay?

1 day

If you don’t have much time but still want to see a lot, you can do a day tour by mototaxi in 1 day to see most of the sights. Or you can do a hike to e.g. Cascada de Marinka or do a combined trip of coffee inca Victoria with Pozos Azules. Check here for more tips on what to do in Minca.

2 days or longer

Minca is a relaxing place to stay for a few days, chill at your hotel and spread the excursions over several days. What we did ourselves and what worked out very well was to spend 1 night in a hotel in the village and then 2 nights in a nature reserve in the interior. Look here for more info on hotels and hostels in Minca.

Practical info A-Z

Bring
  • Cash! Not all accommodations and restaurants accept credit and debit cards, and there is no ATM in Minca. There is a Multipagos office where you can withdraw money with your debit card, but the transaction fees are pricey. (See photo, 2023) If you want to pay by credit card, there is often a 5% surcharge
  • Anti-mosquito/insect spray and after-bite. We were stung severely by some kind of sand flies. The bites itched a lot and the after-bite provided relief.
  • Rain jacket if traveling in rainy season
  • Hiking shoes
  • Flip-flops or sandals for by the falls
Vaccinations

No yellow fever or other vaccinations are required for Minca. Look here for more information about the medical care in Colombia.

Wifi

Wifi is not a given in Minca, especially at the accommodations located outside the village. Also in the village, internet is not always stable. We have been to Minca twice during the rainy season, in August/September. The last time the power went out a few times in the afternoon after some thunderstorms and we were without internet. A number of hotels have their own generator, so then you don’t suffer.

Supermarkets

There are no supermarkets in Minca, but there are small “tiendas,” where you can buy basic groceries such as water, snacks and bread. La Miga is a small bakery, where you can buy bread and delicious chocolate rolls.

Drinking water

The water from the tap is not drinkable unless the hotel or hostel has a filtration system.

#ToColombia Tips

Going to Minca? Then check out our tips for what to do in Minca here, the best restaurants in Minca, transportation and where to stay in Minca.

What to do in Minca, Colombia

Travel Guide Minca

What to do in Minca, Colombia

Home 9 Category: Travel Guide Minca

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 a mega hammock at hostal Sierra Minca (Casa Elemento)

You don’t have to stay at the hostal to relax in the mega hammocks of hostal Sierra Minca (formerly Casa Elemento), high in the mountains above Minca. With a day pass, you can stay as long as you want. You get there by mototaxi. A mototaxi is quite relaxing, because it is a tough 3-hour hike uphill.

Info

  • Price mototaxi: around COP30.000/€7.50
  • Day pass price: COP10,000/€2.50 or COP35,000/€8.75 including lunch and a drink (2022)
  • Best time to go:
    -Around 9 a.m., when it is still nice and quiet
    -For the best views go around sunset
  • Tip: Book the moto cab for a half or full day and also stop at the other highlights in the area, such as Mirador los Pinos, waterfalls and coffee incas.

  • Check out here 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 mega-hangmats 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: COP10,000/€2.50 (Sept 2023)
  • Prefer to take the mototaxi? The price is around COP15.000/€3.75
  • Best time to go: early; around 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m. and off weekends

Insider’s Tip:
Stay overnight at Reserva Natural Tierra Adentro, then you can walk to Cascada Marinka in about 10 minutes.

    3. Bird watching

    Minca and its surroundings is one of 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 in 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 snack from trays of sugar water (especially a happening 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. Go 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
    • 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 CAB

    The moto cab is a convenient and fun way to see the best sights around Minca in a day or half day, such as Cascada de Marinka, Pozo Azul, Koffiefinca la Victoria, Cacaofinca la Candelaria and the giant hammocks at hostal Sierra Minca. Curious about the tour? Then read here about our experience.

    COFFEE TOUR FINCA LA VICTORIA

    La Victoria is one of the oldest coffee incas in Colombia. During the tour (45min) you will see, among other things, the original equipment from the early 1900s. The tour can sometimes be done in English, but when we were there, we were the only non- Spanish-speaking tourists and the tour was in Spanish. After the tour, you can also have something to eat and drink at El Bistro de la Victoria. Tip: a coffee tour is great to combine with a visit to Pozo Azul, because you pass by it on your way to the finca.

    Info

    • Price coffee tour around COP15,000/€3.75
    • Price mototaxi: around COP15000/€3.75
    • If you want to walk, it is 1.5 hours uphill. Back is about 50 minutes
    • Best time to go: The finca can be visited year-round, but between November-February there is the most action at 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.

    Info

    • The tour is done several times a day. Not always possible in English
    • Price cocoa tour COP25,000/€6.25, minimum 2 people (2022)
    • 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 motor cab: around COP15000/€3.75.

      #ToColombia Tips

      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.

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      Where to stay in Minca, Colombia

      Travel Guide Minca

      Where to stay in Minca?

      Home 9 Category: Travel Guide Minca

      Where to stay in Minca? There has been a huge increase in the number of hotels and hostels in Minca in recent years and the selection is quite large. Here we give you tips that might make it a little easier to choose your accommodation in Minca.

      #Colombia tips

      Tip #1
      Before making a booking, pay close attention to the location of the hotel/hostel.
      Many of the hotels are beautifully located in the middle of nature, but isolated. Maybe that is what you are looking for, but you will be dependent on the hotel for food and drink. If you want to go to the village, you have to take a mototaxi/jeep. To make it easier to choose, we have listed the distance to the village with the hotel tips below.

      Tip #2
      Spend the night in a nature reserve in Minca
      We ourselves have been to Minca twice. The first time we stayed overnight at Sol de Minca, an ecolodge in a nature reserve, with an ideal location within walking distance Minca (15 min.).       Read our tips and information about Sol de Minca.

      In September 2023, we went to Minca for the second time and stayed overnight first in the center of Minca at Hotel Minca-La Casona and then we went off the beaten track to Reserva Natural Sierra Adentro.

      This nature reserve is a half-hour 4-wheel drive from Minca and a 10-minute walk from waterfall Cascada Marinka. Read here about our own experience at Reserva Natural Tierra Adentro.

      Tip #3
      Check the below hotel tips in the different price ranges

       

      € price range up to €30

      €€ price range €30 – €50

      €€€ price range above €50

      Minca

      €

      €€

      €€€

      More hotels in Minca

      #ToColombia Tips

      Going to Minca? Then check out our tips for what to do in Minca here, the best restaurants in Minca, transportation and practical information about Minca.