Day trip to Minca and seaside

 We were picked up at 0730 (the first people in what became a loaded mini bus).

This photo shows everywhere we went today. The first half of the day was at Minca (bottom right of photo). The second half was at Taganga (just north of Santa Marta). Incidentally we are located in a suburb of Santa Marta called Guira (the blue dot in the middle left of the photo).

Our drive to Minca was up twisty turny mountain roads into the Colombian jungle.

We stopped for a quick breakfast bite to eat before ascending the mountains. Once in the parking lot at Minca we hiked for twenty minutes down a rocky trail (the kind that breaks ankles if you are not paying attention). We came to a very popular swimming location on a mountain creek. Lots of people there enjoying the scenery and experience.

It was a pleasant experience. 

Next we drove out of the mountains, through the edge of Santa Marta then over the mountain to the next bay.

This photo (taken on the return trip at a well visited viewpoint) shows the bay. The main beach (center right ) is the main stopping point. Here we split the group up. Those of us going snorkleing took a boat out towards the ocean. 

Those who didn't want to go instead took another boat to another bay . The bay is hidden in the photo (two photos above). Where we snorkled was just around the corner of the point in the distance above.

I didn't really feek like snorkleing so I stayed in the boat but Caro enjoyed it!

I found the surrounding cliffs nice to look at. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me so no photos (the photo above is taken by the tour people).

When we finished that we went to the beach (hidden in the map photo above). This is where we had lunch (included in the tour cost). Afterwards we rented a couple of chairs and sat under a tree enjoying the ocean breezes.   The day was completed with a boat ride back from the hidden bay to the main bay where we got on our mini bus for the drive over the mountain,through the downtown of Santa Marta and home,