6 best things to do in Minca, Colombia

If you don’t want to wake up super early, you can also go and see birds independently at many spots around Minca, either in ho(s)tels (like Hotel Minca La Casona, Mirador de los pajaros and Jungle Joe’s Ecolodge, which all have set up lots of bird feeders) or in bird watching areas you can hike to (like Observatorio de Aves de Minca – Reserva Natural Faunal here or Reserva Natural Amazilia here). Of course you’ll have the best chances to spot birds in the early morning and with the help of a guide.

2 Visit a Coffee Farm

The best place to get deeper into understanding and drinking coffee in Colombia is in the coffee region of course (commonly referred to as the “Coffee Triangle” or “Zona Cafetera” in Spanish. It is located in the central part of the country, within the Andes Mountains.) However this region is quite far from the northern part of the country (and many popular itineraries that combine Cartagena – Santa Marta – Minca – Tayrona), so if you’re not planning to visit down there, you can also pick excellent coffee farms to visit in the north and get a similarly enjoyable tour. 

One of the best known Fincas around Minca is la Victoria. It’s not only one of Colombia’s oldest coffee farms but also the largest in the northern region. However, after my experience in Salento visiting a quite large and well-known coffee farm, I opted for a smaller, eco-friendly finca instead.

Finca San Rafael is not so well known, but they offer a coffee + cocoa tour combo, which I found interesting. The ranch uses small scale production processes to grow its organic coffee and chocolate. The experience here was more focused on the tour of the ranch and a bit less on tasting, and was less comprehensive than my visit to finca El Ocaso near Salento (of course, given that that one was a premium – and long! – tasting tour). But it was fun to see the cacao production as well, which I never have before, and in the end we could even try their cacao face mask (not ideal for white towels :P). Overall I think it was a very entertaining and intimate visit to a small-scale coffee farm. If you enjoy their vibe and the slightly more secluded location, you can also choose to stay overnight at the finca – they have a pool, which is a great plus!

Getting there is easy – you can take a pleasant 30 minute walk from the village or hop in a taxi. You can find the way to the finca on Google maps.

3 Walk around Minca village

Minca, is a small village where only about 600 people live. It’s not a place for big-city sights and sounds. Instead, Minca’s charm lies in its peaceful atmosphere and the beauty of nature. If you have some free time, take a stroll along the main street, where you’ll discover cozy restaurants and little shops selling handmade souvenirs. It’s a nice place to enjoy local food and pick up a keepsake from your trip. Minca invites you to slow down, relax, and appreciate the simple joys of life surrounded by nature’s tranquility.

4 Go for a hike

Day hike | Around Minca, you’ll find some amazing hikes to explore. One of the favorites is the Los Pinos Trail, known for its mesmerizing views of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It’s a 6-hour journey, with the first 3 hours being a bit of an uphill climb. But when you reach the top, you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking vistas of lush green landscapes.

Longer hike | For those seeking more adventure, the Cerro Kennedy hike is a top choice. It’s a 2-day trek with an overnight stay. The path takes you way up, to about 3100 meters above sea level, so you can imagine the views are absolutely stunning! From the summit, you’ll even catch sight of the snow-covered peaks of Pico Colon and Pico Bolivar in the distance.

5 Do a day-trip to Tayrona

A mere 50-60 minutes by car transports you to the famous Tayrona National Park, nestled along the Caribbean coast. It is one of the top attractions of northern Colombia, so the crowd levels will match this. It is important to get to the park pretty early, as it takes quite a long time to hike to the best bits, and the closing time is strict (that is, if you’re not staying overnight in one of the very basic lodging options). Keep this in mind if going from Minca, and choose the entrance to the park strategically: there are two entrances, El Zaino and Calabazo. While Calabazo is closer to Minca, saving you some driving time, it does require longer hikes to reach the main beaches. You can read more about how to plan your visit to Tayrona here.

6 Visit Blue Lagoon

At the end of a dusty, winding road and beyond a quaint old bridge, Pozo Azul’s refreshingly icy waters await. While it is not exactly the cascading waterfall you might expect, these natural swimming holes offer a peaceful afternoon retreat, especially rewarding after the trek to get there. A scenic hour-long walk from the town, marked by clear signage, leads you to the spot. Alternatively, motorbike taxis are an option for about $7,000, though the walk itself is part of the charm. Entry is usually free, but occasionally locals might charge a small fee. The area gets crowded on weekends, so an early visit is advisable. Don’t forget to bring swimwear, a quick-dry towel, sunscreen, and plenty of water. Watch out, the rocks around the pool can be slippery!

How to get there

From Santa Marta | Colectivos (shared minibuses) run frequently between Santa Marta and Minca. The journey takes about 40 to 45 minutes and is the quickest and most affordable way to travel. The colectivos depart from a bus stop behind the central market (Mercado Central) in Santa Marta, not from the main bus terminal. The exact location is at the intersection of Carrera 9 and Calle 11. A one-way ticket costs about 9,000 COP ($2.20). Colectivos run from 07:00 to 18:00 but don’t have set departure times; they leave when full, which may require a wait of up to 30 minutes​​​.

From Cartagena | The common route to Minca from Cartagena involves traveling to Santa Marta first. The journey between Cartagena and Minca is approximately 154 miles (247km), taking about 4-8 hours depending on traffic and transport mode. The popular options include a public bus or a shuttle bus, followed by a taxi or private transfer from Santa Marta to Minca. You can take a taxi to the public bus terminal in Cartagena and then board a bus to Santa Marta. This journey takes roughly 5-6 hours. Buses run frequently throughout the day. Once in Santa Marta, you can take a colectivo or a bus to Minca, which is a short 45-minute to 1-hour journey. Alternatively, a taxi from Santa Marta to Minca can be a more comfortable option, typically costing no more than $40 USD​​​​.

How much time you need

I recommend spending at least two nights in Minca. It takes quite long to reach from Cartagena (which is probably where you’ll be coming from or returning to), and it’s just not worth the sweaty trip for less. Plus, you can even choose to make Minca your base to visit Tayrona, which will make planning easier.