Livingston is the largest Garífuna community in Guatemala and one of the most accessible entry points to Garífuna culture anywhere in Central America. The Garífuna — descendants of Afro-Caribbean and Arawak/Carib indigenous people — have their own language, music, dance, food, and spiritual practices that are distinct from both the Guatemalan mainstream and the Anglophone Caribbean.
The music is the most immediate way in: punta (a traditional percussive dance music), paranda (guitar-based), and chumba are all played in Livingston, particularly during festivals. The Garífuna Settlement Day celebrations and the December festivals bring out the best performances. On any given evening, the bars near the dock will have something playing. There are also small cultural centers in town that sometimes arrange demonstrations.