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🌊 MORE THAN A FESTIVAL: A MEETING WITH THE SOUL OF THE COLOMBIAN PACIFIC

Since 2014, the Marimba & Beach Folkloric Festival has brought together music, dance, tradition, and community in a unique setting: Juanchaco and Bahía Málaga. Here, culture is lived, sung, and danced.

HISTORY & EVOLUTION

📜 OUR HISTORY, OUR JOURNEY

Since 2014, the Festival Folclórico Marimba y Playa

has been the main cultural and touristic gathering of Juanchaco and Bahía Málaga. It was born as a dream of the Fundación Cultura Ancestral to safeguard and highlight the Afro-Colombian traditions of the Southern Pacific, and today it is recognized in Buenaventura’s Master Tourism Plan.

Across more than ten editions, the festival has grown in participation, impact, and reach:

  • Gathered over 2,000 artists including musicians, dancers, and oral storytellers.
  • Organized more than 80 workshops on music, dance, gastronomy, midwifery, and viche (ancestral spirit).
  • Strengthened entrepreneurships, 90% of them led by women.
  • Directly benefited 5 ethnic communities and boosted sustainable tourism in the region.

EVOLUTION & WORK BEHIND THE FESTIVAL

More than an event, the festival is a year-round process. The organization brings together music and dance groups, independent artists, cultural managers, teachers, and communities, working on:

  • Training in cultural values and intangible heritage.
  • Spaces for reflection and dialogue on safeguarding traditions.
  • Artistic creation workshops and gatherings on traditional medicine, gastronomy, and oral tradition.
  • Actions to promote ecotourism and environmental care, including the responsible watching of humpback whales.

Nuestra Evolución

Oct
2014
2014
A DREAM IS BORN

Fundación Cultura Ancestral creates the Festival Folclórico Marimba y Playa to safeguard and showcase the cultural heritage of the Southern Pacific.

Oct
2015
2015
FIRST STEPS

The first marimba, dance, and gastronomy workshops are consolidated, strengthening community participation.

Oct
2016
2016
GROWING PARTICIPATION

Groups from more Pacific territories join, and the artistic programming on the beach expands.

Oct
2017
2017
LOCAL RECOGNITION

The festival becomes established as the most important cultural event in the Bahía Málaga coastal area.

Oct
2018
2018
SOCIAL IMPACT

Women’s participation increases, reaching 90% female leadership in the local market.

Oct
2019
2019
NATIONAL PROJECTION

Stronger presence in the media and attraction of visitors from different regions of Colombia.

Oct
2019
2019
RESILIENCE IN TIMES OF PANDEMIC

Oct
2021
2021
STRONG COMEBACK

Full reactivation of the festival: more than 4,200 attendees and workshops for children, youth, and adults.

Oct
2022
2022
TOURISM AND CULTURE UNITED

Partnerships with hotels and tour operators are strengthened, integrating cultural and ecotourism routes into the festival.

Oct
2023
2023
OFFICIAL RECOGNITION

Included in Buenaventura’s Master Tourism Plan as the district’s main cultural and tourism event.

Oct
2024
2024
ATTENDANCE RECORD

Over 5,600 visitors, 200 artists, and 80 workshops consolidate the festival as a must-attend event in the Pacific.

Oct
2024
2025
11TH EDITION & INTERNATIONAL OUTLOOK

The artistic call expands, along with strategic alliances and international promotion, bringing the Colombian Pacific to the world.

PLAY

THE HEART THAT KEEPS THE FESTIVAL ALIVE

The Marimba & Beach Folkloric Festival is made possible by a passionate team that works year-round to bring culture, tourism, and community together by the sea.

Festival Folclórico Marimba y Playa –  History, Heritage & Pacific Culture

Marina Gamboa Rentería

Founder & Legal Representative

Cultural manager and community leader. Founder of Fundación Cultura Ancestral in Juanchaco, with over 30 years dedicated to safeguarding the heritage of the Colombian Pacific.

Festival Folclórico Marimba y Playa –  History, Heritage & Pacific Culture

Natalia Conrado

Director

Coordinator of logistics, sponsorships, and strategic alliances. Ensures that each edition of the festival is impeccable and sustainable.

Festival Folclórico Marimba y Playa –  History, Heritage & Pacific Culture

Marisely Velazco

Operations & Logistics Director

Supports the connection with artists, entrepreneurs, and local leaders to strengthen the festival’s identity.

Festival Folclórico Marimba y Playa –  History, Heritage & Pacific Culture

Domilito Montaño Montaño

Tour Guide & Logistics Support

Connects visitors with the natural and cultural richness of Bahía Málaga.

Festival Folclórico Marimba y Playa –  History, Heritage & Pacific Culture

ALBERTH ANDRÉS URBANO ARBOLEDA

Board Member – Cultural Management

Captures and showcases the essence of the festival through digital content.

MORE THAN A TEAM, WE ARE A FAMILY THAT BELIEVES IN THE POWER OF CULTURE TO TRANSFORM LIVES AND COMMUNITIES.

🎯 WHAT DRIVES US

the Festival Folclórico Marimba y Playa is a living space of cultural exchange, safeguarding, and promotion of the Colombian Pacific. Our work focuses on:

Preserving Culture

We share the Pacific’s cultural heritage, recognized by UNESCO.

Sustainable Tourism

We showcase the beauty of Juanchaco, Ladrilleros, and Bahía Málaga.

LOCAL ECONOMY

We connect entrepreneurs and artists with national and international visitors.

Afro-Colombian Pride

We strengthen identity and share our legacy with the world.

Each goal comes to life through activities, workshops, and experiences that bring together culture, nature, and community development.

BE PART OF HISTORY. EXPERIENCE, SUPPORT, AND SHARE THE Festival Folclórico Marimba y Playa.

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The Festival Folclórico Marimba y Playa celebrates the music, culture, and nature of the Colombian Pacific.

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CONTACT

Juanchaco  – Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca, Colombia

📍 View on Google Maps

📧 info@festivalmarimbayplaya.org

📱 WhatsApp: (+57) 310 261 8892

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