To party, we Colombians are ready. If what you want is to enjoy a beautiful party, you must visit Colombia. No matter what time of year you decide to come to see us, Colombia will always welcome you with enthusiasm. A welcoming and very approachable population, contact with people will be very easy. We Colombians will always be happy to help you, inform you and show you the music in Colombia. The people are cheerful and festive, we celebrate many holidays and festivals listening to music that mixes Latin, African and indigenous rhythms. Colombia is dance, music, wild nights in large cosmopolitan cities around a glass of aguardiente: an experience rich in encounters.
Masks, penachos, face painting, music, dances, characters, and joy enliven Colombia’s most traditional festivals. The country offers a wide variety of celebrations that guarantee entertainment and happiness for locals and all travelers. There are festivals for all tastes, but what is the favorite music of Colombians? We have great internationally recognized artists who have won several awards. However, it is essential to know the country’s countless musical rhythms.
Music in Colombia can vary radically from one region to another. The various cultural manifestations are well-known and recognized for their authentic richness and representativeness of our country. We can distinguish four regions for music in Colombia:
The Atlantic or Caribbean region, which has warm rhythms, perfect for dancing, such as cumbia, porro, or mapalé. Cumbia is accompanied by the guacharaca, a widely used instrument in Colombia. The Pacific region, with its Spanish influence, has rhythms like the currulao, in which drums predominate. The music of the Andean region is characterized by the use of string instruments and the piano, such as the bambuco, the pasillo, the guabina, the torbellino, among others. Llanera music is performed on the harp, accompanied by maracas, and usually tells stories of mystical figures from the Llanos region.
We’ve compiled a collection of each style to give you a good overview!
Other traditional forms like salsa, vallenato, and champeta are heard throughout the country, regardless of the region. In Cali, the ‘salsa capital of the world,’ tourists appreciate the charming and zesty rhythm of this dance and have a great time trying to learn it. Vallenato evokes the complex issue of cultural diversity that we experience every day. Vallenato is undoubtedly the quintessential Colombian song.
And here’s another short list of good salsa:
Shakira, Carlos Vives, Juanes, Grupo Niche, and Joe Arroyo—world-renowned artists—are just a few of the ambassadors of our culture.
We leave you with a short list of current music by 100% Colombian artists!
Are you planning a trip to Colombia?
Discover our travel ideas here or contact us; we’ll be happy to discuss them with you.
