Honest Hotel Xcaret Mexico Review: Pros & Cons 2024

Are you interested in staying at Hotel Xcaret Mexico and wondering if it’s worth it? You’ve come to the right place!

As a travel blogger that lives in Playa del Carmen, part of my job is getting to visit and review the top hotels and resorts in Riviera Maya.

I recently had the opportunity to stay at Hotel Xcaret Mexico and experienced both the highs and lows of this popular family-friendly “all fun-inclusive” resort.

In this post, I’m sharing my honest Hotel Xcaret Mexico review including its pros and cons and everything you need to know about the hotel’s location, rooms, amenities, service, and value.

So if you’re wondering whether Hotel Xcaret Mexico is really worth the price tag for your next vacation, I’m going to give you all the details you need to make an informed decision.

Ready to find out if Hotel Xcaret Mexico is right for you? Let’s get started!

My Review

Hotel Xcaret Mexico

🏆 Best Xcaret Hotel for Families

Pros:
✅ Free Access to Xcaret Parks
✅ Free Airport Transportation
✅ Gourmet Dining

Cons:
❌ Expensive
❌ Rocky Beach
❌ Large Property

Discount: Up to 10% off for stays in October & November 2024

Get Discount

First, let me start by saying that this Hotel Xcaret Mexico review was not sponsored and all opinions are my own.

Here’s a quick overview of the pros and cons that I’ll discuss further in this post:

In my opinion, Hotel Xcaret Mexico is definitely worth it if you’re interested in visiting any of the Xcaret parks. This is by far the biggest perk of staying at the hotel and is a HUGE value for families!

As part of the hotel’s “all fun-inclusive” concept, you get unlimited access to all Xcaret parks and tours.

This includes Xcaret, Xplor, Xplor Fuego, Xel-Ha, Xenses, Xoximilco, Xavage, Xenotes, Xichen, Tulum, and Cobá, which are some of the best eco-parks in Mexico.

Yes, Hotel Xcaret Mexico is a pricier option compared to other hotels in Riviera Maya, but it’s a 5-star hotel and you definitely get what you pay for.

And when you consider the luxury accommodations, exceptional service, access to parks, airport transportation, and gourmet dining included in your stay, you’ll quickly see why it’s worth it.

They make everything so convenient and easy for you that you can truly relax and enjoy your vacation without worrying about additional costs or planning.

Plus, they run frequent promotions where you can often score a discounted rate. Be sure to check the Special Offers page before booking!

Overall, Hotel Xcaret Mexico is a fantastic choice for families looking to enjoy a luxury all-inclusive vacation in Riviera Maya and experience the best of what Mexico has to offer.

However, if you’re not really interested in visiting the Xcaret parks, you may want to consider other less expensive options in the area.

Take advantage of these Hotel Xcaret Mexico promos to save money on your booking:

• Click here to get up to 10% off at Hotel Xcaret Mexico for stays in October 2024. Must book by September 30, 2024.

• Click here to get up to 10% off at Hotel Xcaret Mexico for stays in November 2024. Must book by September 30, 2024.

• Click here to get special advanced purchase rates at Hotel Xcaret Mexico. Must book by December 31, 2025.

🤑 Travelista Tip: You can typically save the most money by booking the Advanced Purchase rates on the Hotel Xcaret Mexico website at least 6-10 months in advance.

Here are the quick resort details about the guest rooms, facilities, and amenities at Hotel Xcaret Mexico:

Hotel Xcaret Mexico offers 900 luxury adults-only suites divided into 5 different buildings, which are known as “Casas”.

These are the different Casas at Hotel Xcaret Mexico:

• Casa Tierra
• Casa Fuego
• Casa Espiral
• Casa Viento
• Casa Agua

🔥 The adults-only Casa Fuego is considered to be the top Casa at Hotel Xcaret Mexico as it has an oceanfront location and an exclusive rooftop pool and restaurant.

The best thing about staying at Hotel Xcaret Mexico is that guests receive an “all-fun inclusive” experience, meaning you get free access to the incredible Xcaret parks and tours!

There are 11 Xcaret parks and tours each offering unique adventure experiences, from underground rivers to ziplining to ATVs. They are incredibly fun and perfect for families!

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

You also have access to the Xcaret tours: Xenotes, Xichen, Tulum, and Cobá. Plus, transportation is included so you can utilize the free shuttles to get there.

🦜 Check out my Xcaret Resource Hub for comprehensive park reviews and comparison guides!

Park tickets can be $100-$200 USD per person if purchased on their own, so this is a huge value add if you have any interest in visiting the Xcaret parks.

The Xcaret parks are some of the top attractions in Riviera Maya and ones that I would highly recommend!

You also get free tickets on Xcaret Xailing–Grupo Xcaret’s new luxury ferry service to Isla Mujeres.

I personally went to Xplor Fuego while I was staying there and it was so easy–all you have to do is hop on the shuttle and it will take you right to the park!

You can even hit up multiple parks in one day if you want! Definitely take advantage of this perk because it’s the best part of staying at the hotel.

Another amazing perk of staying at Hotel Xcaret Mexico is that you get complimentary transfers to and from the Cancún Airport.

The transportation is provided by a large charter bus and takes about 1 hour from the airport to the resort.

This is an incredible value as Cancun airport transfers usually cost around $150 USD if booked on your own. And this is one less thing you have to worry about!

Hotel Xcaret Mexico is located in the heart of Riviera Maya, just 15 minutes south of Playa del Carmen, and just over an hour south of Cancun Airport.

The hotel is situated directly on the Caribbean Sea next to Hotel Xcaret Arte and La Casa de la Playa. As part of the Xcaret destination, it’s also on the same property as Xcaret Park, Xplor, and Xenses.

Free round-trip transportation is provided from the airport as well as the Xcaret theme parks, which makes getting around quick and convenient. And if you want to go to any other nearby destinations, taxis can be easily arranged.

Overall, the location of Hotel Xcaret Mexico is convenient and perfect for exploring Riviera Maya.

It’s close enough to Playa del Carmen if you want to go shopping on 5th Avenue, but still gives you the peace and tranquility of a private beachfront property if you don’t care to leave the resort.

Hotel Xcaret Playa del Carmen Mexico Map

One of the best things about Hotel Xcaret Mexico is the luxurious accommodations, which provide everything you need for a comfortable stay.

The hotel was built in 2017, so the decor is still very modern and chic yet still maintains an authentic Mexican feel.

Plus, all rooms comes equipped with balconies or terraces, traditional Mexican hammocks, comfortable beds with premium bedding and Egyptian cotton sheets, Nespresso coffee machines, jacuzzi tubs, and more.

Hotel Xcaret Mexico offers a variety of room types, classified into these suite categories:

• Garden Suites: Suites with garden and jungle views

• River Suites: Suites with a view of the emerald river that frames the hotel

• Ocean View Suites: Suites with a partial view of the Caribbean Sea

• Ocean Front Suites: Suites with a full view of the Caribbean Sea

• Junior Suites: 1-Bedroom suites with a separate living and dining room area

• Master Suites: Larger 3-bedroom suites with a separate living and dining area

• Presidential Suites: Ultra-luxury 2-bedroom suites with living and dining areas and multiple terraces with pools and jacuzzis

Within each suite category, you can choose between Standard Suites or upgraded Spa Suites, Adults Suites, Family Suites, and Swim Up Suites with direct access to the pool.

Most of the standard suites have a king sized beds or two queen sized beds with a pull out sofa.

For families, I would recommend the Garden Swim Up Suites or the Junior Suites, Master Suites, or Presidential Suites to give you more space.

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

I personally stayed in an Ocean Front Suite Adults Suite at Casa Fuego and it was absolutely stunning!

The room was spacious with modern Mexican decor, with a plush king bed, living area with a sofa and dining table, and a large balcony with a hammock and ocean views.

The bathroom was also very spacious and modern, featuring a double vanity sink, large jacuzzi tub, and a separate rainfall shower.

The bathroom also comes with bath robes and slippers and the toilet room even has a disappearing window!

The suites also have flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and a complimentary mini bar stocked with drinks and snacks that is refilled daily.

The only thing I didn’t like about the suite is that there is no mirror over the sink in the bathroom. There’s a sliding mirror behind the sink, which is fine but it just makes getting ready a bit more challenging.

Plus, for families, having the bathroom right on top of the bed may not provide much privacy. But overall, the Ocean Front Suite was perfect for my stay and I would highly recommend it!

Travelista Tip: If you’re not traveling with kids then I would highly recommend staying in the adults-only Casa Fuego. You’ll get access to an exclusive rooftop pool, another pool on the ground floor, as well as the Fuego restaurant. Plus, you get a butler assigned to your room!

Hotel Xcaret Mexico offers 11 different dining experiences, where guests can enjoy all-inclusive dining and elevated gastronomy.

I was blown away by the food quality during my stay! The restaurants offer a variety of cuisines, from traditional Mexican to Asian fusion to Italian.

The food at Hotel Xcaret Mexico is way better than your average all-inclusive resort. And the great thing is that they really cater to both kids and adults so there’s lots of food options for everyone.

Plus, you can choose from buffet dining, sit down a la carte restaurants, or poolside snacks depending on your preference.

They’re also very accommodating to allergies and dietary restrictions. I have a nut allergy and every restaurant knew about my allergies and were able to make accommodations for me.

Here’s an overview of the Hotel Xcaret all inclusive restaurants:

• Bio: This restaurant is set in a cave-like setting and serves 100% vegan cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner

• 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. Don’t miss the French Toast for breakfast–it’s basically a work of art and one of their most popular dishes!

• 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 Xochimilco 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

I was also really impressed with the drink options at Hotel Xcaret Mexico. It’s definitely not hard to get a drink as there are bars at all of the restaurants and scattered throughout the resort.

You can order top shelf liquor (which is included) or stick to the basics. They also offer fun cocktails like margaritas and mojitos, as well as non-alcoholic options.

If you feel like having a mimosa at breakfast or a glass of wine with dinner, they have a great selection to choose from.

And the drinks weren’t watered down like at some all-inclusives I’ve been to, so that was a big plus!

One of the best things about Hotel Xcaret México is that no matter where you are on the property, you’re never far from a pool or swim up bar.

There are 20 pools throughout the resort, including adults-only and family-friendly options. And most of them have swim-up bars so you can enjoy a drink while taking a dip!

The main infinity pool next to the Trajinera restaurant is probably the most popular, with its beautiful ocean views and swim up bar.

There’s also the Pulpo (Octopus) Kids Pool, which is perfect for families with its shallow depth and water slides.

But my personal favorite pool was at Casa Fuego, which is adults only and exclusive to Casa Fuego guests. It’s a rooftop infinity pool with stunning views of the ocean.

Plus, this is where you’ll find the glass tunnel pool that you’ve probably seen on Instagram!

In addition to the luxurious accommodations and all-inclusive dining, Hotel Xcaret Mexico also offers exceptional service.

The staff is always friendly, attentive, and willing to go above and beyond to make your stay comfortable.

It really did feel like 5-star service, and I found the front desk, restaurant, and pool staff to be extremely attentive. They always remembered my name and food allergies no matter where I was dining.

And it was never hard to get food and drinks by the pool with ample servers and pool concierge available to setup your lounge chairs, take orders, and hand out cold towels.

And if you’re staying at Casa Fuego, you’ll also be assigned a butler (“mayordomo” in Spanish) who is available to assist with anything you may need during your stay.

You can chat with them on WhatsApp and they can help with things like dinner reservations, park reservations, or packing assistance.

The butlers assigned to my room were super friendly and responsive and continuously checked in on me throughout my stay.

I asked about a towel for Xplor Fuego and within minutes my butler had returned to my room with a pool towel on a tray just for me!

One of the unique features of Hotel Xcaret Mexico is that it has beautiful emerald lagoons, rivers, and waterways flowing throughout the property.

These areas are perfect for kayaking and standup paddleboarding, which are both available for guests to enjoy.

And if relaxation is more your style, then you can take advantage of the man-made beaches and relaxation areas all throughout the lagoons.

They also have life jackets available for guests to use, which is great for kids or for those who may not be strong swimmers.

Hotel Xcaret Mexico offers a variety of activities and entertainment options for families.

Not only is it one of the best Playa del Carmen family resorts with a water park but there fun family-friendly activities like:

• The Pulpo (Octopus) Kid’s Pool with waterslides and splash areas
• Kayaking and paddleboarding in the lagoons
• A kid’s club with supervised activities for young children
• A teen’s club for older kids with ping pong tables, pool tables, air hockey, fuse ball, and other games
• Tennis Courts and Paddle Courts
• Trajinera boats to Xcaret Park

Plus, as a family-friendly resort, they really cater to kids and you can find little touches like kid-sized dining tables at the restaurants and kid-sized lounge chairs around the pool.

And of course, the main activities for families to enjoy are the Xcaret parks that are included in your stay.

If you’re looking to relax and unwind, the Muluk Spa at Hotel Xcaret Mexico is the perfect place to do so. They offer a variety of treatments from traditional Mayan rituals to modern spa services.

But what really sets their spa apart is their oceanfront cabins. These cabins are set above the lagoons and look out over the ocean so you can enjoy your treatment while listening to the sound of crashing waves.

There’s also a hydrotherapy circuit with hot and cold pools, steam rooms, saunas, and relaxation areas that you can use for an additional cost.

Hotel Xcaret Mexico is on the higher end of the price scale for Riviera Maya resorts and may not be suitable for all budgets.

However, it is definitely a luxury 5-star resort and with Hotel Xcaret Mexico packages, you will get what you pay for in terms of service, amenities, and experience.

Plus, with so many value adds like free Xcaret park tickets and round-trip airport transportation, I really do think it is worth the cost if you take advantage of everything that’s included.

One of the downsides of staying at Hotel Xcaret Mexico is that the beach area is rocky and is not always suitable for swimming.

It depends on the weather conditions, but when I was there it was a red flag day and the waves were pretty big with lots of rocks in the water.

You can still relax on lounge chairs in front of the beach, but it is definitely not the most ideal swimming area.

So if you’re a beach person and dreaming of widespread white-sand beaches, this might not be the best option for you.

However, to make up for this, they have created a widespread network of man-made lagoons and sandy beach areas where you can swim and relax.

These beach areas are actually better for small children because they are shallow and protected from the sea currents.

Plus, there are plenty of pools onsite, including the main pool with a swim-up bar and several other pools around the resort.

Hotel Xcaret Mexico is situated on a massive property with over 900 guestrooms, which can make it a bit overwhelming to navigate. I’m not gonna lie–I got lost a few times!

There are also lots of winding pathways, steps, and some suspension bridges throughout the resort, so you will definitely do some walking to get from one area to another.

If you have mobility issues, this may not be an ideal place for you. There are still elevators and handicap ramps available, but you might want to consider staying in one of the Casas that is closer to the pools and restaurants.

Additionally, even though it’s a large resort it never felt overly crowded because there are so many different pool areas, hidden coves, and activities to explore.

As great as the food is at Hotel Xcaret Mexico, I was a little disappointed in the room service menu options.

It’s pretty basic and limited compared to the variety of restaurants they have onsite.

I tried to order late night dessert and had trouble finding something that was nut free. I settled on vanilla ice cream and what I got was a tiny little container of melted ice cream.

So I would recommend sticking to the restaurants for meals, but room service is still available 24 hours a day if you don’t feel like leaving your room.

Hotel Xcaret Mexico is definitely more of a family-friendly resort, so if you’re looking for a lively party atmosphere and lots of nightlife options, this may not be the best choice.

They do have some nightly entertainment like live music, mariachi performances, and shows at the Teatro del Rio, but it’s not as extensive as some other hotels in Playa del Carmen.

I got back to the resort pretty late after going to Xplor Fuego and it was pretty quiet with not much going on. I think Cantina Los Faroles is pretty much the only bar that’s open late.

But if you’re looking for nighttime entertainment, you can also consider going to the nighttime parks like Xplor Fuego or the Xcaret Mexico Espectacular at Xcaret Park.

Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about Xcaret Hotel Mexico:

I hope these Hotel Xcaret Mexico reviews have given you a good idea of what to expect during your stay at this unique eco-resort!

I honestly had a fantastic experience and would highly recommend it for families looking for a fun and adventurous vacation in the Riviera Maya.

Yes, it is expensive but I think the resort is a tremendous value for families because of the included Xcaret parks and tours, free airport transportation, as well as the exceptional service, gourmet dining, and on-site amenities.

If you think about how much money you’d spend at the parks and tours, plus the cost of transportation to get there, it really adds up and makes Hotel Xcaret Mexico an even better deal.

The only real con for me was the rocky beach, but they do have beautiful lagoons and sandy beach areas to make up for it, which are safer for small kids anyway.

Now for adults, I would suggest staying at the adults-only Hotel Xcaret Arte next door, or you can book a room at Casa Fuego, which is the adults-only Casa at Hotel Xcaret Mexico.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at Hotel Xcaret Mexico and highly recommend it for families!

I was blown away by the impeccable service, delicious food, and fun activities and honestly didn’t want to leave!

So, what do you think, are you ready to book your stay at Hotel Xcaret Mexico?!