08 Dec 2022
Got off to a bit of a bumpy start with some miscommunication on pickup logistics, but that was soon forgotten. Once we took a car up to the hiking start, we met Leo, who is just as knowledgeable and friendly as the other reviews say. He was very supportive throughout the hike, answered our questions, and took the time to point out interesting plants, insects, and birds. Sadly, we did not get lucky with any monkey or other animal sightings.
Mostly, this is a proper hike and plenty challenging. We departed the drop-off point just before 7:30am and arrived in Minca at 2pm, covering 11 miles and 1000 meters of vertical gain. There was about 3-4 miles of gradual uphill walking on a dirt road, then 3 miles of trail hiking that was often very steep (especially approaching the summit), then a couple of miles descent down to Minca. We are a pretty fit group in our 30s and this was definitely on the high end of challenging. Additionally, December is at the end of the wet season, so there were some water crossings at the waterfall that were quite the adventure.
However, it was still exhilarating to complete the uphill climb. While the summit itself does not reward with magnificent views, there were many great views going up. The big reward was on the descent to Minca, as shown in my picture, where you could see back all the way to Santa Marta and the water. There were a lot of very cool plants/insects/birds to see along the way as well. Minca was also a lovely destination and we enjoyed lunch with Leo.
Would definitely recommend packing some comfier shoes (e.g., walking shoes) for the descent, since it is mostly roads. The hiking boot blister energy was felt by all in that stretch