Masaya Casas Viejas
High up in the cloud forest north of Minca lies Masaya Casas Viejas. This beautiful boutique hostel is part of the famous Masaya franchise.
If you have ever stayed in a Masaya hostel before, like we have, you will know that they are a safe bet when looking for clean and comfortable accommodation.
However this Masaya offers something a little different to other hostels bearing its reputable name. Casas Viejas, rather than being city based, is located in the heart of nature; high up in the mountains of the Magdalena region of north Colombia.
With its remoteness comes a deep sense of tranquility. The hostel has an emphasis on wellbeing and promotes spirituality too – revitalising your body and soul by reconnecting with nature.
Not only is the place gorgeous, with panoramic views of the cloud forest and a distant glimpse of Santa Marta, but the milder climate here and frequent rainfall creates the perfect ecosystem for unique plant, bird and animal life to thrive. There’s also a heated pool, fantastic on site restaurant and plenty of day trips on offer!
The Activities
Casas Viejas, despite being in such a remote location, has plenty of activities to keep you occupied during your stay. There is an overall focus on wellness and relaxation. This includes daily yoga sessions and massages.
For the nature lovers there are also daily hikes to nearby waterfalls, bird-watching tours and night-time forest treks.
There are a number of local businesses in close proximity to the hostel. These include a superb coffee farm, a short downhill hike away, and a local brewery.
The coffee farm offers guided tours of the facilities and a great little cafe. While the brewery is less of a tourist attraction, we heard from other guests that you could pop in to purchase the locally crafted beers.
For those more adventurous in nature there are also a number of trails that can be taken deeper (and higher) into the cloud forest. This includes a trek to a sunset spot and additional waterfalls.
The Location
Masaya Casas Viejas is located in Finca La Victoria, in a 1235 acre coffee plantation, 30 minutes from the town of Minca.
Most guests will arrive from Santa Marta which is around 20 km away, or further down the coast from towns such as Palomino, approximately 90 km away.
While the location is certainly remote, it’s not too difficult to reach. The hostel offers an efficient and pretty cost-effective transfer service (more on that later). You can also purchase transfers directly from Minca proper.
The journey is certainly worth it as you’ll be surrounded by loads of wildlife and have a dramatic landscape ready to explore right on your doorstep.
Address: Finca cafetera, La Victoria, Minca, Santa Marta, Magdalena
The Food
It has to be said, the food here is great. And it kind of has to be, considering that the nearest restaurant is 30 minutes downhill.
While you may initially think it to be limiting to eat on sight every day, rest assured, the food and drinks here are varied and affordable. The menu changes daily and there are vegetarian options too. The hostel offers breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks so that you are never left feeling hungry.
The evening meal is also communal – this means that food is served for everyone at the same time, making it easy to get to know other guests.
This is the perfect environment to meet fellow travellers and foster new friendships. The staff also eat with you, so it’s very easy to get to know them too!
The bar is also fully stocked with both hot, cold, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Purified water is offered free all day. Locally harvested coffee is also free until 2pm.
Casas Viejas has a thriving happy hour and there are free shots and games most nights too.
The Space
Every Masaya we have stayed at is exceptionally guest-friendly, and Casas Viejas is no exception. There are plenty of break-out spaces where you can hang-out and relax.
Between the restaurant and the bar there is a designated work space. Above this, there is a TV room with loads of bean bag seating. The pool is sizable, heated and features sun loungers. The restaurant area also has plenty of space to hang out, in particular there is a veranda (with plug sockets!) which overlooks the pool – it’s stunning.
The wifi is also very fast and reliable, considering Minca is known to have frequent power cuts.
The Wildlife
Needless to say, the ecosystem in which Masaya Casas Viejas is located means wildlife can be found in abundance here.
The hostel is teaming with all kinds of bird species, such as hummingbirds and tanagers of all colours. On the bird watching tour we saw even more species of birds, including the majestic Keel-billed toucan.
There are also plenty of bugs and butterflies to marvel at. On one of our walks outside the hostel gates we even saw an agouti!
The Coffee Farm
Finca La Victoria Coffee Farm is one of the oldest and largest coffee farms in Colombia and is accessed on foot via a steep trek downhill from the hostel.
Along the way you will walk through rows and rows of coffee trees until you reach the main factory building. Here you can book in for an hour-long tour or simply check out the cafe and enjoy various coffees and cakes.
As mentioned the nearby brewery also has locally crafted beer to purchase.
The Weather
We stayed at Casas Viejas during the tail-end of the rainy season, and it still rained a lot!
This is part of the charm and nature of staying in a cloud forest. You will need your waterproof jacket and shoes, but even then be prepared to get wet! It’s pretty impressive watching the clouds/mist slowly envelop your surroundings!
The temperature is cooler than the coastline areas such as Santa Marta, and gets cooler still after sunset. The heated pool, free hot coffee and evening fire pit should keep you warm enough though!
Getting There
Part of the fun and adventure of staying somewhere as remote as Masaya Casas Viejas is the fact that it’s a bit more of a challenge to get to. You’ve got to work for that incredible infinity pool view!
The hostel can only be reached via a 4×4 or a motorcycle taxi. Trust me when I say, walking is not an option!
The terrain is rocky, muddy and very bumpy (even when in a 4×4) and requires someone who knows the road and conditions to safely navigate.
I would only suggest taking the motorcycle taxi if you don’t have a big backpack/suitcase and are feeling particularly brave!
You can arrange a transfer to Casas Viejas at least 24 hours prior to your stay. Also it is highly recommended that you look to arrive at the hostel before 5pm. Once it gets dark the route up to the hostel becomes that much harder to navigate. I wouldn’t advise it!
Things To Note
- There is an over the counter ATM in Minca, but withdrawals come with a charge and you’ll have to hope there is cash available. You’ll also need to purchase transport to get there. (Or collect on your way through).
- The hostel itself does accept card payments. Everything you purchase – from tours to food and drinks – goes on your final tab. You can pay off your bill in full at the end of your stay.
- I believe it is just the massage that is cash only.
- Also, be aware that the hostel does not offer a laundry service. I would advise you to get your washing done before you arrive so that you have the comfort of knowing you have all the clothes you need for the duration of your stay.
- We noticed that the website does say there is a laundry service available so perhaps it’s just during the rainy season that it’s not an option.
- Because the hostel is in the cloud forest and it is a very wet and humid environment, dampness is an issue in some rooms. We booked a private room with a bathroom and had a humidifier in our room, which did help. We can’t vouch for the dorms!
Final Thoughts
If you have been moving around a lot and are looking for a little bit of respite, Masaya Casas Viejas is the place to recharge, unwind and re-centre yourself.
The tours and hikes are great for those that want to get out and about and enjoy the rugged natural landscape and abundant wildlife.
We would definitely recommend staying at least a couple of nights to really enjoy the experience and immerse yourself in the Masaya experience.
Until next time,
Lica xoxo
