Minca, Colombia – A Jungle Paradise in the Sierra Nevada

Waterfalls, chocolate plantations, mountain views and a little adventure getting there!

After the hustle and bustle of Colombia's cities, Minca was exactly what we needed. Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, just 14 miles from Santa Marta on Colombia's Caribbean coast, this little village is a natural paradise.

We absolutely loved Minca, particularly our hostel perched high in the mountains, surrounded by jungle with outstanding views. It was peaceful, beautiful and the perfect place to escape for a few days.

Getting to Minca – An Overnight Adventure

Our journey began in Medellín, where we boarded a Brasilia overnight bus to Santa Marta. Sixteen hours on a bus might not sound particularly appealing, but it was surprisingly comfortable and straightforward, apart from a few slightly hair-raising overtaking manoeuvres!

We arrived in Santa Marta at around 8 am and used the Hey Taxi app to arrange a taxi to Minca, costing just £4.

After a traditional Colombian breakfast of scrambled eggs, rice and pasta, we set off to find our hostel.

And this is where things got interesting!

Google Maps sent us up completely the wrong mountain. After a long, hot climb, we realised our mistake and had to retrace our steps. Eventually, we discovered there was no road all the way to our hostel, so we hopped on the back of motorbikes for part of the journey before tackling the final uphill section on foot.

Not quite the relaxing arrival we had imagined!

Our Mountain Hideaway – Vista Verde

Accommodation with a view

Our home in Minca was Hostal Vista Verde, approximately 1.5 km outside the village, involving a steep 45-minute walk uphill.

Was it worth it? Absolutely!

Our room was fairly basic, with a shared bathroom, but the location more than made up for it. The hostel had enormous hammock-style nets suspended over the hillside, where we could relax and admire the spectacular views across the Sierra Nevada.

Sunset was particularly beautiful, although we were rarely alone. The resident chickens, including an enormous cockerel, seemed to think the hammocks belonged to them!

Breakfast and evening meals were available at the hostel, which was especially welcome after a day of hiking. Once we had made it up the mountain, we weren't particularly keen to head straight back down again.

Where we stayed: Hostal Vista Verde – Minca

Exploring Minca – Waterfalls and Jungle Trails

Minca is a real mecca for backpackers. The village itself is small, with just a few main streets, bustling with motorbikes, jeeps, cafés and travellers.

We had expected somewhere a little like Salento, but Minca felt much more raw and rustic. It certainly wasn't as polished, but that was part of its character.

Most of our days were spent hiking through the lush tropical countryside, discovering waterfalls and enjoying the beautiful mountain scenery.

Cascada Escondida – Our Favourite Waterfall

Just a 15-minute walk from Vista Verde was Cascada Escondida, a lovely waterfall tucked away in the jungle.

There was a delightful little café among the trees where we stopped for lunch before exploring the waterfall. It was wonderfully peaceful, with hardly anyone around.

This was exactly the sort of experience we had hoped to find in Minca.

Marinka Waterfalls – A Different Experience!

Our second waterfall adventure was rather less successful.

We set off early, walking downhill into Minca before continuing out the other side towards Marinka Waterfalls. After around an hour and a half of walking in the heat, we were desperate for a refreshing swim.

Unfortunately, when we arrived, the place was absolutely packed!

The water didn't look particularly inviting, and there were tourists everywhere. It was a complete contrast to the tranquillity of Cascada Escondida.

Our tip: Visit Marinka Waterfalls very early in the morning if you want to avoid the crowds. Otherwise, seek out one of the quieter waterfalls around Minca.

La Candelaria – Coffee, Chocolate and Monkeys

One of the highlights of our stay was visiting La Candelaria, a working coffee and cacao plantation hidden in the mountains.

It was approximately a 45-minute hike from Vista Verde, following jungle paths with incredible views along the way.

As we walked, we could hear the unmistakable sound of howler monkeys calling to one another through the forest. Although we couldn't see them, their extraordinary cries made us feel as though we were deep in the jungle.

The plantation tour was fantastic and felt genuinely authentic. We learnt how cacao is grown and processed into chocolate, saw the plantation's trees and discovered more about traditional production methods.

And, rather unexpectedly, we were treated to a chocolate face mask!

At approximately £6 per person, it was excellent value and one of our favourite activities in Minca.

Our tip: If you're staying at Vista Verde, walk to La Candelaria rather than taking transport. The jungle hike is part of the experience.

Palm Sunday in Minca

Our visit coincided with Palm Sunday, so we decided to head into the village to see how the local community celebrated.

We watched people carrying palm branches through the streets towards the little church, gathering together for the religious celebrations.

It was a lovely opportunity to experience a small part of everyday Colombian life, away from the usual tourist activities.

These unexpected moments are often what make travelling so special.

Where We Ate – The Lazy Cat

Our favourite restaurant in Minca was The Lazy Cat, right in the centre of the village.

We ate here a couple of times and loved the relaxed atmosphere, friendly vibe and location overlooking the river.

It was the perfect place to sit, enjoy a meal and watch the comings and goings of this lively little backpacker village.

Prices reflect our visit and may have changed.

Our Thoughts – Was Minca Worth Visiting?

Absolutely! Minca was one of those places where the accommodation and its surroundings were as much a part of the experience as the activities themselves.

We loved waking up in the mountains, listening to the jungle, hiking to waterfalls and simply relaxing in the hammocks with those incredible views.

The village itself was busy, dusty and full of motorbikes, but just a short walk into the mountains transported us into a completely different world.

If you're travelling along Colombia's Caribbean coast, we would definitely recommend spending a few days in Minca. Choose somewhere in the hills if you don't mind a bit of walking – the peace, scenery and sunsets are worth every step.

Next stop – Cartagena! We were swapping jungle trails and mountain views for colourful colonial streets, historic city walls, boat trips and Caribbean sunsets.