To know Puerto Rico is to love it, and there’s so much to love about it. From the gorgeous beaches to the colorful colonial buildings in Old San Juan and the culinary scene bursting with flavors, the Isla del Encanto is a cultural mosaic in the heart of the Caribbean with a unique story to tell. But just as notable are the sounds that fill the air and reverberate through your soul.
Music has always played an important historic role in Puerto Rico, and its musical heritage comes alive in every corner. The rhythms of yesterday and today —bomba, plena, salsa, and, of course, reggaeton—are huge cultural markers inextricably linked to the island’s ancestry. Listening to the music of Puerto Rico while you’re there provokes a sense of connection and gives you a more profound appreciation for all things Boricua.
Discover Puerto Rico, the island’s official Destination Marketing Organization, recently brought Remezcla along to some of the best restaurants and nightlife in San Juan in honor of Premios Juventud’s 20th anniversary. Whether it’s your first time in PR or you’ve lost count of how many times you’ve been there, there is always something new to experience. No visit is complete without experiencing the diverse live music there is to offer. It would be almost impossible to compile every single hot spot, but here are three things music lovers must do for their next trip to Puerto Rico.
Dance The Night Away In La Placita
Just a few miles east of San Juan, we drove into the heart of Santurce, a neighborhood known for its art scene, to visit La Placita. It’s a popular market square that transforms into an epic block party after sunset. It’s a lively atmosphere full of lights, music, bars, clubs, and restaurants everywhere you turn. The best part? You weren’t confined to the walls of one particular spot to have a good time.
Locals and tourists alike were turning up to early aughts reggaeton on one corner and showing off their best salsa steps on the other side of the avenue. You can almost feel as if you’re part of the island’s heartbeat while you dance on the street and the soft summer breeze moves along with you. That experience quickly became a core memory for this writer.
Head Down To Parque de Bombas In Ponce
People from Ponce will waste no time telling you that they’re from Ponce, and it’s easy to see why they take pride in it. Puerto Rico’s second-largest city is located on the most southern tip of the island and was called “home” by salsa legends like Hector Lavoe, Cheo Feliciano, and Pete “El Conde” Rodriguez.
The drive from San Juan to Ponce took about an hour and a half and we had some of the most stunning scenic views of mountains and terrain. As soon as we arrived, we grabbed some coffee at a nearby cafe and then walked over to our first stop: the iconic Parque de Bombas.
The historic former firehouse, infamous for its eye-popping red and black stripes, is a symbol of the city’s artistic spirit. Although the building is preserved as a museum, they regularly host concerts just outside of the entrance on Sunday nights. Nearby there are plenty of cafes, restaurants, shops, and a plethora of museums, all within walking distance.
Visit Casa Histórica De La Música In Cayey
After touring through Ponce, we drove an hour northeast to make a pit stop in Cayey to visit the Casa Histórica De La Música. The house had passed through different owners over the years before being officially acquired by the municipality of Cayey in 2003. Since then it has been converted into a communal music space that hosts concerts and offers music lessons to citizens of Cayey.
Our tour guide Andres gave us a tour of the cultural space and showed us a variety of relics, instruments, and carefully maintained antique radio equipment that showed a different side of Puerto Rico’s musical ancestry. It was so easy to get swept away in the sounds of acoustic guitars playing at the entrance through the courtyard. The music house also overlooks a public plaza with an end stage where concerts are held.
Travel and accommodations were provided to the author by Discover Puerto Rico for the purpose of writing this story.