Minca Itinerary & Travel Guide (+ Map)
TL;DR
Our Minca travel guide and itinerary is your all-in-one resource for planning the perfect mix of waterfalls, coffee farms, eco-lodges, and sunsets – with only first-hand information.
Dreaming of lush jungles, refreshing waterfalls, and a taste of Colombia’s coffee culture? Then Minca is probably on your radar. But how to get there, where to stay and what to do?
We’ve been there – and built this guide to make your planning easy. Minca is a jungle gem tucked in the Sierra Nevada mountains, and whether you have just a day or a few, we’ll show you how to make the most of your time with our tried-and-tested recommendations.
We include the perfect Minca itinerary, balancing waterfalls, coffee farms, and mountain sunsets without the stress of sorting out tricky transport or overpaying for remote lodges.
Our guide is for budget-conscious travellers, backpackers, and nature lovers looking for a blend of adventure and chill. If that’s you, welcome – you’re in the right place. Let's explore Minca together, one waterfall and hammock at a time.
Minca Travel Guide
Minca Colombia Map
Is Minca Worth Visiting?
Minca is absolutely worth a visit! I mean, who doesn’t love a good waterfall and coffee – or chocolate?
It’s also a great alternative for visiting a coffee farm and going on hikes in case you don’t have the time to get to the Colombian coffee region, e.g. Salento.
By the way, here’s our full Salento travel guide:
How to Get to Minca
To get to Minca from places like Cartagena or Palomino, you first have to get to Santa Marta. From the market in Santa Marta (marked on our map), you can take a shared minibus to Minca for 10000 COP per person.
How to Get Around Minca
The town itself is very walkable. Minca is also renowned for its hiking, and many of the sights, including the waterfalls and viewpoints, can be easily reached on foot.
Expect to walk around 1 hour to the Marinka waterfalls and 30 minutes to Pozo Azul. Personally, we found the walk to Pozo Azul manageable but not particularly enjoyable. Be aware that many of the nicest accommodations in Minca are at a distance from the town centre which makes walking at least inconvenient if not impossible.
If you don’t want to walk, your most economical option is a moto-taxi. While prices seem to be regulated, we still found them kind of pricey. For example, we paid 20000 to get to Mundo Nuevo Eco Lodge.
You should also be aware that a lot of the roads around Minca are offroad and you actually hear quite a lot of stories of travellers having (minor) accidents with their moto-taxis. If you want to be extra safe, you can take regular taxis but you have to budget even more money.
Where We Stayed in Minca
As we mentioned above, many of the nicer accommodations are a bit out of town. This is why we recommend splitting your stay between staying in town to have easy access to the main sights and staying in a nice eco-lodge. This way you avoid long walks back and forth or spending loads of money on (moto) taxis.
Central Accommodation in Minca
We chose Hotel Minca Express Relax and couldn’t recommend it more highly. The location is amazing – it’s right where the shared minibus from Santa Marta stops. The hotel is also affiliated with the biggest supermarket in town right next door (you’ll even get a discount). They have a pool, affordable laundry service, and a communal kitchen.
Eco Lodge in Minca
We chose the Mundo Nuevo Eco Lodge because it was frequently recommended to us as the nicest sunset spot in Minca – and let us say that the sunsets did not disappoint. The infinity pool is also a nice addition. The lodge is conveniently located to do some hikes.
They serve family-style vegetarian meals which are on the pricier side – to be honest, the whole ecolodge is on the pricier side – but the views might just be worth it.
Things to Do in Minca
Our favourite things to do in Minca Colombia:
1. Go on a Free Walking Tour
We love a good free walking tour and we were absolutely surprised to find one in Minca. The schedule seems to be somewhat flexible. On our tour, we visited Oído del Mundo Waterfall where we did an indigenous clay ceremony and Marinka waterfall.
2. Marinka Waterfall
Of all the waterfalls in Minca, Marinka was our favourite. You have to pay an entrance fee but you’ll get access to two waterfalls and loads of hammocks to relax in.
3. Oído del Mundo Waterfall
The Oído del Mundo or Ear of the World Waterfall is on the way to Marinka Waterfall. It’s small but it’s free to visit. It’s a sacred place for indigenous people.
4. Pozo Azul Waterfall
Pozo Azul or Blue Lagoon is one of the most popular waterfalls in Mica. Of course, you have to pay an entrance fee. The lower level is quite busy with vendors selling drinks which you can enjoy while sitting on a plastic chair in the water.
You can also climb to the upper level but the climb is a bit sketchy.
5. Minca Coffee Tour
Most travel guides will recommend you to visit Finca la Victoria as it’s conveniently located close to Pozo Azul. Personally, we recommend visiting Finca La Candelaria especially if you’re staying at Mundo Nuevo Eco Lodge as it’s only a beautiful 20 minutes walk.
6. Watch the Sunset
There’s what feels like a million great sunset spots around Minca. We strongly recommend visiting Casa Loma as it’s the perfect combination between a short hike and a great view - plus you can get some drinks.
7. Minca Town
While Minca town is not spectacular, you can spend a nice time visiting the small church, checking out some street art, and of course, taking a picture with the “Yo ❤️ Minca” sign.
8. Minca Hikes
As the worst Germans ever, we were already quite hiked out after walking to all the Minca waterfalls. If you are tougher than us, here are some hikes that come highly recommended:
- Mirador 360 just above Mundo Nuevo Eco Lodge
- Los Pinos trail
- Cerro Kennedy (2D/1N)
Where to Eat in Minca
We enjoyed
- For breakfast: Amora Cocina Saludable
- For a cheap menu del dia: Donde Ofri
- For french baked goods: La Miga Panadería
- For Mexican food: Taco y Chela Minca
- For drinks with spectacular views: Casa Loma (they also serve food but we didn’t try it)
How Many Days in Minca Do You Need
Of course, this strongly depends on the overall time you have and your interests. As little as a day trip from Santa Marta is enough to see the highlights of Minca (coffee and waterfalls).
If you want to enjoy Minca in-depth (and maybe even change your accommodation), we recommend at least 3 full days.
Minca Itinerary
This is how we would spend three perfect days in Minca:
Day 1 – Marinka and Oido del Mundo Waterfalls
Dedicate your first day in Minca to what we think is the highlight in the area: Marinka Waterfall. On the way, you can make a beeline to Oido del Mundo Waterfall if you like.
You can either hike on your own or join a free walking tour if you prefer to hike with a guide and get more background information.
Day 2 – Pozo Azul Waterfall, Central Minca, and Sunset Views
On day 2, check out another popular waterfall in Minca – Pozo Azul. On the way, you can make a beeline to Cascada Perdida.
After heading back to town, make some time to look for some street art and check out the restaurants and cafes.
Don’t miss the amazing sunsets in Minca, we recommend Casa Loma as a vantage point.
Day 3 – Move to Eco Lodge, Coffee, and Optional Hike
On your third day, we recommend you move to an eco-lodge.
We suggest Mundo Nuevo Eco Lodge because it’s a great starting point for the short hike to Finca La Candelaria to go on a coffee (or chocolate) tour.
We suggest that you check into Mundo Nuevo Eco Lodge early, drop off your luggage, and leave for the coffee farm so that you have plenty of time to enjoy the amazing pool and the stunning sunset.
Minca Tips
ATMs in Minca
At the time of our visit, there were no ATMs in Minca. There were agencies where you could withdraw money for a fee but we haven’t tried them. We strongly recommend stopping at an ATM in Santa Marta on the way as there are plenty there.
Supermarkets in Minca
The biggest supermarket (which is still not very big) is right next to Hotel Minca Express Relax (guests get a discount).
Internet in Minca
Both the WiFi in our accommodations as well as our local SIM card worked perfectly. If you plan to go on remote hikes, we still recommend you bring an offline map just in case.
Is Minca Safe
Minca is a small town. Locals told us that it’s very safe and we also felt safe. We also never heard any bad stories about Minca. We still recommend you not be careless.
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