Travel Overview: Getting to Mahai

Mahai is located in Mahahual, Quintana Roo, Mexico — on the southern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula.

Tulum International Airport (TQO) typically offers the most direct access for international travelers. Once you’ve registered, you’ll receive support coordinating transportation from Tulum to Mahai.
While Chetumal (CTM) is the closest airport by distance (about 1.5 to 2 hours by car) it is a domestic airport and often to access one needs to layover in Mexico city to connect.

Mahai partners with a trusted shuttle company and offers the following options from Tulum:

• Group Shuttle: $70–$100 USD per person
  (Scheduled around flight times; no more than a 2-hour wait)

• Private Transfer: $200–$300 USD per vehicle (1–3 passengers)

Other airport options include:

• Chetumal (CTM): 1.5 to 2 hours by car — taxis are readily available at the airport with no advance booking required (though you may arrange one if preferred)

• Cancún (CUN): 5 to 6 hours by car

Arrival + Departure Timing

Please plan to arrive on December 16th. Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.
If most participants arrive in time, we’ll begin with an opening yoga session before dinner at 6:00 PM. Otherwise, we’ll gather for a welcome dinner around 6:30–7:00 PM, followed by an evening meditation and meet & greet. Final timing will be confirmed once everyone’s travel details are submitted.

The earlier you arrive, the more time you'll have to settle in and enjoy the space.

Possibly — Mahai may be able to accommodate you for one additional night before the retreat, depending on availability. Once you register, we’ll provide contact info for Mahai so you can inquire directly.
Other nearby options include staying in Tulum (if flying into Tulum Airport) or Bacalar (if arriving via Chetumal).

We officially close the retreat on the morning of December 22nd, with a closing practice before breakfast.
Breakfast is the last included meal. You’re free to head to the airport or continue on to other destinations after that.
We recommend booking afternoon or early evening return flights to allow enough time to travel from Mahahual to the airport.

Unfortunately, Mahai is unable to accommodate extended stays after the retreat. We recommend booking a night in Tulum, Bacalar, or another nearby destination if you’d like to continue your journey after the retreat concludes.

What if I need to cancel or change plans due to travel issues or world events?

We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance. Visit insuremytrip.com or consult your credit card provider for coverage options.

Expect warm, sunny days, occasional rain, and cooler early mornings — perfect for practice. It can be breezy, especially near the sea, so we recommend bringing light layers.

When you register, we ask if you have a preferred roommate. If you don't, we do our best to pair you with someone of the same gender who we feel will be a good match for you. If you have special requests, you can let us know in advance.eibung

Do NOT drink the tap water anywhere in Mexico. Each of our rooms is equipped with a 20-liter purified water jug for drinking, brushing your teeth, and rinsing. As an off-grid property, we collect water from rain for the showers and sinks, so our water is safer than regular tap water, but we still highly recommend using the purified water provided for anything you might ingest.

Yes, we have a wonderful chef who is able to take care of many dietary restrictions. Please be sure to include them in your registration process. It is very important that you state your allergies comprehensively. If the list of things you can’t eat is long, we may ask you for a list of things you can eat instead.

Please be advised: Although we do our best to accommodate dietary preferences, our kitchen handles common allergens such as nuts, gluten, and soy. We cannot guarantee the complete absence of cross-contamination.

Yes, we offer Wi-Fi in every room, as well as in the restaurant and beach areas, ensuring you can stay connected with your loved ones at all times.

On Arrival Day, we offer one or two shuttle options from Tulum Airport to Mahai. Our group shuttles are organized to accommodate guests arriving around the same time, ensuring you won’t wait more than two hours for your ride. The cost for the group shuttle ranges from $60 to $100 USD, depending on the number of bookings.

Alternatively, we also offer a private car service that can pick you up at your arrival time. This option is suitable for one to three passengers, and the cost ranges from $250 to $300 USD.

If you have any questions or need further assistance for travel from other airports, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

While we provide excellent toiletries and most essentials for your stay, here are a few items we suggest bringing with you:

1. Reusable water bottle

2. Bathing suit

3. Sunglasses

4. Water shoes (beaches are rocky)

5. Sun hat

6. Reef-safe sunscreen

7. Lightweight raincoat or poncho

Items to Avoid Bringing: As a fully solar-powered property, we prioritize electricity conservation to ensure everyone has sufficient power for their essential needs, like charging phones and laptops. Please refrain from bringing electrical items such as hairdryers and coffee machines. (Rechargeable cordless hair dryers and hair curlers are fine.)

Depending on your phone provider, text messages may or may not work.

In Mexico, WhatsApp is the preferred method for text communication and it works on WiFi when there is no phone reception.

We use WhatsApp for on-site communication while at Mahai. We recommend downloading the app to your phone, as it will greatly facilitate communication regarding airport pickups and during your stay at the retreat center.

CANCELLATION POLICY:

-If you cancel your registration more than 30 days before the retreat begins , your payment will be refunded less $50 processing fee per ticket.

-If you cancel your registration between 30 and 15 days of the retreat's start date, we will refund 50% of your payment.

-15 days before the retreat starts, all payments are final and will not be refunded.

- Refunds take us up to 15 days to process.