Review on What Is the Best Xcaret Tours
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Are you heading to Cancun shortly and looking for an action-packed, spread-out resort adventure with zip lines, cenotes, and all the dazzler that Mexico has to offering? Are you sustainability-witting and want to make sure you're patronizing ethically-focused, Mexican-owned businesses? Merely y'all still want that affect of luxury and rest, that only an all-inclusive can give you?
Well, welcome to Hotel Xcaret Mexico!
I was invited to stay at the Hotel Xcaret Mexico, which also and then we got to take a total Grupo Xcaret feel in our 4-day trip.
Xcaret has an ALL-FUN INCLUSIVE ™ concept, which, straight from their website, says that when you stay at an Xcaret holding you automatically go:
Unlimited access to our nine parks: Xcaret, Xel-Ha, Xplor, Xplor Fuego, Xavage, Xoximilco, Xenses and Xenotes. It also includes food and beverages, transportation between parks and an airport-hotel-airdrome shuttle.
Y'all could get to a different amusement park every day and still not experience all of the adventures they accept to offer. On my trip, my sis and I stayed at Hotel Xcaret United mexican states, their more family-friendly resort, and enjoyed the Xichen and Xenotes tour.
Here's my authentic review of the resort, experiences, foods, and parks.
Tabular array of Contents
- Welcome to Cancun: How exercise y'all get to the resort?
- 4 Day Cancun Hazard Xcaret Itinerary
- Day i: Xichen Tour Review
- Day 2: Xenotes Tour Review
- Cenote/Jungle Safety Tips
- Cenote Lu'um
- Cenote Ha'
- Cenote Iik'
- Cenote K'aak'
- Xcaret Espectacular Night Dinner Bear witness
- Day iii: Explore Hotel Xcaret Mexico
- Final thoughts: Xcaret was intentional, well-executed, and fun!
- What to pack for your all-inclusive resort vacation?
Welcome to Cancun: How do you get to the resort?
Y'all'll commencement your trip by flight into Cancun International airport. When yous stay at whatsoever Xcaret Mexico belongings they take a complimentary bus that shuttles you the 45-ninety minutes (depending on traffic) to the resort.
My sister and I arrived at different terminals (me flight in domestically, her from the Us) and then it took a petty configuring to go u.s. on the same bus, only eventually, nosotros were off!
Hotel Xcaret Arte, Xcaret Hotel, and the La Casa De Playa are Grupo Xcaret properties, and you tin access, walk between, explore, and enjoy during your stay.
Equally y'all drive upward to the entrance of Hotel Xcaret Mexico and walk into the welcome center, you lot're welcomed by a warm swarm of staff members.
Condom first: someone comes up to you with a quick temperature check and offers y'all a welcome gift of a festive, reusable mask to wear and a travel-sized hand sanitizer, and mini-popsicles to help you absurd from the warm weather as you await to reach the reception.
During check-in, you lot're given a pretty unique room central—a h2o-proof, radio-frequency bracelet that functions every bit your room key and electronic laissez passer to the resort's many amenities. No demand to worry virtually pockets or losing your room key zip lining or on a busy dark at one of the hotel's 12 restaurants.
Let'south get into our itinerary:
4 24-hour interval Cancun Adventure Xcaret Itinerary
Day 1: Xichen Tour Review
On our first total day, we signed up to experience the Xichen tour with Xcaret Expeditions.
The tour included a day trip to Chichen Itza (i of the 7 Mod Wonders of the World!), a visit to a nearby cenote Xcajum, and a buffet lunch and exploration of a nearby Mexican city called Valladolid.
6:30 AM
We woke up and ordered a room service breakfast of yogurt, bagels, and fresh fruits. The sun was beginning to rising and then nosotros had a beautiful view from our 3rd-floor room every bit we ate and got gear up for the 24-hour interval!
seven:30 AM
We went to the vestibule to board the bus for our group tour.
It was a 3-hour double-decker ride from Hotel Xcaret Mexico to Chichen Itza, so the tour guides kept us entertained with some knowledge about the ancient metropolis of Chichen Itza, Mayan Culture, and fifty-fifty taught us about the Mayan alphabet and numbers, the Mayan gods, and the Mayan agenda so we could get the well-nigh out of our trip.
10:30 AM
Once y'all make it the Xcaret guides mitt you lot a ticket (usually USD$22) and yous enter the park. You practise have to pay an extra fee if you want to enter with a professional photographic camera (DSLR, GoPro, etc.)—of USD$v per photographic camera.
I'd been to Chichen Itza before with my family unit without a professional person tour guide, and so I thought I knew what to expect. But the Xichen tour was splendid!
We spent three hours walking around the grounds. The Xcaret guides were very knowledgeable, and 2 of the four people who guided usa were actual ethnic Mayans who spoke the Mayan dialect and could give u.s. an in-depth explanation of the Mayan ruins, Chichen-Itza, and the ancient and mod history of the people.
Xcaret too provided sandwiches, water, and umbrellas to use to shade ourselves from the intense sun. Well-nigh of the city is very apartment and if y'all have a wheelchair that accommodates rough surfaces, you should be able to see all or well-nigh of the sites.
I grew up on animated movies, and if y'all've ever watched El Dorado, you'll see a lot of the Mayan culture referenced in the movie, hither art Chichen-Itza! Xibalba, anyone? Jaguar Temple, anyone? It's all here.
ii PM
Adjacent up was Xcajum cenote. Just 15 infinitesimal bulldoze abroad, the cenote is definitely 1 you've been earlier if y'all've looked upwards "Mexico cenotes" on Instagram or Pinterest before.
At the entrance, at that place is a pocket-sized gift shop, snack hut, and a cultural exhibit to explore. You tin see a traditional Mayan house and there's someone there to explain more virtually their way of life, how they lived, found nutrient, and made tools, etc.
♿️ Once you park it's about a v-minute walk to the cenotes and includes around twenty loose gravel steps to accomplish the entrance. This cenote isn't wheelchair attainable, sadly. Merely the traditional Mayan house and cultural showroom are if you can traverse the gravel rocks!
The cenote itself is partially covered, and the inner cavern is beautiful! The h2o feels similar mount spring water, very cool and well-baked.
There are no fishes or algae, and they require yous to rinse your body off earlier inbound to help protect the water supply from oils and chemicals.
3:30 PM
From Xcajum cenote information technology was a 1-hr bus ride to the city of Valladolid. We went to a restaurant chosen La Casona and ate a succulent buffet lunch.
From so, y'all have about an hour of free time to walk and explore the city. The beautifully colored buildings, churches, and parks reminded me of the urban center of Puebla!
7:30 PM
It was some other 3-60 minutes bus ride dorsum to the hotel, where we all mostly slept.
Luckily, information technology was enough time to become hungry once again as we had made dinner reservations dinner at Hotel Xcaret United mexican states'southward Asian restaurant, Xiao.
It absolutely blew our minds. We ordered the tuna sashimi, miso soup, steak filet, ramen… Some, we ordered twice considering once wasn't enough! The service was swell—our waiter was from Oaxaca, and recommended u.s. mezcal-based drinks—and the quality of the food was fifty-fifty better.
Ten-yard out of ten!
Solar day 2: Xenotes Bout Review
Did you know there were dissimilar kinds of cenotes? Xcaret's Xenotes tour takes y'all to four beautiful cenotes in Riviera Maya! Correct from their website:
Xenotes is the simplyCancun tour that takes you to visit the 4 types ofcenotes (sinkholes) that exist in nature: semi-open up, the opengran cenote, aboriginal, and the cavernblue cenote. Have fun with activities such as assisted rappel, zip-lines, kayaking, exploration swimming, or cliff jumping. To furnish free energy, a succulent picnic will be waiting for you. Enter the heart of the Mayan jungle at the bestcenotes in Cancun.
Each Xcaret Xenotes tour will go to the same four cenotes, only perchance in a dissimilar order depending on how decorated they are. They desire you to become the best, most private experience possible.
7:00 AM
Some other early morning as our Xenotes tour grouping was meeting at 9 AM. Nosotros started the twenty-four hour period with a breakfast buffet at the eating place Mercato—astonishing!
They had a huge diversity of traditional Mexican breakfasts foods similar tamales, eggs, enchilada, frijoles, etc., and American breakfast items like waffles, bagels, a smoothie/juice bar, bacon, and more.
9 AM
Adequately full, we met up with our tour group. This bout was a fleck smaller and we all fit into a van. My sister and I were the only exclusively-English speakers on this tour, simply it wasn't a problem considering the Xcaret staff knew both Spanish and English very well.
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As y'all arrive at the offset cenote the Xcaret staff volition give you lot a safe briefing. Hither are some cardinal points:
Cenote/Jungle Safety Tips
- Before you put on your life vest at each cenote, shake it. You lot want to make certain at that place are no creepy crawlies before you strrap in. In that location arre scorpions, tarantulas, mosquitos, etc. in the area We didn't see any on our tour, merely better safe than lamentable!
- There's a tree that has dangerous blackness sap that can potentially give yous third degree burns—then keep your hands to yourself and don't lean, or sit down without looking.
- You may run across wild animals like spider monkeys, coatis, iguanas, etc. Don't feed or impact them.
11 AM
Cenote Lu'um
You outset off the cenotes tour hot with an assisted repel into the cavern. Meaning, just like when you go rock climbing, you put on a waist harness and they actually lower yous more than 80ft into the cenote!
Cenote Lu'um is almost completely covered, then extremely dark, dusky, and adventurous. As y'all descend into the cave (completely safely) Xcaret's hired lensman is taking candid photos of you that you tin can either collect or purchase at the end of the tour.
one PM
Cenote Ha'
Next up: Cenote Ha'. This semi-open cenote was double-whammy—in i part we took kayaks down a pathway with tall cave walls on both sides.
On this lilliputian kayaking journey we saw a ton of wild critters, which every bit a wild animals fanatic and David Attenborough-lover, I was super excited nearly. Golden web spiders, a tarantula, diving ducks, and fish of all kinds! All far enough away to non put the states in whatever danger, just very cool to see.
One time you finish kayaking you're led to the second half of Cenote Ha' which is a literal underwater wonderland.
You enter the cenote through a cavern and steps that lead into the h2o and slowly swim around a little island in the center of the cenote. The h2o is crystal articulate because the muddy bottom of the cenote tin can exist as far downwardly as 60m (180 feet!)
I got a bit of vertigo looking direct downwards only it was absolutely beautiful pond through the sapphire water next to the long lilypads and underwater flora and with the sun shining through from above.
ii:30 PM
Cenote Iik'
When we arrived at Cenote Iik, it was fourth dimension for the Mayan human sacrifice—cliff jumping!
There are ii long zilch lines stretched across the cenote that you tin hang from in a lot of fun means: superman, swing set, batman (upside downward!), handlebars, etc.
1-by-one we took turns leaping, swinging, ziplining, into the stunning emerald dark-green water for more ii hours! Other groups of tourists defenseless up to us and we joined in the fun together.
Later that, nosotros enjoyed a delicious buffet lunch provided by Xcaret of sandwiches, roast beef, ham, cheeses, bread, and of course wine and beer.
Cenote K'aak'
Our last cenote! And of course, the all-time. Cenote Thousand'aak' had everything—waterslides, ziplines, resting/picnic area, inner tubes, lazy river, and cliff jumping.
8:30 PM
Xcaret Espectacular Dark Dinner Show
We arrived dorsum at the hotel at 8:xxx PM, but in time to get changed and head out to the Espectacular Dinner Show at Xcaret Park. There is a free shuttle that picks upward from the front of the hotel every 30 minutes, and so nosotros took that pink omnibus to Xcaret Park, which was a 15-minute bulldoze.
Once we arrived at the park we made our way to Gran Tlachco Theater and took our seats for the show to begin.
The dinner show's focus is a cultural performance that teaches you almost the history of Mexico, the many cultures that be inside of Mexico, and the beauty of the country in general. In that location are acrobatic acts, beautiful dances, and skits to demonstrate the history of United mexican states.
My personal favorite act was the Trip the light fantastic toe of the Old Human being, which is a dance where they hire older performers who otherwise may non have been able to keep to perform in shows. Information technology was extremely entertaining and humorous, and the entire crowd was roaring with laughter!
Forth with the show, they serve you a delicious three-course dinner of small portions. We had steak, fish, and a modest dessert cake with your choice of flowing ruddy or white wine.
The Xcaret Espectacular Night Dinner Bear witness was a highlight of our evening. Even before seeing it for myself, I heard it was a must-run across event when staying at Xcaret.
Twenty-four hours 3: Explore Hotel Xcaret United mexican states
This was our terminal day at Hotel Xcaret Mexico and nosotros decided to accept it easy from the tours to explore and enjoy the resort. Nosotros finally got to slumber in a bit, and what a sleep information technology was.
The beds are ridiculously comfortable.
Our double room came with a large bathtub in-room, continuing shower with multiple shower heads, two robes, flat-screen television, mini-fridge stocked with snacks and drinking water, and of course, an iconic balcony with a hammock and perfect sunrise view of the resort.
As run a risk-packed as the excursions are and as dream-like the resort is, y'all'll find it hard to resist spending time in your room during your stay.
Spread-out Adventure, Cancun: REAL Review of Xcaret, Xenotes, and Xichen Click To Tweet
8 AM
This morning I ventured downward to Hotel Xcaret United mexican states'southward beach area to have breakfast at their restaurant, Bio.
Bio has a 100% vegan carte du jour that is healthy, light, and succulent which is exactly what I was looking for after having the rich dinner art the Espectacular Dinner Prove the night earlier, and a day of beach exploring alee.
The restaurant is ready in a beautiful cove that leads into the crystal blueish shallow embankment. Subsequently my breakfast, I walked around the area and was astonished by the amount of the hotel I had merely not seen nevertheless!
9 AM
After breakfast, I explored the coves and caverns of the hotel. They seemed to span for miles and twist and plow following the inlets and rivers from Riviera Maya.
I also discovered their subconscious restaurants amidst the rocks, Las Cuevas and Chibali. If I had known they were down hither, I would have definitely made a more concerted endeavour to brand reservations!
Hotel Xcaret Arte is connected to Hotel Xcaret Mexico by the beach, so I walked over to Hotel Xcaret Arte to explore their stunning grounds.
By at present it was getting close to apex, which was cheque-out fourth dimension. Before I left, I wanted to get a total view of the backdrop, and then I went towards the highest point of the property Capilla de Todos los Ăngeles, which translates to Chapel of the Angels.
At the bottom of the beautiful hill are golf game carts that will accept y'all round and round until y'all reach the elevation. In that location is where you volition discover the chapel where people volition often get married, or have a sunlit Sun service more than than vi stories in the air.
From the top, y'all can see all three side by side Xcaret properties and even a few miles over to Xcaret Park.
Final thoughts: Xcaret was intentional, well-executed, and fun!
I was very pleasantly surprised past how much I enjoyed my time at Xcaret MĂ©xico! Not only did I go the extreme action and adventure I was looking for while seeing the area's iconic cenotes, just I also got the all-inclusive resort experience I was looking for.
The upstanding and social awareness the Grupo Xcaret has for the wildlife in the area from preserving the red macaw species to altruistic to sea turtle conservation efforts, to hiring local indigenous people to requite the tours and leasing the cenotes they apply from the local people so they retain ownership of their country, fabricated me not only have fun simply autumn in dearest with the visitor.
What to pack for your all-inclusive resort vacation?
When it comes to packing for your spread-out CancĂșn adventure, you'll want a few options that fit into the CancĂșn resort aesthetic.
I recommend long-flowing dressing and cardigans that not only look great in Instagram photos but keep the dusk mosquitoes at bay. Yous'll also desire to bring a variety of shoes including stylish sandals, sandal heels for the resort dinners, and h2o shoes for your Xenote adventures.
Hotel Xcaret Mexico does have a store on site that sells nuts like umbrellas, water shoes (I bought mine in that location for $thirty USD), sunscreen, sandals, etc. so if y'all do forget something, don't fret.
Raise your vibration – dress to impress! Because, why not? Pack warm colors, beautiful swimsuits, assuming prints, and breathable fabrics.
Of course, also pack mosquito spray, sunscreen, and sunglasses.
If you're looking for more resort vacation outfits, cheque out the examples I have above! Every outfit I have in these photos was one I was extremely happy I brought.
Is Xcaret resort all-inclusive?
Yeah! Xcaret has an ALL-FUN INCLUSIVE ™ concept, which, gives guests unlimited access to our 9 parks: Xcaret, Xel-Ha, Xplor, Xplor Fuego, Xavage, Xoximilco, Xenses and Xenotes. It as well includes food and beverages, transportation betwixt parks, and an airport-hotel-aerodrome shuttle.
How far is Xcaret to Cancun?
Hotel Xcaret Mexico is a 45 infinitesimal to 1 hour thirty infinitesimal (pending traffic) bulldoze from Cancun national airport. Technically, it's in Playa del Carmen.
Which Xcaret hotel is all-time? Where should I stay when visiting Xcaret?
Hotel Xcaret is attached to the park and is most convenient. Hotel Xcaret Mexico is best for families. Hotel Xcaret Arte is best for couples (and is 16+), and La Casa de Playa at Xcaret is as well developed only (18+).
This trip and weblog post were sponsored by Xcaret.
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Gabby is a multi-awardwinning creator. She is a full-time travel influencer, Gen Z travel marketing practiced, and public speaker. Y'all'll find her featured in the likes of Good Morning America, National Geographic, CNNTravel, Forbes, Travel+Leisure, and even the TEDx stage.
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Source: https://www.packslight.com/extreme-adventure-cancun-all-inclusive-resort/