Guesthouse Santa Marta / Carpe Diem

Carpe Diem’s guesthouse

Located in the midst of lusty green scenery, in a little valley, not very far from the well travelled town of Minca, you will find the hotel and guesthouse of Carpe Diem. The hostel structures are surrounded by several smaller courtyards, the farm and the nature reserve. A refreshing river flows through the garden passing at only few meters from the houses. Several swimming pools and terraces make it the ideal place for a relaxing holiday. Carpe Diem is also a perfect starting point for making interesting activities in and near the Santa Marta Sierra Nevada mountains, such as hidden waterfalls, an organic chocolate farm, a mini lost city, Minca, etc.. The guesthouse consists of indigenous-styled cabañas, double rooms,and a few dorms. Also, there is a restaurant and guest kitchen. Additionally, there is a lounge area with annexing bar and almost every evening you can enjoy a campfire.

The main Carpe Diem courtyard

100% contact with nature

For many visitors, Carpe Diem appears as an off the beaten track paradise. 100% contact with nature. You would not hear the noice of cars, motos or loud music. What you hear is the flow of the river and the sounds of birds and wildlife… what you feel is a sense of being completely at ease. In this setting, Carpe Diem tries to provide a top quality service.

Enjoy the tranquility of your room

Finca Carpe Diem believes it is possible to discover the real Colombian wilderness at an affordable cost and without lowering in quality service.

Some recent history behind Carpe Diem

The old times…trying to capture some internet signal high up on the mountain

Arriving in here 2011, we did not really know what to expect. We jumped into this adventure and since the early beginning, we have put all our energy and soul in Carpe Diem and as such the place become what it is today. Paso del Mango and Carpe Diem is nature in its purest form. Close to Minca and Santa Marta you find enormous, endless forests, rivers, waterfalls, giant trees and crazy wildlife. Sometimes, working on field, you may feel reborn, as if this is the very roots of human society.

However, life is not always easy here. Every day again is a struggle, a fight against the natural elements. Heavy storms cut off energy, the rains make the ride uphill with a normal car a pointless undertaking, because of the mountaneous region we did not have any internet in the beginning years, and the phone connection is still very bad. We are surrounded with rivers and springs, but to get it drinkable to the houses is quite a hazardeous undertaking…..Besides different language and culture, these ‘difficulties’ made the setting-up of the hostel not an easy task.

Life is not always easy here. Every day again is a struggle, a fight against the natural elements.

We arrived on a beautiful terrain, although the main constructions were old and many things, including roofs, walls, doors and floors had to be changed or renewed. For all new things we built, we used sand and stones from the river, and wood and bamboo from our gardens. Most of the structures were made on site with the help of locals.