Cartagena Dance Scene: Champeta, Salsa, and Traditional Colombian Dances

Girl night out

If you love music and dancing, you will absolutely enjoy Cartagena. I was told that many Colombians travel to Cartagena specifically to party. After experiencing the nightlife and dance scene myself, I completely understand why.

Cartagena is the birthplace of Champeta, a Colombian dance and music style deeply rooted in Congolese music, particularly Soukous. Champeta musicians use the same instruments as Soukous artists, so when you hear it, you can immediately tell where the influence comes from. At least, I could. The first time I ever saw a Champeta performance was during Shakira’s Super Bowl halftime show in 2020, and seeing it later in its city of origin made the experience even more powerful.

Shakira's champeta performance

As a dance lover, I really wanted to take a Champeta class while in Cartagena. I got incredibly lucky because the hostel (Republicà) I was staying at organized activities, and one of them was a private Champeta class. The instructor was amazing and made the learning process feel easy and accessible, even for beginners. He was also very generous and encouraging, and at the end of the class, I even got to dance a solo with him. It was such a fun and memorable experience.

Champeta performance

If you want to discover other traditional Colombian dances, you should head to the area in front of Catedral de Santa Catalina. Every evening, groups of traditional dancers gather, dressed in beautiful traditional outfits, to perform for tourists. The dancers are incredibly talented and are accompanied by live musicians. Each group takes turns performing, creating an energetic and joyful atmosphere.

Colombian dance

What fascinated me most was how similar these dances are to traditional dances from other Caribbean countries and regions, such as Guadeloupe. The movements, the music, and the long flowing skirts feel closely connected. I am convinced that these similarities exist because many of these dance traditions were created by Africans who were brought to the Caribbean coast through the transatlantic slave trade.

If you go, take the time to watch these talented Cartagenero dancers and bring some cash to tip them. This is how many of them make their living.

Now, let’s talk about salsa. If you are a salsa lover, you probably already know that Cali is considered the salsa capital of the world. That said, the entire country of Colombia vibrates to salsa, and Cartagena is no exception. While researching salsa spots, Café Havana came up repeatedly. Although they do have a live band, I wouldn’t personally recommend it. It is usually extremely crowded and largely filled with tourists.

Instead, I went to a local salsa bar with friends, a place frequented mostly by locals, and we had an amazing time. We listened to authentic salsa music, met friendly people, enjoyed cold cervezas, and actually had space to dance. We even got to practice our Spanish with locals throughout the night. It felt genuine, fun, and exactly what I was looking for. If you want to see videos of Cartagena's nightlife, go to my IG page.