Latin America is heaven for music lovers. Each region and nation has its own unique musical traditions, of course. But music lovers looking for international sounds will find a wide variety of annual music festivals in Latin America as well, from Mexico to Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, from Panama south to Colombia, Chile and Argentina. Here are just a few of the places to go in Latin America every year to find new beats (you can find some of the best deals on airfares and hotels for any of these events by using LatinFlyer’s own booking feature right on this page — it compares more than a dozen of the top travel sites to get you the best Latin America travel deals).
Festival Mundial de Salsa (World Salsa Festival), Cali, Colombia (September 12-18, 2016). Salsa is a Latin musical and dance style that’s enjoyed in many different countries, but for a big-scale dose, head to Colombia, where this annual event attracts thousands of dancers and musicians.
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Groovefest, Puerto Plata (September 4-11, 2016): Now in its 4th year, Groovefest provides an all-inclusive party experience in the Dominican Republic, with an emphasis on house and techno. This year the event moves to a new venue: Barceló Bávaro Beach, an adults-only, all-inclusive beach resort in Punta Cana. Featured performers this year include Derrick Carter, Kenny Dope, DJ Pierre, Kidnap Kid, Sam Divine and Dante Sanderson.
Panama Jazz Festival (January 10-14, 2017): This celebration of all things jazz, which takes place in Panama, includes live performances, clinics and meetings, as well as a concert for up to 20,000 at the Ciudad del Saber.
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Day After Festival, Panama City (January 2017): If jazz isn’t your thing and you still want to move to the music in Panama, consider a visit to the Day After Festival, which focuses on importing some of the biggest and best names in electronic dance music to the this Central American nation.
Puerto Rico Heineken JazzFest, San Juan (March 2017): One of the largest jazz festivals in the Caribbean, this event in Puerto Rico attracts big-name musicians from the USA and elsewhere.
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Lollapalooza Chile, Santiago (March 2017): This annual international music festival has grown big and global over the years, and takes place in a variety of countries — including Chile, Argentina and Brazil; you’ll see some of the same performers making the rounds on this circuit. The Chile edition takes place in Parque O’Higgins in Santiago, with a variety of international rock, heavy metal, punk, hip hop and EDM bands. The 2017 lineup hasn’t been announced yet, but 2016 included Eminem, Florence + The Machine and Mumford & Sons.
Lollapalooza Argentina, Buenos Aires (March 2017): This year’s lineup at the Argentina edition of Lollapalooza included Eminem, Florence + The Machine, Mumford & Sons — pretty much the same as the event in Santiago de Chile. Expect similar repetition for the 2017 edition, and choose the destination you’d most prefer for your music-themed vacation.
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Lollapalooza Brasil, Sao Paulo (March 2017): Yep, this Brazil edition of the popular music festival usually carries pretty much the same lineup as in Santiago y Buenos Aires (see above).
Vive Latino, Mexico City (April 2017): This Latin American cultural festival, which takes place in Mexico‘s capital, includes big-name Mexican singers and bands, including rock and alternative rock, as well as some comedy performances.
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Ultra is billed as the “world’s premiere electronic music festival.” Host venues in Latin America include Buenos Aires (February 2017), Santiago de Chile (October) and Rio de Janeiro (see separate listing below for details).
Ultra Brasil, Rio de Janeiro (October 14-15, 2016): This Brazil music festival, which takes place in Flamengo Park, has confirmed headliners including Dutch prodigy, Martin Garrix and ULTRA legend Carl Cox. Two-day weekend tickets start at 679 Brazilian reais for general admission and 1,649 for VIP. Half-price weekend tickets, available exclusively to Brazilian citizens, are cheaper. You can buy packages on the site that include hotels (or use LatinFlyer’s own booking engine for even better deals).