Minca: Hiking, Coffee & Cocoa Day Trip from Santa Marta

Summary

Hike to waterfalls taste coffee & make chocolate in Minca

You’ll hike through lush Sierra Nevada trails near Minca with a local guide, visit a working coffee farm for hands-on tasting, swim beneath a sacred waterfall, share lunch in a bamboo house, and craft your own chocolate bar during a cocoa workshop. Expect sensory surprises—and maybe even new friends—along every muddy step.

What’s the experience like?

The drive from Santa Marta to Minca is kind of bumpy—windows down, air thick with that earthy green smell. We met our guide right where the road gives way to forest, and he started us off with a photo wall of mountain animals. I didn’t expect to start a hike staring at bright birds and tiny frogs in pictures, but it made me pay more attention to the real sounds around us—the cicadas were loud enough to drown out my own thoughts for a second.

Walking up to the coffee farm took maybe half an hour, but it felt longer because I kept stopping to look at everything. Our guide (I think his name was Jorge?) explained how they pick and dry the beans—he let us touch the raw beans before roasting. They’re weirdly soft and sticky before they become what you’d recognize as coffee. I tried some straight from the roaster; it tasted almost nutty, not bitter at all. The keyword here is definitely “coffee tour minca”—but it’s not just about drinking; you get your hands dirty.

The waterfall was colder than I thought—it’s considered sacred by local indigenous people, so we kept quiet while swimming. There was this moment when the sun hit the water just right and everything went sort of still except for the rush of water behind me. After drying off on a rock (slippery!), we hiked again through thick bamboo until we reached Joe’s bamboo house for lunch. Joe’s laugh is contagious—he joked about how everyone tries to pronounce cacao wrong (I did too). Lunch was simple but really good, especially after all that walking.

The cocoa workshop was more fun than I expected—I made my own bar and learned how Colombians coax out more flavor from the beans. The smell of roasting cacao hung in the air for ages after we finished. On the way back down, I bought some cocoa butter from a woman who makes it herself—she wrapped it in a banana leaf for me. Even now, if I catch that scent, I’m right back there under those trees.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Full-day hiking and workshops in Minca

• Pickup from Santa Marta at 8:45 am
• Group meeting and photo exhibition at 9:45 am
• 30-minute walk to coffee farm
• Coffee process explanation (45 min)
• 40-minute walk to Lost Waterfall
• Relax and bathe at Lost Waterfall
• 45-minute walk to Jungle Joe Bamboo house
• Bamboo as building element talk (30 min)
• Gourmet lunch with host Joe
• Biodiversity talk (30 min)
• Cocoa workshop and making cacao bar (30 min)
• Visit cocoa by-products shop (20 min)

Top questions

How long does the full-day hiking tour in Minca last?

The tour starts with pickup at 8:45 am and lasts most of the day.

Is hotel pickup included from Santa Marta?

Yes, private transportation from Santa Marta is included.

Do you visit both coffee and cocoa farms on this tour?

You visit a coffee farm and take part in a cocoa workshop where you make your own chocolate bar.

Can you swim at the waterfall during the Minca hike?

Yes, there’s time to bathe and relax at the sacred waterfall.

Is lunch provided during this day trip?

Yes, lunch is served at Jungle Joe’s bamboo house during the tour.

Are there talks about local biodiversity or culture?

There are talks about biodiversity, bamboo construction, and local traditions throughout the tour.

What level of fitness do you need for this hike?

You should have moderate physical fitness; some walks are 30-45 minutes each way.

Are products like cocoa butter available for purchase?

Yes, participants can buy cocoa by-products directly from local producers on site.

What’s included

Your day includes private pickup from Santa Marta, guided hiking through Minca’s forests with stops at both a working coffee farm and sacred waterfall (where swimming is welcome), plus lunch served at Jungle Joe’s bamboo house before finishing with an interactive cocoa workshop—return transport included too.