The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Pozo Azul in Minca, Colombia

Pozo Azul is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Minca. It’s a series of waterfalls that create the perfect natural swimming holes to escape the tropical humid head of north Colombia. We spent a morning at Pozo Azul, exploring the area, taking a few snaps and cooling off in the river water.

However, if you’re planning to visit this little rainforest paradise, then there are a few things you should know. In this guide we’re going to cover how to get to Pozo Azul, how much it costs to enter, what you should bring and the best time to visit. This last one is important if you want to have Pozo Azul all to yourself!

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How to get to Minca from Santa Marta

To get to Pozo Azul, you first need to get to Minca which is a small village in Northern Colombia. Assuming you’ve already made it to Santa Marta – the closest town to Minca – there are two popular ways to undergo the journey.

By bus

The most popular and budget-friendly way to get from Santa Marta to Minca is to take the bus. Public ‘colectivo’ buses run from the centre of Santa Marta – from the Mercado Público de Santa Marta.

The buses run frequently throughout the day, but not on a set timetable. They are minibuses that fit around 10 people inside and they only leave when they’re full. The journey only costs 9,000 COP ($2.27) each way.

We took the bus back from Minca to Santa Marta and, although the process was very simple, the journey itself was cramped and hot. With the bus stuffed full of people and the winding mountain roads, we both felt super car-sick when we arrived back in Santa Marta. So bear that in mind!

We published a full article that goes into detail about how to get from Santa Marta to Minca!

By taxi

The second option for getting from Santa Marta to Minca (and back) is by taxi. Believe it or not, it’s actually incredibly affordable to cover the 45-minute journey in a cab.

We decided to take a taxi to Minca because we left at 7am and couldn’t be bothered to faff around with the buses. It only cost us 45,000 COP ($11.36), so if there’s four people sharing a taxi, it’s basically the same price!

How to get to Pozo Azul

More than likely, similar to our experience, the buses and taxis are only going to take you to the centre of Minca. From here, you’ll need to find your own way to Pozo Azul and there are two main ways to do so.

By moto taxi

The first option is to take a moto taxi. Moto taxis are the most popular way to move around Minca and the surrounding area as a lot of the roads are less-than-ideal for cars. They are off-road dirt bikes which are perfect for navigating the uneven, and often wet, terrain.

We found that there’s always a group of moto taxis in the centre of Minca. They all work for the same company and the prices to different places are pretty much set. To get from Minca to Pozo Azul by bike is only going to cost around 10,000 COP ($2.52) per person.

Just be aware that they don’t offer helmets, so you take these bikes at your own risk!

By hiking

The second option is to hike to Pozo Azul. This is the method we decided to choose so we could see what was on offer along the route. It’s not a difficult hike, here are the stats:

For most of the route, we just followed the main road east out of Minca centre and followed it on a gradual uphill incline. There are a few bars and restaurants, and Cascada Escondida, along the route if you feel like stopping off!

It was very clear when we reached the turning for Pozo Azul. There’s an obvious sign directing the way, prompting you to head down a dirt road on your left. After another 10-minutes of trekking down this road, we reached Pozo Azul.

Pozo Azul entrance fee

Great news, entrance to Pozo Azul is completely free! We visited really early in the morning (more on that later) so there was nobody there when we arrived. We thought we would have to pay on our way out but nope – Minca’s most popular attraction is free! That’s more than what can be said for Marinka Waterfalls.

There is a booth at the junction of the dirt road and main road offering travel insurance though. But if you already have your own travel insurance, you won’t need it. They have a first-aid tent set up near Pozo Azul and this is what you’ll be paying the voluntary insurance for otherwise.

What to expect at Pozo Azul

Despite being uber popular, unlike other waterfalls like Cascada Oído del Mundo, Pozo Azul is a fairly simple place. As we arrived we took a really short walk to the waterfall. There was a closed restaurant on our left (which may open later, we’re not sure) and dogs came running out barking at us, but ultimately they were all bark and no bite.

Pozo Azul itself is split into three sections, the lower basin and the upper basin.

The lower basin at Pozo Azul

The lower basin is the first part of Pozo Azul that we got to. It’s a fairly large swimming hole that only goes to about 1.5m at the deepest. This is where we stopped to take a dip and get some photos.

This is going to be the more popular area of Pozo Azul once all the tourists start arriving. It’s great for kids and those who struggle with swimming but still offers beautiful scenery to enjoy.

The upper basin at Pozo Azul

Unfortunately we didn’t make it up to the second basin, or further, because we simply didn’t know it existed. I know, we should have down our research – *facepalm*. But that’s why you’re here, right?

If you cross to the other side of the lower basin, there’s a rocky path that takes you up about 10-minutes further to the upper basin. This swimming hole is much deeper and offers a small cliff jump at around 3 to 4m high! It also has its own beautiful little waterfall just like the lower basin.

The hidden pool

Apparently, if you continue along the same path for another 15-minutes or so, you’ll reach an even quieter area of Pozo Azul. This is a calm area of the river which is perfect for swimming. There aren’t any waterfalls here but you’re more likely to have it all to yourself!

Best time to visit Pozo Azul

If there’s one thing you take away from this guide, it’s that you should get to Pozo Azul as early as you can. This is especially if you’re planning to take photos and have it all to yourself!

We arrived at 8am after hiking from Minca and for the first 30-minutes, we were alone at Pozo Azul. We were only joined by a Canadian couple from 8:30am onwards. The sign says that Pozo Azul is open between 8am and 4pm, but we’re pretty confident you could visit outside of these times. We think these times just indicate when there will be a life guard and first aid responders.

What’s worth keeping in mind is that a lot of day tours run to Pozo Azul from Santa Marta, bringing bus loads of tourists with them. These tours start arriving from about 9am so we highly recommend getting to Pozo Azul at 7am to get a couple of hours of peace and quiet!

What to pack for Pozo Azul

We’re going to assume that your hiking from Minca, so this is a list of what we would recommend you bring:

• Comfortable footwear – like running shoes, or even hiking boots.
• Swimmers & towel – you’re going to want to get into Pozo Azul, the river water is so refreshing in the tropical heat!
• Water shoes – the rocks in the basins can be a bit hard on the feet, you’ll manage without water shoes but you experience will be way more comfortable with them.
• Mosquito spray – Pozo Azul is in the forest. We got bitten A LOT in Minca so it’s always beneficial to be carrying around some repellent.
• Suncream – hiking along the main road may put you in direct sunlight in some areas, it’s better to be safe.
• Lunch & snacks – if you’re planning to hang out all day, it may be worth packing a picnic… and maybe even some beers!

Where to stay in Minca

Finally, if you’re heading to Minca, we have a few recommendations on where to stay based on our own experience:

Hostal Sierra Minca – we loved our stay here! At 1600m above sea level in the mountain range, this hostel offers both dorm and private rooms, three meals a day, a cheap bar and a pool and hammocks with a view all the way back to Santa Marta.

Hotel Minca Express Relax – the accommodation we chose in the centre of Minca, this was by far the best budget option! At just $17/night for a double room, we were very content and we couldn’t argue with the location!

Masaya Casas Viejas – for a more boutique stay in the mountains, Masaya Casas Viejas offers an infinity pool, massages and views of a lifetime. It’s 30-minutes outside of Minca though so only book this hotel if you’re looking for a jungle retreat with hiking, waterfalls and more!

Mini Cabaña TANOA – for a more unique stay, booking a night or two in these beautiful forest cabañas. Only a 15-minute walk outside of Minca and near Pozo Azul, it’s a great compromise between being close to town and in the middle of nature.

Final thoughts on Pozo Azul

Pozo Azul is a great place to visit in Minca and one can almost argue that it’s a quintessential activity to undertake. We absolutely loved our time at this waterfall, but we highly recommend turning up early to avoid the crowds!

Check out our other Minca guides!

• 19 Epic Things to do in Minca: A Complete Guide!
• Cascada Escondida: a guide to Minca’s hidden waterfall
• Los Pinos Minca – A complete guide to the hike and more!
• Cascada Oído del Mundo in Minca: A hidden waterfall!
• Visiting Finca La Victoria: The Best Coffee Tour in Minca
• How to get from Santa Marta to Minca
• Marinka Waterfalls in Minca: The Ultimate Guide
• 29 Must-Do Things to do in Santa Marta: An Ultimate Guide
• Is Colombia safe to visit in 2024?

We hope that our guide covered everything you need to know about visiting Pozo Azul in Minca. We always strive to offer the most accurate and up-to-date information we can but if you think something we’ve said is wrong, please let us know!