More than 200,000 people are expected to visit from abroad to attend the August and September shows of la Residencia de Bad Bunny, according to a Billboard interview with Alejandro Pabón, the promoter at Move Concerts.
Fans are arriving from countries including Ecuador, Peru and El Salvador. Many are setting foot on Puerto Rican soil for the first time, drawn by Bad Bunny's pull and his decision to make the world come to Puerto Rico.
Here we share what some of them told us while they waited to enter the Coliseo de Puerto Rico (El Choli).
🇩🇴 The Dominican Republic shows up
Carlos Díaz
Díaz, 24, and a resident of Santo Domingo, had visited Puerto Rico before, but this was his first time at a concert at El Choliseo. He was visibly excited about the experience of seeing Bad Bunny at the 13th edition of la Residencia.
He grew up listening to reggaeton artists like Tego Calderón and the duo Wisin y Yandel, has followed Bad Bunny since 2016, and even saw him live in Miami during the X 100PRE tour in 2019.
🤔 Platea tip: Who will be the next guests at la residencia? See our wishlist.
For him, "Titi Me Preguntó" has become a Dominican anthem because of its merengue rhythm. "100% ours," he said proudly.
"BAILE INoLVIDABLE", on the other hand, represents all Latinos. His goal that night was to dance to it "until he sweated."
"He's [Bad Bunny], honestly, showing what it means to be Latino, our music."
– Carlos Díaz
Nicole Ogando
The Dominican resident of New York came to the 10th show of la Residencia, the first Friday open to non-resident fans, hoping to hear "WELTiTA," her favorite for its beachy, tropical feel.
To match the Caribbean theme of la Residencia, she chose a long yellow dress with a green plantain print by FARM Rio.
That fruit, a staple of Puerto Rican cuisine, also connects to her identity as a Dominican raised in New York. Although she admires traditional elements like the pava, she chose not to wear symbols she felt did not culturally belong to her.
"I decided to wear this dress because I wanted to be on theme. This dress has a plantain plant on it, and what's more Caribbean than that? That's why I chose it."
– Nicole Ogando,
🌎 Latin America in the house
Javier Terán and his son, José
Father and son describe their first experience on the Island as "wonderful" after traveling from Quito, Ecuador. For José, 17, a fan since he was 12, this would be his first concert.
Although they ran into unexpected problems looking for tickets, Javier, 56, says what he values most is the warmth of Puerto Ricans.
José connects especially with "DtMF" and "WELTiTA" from the new album for their danceable energy. He also keeps on repeat classics like "La Santa" from YHLQMDLG and "Neverita" from Un Verano Sin Ti.
"We went through rain, 17 hours in line at the box office. We made friends, we lived an incredible experience…"
– Javier Terán
Mariana Mercedes
Rice and beans, fresh seafood, beaches and Puerto Rican warmth. These were the highlights of the first visit to the Island for Mercedes, 51, who came from Buenos Aires to fulfill her dream of seeing Bad Bunny in concert.
The Argentine discovered the Puerto Rican artist through YHLQMDLG and Un Verano Sin Ti. That second album affected her deeply: "I've learned how you can stay connected to your country even when you don't live there.
No matter how far you've emigrated, your roots and your family remain essential."
Her favorite song is "DeBí TiRAR MáS FoTOS."
"I feel like it was written for me. The message hits home because yes, I should have taken more photos with people who are no longer in my life."
– Mariana Mercedes
🗽 From New York and Other States to Puerto Rico
Carlos, a Puerto Rican in the diaspora
Born in Manatí and a New Yorker for more than 50 years, Carlos (who preferred not to give his last name) keeps his roots alive from El Bronx.
He is proud to be from the borough that, in his words, saw salsa born.
In August, he returned to his homeland for the residency, celebrating "the positive attention the event brings to the island." For him, Bad Bunny is an icon in Puerto Rico and worldwide.
"We are supporting the economy here by coming to this beautiful place. I hope Bad Bunny keeps doing this for our Puerto Rico."
– Carlos
Eric Alvayero
Alvayero, 35, a resident of Queens, New York, explains that beyond listening to Bad Bunny for pleasure, he has been able to connect with memories from visits to his parents and with his Salvadoran roots, even though Spanish is not his first language.
"BAILE INoLVIDABLE" takes him back to his childhood, when his parents filled the house with bachata, merengue and salsa.
"[Bad Bunny] represents a new generation that rescues those sounds. It's the old renewed for the new. The younger generation will be able to appreciate [those sounds] much better."
– Eric Alvayero
Another fact: In El Salvador, "BAILE INoLVIDABLE" ranks third, followed by "EoO". "VeLDÁ" and "DtMF" are seventh and eighth, respectively, on Spotify.
Tony y Natalia del Río
Tony and Natalia del Río are a Peruvian couple who have made the state of Seattle their home. Tony has lived in the Pacific Northwest for 15 years, while Natalia arrived from Lima three years ago.
For the couple, this trip means much more than a concert: it is their first time in Puerto Rico, an island they both say they will want to visit more often.
"I like him because you can see someone very sincere in what he sings. In what he is. He's authentic, and I like that he's making music celebrating where he's from. Now we want to come every year."
– Natalia del Río
For the couple, Bad Bunny's decision to hold the concerts exclusively in Puerto Rico is "a stroke of genius," a strategy they see as key to helping visitors get to know the Island more deeply.
When asked which guest artist she would like to see join Bad Bunny at the residency, Natalia answered "Kanny García" without much hesitation.
📍 Ñapa: From Cabo Rojo and Aguadilla
Ilia Loperna, 80, a resident of Aguadilla, came to show No. 13 of El Conejo Malo alongside her grandson Adrián Frontera, 22, a resident of Cabo Rojo. Grandmother and grandson arrived dressed with pavas, scarves around their necks and single-star flags in hand.
For Ilia, being at the concert was "a point of pride." "I asked Adrián to bring me," she said with determination.
Her favorites are "DtMF" and "LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii" because they celebrate island culture and "they're the only ones I know," the Aguadilla native admitted with a laugh.
"I never imagined taking my grandmother to a Bad Bunny concert, especially at her insistence. We are incredibly proud and happy to be here."
– Adrián Frontera
What comes next: El Conejo Malo announced his world tour "Debí Tirar Más Fotos", which will span 23 stadiums across 4 continents. The tour will mark the first time Bad Bunny performs in Australia, Brazil and Japan.
The tour begins in November in the Dominican Republic, one month after closing his historic 30-date residency at El Choliseo.
Interviews compiled by Ángeles Rodríguez and Andrea Pérez.
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
