Imagine setting foot onto a mega resort capable of hosting 900+ people and feeling like you’re the only one there. That’s the feeling you get when you stay at Hotel Xcaret. It’s surprisingly quiet, serene and on paper, everything you need to be productive. Sometimes though, just because a place is ripe for productivity, it doesn’t mean that we should be. Hotel Xcaret is one of those places. So do yourself a favour. Put the laptop away, silence your notifications and enjoy everything Hotel Xcaret has to offer (because it’s a lot). So here’s my honest review of Hotel Xcaret

Suitable for Business Travel: Yes     Business Facilities: Yes    Should you work here?: No   Wifi: Yes but spotty and often slow Solo Friendly: Not Really, you will have to pay for 2

Hotel Xcaret México is a stunning all-inclusive resort located in the Riviera Maya and about a 45-minute drive from Cancun International Airport.

The resort is named after the Xcaret archaeological site, and the Xcaret hotel group takes great care to respect the land on which it is built. Walking through the property you see the detail in which the hotel blends into the environment. The hotel features many stunning coves, rivers, inlets, jungle landscapes and lush gardens to make you feel like the hotel  and the environment were created one and the same. 

What’s Included?

In addition to all inclusive food at the 11 restaurants on the property, beverages at any of the restaurants and bars, transportation to and from the airport, river activities and access to all 7 of their parks are all included with your hotel stay.

Services Included:

Access to all 7 Xcaret Parks and Tours

When you book a room at Hotel Xcaret, you also get access to the 7 Xcaret theme parks and transportation to and from the parks every day! Here’s a run down of all the parks:

Xcaret Park: This is the main Xcaret park featuring, underground rivers, beaches, cenotes, and plenty of restaurants and bars! I have to say, this is not my favourite park. Sometimes when you try to do too much you kinda miss the mark. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great but there are better parks

Xel-Ha: This park focuses on outdoor activities such as snorkeling and swimming! This is the place to go if you want to spend time walking through the nature forests and enjoying a dip in the river. But, it reminds me a bit too much of Hotel Xcaret itself, just on a larger scale.

Xplor: This The park for extreme adventures such as rafting through the river, zip-lining along the top of the Riviera, and touring natural caves along the water! A blast if you want a more active day.

Xplor Fuego: This is Xplor but at night! Try a drive through torch-lit paths, paddle along their rivers of lava, and fly across ziplines in darkness.

Xavage: Looking for even more thrills? Xavage has an insane ropes courses, you can ride a 4 wheeler around the park, kayak on the rapids, or ride on a jet boat.

Xoximilco: Bringing all the vibes of Mexico City to the Riviera Maya. Imagine a gondola party through the jungle, full of dancing, singing, and mariachi and a traditional dinner to top it all off.

Xenses: As the name of this park suggests, everything here is will mess with your senses. You’ll find yourself questioning reality from the illusion. This is probably the least visited park, but it is one of my favourites!

You can also takes tours to Chichen Itza, Tulum, Coba and a special Xenote tour. The Xenote tour is incredible!

Shuttle to/from Cancun Airport

Hotel Xcaret makes both your arrival and departure seamless. The airport shuttle takes you directly to the hotel and vice versa. There are also shuttles running to and from all of the parks all day long

River Activities (kayaking and paddle boarding)

Hotel Xcaret is designer for river activities. With very calm waves, river activities are geared mostly to beginners. Seasoned experts may not get the thrills they’re looking for, but it’s still peaceful enough for anyone to enjoy

Fully Equipped Gym, Yoga, tai chi, meditation classes, and an obstacle course

While the gym at Hotel Xcaret has everything you need to stay fit on holiday, there are also plenty of options for those who want to stay fit without visiting the gym. You’ll find an array of indoor and outdoor classes as well as an obstacle course all over the hotel grounds. The obstacle course features ropes, climbing, as well as a couple of water slides thrown in for fun. (Hint: there are 7 hidden water slides in total)

Restaurants Included:

Xin-Gao: restaurant featuring a pan Asian menu. Reservations required

La Cantina Los Faroles: A Oaxaca inspired canteen with an inventive drink menu

La Trajinera: The seafood restaurant located next to the main pool and overlooking the sea

Mercado de la Merced: This is where you’ll find the breakfast buffet. The moment you walk in you feel like you’ve been transported to a market full of all the best fresh food choices including tortillas made right in front of you, so you know you’re getting the real thing!

Organic: a menu dedicated solely to plant based cuisine. If you’re vegan though be sure to double check with your waiter if a dish is vegan friendly. We asked for a “vegan” dish and it came covered in cotija cheese. Delicious but not vegan

Fuego : An Italian Mexican fusion restaurant that is accessible only to guests staying in Casa Fuego. Reservations here are required

Restaurant Cuevas: A restaurant within a network of caves. The perfect place for a romantic dinner. Reservations are required

Chibalí: An international buffet featuring international dishes. Great for a quick bite while on the premises but not my personal favourite. The candy and dessert station is amazing though. I stopped by just for a quick sweet fix a few times.

Teatro del Río: looking for dinner and a show? You’ll find both here

Restaurant Las Playas: Perfect if you’re spending a day on one of Hotel Xcaret’s beaches. Featuring fresh grilled seafood and refreshing margaritas.

Ha’: Traditional Mexican tasting menu from a Michelin star chef. This restaurant is not included in the all inclusive package, but remains one of the best meals of my life. It will set you back around $150, but in my opinion it is worth every penny

Rooms and Suites

There are four different types of rooms and suites available at Hotel Xcaret: Junior Suites, Suites, Swim-Up suites, and Master Suites. Each of these suites are located different “Houses” across the property where you can decide if you want a Garden View, Spa View, River View, or Ocean View suite.

During our stay, we reserved a Garden View master suite, and it was one of the most incredible rooms we’ve ever stayed in. However, after getting a tour of the property, for our next visit, we’ll have to choose the swim up suites with direct access to the river (which also include diving platforms). Great for families, couples and solo travellers!

Each Room Includes:

• 1 King size bed or 2 doubles (upon request and subject to availability)
• Hammocks on the balcony
• A stocked minibar of snacks & drinks (all included)
• Beach bag with essentials
• Jacuzzi bathtub
• Rain showers
• Hairdryers & hair care on request
• Security boxes
• 55′ flat-screen TV
• Espresso machine
• Complimentary WiFi

Spa

A trip to the spa at Hotel Xcaret is sure to be an unforgettable experience. The spa is set among the river and caves and adds to the natural and holistic experience of your spa treatment. There are 15 cabins as well as a hydrotherapy area and an area for a Temazcal ceremony. There are a variety of massages and services to choose from including special journeys guests can choose from. You can choose from Mayan, Ayurvedic, Sensory or Contemporary journeys to compliment the experience you’re looking for. While the spa is not included in the price of your stay, the prices are very reasonable.

Bonus: If you’re staying at Casa Agua, you receive a 15 minute reflexology massage as well as hydrotherapy session are included in your booking

Without a doubt, a stay at Hotel Xcaret is a one of a kind all inclusive experience. It isn’t the typical package deal you most associate with all inclusive. A stay here means you can have the holiday you need on any day of your stay, even if what you need changes everyday. As a digital nomad, this is a place where you shut the computer down and check your email at the end of the day (if that). There is way too much going on for you to be on your computer during your stay. For that matter, while you will be connected, I wouldn’t say you’ll be well enough connected to be truly productive.

Have you ever stayed at Hotel Xcaret. Let me know what you think

If you’ve been convinced, you can book your stay here (and nope, we’re not paid or sponsored, just fans)