Plan your visit
Everything useful for arriving in Minca, without the fluff: where each house is, how to get up from Santa Marta, hours, money, weather and the river. Where something depends on your rate or the season, we say so.
Where it is
The houses don’t share an entrance: Casa Quinta is upstairs; Casa Maracuyá and Casa Mango are downstairs by the river. Before you set off, confirm which one is yours.
Finca Hostal BolívarAs shown on the Hostelworld and Booking.com listings. There is no street number: ask on WhatsApp for your house’s exact location.
Upstairs · the main house
Upper part of the finca, at the end of a steep climb from the road.
11.14439, -74.11361
Open in Google Maps: Casa QuintaLocation published on Hostelworld (approximate)
Downstairs · by the river
Lower grounds, on the road to Pozo Azul. Hostelworld publishes the same pin for both.
11.14408, -74.11372
Open in Google Maps: Casa Maracuyá and Casa MangoLocation published on Hostelworld (approximate)
The map pins are approximate. Ask on WhatsApp for your house’s exact location and entrance, and the finca will send directions.
Ask for arrival directions(opens WhatsApp)
Getting there
Minca sits on the slopes of the Sierra Nevada, above Santa Marta. The ride is short; what’s worth planning is the time of day and the last stretch.
Shared vans (colectivos) leave from near the Mercado Público, at the Cootrasminca office. They go when full and drop you in the centre of Minca.
You can also take a taxi straight up; agree the fare before you get in.
We don’t publish fares or timetables: they change and sources disagree. Ask at the office or the driver.
A taxi is the simplest option. Alternatively, take a bus to the market and catch the colectivo there, but allow extra time.
The finca’s listings mention an airport transfer, and in January 2020 it posted about an airport pickup. Ask whether it is available today and what it costs.
Colectivos stop in the centre and go no further. From there, the way depends on your house.
Downstairs, by the river
≈ 300 m from the centre
According to the finca’s directions, from the centre and the bridge you walk along the road towards Pozo Azul for about 300 m, to a wooden gate on the left.
Confirm the entrance on WhatsApp: there isn’t always someone at the door.
Upstairs, the main house
Steep climb
The finca estimates 7 to 10 minutes on foot from the main entrance; several guests say it took them longer with luggage, up to about 20.
Hours & money
After 8 pm only if you agreed it with the finca beforehand, and even then it isn’t guaranteed. Without notice, the booking may be treated as a no-show.
There’s no ATM in Minca and few places take cards. Get cash in Santa Marta before heading up.
The listings mention a 6% surcharge for card payments (bank fees). Confirm it when you book.
They depend on the rate and the channel you book through. Ask for them in writing when you book.
Not included. It may be offered for an extra charge: ask whether it’s available on your dates. The houses have shared kitchens.
Pets are not allowed, according to Booking.com.
Weather & packing
Cooler and more humid than Santa Marta. Nights get fresh: bring a warm layer.
Afternoons are the least reliable part of the day. October and November tend to be the wettest months.
They bite, sometimes a lot. Long clothes help more than repellent alone.
The river, with care
On 25 October 2026 IDEAM, Colombia’s weather agency, warned of possible flash floods on the Gaira and nearby rivers, with special attention to Minca. Check the current bulletin and ask at the finca before swimming.IDEAM bulletin (PDF, in Spanish)
The river can rise suddenly even if it isn’t raining where you are. If the water turns murky, rises or gets louder, get out at once.
The water comes down from the Sierra and is cold. Mossy rocks are slippery: move slowly, with good footwear.
Nobody watches the river. Don’t swim alone, don’t jump into pools you don’t know, and always supervise children.
Guest FAQ
Answers based on the finca’s listings. If anything is unclear, the short answer is: ask on WhatsApp.
To Casa Maracuyá and Casa Mango, about 300 m along the road towards Pozo Azul, according to the finca’s directions. Casa Quinta is higher up, at the end of a steep climb: the finca estimates 7 to 10 minutes from the main entrance, and some guests mention up to 20 with luggage.
For Casa Quinta, the easiest option is a mototaxi from the centre (by the bridge) to the top; agree the price first. The lower houses are close to the road. The listings mention luggage storage: ask if you need to leave bags before check-in or after check-out.
Only if you agree it with the finca in advance, and even then it isn’t guaranteed. Check-in is 15:00–20:00 and reception runs 08:00–20:00. Without notice, a booking may be treated as a no-show after 8 pm.
Bring cash: there’s no ATM in Minca and few places take cards. The finca’s listings mention a 6% surcharge for card payments. Payment terms depend on the rate: confirm them when you book.
Yes, the listings include free Wi-Fi at all three houses, and Casa Quinta has spaces to work. We don’t publish speeds: if you depend on the connection, ask for a recent test before booking. Some guests mention occasional power cuts in the area.
Work & longer staysNo. It may be offered for an extra charge; ask whether it’s available on your dates. The houses have shared kitchens for cooking your own meals.
Booking.com says children are welcome at Casa Quinta and Casa Maracuyá (at Casa Maracuyá, children aged 4 and over are charged as adults). For Casa Mango the listings contradict each other, so please ask. At the river, children must always be supervised.
No. According to Booking.com, pets are not allowed at any of the houses.
The listings say parking is free. If you’re arriving in a large van, campervan or overland vehicle, ask first: the way up to the higher part is steep.
The listings mention a laundry service on the finca (and a washing machine at Casa Maracuyá). Ask about the cost when you arrive.
Ask on WhatsApp with your dates. No long-stay discounts are published, and Casa Mango’s Hostelworld listing states a maximum stay of 14 days.
Work & longer staysThe finca’s listings mention an airport transfer, but no price is published. Ask whether it’s available for your arrival date and time, and what it costs.
Casa Quinta, upstairs, is for those who want the view, the sunsets, the viewpoint close by and corners to work in, and don’t mind the climb; it can also be rented whole for groups of up to 10. Casa Maracuyá, downstairs, is for those who prefer the river, the timber deck, the hammocks and walking in from the road. Casa Mango is a single twin room on the lowest part of the finca, for two people who want to be on their own.
See all staysBefore you set off
We’ll send your house’s exact location and how to get in. If you don’t have dates yet, ask about availability first.