Music in Costa Rica: A Story of Roots and Reinvention
Listening to Costa Rica’s music is like reading a layered map of the country: from the Caribbean coast to the Pacific plains, from marimba players in Guanacaste to rappers in San José, each rhythm marks a place, a history, a movement. What follows is a journey—through instruments few tourists know, through genres that have morphed and merged, through names that matter. And finally through what is playing now.
1. The early frames: indigenous, European, and African roots
Before the global pop‑charts arrived, what we now call “Costa Rican music” was assembled over centuries from great strands: Indigenous rhythms and instruments, Spanish colonial church and folk forms, and African diasporic traditions arriving via the Caribbean. In that mix you find the marimba, you find the cuatro/guitar, you find percussion bowed and scraped and struck.
In the province of Guanacaste, for example, the marimba established itself as a central vehicle of local music. The ensemble Marimba Diriá was founded in 1969 by Ulpiano Duarte and in 1974 declared “Marimba Nacional” by executive decree. Wikipedia+1 The instrument itself—wooden bars struck by mallets, resonators beneath—carries lineage back to African xylophone traditions and indigenous Central American playing. Enchanting Blog
Meanwhile, on the Caribbean coast in the province of Limón, from the late nineteenth century onward you get the arrival of migrants from Jamaica, Panama, Trinidad and other places; instruments like drums, shekeres, box basses enter and shape what becomes a local style of calypso. ticotimes.net+1
And tucked into rural communities you’ll find instruments such as the quijongo (a single string bow with a gourd resonator) which appear in Guanacaste‑folk contexts. Explore Costa Rica
2. Traditional regional forms: Guanacaste and Limón
Guanacaste
In the north‑west of Costa Rica, the plains and cattle ranches of Guanacaste produced a musical tradition distinct from the central valley: the “música guanacasteca”. You’ll hear marimba, guitar, sometimes trompetas, sometimes “bombas” (verses exchanged between singers), the dances such as the punto, tambito, arranca terrones (a lively folk dance) and you’ll hear the marimba in the background of festivals, serenatas, and social gatherings. The marimba is technically percussive (bars struck) yet functions melodically. Tico Travel+1
What tourists may not always see: a marimba quartet in a local fiesta with the bars buzzing with charleo (a rattling sound under the resonator). Enchanting Blog
And among the names: Ulpiano Duarte remains a towering figure in that tradition. Wikipedia+1
Limón and Calypso
On the Caribbean coast the rhythm takes another shape. There, the genre known as “calypso limonense” emerges: songs in Creole, guitars, harmonica, banjo, drums, lyrics that are humorous, socially pointed, rhythmic, dancing between English and Spanish. SensorialSunsets+1
The instrument list includes cajón bass (a wooden box with a string), drums with animal hides, maracas, shekey‑shekey (a shaker), congas, guitar, banjo. ict.go.cr
The renowned figure here: Walter Ferguson (1919‑2023) from Cahuita, Limón, known as “King of Calypso”. Wikipedia+1 Also Roberto “Buda” Kirlew (1952‑1994) from Limón, whose band Buda y su Charanga won awards. adminsi.cultura.cr
Tourists often go to Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, or Limón city, enjoy reggae bars and surf, but may not always witness the grassroots calipso sets in community “casas del dominó” or see the box bass, shekey‑shekey and banjo in the shadows. That’s where the old tradition lives.
3. Instrumentation, dance, and tourist blind‑spots
What most visitors don’t see in full: the variety of percussive instruments, the quijongo, the cajón bass, the boxed bass, the multiple marimba bars, and the small percussion sets in rural patronales (festivals).
From one source:
“Costa Rica’s musical instruments: Drums (tambores) … Bajo de Cajón: A Limón Calypso staple, this wooden box with a single string… Jícaro: a dried gourd filled with beads… The Marimba still shines at festivals, weddings, schools … In Limón, the annual Carnival celebrates Calypso with drums and maracas…” Tico Travel
And for Guanacaste: the quijongo (“a single‑string bow with a gourd resonator”), the ocarina (clay flute) and the marimba is listed. Explore Costa Rica
So if you’re at a Guanacaste fiesta, look less for big brass band and more for a marimba quartet, a guitar, singers passing bombas, a tambito rhythm. If you’re on the Caribbean coast, expect calypso with box bass and guitars and social lyrics.
Also, note the dance difference: in Guanacaste you may have punto guanacasteco, tambito, arranca terrones; in the Caribbean coast the dance is looser, tied to calypso and then reggae/dancehall. This regional variety is part of the richness.
4. Changing tides: 20th century and beyond
As the 20th century advanced, the global flows of music—rock, jazz, pop, Latin American tropical genres—began to shape what Costa Rica listened to and what musicians produced. In the 1980s and 1990s you saw a rise of bands combining folk with rock, pop, jazz, and the emergence of local urban scenes.
The tourism boom, radio, television, recording technology—all contributed. Also the recognition of genres as cultural heritage: in 2012, for example, calypso limonense was declared a national intangible cultural heritage. El País
In Guanacaste and elsewhere, the marimba tradition continued in schools, workshops, festivals, maintaining the link between tradition and next generation.
5. The present: modern, urban, hybrid
Now we arrive at what’s happening in Costa Rica music today: a split between tradition and innovation, and a space of hybridization. The country may be small, but the variety of styles is considerable.
Urban/hip‑hop – The scene known as “Rap Tico” is making waves. Artists are producing Spanish‑language rap, integrating local rhythms, tackling social issues. For example, Nakury, from San José, is described as “a Costa Rican rapper reviving hip‑hop’s activist roots.” peopleofcostarica.com
Dub/roots/reggae/world‑music – Bands such as Moonlight Dub Xperiment (San José) blend dub/reggae with global influences; active since 2009. Wikipedia
Pop/rock/alternative – Groups like Akasha (rock/alternative, San José) are active from 2005 onwards. Wikipedia
Electronic/DJ culture – The scene of DJs is growing: for example, in the festival circuit of 2025, Costa Rican DJs such as the twin duo In Betwin and DJ Bombocat are gaining international recognition. Kilómetro Cero
Reggaetón/urbano – While Costa Rica is smaller in this genre compared with the giants like Puerto Rico, the urban beat has its place. For example, the festival Urban Fest brings big names and attention. costaricantimes.com
The important point: you no longer hear “only” marimba and calypso. You hear that—but you also hear trap beats, rap verses, electronic production, urban hooks, and traditional instruments juxtaposed with synthesizers.
6. Why this mixture matters
The mixture is not accidental. It reflects the geography, the generational shifts, the global connectivity, and the cultural memory of a country negotiating modernity and tradition.
For example, the coast of Limón doesn’t abandon calypso; it embraces reggae, dancehall, dub, electronic overlays—but the box‑bass, the shekeres, the guitar and banjo licks are still there. And in Guanacaste the marimba hasn’t disappeared; it may appear alongside pop songs, fusion bands, or be sampled.
Furthermore: the regional differences continue to matter. The marimba sound of Guanacaste carries a different feel from the Caribbean guitar‑drum of Limón. The tourist in San José may hear global pop in bars, whereas in the pacific and north you’ll find folk fiestas where the marimba quartet still plays “punto”.
And important: this is a country where music often intersects with identity, history and social life. Calypso in Limón, for example, has been described as “a song‑story, a topical song that speaks of social or political issues but privileges humorous language so that the hardest things can be processed better.” El País
7. Some names to listen for, old and new
From the tradition:
Walter Ferguson (Limón, Calypso) – key figure in calypso limonense. Wikipedia+1
Roberto “Buda” Kirlew (Limón) – calypso composer and performer. SensorialSunsets+1
Ulpiano Duarte (Guanacaste) – marimbista, composer, founder of Marimba Diriá. Wikipedia+1
The ensemble Marimba Diriá (Guanacaste) – continuing the tradition. Wikipedia
Contemporary/modern names:
Nakury (San José) – rap/hip‑hop voice. peopleofcostarica.com
Moonlight Dub Xperiment – dub/world band. Wikipedia
Akasha – rock/alternative band. Wikipedia
DJs like Bombocat, In Betwin – in the electronic scene. Kilómetro Cero
Pop/Urban rising stars: for example, the genre listings show artists such as Lil Quil, Siho Villalobos, Fátima Pinto in pop Costa Rica. recentmusic.com
8. Why cumbia, salsa, calypso and other tropical styles matter
Tropical dance‑music traditions continue in Costa Rica: salsa, merengue, cumbia, and local rhythms. But there’s an interesting shift: while salsa remains respectable and widely danced, other rhythms such as cumbia (often with a “swing criollo” step) have become especially visible. According to one source:
“Costa Rica’s dance clubs boogie to the beats of merengue, salsa and cumbia … Interestingly … they exchange the popular Colombian‑style cumbia dance steps for ‘swing criollo’, or creole swing, which features a series of hops and bouncing steps to accompany cumbia’s infectious beat.” Costa Rica
So one reason you might “hear cumbia over salsa” in certain contexts: the dance step is more immediate, accessible, less formal perhaps than classic salsa; the bounce‑hop of cumbia with “swing criollo” fits younger crowds, mixed venues, festival spaces.
Also, the blending of genres and the local adaptation means that cumbia may incorporate local instrumentation, local lyrics, and feel more “of here” in a moment where younger Costa Ricans want rhythm that resonates with their identity and nightlife.
That said, salsa hasn’t disappeared. But the visibility, the dance‑floor presence of cumbia in some spaces has grown. And when you layer in calypso or reggae in Limón, or urban fusion in San José, you get a mosaic where salsa is one thread among many.
9. A recommended listening playlist: local flavour to modern beat
Here’s a suggested cross‑section playlist you can build, to hear the arc of Costa Rican music:
Walter Ferguson – choose a calypso from Limón (e.g., “Callaloo”)
Buda Kirlew / Buda y su Charanga – something from Limón calypso archive.
Ulpiano Duarte & Marimba Diriá – a marimba piece from Guanacaste (e.g., “Nostalgia en la Pampa”)
A cumbia / “swing criollo” dance track from a local band (seek out Costa Rican cumbia).
Moonlight Dub Xperiment – a modern dub/world track.
Nakury – a rap/hip‑hop song tackling social themes.
Akasha – a rock/alternative Costa Rican piece.
A DJ set from Bombocat or In Betwin (mixing reggaetón, moombahton, charanga)
One pop/urbano track from the new wave of Costa Rican artists (e.g., Lil Quil or Siho Villalobos)
Return to the coast: a reggae/dancehall fusion from Limón (since reggae is alive on the Caribbean coast).
Pick up on the instrumentation: when marimba bars ring, when the quijongo hums, when the box bass of calypso clicks, when the rap beat drops alongside a sampled guiro or tambito—listen for those touches that tie present to past.
10. Tourism, authenticity and musical tourism
One of the ironies is that while Costa Rica is a major tourist destination, the music that tourists often see is one slice of what’s happening. Beaches, resorts, hotels may play ‘Latin pop’ or generic tropical background music, but the deeper stories—folk fiestas in Guanacaste, calypso jams in Limón barrios, underground rap sets in San José—are more local and less curated.
If you listen closely, you’ll hear that many heritage forms are being preserved, even as they are reinvented. For instance, researchers in Limón have collected calypso songs, created cancioneros with lyrics and chords, to pass on the tradition. Gestión Web UCR+1
In Guanacaste, the marimba world still provides workshop programs for youth, ensuring that the instrument continues to speak. And the new waves of urban musicians show that Costa Rica isn’t simply exporting tourist‑friendly rhythms but producing music that engages with global flows and local realities.
11. The case of difference: Why rhythm, style, region matter
What emerges clearly is that Costa Rica is not musically monolithic. The differences are striking:
Regionally: Pacific vs Caribbean vs Central Valley. The coast of Limón has Afro‑Caribbean identity; Guanacaste has its cattle‑plain marimba world; San José and urban centres host global trending forms.
Instrumentally: From marimba, quijongo, cajón bass, shekeres, banjo in calypso, to guitars, synthesizers, beats, to DJ controllers.
Genre‑wise: folk/tradition (marimba, calypso), tropical dance (cumbia, salsa, merengue), urban (rap, hip‑hop, reggaetón), fusion (dub/world, pop/rock).
Dance styles: In Guanacaste you’ll encounter the punto guanacasteco; the Caribbean coast you’ll feel calypso rhythms; in urban clubs you’ll pivot to reggaetón or trap.
Generationally: Older musicians preserving tradition; younger artists remixing, fusing, crossing borders.
It’s this variety that makes Costa Rica’s musical scene both subtle and expansive. You might think of one “sound of Costa Rica”, but in fact there are multiple, overlapping, evolving sounds.
12. The “why” behind the shifts
Why have we seen increasing hybridity? Several factors:
Media and technology: recording, streaming, global platforms allow young Costa Rican musicians to access global genres and audiences.
Tourism and migration: Costa Rica’s connection to Caribbean migrations, to Central American flows, global travellers, all produce cross‑pollination.
Cultural policy: There has been recognition of national heritage (e.g., calypso declared intangible heritage) which gives tradition a platform.
Youth culture: Younger Costa Ricans want to speak in their own voice—rap, urban beats, fusion with tradition.
Economic realities: For local musicians, fusion and urban forms may offer pathways to broader markets. A Redditor observed:
“One of the problems … is that our market is so small that any local artist who wants success is forced to think beyond the local market.” Reddit
These dynamics produce music that is anchored in place yet connected to the wider Latin‑global world.
13. Some closing reflections
If you ask: what is unique about Costa Rica’s musical landscape right now? I’d say this: the coexistence of deep regional tradition with youthful global‑sound ambition. The fact that a marimba concerto might butt up against a hip‑hop track in San José; that the box bass of a calipso band in Limón can rub shoulders with reggae dub or electronic beats; that a rural dance‑hall in Guanacaste still celebrates punto guanacasteco while teenagers in a club stream trap beats.
In this country, few instruments tell the whole story. You need to hear the cajón bass in Limón, the quijongo in a farm‑fiesta in Guanacaste, the guitar‑maraca interplay in a calypso session, the mallet‑strike on marimba pipes. And then you need to sit in San José at midnight and listen to the rapper drop verses, or to a DJ mix charanga, reggaetón and moombahton, or a band fuse marimba bars with electronic loops.
Thus: the history doesn’t end—it evolves. The coast doesn’t silence the plains; the city doesn’t drown the folk. Rather they talk to each other. And the result is music that is local in flavour yet expansive in ambition.
14. If you travel, here’s a tip
If you’re in Limón: seek out a calypso jam, maybe at a “Casa del Dominó” or at a beach bar in Cahuita; ask about the history of the cajón bass and the banjo/box sound.
If you’re in Guanacaste: go to a local fiesta (for example Santa Cruz in January) and catch a marimba quartet; watch the dancers do arranca terrones or puntitos.
In San José or the Central Valley: look into urban gigs, rap nights, DJ sets—listen for lyrics mixing local slang, issues, rhythms.
Always ask: what instrument is that? What’s the story of the song? Because in Costa Rica music is rarely generic—it carries place, memory and transformation.
#Artist (Costa Rica)SongGenre / Notes1Debi NovaQuédatePop / tropical‑pop. Nova is one of the best‑known Costa Rican singer‑songwriters. Wikipedia+2Trafalgar+22MishCatt (Michelle González)GoofyIndie / electro‑pop. A younger artist with international connections, shows modern CR sound. Playing For Change+13Ojo de BueyUppercut (ft Blackdali)Reggae / fusion. The band fuses Afro‑Caribbean rhythms and modern production. Wikipedia4Kawe CalypsoSelected track from Back to Our Roots (2020)Calypso limonense / Afro‑Caribbean. Highlights the Limón coast tradition. kawecalypso.com5Walter FergusonCabin in the WataTraditional calypso from Limón; one of the foundational figures. Trafalgar+16MalpaísSong of choice (e.g., “Costarrican new song” style)Folk/rock fusion. They mix regional folk with lighter rock/pop stylings. Wikipedia+17PassifloraMoonlightIndie/folk. Shows a more atmospheric side of Costa Rican music. Sofar Sounds+18424En la MañanaIndie band from CR with melodic/ambient leanings. Sofar Sounds9Las RobertasI Wanna Be Like You, LouGarage‑rock female trio from San José. Sofar Sounds10SintagmaEstelar (or another single)Hard rock / metal from Costa Rica. Shows heavier genre presence. Wikipedia11AkashaSelected trackAlternative rock from CR, bridging traditional/modern. Last.fm12NakurySelected rap/hip‑hop trackRap / hip‑hop. Illustrates urban CR scene and youth voice. Sofar Sounds+113CocofunkaColeccionistaFunk/reggae/rock blend — shows genre hybridization in CR. Reddit14Traditional ensemble (e.g., marimba) – e.g., Marimba DiriáSelected marimba pieceMarimba / folk from Guanacaste region: tradition, instrumentation. (Although not a specific “song” given)15Broad tropical dance track – e.g., a modern cumbia from CR (seek local band)Selected cumbia trackCumbia / popular dance‑music showing local adaptation and younger dance floors. (No explicit reference found for a named modern cumbia song, but genre importance is noted)
Commentary
I included traditional entries (Walter Ferguson, marimba, calypso) alongside modern/urban/indie entries (MishCatt, Nakury, 424) to reflect variety of genre and era.
I avoided leaning too heavily on reggaetón, as requested; the playlist instead covers folk, indie, rock, hip‑hop, reggae/fusion, calypso, marimba.
The inclusion of the marimba piece (#14) is to emphasize the traditional instrumentation (marimba, guitar, etc) that tourists often don’t dig deeply into.
The cumbia track (#15) is more generic, as explicit recent CR‑cumbia tracks are less documented in the sources I found; still the genre matters in context of CR’s dance‑music landscape.
Many of the modern indie/rock artists evidence the hybridization referenced in sources: e.g., CR music “is based on dynamic hybrids that blend salsa, cumbia and merengue with reggae, rap, calypso, ska and other forms.” Afropop Worldwide
APA References (selected)
Katz, D. (2023, April 20). Pura Vida Costa Rica: Hybrids in Central America Feature. Afropop. https://afropop.org/articles/pura-vida-costa-rica-feature-playlist Afropop Worldwide
“Sofar Sounds – 6 Amazing Artists from Costa Rica Indie Music Scene.” (2023). SofarSounds. https://www.sofarsounds.com/blog/articles/costa-rica-indie-music-scene Sofar Sounds
“Costa Rican music : r/costarica.” (2024, Feb ?). Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/costarica/comments/1jqu7d8/costa_rican_music/ Reddit
Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Ojo de Buey. In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ojo_de_Buey Wikipedia
Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Malpaís (group). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malpa%C3%ADs_(group)Wikipedia
Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Sintagma. In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sintagma Wikipedia
Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Debi Nova. In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debi_Nova Wikipedia
ExploreCostaRica.org. (n.d.). Costa Rica Traditional Music. https://explorecostarica.org/costa-rica-traditional-music/Reddit
Trafalgar. (n.d.). 7 songs you need to listen to that will get you dreaming of Costa Rica. https://www.trafalgar.com/real-word/costa-rica-songs-inspire-adventure/
Costa Rican Music YouTube Playlist (35 links)
Nakury – Rima que Ilumina | Sofar Costa Rica → YouTube
Nakury – Pregón (Conquista Sessions Acoustic) → YouTube
Cocofunka – Coleccionista (Video Oficial) → YouTube
Cocofunka – Coleccionista (Alternate Link) → YouTube
Marimba Diriá – Marimba piece from Guanacaste → YouTube
Marimba Diriá – Espíritu Guanacasteco – Marimba Tradicional → YouTube
Marimba Diriá – Playlist/Long Form → YouTube
Marimba / Traditional Guanacaste music – “Quijongo Guanacasteco” → YouTube
Ojo de Buey – Playlist / videos → YouTube
Marimba session – Carlos Araya y La Marimba Guanacasteca → YouTube
Marimba music – Santa Cruz Guanacaste live clip → YouTube
Marimba documentary – La marimba, el instrumento nacional de Costa Rica → YouTube
Nakury & Barzo – Sur Tour Peru 2021 → YouTube
Marimba profile – Ulpiano Duarte Arrieta → YouTube
Marimba session – “Así es Guanacaste – Nube Negra” → YouTube
Guadalupe Urbina – Song #1 → YouTube
Debi Nova – Debi Nova is a Musical SuperNova → YouTube
Grupo Kämuk – Cofradía → YouTube
Costa Rica Caribbean Reggae Music – Puerto Viejo / Limón → YouTube
Playlist – Costa Rican Caribbean Music → YouTube
Music In Costa Rica | Traditional And Modern 2023 → YouTube
Traditional Costa Rican Music Performance @ Tortuga Island → YouTube
Costa Rica – Somewhere Over Costa Rica (COSTA MAN Official MV) → YouTube
Leah Song & Camilo Polterneri – Golden → YouTube
Costa Rica TOP 40 SONGS MUSIC CHART → YouTube
Kawe Calypso – Back to Our Roots (track snippet) → YouTube
Walter Ferguson – Cabin in the Wata → YouTube
Walter Ferguson – The Father of Calypso → YouTube
Las Robertas – I Wanna Be Like You, Lou → YouTube
Passiflora – Moonlight → YouTube
Sintagma – Estelar → YouTube
Akasha – Selected Track → YouTube
424 – En la Mañana → YouTube
MishCatt – Goofy → YouTube
Ojo de Buey – Uppercut (ft Blackdali) → YouTube