HOME Travel Guide Common Sense Travel
decorative font style

Breathtaking Mountain Views from a Giant Hammock in Minca, Colombia – Polaroid of the Week

Breathtaking Mountain Views from a Giant Hammock in Minca, Colombia – Polaroid of the WeekAfter exploring Colombia's stunning Caribbean beaches, we sought relief from the heat in the nearby mountain village of Minca, nestled in the Sierra Nevada. This gem promised lush coffee plantations (a must for us coffee enthusiasts), cascading waterfalls, a massive hammock with panoramic views, and milder temperatures.

We were quickly persuaded to detour before heading back to the coast. While 'cooler temperatures' were relative—still in the high 80s (around 30°C)—the village delivered on every other front. Refreshing hikes to waterfalls, an insightful tour of the family-run Finca Victoria coffee plantation using century-old machinery, and the iconic giant hammock made the journey worthwhile. A quick 20-minute moto-taxi ride up to Casa Elemento hostel rewarded us with vistas stretching from the mountains to the ocean. The three-hour hike back down? Totally worth it for those unforgettable sights.

Stay tuned for a full guide to Minca. For now, check out more photos in my Colombia album on Facebook—featuring waterfalls, Finca Victoria, hummingbirds, and epic mountain views.


Tourist Attraction
  • Polaroid of the Week: Majestic Giant Stone Faces of Bayon Temple at Angkor Wat, Cambodia

    After six months exploring Southeast Asia, our dream visit to Angkor Wat became reality. From Siem Reap, we joined friends Shannon and Anna on an Urban Adventures tour of the Khmer Kingdoms iconic ruins: Angkor Wat, the best-preserved temple complex; Ta Prohm, the jungle-shrouded site famed from Tomb Raider; and Angkor Thom, featuring the extraordinary Bayon Temple.Bayons 54 towers surround a central peak, each bearing four massive stone faces—totaling 216 enigmatic expressions across this compa

  • Polaroid of the Week: Stunning 360° Views from Cerro Santa Ana Over Guayaquil, Ecuador

    After my Galápagos Islands cruise, I needed a respite in Guayaquil—Ecuadors largest city and one of South Americas major seaports—to catch up on work and sift through hundreds of backed-up emails. While tourist attractions are limited, the revitalized Malecón 2000 riverwalk offered ideal morning runs and lively evening vibes, from people-watching to an IMAX screening of La La Land. North of the Malecón lies Las Peñas, Guayaquils oldest neighborhood, with vibrant houses cascading up Cerro Santa

  • Polaroid of the Week: Stunning Manhattan Sunset from East River Beach

    When we returned to New York last week for the third and final time this year, we were treated to exceptional fall weather: temperatures climbed into the low 70s°F, skies stayed brilliantly blue, and sunshine dominated—all except one day.Our main worry for a November trip was freezing cold forcing us indoors (with limited warm clothing), but we thrived outdoors. We joined a walking food tour in trendy Williamsburg—and savored this breathtaking sunset from East River Beach. We biked across Manhat