The music of Costa Rica has been influenced by neighboring countries and some genres were brought in by immigrants. Nevertheless, being a Latin American country, Costa Rica has that special warmth that runs in the veins of all Latinos, and this makes its music more savory and passionate.
Its all about roots
The music from Costa Rica is as diverse as the cultures that influenced it. However, there is one certain rhythm that is said to be born in the very roots of this nation called “Tampito.” It is the national folk music to which the beautiful Ticas dance with their colorful traditional costumes while the men wear the typical peasant wardrobe. This music is often heard in more touristic locations as part of the themed attractions. Some places also present shows of these traditional dances.
An important instrument for this type of Costa Rica music is the “marimba,” which is a very popular instrument in all of Central America. It is used for percussion with a group of different sized wooden keys that produce a scale of notes. The musician strikes these keys with a couple of mallets to produce the different rhythms and notes. These instruments can be pretty large, and are played by up to three musicians at a time.
Guanacaste Province – Where much of the traditional music is preserved
Guanacaste takes pride in being the province with the most interest in preserving Costa Rican Music and traditions. It is the home of many inspirations regarding the country’s folk dances as well as most of the costumes the dancers wear. If you plan to visit any location of Guanacaste, you can be certain that you will hear the beautiful sounds of a local marimba.
The Caribbean has its own Style
The Costa Rican music of the Caribbean is based on many African beats and roots. The calypso, rumba and reggae are very popular genres throughout the Caribbean coastlines, and Costa Rica’s Limon Province is not exempt from these musical genres. The Carnaval de Limon is a good example of these musical genres all coming together in a mix of brightly colored dancers and waves of sound that fill the streets.
How is the music changing?
Nowadays the music in Costa Rica has taken a large influence from northern countries which have inspired many national music groups to base their material on their favorite rock bands or the latest dance hits on the radio. The internet has made it much easier to stay up to date on what are the latest trends in music all around the world.
Bars & Restaurants
The local commercial establishments that specialize in food and drinks like restaurants, cafes, bars and clubs use music as their main attraction. You will find a vast variety of places for all types of music in any town. Most tourist sites focus their efforts on Latino genres or current radio hits. Whichever your preference, the music of Costa Rica is here as part of your vacation experienc,e and it may become the background music of some of your treasured memories.
