Here, we met the most eccentric kiwi barman for a very enjoyable random mid hike bevvy. This beautiful reserve is arguably the best birding destination in colombia, and visitors can see up to 20 endemic species in just a few days there. The road getting there is a little rough but nevertheless, the incredible views of the sierra nevadas will help you ignore the jarring pot holes. Minca colombia things to do in minca including where. With about 1903 species, colombia is the number one country in bird diversity in the world with over 22% all bird species in the world. The village is a popular destination for backpacker tourists, the surrounding area a biosphere reserve with great hiking and natural scenery. Apr 27, 2019 not only are there tonnes of things to do in minca colombia, there are ample hiking trails in the area. Here is a list of some of the books ive come across, which will give readers a sense of what colombia is about, without romanticising poverty and war, and even looking at situations with both humour and harsh reality. Minca, colombia adventours colombia custom adventure.
Most of them are outside town so you have to walk or take a moto taxi to get there. He started coffee plantations in minca with families from puerto rico and honduras. From cartagena, take a bus or colectivo to santa marta we recommend airconditioned berlinasur, 40. Only 14 kilometres away from santa marta, it is a tranquil, beautiful area.
There is not much going on here but it is a nice place to come to sit in the morning, right in the middle of the stream, which looks like a river. But there is more to minca than trekking, the most famous hammock in south america, fresh organic coffee, artisanal bread, waterfalls, mototaxis through the jungle, cool mountain breezes, and incredible sunsets. This place has tons of great views and the hostel is such a. You can either walk from minca town to the farm which takes around an hour and 20 minutes or you can take a mototaxi from town for 10,000 cop. I caught a bus at santa martas municipal market for the 30minute uphill ride on the winding road to minca. Colombian drivers are not so bad so i feel that any one with a little adventure in them would be fine. Casa loma is a hostel, and in our opinion, one of the best hostels in colombia and frankly, all of south america. There s a terrace and guests can use free wifi and free private parking. The town of minca is about an hour away from the large city of santa marta. Flanked by coffee farms, forest, mountains, rivers, streams, waterfalls and swimming holes, as well as great restaurants and cafes, minca is the perfect place to kick back and relax for a few days. Against all odds, tiny minca, colombia was one of our favorite destinations in colombia. Jul 22, 2016 getting to minca is an adventure in and of itself. Its not the kind of place that comes to mind when thinking about colombia, but a little mountain village called minca gets my vote for best of honors. Mundo nuevo is located 45 minutes hike from minca on a steep road, but you can also opt for a bumpy motorbike or jeep taxi ride 15 min.
Minca is on the eastern caribbean coast, next to santa marta and paso del mango. Explore the mountain oasis of minca in north colombia. However, at certain times will be busier than others. Minca, a small village in colombia that has big potential. Biking around minca and paso del mango finca carpe diem.
Minca, know the paradise in the mountains, how to get. The main way to get to minca is through the town of santa marta which has very good links to the rest of colombia. Jul 29, 2015 thank you chris, really nice piece, covers all bases. Minca, renowned for its natural beauty, is in magdalena department, colombia. Additionally, the country is number three in south america with almost 70 endemic species after brazil and peru respectively listing 203 and 105. Minca is a small village with a lot of activities to do. My husband and i will be arriving in cartegena on december 23 for just a week in colombia. The nearest airport is simon bolivar international airport, 40 km from loma nevada minca. Some of the best zoom lenses can catch the hummingbirds rapid flight as they approach flowers to drink nectar. Probably one of the best places to watch the sunset in minca from the beautiful quirky terrace of casa loma. Taxi from santa marta 35 min or a bus at calle 11 con carrera 9. The sights on the way are beautiful and the facilities once you get there are better than we expected there are food.
Birdwatching, hiking and mountain biking are the most popular activities in minca, and can be organized by almost any hostel or hotel. Coming from cartagena, the bus will drop you at the main terminal outside of santa marta. Offering a terrace and views of the garden, casas viejas is set 35 minutes away from minca in the magdalena region, and 12 mi from santa marta. There is a terrace and guests can make use of free wifi and free private parking. Get yourself an aquilar, pick your deckchair and relax as the sky changes to hues of pinks and oranges. You can visit some of the many waterfalls around minca or just relax in town and enjoy the over 50 species of hummingbirds in the area. There are also colectivos shared taxis that leave from the marketplace in santa marta. Leaving the stress in the city for a more quiet place in the mountains outside of santa marta, colombia. Casa loma is a beautiful wooden hilltop house that offers one of the most amazing views from any hostel in colombia, particularly at sunset. Hello, we are planning to spend 3 nights in or near minca, and we are having. Minca and the mountains halfway up the sierra nevadas hearty base in northern colombia, the tiny gathering of minca lies within a zone of flora and fauna that can only be described as a mash up between mountainous and tropical bliss.
There are two easily accessible coffee farms where you can see plants, go on a tour and buy local product. This is a story of a relaxing holiday in minca, a small village in the sierra nevada of colombia. There are lots of things to do in minca colombia, here are a few of my personal favorites. Wed like to be in cartegena, minca to see birds and hikebike, and then go to the coffee region before returning to cartegena for our return flight on december 30th. Visiting a coffee farm in minca from here take a mototaxi or hike uphill for an hour and a half to candelaria coffee and cacao farm. I enjoyed taganga, the fishing village near santa marta, but this is even more peaceful. It is quite a distance so make sure you stay on until centro mercado the central. For such a tiny town, there are a surprising number of options for places to stay in minca. Getting to know colombia on two wheels is obviously a fabulous experience. Among them are the orioles, tucans, owls, woodpeckers and more. Loma nevada minca hotel has a restaurant, fitness center, a bar and garden in minca. Ecohabs minca is the ideal getaway for travellers looking to escape their busy lifestyles and immerse in the best that nature has to offer.
What to do in minca colombia the mountainous magical land. Minca is a small town in the mountains above santa marta and has become a popular destination. The complete guide to minca, colombias sleepy hidden gem. There are board games, card games, books to read, hammocks to lounge in, music always playing, and icecold beer always available. The bus terminal in santa marta is just outside the main town. Getting to minca is an adventure in and of itself, but its not as difficult as it sounds.
Santa marta is 29 km from the accommodation, while taganga is 32 km from the property. Learn more at its website or you can book a tour ahead of time via viator. This tiny oasis in the sierra nevada mountain range is a haven for trekkers and nature lovers, full of diverse wildlife such as hummingbirds and toucans. Chasing waterfalls in minca, colombia globetrottergirls. Santa marta is 14 miles from mundo nuevo eco lodge, while taganga is 16 miles away. Find unique places to stay with local hosts in 191 countries. The water is fairly cold and as we were there during the christmas holiday period it was pretty busy, but i would still highly recommend a visit to pozo azul. There are more than 600 species of birds in the sierra, and in minca, you can observe over 300. This is a threehour one way hike uphill or a sixhour walk if you want to take this circular trail back to town that ends on the opposite end of the main street. Select an option below to see stepbystep directions and to compare. There are 3 ways to get from santa marta to minca station by bus, taxi or car. The road leading to minca has been recently rebuilt 2015 and is in a good condition. Minca is in the sierra nevada, a rain forest, so you can expect quite some rain, however the nature is beautiful and you will again see a completely different side of colombia.
Find the best hiking trails in minca, magdalena colombia. Minca is one of the first regions in colombia to produce traditional organic coffee. We walked into town from elemento which took about 2. Birdwatching jungle joe minca icenter and outdoor adventures. Colombia is famous for its cyclists and mountainbikers. Minca colombia travel guide where to next budget travel.
Casas viejas is the home of travellers and nature lovers in the sierra nevada. However, if you book accommodation in advance, you can avoid paying more. Things to do in minca colombia our big fat travel adventure. Take the taxi to the farm and from there you can hike up further to other viewpoints including to casas viejas read below for more on casas viejas. The town, which until a few years ago could only be reached via a dirt road, is delightful. In santa marta, minca bound colectivos and shared taxis leave from outside the market. If you dont have minca on your list you need to put it on there.
This place has tons of great views and the hostel is such a nice place for relaxing and. This is a threehour one way hike uphill or a sixhour walk if you want to take this circular trail back to town that ends on the opposite end of the. March to may is considered the spring in minca and are the least. Colombia is a paradise for birdwatchers with innumerable options in the cloud forest and paramos of the andes or. Ecohabs minca online bookings in santa marta, colombia.
Top hiking trails in minca, magdalena colombia wikiloc. Add minca to your colombia itinerary if you want to enjoy some hiking between 2 beach towns how to get to minca. Where to stay in minca, colombia there are lots of budget options around town, yet as tourism is increasing in the area, the hotels are becoming more upmarket and expensive. Take in some great scenic walks, spot tropical birds galore and enjoy interacting with the. Practical guide to palomino, colombia s hippest beach town. Travelling to minca is a must if you like nature, mountains and hiking. Casa elemento and the famous hammocks in minca where to. Ecohabs minca is the ideal getaway for travellers looking to escape their busy lifestyles and immerse in the best that nature has to offer minca is the first town in siera nevada, located in a beautiful place with rivers and. Dont travel colombia without reading these books first. Our main reason for the visit was relaxation but we wondered around as well, the place has so much to offer.
You can play pool at the inn, and the area is popular for hiking. You can get to marinka waterfall on foot, it takes about one and a half hour to get there. Minca ciudad perdida, colombia the lost city travel guide. Thanks to its location between the city and the mountians, minca has many perks and appeals, both in the form of ease of access to the town, as well as an abundance of activities to participate in during your time there. It sits 800 m above sea level with a slightly cooler climate than the coast, within a lush tropical forest, and as such is a popular retreat for tourists looking for a relaxed atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle of santa marta. From cartagena, take a bus or collectivo to santa marta we recommend airconditioned berlinasur, 40. Not only are there tonnes of things to do in minca colombia, there are ample hiking trails in the area. From touring coffee and cacao farms to bathing in waterfalls, here are our top things to do in minca, how to get there and where to stay. A slow 17 kilometers up and out of dusty santa marta, the route climbs relentlessly through increasingly lush terrain. The cost to just visit the hammock and use the facilities is. Astonishing minca in the mountains of colombia youtube.
Mar, 2018 casa elemento is a great hostel located up in the mountains that surround minca. To get there you need to go to the bus area in santa marta were you can take a collectivo a minivan to a certain place that leaves when there are five passengers. The cheapest way to get to minca from santa marta is to take the bus. Besides a nascent ecotourism industry, coffee production and agriculture are the main economic industries. Located about 90 minutes north of santa marta, palomino is a cool place to hang out for a few days by the beach, meet some fellow travelers, enjoy some chilled out nightlife, and eat some good grub. Things to do, to see, where to stay, where to eat and how to get there. Mar, 2018 this meant minca was a place cut off to all but the locals.
Minca is a little town of 500 inhabitants located in the foothills of the sierra nevada of santa marta. The hostel is closed right now so dont make a reservation or book it you wont get your money back its supposed to be closed for at least a year, so if you. You see the same few people staying at little casa loma minca over and over again during your stay, and you all sit together for meals at communal tables. Here we are particularly interested in biking around minca and. Minca was nice but not nice enough to travel there and back if you have no time for other things in that area like tayrona which would also be very busy you will want two days for cartagena so if that means you only have 5 days left you could fly to pereira at least i think that is possible and go to salento and the cocora valley great for birds and hiking. Minca, magdalena, colombia three day weather forecast. Hail one on the street or ask your hostel to book it although this will make it more expensive. Take the bus from outside tayrona to santa marta, then get transportation from santa marta. Record your own trail from the wikiloc app, upload it and share it with the community. Situated above the town, youll overlook minca, santa marta, the sea, plus the mountains of the sierra nevada and forest all at the same timetruly unique. Get your 3day weather forecast for minca, magdalena, colombia. Minca is the first town in siera nevada, located in a beautiful place with rivers and amazing natural waterfalls.
Practical guide to the lush mountain town of minca. It is possible to fly into santa marta from other cities in colombia as well. Discover the most beautiful places, download gps tracks and follow the top routes on a map. If you are flying in from medellin, bogota or cali, you will need to take a colectivo bus from the airport to the centre. Sporting picturesque scenery with a lush forest, stunning views of the surrounding mountains, and several waterfalls, minca is well worth a stop during a visit to colombia s caribbean coast.
Since tourism is booming and security and safety in colombia improving, there are hostels and restaurants opening all along mincas streets. Both are on amazon too, as are most of these books i think. This is actually what we did and i found it to be a great day in minca. Mar 16, 2017 leaving the stress in the city for a more quiet place in the mountains outside of santa marta, colombia. Santa marta to minca station 3 ways to travel via bus. Explore minca holidays and discover the best time and places to visit. Book your stay at casas viejas minca hostel or read more about things to do in casas viejas. The best months to visit minca is november to february winter with warm weather highest 33 degrees, little rain and sunny, bright days, great for hiking. Mundo nuevo eco lodge features a restaurant, bar, a shared lounge and garden in minca. Minca santa marta attractions tourist destinations places of. Loma nevada minca hotel has a restaurant, fitness centre, a bar and garden in minca. Practical guide to the lush mountain town of minca, colombia. Minca wasnt in my original travel plans for colombia, but as we were leaving cartagena for santa marta, one of my instagram followers remarked that i had to visit minca. Minca colombia travel guides travel inspiration travel.
Pozo azul minca 2020 all you need to know before you. Then, you will have to take a cab to minca or to calle 11 con carrera 9 to get a shared taxi. Imagine a friendly santa marta accommodation in the middle of the lush rainforests of the sierra nevada, overlooking the green hills and the ocean on the background. There are 3 options to get to minca from santa marta.
Sometimes time really isnt on your side, you can book a daytrip or overnight from santa marta and have the whole day. There s a load of hikes you can do among the waterfalls. Casa elemento does get booked up in advance so make sure you book a couple of weeks before to book. Minca is a small village inhabited by 800 people at an elevation of 650m in the sierra nevada above santa marta.
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