Maracas are a type of percussion musical instrument that produce a distinctive rattling sound. When searching for synonyms for maracas, one might consider terms such as shakers, rattles or egg shakers. Other related options could include guiros, claves, bongos, djembes and congas. In Latin America, maracas are often referred to as cha-cha sticks and are commonly used in a variety of musical genres, such as salsa, merengue and cumbia. Regardless of what term one chooses, maracas remain a popular and timeless instrument for adding rhythm and texture to music.