6. Stop: Santa Marta/Minca

After not knowing if buses still ran to Minca so late, I had the brilliant idea of not booking a hostel, but rather seeing how far I could get and then searching for Wi-Fi to book a hostel. I got 10 minutes far, until Santa Marta, where I could figure out from individual understood snippets of words that it didn't go any further. Therefore, I had to look for a hostel, with the help of two young Venezuelans who had fled to Colombia to escape the disastrous economic situation! Inflation there is so extreme that you can buy bags made of Venezuelan money in Colombia.

These two not only provided me with Wi-Fi, they also recommended a hostel and escorted me there. Another example of the kindness of South Americans, which has often caught my attention. The difference to our mentality is as follows: While Europeans are friendly mainly to friends and people from whom they expect an advantage, the people living here are equally courteous to everyone! Actually a much more idealistic approach than ours!

So after spending the night in Santa Marta, I set off for Minca, a village a little further south, which is truly paradise. Mangos, avocados, etc. grow there in such quantities that they are often not even sold, but simply left lying around. Everything is green as far as the eye can see, and becomes even greener the further up you climb. This place was further proof that hiking can also be very exciting! Besides the 'biggest' hammock and an organic coffee farm, there was mainly the beautiful nature to admire there.

On the first day, I hiked with a Californian couple, on the second day alone. On the second evening, Pauli and Benni showed up again, and we made the decision to travel to the beautiful Tayrona Park the next day!