Combo: Loiza, Cultue, Art And Bomba Dance Class On The Beach

Our trip leader was so nice welcome and knowledgeable. He was such a good tour guide!! He was also very communicative.

Wonderful experience! Our tour guide Rolando was punctual and he was thorough in telling us about the history of Loiza.

Our tour guide Abigael was very nice and picked us up from our hotel. We were surprised when she picked us up in her personal vehicle since the tour advertised on board restroom. However, she did mention that there were plenty of restroom stops along the way. (Wish we had known this beforehand prior to paying for an additional 2 spots in order to meet the minimum 5 people requirement). Abigael was a very safe driver and took us to visit the cave as advertised in the trip package and answered our questions. Then, she proceeded to take us to Samuel Lind’s home art studio which is an artist’s dream. Samuel’s home art studio is filled with tons of artwork (paintings and sculptures) and character. All questions were welcomed and answered. Next, we were taken to Rio Grand Beach where we had an hour to eat at the local restaurant but instead was mesmerized by the exquisite beauty of the beach. Before we knew it, it was time to listen to a local Vejigante Mask maker describe his process for making his masks from coconuts and offered the ones he showed us for sale. Unfortunately, we did not have enough room in our luggage to make a purchase. Then, we were whisked into an area which was a very short distance from the Vejigante Mask presenter to Shayla / Sheila who was waiting for us along with a couple of drummers and a young lady. We were introduced to Bomba’s history, call and response, instrumentation, styles, and steps. We had a blast! Loiza is one of Puerto Rico’s BEST GEMS! So, imagine me and my family’s disappointment when looking for a (small) souvenir containing the town’s name, none could be found. Those souvenirs with a map of Puerto Rico that we saw at the airport and surrounding the hotel areas did not have Loiza on it. In fact, at the airport’s souvenir shop, I was told the only thing representing Loiza were the large sculptures on display. Loiza is a town rich in history and community with what might be the very best beaches in all of Puerto Rico! So, I can only wonder why this town is not truly represented in the souvenir shops. I’m grateful there are tours such as Echoes of Loiza to teach us about the richness of the African influenced puerto rican culture and folklore. Thankfully, we have photos that Abigael was gracious enough to take of us along with our own photos, Lind’s artwork, and beautiful memories to serve as our souvenirs of this beautiful and enchanting place. We would love to come back in the near future to explore this town more. Wepa!

Loiza is such a lovely place, very local with lots of insides. It can provide very good cultural background, kind-hearted people!

5 from 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Edwin was the best Tour- Guide I ever had! He is so helpful, friendly, welcoming and understanding! I would recommend it 100%! Edwin is Puerto Rican: so it was even better to letter about History from someone who really understands the Puerto Rican perspective and who is proud to be a Puerto Rican! I saw incredibly much: starting from Culture, to Nature, over History to Small Towns and met a lot of People and Artists. I learned incredibly much ( about Old San Juan; Loíza; “ Los Vejigantes“ and more) ! I made so many memories and had an incredible experience! Even with Weather Changes Edwin is totally understanding and flexible and is trying to make the best out of this trip! 💃🏽🎶🪝🏝️⛰️🌅🕌 🇵🇷 Very happy! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The excursion was amazing! Meeting local people while dancing bomba and looking at puerto rican art! Loíza was such a nice place to visit and the masks, the art and the dance were so interesting. Without Edwin, I wouldn’t have experienced that!! Thank you for that amazing tour.

This adventure was one of my best. I laugh, I cried, I loved, during all the weekend. I'm going home with a bracelet that will bring me luck and remind me of all those wonderful memories. Thank you to our guide Edwin for showing us this Amazing island and all her secrets UNFORGETTABLE

The Bomba dance lesson was so fun and unforgettable. The learning about the cultural art of this town with coconut masks And an artist where we could visit his private house with all of his art was really impressive. I had really much fun and loved everything about this trip. It felt original. I recommend that tour 100%.

I believe the best way to experience a place is through their art and culture. If you agree, this is the TOUR FOR YOU! As an intentional tourist, I always look for a way to support local businesses and the local community. This tour allowed me to do just that! Edwin was a wonderful tour guide who really captured the heart and soul of Loiza by taking us to meet some AMAZING afro-puerto rican artists and local spots. Loíza is distinctly Afro-Puerto Rican, and that’s what sets the town, located at the northeast corner of the island, apart from other areas in Puerto Rico. Our first stop was a town center in Loiza where they host different community events. Edwin shared the history of the town that was also depicted in various murals in the space. We also got to learn about the history of the indigenous folks of the island. The Taino people. We were able to view some artifacts, a ceiba tree and limestone cave! Our second stop was Estudio de Arte Samuel Lind. We got to meet Samuel, see his art studio and talk about his creative process. As an artist myself, this experience was PRICELESS. We then met a super talented artist who makes Vejigante masks. He shared the history of the mask and its importance to the people of Loiza. We then took a Bomba dance class with a beautiful dancer named Sheila. She shared the history of the dance and its connection to the culture and tradition of Loiza. Bomba dance is an empowering dance form where you get to move to your own beat because the drummer will in fact follow your lead. The class left me feeling uplifted, joyful and connected to everyone who participated in the class. It was a truly special experience. We lastly went to a restaurant and had dinner at sunset. The food was DELICIOUS and I am still thinking about it to this day. Spending the day in Loiza was the highlight of my trip to Puerto Rico. I 10/10 recommend choosing this tour if you want to experience a unique part of the island. Edwin even took pictures during the various experiences which left us with so many special moments that we couldn't have captured ourselves.

The most beautiful beach I’ve ever saw. I’m so glad to had this experience the chance to see all these beautiful thinfgs. I could dive into an amazing culture. It really gives me happiness

The dancing was so much fun!! Feel the rhythm and follow your heart!! After the first lesson, we were dancing with the traditional dress.

The experience was incredible! Edwin KNOWS and LOVES the history of his island. Ask him anything and he will know the answer! I loved the bomba dancing and how similar it is to some African dances! Book your trip right now !

An amazing way to get to know the people and the town Loiza. Edwin as a guide is very cunning and engaged in the way he tells and shows you many interesting places

Learning about the history and rich culture of Peurto Rico was amazing! Getting to see historic sights and meeting the locals and getting a chance to interact and see the history of Puerto Rico was mind blowing! The views were spectacular and I really enjoyed Puerto Rico. Would definitely do it again!

I will be honest I’m not the greatest dancer but the teacher could even get me to dance. She was awesome! So full of energy and the best dancer! What is this a beautiful culture. The music, the energy and the beautiful dances. It was magnificent!

So precious experience for your heart and soul. We visited so many beautiful and interesting places

It has been a wonderful experience! They give you a taste of the coulture of the dance and they make you enjoy that very much. And then the masks…be ready to fall in love!!

The experience was super unique and emotional! We were able to listen to native Puerto Ricans and speak with them. To dance at the beach and listen to their beautiful drums was just awesome and a once in a lifetime experience! Highly recommended for everyone who wants to feel the spirit of the island, the people and the ocean.

I went to Ponce with We Take You, the route from San Juan to Ponce is beautiful. The Ponce tour was super comfortable, neither too much nor too little. The tour guide was very professional and attentive. The car was comfortable, clean and appropriate.

Excellent adventure and top quality service. I recommend this company, they are serious, responsible and very friendly

This tour was amazing and was a great way to immerse myself in the culture while also supporting local groups and people. The highlight of the tour for me was the bomba lesson and visit to Samuel Lind's art studio. All the people we met during the day were truly knowledgeable in the culture and history of Loiza. I am grateful to learn about this culture and history from those that are working to keep the culture alive today. I highly recommend this tour for anyone visiting Puerto Rico that wants to learn the true culture and history of the island and wants to explore outside of San Juan. The tour guide and driver were amazing and made sure we were comfortable and on schedule the entire day. They were very knowledgeable as well.