Max Goldenberg, Odilón Juárez & Malpaís

Música costarricense refers to the constellation of folk, popular, and art-music practices from Costa Rica, unified by distinctive marimba-led dance traditions from the Pacific (Guanacaste), Afro–Caribbean calypso and reggae from Limón, and salon-derived genres (waltz, pasillo, bolero) that took root nationwide. At its core are rural festivities powered by marimba ensembles and cimarrona (brass-and-percussion town bands), whose upbeat rhythms animate parades, mascaradas, and patron-saint celebrations. Along the Caribbean coast, English- and Creole-lyric calypso and later reggae and ska created a parallel, groove-forward identity. Since the late 20th century, rock en español, jazz fusions, singer‑songwriters, and indie scenes have woven these roots with global styles, producing a modern “tico” sound that is both cosmopolitan and unmistakably local.