Minca & Bogota

On Sunday I returned to Santa Marta sore and tired from the hike. I arrived at my hostel in Minca, an adorable eco-lodge called Sol de Minca. There I ate dinner and went to bed early.

Monday

Unfortunately I woke up feeling ill the next day. Even though I couldn’t leave the hostel, I was still surrounded by some pretty amazing views.

Once I was feeling up to some movement, I got a ride to a spa. I got a massage at a spa right next to a waterfall and swam in the river afterwards.

Tuesday

The next morning I rose early to tour an organic coffee farm in Minca. We learned about the production process and tasted some coffee from the farm; the coffee was strong and so smooth!

Thereafter I rode to the airport in Santa Marta to head to Bogota.

Upon arrival I checked into my hostel in the Chapinero neighborhood and had some sushi for dinner.

Wendesday

Wednesday was my last day in Bogota and in Colombia, so I was determined to complete the tourist must-dos on my list: visit Monserrate and the gold museum.

To get up the mountain of Monserrate you can take the gondola or the funicular. I took the funicular up and instantly felt the effects of altitude sickness. However, the view of the city was stunning.

I took the gondola down the mountain and continued walking down towards La Candelaria, the neighborhood that houses the gold museum.

The museum was well-curated and so interesting. I was most excited to see the artifacts from the Tairona - the indigenous community that built the Lost City. The museum recreated the way the Taironas would have worn their jewelry:

The Tairona frequently represented the image of the bat in their jewelry and craft. They saw bats as lords of the night and of the underworld. Bats were seen as symbols of power; if someone were to wear a pendant with the image of a bat, it represented their status and symbolized power and transformation into a bat.

That evening I sent off to the airport once again. Now I’m off to Argentina!

Ellie