San Fernando: The Secrets of Its Bamboo Marimba Workshops

The Sound That San Fernando Holds

If you walk through San Fernando on a Saturday afternoon, amidst the smell of coffee and the noise of the buses, you might hear a dry thud, as if someone were adjusting a piece of wood. It's not construction. It's the prelude of a bamboo marimba. In this traditional neighborhood of Cali, a few blocks from the river, there are workshops that don't appear on Google Maps and that guard a craft few know about: the carving of marimbas with Chinese bamboo and chonta palm. It's not just any instrument; it's the heart of Pacific music, and here, in San Fernando, it has been made for decades in the patios of family homes.

This article is for you who are looking for something more than a souvenir. For the luthier who wants to learn, the musician who needs an instrument with soul, or the curious person who wants to understand how bamboo becomes a voice. As of May 2026, the workshops of San Fernando are still active, resisting the noise of the city. I'm going to tell you where they are, who makes them, and what the ritual of building a bamboo marimba is like.

San Fernando: The Neighborhood That Carves the Pacific

San Fernando is not a tourist neighborhood. It's between Avenida 3N and Calle 5, with houses from the 1950s and mechanic workshops on the corners. But since the 1980s, families from Buenaventura and Tumaco settled here, bringing with them the tradition of the marimba. Instead of chonta palm wood (increasingly scarce), these artisans adapted the giant bamboo that grows in the Valle del Cauca. Thus, a brighter, drier sound was born, which today identifies many groups in the city.

The curious fact: most of these workshops don't have a sign. You find them by asking at the corner store or by following the sound of a mallet hitting a bamboo slat. There are at least five active workshops as of May 2026, and I'm going to guide you so you don't miss them.

Interview with a Master Luthier: Don Eulogio Mina

I knocked on the door of a house at Calle 4N # 35-12. Don Eulogio Mina opened the door, a 67-year-old man with calloused hands and a leather apron. He has been making marimbas for 40 years. His workshop is his garage: a workbench, a circular saw, piles of dry bamboo, and a smell of wood that sticks to your clothes.

—Chonta ran out, my friend. Bamboo sounds different, more metallic, but if you cure it well, it lasts for decades. Plus, we get it in Palmira, an hour from here.

Don Eulogio shows me a marimba he is finishing for the group "Bambazú". It has 22 slats, tuned by hand with a file. Each slat takes a day to be ready. The secret, he says, is in the drying: the bamboo must rest for six months before being played. If you rush it, it cracks.

—It depends. A 22-slat marimba, with its guadua frame, costs between 800,000 and 1,200,000 Colombian pesos (reference prices from May 2026). If you want a professional one, with 30 slats and chromatic tuning, that's 2,500,000.

Don Eulogio doesn't sell online. Only by word of mouth. He says his clients are musicians from Cali, Chocó, and even France.

Step by Step: How a Bamboo Marimba Is Carved

If you want to understand the craft, here I explain the process I saw in Don Eulogio's workshop. It's not complicated, but it requires patience and an ear.

1. Bamboo Selection

Giant bamboo (Dendrocalamus asper) aged 3 to 4 years is used. It is cut into 1.20-meter segments, only the middle part of the stalk, which is thicker. The bamboo is left to dry in the shade for six months. Don Eulogio marks it with a machete to know the cutting date.

2. Cutting the Slats

With a circular saw, the segments are split into strips 4 to 6 centimeters wide. Each strip will become a slat of the marimba. The thickness varies: the bass notes are thicker (1.5 cm), the treble notes thinner (0.8 cm).

3. Primary Tuning

With a carpenter's plane, the underside of the slat is shaved until it sounds the desired note. Don Eulogio uses an electronic tuner, but before he did it by ear with a tuning fork. The slat is struck with a rubber-covered mallet to test the pitch.

4. Hollowing

On the underside of each slat, an oblong cavity is carved with a chisel. This amplifies the sound and gives it its characteristic timbre. It is the most delicate step: if you hollow too much, the slat goes out of tune.

5. Mounting on the Frame

The slats are placed on a guadua frame, tied with cabuya (fique fiber). The marimba is organized like a keyboard: the bass notes on the left, the treble notes on the right. A 1 cm space is left between slats so they can vibrate freely.

6. Final Tuning

With a fine file, each slat is retouched until all the notes are at the correct pitch. Don Eulogio takes two days to tune a complete marimba. At the end, he plays it with a mallet made of orange wood to test the sound.

Map of Hidden Workshops in Family Homes

Here are the workshops I found. They don't have a website or a public phone number. The best way to contact them is to go in person, Monday to Friday between 9 am and 5 pm. Bring cash.

• Don Eulogio Mina's Workshop — Calle 4N # 35-12, San Fernando. Marimbas from 22 to 30 slats. Also repairs old marimbas. Prices from 800,000 COP.
• Riascos Brothers' Workshop — Carrera 3N # 38-45. Specialized in children's marimbas (12 slats) and bamboo bass drums. Open Saturdays until 2 pm.
• Casa de la Marimba de San Fernando — Calle 5N # 34-08. It's not a commercial workshop, but a cultural space where the group "Raíces del Pacífico" rehearses. Sometimes they sell used marimbas. Ask for Doña Yolanda.
• Jhon Jairo Mosquera's Workshop — Carrera 4N # 36-70, interior 2. Jhon Jairo makes bamboo marimbas with synthetic tortoiseshell inlays. His instruments are more expensive (from 1,500,000 COP) but have an impeccable finish.
• Luthería El Bambusal — Calle 3N # 37-50. A larger workshop, with two employees. They make marimbas on commission for orchestras. They take three weeks to deliver.

Tip: bring a recorder or notebook. The master luthiers are generous with their stories, but they don't like having their photos taken without permission. Ask first.

Impact on the San Fernando Music Scene

San Fernando is not just a residential neighborhood. It is a breeding ground for musicians. Groups like "Bambazú", "Cantos del Pacífico", and "Marimba Viva" rehearse in family homes and play at city events. The bamboo marimba has become a local symbol: its sound is heard at the Feria de Cali, the Petronio Álvarez Pacific Music Festival, and in street performances at the Plazoleta de San Francisco.

The economic impact is also real. According to Don Eulogio, each workshop employs two or three people from the community. Furthermore, musicians who buy here avoid importing marimbas from Mexico or Guatemala, which are more expensive and don't have the same timbre.

A fact few know: in 2024, the Mayor's Office of Cali declared San Fernando as a "Cultural District of the Marimba", although there is no plaque or signage. It's an unofficial recognition, but the luthiers celebrate it. If you want to hear a marimba live, go to Parque de San Fernando on Sundays at 4 pm. Sometimes there are open rehearsals.

How to Get There and Transportation

San Fernando is a 15-minute taxi ride from downtown Cali. If you come by public transportation, take route T47 (San Fernando - Terminal) or T51 (San Fernando - Menga). Get off at Calle 5 with Carrera 3N, right where the Iglesia de San Fernando is.

By car, the neighborhood has street parking, but be careful with the peak and plate hours (applies Monday to Friday, 7-9 am and 5-7 pm). If you come at night, it's better to take a taxi or Uber: the streets are safe, but there is little lighting.

For the workshops, I recommend walking. The neighborhood is flat and the distances are short. Bring water, because the heat of Cali in May hits hard.

Local Tips

• Language: The masters speak Spanish with a Pacific accent. If you are a foreigner, don't worry: they are patient and will explain with gestures if necessary.
• Payment: Most only accept cash. There is an ATM on Carrera 3N with Calle 5, but it is sometimes empty. Withdraw money beforehand.
• Hours: The workshops don't have fixed hours. The best time to go is between 10 am and 4 pm. Avoid Mondays, as many rest.
• Haggling: You don't haggle over the price of a marimba. It is artisan work. But if you buy two, they sometimes give you a discount.
• Clothing: Wear light clothing and closed-toe shoes. The workshops have bamboo shavings and tools on the floor.
• Photos: Ask for permission before taking photos. Don Eulogio doesn't like having his picture taken while he works. Offer to take one of him afterwards, with the finished marimba.
• Sound Test: If you are buying, ask to play the marimba. The masters will lend you the mallets. Listen to see if all the notes sound even. If one sounds dull, ask them to adjust it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a bamboo marimba last?

If it is well cured and you store it in a dry place, it can last more than 20 years. Bamboo is resistant, but it does not withstand constant humidity. If you live in a humid city like Cali, keep it in a case and clean it with a dry cloth after playing it.

Can I learn to make a marimba in San Fernando?

Yes, but there are no formal schools. Don Eulogio accepts apprentices, but expects you to stay for at least a month. He doesn't charge for teaching, but expects you to help in the workshop (sweeping, cutting bamboo, etc.). There are also weekend workshops at the Casa de la Marimba de San Fernando, but they are sporadic. Ask at the neighborhood's Community Action Board (Calle 4N # 35-10).

Is the San Fernando neighborhood safe for tourists?

Generally yes, but with caution. The neighborhood is residential and quiet during the day. At night, avoid lonely streets and don't show valuables. The workshops are in family homes, so arriving by taxi is the safest. Don't leave the marimba visible in the car if you bought it; carry it in an opaque bag.

Historical or Contextual Introduction

San Fernando, an emblematic neighborhood of Cali, has historically been a meeting point between tradition and modernity. Its evolution has been marked by the influence of Afro-Colombian culture, especially regarding music and crafts. The bamboo marimba, a fundamental instrument in Pacific music, has its roots in this community, where artisan workshops have remained alive through generations.

For more than 50 years, the artisans of San Fernando have perfected the technique of building marimbas, using local bamboo from the region. This process not only involves manual skill, but also a deep knowledge of the material and the sonority that each piece can offer. Each workshop is a small refuge of Cali culture, where the sound of the marimba resonates with stories of struggle and resistance.

Furthermore, the neighborhood has been a space for artists and musicians to meet, which has fostered the creation of events and festivals that celebrate Afro-Colombian culture. The Feria de la Marimba, held in January, is a perfect example of how tradition remains alive, attracting both locals and tourists interested in immersing themselves in this rich cultural heritage.

If you decide to visit San Fernando, don't forget to explore its marimba workshops. There, the warmth of the artisans and the sound of their creations will give you an authentic and enriching experience.

What to Do

San Fernando Bamboo Marimba Workshop

Visit this workshop to closely observe the process of creating marimbas. Here, the master artisans not only share their technique, but also the stories behind each instrument. You can even participate in a short class to learn how to play the marimba.

Insider Tip: Arrive early on Saturdays, as many workshops offer free demonstrations and it's best to secure a good spot to enjoy the music.

Parque de los Gatos

This park is an ideal space to relax after exploring the workshops. Its cat sculptures and green areas make it a perfect place for a picnic or simply to enjoy nature.

Insider Tip: Bring your own coffee from one of the nearby cafes and sit on one of the benches while listening to the local musicians who often play in the park.