As a travel agent, it can be hard to be impressed. You see amazing trips on a daily basis and you see and hear about amazing properties all of the time but it is rare that you are completely wowed by an experience. I recently went on a family trip to Hotel Xcaret in Mexico and was completely at a loss for words. I have never been to another property like this one. If you want an amazing, authentic Mexican vacation this is the resort for you. It has something for those traveling with family, couples, friends, and even business trips.
This resort has definitely been on the travel agent radar since we first heard of its inception. Xcaret is famous in the Cancun area for their amazing parks and attractions for guests. Everyone that has been to Cancun has seen a sign or advertisement for Xcaret. Mexican Architect Miguel Quintana Pali originally purchased the land to build his residence on but as they were clearing the property they discovered cenotes and underground rivers that the area is famous for. At that point, they decided that this would be the ideal location for people from all over the world to discover some of Mexico’s most beautiful scenery. After teaming up with the Constandse family, the vision of Xcaret park was brought to life and opened to the public in 1990. As one of the first of its kind, it is a destination to not only learn about Mexican culture and nature, but to do so in a natural setting. At the park, there is an amazing bird aviary, other animals that are from this area of Mexico, replicas of Mayan villages, ancient ruins, water activities, cultural shows, and great areas just to relax by the ocean. By 2013, the original park expanded to include 6 parks and attractions. These activities include an amazing bird aviary, butterfly house, cenotes, underground rivers, ziplining, snorkeling, exploring ancient ruins, and more. Their newest adventure park, Xavage, is opening in April. I have jokingly been describing the area as Disney World minus the crowds and characters. The links for the different parks and activities are included below:
https://www.xcaret.com/en/attractions-xcaret/
https://www.xelha.com
https://www.xplor.travel/en/
https://www.xplor.travel/en/xplor-fuego-admission/
https://www.xensespark.com
https://www.xichen.com.mx/en/
https://www.xenotes.com/en/
https://www.xoximilco.com/en/
https://www.xavage.com/en/
When I first heard the hotel mentioned, I loved the idea of having another hotel near the parks for the convenience aspect. There is another hotel on the park property that provides transportation so in my mind I was thinking it would be nice to have the additional property for clients to choose from. I heard it was going to be All Inclusive and include all meals which I also liked but anticipated since that is the norm in the Cancun area. Little did I know that All Inclusive would not only include all meals and drinks and activities at the hotel but also include admission to all of the Xcaret parks and include food and drinks at those too. Plus as a guest you get a separate entry line, lockers, etc…. Once I heard all of this I decided I would have to check it out. It almost seemed to good to be a true.
We visited in the beginning of March and I can honestly say the property is AMAZING… it is unlike anything I have ever seen or experienced. The company prides itself on the hotel being built using “nature itself as the essential element to conserve and protect.” In addition, this was the first hotel in the Americas to receive the EarthCheck Building Planning and Design Standard certification for promoting a sustainable construction project. This is evident throughout the entire resort. The resort was quite literally built into what already existed in terms of the topography of land. The resort is beautifully built into the already existing caves and the jungle surrounding it. There are new discoveries all over the resort including hidden waterslides, walking trails, fitness circuits, and rivers and lagoons. It takes your breath away at times it is so beautiful. Then you add in the facilities and the amazing staff, and it is unbeatable. There is no other All Inclusive that I have ever been to that combines luxury with cultural heritage and natural beauty as Xcaret does. This is in no way an Americanized resort. From arrival, you are welcomed into the Mexican culture. Starting in the lobby, you are welcomed with homemade ice pops made using fresh, local ingredients, artwork made by local artisans, and music being performed by local musicians. All of the art throughout the resort is made by local artisans including the artwork in your room, the decorative lamps, the textiles in the rooms and even the tiles in your bathroom. In addition, every night when your sheets are turned down, you are left with a Mexican candy in an adorable Mexican basket. They include a note explaining why this item is special to Xcaret and Mexico in general. In the morning, you are greeted by the sounds of the birds and monkeys in the jungle, many of which you can see right from your room.
As an All-Inclusive, there are 10 restaurants on the property and eight bars offering unique experiences in each one. The food options include traditional American food but have an extensive array of true Mexican food. The restaurants also include an Asian fusion restaurant, an Italian restaurant, a seafood restaurant, and a restaurant allowing you to explore numerous Mexican specialities while dining in a beautiful cave. Also onsite is Ha’, inspired and created by Carlos Gaytan, the first Mexican to receive a Michelin star. This is the only restaurant that is not included and is available at an additional cost. It is an adults only restaurant that takes you through a 7 course Mexican cuisine exploration that is paired with the best Mexican wines. The All Inclusive price also includes 24 hour room service plus restocking of the minibar and snack options in the room. Plus as fun perk, during the day there are roaming taco carts, ice cream carts, candy carts, fresh fruit carts, and smoothie carts all of which are included in your all-inclusive price.
The activity options at the resort are very extensive also. If you want to relax at the beach with a drink in hand this might not be the best resort for you but if you want to combine relaxation and adventure this is the perfect option. Onsite at the hotel, there is an extensive lagoon system which has kayaks and paddle boards free for guests. You can also swim in the lagoons and enjoy the beaches at them. The ocean is the beautiful, clear blue water you would expect but it is not a calm ocean. There are a lot of waves and a heavy undercurrent so though it is enjoyable to swim in it is not somewhere you will want to spend the entire day. The resort has numerous pools to choose from and finding a free chair is never an issue. There are 3 gyms onsite and a beautiful spa. There is also a kids club and a teen/family hangout that has pool tables, ping pong, and shuffleboard. As an added perk, there is a Catholic chapel onsite for those that may want to attend church services while on vacation. While we were there they had a special Ash Wednesday mass.
In case you can’t tell we absolutely loved this resort and would highly recommend it to anyone considering a trip to Mexico. It is a true Mexican beauty that welcomes everyone and makes sure you leave with amazing memories.
This resort has definitely been on the travel agent radar since we first heard of its inception. Xcaret is famous in the Cancun area for their amazing parks and attractions for guests. Everyone that has been to Cancun has seen a sign or advertisement for Xcaret. Mexican Architect Miguel Quintana Pali originally purchased the land to build his residence on but as they were clearing the property they discovered cenotes and underground rivers that the area is famous for. At that point, they decided that this would be the ideal location for people from all over the world to discover some of Mexico’s most beautiful scenery. After teaming up with the Constandse family, the vision of Xcaret park was brought to life and opened to the public in 1990. As one of the first of its kind, it is a destination to not only learn about Mexican culture and nature, but to do so in a natural setting. At the park, there is an amazing bird aviary, other animals that are from this area of Mexico, replicas of Mayan villages, ancient ruins, water activities, cultural shows, and great areas just to relax by the ocean. By 2013, the original park expanded to include 6 parks and attractions. These activities include an amazing bird aviary, butterfly house, cenotes, underground rivers, ziplining, snorkeling, exploring ancient ruins, and more. Their newest adventure park, Xavage, is opening in April. I have jokingly been describing the area as Disney World minus the crowds and characters. The links for the different parks and activities are included below:
https://www.xcaret.com/en/attractions-xcaret/
https://www.xelha.com
https://www.xplor.travel/en/
https://www.xplor.travel/en/xplor-fuego-admission/
https://www.xensespark.com
https://www.xichen.com.mx/en/
https://www.xenotes.com/en/
https://www.xoximilco.com/en/
https://www.xavage.com/en/
When I first heard the hotel mentioned, I loved the idea of having another hotel near the parks for the convenience aspect. There is another hotel on the park property that provides transportation so in my mind I was thinking it would be nice to have the additional property for clients to choose from. I heard it was going to be All Inclusive and include all meals which I also liked but anticipated since that is the norm in the Cancun area. Little did I know that All Inclusive would not only include all meals and drinks and activities at the hotel but also include admission to all of the Xcaret parks and include food and drinks at those too. Plus as a guest you get a separate entry line, lockers, etc…. Once I heard all of this I decided I would have to check it out. It almost seemed to good to be a true.
We visited in the beginning of March and I can honestly say the property is AMAZING… it is unlike anything I have ever seen or experienced. The company prides itself on the hotel being built using “nature itself as the essential element to conserve and protect.” In addition, this was the first hotel in the Americas to receive the EarthCheck Building Planning and Design Standard certification for promoting a sustainable construction project. This is evident throughout the entire resort. The resort was quite literally built into what already existed in terms of the topography of land. The resort is beautifully built into the already existing caves and the jungle surrounding it. There are new discoveries all over the resort including hidden waterslides, walking trails, fitness circuits, and rivers and lagoons. It takes your breath away at times it is so beautiful. Then you add in the facilities and the amazing staff, and it is unbeatable. There is no other All Inclusive that I have ever been to that combines luxury with cultural heritage and natural beauty as Xcaret does. This is in no way an Americanized resort. From arrival, you are welcomed into the Mexican culture. Starting in the lobby, you are welcomed with homemade ice pops made using fresh, local ingredients, artwork made by local artisans, and music being performed by local musicians. All of the art throughout the resort is made by local artisans including the artwork in your room, the decorative lamps, the textiles in the rooms and even the tiles in your bathroom. In addition, every night when your sheets are turned down, you are left with a Mexican candy in an adorable Mexican basket. They include a note explaining why this item is special to Xcaret and Mexico in general. In the morning, you are greeted by the sounds of the birds and monkeys in the jungle, many of which you can see right from your room.
As an All-Inclusive, there are 10 restaurants on the property and eight bars offering unique experiences in each one. The food options include traditional American food but have an extensive array of true Mexican food. The restaurants also include an Asian fusion restaurant, an Italian restaurant, a seafood restaurant, and a restaurant allowing you to explore numerous Mexican specialities while dining in a beautiful cave. Also onsite is Ha’, inspired and created by Carlos Gaytan, the first Mexican to receive a Michelin star. This is the only restaurant that is not included and is available at an additional cost. It is an adults only restaurant that takes you through a 7 course Mexican cuisine exploration that is paired with the best Mexican wines. The All Inclusive price also includes 24 hour room service plus restocking of the minibar and snack options in the room. Plus as fun perk, during the day there are roaming taco carts, ice cream carts, candy carts, fresh fruit carts, and smoothie carts all of which are included in your all-inclusive price.
The activity options at the resort are very extensive also. If you want to relax at the beach with a drink in hand this might not be the best resort for you but if you want to combine relaxation and adventure this is the perfect option. Onsite at the hotel, there is an extensive lagoon system which has kayaks and paddle boards free for guests. You can also swim in the lagoons and enjoy the beaches at them. The ocean is the beautiful, clear blue water you would expect but it is not a calm ocean. There are a lot of waves and a heavy undercurrent so though it is enjoyable to swim in it is not somewhere you will want to spend the entire day. The resort has numerous pools to choose from and finding a free chair is never an issue. There are 3 gyms onsite and a beautiful spa. There is also a kids club and a teen/family hangout that has pool tables, ping pong, and shuffleboard. As an added perk, there is a Catholic chapel onsite for those that may want to attend church services while on vacation. While we were there they had a special Ash Wednesday mass.
In case you can’t tell we absolutely loved this resort and would highly recommend it to anyone considering a trip to Mexico. It is a true Mexican beauty that welcomes everyone and makes sure you leave with amazing memories.