Hotel Xcaret Arte vs Hotel Xcaret Mexico: Which is better? (2023)

What is the difference between Hotel Xcaret and Hotel Xcaret Arte?

Hotel Xcaret Mexico vs Hotel Xcaret Arte: Quick Comparison

Hotel Name	Hotel Xcaret Mexico	Hotel Xcaret Arte
Number of Rooms	900	900
Number of Restaurants	11	10
Number of Pools	20	23
Beachfront?	Yes	Yes
All Inclusive?	Yes	Yes
Family-Friendly?	Yes	No
AAA Rating	💎💎💎💎💎	💎💎💎💎💎
Price Range	💲💲💲💲	💲💲💲💲
Book Now	↳ Check rates here	↳ Check rates here

Current Hotel Xcaret Promo Codes

Hotel Xcaret vs Hotel Xcaret Arte: Casas

Both hotels have 900 suites that are divided into different buildings, known as “Casas.” These “Casas” are themed around each hotel’s design concept.

Casas at Hotel Xcaret Mexico

Casas at Hotel Xcaret Arte

Does Xcaret Arte have access to Xcaret Mexico?

No, guests at Hotel Xcaret Arte no longer have access to Hotel Xcaret Mexico.

Previously, guests at Hotel Xcaret Arte were able to access the facilities at Hotel Xcaret Mexico, but they have recently updated their policies.

Now, only guests staying at Casa de los Artistas at Hotel Xcaret Arte have access to Hotel Xcaret Mexico, and it is subject to availability.

All guests are given a colored wristband at check-in so the staff knows which hotel they are staying at and can help enforce the policy.

I suspect this decision was made to prevent overcrowding at the restaurants at Hotel Xcaret.

What is included at Hotel Xcaret and Hotel Xcaret Arte?

Hotel Xcaret Arte vs Hotel Xcaret Mexico: Pros & Cons

Here are some of the pros and cons of Hotel Xcaret and Hotel Xcaret Arte:

↳ Check rates and availability at Hotel Xcaret Arte

↳ Check rates and availability at Hotel Xcaret Mexico

Hotel Xcaret Arte vs Hotel Xcaret Mexico: Location

Hotel Xcaret Arte and Hotel Xcaret Mexico are located right next to each other, just 15 minutes south of Playa del Carmen and just over an hour south of Cancun Airport.

Both hotels are situated on the front of the Caribbean Sea, along with Casa de la Playa, Xcaret’s boutique adults-only hotel.

Additionally, as part of the Xcaret destination, both hotels are located within the same complex as Xcaret Park, Xplor, and Xenses.

This makes getting to the Xcaret parks quick and convenient, as complimentary transportation is offered from the hotels.

The location of the Xcaret hotels in the heart of the Riviera Maya is great for exploring everything the region has to offer.

You can easily take a quick taxi ride if you want to go shopping in Playa del Carmen or book tours and excursions to visit the nearby Tulum Ruins or go snorkeling with sea turtles in Akumal.

Alternatively, if you don’t care to leave the resort, there are many activities, pools, beaches, and natural lagoons within the complex to keep you entertained.

Hotel Xcaret Arte vs Hotel Xcaret Mexico: Rooms

Each offering 900 suites, Hotel Xcaret Mexico and Hotel Xcaret Arte have very similar-looking rooms with the same general furnishings, layouts, and views.

Plus, both have the same types of room categories such as Garden Suites, River Suites, Ocean-View Suites, Master Suites, and Swim-Up Suites.

Both also offer luxury accommodations with balconies or terraces, traditional Mexican hammocks, comfortable beds with premium bedding and Egyptian cotton sheets, Nespresso coffee machines, jacuzzi tubs, and more.

The main differences between the guest rooms really comes down to the style and decor. The guest rooms at Xcaret Hotel feature natural elements such as stone and wood with pops of pink and turquoise.

On the other hand, the Hotel Xcaret Arte rooms are slightly newer and decorated with handcrafted Mexican art and textiles with pops of purple, giving them a more artistic and cultural feel.

Additionally, Hotel Xcaret Arte’s guest rooms feature a personal art collection that changes every four months, making for a truly immersive experience.

Overall, both properties offer comfortable and luxurious guest rooms but Hotel Xcaret Arte’s rooms are slightly newer and have a more artsy and hand-crafted feel.

Travelista Tip: You can view interactive 360° views of each of the room types on the Hotel Xcaret Mexico and Hotel Xcaret Arte website.

Hotel Xcaret Arte vs Hotel Xcaret Mexico: Pools

Hotel Xcaret México and Xcaret Arte resort both offer stunning pools and you’ll find no shortage of places to relax and unwind–with a tropical drink in hand!

The pools at both hotels are surrounded by lush vegetation and many are embedded near the beaches and lagoons, making for a tropical oasis experience.

At Hotel Xcaret Mexico, there are multiple pools, including a main infinity pool with a swim-up bar, smaller pools at Casas Viento and Espiral, the Pulpo (Octopus) kids pool, and the rooftop Fuego Infinity Pool.

Hotel Xcaret Mexico is probably best known for its rooftop Fuego Infinity Pool–a glass tunnel infinity pool that’s all over Instagram!

However, it’s important to know that this gorgeous pool is exclusive to guests stay at Casa Fuego.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hotel Xcaret México (@hotelxcaretmexico)

Hotel Xcaret Arte has a glass tunnel infinity pool too, but it’s also exclusive and reserved just for guests of Casa de los Artistas.

Additionally, Hotel Xcaret Arte features a main infinity pool with a swim-up bar, as well as 4 rooftop pools on top of each of the Casas. There are also some other smaller pools scattered throughout the property.

Overall, I think the Hotel Xcaret Arte pools are better, just because they offer the 4 rooftop pools, which are really relaxing and offer amazing ocean views.

Hotel Xcaret Arte vs Hotel Xcaret Mexico: Restaurants

Both Hotel Xcaret Mexico and Hotel Xcaret Arte are known for providing elevated gastronomy and unique dining experiences.

That means you’ll find more gourmet options than the typical all-inclusive resort fare. Compared to other all-inclusive resorts in Riviera Maya that I’ve stayed at, the Xcaret hotels really deliver an elevated dining experience.

Trust me, you’ll be blown away by the expansive buffets and variety of dining options available at each resort. I’m usually not a fan of buffets but the Xcaret buffets are next level!

Hotel Xcaret offers the Mercado de la Merced as the main buffet restaurant, which is impressive, but not quite as large as Hotel Xcaret Arte’s Mercado de San Juan buffet.

Here’s a break-down of the dining options at each resort:

Restaurants at Hotel Xcaret Mexico

Hotel Xcaret Mexico offers a variety of international cuisine options at its 11 restaurants ranging from Mexican to Japanese, seafood, and even vegetarian and vegan options.

What’s great is that the hotel offers a mix of buffets, casual sit-down restaurants, and more upscale dining so there’s something for everyone.

And the restaurants are also family-oriented so while the gastronomy is more gourmet, you’ll still find plenty of options for kids.

• Cantina Los Faroles: A lively cantina serving tequila and cocktails alongside traditional Mexican food from the Oaxaca region

• Chibali: This kid-friendly colorful international restaurant serves buffet breakfast and a la carte lunch along with fun desserts like milkshakes, cotton candy, and ice cream

• Fuego: Exclusively for Casa Fuego guests, this oceanfront restaurants serves Italian cuisine with a touch of Mexico

• Ha’: At an additional cost, this 9-course tasting menu was developed by Carlos Gaytán, the first Mexican chef to receive a Michelin star

• Las Cuevas: At an additional cost, this restaurant is set in a cave-like setting and serves traditional Mexican dishes and meats cut directly at your table.

• Las Playas: This casual restaurant serves comfort food where you can dine with your toes in the sand

• La Trajinera: Named after the gondola-style boats at Xoximilco in Mexico City, this poolside Mexican restaurant serves cuisine from Mexico’s coastal areas

• Mercado de la Merced: A vibrant buffet open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with international and Mexican specialties

• Teatro del Rio: With a focus on locally sourced ingredients, this 6-course dinner experience combines local gastronomy with dancing, music, and acting

• Xin-Gao: An Asian restaurants featuring four different Japanase flavors and culinary techniques such as Teppanyaki, Robatayaki, Fusion, and Omakase

Restaurants at Hotel Xcaret Arte

Hotel Xcaret Arte takes dining to the next level at its 10 restaurants ranging from Mexican to Asian, Mediterranean, and even Lebanese cuisine.

Just like at Hotel Xcaret Mexico, you’ll find a mix of buffets, sit-down restaurants, and more upscale dining options.

• Arenal: Located near the beachfront, this restaurant is carved into the natural landscape and serves Mexican comfort food cuisine for lunch and dinner.

• Cantina VI.AI.PY.: Led by Chef Alejandro Ruiz, this casual sit-down restaurant serves Mexican cuisine with specialities from the Oaxaca region of Mexico.

• Cayuco: Led by Chef Franco Maddalozzo, this restaurant is located along the main pool and serves Mediterranean-Mexican Cuisine, as well as a breakfast buffet.

• Chino Poblano: Led by Chef Jonatan Gómez Luna, this Asian restaurant serves Chinese and Mexican fusion cuisine.

• Encanta: Led by Michelin-star Chef Paco Méndez, this upscale restaurant serves elevated Mexican cuisine.

• Kibi Kibi: Exclusive to Casa de los Artistas guests, this restaurant is led by by Chef Roberto Solis and serves Yucatan and Lebanon cuisine.

• Mercado de San Juan: This colorful restaurant is the main buffet restaurant serving flavors of Mexico’s towns for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

• Tah-Xido: Led by Chef Luis Arzapalo, this contemporary restaurant serves Asian and Japanese cuisine.

• Xaak: At an extra cost, guests can also make reservations for this exquisite 7-course tasting menu designed by Roberto Solís, Franco Maddalozzo, Paco Méndez, Jonatan Gómez Luna, and Alejandro Ruiz.

Overall, Hotel Xcaret Arte’s dining options offer a more refined and intimate experience compared to Hotel Xcaret Mexico’s larger, family-oriented restaurants.

Hotel Xcaret Arte vs Hotel Xcaret Mexico: Spa

If you’re looking for some pampering during your Riviera Maya vacation, both Hotel Xcaret Mexico and Hotel Xcaret Arte offer exceptional spa services in a unique cave-like setting.

Each hotel has their own spa on property, but they both go by the same name–Muluk Spa. This name is derived from one of the Mayan calendar signs associated with water.

Hotel Xcaret Mexico’s spa is unique in the fact that it is located on the oceanfront, and offers 15 cabins facing the Caribbean Sea.

This means you can get massages, facials, and Mayan treatments with the soothing sounds of the waves in the background.

While Hotel Xcaret’s spa has a prime location on the beachfront, the Hotel Xcaret Arte spa, however, is larger and more luxurious.

The spa at Hotel Xcaret Arte is nestled into the rivers towards the back of the property and offers an Alchemist Room, a Temazcal, and an outdoor swimming pool with views of the river.

They also offer hydrotherapy rituals, massage stalls in natural caves, a flotarium with mud and salt rooms, and more.

Hotel Xcaret Arte vs Hotel Xcaret Mexico: Activities

When it comes to activities, the biggest draw to staying at both Hotel Xcaret Mexico and Hotel Xcaret Arte is that both offer unlimited access to the Xcaret adventure parks.

This honestly is a huge value and perfect for families or adventurous adults looking for an adrenaline rush.

There are 8 Xcaret parks and tours each offering unique adventure experiences, from underground rivers to zip lines to cenotes and ATVs.

The “all-fun inclusive” concept gives you unlimited access to: Xcaret, Xel-Há, Xplor, Xplor Fuego, Xenses, Xoximilco, Xavage, and Xenotes.

Plus, transportation is included so you can utilize the free shuttles to get there. And Hotel Xcaret Mexico offers unique “trajinera” gondola-style boats to get to Xcaret Park.

So if you choose to stay at one of the Xcaret hotels, you have plenty of activities to choose from and these adventure parks are full-day experiences that will keep you busy!

🦜 Explore my Xcaret resource hub for easy access to all of my Xcaret park reviews, comparison guides, as well as current Xcaret coupons and promotional offers.

But back on property, you’ll also find beautiful emerald lagoons and waterways that flow throughout both resorts, where guests can go kayaking, paddleboarding, or swimming.

And throughout the lagoons, there are suspension bridges connecting the areas and leading to unique lounge areas with hammocks and beds to hang out and relax.

Additionally, Hotel Xcaret Arte offers unique optional activities with an art focus like painting classes, dance lessons, and pottery workshops.

They also have nightly performances at the Forum theater, as well as live music at a speakeasy-style lounge known as El Deseo.

Hotel Xcaret Arte vs Hotel Xcaret Mexico: FAQs

Final Thoughts: Hotel Xcaret Arte vs Hotel Xcaret Mexico