How to Get From Santa Marta to Minca

The colectivo is the cheapest way to get from Santa Marta to Minca. White Cootrasminca vans run daily from 07:00 to 18:00, and a seat costs $2.90 (10,000 COP) per person — buy your ticket at the small office by the stop, in cash. Some travellers still pay $2.60 (9,000 COP); fares creep up now and then, so bring small bills.

There's no fixed timetable. Vans leave when they're full, which usually means every 20 to 30 minutes. When the driver says the van is leaving “soon”, that can still mean a half-hour wait — if you're on a tight schedule, take a private transfer instead.

Comfort varies from van to van: they fill up to the last seat, and while many now have air conditioning, not all do — it's worth asking at the ticket office before you board. The ride takes 45 minutes to an hour, depending on traffic getting out of Santa Marta. The last stretch is a winding mountain road, so sit near the front if you get carsick.

Departure station

Colectivos to Minca don’t leave from Santa Marta’s main bus terminal. They depart from a stop behind the central market (Mercado Público de Santa Marta), at the corner of Carrera 9 and Calle 12 — an easy walk or short taxi ride from anywhere in the centre. Look for the white vans with “Minca” on the windshield.

Arrival station

The van drops you at the Cootrasminca Terminal next to the bridge in Minca’s village centre. Staying further up the hill? Moto-taxis wait at the terminal and charge around $1.40 (5,000 COP) for short hops, up to about $5.80 (20,000 COP) for guesthouses higher up the mountain — regular cars can’t handle those roads.

Heading back

Vans back to Santa Marta leave from the same terminal, also until around 18:00, on the same leave-when-full basis. Aim to head down by 16:00 so you arrive before dark.

Short on time? You can see Minca's highlights in a single day on a guided tour from Santa Marta, with round-trip transport included.

A popular option is this coffee, cocoa and waterfall tour on GetYourGuide, from about $47 (163,000 COP) per person. Over 6 to 8.5 hours you visit a working coffee and cacao farm, taste both fresh, cool off at a waterfall and take in the viewpoints above the village.

Pickup points in Santa Marta

• Centro Comercial Zazue
• Puma station, El Rodadero
• Casa del Castillo (city centre)
• Parque Lineal Los Trupillos

Most pickups run between 07:30 and 09:00 — your exact point and time are confirmed when you book.

If you're landing at Santa Marta Airport (SMR), a shared minivan runs straight from the airport to Minca — no need to go into the city first.

The service is run by Viajando por el Caribe and can be booked online through BookAway. Vans depart four times a day and drop you at the church in Minca’s village centre — the timetable above shows current departure times and prices.

It’s a fixed-schedule service, so book ahead to be sure of a seat.

A private transfer from Santa Marta to Minca is the fastest and most comfortable option — 40 minutes to an hour door to door, with no waiting around at the market.

If you like things arranged before you land, you can pre-book a private car on BookAway. Drivers pick you up at your hotel or straight from Santa Marta Airport (SMR) and drop you at your accommodation in Minca. Current prices and pickup times are in the booking table above.

On the ground, a regular taxi from Santa Marta to Minca costs between $19 (65,000 COP) and $29 (100,000 COP), depending on where you start and how well you haggle. Always agree the fare before getting in — or ask your accommodation to arrange a taxi at a fixed price. Locals also use the ride-hailing app InDrive, which usually undercuts street taxis.

Uber technically works in Santa Marta, but few drivers accept the long ride up the mountain, so don't count on it as your only plan.

One more thing: taxis and transfers drop you in Minca's village centre. If your guesthouse sits higher up the hill, you'll need a moto-taxi or 4x4 for the last stretch.