Minca Sintropia Sustainable Lodge & Organic Coffee Finca — Hotel in Magdalena

We had the great pleasure of staying at Minca Sintropia for four nights. There is truly no where in the world that compares to this finca, and I cannot recommend it enough.

Check-in: Our hosts were very communicative over WhatsApp, and provided us with thorough advice on buses from Tayrona to Minca and arranged a mototaxi to the finca. Mototaxis are a fun option, but if you have more than one large bag per person you should opt for the car option. At the entrance of the finca we met Luis (first host) and the team, they helped carry our baggage uphill (10min) to the cabins. At the reception, we met Marilyn (second host, Luis’s wife) where she made us a delicious fruit smoothie. Everyone was very welcoming.

Cabins: We stayed in cabin 1 (there are 2), and it was even more breathtaking than the photos. Each morning was unbelievable. There truly are no words to describe it, you just have to be there.

You have unlimited access to several fruits (oranges, avocados etc) just outside your door. The trees are so bountiful that you can hear the fruits dropping throughout the day. The cabin was also stocked with beer, snacks, and wine which you can consume for a very reasonable price.

Activities: On our first day, Luis met us at the reception and offered us a walking tour of the finca to see more of the property and taste some fruit from the trees. To top it all off, we each planted a ceiba tree and named it. I’m looking forward to returning in the future to see how my tree is doing.

We requested the restaurant service from Marilyn on the second day. A beautiful ambience was set at the reception that included calm music and unbeatable views of Santa Marta under the stars. Marilyn prepared the best meal we’d had in all Colombia. You absolutely must try her meals -more than once if you have the chance. She is a spectacular chef and a wonderful host! Such love and attention was given every step of the way.

After the dinner we walked back to our cabin and had the great pleasure of sharing a bonfire with Luis, Marylin and their kids. The family was so patient with our broken Spanish and we had so much fun. At some point, we resorted to Google translate in order to communicate better. The finca itself is wonderful but it’s the family that truly made the experience spectacular. We cannot speak highly enough of them- they are truly amazing and the reason why this was more than just an ordinary stay on a finca. In addition to the outstanding setting, they are such a fundamental reason for our desire to return. In between the times where we chose to socialize, we were given absolute privacy.

Wifi: The wifi was very fast and connected almost anywhere across the finca. We were able to stream videos and use the internet without any problem on many devices throughout or stay. I found this to be very impressive because of how remote we were

Check-out: just as with our arrival, the hosts helped us coordinate a ride down the mountain to Minca. We passed by the main cabin to say bye to Marylin and pay our tab for dinners, drinks etc, and were delighted to see Luis and the kids recorded us a goodbye message since we weren’t able to say goodbye in person.

Overall we had an unforgettable stay at Minca Sintropia. Every single aspect was top-quality and remarkable. If you book a stay here you will only be disappointed that you didn’t...

Finca Sintropia is definitely one of the most magical places we've visited. Everything was beyond perfect. We spent 6 nights here and would have stayed longer, but due to other travel plans, we couldn't. If you're looking for incredible views, magnificent golden hours of sunrises and sunsets, a sense of tranquilly, even clarity, harmony between humans and the environment, spectacular tropical plants, and also learning opportunities about biodiversity, reforestation, and 100% organic coffee growing, this is the right place! Staff members Mari and Luis are super friendly, helpful, and kind from the 1st moment at the front desk until the last goodbye, ready to navigate any of your questions. We also met Thomas, the owner, another very kind, resourceful, easily approachable person who doesn't hesitate to work along with his staff whenever needed. We personally liked the respect he treats his employees with. Thomas and Luis took us for a beautiful walk through the property and coffee fields and hills, which offered us amazing views. They were very patient, honest, and transparent with answering all of our questions regarding organic, sustainable farming. My personal highlight of that day was the opportunity to plant a cacao tree (which I personalized by naming it). It is a nice personal touch given by the team to visitors. Cabins are luxurious and spotless with breathtaking views and thought through every detail. The cabin also has a map with clearly marked trails on the property, a telescope, and stable, fast wifi. Meals are delicious, with fruits from their own sources. Coffee from their farm is carefully crafted, made with water from the finca's own source, which makes it artisanal. Getting there is a little adventure, but reliable drivers from the website are always on time and very skilled. They communicate with staff at the finca. Upon our arrival, Luis waited for us with a moto and took care of our suitcases. Our only responsibility is to hike the ascending but well-maintained path to the finca. The golden bonus is Tucan Silvestre, who was saved as a baby by Mari, and now he lives freely but comes and goes as he wishes to say hi. Overall this was an excellent experience and place we promised ourselves to come back to. Thank you, Mari, Luis, and Thomas, for creating this magical place where humans can escape chaos and get some equilibrium in connecting...

Located in a beautiful area this has a lot of potential. The 3 cabins have the best view. The area is remote which is why we chose it; 25 mins by 4x4(expensive so you only do the trip once) and then a 15-20 walk with luggage to resort. Not for elderly as steep uphill. There are two areas lacking: 1.Service. There are 5 staff. The German owner Tomas(absent during our visit) a receptionist, caretaker, cleaner/waitress and a cook. Not one member of staff spoke a work of English which is essential in hospitality. This made for an unpleasant difference in behaviour towards non-Spanish speakers (mostly European) and those who were fluent. Many clients found this off putting. I spoke basic Spanish but still struggled. Also staff were always on their phones ( our pet hate) and not attentive to all clients and cross if you disturbed them. Food and cleanliness. Lunch and dinner are ALWAYS the same without fail despite begging for variations. Always chicken or defrosted salmon or trout, potatoes and two vegetables. There was pasta with cheese sauce but this had cubes of cheese and was very unappetising and not GF. We previously booked a finca that cancelled due to an emergency that had rave reviews for home cooked Colombian food and home baked bread so we expected the same here. Instead we got basic cooked western food and the same for 10 meals. Not good. You could self cater but as supermarkets in Minca have very little choice and you’d need a freezer bag to keep produce from melting during the 1 hour journey, this is not an option The room was not cleaned properly otherwise they would have seen the ants nest under our bed. Also windows not cleaned so dead bugs and smudges. Bedlinen of inferior quality. The cabin build is not up to German standards as gaps around windows and floorboards so bugs especially ants and spiders get in all the time. Such a shame as this place has so much potential. Needs to improve food options and quality as well as service especially communication, then it could be amazing. Came for the coffee and it was not good and very weak. Receptionist said that the good stuff is exported to Germany. Tomas should offer better barista coffee (not available currently) which is what all clients...