En Tu Salsa

Cartagena has always been deeply connected to music, influenced by African, Cuban, and Caribbean rhythms such as son, guaguancó, and mambo. During the 1950s and 1960s, sailors and traders brought records from Cuba, Puerto Rico, and New York, fueling the spread of salsa throughout the city. Local radio stations began playing hits from Celia Cruz, Benny Moré, and La Sonora Matancera, marking the beginning of a new musical era.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Cartagena experienced the salsa explosion, with legendary orchestras like Fania All-Stars, Rubén Blades, Héctor Lavoe, and Willie Colón rising to fame. Salsa became an essential part of the city's cultural identity, with neighborhoods like Blas de Lezo emerging as hubs of street salsa, where powerful picós (large sound systems) blasted the biggest hits of the time.

Today, Cartagena remains a salsa capital, blending classic salsa with Cuban timba, champeta, and reggaeton. In this experience, you’ll explore three iconic salsa bars in Blas de Lezo, each offering a unique take on this vibrant rhythm:

El Coreano – A classic, traditional bar where you can dance with the locals and experience salsa in its purest form.

The York – A more sophisticated venue where you can appreciate the fusion of modern rhythms and salsa mixes.

Vueltabajero – An iconic spot to enjoy live salsa bands, bringing the rhythm and energy of Cartagena’s nightlife to life.

Join us on this unforgettable journey through the heart of Cartagena’s salsa scene, where music, dance, and culture come together in perfect harmony.

Our experiences at Cartagena Insider always include a donation to Femcolombia, a non-profit organization that has supported Afro-descendant and Indigenous communities in their fight for land rights for years.