The International Costa Maya Festival is happy to announce that this year's festival will take place from Thursday, August 2nd to Sunday, August 5th in "La Isla Bonita, San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize. More updates coming soon...
Ivy Queen to headline the 2018 Costa Maya Festival!
The International Costa Maya Festival committee has confirmed that the legendary Ivy Queen will be headlining the 2018 stage on Saturday, August 4th.
Martha Ivelisse Pesante Rodr�guez - Ivy Queen - is a Puerto Rican singer, songwriter, rapper, actress and record producer. Referred to as the Queen of Reggaeton, Ivy Queen's music focuses on themes of female empowerment, infidelity, and relationships. Her vibrant stage presence, strong vocals and original sound will make for an incredible concert on Saturday, August 4th. The songstress will be performing some of her best hits, including "Yo Quiero Bailar", "La Vida Es Asi", "Pobre Corazon", "Tuya Yo Soy", "Dime" and much more!
The festival is being planned for August 2nd through the 4th, with opening ceremonies and cultural performances taking place on Thursday, August 2nd. The anticipated international pageant will move to Friday, August 3rd.
All eight countries have confirmed their participation: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama. Noche Internacional, headlined by Ivy Queen, is on Saturday, August 4th.
The pageant will be held at the festival grounds inside the Hon. Louis Sylvester Sporting Complex in "La Isla Bonita", San Pedro Ambergris Caye, Belize. Delegates from Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama will all be on stage with her on Friday, August 3rd, vying for the coveted title of Miss Costa Maya International. The title is currently held by Belize's very own Michelle Estrella Nu�ez. Hosts for this year's pageant will be Daedra Haylock and the ever-effusive Eiden Salazar Jr.
Intermission performances will be done by Grupo Crash from El Salvador. After the winner is announced, the after party will be headlined by Belize's very own Chico Ramos. He will be accompanied by Sweet Pain band, so get ready for some amazing Belizean soca and punta!
There has been a change in schedule for the festival, with the pageant moving up a day. Thursday August 2nd will feature the official opening ceremonies, as well as pageant preliminaries.
Entertainment will be provided by Ballet Folklorico De Quintana Roo, Charikanari Dance Group of San Pedro, Belize and Grupo Crash from El Salvador. After the preliminaries and official stage events, the Youth Connection Band, alongside Ernestine Carballo and Dawgy and DJ Patron will lead the after-party.
Saturday August 4th - Noche Internacional - features the amazing headliner Ivy Queen. The Queen of Reggaeton will be on the island performing her greatest hits. Also on stage will be the Garifuna Collective, Grupo Crash and Tagg International.
Ticket prices and vendors are out!
Who is excited about this year's events?
We are proud to announce that Marlyn Vansen will be performing Saturday, August 4th!
Some of her hits include: Ladies Night, Forever, Rocky, and Loving me!
We are so excited to hear here perform in this year's festival!
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Introducing Miss Belize!
Marcia Moody is 23 years old and is from San Ignacio! Can't wait to see you on stage! Born and raised in San Ignacio, Cayo District, the 23-year-old Belizean beauty holds a Bachelor's Degree in Primary Education. She enjoys playing football, swimming and fishing, dancing and pageantry.
She is no stranger to the stage, as she most recently placed as first runner-up in the 2016 Miss Universe Belize. She has also participated in Queen of the West (winning in 2012), Queen of the Bay (2012 - 3rd runner-up) and Miss West Indies Belize (2015).
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Introducing Miss Honduras!
Her name is Mary Cruz Cardona Galindo and she is 18 years old! Can't wait to have her here for this year's festival! Mary Cruz Cardona Galindo is a stunning 5'5" brunette TV presenter who enjoys playing wind instruments, volleyball, visiting historic locations, and learning about new cultures.
Mary is excited to be part of the Reina de la Costa Maya 2018 pageant, and is ambitiously seeking to take the title home to Honduras.
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Introducing Miss Panama!
Her name is Emigdielys Samaniego and she is an 18-year-old model from Chepo, Panama.
Emigdielys is both a model and a model instructor at Physical Modelos, who enjoys public speaking and considers herself quite the extrovert. She is eager to bring her fashion and modeling savvy to the stage at the Costa Maya Festival.
We can't wait to see her this year for the International Costa Maya Festival!
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Introducing Miss Mexico!
Her name is Cynthia Alejandra De La Vega and she is 26 years old! She hails from Nuevo Leon, Mexico, and she is proud to represent her country at this year's Reina de la Costa Maya 2018 pageant.
26 year old Cynthia holds a degree in International Finance, and stands at 5'9". No stranger to pageantry, Cynthia was Miss Nuevo Leon 2010, Nuestra Belleza Mundo M�xico and even represented Mexico in Miss Supranational 2016 in Poland.
We can't wait to see her this year for the International Costa Maya Festival!
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Introducing Miss El Salvador!
Her name is Naydin Madelline and she is 20 years old! Originally from San Salvador, the 20 year old is in her second year of International Relations Bachelor's Degree studies. She enjoys dancing, socializing with friends and family, photography, running and studying. She speaks Spanish, English and a little bit of Italian as well.
We can't wait to see her this year for the International Costa Maya Festival!
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We are happy to introduce Miss Costa Rica!
Her name is Adriana Moya Alvarado, is 24 years old and hails from San Jos�, the capital city of Costa Rica.
We can't wait to have her here!
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Introducing Miss Guatemala!
Hilary Dhianette Castillo Cumings is proud to represent her beloved country of Guatemala. The 26-year-old Architecture and Interior Design student enjoys volunteer work, and when she isn't organizing events, she loves to dance, garden and catch up on her studies.
Look out for her in this year's Costa Maya Festival!
Reina de la Costa Maya 2018 delegates begin arriving on Ambergris Caye
Miss Mexico, Miss Honduras and Miss Guatemala have all touched down on Ambergris Caye ready to begin preparations for the Reina de la Costa Maya pageant. Arriving first on the 9:40AM Maya Island Air flight was Cynthia de la Vega, of Mexico. She welcomed Miss Honduras Mary Cardona - who arrived shortly after, and alongside reigning queen Michelle Nu�ez, the delegates awaited Miss Guatemala at the Maya Island Air waiting lounge.
The Reina de la Costa Maya Pageant will be held on Friday, August 3rd of this year, and will be hosted by Daedra Haylock and Eiden Salazar Jr. Pageant preliminaries will be held on Opening Night, Thursday, August 2nd. An after-party will take place with the fantastic sounds of Belize's very own, Chico Ramos, and he will be accompanied by Sweet Pain band. Of course, another hotly anticipated evening is International Night, August 4th. The fabulous sounds of songstress Ivy Queen will be filling the arena, and you do NOT want to miss this event!
Season passes for Adults is $120 and Children $70. Thursday - Opening Night/ Pageant Preliminaries: Adults $20, Children $10. Friday - International Costa Maya Pageant: Adults $50, Children $30. Saturday - International Night/Ivy Queen: Adults $70, Children $40. Sunday - Festival at the Field: Free
Click here to read the rest of the article and see more photos in the San Pedro Sun
Three more delegates arrive for Reina de la Costa Maya 2018!
At 5:20PM, Maya Island Air touched down with three more beauties aboard: Miss Costa Rica, Miss El Salvador and Miss Belize!
Costa Rica's Adriana Alvarado, El Salvador's Naydin Renderos and Belize's Marcia Moody were all smiles and waves as they alighted the plane, greeting their chaperones and the media gathered to photograph their arrival. After the requisite arrival photos, they boarded the classic red Ramon's Village Resort golf carts and whisked away to their rooms.
At their host resort, Ramon's Village, they joined Miss Mexico Cynthia de la Vega, Miss Honduras Mary Mary Cardona and Miss Guatemala Hilary Cumings. Ramon's is the grand sponsor for the pageant, having hosted the ladies every year since the international pageant began in earnest. Accompanied by Michelle Nu�ez, the ladies will begin their preparations in earnest. The only delegate yet to arrive is Panama's Emigdielys Batista, as the Costa Maya Festival Committee regrets to inform that there will be no contestant from Nicaragua this year.
Click here to read the rest of the article and see more photos in the San Pedro Sun
Costa Maya Delegates are here! Official welcome dinner took place last night at Pineapples Restaurant at Ramon's Village! Welcome to La Isla Bonita!
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This is the official lineup of local and international musicians and dance groups that will be performing live at the 2018 International Costa Maya Festival!
Miss Costa Maya Delegates at The Truck Stop Trivia Competition
It was time for some friendly family fun competition last night as the pageant delegates were invited to play a game of Family Feud!
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Costa Maya Pageant Delegates Enjoy Island Charm In San Pedro From dining under the stars on a sunset cruise on board the Yolo, swimming with the sharks and rays at Hol Chan Marine Reserve, dancing at Maxi's, shopping at Friki Tiki, sampling at the Chocolate Boutique, to dining at Elvi's Kitchen, Pineapple's Restaurant, El Patio, (and many more) the seven delegates of the Miss Costa Maya Pageant, including reigning Miss Costa Maya 2017 Michelle Nu�ez, were hosted by various businesses around Ambergris Caye. Never a dull moment, they have been kept very well fed and entertained like no other place in Belize can. This week the ladies prepare for pageant night at the Costa Maya Festival that included a preliminary competition on Thursday, August 2 and main pageant on Friday, August 3. See you at Costa Maya Festival 2018!
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