The mix of cultures in this country has given rise to some 150 genres of music, the most prominent of which are cumbia (popular among the Afro-Colombians of the Caribbean coast), currulao (of Afro-Colombians on the country's other coast, on the Pacific Ocean), joropo (in the northeastern Orinoco/Llanos Orientales region), and vallenanto (also from the northeastern zone of the Caribbean coast region). In addition, Caribbean salsa has become widespread - and in one city, Cali, it's become so firmly established that this has come to be considered the world capital of salsa.

These rhythms also play a big part in Colombia's various festivals, such as the Carnaval de Negros y Blancos (Black and Whites' Carnaval) held 2-7 January in the southern, Andean valley city of Pasto; the Fiesta de San Francisco de Asís in the western town of Quibdó (20 September to 5 October); and the most reknowned of all, the Carnaval de Barranquilla, in the Caribbean-coast city of the same name, held in February or March (in 2026, 14-17 February).

Read more in our post 5 Reasons Why Colombia Is One of the World´s Most Appealing Destinations.