The Ultimate Guide to Paradise Blue Festival

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The Ultimate Guide to Paradise Blue Festival

A large stage with people in front of it
By Maddie Walker

By Maddie Walker

Content Creator for Raveraide

So you want to headbang in paradise? Paradise Blue Festival is the place for you!

Paradise Blue Festival is a truly immersive international festival in Cancun, Mexico that’s put on by none other than the festival throwing veteran himself, Excision. With its inaugural year in 2022 being a huge success, Excision’s team has once again brought the 3-day destination experience to Cancun, which will take place between April 28-30th in 2023. Relax in paradise, meet like-minded music lovers, and experience intimate performances with your favorite artists on the beautiful beaches in Mexico! This event is one for any die-hard raver’s bucket list, which is why we’re bringing you our Ultimate Guide to Paradise Blue Festival, so you can feel totally prepared to have the best time possible.

The Ultimate Paradise Blue Festival Guide

1) How Do I Start Planning For Paradise Blue Festival? 

First and foremost before doing anything else, you need to ensure you have a passport! If you don’t have a passport or it is expired, go apply for one immediately. If you are only a few months out from the festival, it’s likely you will want to add rush shipping. Passport delivery times can be unpredictable, and you definitely don’t want to get stuck being unable to fly to Cancun because it didn’t arrive in time. Next of course, you will need to book your all-inclusive festival package! Let’s take a deep dive into the logistics of booking your international experience.

Paradise Blue Festival is held in the famed Mexican city of Cancun located on the Yucatan Peninsula bordering the Caribbean Sea. The event’s two all-inclusive resorts are situated along the Zona Hotelera, or what’s known as the Hotel Zone. 

The Paradisus

This resort hosts the physical festival itself, and includes 10 restaurants, 7 bars, 2 lagoon-style pools, a spa, and golf course. Built with pyramid-style architecture, the Paradisus offers ocean view and lagoon view rooms depending on your budget.

The Fiesta Americana

This is the second and newest resort added to Paradise Blue Festival. Located at the south end of the Paradisus, the resort has a direct path between the two for easy access to and from the festival. This resort boasts a variety of restuarants, lucious swimming pools, a spa, wellness center, and many other amenities! Rooms range from garden, sunset, and ocean views. There is even a Plunge Pool Suite option that includes a private mini pool from the walkout of your room!

Packages are sold as a full room and include all-inclusive food and drinks, access to all music events, as well as private transport to and from the airport specially for Paradise Blue guests. Accommodations are offered in 3 styles: 1 King Room with a max occupancy of 2, Double Room with a max occupancy of 4, and a King + 2 Double Beds with a max occupancy of 6. After deciding which package fits you the best, you can choose to check out all at once and split the payments with friends, or use a payment plan. Package pricing ranges from $2,950 to $13,150 depending on chosen resort, room size, and upgrades.

 

Raveraide Pro Tip

If you’re looking to get a restful night’s sleep, or aren’t into headbanging into the wee hours of the morning, choose to stay at the Fiesta Americana resort. If you’re staying in the Paradisus, you may want to request a room that is not in the main Pyramid! The late night stages bump all night, and the bass is felt across the entire main pyramid!

A resort with palm trees and a pool

Paradisus Resort Lagoon Style Pool

Extra Days at Paradise Blue

Adding on extra nights to the resort package you booked for the festival is also offered. You can book up to 3 extra nights before and 3 extra nights after if you desire to extend your trip. We highly suggest arriving one day early and staying an extra night after the festival if you’re able! Arriving on Thursday allows you more time to check in, familiarize yourself with the resort grounds, and deal with any potential travel delays. As for after the festival, no one wants to deal with long travel days while recovering from a 3-day music festival (it’s extra important to drink your Raveraide to minimize these repercussions!). Use this extra day after the festival to rest, lounge by the pool, soak up the sun on the beach, or visit any restaurants you may not have been able to visit yet. You’ll be glad you did!

Excursions

Looking to experience tourist attractions outside of Paradise Blue Festival? Luckily for festival goers, Paradise Blue offers special excursion experiences that can be booked directly through their website. This makes it super easy to ensure you are booking with a reputable company. Some common excursions offered are cenote (sinkhole) exporations, Tulum tours, horseback riding, parasailing, flyboard, aquatwister rides, ATV tours, catamaran sailing, and more! Not only do guests get to experience some of the coolest spots in Cancun, but some Paradise Blue artists actually join the excursion groups! Do note though, that many of these excursions are a half day to a full day long, and may cut into set times so plan accordingly!

 

Raveraide Pro Tip

Excursions like flyboard, aquatwister, and ATV tours are great for those who want an adrenaline rush! For those who prefer a more slow paced, relaxing experience we suggest the catamaran sail or Tulum tour!

Two pictures of a beach with the sun setting and a boat in the water.

Sunset Catamaran Sailing

Guided Tulum Tour of Mayan Ruins

2) How Do I Get to Paradise Blue Festival?

 Flights are not included with your Paradise Blue Festival package and will need to be booked independently. To get the best price on flights, we suggest booking as far in advance as possible. Expect to spend around $500 or so depending on where you are flying from! There are tons of great tools such as the Hopper app or Priceline that can help you track flight prices and find the best time to buy. Fortunately, transportation by bus is provided to and from the airport and resorts. When you arrive at the Cancun International Airport, there will be a team member from the festival who will welcome you to Cancun and guide you to the correct transportation.

Raveraide Pro Tip

As you exit the airport, you will most likely be bombarded by taxi companies and independent drivers offering rides and local excursions for purchase. This can easily get confusing and a bit overwhelming, so it’s best to stick with the Paradise Blue pre-arranged transportation!

Official Paradise Blue Festival Trailer

3) What Should I Expect When I Arrive at Paradise Blue Festival? 

Stepping off the bus, you are immediately immersed in a headbanger’s dubstep paradise. Check-in is quick and organized, and you even receive a specialized Paradise Blue Festival wristband! The festival itself is divided mainly into 3 areas: the atrium stage, the pool stage, and the beach stage. Music starts everyday at 1PM and goes until 4AM. Daytime sets start at the pool stage, where you can relax in a lounge chair/cabana or join in on the headbanging whirlpool action in the pool (We highly suggest trying this at least once!). Refreshments are also easily accessible at the swim-up bar!

Just before sunset, the music is moved to the main stage on the beach. This stage is equipped with top notch production and sound systems. The beach sets also typically end with a crazy firework display! You truly can’t go wrong at this stage. Whether you want to ride the rail or stand back in the sand, you will have a full view of Excision’s masterpiece. If you’re not ready to end the night there, head inside to the atrium of the main Paradisus pyramid to enjoy the late night sets. These sets give off the traditional vibe of a smaller, more intimate show put on by a local club or venue, and they are SO MUCH FUN! 

Photo by @luisdcolato on Instagram

Restaurants

Now all this headbanging and exploring is bound to make you hungry! The Paradisus resort boasts 10 restaurants, 8 of which are included in the all-inclusive package and 2 that are not. Cuisines range from authentic local Mexican, Asian Fusion, Italian, fresh seafood and more! The easiest and most accessible option is the Malva Food Bazaar. This restaurant is basically a huge buffet offering breakfast, lunch, dinner and even late night snacks. Need to grab a bite, but only have 15 mins before the next set? The food bazaar is the place to go! The other restaurants are also spectacular though, and definitely worth trying throughout your stay. Just be sure to make a reservation at any kiosk desk you see throughout the main pyramid atrium. Reservations can be made day of, and generally there is no issue getting into any restaurant at the Paradisus. 

The Fiesta Americana resort includes all-inclusive access to a multitude of restaurants ranging in cuisine from authentic local eats & pizza, to sushi bars and American classics. The largest change from Paradise Blue Festival’s inaugural year is the way “all-inclusive” food and drink access works. Previously, guests not staying at the Paradisus resort had full access to any restaurants and bars on the grounds. This year, guests only have all-inclusive access to the specific resort their room is booked at. So, if you book a room at the Paradisus you can only eat at the Paradisus, if you book a room at the Fiesta Americana you can only eat at the Fiesta Americana resort. Drinks are the ONLY exception. During festival days, April 28th-30th, ALL Paradise Blue festival attendees will have access to Paradisus resort bars.

 

A plate of food with three tacos on it.

Local cuisine from Paradisus Resort

Activities

While the music is obviously the main attraction of Paradise Blue Festival, there is SO much more to explore! Daily activities are put on by both the Paradisus and Paradise Blue team. Some activities you can expect are morning bass yoga, tarot card readings, beach sports, kite flying, sand art & castles, mixology classes, artist signings, hair braiding, etc. You do not want to miss these additional opportunities!

4) What Other Paradise Blue Tips Should I Know?

  1. DO NOT FORGET SUNSCREEN! The sun in Cancun is much hotter and more intense than many places in the US. Getting severely sunburnt on the first day of the festival will make it super difficult to enjoy the rest of the trip!
  2. CARRY A SHARPIE AT ALL TIMES! You’ll see artists who are performing at the festival everywhere! Paradise Blue Festival is SO intimate, and there are constant opportunities to meet some of your favorite artists while casually walking through the resort. Be ready with your sharpie for a quick signature or picture, but remember to always be respectful!
  3. DRINK YOUR RAVERAIDE! All-inclusive open bars can quickly cause trouble if you’re not pacing yourself. Be sure to stay fully hydrated by not only drinking water, but ensuring you are replenishing electrolytes and vitamins with Raveraide.
  4. TIP YOUR STAFF! Tipping is HIGHLY encouraged at Paradise Blue Festival. The resort staff is all hands on deck during large events like Paradise Blue, and work super hard! Make sure you let them know how much you appreciate all the work they are doing.
  5. TRY THE MARGARITA. Need a quick and easy drink that will get the job done? Order the margarita! A Mexican classic, the margaritas at the resorts are often ready to pour and super yummy!
  6. PACK EARPLUGS! The production at Paradise Blue is truly spectacular, but that means it can also damage your hearing if your ears aren’t properly protected. Be sure to invest in a pair of high fidelity earplugs that can protect your ears without hindering the quality of the sound. That way you’ll be able to fully enjoy all the amazing sets over the weekend without potentially damaging your hearing.
  7. GET MERCH EARLY! Let’s be honest…the Paradise Blue Festival merch is pretty cool, and it sells out FAST! While the line was a bit long, if you’re determined to get merch be prepared to go on the first day of the festival right when the booth opens. Don’t want to wait? That’s okay! Some merch was available on the Excision website 6 weeks after Paradise Blue Festival.
A person standing on the beach wearing a hat

Official Paradise Blue Festival 2022 merch

5) What Should I Pack For Paradise Blue Festival? 

See our packing list essentials below!

  • Swimsuits
  • Cover up
  • Festival Fits
  • Extra Clothes
  • Sandals
  • Water Shoes
  • Hats
  • Toiletries
  • Beach/Pool Bag
  • Merch
  • Cash for Tips
  • Credit Cards
  • Passport & ID
  • Ear Plugs
  • Inflatables
  • Pool Noodles
  • Sunscreen
  • Waterproof Fanny Pack or Phone Cover
  • Sunglasses
  • Aloe
  • Travel Med Kit
  • Motion Sickness Tablets
  • Prescription Meds
  • Eye Mask Travel Pillow
  • Suitcase Lock
  • Anti-Chafe
  • Camera
  • Portable Charger
  • Dry Bag
  • RAVERAIDE!
  • Packing Cubes
  • Vitamins
  • Bug Repellant
  • Chargers- NO travel adapter needed
A crowd of people on the beach watching an event.

Paradise Blue Festival stage

There you have it! The Ultimate Guide to Paradise Blue Festival! International music festivals can be the most rewarding experiences, but definitely take a lot of preparation! Remember to check out our post on 13 Insanely Helpful Music Festival Tips For First Timers to make sure you’re more than prepped and ready to go! Can’t travel internationally this year? No worries! Be sure to see the Top 7 Best Music Festivals In The US You NEED To Attend!

This post was all about The Ultimate Guide to Paradise Blue Festival!

Maddie Walker
Maddie Walker

Social media/advertising manager by day, headbanger by night, Maddie began attending music festivals in 2017. She quickly became immersed in the EDM community and now uses her career skills to promote the festivals and rave brands she loves! Her favorite EDM artists include Sullivan King, Svdden Death, BTSM, and DJ Diesel. Follow her on Instagram and Tik Tok @maddievwalker.

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