Planning a trip to Central America and looking for some awesome music festivals to attend during your travels? Well, you’re in luck, because I’m here to help! A few years back, I did a backpacking trip through Costa Rica & Panama, and I completely fell in love with this corner of the world!
As an avid travel and music festival addict, I wanted to do some research and discover other music festivals in Central America. While it’s definitely not the most popular area for destination festivals, there are still some pretty epic ones to add to your travel and festival bucket lists!
So I’ve compiled these 8 music festivals in Central America (which are spread around Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala, and Nicaragua.) Take a read through the list, watch some of the after-movies, and start planning your next trip to Central America!
1) BPM Festival
Credit: Alive Coverage
When: January 24-28, 2024
Where: Tamarindo, Costa Rica
A beach town located along Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, Tamarindo is considered the hidden gem of Central America approximately one hour from Liberia International Airport (LIR). Boasting world-renowned surf, an abundance of lush green jungle, breathtaking beaches, and plenty of eco-tourism, attendees will have the opportunity to begin the new year surrounded by stunning Costa Rican scenery to the beat of world-class underground talent.”
![BPM Costa Rica 2023 - Day 5 Recap [Interview: Joseph Capriati, Carlo Lio]](https://www.jonesaroundtheworld.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-youtube-lyte/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FcCkWk9QRNBQ%2F0.jpg)
2) Envision Festival
Credit: Eric Allen Photography
When: March 4-11, 2024
Where: Uvita, Costa Rica (4 hour drive from San Jose)
A Transformational Music Festival in Paradise…WHERE THE OCEAN MEETS THE JUNGLE
So I had the pleasure of attending Envision a couple of years ago, and I’ve gotta say that I was completely blown away! It’s one of the best and most unique destination festivals I’ve attended in my life, and think it’s definitely worth the trip down to Costa Rica!
Read: 9 Reasons Why Envision Festival in Costa Rica Will Blow Your Mind
“As a celebration dedicated to awakening our human potential, Envision Festival provides a platform for different cultures to collide harmoniously in regenerative community. Our aim is to inspire one another through the collective participation in art, spirituality, yoga, music, dance, performance, education, regenerative strategies and our fundamental connection with nature. We’d love to share this experience with you.”
3) Tribal Gathering Panama
When: March 9-25, 2024
Where: Hippie Beach, Panama
https://www.tribalgathering.com/
“We are a Music Festival that unites Indigenous Tribes, Artists, Theater Performances, DJs and Music Producers in a culturally diverse environment full of sharing, wellness, ceremonies and much more. Join the next Tribal Gathering edition on March 9-25, 2024!”
Sounds pretty epic, right? If you’re planning on attending, I’d suggest taking a read through one of my best friend’s articles, “Tribal Gathering Festival Review + Travel Guide” as it’s filled with pretty much everything you’ll need to know!
“Woah man, where do I even begin with Tribal Gathering? This festival, or should I say… more of an experience, more of a temporary beachside camping community in the jungle with a thousand like-minded and inclusive individuals, was so unique. It was unlike any festival I have experienced before. The entire duration of the gathering is 18 days – literally almost three weeks of camping in a remote Caribbean beachside jungle in Panama.”
4) Ocaso Music Festival
Credit: Pablo Murillo
When: January 4-8, 2024
Where: Tamarindo, Costa Rica
The Best Underground Music Festival in Central America
For fans of house & techno…this is simply a no-brainer! While it’s one of the newest music festivals on the list, the 2020 Line-up is truly stacked with techno artists like Maceo Plex, Seth Troxler, Ame, Shiba San, Maetrik, and many more! This 5-Day Festival will return to its coastal home of Tamarindo Playa for world-class music in some of the scene’s most breathtaking locales!
“During the day, the cultural hotbed of Tamarindo Playa will offer its authentic mix of adventure and rich cultural escape where attendees can find themselves snorkeling the breathtaking coral reefs, scuba diving with underwater wildlife, surfing Costa Rica’s world-renowned breaks, ATV touring, zip-lining through gorgeous jungles, and hiking lush nature trails. For those traveling with an aim to relax, attendees are welcomed to indulge in the local cuisine, bars, spas and shopping. And of course as night rolls in the party begins and the festival takes over Tamarindo’s picturesque, oceanfront venues with its international musical programming.
Through its three year introduction to the global house and techno community. Ocaso has asserted itself as an event to watch and a flagship for the under-exposed Costa Rican music scene. With its most impressive edition yet on the horizon this budding exposé of the sights and sounds of Central American is set to transform the beachside oasis of Tamarindo into a prime destination for the global party-elite.
5) Empire Music Festival
Photo via Facebook
When: April 26-27, 2024
Where: El Jocotillo, Guatemala
https://www.empiremusicfestival.com/
EMPIRE has quickly risen to become Guatemala’s Premier Electronic Music Festival!
This two-day mega rave is complete with a world-class line-up, quality campsite, and massively impressive production! It’s one of the largest multi-genre festivals in the entire region complete with four epic stages, immersive experiences, gorgeous art installations, and so much more!
Guatemala is also an undeniably magical country to visit, so there’s no better time to plan a trip than to experience the amazing Empire Music Festival!
6) Cosmic Convergence
When: TBC, 2024
Where: Lake Atitlan, Guatemala
https://www.cosmicconvergencefestival.org/
“Cosmic Convergence Festival is a 4-day gathering, celebrating Mayan culture and conscious living! The festival will host a diverse array of music, performances, workshops, art installations, local foods, healing, ancient Mayan traditions, ecological and social impact activities, in one of the most breathtaking landscapes, Lake Atitlan, Guatemala.”
I’ve heard incredible reviews about this festival, and a few of my friends actually are close with the founder, which they all say nothing but amazing things about! If you’re planning on spending New Years Eve while traveling through Central America, I’d definitely recommend heading to the gorgeous Lake Atitlan for an unforgettable festival experience!
Is a transformative cultural initiative designed to leave a positive social and local impact. The festival supports different artists, organizations and community projects, encouraging a platform between cultures, Individuals and social impact projects.
7) Unity Space Festival
When: February 13-18, 2024
Where: Lake Atitlan, Guatemala
“Unity Space Festival is an all inclusive festival embracing all ethnicities, communities, age groups, gender and professional background. It is a community festival for the community of Lake Atitlán and beyond.”
8) Meeting of the Mayans Festival
When: January 19-February 3, 2024
Where: Various – Belize, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, Panama and Costa Rica!
https://meetingofthemayans.com
AN EXPEDITION OF TRULY EPIC PROPORTIONS!
“ESCAPE THE EVERYDAY AND JOIN US ON THE WINTER ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME!
Choose a favorite week, try a different leg each year, or join us for the entire expedition..travel is more fun with friends!”
Am I missing any awesome music festivals in Central America?
Music festivals have been growing in popularity like crazy in the last few years, so if you’ve discovered some hidden gems or smaller boutique festivals/ parties to attend while Central America – please do let me know! I’d love to keep this article as up to date as possible!
I’m planning on spending a good amount of time in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Guatemala in the next few years, and can’t wait to check out all of these festivals when I get the chance!
Credit: JB Photo at Envision Festival Costa Rica
Looking for more international music festivals…?
My travel blog is filled with articles just like this in almost every corner of the globe, and I’ve spent almost an entire decade traveling the world and partying at some of the biggest and best music festivals! I’d love for you to take a look through a few more of my favorite posts below, and please do reach out and let me know if you’ve got any festival recommendations!
- Top 50 Music Festivals in the U.S.A | US Festival Bucket List
- The 30 Best Music Festivals in Europe in 2020
- The 20 Best EDM / Electronic Music Festivals in the U.S.A
- Top 20 Music Festivals in South America To Experience Before You Die
- 37 California Music Festivals To Keep You Dancing All Year Long
- Top 20 Canada Music Festivals To Experience Before You Die
- Top 25 Music Festivals in Asia To Experience Before You Die
- 30 Music Festivals in Australia To Experience Before You Die
- Top 14 Music Festivals in Sydney, Australia
- The Top 30 Music Festivals in Melbourne, Australia
- 12 Amazing Music Festivals in South-East Asia To Experience Before You Die
Kairos Festival Will be doing their second festival in Cascata lodge Honduras. 1 and 2 of March 2019, you will definitely like this festival.
Party Monsters Festival!! This would be the 5th edition in San Salvador, Oct. 27 2018!
Rajatuca underground festival. Dec 21-22 . Isletas de Granada. Nicaragua
Has anyone a clue if there is a festival around end of Oct/beginning Nov 2023? Love, Alex