Central America is a region that includes Costa Rica, El Salvador, Belize, Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala. Music is dominated by the popular Latin musical trends, including salsa, cumbia, mariachi, reggae, calypso and nueva canción. The countries of Central America have produced their own distinct forms of these genres, including Salvadoran calypso and Panamanian salsa . The most well-known form of Central American popular music is punta, a style innovated by the syncretic Garifunas who live across the region, especially in Honduras and Belize. The marimba, a type of xylophone, is perhaps the most important folk instrument of Central America, and it is widespread throughout the region.

Belize

Main article: Music of Belize

Aside from having the most active Garifuna music scene, especially the field of punta, Belize is also known for brukdown, a popular genre that developed in the mining camps in the interior of the country.

Costa Rica

Main article: Music of Costa Rica

The Punto Guanacaste is the official national dance of Costa Rica, a country perhaps best known for its own distinct variety of popular calypso music.

El Salvador

Main article: Music of El Salvador

El Salvador has participated in many Latin musical trends, such as cumbia, a genre more closely associated with Colombia but which has a unique sound in El Salvador. The xuc was decreed the national dance in the 1950s, though it was not found throughout the country at the time.

Guatemala

Main article: Music of Guatemala

Guatemala, like its neighbors, is well-known for the national instrument, the marimba. Guatemalan traditions are much more closely based on the instrument, and on ancient Mayan music, than other Central American countries.

Honduras

Main article: Music of Honduras

Honduras is known for Garifuna music as well as the well-preserved traditions of the Lenca people.

Nicaragua

Main article: Music of Nicaragua

Nicaraguan music is traditionally marimba-based, and includes the well-known dance music of the Palo de Mayo festival, which is held every May.

Panama

Main article: Music of Panama

The mejorana , an instrument similar to a guitar, is a popular instrument unique to Panama. The country is also known for the tamborito folk dance and the many international stars of Panamanian salsa and Panamanian cumbia .