Tulum: Little Ibiza in the Riviera Maya

Most people know of the Caribbean coasts of the Riviera Maya, and most have heard of Cancún, the jewel of Yucatán. But for Tech-House music enthusiasts and connoisseurs the jungle hides another treasure, and that’s Tulum.

From Mayans to DJs.

Tulum was founded a stone’s throw away from an old maya city, this site has seen human occupation for almost 900 years, and it’s easy to see why: Tulum borders the sea, in front of the biggest coral barrier in the world, and is placed between the cenotes (openings to underground rivers) and the jungle. Sea, jungle and a unique historic and geographic legacy make Tulum a natural tourist magnet…
But where does tech-house and partying come into the mix?

Well, the jungle setting of Tulum and the archeological dig sites have given place to a burgeoning tourist industry, but there’s something special about this place that strikes the partying trend in all techno lovers. Underground jungle parties started something that grew and bled into beach clubs like Vagalume or Bonbonniere. The jungle was a perfect setting, where the sound could blast without inconveniencing anyone, and once you’re in a party with all the nature around you and the lights engulfing the crowd all around, there’s no turning back. It's an exceptional feeling. One event became a weekly party, one festival became a dozen and slowly the town became a new mecca for tech-house music.

Why not Cancún? What’s special about Tulum?

The rest of the Riviera Maya is the holiday place everyone wants to go to to relax. But tech-house music has a more select crowd, one that appreciates individuality and freedom. What Tulum offers that other places don’t is a high energy setting: throbbing music and the bright lights on the beach. Here you will come to party, to surrender yourself to the drop and dance non-stop.

Tulum Parties

And the people in the know look like they understand this, because famous festivals like Tomorrowland with their stage Core, or Zamna’s Afterlife festival, Day Zero festival and many more have made Tulum an essential part of their growth. Tulum is currently a brand created around the unique experience found in the small town that many festivals try to recreate away from the real thing.

This is why many DJs have chosen to make a full time residence here, along with a lot of latin music interpreters, so the musical offer is disproportionate big for such a small town. Tulum’s locals however haven’t sacrificed everything for tourism and have aimed to preserve the jungle and keep their homes safe, with the added benefit that once you get here, you meet real people and an authentic experience.

Most festivals nowadays take pride in letting you dance in harmony with nature, in contact with the historic heritage of the land and offering the best in hospitality.

A wide range.

Today, options is the name of the game: You have parties every day of the week both in the Downtown bars and nightclubs with their resident DJs, but also parties by day in the beach clubs. 
All year round there are festivals, and if you want Massive multi-stage experiences that extend for various days you have the New Year's Eve festival season, when festivals flock to Tulum and even overlap each other. Even hotels often offer private parties in their premises for the lazy or unaware traveler!
So, whatever you are looking in your travels: big festivals, intimate parties, an all day beach party, a sophisticated night in the best company or even a trascendental jungle experience, Tulum's parties have it all, all year round, for everyone.