Nested on top of hill in the luscious town of Minca, this Casa is the perfect spot to enjoy breathtaking view of the Colombian jungle. They have a lovely restaurant on-site, serving exclusively vegetarian food and a marvellous sunset bar where you can enjoy some refreshing cocktails whilst watching the sun go down.

The accomodation
It’s basic but charming, expect some extra guest to come into the night… the house cats.

How to get there
You can easily get a taxi from Santa Marta, it will cost you about 80,000 to 100,000 COP so best to share if you can. Be aware once you arrive in Minca you will need to climb a steep heel to get there. There is no other way to get there than by foot so if you’re travelling with lots of luggage, best to stay somewhere else. You can always come up for sunset as the bar and restaurant is open to everyone.

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This house was literally built in the middle of the Caribbean ocean. You’ll make up everyday by jumping in the crystal blue water and eating fresh lobster for breakfast, lunch and dinner. If you can afford it.

The accommodation
You can choose to stay in a room or sleep under the stars in a hammock. The ladder is obviously cheaper but obviously less comfortable. Make sure to book in advance as the place usually sells out.

How to get there
You can leave from Cartagena or else take a boat from Tolu. You can arrange your transport directly with the people from Casa en el Agua and they’ll sort your transfer.

What do do
The Casa offers lots of activities, snorkelling, swinging with fluorescent plankton’s, diving, beach days, fishing trips…

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This house located in the Antiquoian forest was built on the side of mountain, one of the walls is actually rock. It makes for a unique and memorable stay.

The accoommodation
To book you will need to email the owner directly in Spanish and reserve directly with him. The house can host up to approximately 6 people so it’s often booked up, booking in advance is essential. You will need to bring all your food with you as well, they do sell wine on site though.

How to get there
You can get a bus straight from Medellin, it leaves first thing in the morning. If you miss it, prepare to change. You will only be able to access the house via zip-line or climb, there’s literally no other way so if you are terrified of heights, bare this in mind.

What to do
You can go for hikes around the forest (which include a bit of climbing) or try the pendulum, a chilled version of a bungy jump, which has you dangle from the house’s balcony. They also offer sleeps in hanging hammocks too.

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Located in the middle of the jungle alongside the Buritaca river, this hostel is a real hidden gem. It’s renown for its late night parties and tubing activities along the river. It’s also a very sociable spot, once you’re there, you live there basically as there’s nothing around so it’s the perfect place to meet like-minded travellers. There’s a bar, restaurant and bakery on-site to fulfil all your needs.

The accommodation
They offer dorms which are decent size. They also have plenty of bathrooms scattered around so you won’t need to queue for showers or toilets. They also have some swanky private huts on offer which I would highly recommend, if you can afford it.

How to get there
If you’re coming from Santa Marta way just get the bus towards Palomino and tell the driver to stop for the Rio Hostel. He’ll drop you on the side of the road where seemingly nothing is there. Don’t worry there Websitewill be plenty of moto-taxi waiting there for you. It’s the only way to get there unless you’re feeling brave enough to walk through the jungle.

What to do
The hostel hosts regularly parties throughout the week, daily tubing and lots more activities such as movie nights, quizzes, games… You won’t get bored. The owners also own a charity which helps out local children. You can apply to volunteer there and give back to the local community. If not, you can always donate money to their charity.

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It’s the ideal spot to unwind after spending a few days in Cartagena. The coast has an array of accommodation all located literally on the beach. Fall asleep and wake up each day with the soothing sound of the ocean. Costeno beach is the original OG, when I went here in 2016 it was pretty much one of the only spot open on the beach strip, now you’ll find many more. The food here is delicious and they have a swanky pool inside which comes very handy as the ocean here is very wild at times, making it unsafe to go for a dip.

The accommodation
They offer dorm accommodation along with beach huts, bungalows options if you fancy something more private.

How to get there
Just get the bus line that goes from Santa Marta to Palomino. Tell the driver to stop at Costeno Beach. Again, the only way to access the place is by moto-taxi or by foot. There’s a security check on the way to the beach so you’ll need to have made a reservation prior to getting there or you won’t get let in.

Things to do
When the conditions are right, you can take some surf lessons here easily. You could also spend a day visiting the beautiful Tayrona park nearby, It’s only a 15/20min moto-taxi away.

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