Minca’s Cerro Kennedy Hike Guide. All you need to know.
Introduction
Minca is a small mountain town in northern Colombia, it’s found at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. It’s a great place for nature lovers with many waterfalls, mountain biking- and hiking trails. One of the most spectacular hikes here is the Cerro Kennedy hike. This hike takes you to 2,832 meters (9,291 ft), with beautiful views of Colombia’s highest snowy peaks.
You’ll start in a tropical cloud forest, surrounded by dense forest. As you get higher, the forest opens up to reveal panoramic views that stretch all the way to the Caribbean coast. With a little luck, you can also see the snowy peaks of the Sierra Nevada in the distance.
Fun fact: This is one of the few places in the world where snow-capped mountains are visible so close to the ocean.
When to visit?
The best time to hike Cerro Kennedy is from December to March, during the dry season. These months offer more stable weather for hiking and viewing the distant peaks.
Also, there’s quite a change in temperature, it’s warm and humid at the start, but it can drop to 5–10°C (40–50°F) at the summit, so be sure to bring warm layers.
On the second day, start your hike early in the morning for the best summit experience — afternoons are normally cloudier and may block the views. I woke up around 04:00 and began hiking at 05:00 to catch the sunrise. Within about two hours, the peaks started to disappear in the fog.
What makes the Cerro Kennedy hike worth it?
Compared to major tourist places like Medellin or Cartagena, Minca offers a calm, less-traveled experience for those seeking nature. While it’s getting more popular, the hike to Cerro Kennedy is still quiet and uncrowded.
Not only that, the Cerro Kennedy hike offers a nice sense of adventure, with beautiful views and hardly any other people.
Info about the trail
The route is very straightforward, as you can see in the picture below. There’s only one trail going uphill, so there’s really no way to get lost. If you don’t have the app maps.me yet, make sure to download it (it’s free), and to download the northern Colombia map so that you can use it offline.
The total distance is 32 km (20 miles), on the first day you’ll hike 13 km (+1050m elevation gain), and the second day 19 km (+ 350m elevation gain). It never gets really steep, which makes it a pleasant climb. Only near the top, close to the military base, it gets a little steeper.
How to Get to the Cerro Kennedy Hike Trailhead?
The best way to get there is by motor taxi — you’ll find plenty of them in Minca near the bridge. Ask the driver to bring you to go to ‘’Tienda la Y’’, this is exactly at the start of the hike. From Minca it’s about 30 minutes and costs 30,000 – 35,000 COP (about €6). I’d recommend you to ask the driver’s telephone number for the way back (it’s the same price).
Tip: there’s a store called Tienda La Y at the trailhead where you can buy food and water, but make sure to bring cash. Yet, on the trail itself you can still find a few places to buy food or drinks, a place I really liked and stopped for lunch is called ‘’Restaurant El Dorado’’, you will reach this place after about 4,5 km.
Where to sleep?
There’s basically two options to choose from. Either hostel Donde Moncho or hostel El Ramo. I personally choose hostel Donde Moncho, because it’s a little further uphill, which makes the alarm clock a bit less early and the morning walk less demanding. Nevertheless, the two hostels are only 1 km apart and both have great reviews, so either one seems a good option.
Cerro Kennedy hike: Stats & honest review
- Total Distance: 32 km (20 miles)
Most people start from Tienda la Y and hike to the hostel, stay the night there, and hike the last part early in the morning around 4 or 5 AM. - Elevation Gain: 1,400 meters (4,675 feet)
It’s a long and steady climb. It’s not as brutal as some high-altitude hikes but still a leg burner. - Highest Point: 2832 meters (9,290 ft)
The altitude is noticeable but manageable, unless you really rush it. - Tourist Density: 5/5
This hike is not crowded at all. During the two days, I met about ten other people. On weekends and in the dry season, you’ll see a handful of hikers. - Difficulty Level: 3/5
The trail is long, and while the incline isn’t that steep, the distance adds up. Also adding the elevation gain and humidity, it becomes a solid workout. It’s doable in one day if you’re fast (I met two trail runners doing this), but most people opt to break it up into two days. There’s no technical skills needed, just good stamina. - Sights: 4/5
If you get clear weather at the summit, the view is incredible — the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada and the Caribbean coast are stunning. Nevertheless, the first part of the hike doesn’t offer many views. Also, at the top there’s a military base which means that it’s impossible to watch the sunrise. Still it’s absolutely worth it, for that reason a 4/5. - Wild Camping: 2/5
This hike is pretty good for wild camping. I met two guys with their hammocks near the summit and spotted a few good spots to pitch a tent. I still gave it a 2/5 because you really need to be well-prepared for a cold, damp night, and possibly heavy dew.
Cerro Kennedy hike pack list
- Your best hiking shoes
- Warm layers, it gets cold at night
- 2-3L water (you can buy water at the start of the hike and at the hostel)
- Sun protection
- Sunglasses
- A hat or cap
- Rain jacket (weather can change quickly)
- Maps.me app and the offline map downloaded
- Nuts, bars, chocolate or fruits
- Hiking pole(s). If you have them I would recommend them, but they aren’t necessary
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a rewarding adventure near Minca, the Cerro Kennedy hike won’t disappoint. Any questions about this hike? Feel free reaching out to me on Instagram.
Did you enjoy reading about the Cerro Kennedy hike? You can check out my own experience of this hike on Instagram. Also, I regularly share travel stories, hiking guides, and tips & tricks.
Want to keep reading? You can find all posts here.
– Bart
Prachtig beschreven Bart! Complimenten.
Bedankt Chris!