my feet don't want to go to sleep

This town hidden in the mountains definitely became my favorite place in Colombia, and probably one of the best places I have ever visited. Less than 2 hours south from Santa Marta sits a village amongst mountains.

I booked a private driver to take us to the town of Minca. His name is El Sen˜or Yosneyder and he safely got us from point A to B. Considering how hard it is to get around in this town give him a message on whatsapp. (+573103542895). This is where speaking Spanish will get your far, literally. Once in the village, we switched to an SVU that should be featured in car commercials. We climbed up the muddy cliffside holding onto the handles, laughing at every bump, and cheering after every turn. The climb was worth it when we saw the view from above.

Stay: I booked us at the Mundo Nuevo, or new world, hostel. This Eco hostel is located out of the main town up the mountain. Accessible by motorbike or suv if you are brave enough. It sits next to an indigenous village you can visit called Awindua. Little pathways connect the hostel across the mountainside to fincas, waterfalls, and other mysteries.

We ventured down the path through the village, sharing a hello to the families that lived there, continued on down the steps to the road. On the road, we met a local woman, I spoke to her in Spanish and she offered to help show us the back way to the coffee farm, or finca. Along the way she took us she pointed out local flowers and her dog ran ahead. Truly feeling lost in the jungle and not realizing where you are but feeling completely safe is a crazy experience. We exit the trees and arrive at the finca where fresh bananas and hot chocolate made from cocoa are waiting us. Head to Finca La Candelaria to know what i mean.

Fit with an infinity pool and a view that overlooks the mountain range that they use for yoga in the morning, this is one of the best hostels I have ever stayed in.

Explore: The best way to get around Minca is on motorbike. I messaged a couple friends, researched online, and finally got connected with a tour operator. The level of tourism in these towns is so much lower and so are the logistics. I text with someone in Spanish who shares a map with me on where they can take us on a day tour. I book for two bikes and a day tour including Pozo Azul, Compañia Cafetera La Victoria, an overlook, a trendy hostel, and Cascadas Marinka. Sometimes you just need to trust that the experience will be safe and incredible. For I always find in the risk, there is great reward. If you are ready to risk it – text JR +573208611711

Eat: Since the hostel was a 20 minute walk up a sheer and muddy cliffside we didn’t leave the hostel unless we were driven. Our hostel had hearty and fair food offerings but the true pleasure was found at Plan B. This farm to table permiculture experience was one of those tours that will stay with me for a while. We toured the farm, learned about sustainable practices and how they are working with the community. From there we sat down for a vegan lunch homemade on the farm. We learned about the cooking practices and ways to make a self-sustaining system. Considering my life is full of creating experiences for others I walked away from this truly impressed.

In 3 days I feel entirely in love. Surprising for me because it is rare my heart leaves the ocean. Talk about an adventure destination.

If you are up to the adventure message me for the incredible taxi that took us from Santa Marta to Minca and back and the “agency” that organized the motorcycle tour for us.