A serene waterfall cascades into a clear pool surrounded by lush green foliage and moss-covered rocks. A person swims in the pool called Pozo Azul, enjoying the natural beauty of the tranquil forest setting.

Pozo Azul in Minca: The Best Hangout Spot

ByPhillip

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The most popular spot to hang out in town is only a 10-minute drive up the road from Minca. Pozo Azul in Minca is famous among travelers and locals for its accessibility, free cost, and excellent swimming area. Colombians flock to this area on the holidays and weekends, as it is perfect for the whole family.

It doesn’t take long to get here and can be added to the many other amazing activities in Minca. We added this to our list when we decided to spend the week here.

In this guide, I will provide all the details you need to know about Pozo Azul, one of the best waterfalls in Minca.

What is Pozo Azul?

Pozo Azul is translated in Spanish as the blue well and for good reason. The water is ice-cold and extremely refreshing. Coming from the famous Cerro Kennedy or Los Pinos, this can be a perfect way to end your hike.

Surrounded by the lush forest of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, it’s no wonder this place gets crowded. Be sure to arrive early or on the weekends!

How to Get to Pozo Azul in Minca

There are two main ways to arrive here: by car or moto-taxi and by foot. We decided to take the foot route because it isn’t that long of a hike. Below, I will give more details about each.

But the first thing you’ll have to do is get to Minca.

Santa Marta to Minca

There are a few ways to get to this small mountain town, all of which are budget-friendly.

  • Colectivo: This costs only $9,000 COP and runs multiple times a day. Head to the Mercado Publico and ask for Minca.
  • Taxi: The going rate to get a ride to Minca is $60,000 COP. We got it down to $55,000 COP but that was it.
  • Moto Taxi: This will be cheaper than a taxi but may be difficult with your luggage.

We took a taxi up to the town when we visited Santa Marta. This was mainly because we were lazy after a long day of hiking. On the way back to Santa Marta, we decided to take the Colectivo.

Minca to Pozo Azul

Moto Taxi

This is a popular option and very cheap. Right before you reach the Yellow Bridge, there is a company called Moto Mink. The cost is $10,000 COP. This ride will take you around 10 minutes and is adventurous in its own right.

These guys are good at what they do, and there is no reason to worry. This is a good option because it is free entry.

Hike

I suggest hiking because it is short and makes the waterfall more rewarding. It is around 4 miles round trip. You will mainly walk on the road until you reach the entrance.

I would suggest arriving very early or around lunchtime. Try your best to avoid weekends and holidays as the crowds will be massive. In total should take 2 hours roundtrip.

If you don’t like crowds, you could alternatively visit less crowded waterfalls such as Cascada Oido Del Mundo.

A person wearing a blue backpack and colorful shorts walks down a rustic, tree-lined road toward a small building where people are seated at the Pozo Azul entrance. Multiple white vans are parked along the road under a cloudy sky.

My Experience Hiking to Pozo Azul in Minca

Hiking to Pozo Azul is the most popular thing to do in Minca, which is apparent when arriving. Some people, myself included, don’t like crowds during outdoor activities. Even though I knew it would be crowded, I still had to go. And I’m glad I did.

This area has the best swimming locations out of any waterfall in Minca. The hike was rather boring but I thoroughly enjoyed my time here.

The hike starts from downtown Minca at the main intersection. After the yellow bridge, instead of taking a right towards the church, continue straight. The incline immediately begins.

There isn’t too much to see besides some restaurants, hotels, and moto-taxis constantly passing you. It was great to get the legs moving nonetheless.

After around an hour, depending on how fast you are, you will arrive at an area with many cars and moto-taxis. You will see an orange cafe too. This is where the trail begins. Take a left here and follow this trail for 10 more minutes.

Stay straight on the path. Follow the crowds and you won’t get lost. Some food vendors will be on the side of the trail and even a hostel. You will be at the famous Cascada Pozo Azul shortly after this walk.

First Waterfall

You will know you have made it to Pozo Azul when you see a clearing of Moto Taxis. Shortly past this is the river. There are multiple swimming spots throughout this area. Start walking, and you will climb along the way until you reach the first waterfall.

This is where the majority of people will be. It is a great place to swim and relax in the water. The water is a perfect depth, where you can fully submerge yourself but not too deep that it’s hard to stand.

There is a lifeguard on duty here, which is nice. If you are hungry, there are restaurants and vendors in this area. We brought our own snacks and many others do as well.

If you are looking for a more secluded area, I suggest you walk across the water and hike up to the second waterfall.

Second Waterfall

The trail is short, but a bit of climbing is involved. Most fitness levels will be able to reach the second waterfall easily. When we arrived, nobody was swimming, and only one other person was walking around.

It is not as big of a swimming area and you’re forced to be closer to the waterfall. This makes swimming a bit more of a workout than the other swimming spots.

I personally enjoyed this spot more because of the lack of people. We had it all to ourselves.

Another trail leads up to the top and further along the river. Some people have cliff-jumped from here. I was attempting to, but I’ll admit, I got cold feet.

It was, at maximum, 2-3 meters deep and only in certain sections. If you want a more relaxing swim, go further up the river.

pozo azul
pozo azul

Things to Know Before Visiting Pozo Azul

Relaxing at these pools in Minca is one of the most popular attractions for a reason. They’re easy to get to, and there are multiple spots to hang out at.

There’s not a whole lot to know before visiting but here’s some extra info for the questions you might have.

Entrance Fee

One of the best parts about Pozo Azul is that it doesn’t cost anything to visit, unlike the Marinka waterfalls in Minca. Hiking to the entrance is completely free, like we did.

There are moto-taxis going there all day, and it is budget-friendly if you decide to go that route.

When we arrived at the first pool, someone was selling snacks and drinks. This is nice if you decide to stay for multiple hours!

Pozo Azul Hike Details

  • Distance: This hike is a around 4-mile out & back trail.
  • Duration: It will take around 2 hours to complete depending on how long you stay at the waterfall.
  • Difficulty: I’d rank this hike as easy to moderate. You will be along the road for most of and then you’ll start hiking on a trail for 10 minutes.
  • Incline: The elevation for this hike is around 954 feet or 290 meters.
  • Hiking Guide: A guide is not needed for this hike and is easily accessible by the public.

 

 

Find out more about the hiking details and read reviews on Alltrails.

Where to Stay When Visiting Pozo Azul

There are many great places to stay in Minca like the famous Sierra Minca hostel up in the mountains. Unfortunately, this is quite far from Pozo Azul. Don’t let this scare you away from staying here as it is an extremely nice hostel.

If you want to be as close as possible to the waterfall, I suggest you stay at the La Casa del Pozo Azul hostel. It is only a few minutes’ walk from the actual waterfall! The hostel lies directly on the river and also serves free breakfast. It’s such a nice setup.

Final Thoughts on Pozo Azul

After reading many complaints about how crowded this area was, I was a little nervous. I’m glad I didn’t let this fear of mine force me to not hike to this amazing waterfall. Pozo Azul was everything I thought it would be and more. The constant rain forced us out a little earlier than we had planned. I can only imagine how relaxing it is to bring some sandwiches here and hang out all day. You won’t find a better swimming area in all of Minca.

More Fun Things to Do in Colombia!

Phillip Anderson is a travel writer, personal trainer, and adventure enthusiast from Virginia Beach. Growing up, he spent most of his days either hiking in the Shenandoah, going to the beach, or working out. He has traveled to 32 countries and has embarked on various challenging multi-day treks in diverse terrains around the world–most notably, in Peru, Ecuador, and the US. These treks have taken him through some of the most pristine landscapes in the world. They’ve also taught him a lot about the importance of having the right outdoor gear to thoroughly enjoy the experience.

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