A running log of live broadcasts, guest takeovers and community moments from the studio.
Today, 18:00
The Venezuelan singer-songwriter performs stripped-down versions of her cumbia-influenced tracks and talks about growing up in Maracaibo's barrio music scene.
Yesterday, 21:00
A two-hour journey through reggae classics, dub plates and modern dancehall riddims, curated by a veteran selector from the Jamaican capital.
Jun 14
Our field team broadcasted interviews with pan players, costume designers and first-time performers from the heart of Port of Spain's carnival preparations.
Jun 12
You called in with your favorites — from Hector Lavoe to Celia Cruz — and we spun a full hour of dance-floor anthems dedicated to the golden era of Fania Records.
Jun 8
A short feature on the Mexican town known for handcrafted guitars, and how its luthiers supply the instruments behind Afro-Latin fusion bands across the Caribbean.
Milestones & moments
The road to Colibri Tropicale has been paved with vinyl crates, borrowed microphones and a lot of island sun. Here’s how the station grew from a weekend hobby into a daily rhythm for listeners across the globe.
Started with a 20-watt transmitter, a cracked condenser mic and a crate of old salsa records borrowed from a neighbour. The first show lasted 90 minutes and reached exactly 14 listeners.
Moved to a proper studio space and launched the daily mix of cumbia, reggae and Afro-Latin fusion. The first live acoustic session featured a duo from Curaçao and was recorded in front of 30 people.
Introduced the weekly guest DJ slot and the song request hotline. Listeners from 12 countries sent in dedications, and the first themed listening party gathered over 200 people online.
Sent a small crew to cover two island festivals, recording backstage interviews and sunrise sets. Those recordings became the first short documentary features aired on the station.
Launched a monthly segment dedicated to emerging artists from island scenes. Also started digitising a private vinyl collection of over 300 tropical records, now shared on air.
Now streaming 24/7 with a global audience. The request line, themed listening parties and documentary features continue to grow, but the warmth of the sound remains the same.