When I found myself googling “symptoms of burnout” more often than “funny cat videos,” I decided it was time for a wellness retreat. And now it’s easier than ever to visit one of the most spectacular wellness-focused destinations in the world: Tulum, Mexico, known for its seaside boutique hotels, lush flora, turquoise waters and boho beach town vibe. In a little under four hours, I was in the heart of the Mayan Riviera.
I traveled solo on United Airlines’ new, daily nonstop flight from O’Hare International Airport to Tulum’s recently inaugurated Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport. Nestled within the verdant jungle about 90 miles south of Cancun, the aptly named “aeropuerto en la selva,” or airport in the jungle, streamlines access to the Riviera Maya region. The celebrated tourism hot spot extends along the eastern coastline of the Yucatán Peninsula, bridging Playa del Carmen and Tulum in Quintana Roo, Mexico’s southeastern state.
Tulum’s new airport, constructed with eco-friendly materials and a design that mirrors the peninsula’s biodiversity, boasts energy-efficient lighting and water conservation systems, underscoring the region’s commitment to sustainability. While navigating through O’Hare can feel like a real-life game of “Frogger,” where you’re dodging a frenzy of luggage carts and harried travelers, Tulum’s state-of-the-art airport, with its single terminal, is much more serene and a mere 40-minute ride to the sandy s.
