In short: A marimba group from Sololá lists Q3,000 for a single marimba with sound, Q3,500 for a double marimba and Q7,000 for a marimba orquesta (listing updated 4 September 2026). Antigua Guatemala’s municipality paid Q66,510 for nine marimba presentations at its 2026 patron-saint and cultural celebrations, Q7,390 a presentation. Four other towns’ 2026 fiesta contracts were Q65,000-85,000; only Santiago Sacatepéquez’s (Q74,800) also covered a stage, sound, lights, screens and a generator.
USD figures in the tables are approximate and use the day’s Banguat reference rate. See today’s exchange rate.
A marimba group’s published prices
Marimba Perlas de Mi Tierra, from Santa María Visitación, Sololá, lists its prices in the Ministry of Culture and Sports’ directory of artists, the Sistema de Información Cultural (SIC). The group says it plays at cultural activities, social events, family parties and Maya ceremonies.
| Format (as listed) | Price | USD (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Single marimba (marimba sencilla), with sound | Q3,000 | ~$393 USD |
| Double marimba (marimba doble), with sound | Q3,500 | ~$458 USD |
| Marimba orquesta, with aerial sound (sonido aéreo) | Q7,000 | ~$917 USD |
The listing does not state the number of hours, the travel charge or the area the group covers; ask before booking.
What municipalities paid in 2026 (Guatecompras)
The five contracts below, for patron-saint fiestas, Independence festivities and community events, were published on Guatecompras, the state procurement system.
| Municipality (publication date) | What the contract covers | Awarded amount |
|---|---|---|
| Antigua Guatemala (18 Jun 2026) | Nine marimba presentations for the town’s patron-saint and cultural celebrations; the five shown on the record’s first page are community events between 24 June and 23 August 2026 (two for a retirees’ association, including Teachers’ Day, and one each in El Hato, San Bartolomé Becerra and San Cristóbal El Bajo) | Q66,510 (Q7,390 per presentation) |
| Barillas, Huehuetenango (3 Sep 2026) | Marimba contract for the Independence festivities | Q65,000 |
| Santiago Sacatepéquez (14 Jul 2026) | One marimba orquesta show on 26 July 2026: three one-hour segments with two hours of DJ in between, a 9 x 6 m stage, aerial audio, lighting and LED screens, the provider’s own 150 KVA generator, transport and meals for the group | Q74,800 |
| Champerico, Retalhuleu (31 Jul 2026) | Marimba orquesta (dance cumbias, tropical music and sones) for an event on 4 August 2026 | Q80,000 |
| Jocotenango, Sacatepéquez (3 Aug 2026) | A marimba orquesta and a tropical cumbia group for cultural activities on 14 August 2026 | Q85,000 |
Antigua’s record lists three invoices from the group, of Q29,560 (6 July), Q22,170 (3 August) and Q14,780 (27 August 2026): four, three and two presentations at Q7,390 each, adding up to the Q66,510 awarded. Of the four fiesta contracts, only Santiago Sacatepéquez’s lists production beyond the music (stage, sound, lights, screens, generator, transport and meals); the Barillas, Champerico and Jocotenango records describe the music groups only, and Jocotenango’s amount covers two groups.
What to ask before you book
- How many hours or sets does the price cover? The Santiago Sacatepéquez contract, for example, set three one-hour segments.
- Is sound included, and what kind? The Sololá group’s single and double marimba prices include sound; its orquesta price includes aerial sound.
- Travel and meals: are they in the price? The Santiago Sacatepéquez contract made the provider cover both.
- Space and power: how much floor space, and does the group need a power outlet or bring a generator?
- Repertoire: traditional sones, dance music (cumbias), or both? Say what your event needs.
- Booking and receipt: what is needed to reserve the date, and will you get a factura?
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Sources
- Sistema de Información Cultural (Ministry of Culture and Sports): Marimba Perlas de Mi Tierra, listing updated 4 September 2026, read 26 September 2026
- Guatecompras contract records, read 26 September 2026 (NOG numbers): Antigua Guatemala 30957915; Barillas 31840639; Santiago Sacatepéquez 31250092; Champerico 31432115; Jocotenango 31453422
- USD conversion: Banguat reference exchange rate
Prices are as the group and the municipalities published them; a group’s price for your date and place may differ, so get it in writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to hire a marimba in Guatemala?
Marimba Perlas de Mi Tierra, a group from Santa María Visitación, Sololá, lists three options on the Ministry of Culture’s Sistema de Información Cultural (listing updated 4 September 2026): a single marimba for Q3,000 with sound, a double marimba for Q3,500 with sound, and a marimba orquesta for Q7,000 with aerial sound. The listing does not say how many hours each covers or whether travel is included.
How much do towns pay for a marimba orquesta at a fiesta?
Municipal contracts on Guatecompras in 2026: Santiago Sacatepéquez paid Q74,800 for one marimba orquesta show on 26 July 2026 that also covered a 9 x 6 m stage, audio, lighting, LED screens, a 150 KVA generator, transport and meals; Champerico’s contract for a marimba orquesta at a 4 August event was Q80,000; Jocotenango’s Q85,000 covered a marimba orquesta and a tropical cumbia group on 14 August; Barillas’ contract for a marimba at its Independence festivities was Q65,000. Those three records describe the music groups only.
What should I ask a marimba group before booking?
How many hours or sets are included, whether sound (and lighting) is included, whether travel and meals for the musicians are in the price, how much space and power they need, and which repertoire they play. The Santiago Sacatepéquez contract, for example, set three one-hour marimba segments and required the provider to bring its own stage, generator, transport and meals.
