*It’s actually doubled in the last year or so, so we’d love to hear from anyone who’s done it recently, who still feels it’s good value for money. All necessary equipment is provided by the tour. Please note that this price has gone up quite significantly. The Details | We recommend Jungle Joe, where a 3-hour tour costs $50,000*. To increase your chances of the seeing the most rare and unique birds in the area, we'd recommend joining one of them. However, for total amateurs or those who want to get out early and see some special birds, there are a number of bird tour companies in the village providing early morning and afternoon excursions. Those of you who take this sort of things seriously will likely be visiting Colombia specifically to do this, so our advice and experience is not going to be the most specialist. Minca is however the star of the show with 162 of the 300 species found in the Sierra Nevada found here, making it a year-round mecca for those brandishing binoculars. Thankfully, Minca is full of amazing places to stay out in nature with great views - just scroll down to the bottom of this post to discover lots of other wonderful suggestions - and you can still just visit Casa Elemento and hang out in the hammock as part of your walk to Los Pinos (and pair it with a visit to the Marinka Waterfall).Ĭolombia is the #1 country in the world for bird biodiversity and an excellent destination for twitchers. **Update | Since our first visit in 2015 (when Elemento was relatively new and shiny), we have been reliably informed by a number of readers that Casa Elemento has seen better days, and that new management means that this is no longer a place we can recommend as accommodation. bring lots of water, camera, suncream, good footwear and some money for any food or drink at Casa Elemento. Stopping in at Casa Elemento and its famous hammock used to also be a free activity, but our readers have confirmed that there is now a charge for day visitors / non-guests of COP 10,000 (which includes a drink). For the hike. The Details | The steep walk to Los Pinos from Minca starts along ‘Cerro Kennedy Oriente’ road and is totally free, but just make sure you give yourself plenty time and set off early to avoid the worst of the sun. If you don't have the fitness or desire to walk up here, then there are plenty of moto-taxis leaving from town charging 20,000 COP per person each way to Casa Elemento. Your days here will be spent walking from farm to waterfall through the jungle, uncovering the secrets of cacao and coffee, chasing elusive birds, and indulging in hidden moments of serene relaxation amongst tranquil, unspoiled nature (oversized hammock very much optional).Īlthough you can definitely have an excellent day-trip in Minca from Santa Marta, we'd highly recommend spending at least two nights in or around the village. Here's our overview on how to get to Minca, travel tips for your visit, and our personal pick of the best things do to in Minca. The climate up here - 660 metres above sea level - is a few degrees cooler than elsewhere in this part of the country, but still perfect for sitting outside to enjoy your morning coffee and breathe in the unparalleled views. (However, since our first visit in 2015, it’s definitely now much ‘discovered’, and firmly on the northern Colombia backpacker trail). Now, with the security situation in Colombia improving, there are hostels and restaurants popping up along its streets, but Minca still feels refreshingly like somewhere that is ripe for discovery. Up until relatively recently, despite its natural beauty, Minca was unable to open its doors to tourism - the presence of paramilitary forces in the surrounding areas meant this was a place cut off to all but locals. A small village nestled in the northern Colombian hills, it is an excellent option for anyone looking to escape the gritty city of Santa Marta for a few days or for those a little bit bored of the beaches and popularity of Tayrona and Taganga.
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