Best Things to Do in Minca, Colombia (2026 Travel Guide)
Minca was one of the most wholesome stops on our whole Colombia trip. We spent three days here in the mountains, staying at Trekker Glamping for my 30th birthday and exploring some of the waterfalls, a cacao farm, viewpoints and jungle around Minca.
One of my favourite parts of our visit was exploring with an Indigenous guide from a community further into the Sierra Nevada (also with a translator). We also spent a lot of time enjoying our accommodation, which had a pool and probably one of the best views we had during our Colombia trip.
This Minca travel guide covers the best things to do in Minca, including the places we visited, what I would recommend and everything you need to know before visiting Minca, Colombia.
Minca
Best Things to do in Minca: A Complete Travel Guide
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1. Visit Cascada de Marinka
Minca is known for its waterfalls and Cascada de Marinka is one of the best and most popular to visit in Minca. We visited as part of a tour through the jungle and it ended up being one of my favourite stops of the day.
Getting there involved a very sweaty walk through the jungle but once we arrived we could swim in the natural pools underneath the waterfall. The cold water was VERY welcome by that point lol.
I would definitely bring proper shoes, swimwear and plenty of water especially if you are walking there like we did as we did not pass any shops.
2. Join a Minca Coffee Farm Tour
One of the best things to do in Minca is to join a coffee farm tour. The region is famous for its high quality coffee and visiting a local farm is a great way to learn about the entire process, from planting the beans to roasting them.
Finca La Victoria is one of the most famous and oldest coffee farms in Minca so it is probably the most popular choice for visitors. Many tours also include tastings so you can enjoy freshly brewed coffee while taking in the mountain views at the end of the tour.
We actually skipped a Minca coffee farm tour because we had already done one in Salento earlier in our Colombia trip. If you have not visited a coffee farm elsewhere in Colombia though I would definitely consider doing one here.
3. Relax and Unwind in Minca
The best thing to do in Minca? Absolutely nothing!
With the mountain views, jungle and hammocks at almost every accommodation it is the perfect place to spend a few hours reading a book or enjoying the scenery and just switching off. Minca has such a peaceful feel and it was nice to have somewhere we did not need to rush around or do 20,000 steps a day.
We treated ourselves to a stay at Trekker Glamping for my 30th birthday. To make the most of it we spent loads of time relaxing in the pool overlooking the mountains. Luke even arranged for the pool to be booked privately for us in the evening with a cheese and wine board and then again the next morning for a floating breakfast for my birthday, which made it feel like such a luxurious stay. I would definitely recommend booking accommodation with a pool and a view because relaxing is genuinely one of the best things to do in Minca and you will probably spend a lot of time where you are staying.
4. Exploring Minca Village
Minca village is small but I still think it is 100% worth the visit. If your accommodation is in the hills it is very easy not to venture down at all but it is only a short drive from most places. We walked from our hotel which was downhill and took around 30 mins but we took the motorbike taxis back up. We spent around 2.5 hours in the village which was enough time to have lunch, walk around the shops and get ice cream.
There are loads of little shops selling handmade jewellery, bags and local crafts. We had lunch at Duni which serves the exact type of 2018 aesthetic food that I love lol (2018 was my year). Even if you are staying outside the village I would still make time to explore it for a few hours.
Pro Tip: When you first arrive in Minca ask one of the motorbike taxi drivers for their WhatsApp number so you can message them at any point during your stay to pick you up from your accommodation.
5. Minca Yoga and Wellness Experiences
Minca has a very holistic (some may say hippy) vibe and lots of accommodation options offer yoga and wellness experiences. Trekker Glamping offered paid yoga classes, guided meditation and even mushroom ceremonies while we were there. We did not personally do any of them but they were all advertised at the hotel.
We also had friends staying at hostels around Minca and most of them got a FREE yoga class included with their stay. If this is something you are interested in then check what your accommodation offers before booking because some places include classes while others charge extra.
6. Visit a Minca Cacao Farm
One of my fav experiences in Minca was visiting a chocolate farm as I am addicted to chocolate and cannot go one day without it lol.
Our tour showed us the entire process, from the cacao pods growing on the trees to processing the beans into chocolate. We even got to wear chocolate face masks and taste the chocolate at every stage of it being made which made the experience so fun.
I loved learning how chocolate is made as I am a chocolate addict, but I also discovered that I prefer processed sugary chocolate to the real thing (oops!).
7. A Local Indigenous Tour Experience
The absolute best thing we did in our whole South America trip was a tour Luke organised through our hotel to celebrate my birthday. Our Indigenous guide had travelled from a community further into the Sierra Nevada to take us on a day tour. He did not speak English so we also had a translator with us for the day.
We spent the day walking from the hotel to the cacao farm, then to the waterfalls and back again. He told us about his life and showed us how to make traditional jewellery using natural materials he found on plants while we were walking through the jungle. I could not believe that some of the beads we use on bracelets actually come from plants growing in the wild!
He also picked up food from the ground and trees for us to eat which scared me (if you have had food poisoning travelling you can relate) but I trusted the process. We even hugged one of the trees after he told us it was meant to bring happiness and a long relationship.
The day included the cacao farm and waterfalls but learning about his community and way of life made it completely different from a normal tour. Some areas further into the Sierra Nevada are sacred and not open to tourists so it felt really special to learn about them directly from someone who lives there.
8. Day Trip to Tayrona National Park
Tayrona National Park is around two hours from Minca so it is possible to visit as a day trip. Most organised tours leave from Santa Marta, which means travelling back down from Minca to meet your pickup.
We visited Tayrona separately and spent 2 days near the park which is what I would personally recommend if you have enough time. We hiked from El Zaino to Cabo San Juan and spent a few hours swimming and chilling at the beach before hiking back.
If you are short on time though visiting Tayrona as a day trip from Minca means you can still experience the park without adding another overnight stop to your Colombia itinerary. The easiest option is to book an organised day tour which will pick you up from Santa Marta so all you have to do is take the minivan back and then all the other logistics are planned for you.
Where to Stay in Minca
Where you stay in Minca can make a big difference to your trip. Staying closer to Minca village makes it easier to walk to restaurants and shops but the accommodation higher in the mountains usually has the best views so this means you will probably need to use mototaxis to get around.
What is Next?
Ultimate 3 Week Travel Itinerary
We actually spent 5 weeks in Colombia as we attended a local Spanish school in Medellin for 2 weeks. If you are planning to just travel then I recommend 3 weeks. 3 weeks gives you enough time to see the main highlights without using up all your annual leave days. This guide breaks down our exact daily route and transport tips so you can copy our itinerary easily before you arrive.
Where to next?
I am always planning my next trip and sharing everything I learn along the way. If you would like to follow my travels through 44 countries and beyond, join me on social media. From places I loved to the things I would probably do differently next time, I share honest travel advice to help you plan your own adventures. I would love to have you along for the journey.
