Santa Marta, Columbia and More

     After a four hour bus ride from Cartagena to Santa Marta, Colombia taxi to our second AirBNB.  Uneventful although surprised by the apartment which I am sure usually rents for a lot less than we are paying.  Its OK, still a good deal.
     Above and behind a small tienda (combination small grocery, hardware and drinks store) but right on Avenue Liberador which is the main route into the Central City.  Buses will stop anywhere there is a passenger to pick up and cost is 1600 Colombian pesos or US 50 cents. Fifteen minute ride to Commercial Center, Beach or Market.
     Santa Marta is HOT is time of year, but a 30 minute bus ride away is Minca, a throw back to the Hippie era of Backpackers and Hostels.  At 600 feet elevation  is cooler than Santa Marta and a number of water falls and swimming holes attact the crowds.



    Not using the Motorcycle Taxis ( A monopoly) we also walked up to a waterfall/swimming hole privately owned but very popular.



This part of Colombia also has a number of multi-day hikes up much higher in the mountains to archeological sites discovered as recently as 1976.  Cost is minimal and without the crowds of Machu Pichu.

I know I pay a little too close attention to cost, but this day including lodging cost us $50 including food, lodging, transportation to mountain etc.  Thats for the two of us.  And would have been $6 less if we hadnt  made a mistake on transportation on the way up.  Hint: Take bus to Central Market and Combi to Minka!

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