Festival de Calypso Cahuita

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Arts & CultureCahuita
DatesDates TBA · Usually MayCheck locally before booking
DurationAnnualEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forPerformance, exhibitionsBilled as the largest calypso festival in
Language["es"]Currency: CRC
CategoryArts & CultureFestival type
The story

Festival de Calypso Cahuita in Cahuita

Festival Internacional de Calypso Walter Ferguson, held in Cahuita each July, honors the Costa Rican Caribbean coast's own calypso songwriter, who wrote over a hundred songs before his death in 2023 at 104, with live performances, film forums, lecture cycles and music workshops built around a genre brought to the coast by Caribbean immigrants in the late 1800s.

Cahuita's calypso festival is billed as the largest calypso gathering in Central America, staged in honor of Walter Ferguson, the Costa Rican Caribbean coast's own calypso songwriter who was still performing into his late nineties before his death in 2023 at age 104.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Billed as the largest calypso festival in Central America, this event is anchored to a single named figure, Walter Ferguson, whose more than one hundred songs, including Cabin in the Wata and Callaloo, documented daily life on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast in a musical form distinct from calypso as performed elsewhere

02

The mystery stays covered

The festival includes the inauguration of a dedicated House of Culture and Calypso in Cahuita, giving it an archival and educational function, film forums and lecture cycles, beyond a standard concert lineup

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

brought to Costa Rica's Caribbean coast by Trinidadian and other Caribbean immigrants in the late nineteenth century

Water and renewal

Living ritual

developed its own regional character there

The sacred route

Living ritual

documented in the songbook of Walter Ferguson

The local code

Living ritual

whose work anchors this festival's live performances

Tradition 5

Living ritual

film forums and educational programming

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually May

Getting around

Stay close enough to the part of Cahuita you will actually use, especially if the event runs late.

What to wear

Light, breathable clothing suits Cahuita's tropical humidity; a rain layer is worth carrying even outside the wettest months, and sandals or light shoes work for the coastal town's casual...

Safety

Keep valuables light, follow local instructions, and watch how residents use the space before joining in.

Where to stay

Base yourself where the last trip of the day stays easy, especially if Festival de Calypso Cahuita runs late.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

["es"] · CRC

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map9.78 N, 82.74 WOpen in Google Maps

Cahuita, Limon, Costa Rica

Nearest airportLIO — Limón
TransportStay close enough to the part of Cahuita you will actually use, especially if the event runs late.
Stay areaBase yourself where the last trip of the day stays easy, especially if Festival de Calypso Cahuita runs late.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Cahuita via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Cahuita, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for May.Compare faresFestival gearLight, breathable clothing suits Cahuita's tropical humidity; a rain layer is worth carrying even outside the wettest months, and sandals or light shoes work for the coastal town's casual, sometimes sandy walking surfaces.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Costa Rica and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Festival de Calypso Cahuita?

Festival de Calypso Cahuita is listed for May. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Festival de Calypso Cahuita take place?

The festival is listed in Cahuita, Costa Rica. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Annual is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Cahuita, Limon, Costa Rica

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLadminsi.cultura.cr
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually May
Source statusOfficial source linked
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