For years, backpackers avoided Minca in favor of nearby Santa Marta. A consequence of a now-deceased paramilitary presence in the area. With Santa Marta – Colombia's oldest city – showing its age, Minca is gaining traction as an unmissable stop on the Colombian Gringo trail.

Minca is markedly different from elsewhere on Colombia's Caribbean Coast. The town is sleepy and rustic, with just 800 permanent residents, and the climate is crisper at 660 meters above sea level. It's also surrounded by the densely forested Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains.

For such a small town, Minca packs a lot of punch. Whether you're looking for new adventures or a change of scenery from the colonial Caribbean Coast, Minca has something for everyone.

Famously, Minca is the gateway to Colombia's Lost City Trek, an ancient city deep in the jungle that pre-dates Machu Picchu by some 600 years. Aside from the Lost City, Minca is a haven for outdoor lovers. The area has several hiking trails, natural waterfalls, pools, and a view you won't find anywhere else on Earth.

Minca is also a hotspot for coffee and craft beer. Several local coffee farms offer tours, and craft brewers make unique creations from locally sourced ingredients.

Getting to Minca is simple. Wherever you're coming from, you'll need to head to the well-connected nearby city of Santa Marta. From Santa Marta, catch one of the frequent shuttle services making the 14-kilometer journey to Minca; the shuttle service costs 8,000 COP.

Disclaimer: This article may contain affiliate links, and we may earn a small commission should you use them, for which we are incredibly grateful. However, the recommendations are still our own and intended to advise on the very best experiences Minca has to offer.

Trek To Ciudad Perdida

If you think of hiking in South America, you probably think of somewhere in The Andes or picturesque Patagonia. Colombia is not renowned for trekking, especially so close to the coast. However, one of the most rewarding treks on the continent lies deep in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. The hike to Ciudad Perdida, Colombia's Lost City.

Despite its namesake, The Lost City was never really lost.

Ciudad Perdida only became known to the world in 1972 after a band of robbers stumbled upon the site. However, the indigenous peoples of the Sierra Nevada have been visiting it for centuries. To the indigenous peoples of the region, Ciudad Perdida was once home. But they were forced to retreat deeper into the jungle after the arrival of the Spanish centuries ago.

Though the trek's popularity has been increasing, it's challenging.

Your lungs are unlikely to explode under the strain of high altitude as they would in the Andes. Neither will your bones shudder under the weight of intense cold as they would in Patagonia.

Instead, trekking to Ciudad Perdida will force you to face different challenges. The trek's physical demands will shell-shock those turning up expecting a stroll through the forest. A decent level of fitness is required.

The staggering heat and humidity will prove your worst enemy. The charm of sleeping in the jungle wears off very quickly. Being awoken at the crack of dawn for the next stage of the punishing trek is no laughing matter. It's a lengthy journey, too; you'll cover 63 kilometers and conclude the trip with a calf-shredding 1,200-step ascent to the archeological site.

Los Pinos Hike

A popular pastime in Minca, the Los Pinos hike takes you on a seven-hour loop of the mountains and jungle around town. This is the best way to explore some of the nature hotspots in the area.

It's a pretty easy hike. However, we recommend starting the loop early, before the sun becomes too harsh. Also, bring plenty of water and sunscreen. Not to mention a camera.

Starting from the center of Minca, you'll begin following the semi-paved Cerro Oriente road. Following the road, you'll pass Cascada Oido del Mundo and Cascadas de Marinka. These waterfalls are a common sight in the region and are worth stopping at. Cascadas de Marinka, in particular, is a staple of most Minca itineraries. However, you will have to pay a 5,000 COP entrance fee. After stopping at the waterfalls, follow the Cerro Kennedy Oriente towards Los Pinos.

Stopping to catch your breath at the Los Pinos summit, you'll be greeted by stunning vistas of Santa Marta in the distance and the Caribbean sea beyond. After a quick pit stop, you'll follow the long winding road back to town.

2-kilometers later, you'll switch roads, moving on to the Santa Marta - Cerro Kennedy. Following this road, you'll reach a viewpoint called the Sunsets Viewpoint.

After the Sunsets Viewpoint, keep following the road, and you'll come across another of Minca's best natural attractions, Pozo Azul. With plenty of signs marking the way to Pozo Azul, you can't miss it.

Pozo Azul comprises several natural pools with small waterfalls falling from one pool to the next. Entrance to Pozo Azul is free, offering a welcome respite from the sticky humidity of the hike. Be advised that Pozo Azul gets busy on weekends, courtesy of an influx of tourists from Santa Marta.

After departing Pozo Azul, you're on the home straight back to Minca. A stop at Museo Minca, also known as Memoria de la Sierra Nevada, is a great place to conclude the hike. In any area that sees a sharp rise in tourism, the authenticity, culture, and history of the place can be lost. Museo Minca stands to preserve the cultural history of Minca and the wider Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta region.

At Museo Minca, you'll learn about local indigenous tribes, coffee farming in the region, and the occupation of the FARC and other paramilitary groups. For better or worse, tourism brings change. Museo Minca stands to document that change and ensure that Minca's past is remembered. Entrance to the museum is free, and it's open from 9-11 AM and 1-4 PM. The museum is closed on Sundays and Mondays. While there is no charge for entry, donating some pesos towards community projects in the region is a nice way to show your appreciation.

Visit La Victoria Coffee Farm

Minca doesn't belong to Colombia's most acclaimed coffee region, but the bean is still a massive export here.

Several fairtrade coffee farms are dotted around Minca, and many offer guided tours to visitors. The most popular farm is Finca La Victoria. La Victoria is one of Colombia's oldest coffee farms, dating back to 1892. the farm is self-sustaining and still uses the same equipment it started with all those years ago.

Tours of La Victoria are priced at 15,000 COP and run between 9 AM and 4 PM. During the tour, you'll learn about harvesting coffee beans and turning them into the beverage you know and love. You'll also learn more about the farm's history, accompanied by a couple of cups of the farm's produce.

Besides coffee, there is a small on-site brewery called 'Nevada Cerveceria' at La Victoria. Nevada Cerveceria produces artisanal beers using produce from the region, including coffee and coca leaves.

November to February is the best time to visit La Victoria as it is prime coffee harvesting season.

Walking from Minca to La Victoria will take 90 minutes following the semi-paved Cienaga Minca. Bring some extra cash if you want to buy some coffee or stop at the microbrewery.

Visit La Candelaria Cacao Farm

Coffee aside, Minca is famous for another export, chocolate. Touring one of the numerous Cacao farms scattered throughout the area is immensely popular.

La Candelaria is one of the best of those farms. A family-run farm, La Candelaria is famed for its beautiful location atop a hillside.

The cacao tour is priced at 20,000 COP, walking you through the farm's production process, including harvesting, roasting, and grinding the Cacao beans into the finished product. The tour comes with some delicious samples to enjoy, obviously.

Walking from Minca to La Candelaria will take an hour, following the same road as you would towards La Victoria.

Cerro Kennedy Trek

The Cerro Kennedy trek is a challenging but rewarding way to spend your time in Minca. It's a two-day, 50-kilometer round trip that culminates with a view you won't find anywhere else on Earth. That view packs the sea, rainforest, and snow-capped mountain peaks into a single jaw-dropping vista.

This is a hike you'll need to start early. If starting from Minca, we recommend departing by 6 AM. Some hostels are located en route to Cerro Kennedy. This will take some time off the trek, meaning you can leave a little later if staying at such a hostel.

Before departing, ensure you have plenty of water, snacks, and sunscreen for the journey ahead. Along the way to Cerro Kennedy, you'll pass natural waterfalls, thick jungle, and cloud forests before emerging into a pine forest at the latter stages of the hike.

You're unlikely to be alone for the duration of the hike. The Sierra Nevada is home to four indigenous tribes comprising some 30,000 people. If you run into some local residents, be respectful.

After departing from your hostel or Minca, follow the semi-paved 'Santa Marta - Cerro Kennedy' for 10 kilometers before reaching the town of El Campano. El Campano is the hike's first checkpoint and the last place along the route where you'll be able to stop for food and water. Be sure to stock up.

Departing El Campano, walk a further 2.5 kilometers, at which point you'll come across a fork in the road. Bear left to keep following the Santa Marta-Cerro Kennedy.

After turning left at the fork, you're on the home straight towards your accommodation for the night, Hostal Donde Moncho. The distance to Hostal Donde Moncho is 11 kilometers. If you got up early to start the trek, you should arrive at the hostel in time to admire what is sure to be a stunning sunset.

Staying at Donde Honcho's is a lucky dip. A lack of internet and patchy phone lines makes booking in advance impossible. If you arrive to find no one is home, don't be alarmed. The hostel's owner frequently heads back and forth to Minca and Santa Marta for essentials.

You'll be given two choices to stay at Hostal Donde Moncho. The first is a bed in a dorm room, costing 50,000 COP. The second is to pitch your own tent, costing 25,000 COP.

Don't rely on a bed being available. The hostel has just one dorm room, which sleeps six. Bringing your own tent is essential. The camping zone has incredible views overlooking the Sierra Nevada, perfect for watching the sun go down with a beer.

The hostel offers dinner for 20,000 COP, consisting of some meat, rice, a couple of veggies, and coffee. Make sure you turn in early, which shouldn't be a struggle after a long day.

The next morning you'll wake up early—4 AM kind of early. A necessity to begin the final stage of the trek in time to see the sun come up. Walking the three kilometers to the Cerro Kennedy viewpoint should take an hour.

Once there, sit back above the clouds and watch the spectacular sunrise. Whenever you're ready, head back to Donde Moncho's to collect your belongings and grab breakfast before heading back to Minca. Breakfast will cost 12,000 COP and consists of arepas, scrambled eggs, and coffee.

Once fed, watered, and ready to depart, thank your host for the hospitality and begin the journey back to Minca. Your journey back shouldn't take as long as the reverse hike. Heading downhill, you should arrive back in Minca by 5 PM, providing you depart by 9 AM.

Many will tell you that a pricey guide is requisite for the hike to Cerro Kennedy. That simply isn't true. The route is easy to follow, and while long, the trek is not technically challenging.

Jungle Joe’s Adventure Tours

Jungle Joe's adventure tours is a great one-stop shop to explore Minca's natural treasures. Activities include trekking, canyoning, waterfall visits, river tubing, and coffee and chocolate farm tours. However, the highlight of Jungle Joe's adventure tours is birdwatching.

While not for everyone, the birdwatching tour will delight nature lovers. Colombia is the world's number one country for bird diversity, hosting 22% of all species on Earth. In the forests of the Sierra Nevada, you'll find over 300 species of birds.

Jungle Joe charges 40,000 COP for a three-hour birdwatching tour with equipment. The tour comes highly recommended and gets you up close and personal with some of the animal kingdom's most recognizable avians, such as Toucans and Macaws.

Sit Back and Watch The Sunset

The sunsets in Minca are pretty magical. Therefore, one of the easiest and best things to do in Minca is to grab a drink, sit back with some new friends and watch the sun disappear beyond the horizon.

Your viewing experience will vary depending on where you're staying for the duration of your time in Minca. Most hostels are found in the mountains just beyond the town.

Most hostels in and around Minca have some sort of vantage point overlooking the vegetation below—the makings of a great spot to lap up the sunset. All you have to do is kick back and enjoy. It's the simple things, eh?

Casa Loma

Casa Loma sits in tranquil tropical gardens located five minutes from Minca. The hostel and its accompanying cabanas offer unforgettable views of Minca, Santa Marta, and beyond.

After ten years of welcoming travelers, the hostel is a backpacker favorite, offering a bed for everyone and every budget.

There are private cabanas and huts taking inspiration from the indigenous tribes of the Sierra Nevada, perfect for flashpackers, couples, or a group of friends. Most have a private balcony, great for sunsets and stargazing.

After a more traditional backpacker experience? Dorm rooms, outdoor hammocks, and even a camping zone are available. 

Accommodation at Casa Loma costs anything from 15,000 to 175,000 COP per night. What you pay depends on what you opt for and whether your stay falls during the high season. Check the Casa Loma website for further information on prices.

Casa Loma also provides breakfast, lunch, and dinner to guests. The vegetarian menu is dominated by locally sourced produce wherever possible. The food is delicious. Enough to appease even the most ardent meat lover.

Breakfast is served between 7:30 AM and 10:30 AM, costing 12,500 COP. Lunch is served between 12:30 PM and 4:00 PM, costing slightly more at 15,000 COP.

Dinner is a different, more social affair. You'll place your order by 6:30 PM to the tune of 23,000 COP before dining with your fellow travelers at 8 PM. This adds to the sense of community that runs throughout Casa Loma. 

There is also an on-site bar offering anything from beers, cocktails, and spirits to herbal teas, fresh coffee, and soft drinks, all for a reasonable price.

Casa Loma promotes many activities both on and offsite.

On-site, you can brush up on the local lingo with Spanish lessons, partake in a morning yoga class, or unwind with a professional massage.

Offsite, you can visit a local farm to learn how locals live sustainably off the land. There is also a tour walking to Paso del Mango that stops at several swimming spots.

The hostel can even arrange to book a trip to Ciudad Perdida, arranging transport to Santa Marta and back.

Casas Viejas

Casas Viejas comes with considerable pedigree. In 2020, it scored big in the annual Hostelworld "hoscars," winning the lucrative title of best hostel in Colombia and securing third place in Latin America. It's not difficult to see the appeal.

Casas Viejas is in the heart of the esteemed Finca La Victoria coffee farm. Being 7 kilometers from Minca, reaching the hostel can be a bit of a mission. Once there, though, you'll find yourself in a cozy Eden of solitude, perfect for relaxing and unwinding in.

Casas Viejas offers both private rooms and dorm rooms to guests. Private rooms feature a double bed for two, priced from 110,000-200,000 COP. Some rooms, priced at 280,000 COP, can accommodate up to 4 people, perfect for groups. Dormitories are significantly cheaper at 50,000 COP and sleep up to 9 people.

Casas Viejas also has a restaurant and bar. The restaurant is open all day, with breakfast costing 10,000 COP, lunch a smidge more at 15,000 COP, and dinner costing 25,000 COP.

The restaurant offers a mix of local and international dishes. As with many of Minca's hostels, Casas Viejas aims to use locally sourced produce wherever possible.

At the hostel's Jungle Bar, happy hour kicks off at 6 PM, lasting until 7:30 PM. The bar serves cocktails, spirits, and craft beers. Craft beers are highly recommended, brewed in La Victoria's Nevada Cerveceria. Cocktails and pints of craft beer will set you back by 10,000 COP, spirits around 8,000 COP, and canned beers about 6,000 COP.

Casas Viejas is positioned slap bang in the middle of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta with 500 hectares of La Victoria to explore. Being in such a vast area means plenty of on-site activities to enjoy. From waterfall tours and horse riding to yoga and birdwatching, the grounds of Casas Viejas offer something for everyone.

Offsite, the famous Sunset viewpoint is 20 minutes away. Famed landmarks such as Pozo Azul and Cascadas Marinka are also easily accessible.

The hostel is also an excellent starting point for the Cerro Kennedy trek. The hostel can even arrange a picnic basket to take with you for the hike.

Finca Carpe Diem

Somewhat out in the sticks relative to Minca, Finca Carpe Diem has gained a reputation as another backpacker favorite. The hostel is near the end of the Paso del Mango valley, famous for its mangoes.

The rooms at Finca Carpe Diem will leave you spoilt for choice. Several dorm rooms are available, distinguished by the number of people they accommodate, the room's age, and the amenities. Dorms will cost between 35,000-55,000 COP.

Twin rooms, ideal for couples or friends traveling together, are also available. Here, the difference between rooms comes down to floor space and bed size. Prices for privates range from 160,000 to 220,000 COP.

Finally, the crème de la crème of accommodation at Finca Carpe Diem is the eco hut cabins. With prices between 160,000-240,000 COP, expect spacious rooms, a private bathroom, comfy beds, and one of the hostel's three pools mere meters from your front door.

Finca Carpe Diem also hosts a restaurant specializing in Belgian and Colombian cuisine. Breakfast costs 15,000 COP. Dinner is around 25,000 COP. Snacks are also available to fill the gap between meals, and there is an on-site bar. To check out the full menu, click here.

There are several local activities to occupy your time at the hostel. Waterfall tours, coffee and cacao farm tours, beekeeping, nearby nature reserves, natural jacuzzis, and the 6-hour hike to Minca are all available.

Digital nomads will love Finca Carpe Diem. The hostel has free and fast WiFi, a rare commodity in the Sierra Nevada.

The Lazy Cat

The Lazy Cat is Minca's chief establishment. Named after furry residents Tomasito and Lionel, you'll find The Lazy Cat in a picturesque riverside cottage with a balcony overlooking the valley and stream below.

The restaurant is overseen by Colombian/English couple Cobi and Steph, the restaurant's owners. Cobi and Steph are ever-present and always keen to ensure guests have the best experience.

Alongside delicious food, The Lazy Cat has fast WiFi. If your hostel has enforced a digital detoxication, The Lazy Cat is a great spot to settle down, get some work done, and catch up on the world beyond Minca.

For early risers, the Lazy Cat serves delicious breakfasts, organic coffee, and super smoothies for 8,000-10,000 COP. Lunch and dinner menus feature plenty of veggie and vegan options. Staples of the menu include homemade burgers, fillet steaks, Thai stir fry, quesadillas, salads, wraps, and more. Meals cost between 8,000 and 20,000 COP.

There is also a bar with a daily happy hour between 6 PM and 7 PM, which is worth checking out if you're hoping to make new friends.

La Miga Panaderia

A Panderiá is the last thing you'd expect to find in the middle of the Colombian jungle. Yet here it is in the form of Minca's distinctly French La Miga.

La Miga is an excellent option for those on the hunt for breakie or brunch. Every morning at dawn, staff cook up a sumptuous selection of homemade bread, pastries, and other tempting sweet treats. La Miga also serves fresh coffee cultivated in the Sierra Nevada. The chocolate bread and Pain Aû Chocolaté are divine.

Upon arrival, you'll be greeted with several samples to try before making your order. Coffees cost between 2,000-3,000 COP. A loaf of freshly baked bread or delicious treats cost a mere 4,000 COP.

If you intend to hang around for a while, get there early. The café can get busy mid-morning as others descend on La Miga to make the most of the free WiFi.

Restaurante Santisabella

Restaurante Santisabella is a gastronomic highlight in Minca. As the name suggests, Santisabella serves classic Italian dishes with a Colombian twist.

The restaurant is famed for its cozy, relaxed atmosphere and friendly service. Guests are served dinner atop an open patio area surrounded by twinkling fairy lights, and downstairs is home to a lively bar.

Starters cost between 8,000 and 13,000 COP.

For mains, Pasta, ravioli, and gnocchi dishes cost around 20,000 COP. Meat dishes are slightly more at 30,000 COP. Pizzas can cost anything from 17,000 to 49,000 COP, depending on size and toppings.

If you have room, desserts are available for 8,000 COP.

Bring plenty of cash. Card payments aren't an option here.

Like the rest of Colombia, Minca experiences wet and dry seasons, though temperatures remain consistent year-round.

Minca is milder than other destinations on the Caribbean coast, cue to the town sitting 600 meters above sea level.

December to February is the best time for good weather, with warm temperatures, bright sunny skies, and little rainfall.

March through to May is considered spring in Minca. Although the weather is still mostly pleasant, you can expect more rain.

September to November are Minca's autumnal months and see the most rainfall. If you're planning on doing a lot of hiking, these months are best avoided as trails get pretty muddy.

Regarding tourism, the hot summer months of June to August see Minca's biggest spike in visitors. If visiting Minca during these months, expect hiking trails to become a little busier and accommodation prices to be hiked up.

We recommend visiting Minca between January and February, offering a happy medium of great weather, fewer crowds, and lower accommodation prices. These are also the best months for coffee and cacao tours as they fall within the harvesting season.

Our Map of Minca