5 Amazing Waterfalls in Minca You Can’t Miss
When we arrived in Minca, the weather wasn’t great. It was raining all day, but we wouldn’t let that stop us from our adventures. We decided to take advantage of these rainy days and get wet anyway in one of the many waterfalls Minca offers.
There is something blissful about going swimming while it is raining. You know the rain can’t ruin your day anymore. This weather helped the flow of the rivers and thus, the waterfalls were strong.
We took different approaches to reaching these waterfalls. Minca is great because you can hike almost anywhere, and if not, there’s a moto-taxi waiting for you!
Minca is an amazing town, and I highly suggest you add it to your Colombia itinerary.
When traveling to Minca, you can spend a few days hiking and then relax at a waterfall. It’s the perfect combination.
Where is Minca Located?
Minca is located around 40 minutes from Santa Marta. This ride takes you away from the beach and up into the mountains.
Once in Minca, it is possible to see the mountain range consisting of Pico Cristóbal Colón (the highest mountain in Colombia). This mountain sits at 5,730 meters high.
There are more hikes in Minca than the ones on this list and you’ll be able to stay busy for days! The amount of unique hikes in Colombia is what kept me traveling here for so long.
One of my favorite hikes in town is the one to Cerro Kennedy. After that hike, relaxing in the water is a great activity!
5 of the Best Waterfalls in Minca, Colombia
Marinka Waterfalls
I’d like to start off this list of waterfalls in Minca with my favorite one. Marinka waterfalls is a well-maintained small waterfall park that has 2 waterfalls you can get up close to.
The cost to get into the park is only $10,000 COP ($2 USD). These costs help keep the park in good shape for all the visitors they get.
There is even a small cafe where you can order food and drinks from inside.
It is a short hike from the town of Minca to the waterfalls or you can take a moto-taxi. If you want, you can connect the Los Pinos hike with the Marinka waterfalls if you have time.
Hike Details
- Distance: 4.7 miles or 7.5 km from downtown
- Duration: around 2 hours but taking a moto-taxi will make it faster
- Difficulty: easy to moderate
Cascada Oido del Mundo (Ear of the World)
The next waterfall on this list can also be combined with Marinka Waterfalls. It is smaller than some but it will most likely be very empty if not completely empty. Cascada Oido del Mundo (Ear of the World) is free to go and sometimes can be easy to miss.
While hiking on the main road up to Marinka waterfalls, about halfway you will see some signs on your right immediately after a turn. You will find a path heading down and only about a couple minutes of hiking and you will be there.
This is a hidden gem and one of the waterfalls I’d make my way back to if I was visiting Minca again.
Hike Details
- Distance: 1 mile or 1.7 km from downtown
- Duration: it’s a 22 minute walk from center of town
- Difficulty: easy to moderate
Cascada Perdida (Valhalla)
The next waterfall on the list might be the hardest to find. It is becoming more popular now than when I visited there, so there could be other hikers. Cascada Perdida or sometimes known as Cascada Escondida is along the same road as Pozo Azul.
Find Jugos y panadería “Del Bosque” on google maps. You will want to make a left on the street adjacent to this right before hitting this store.
Follow this road and there will be a trail down to this waterfall.
Other Hikes in Minca: 8 Legendary Hikes in Minca
Hike Details
- Distance: 1.2 miles or 2 km from downtown
- Duration: around 1 hour round trip but taking a moto-taxi will make it faster
- Difficulty: easy to moderate
Pozo Azul
Further up the road from Cascada Perdida, you will find Pozo Azul. This is the most popular activity in Minca for many reasons. The ease of access, plus the fact that it’s free to enter, makes it very crowded.
I would suggest either showing up to this waterfall really early or heading there around 12 to 1 pm. You can take a moto-taxi to the entrance or simply walk up Calle 1 for around 30 minutes until you see the entrance on your left.
If you want to get away from the crowds at the lower waterfall, you can hike around the side to another waterfall.
The waterfalls in Minca are something you don’t want to miss when you visit this area.
Hike Details
- Distance: 3 miles or 4.8 km from downtown
- Duration: around 2 hours but taking a moto-taxi will make it faster and is cheap!
- Difficulty: easy to moderate
Kamaji Sauna Spa
This waterfall is a bit different than the others on this list. Kamaji Sauna Spa is along the river on the western side of town. Here you can get in a sauna and have a massage.
Afterward, you will be able to swim in the river and also in its nearby river. The reviews for this place are amazing and you won’t regret visiting this part of town.
Look at Google Maps for directions to the Kamaji Sauna Spa. It is possible to take a moto-taxi to this location as well.
Things to Know When Visiting Minca, Colombia
Transportation Options
Since Minca is a small mountain town, there aren’t a lot of different transportation options. That is fine because it isn’t needed at all!
Everything can be reached by foot and is how I suggest reaching most activities here. If you’re looking to save some time you can try these options:
- Take a Moto-taxi (located by the Yellow Bridge)
- Hop in a taxi
- This is only a good option if you’re going somewhere far with roads like back to Santa Marta.
- ATV: This is one of the better options if you have a lot of luggage and need to get to a hostel that is further away than downtown.
How to Get to Minca, Colombia
It is very easy to get to Minca. I will lay out the exact details of how to get there from two very popular places, Cartagena and Santa Marta.
The cost of travel in Colombia is cheap and that will help you to be able to see as much as possible.
Santa Marta to Minca
Minca is located 45 minutes south of Santa Marta in a beautiful mountainous region. This is a very popular area amongst travelers and local Colombian tourists alike. It is suggested to book your accommodation ahead of time.
Here are a few ways of getting to Minca:
- 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 were able to get 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.
Cartagena to Minca
Cartagena is located 4 hours southwest of Santa Marta. For the cheapest way to get to Minca from Cartagena, you will want to make your way to Santa Marta first.
This can either be done by public bus or private transport. The private shuttle is around $170 USD for 6 people. Below I will go over the cheapest way to arrive at Cartagena from Minca.
- Book online at Redbus or make your way to the Cartagena Terminal.
- The top 2 companies are Brasilia and MarSol
- You can get a bus for as cheap as 60k COP ($12 USD) for a 4 1/2 hour journey to Santa Marta
- After arriving you will either have the option to take a collectivo for $9,000 COP or a Taxi for $60,000 COP to Minca
- The top 2 companies are Brasilia and MarSol
Best Places to Stay in Minca, Colombia
- Casa Loma Minca: This hostel is located up a hill just through the downtown area. It has a patio that offers spectacular views of Minca below.
- Rio Elemento Ecolodge: A little pricier hostel compared to most in Colombia but it makes up for this with its great amenities.
- Finca Carpe Diem: Farther away from the town than other hostels but that is what makes this place so magical.
Final Thoughts on the Best Waterfalls in Minca
Minca is a legendary destination in Colombia that cannot be missed. I only recently discovered this place a few days before we arrived. We were scared about the rain being a factor but overall it enhanced our experience. The many waterfalls in Minca will get you entertained for days.
I highly suggest visiting this small mountain town in Colombia. You will be itching to return for more.
