Tulum · Festivals
What If Your Friends Can't Come? Going to a Music Festival Solo
Going (not canceling) is still the best move
Your group not being able to go doesn't mean you're stuck missing out. Going to a festival without your usual crew is more common than it looks, and with the right logistics it's just as safe as going with friends: the real difference isn't "solo vs. group," it's how well everything else is handled.
The upside nobody talks about: you run your own night
When you go with your group, the night gets negotiated: which artist, what time you leave, who's already ready to bounce. Going solo, you don't negotiate anything. You stay at whatever stage grabbed you for as long as you want, you leave when you want, and if you discover somebody you'd never heard of, you stay for the whole set and nobody rushes you.
You'll be less alone than you think
Without your usual group, you're more open by default, and people approach someone who came without their crew way more than a group that's already closed off. Festivals are exactly a meeting point for people with the same taste, and people come from other countries, not just Mexico. You won't be the only one who came alone.
How to break the ice without it feeling forced
The hard part isn't wanting to meet people, it's the first line. Two that always work: compliment someone's outfit: at a festival people put real work into their look and love when somebody notices, or ask which set they've liked the most so far. That second one is the best because nobody answers with one word: everybody has an opinion, and they'll almost always point you to the next one to catch.
From there on you don't have to do anything special. You're in the same place, at the same time, for the same music: the conversation topic already exists.
You're not really alone on a set-up trip
You decide how accompanied you want to be. If you'd rather have someone from MATIE with you during the night, we team up. We don't leave you on your own just because you came without a group. And before every party we agree on a fixed meeting point, plus a 24-hour direct line the whole trip: if you get separated or the signal drops, you know exactly where to go and who to call.
The logistics don't change if you go solo
We handle transportation to every party ourselves, so you never have to figure out how to get there or back. And there's real-time location sharing with the staff at every party: if anything happens, we know exactly where to find you.
The one thing worth doing before you go
Give the lineup a listen a few days before. Not to show up knowing everything, but so that when you hear someone live you already recognize it: it feels completely different. And it helps you decide which stage to hit first when there are several going at the same time, which is exactly the decision a group usually makes for you.
If you still don't know which of the season's parties suits you best going solo, check our guide to all the brands: it walks you through the vibe of each one without needing anyone else to decide with you.
Frequently asked questions
Is it weird to go to a festival in Tulum alone?
No, it's more common than you'd think, and people come from other countries, not just Mexico. In fact it's usually easier to meet new people when you go without your usual group: you're more open by default, and people approach you more when you show up without your usual crew.
How do I talk to someone at a festival if I came alone?
The two that always work: compliment their outfit (people put real effort into their look and love when somebody notices) or ask which set they've liked the most so far. The second one is better because nobody answers with one word: everybody has an opinion, and they'll almost always tell you who to catch next.
Will I be alone the whole time if I go to a festival without my friends?
It doesn't have to be that way. It depends on how you put the trip together: with MATIE, for example, you decide how accompanied you want to be: if you'd rather have someone from the staff with you during the night, we team up. We don't leave you on your own just because you showed up without a group.
How do I know I'll be safe if I don't know anyone?
There's real-time location sharing with the staff at every party. If anything happens, we know exactly where to find you. We also handle transportation to every party ourselves, so you never have to figure it out on your own.
Can I meet other people who are going solo too?
Yes: on a set-up trip you're already surrounded by people in the same boat (staff, other travelers, the group's energy), instead of having to figure it all out from scratch on your own like you would going completely solo.