Cartagena Spotify Playlist
| # | Title | Album | Save |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
Play It Safe |
Play It Safe |  |
2:12 |
| 2 |
Ocean Front Apt. |
In the Shape of a Dream | |
2:12 |
| 3 |
Free Spirit |
Free Spirit | |
3:02 |
| 4 |
Remind You |
Vacation | |
4:25 |
| 5 |
Same Old |
Same Old | |
2:56 |
| 6 |
A Moment Apart |
A Moment Apart | |
3:54 |
| 7 |
Run Away |
1993 | |
3:13 |
| 8 |
Sleepless Nights (feat. Nightly) |
In the Shape of a Dream | |
2:12 |
| 9 |
Wrong Kind Of People |
Girl, I Know | |
3:14 |
| 10 |
Slow Grenade |
Brightest Blue | |
3:37 |
| 11 |
Play It Safe |
Play It Safe | |
2:12 |
| 12 |
Ocean Front Apt. |
In the Shape of a Dream | |
2:12 |
| 13 |
Free Spirit |
Free Spirit | |
3:02 |
| 14 |
Remind You |
Vacation | |
4:25 |
Cartagena Help Music
- Cartagena its Music and Festivals
- CARIBBEAN RHYTHMS
- The most famous music festivals celebrated here
- Famous Artists and Musicians from the Colombian Caribbean
- Iconic Songs Born in Cartagena
- Music Venues and Spaces in Cartagena
Cartagena: its Music and Festivals
Cartagena de Indias is not only famous for its walls, its colonial architecture, and its dreamlike beaches. It is also an epicenter of sounds, melodies, and rhythms that reflect centuries of history and cultural blending.
To speak of Cartagena is to speak of its music, its festivals, and its artists. Here we evoke the sonic fusion of a diverse and vibrant past and present, since it has been a laboratory where indigenous and colonial traditions merge perfectly with Spanish and African heritage.
It means passing through the Caribbean flute, the African drum, the accordion, and the guitar — German and Spanish. It is to remember the Montes de María, La Niña Emilia, Magín Díaz, Toto la Momposina. The romanticism of Maty Tono Lemaitre and the immortal salsa of Álvaro José Arroyo González, “Joe Arroyo.”
They are inspiring with their creative spirit, opening paths through their artistic initiatives and leaving the most beautiful life lessons. They may no longer be with us, but they continue to live on in the memory, the soul, and the hearts of the generations to come, leaving eternal marks.
Cartagena besides having all the most beautiful destinations gathered in one place, has a variety of sounds that you are going to love. Here I tell you a little bit of all its rhythms.
CARIBBEAN RHYTHMS
Cumbia
This is one of the most traditional and iconic rhythms of Colombia’s Caribbean coast. Cumbia blends Indigenous, African, and Spanish influences, and you’ll recognize it by its joyful, swaying beat—driven by drums, gaitas, and flutes. It’s the kind of sound that gets into your soul and makes your feet move all on their own.
Champeta
Born right here in Cartagena, champeta is an urban, vibrant rhythm that mixes African beats with Caribbean and modern sounds. If you’re out partying in Getsemaní or hitting up a classic local club, you’re bound to hear it. Champeta is loud, proud, and full of Afro-Colombian flavor—pure energy on the dance floor.
Vallenato
Even though it comes from deeper inland in the Caribbean region, vallenato is also a big deal in Cartagena. With its accordion, caja, and guacharaca, it tells heartfelt stories about everyday life and love. It’s romantic, nostalgic, and perfect for those late-night singalongs with a cold drink in hand.
Discover with us some of the most famous music festivals celebrated here
Cartagena has traditionally been an important musical hub of the Colombian Caribbean, home to artists who have carried Caribbean sounds and rhythms both nationally and internationally. The city remains a cultural epicenter where major music festivals bring together local and international artists. Here are some of them:
Caribbean Music Festival
This festival celebrates the region’s musical diversity with rhythms such as champeta, reggae, calypso, and cumbia. It is held every year between June and July, bringing together artists from across the Caribbean basin.
Cartagena International Music Festival
Celebrated in January, this festival focuses on classical and academic music. It has been a platform for world-class symphonic artists and takes place in heritage venues such as the Adolfo Mejía Theater and several churches in the Historic Center.
Palenque Drum Festival
In San Basilio de Palenque, just 50 minutes from Cartagena, the Palenque Drum Festival is held to honor African music, drums, bullerengue, and oral tradition. Many Cartagena musicians either participate in or draw inspiration from this tradition.
Famous Artists and Musicians from the Colombian Caribbean
Joe Arroyo:
He is considered one of the greatest exponents of salsa and Colombian tropical music. His biggest hits include La rebelión, Tal para cual, and En Barranquilla me quedo, among others. Without a doubt, he is one of the most representative artists of the Caribbean region.
Totó la Momposina:
Known for songs like Prende la vela and El pescador, she is an iconic figure of traditional Colombian Caribbean music. Her repertoire combines rhythms such as cumbia, bullerengue, and chalupa.
Petrona Martínez:
Known as the Queen of Bullerengue, she was born in San Basilio de Palenque, a town near Cartagena, and is considered one of the most authentic voices of Colombian Caribbean folklore. Her influence in the region has been fundamental. We recommend listening to Las penas alegres and La vida vale la pena.
Mr. Black, “El Presidente de la Champeta”:
One of the leading exponents of champeta. Songs like El Serrucho, Bandida, and Tú me partiste el corazón (remix with Maluma) have taken him to international recognition.
Kevin Flórez:
Known as the King of Urban Champeta, Kevin Flórez has modernized the genre by integrating more urban sounds without losing its Caribbean essence. Hits like La invité a bailar and Con ella me gusta will have you dancing all night in Cartagena’s iconic clubs.
Lilibeth Llerena:
An emerging female voice who has fused champeta with pop. She is one of many women seeking to break paradigms and carve a path in a genre historically dominated by men.
Maía:
Although many associate her with Latin pop, Maía has roots in Cartagena. Her career has been marked by ballads and fusions that include Caribbean influences. Recommended songs: Ingenuidad, Niña bonita, and Se me acabó el amor—perfect for dancing, singing, and even shedding a tear.
Iconic Songs Born in Cartagena
Get ready for your trip to Cartagena and take a look at the songs you’ll definitely dance to at the city’s clubs, or hear playing on every corner of “La Heroica.”
Champeta (Local Genre)
El Tiburón – El Afinaíto
El estuche de Palo – Mr. Black “El Presidente”
La Novela – Kevin Flórez
Urban Reggaetón
OHNANA – Kapo
La Plena – W Sound, Beéle & Ovy on the Drums
Verano Rosa – Karol G & Feid
Classic Salsa
La Rebelión – Joe Arroyo (a true Cartagena anthem)
Quimbara – Celia Cruz
Tal para cual – Joe Arroyo
Music Venues and Spaces in Cartagena
Bazurto Social Club
Located in Getsemaní, this is a spot where music, tradition, and great food come together for a truly unique experience. Live music, local bands, and carefully selected sounds ranging from salsa brava, boogaloo, reggae, cumbia, porro, champeta, hip hop, and dancehall.
Getsemaní
This neighborhood is home to bars, cultural houses, and live music performances, where you can hear everything from jazz to Afro-Colombian sounds.
Café Havana
A legendary venue in Getsemaní where champeta blends with salsa and other Caribbean rhythms. One of the most iconic nightlife spots in Cartagena, it’s famous for its Cuban cocktails and live music—definitely a must on your checklist.
Plaza de la Trinidad
Street musicians, drums, freestyle sessions, and spontaneous dances—this square embodies the free musical spirit of the city. It’s the cultural and social epicenter of the neighborhood, where every night locals and tourists gather to enjoy Cartagena’s vibrant nightlife.
The plaza is full of food vendors, colorful buildings, and striking murals that adorn the streets. Visitors can immerse themselves in local culture by listening to champeta, watching street performers dance for tips, and seeing children play around the church steps.
Cartagena’s Musical Identity
Music in Cartagena is not just entertainment—it’s a living expression of Afro-Caribbean identity, colonial legacy, and cultural resistance. From gaitas (traditional flutes) to digital beats, there’s a constant evolution that never forgets its roots.
Champeta, for instance, has been reclaimed as intangible cultural heritage of the city. What was once marginalized is now a source of pride.
Young Cartageneros are blending genres, producing in home studios, filming music videos with their phones, and sharing their creations on social media. There’s an alternative movement aiming to be heard beyond the neighborhood.
Cartagena has everything to become a true musical capital of the Caribbean. Its diversity, African roots, closeness to Palenque, urban energy, and musicians trained both on the streets and in academies make the city a constant sound laboratory.
Music in Cartagena is a multisensory experience. It’s seeing a child playing drums on a corner in Getsemaní, dancing champeta on the sand at Playa Blanca, listening to jazz in a colonial church, or being moved by a cumbia in a procession.
Cartagena sings, sounds, vibrates. And if you’re lucky enough to visit, let yourself be carried away by its rhythm… because here, even the stones have their own beat.
If you want to know more about Cartagena, stay tuned to La Carta Blog.
