Hotel Review: Colors of the Sierra Eco Lodge in Minca, Colombia

After our stay in Taganga we decided to visit a nearby (40 minutes drive) village that is located in the Sierra mountains among the jungles. If you have been to Colombia chances are that you have  heard about this peaceful place that is called Minca. And just 6 km past Minca you will find a cute hotel called “Colors of the Sierra”, a place where you will be away from civilization. 

Colors of the Sierra is a retreat for people who are searching for a quiet peaceful place to spend some time with themselves, enjoy nature, or just read a good book. 

How To Get To Colors of the Sierra Eco Lodge

If you are coming from Taganga or Santa Marta the most convenient way to get to Colors of the Sierra Eco Lodge is by taxi (especially if you have luggage). The taxi from Taganga to Minca costs around 70000 COP (it should be a bit cheaper from Santa Marta) plus another 50000 COP to get to Colors of the Sierra hotel. 

If you are in Santa Marta you can also take a public bus to the Minca bus-stop for 2000 COP and then take a taxi or moto-taxi to the eco lodge. A moto-taxi is about 15-20k each way. 

Location

Colors of the Sierra Eco Lodge hotel is located literally in the middle of nowhere. There are no other hotels, stores, restaurants or any other buildings close in the area. The hotel is surrounded by mountains, thick greenery, and birds. 

Territory 

Colors of the Sierra Eco Lodge hotel has a big, beautiful territory. There are two buildings where guests stay. The main building is located near the front gate. Beside a few guest rooms, you will find the hotel’s lobby, reception, and hotel’s restaurant. The second building with mostly just guest rooms is located deeper into the jungle.  

There is a trail that takes you from the main building through the whole territory. So on the way you will pass a pond with some fish, a charming small swimming pool, a hammock area that is located on the top of a hill and has a great view, a romantic bench-swing, and at the very top of the hill you will find a bathroom, small outdoor kitchen, and most important;y a terrace with sitting area and a beautiful view. Remember also that while you are walking the trail you are constantly surrounded by beautiful trees and flowers. 

Service

The check in at the Colors of the Sierra Eco Lodge hotel took about 5 minutes. The person at the reception spoke a bit of English, so we didn’t have any problems. 

The cleaning service wasn’t really provided. We were asked just one time if we need our trash to be emptied, but that is about it. 

The restaurant service is quite good. Every time we ordered something the food and drinks arrived very fast.

Room

We got a room in the main building on the top floor. The room was quite small and simple. There was a queen bed with two thin pillows, a table, and a nightstand. 

The room had a balcony with a hammock, which was quite a nice setting due to the amazing nature that surrounds you. 

Overall the room we got was simple, but comfortable. The one issue that I had was ants. They are very tiny and managed to get everywhere, even inside my laptop which was very strange, since there was no sugar near it at all. Well… I guess you have to be ready for things like that if you want to reconnect with nature, nature also wants to be close to you. 

Bathroom

Comfortable, simple, with good water pressure – these are three statements that I can give about the bathroom in our room. I was really happy about the water pressure and that sometimes the water  was hot since in Taganga we had a big problem with those things. 

We also were provided with shampoo and soft towels, which is a rare treat even in Europe. 

Restaurant 

As I said already the restaurant in Colors of the Sierra is located next to the lobby. It is a very charming terrace from where you can watch birds, especially humming birds. 

Breakfast

At the Colors of the Sierra hotel breakfast is included. It is served at the hotel’s restaurant from 7 a.m. until 9 a.m. The breakfast here is pretty standard: you get scrambled eggs with bread and a glass of juice and coffee. 

Lunch & Dinner

Lunch is served between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. and dinner 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. 

What surprised me was a quite big menu for such a place. I thought there would be just two or three things to choose from, but there was quite a big choice. However it is true that not everything on the menu is available every day, so if you’re really looking forward to something, ask at breakfast time so you don’t go all day craving something they are out of.

The prices are reasonable, so a dinner for two with drinks and a good amount of food will be not more than $20. 

Internet

There was a huge problem with the internet. That is why I told you that Colors of the Sierra Eco Lodge hotel is a place to hide from civilization. The data on your phone won’t work and the wifi is good just for whatsapp, twitter, and facebook. This is pretty much the only thing you can open, and with a little patience, send a message or two. 

On the AirBnB I read that this place is good for business travels. Well… it is definitely not! And if you are working remotely and need internet access, then this place is not for you.

Activities

Minca is a beautiful small village in the middle of nowhere and as you must have already understood, there are not a lot of things to do around this except relaxing and enjoying nature. However, enjoying nature you can do so in a few different ways. Here is a small list of things to do for people that stay at Colors of the Sierra Eco Lodge hotel.

Visit Pozo Azul Waterfall

This is one of the best falls in Minca and a very popular tourist place. To get there from the Color of the Sierra you can go by ordering a taxi, renting a bike or just walking on your own (which will take about an hour, since the waterfall is located halfway between Minca and Colors of the Sierra hotel). 

Pozo Azul has two pools where you can swim. The top pool is less crowded, but it is harder to get to. At the site you will find a small cafe where you can get your refreshments. Pozo Azul waterfall is a nice and rewarding site after a hike .

Birdwatching

Colombia is one of the best places for birdwatching. There are over 160 different hummingbirds in this country and thousands of other birds. 

Colors of the Sierra hotel is a great place for such activities. First of all the territory of the hotel is massive and you can start your journey in the deep jungle and end it at the top of a mountain. Second, there are a lot of bird feeders on the grounds of the hotel, so you can just sit at the hotel restaurant and watch beautiful birds right in front of you.

Swim At The Hotel Pool

Colors of the Sierra Eco Lodge has a small, but very cute swimming pool. The pool is located away from the buildings. It stands alone surrounded by the greenery and flowers, it is a very romantic site. Together with that special jungle (earthy) smell, the pool creates a very unique atmosphere. While spending a few nights at the Colors of the Sierra, I’ve found out that there is rarely anyone by that pool, which makes it a great place to hide from the world for a while.

Visit Minca

Colors of the Sierra hotel, as I have already said, is located 6 km past Minca, so it is not really comfortable to explore the village. However, it is one of the places you definitely should visit since you are already so close by. 

To get to Minca from Colors of the Sierra you can by taxi (it will cost you 20000 COP one way), by a mototaxi (it will be around 30000 – 35000 COP round trip), or walk of course, but it will take a while. 

Key Details

Price: $42 /night

Air-Conditioned Rooms: No 

Breakfast Included: Yes

Pool On-Site: Yes

Maid Service: Yes

Recommended To Stay Here: Yes.

Booking: booking

Address: Minca Km 5 Via a El Campano, Minca, Magdalena

Disclaimer: Jet Set Together was not paid for a stay at the Colors of the Sierra Eco Lodge in Minca, Colombia and did not accept any payment for a good review. The words expressed in this article are my honest opinion.

Hotel Review: Colors of the Sierra Eco Lodge in Minca, Colombia