If you’re seen any footage from Zamna Tulum within the last few years, chances are you’d like to take a trip to Tulum to see it for yourself. After experiencing Tulum and Zamna for the first time, we can say with confidence that this venue meets the high expectations and buzz surrounding it.
Located about two hours from Cancun in Quintana Roo, Mexico, Tulum is a historic Mayan town complete with ancient ruins, beaches, and jungles. It has become one of the trendiest spots in upscale dance music culture, with several clubs and all-inclusive resorts lining the town’s beautiful beaches. On the other side of the region, deep in the jungle and further from the town, is a small resort and massive venue known as Zamna.
Zamna is the main attraction when it comes to electronic music in Tulum. Famous for its out-of-this-world production at parties thrown by the house and techno collective Afterlife, you’ve probably seen Zamna before even if you don’t realize it. The immersive and artistic visuals for Anyma and Tale of Us have an unofficial home here, with some of their most famous viral moments coming from deep in the jungles of Tulum.
We attended the Afterlife and Circoloco events at Zamna Tulum in January 2024. Each night had a three-stage setup, with a main stage and two side stages placed comfortably throughout a natural tree-lined area. The layout at Zamna often changes with each show. Later in the week, both Keinemusik and Rufus Du Sol hosted events at Zamna that only used the main stage.
Zamna Tulum is set up like a mini festival. Upon entry, art installations and light fixtures line the walkway. It feels like a portal to a new world, even if just for one night (and well into that morning). The production at Zamna was impressive. While not as crazy as the massive Afterlife stage from last year, we have no complaints about the audio and visual production at Zamna in 2024. There are no noise restrictions, and the music is always loud. The main stage is lined with palm trees, and a short walk through the jungle will take you to one of the two side stages. The stages are far enough apart that they don’t interfere with each other. There are plenty of easily accessible bars and bathrooms, and the venue didn’t feel uncomfortably overcrowded like other sold-out festivals often do.
The vibes at Zamna were a pleasant surprise. The collective energy of the crowd is often what makes or breaks an event, especially when it comes to a destination festival that comes with an investment of time and money. The vibes here were some of the best of any new experience we’ve had attending shows in recent years. While other clubs in Tulum might be different, Zamna was a rave. The energy is high throughout the night, with most of the crowd arriving around midnight and staying well past sunrise.
Traveling to and from the venue was a bit of a mystery leading up to the show. However, if you stay near Centro Tulum, the Collectivo buses will take you back and forth from Zamna for $100 MXN. The only other options are driving and parking at the venue or paying exorbitant prices quoted by local taxi drivers. There are no rideshare apps available in Tulum. Just look for the buses lined up near the ADO terminal in Centro Tulum and then directly outside the venue on the street when you leave.
Drinks are expensive at Zamna, but that comes with the territory. The vibes and gorgeous setting of Tulum are well worth the high ticket and drink prices. It’s an ideal warm weather vacation spot to enjoy great music and amazing scenery.
The sets at both Afterlife and Circoloco were great. Some of the best shows of the weekend came from DJs earlier in the night and at the side stages. Argy, Chris Avantgarde, and Magdalena were some highlights at Afterlife, while DJ Tennis b2b Carlita was a favorite at Circoloco. Both the venue map and the set times were posted on the @zamna.music Instagram the day of the show. Make sure you screenshot these and your PDF ticket before heading there, because cell service at the venue is extremely spotty.
We’d highly recommend attending a show at Zamna Tulum. The energy here is special, and the overall experience was nearly perfect. When Zamna Festival rolls around next winter, you should take a trip to Tulum and see why it has a reputation as a world class music destination.
Author: @michael__premier
Premier EDM 