Drum Circle Summer Camp - in Puerto Rico! June 4 - 8, 2025

Unless you are making arrangements to stay in one of our onsite "dorms", you are responsibe for your own accommodations. 

***We strongly encourage everyone participating in the full experience to book your stay at the Hotel Colombus where we are holding all workshops and performances***

Hotel Colombus 

PR-441, Aguada, 00602, Puerto Rico

Phone: +1 787-868-1140

$575 Onsite Full Immersion Pass -

Includes All meals*, over 9 hours of hands - and hearts - on learning! 

On site workshops and entertainment, traditional Puerto Rican food and more!

And of course... DAILY Drum Jams before Dinner! 

Also included: Use of beaches , pool, masks and fins for snorkeling, Salsa Lessons and Salsa Dance party Thursday, transportation to, and from The World Famous Aguadilla Beach drum circle on Friday, BOMBA lecture & performance and Rooftop Community Drum Circle Saturday.

This is an incredible opportunity to connect with a community of people from around the world who love drum circles as much as you! 

*No meals provided Friday Evening while we are at the Aguadilla drum circle - there will be food trucks with meals for purchase

$450 Locals and Offsite Pass - Includes all workshops and lunch Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Then enjoy a traditional Puerto Rican meal for dinner and the Bomba workshop and performance on Saturday night! Drum with us at the Aguadilla Drum Circle on Friday night, as well as the Saturday Rooftop Community Drum Circle!

*CHECK FOR EARLY BIRD PRICING AND FLASH SALES!*

*NOTE* While the hotel has modern amenities, it still has a different cultural feel and set-up. 

Please be aware that the “dorm’‘ rooms do not have 5 separate rooms in them. Several beds are in one large room. 

Even in the rooms with two and three beds, there is no dividing door between them, but there is a long hallway with the bathroom between them. There are no dividers between beds, however, the bathroom does have a closing door.  

Come prepared to share space and spirit. 

Bedding and towels provided. Please bring a beach towel if you are planning to go to the beach. */There are a few souvenir shops in town that have beach towels for sale. We might be able to take a small number of people during a break.   On-site laundry available, self serve washer & dryer. Refrigerators and microwaves in every room, a few rooms have stove tops.  We will have a few snorkels and fins available for community use during the breaks. 

Many thanks to Aquatica Underwater Adventures - https://www.aquaticapr.com 

We HIGHLY recommend that you snorkel at least once! There were a number of tiny to medium sized fish and small coral that you can safely get to from the shore. You might even get lucky and see a sea turtle! There are some awesome shells on the beach in this area, sea glass too.   

 Clothing 

Late Spring weather in Aguada, Puerto Rico: 

Daily high temperatures are around 85°F, rarely falling below 82°F or exceeding 88°F. Humid.  

Daily low temperatures are around 74°F, rarely falling below 71°F or exceeding 77°F. Always humid ;) 

Here you can pack light but BRING SUNSCREEN. A small assortment of shorts, tees, and tank tops, sun dresses, fishing shirts, swimsuits (having 2 is handy), a sarong or beach coverup, and a pair of sandals should do it. Beach/water shoes are recommended if you are going to go in the ocean, mostly for footing. There is a line of worn limestone and we have seen a lot of sea glass on the beach (some of it was not worn enough and still had points)  We will have a few snorkels and fins available for community use during the breaks. Many thanks to Aquatica Underwater Adventures https://www.aquaticapr.com

  We HIGHLY recommend that you snorkel at least once! 

There were a number of tiny to medium sized fish and small coral that you can safely get to from the shore. You might even get lucky and see a sea turtle! 

There are some awesome shells on the beach in this area, sea glass too! 

Most importantly - pack an open mind, your sense of wonder, and a love of adventure.   

WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE EVERYONE WHO IS PARTICIPATING IN THE FULL EXPERIENCE TO BOOK YOUR STAY WITH THE HOTEL COLOMBUS!

All workshops and performances will be held at the Hotel Colombus!

Hotel Colombus 

PR-441, Aguada, 00602, Puerto Rico

Phone: +1 787-868-1140

Tell Freddie (the owner)  you are booking for the Drum Circle Summer Camp.

You will be responsible for booking your own lodging.  

The Hotel Colombus has very competitive rates and is, by far, the most beautiful hotel in Aguada - with picturesque views, and a beach and a pool overlooking the ocean only a few steps from your room! 

There are a few limited Airbnb's nearby and a couple smaller hotels, however, the the Hotel Colombus is where the action and the community will be.  

We are offering and coordinating two "dorms" at the Hotel Colombus which have 5 bedrooms each. These will be on a first come first served basis.   

One of these dorms is reserved for women, and depending on demand the other will be for men.  

These will be offered to onsite participants at $100 per night ($400 total)

We will also be creating and organizing a Facebook Group to help folks find roommates and people to ride share to and from the airport

It is always and ultimately about community - so connect!

ARRIVAL -Wed, June 4, 2025.
Please plan on arriving to Hotel Columbus in Aguada Wednesday evening.  We wil begin soft registration by 6 PM and have our opening drum circle at 8PM. 

If you are flying into Aguadilla Airport, (about 30 min drive) there are local Taxi services and some transportation may be available from airport with special arrangements - please contact us.  

If you are flying in to San Juan/Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) and choose to rent a car, it is ~2 hour (150km) drive WITH TOLLS.  

There is a shuttle available from San Juan to Aguada - for more information please look at Welas Transport - the more people we can get on one shuttle -  the better the price for everyone!

We We will create a facebook group as we get closer to coordinate ride sharing.  

Puerto Rico’s main highways are home to an electronic toll system. Drivers pay toll roads with an electronic stamp called Autoexpreso. Before you sign your car rental contract, ask if there is an additional fee for the Autoexpreso. Some car rental locations will include the usage of the stamp on your daily rate (possibly up to $10day) and others will charge an extra fixed rate for using it. Check with your preferred car rental company what is required for rental and what the costs will be.

DEPARTURE- Sun, June 8, 2025
A hot breakfast is provided Sunday morning.  Closing Ceremony (All the hugs) on the last day will be finished by 11:00am and check out from Hotel Columbus has to be done by 12:00pm. 

If traveling to San Juan, book your shuttle or share rides like on arrival.  

We are providing some  transportation from Hotel Columbus to BQN Airport after the event ~12:30pm.

*Watch for updates* GTM Team may be going to lunch at a local beachside restaurant at 1pm (location TBD), you are more than welcome to join if you are staying an extra day.
Also, GTM is trying to arrange a post-event field-trip of sorts late Sunday afternoon.  Stay tuned for more details. 

**Please bring cash for tips - this is a tipping culture and it is greatly appreciated by the locals!**
 

Instruments    

 *     Bring a Hand Drum - any kind, more than one is fine.  We will have several REMO drums to share    

*      Bring several small percussion instruments of your choice. Preferably, one each of wood, bell, and shaker  You will be playing your drum a LOT, so bring one you really like. It’s worth a little extra weight. However, also bear in mind it is pretty humid there, so thin goatskin heads can get soft. Cow skin, thicker goat skin, or of course, REMOs work best. People have successfully checked drums in regular drum bag padded with clothes and bubble wrap over the head. Another good layer of head protection are planter pot pads (cork & melamine or similar), available in the garden sections of Home Depot, etc. What works even better is a large, wheeled duffel bag, which carries a lot more other stuff than a drum bag.   

*PACKING TIP!* You can stuff a lot of clothing inside your drum and your beach towel can go around your drum. It works best to line the inside with a trash bag so things go in and out smoothly without catching on the wood grain.  

 Internet and Cell Reception 

Cellular phone reception is good for most carriers. There are some spots that are better than others, but while traveling and staying in Aguada several times, we have yet to experience any major issues  Hotel Columbus does have free WiFi  

 Meals, Snacks, Drinks - Included in price   

We have worked out a wonderful selection of meals with the hotel. Easy buffet style serving. Saturday night’s dinner will be a authentic Puerto Rican speciality to go along with that evening’s cultural performance.  Thur - Dinner provided Fri - Continental Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner provided Sat - Continental Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner provided 

On Sun - Hot Breakfast provided 

Coffee, Tea, Water available for drinks during morning workshops. 

*A Vegetarian option is available for every meal. Please check the Vegetarian option when purchasing your ticket.  If you would like more variety or have particular needs, please bring what you need. 

There is also a small convenient store & bakery  (Panaderia Gabriel)  about a 10 minute easy walk from the Hotel Columbus. All rooms have a fridge/microwave and few of them have stove. (At the time we visited)    

The Hotel Columbus does have a bar (and restaurant) and will be open for purchases on your own tab. 

Please drink responsibly. We shouldn’t have to say more.