It cost us 12,500 pesos (about $3.75 USD) per person. We asked them to take us to the coffee farm. Half way through the hike, we saw two empty mototaxis. It closes at 5 pm and the last tour is at 4 pm. We started hiking in that direction but since we started our day later than expected there was a real chance we might not get to the farm before they closed. La Victoria Coffee Farm is another 50 to 60 hike from Pozo Azul. The hike is very beautiful but the watering hole was more crowded than I expected. As you get closer to the watering hole, there was a woman on the side of the trail selling coffee. There are a few food stalls along the way. It’s about an hour long hike from Casa Relax and the hike itself is beautiful. Minca is swarming with hummingbirds Our ItineraryĪfter breakfast, we started our day. It’s a great place to hang out with friends late night, eating, drinking and just relaxing. The hostel does offer WiFi but the signal strength isn’t very strong. The data isn’t great so you really are disconnected from the world. shortcut from Casa Relax to town centerĬasa Relax is a great place to spend a few nights away from everything and in the middle of the rainforest. They also sell local coffee and snacks in case you are up late at night and need a snack. They strongly recommend not drinking tap water in Minca. At check-out they just ask you how many bottles you filled up. They do charge a small fee but you have to keep track of it because it’s on an honor system. The hostel has filtered water so we can fill up our bottles. It’s a nice short hike but make sure to take flashlight because finding your way back to the hostel can get confusing after dark. The hostel is a little outside of the town center but there is a shortcut from the hostel to the town center. There is a river behind the hostel which makes it’s a great spot for bird watching. The hostel has a huge hammock outside and individual hammocks all around. There are lots of hummingbirds and dozens of other birds all around the hostel. Breakfast is included and it’s freshly made every morning. The hostel also offers laundry service for a small fee. The hostel does accept credit cards but there is an additional fee. There’s a restaurant with full bar on site and the entire staff is very helpful, nice, and friendly. La Victoria Coffee Farm Casa Relax HostelĬasa Relax is a beautiful hostel which also offers a few private rooms with balconies. After a while I started to enjoy the ride and the view. First few minutes are a little scary but I got used to it pretty quickly. The drivers were safe and riding on the back through the rainforest and mountains is a unique experience. The mototaxi collective have set prices and we saw them all over town. saw this pet peacock on our way to Pozo Azul You just hop on the back and they’ll take you wherever you want to go. There are guys in black and blue Motomink jackets who drive the motorcycles. If you are like me and don’t know how to drive a motorcycle, you can get a mototaxi. If you are comfortable driving the motorcycle yourself, you can rent it. The best way to get around is motorcycles. Many parts in the region don’t have paved roads. Steep, narrow, dirt trails are very common. I’ve never seen banana plant fruit Getting around in Minca Not to mention, you have to give your debit card to the guy. The exchange rate he offers is bad and he’ll charge you 10% fee. There’s a store that falsely advertises an ATM but it’s a guy behind the store who charges your debit card and gives you cash. Keep in mind, most places in Minca don’t take credit cards so bring enough cash with you. We also didn’t really go off trail or venture into remote parts of the jungle. We spent two days in Minca and felt completely safe. In 2016 Colombian government signed a peace treaty with FARC and things started to change. It wasn’t a very safe place for tourists. For over a decade there was a civil war between FARC and paramilitary guerrillas. There is very little information about this region online because until very recently Minca was part of Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) territory. Just behind the hostel is one of the best places in Minca to spot toucan birds. The drive is about 40 minutes through beautiful, lush mountains. We took a taxi from Santa Marta to our hostel in Minca. It’s a great place for people who want to enjoy the outdoors, go hiking, bird watching, and of course visit a coffee farm. It’s a small village in the mountains of Sierra Nevada. Minca is the last part of our Colombia trip.
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