Santa Marta
The Colombian Caribbean coast from Cartagena to the Tyrona National Park hides beautiful beaches and the interesting city of Santa Marta. Climbing up from Santa Marta is the cooler hill town of Minca. It’s home to a wide range of colourful birds, quality coffee plantations, and the excellent brewery – Nevada Cervecería. Yet, only a few years before my visit in 2017, Minca had been a guerrilla stronghold and it would not have been safe to enter.
Santa Marta makes a good base to explore the wider area. While it might not be the prettiest of cities, it is certainly a vibrant place. The backstreet markets buzz with activity and sell everything.
Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino
La Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino has an air of tranquility. It is the last resting place of Simón Bolívar – The Liberator of South America who led the fight for independence for The Republic of Colombia from Spanish Imperial control. (See History of Colombia).
Minca
After an exhausting five-days hiking the trail to The Lost City, it was time for some R&R in the small hill top town of Minca. The taxi driver clearly wasn’t used to the route and once the rain started the track turned into four-wheel-drive territory. I was used to using four-wheel-drive vehicles from living in Oman, so I was able to give him a few pointers to help us on our way. At one point, I had to get out to lighten the load. After a few bumps and scrapes, we made it to the Hotel Colonial (now The Siembra Hotel and Spa) on the far side of Minca. Time to relax!
