Bad Bunny residency inspires tourism campaigns in Vega Baja, Culebra
As Puerto Rico prepares for the start of Bad Bunny’s musical residency “No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí,” two municipalities are launching efforts to capture the cultural and economic momentum driven by the global artist’s presence on the island.
In Vega Baja, Benito Antonio Martínez-Ocasio’s hometown, the Autonomous Municipality and its Office of Tourism, Art and Culture announced a guided tour that retraces the early life of the artist known worldwide as Bad Bunny.
Running from July 11 to Sept. 14, the tour will immerse visitors in a journey that blends the singer’s personal history with Vega Baja’s rich cultural, architectural and natural heritage.
“This musical residency has generated a cultural and economic movement that’s already being felt in Vega Baja,” said Mayor Marcos Cruz-Molina. “We’re ready to welcome everyone with open arms and show them the heart of the place where Bad Bunny grew up.”
The curated route includes stops such as the Econo Plaza supermarket where he worked as a teenager, his schools, the church where he served as an altar boy, and Puerto Nuevo Beach, the site of a past performance and music video. Also featured are public art pieces that honor the artist and community landmarks that helped shape his career.
“This isn’t just a tourist tour; it’s an emotional and cultural experience,” Cruz-Molina added.
The initiative is also boosting local economic activity. With a growing supply of short-term rentals and increased foot traffic to restaurants, shops and beaches, Vega Baja businesses are already experiencing a surge in visitors, he said. The town sees the tour as part of a broader effort to promote its identity and economic resilience.
Culebra invites visitors to explore, take photos
Meanwhile, in the island municipality of Culebra, the team behind EnCulebra.com has launched a new project titled www.DebiTirarMasFotosEnCulebra.com. The platform, unveiled by entrepreneur and longtime Culebra resident Juan Carlos Garavito, invites visitors to explore the island through photography, inspired by Bad Bunny’s recent song “Debí tirar más fotos.”
“This new platform invites visitors to discover the island municipality of Culebra through photography, offering an exclusive list of geolocations to capture the best landscapes, sunrises, beaches, culinary scenes, wildlife, history and much more,” said Garavito.
The launch coincides with the artist’s residency and marks the 15th anniversary of Culebra’s official visitor guide, EnCulebra.com. It also commemorates the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Navy’s exit from the island — a milestone that ushered in a new era of peace, environmental preservation and sustainable tourism, organizers said.
Visitors using the platform can follow photo-friendly routes categorized by interest — beaches, food, wildlife and history — transforming their travels into visual storytelling. The website encourages users to share images with the hashtag #DTMFenCulebra, reinforcing Culebra’s identity as a peaceful and photogenic paradise.
Garavito described the platform as a way to ensure that visitors not only enjoy Culebra but also become ambassadors for the island’s natural and cultural beauty.
“We want their photos to be not only memories, but also inspiration for others to discover us and responsibly enjoy this paradise,” he said.
