Rivers between the suites
Rivers and coves run between the buildings, made for a paddle board, with trajineras moored along the bank.
Hotel Xcaret México
Here the room comes with the parks: staying at Hotel Xcaret México means walking into Xcaret, Xel-Há, Xplor and the rest whenever you like, transport included. In between, rivers past the suites and 10 Casas.
A week here, month by monthFor families who want an active holiday, Google’s lowest seller showed nights from 14,770 pesos for 2 adults. A guest writing in October 2025 would choose elsewhere for a week spent entirely on the beach.
A Hotel Xcaret México wedding: the venues, the packages, the prices and the room rule Official site Hotel Xcaret Mexico pricesWould you go?
Keep it among your hotels and see it on the budget globe, month by month.Like a regular
Your room beside the pool
Travelling with children, I would ask for the Garden Swim Up: direct pool access from the room, a garden outlook and space for 2 adults and 2 children. It comes in several Casas.
Start with late August
For 20–26 August 2027, Google showed individual nights from 14,833 to 15,232 pesos when read on 13 October 2026; 25 November 2026 reached 27,175 pesos. I would start with August when comparing dates.
Time the airport shuttle
The airport–hotel–airport shuttle is included: every 30 minutes from 9am to 5pm, then every 60 minutes overnight. For a late flight, I would plan around the hourly service.
What Hotel Xcaret México is
Hotel Xcaret México opened in December 2017 as a tribute to Maya culture and to Mexico’s craftspeople: every decorative object in the suites is handmade. It has since grown to 1,800 suites in 10 Casas with different characters: Casa Luna for families with children up to 9, Casa Agua with the Muluk Spa, Casa Fuego for adults only, with its own restaurant and rooftop. Rivers and inlets run between the buildings, and the suites look onto jungle, river or sea (official site).
The real difference is All-Fun Inclusive: unlimited entry and transport to Xcaret, Xel-Há, Xplor, Xplor Fuego, Xenses, Xoximilco and Xenotes, the Xcaret Xailing ferry to Isla Mujeres and a shared transfer from Cancún airport. Xcaret park is 4 minutes away; Xel-Há, Xoximilco and Xenotes need booking. Almost all food is included, except HA’, Carlos Gaytán’s Michelin-starred restaurant, which is paid separately like the spa.
Guests rate it 4.6 out of 5 on Tripadvisor, from more than 16 thousand reviews, and on Google. Restaurants need reserving ahead, and many guests describe the membership sales presentations at the airport and at breakfast. It is so big you get lost, one guest writes, and every time you find a new corner.
A resort of 1,800 suites draws a crowd of opinions. Of its 20,191 Google reviews we collected the 2,000 most recent, from 27 April 2025 to 29 September 2026, and sorted the 1,283 with text; then came 34 YouTube videos searched (27 relevant), 60 Instagram posts, 20 TikToks, 32 articles from 30 publications, 8 official pages and 740 video frames. Of the reviews with text, 630 are in Spanish and 470 in English.
In the Lumina Guide
Lumina Guide 2027
Here the room comes with the parks: staying at Hotel Xcaret México means walking into Xcaret, Xel-Há, Xplor and the rest whenever you like, transport included.
Distinctions
Those who come back
Among the hotel’s regulars, a parent on a third stay writes that the children’s favourite is the octopus pool with its slides. Another family’s account starts with a stay in 2021 and a return the following year with young children, who still ask to come back.
- 11 of the 1,052 reviews with text explicitly establish a repeat stay
- From a second stay to a fifth
- One guest returned after 7 years
Read across both lists of returning candidates in the 1,052 reviews with text; only explicit prior accommodation counted.
Our reading, point by point
What we found reading the hotel’s own pages, one thing at a time.
Location
Next to Xcaret park, 12 minutes from Playa del Carmen and under an hour from Cancún airport.
Character
Rivers between the Casas, Mexican craft in every suite, an open tribute to Maya culture.
Rooms
1,800 suites in 17 categories, from Swim Ups with pool access to Presidentials with a hammock over the water.
Food and social life
Almost everything included; Carlos Gaytán’s Michelin-starred HA’ is extra; restaurants need booking.
Wellness
The Muluk Spa in Casa Agua, suites with volcanic stone tubs; treatments are not included.
The stay as a whole
About 17,021–19,000 pesos a night for 2 on the dates we read, but with parks, ferry and transfer inside.
The 5 things that matter, as guests tell them
What do Hotel Xcaret México’s guests say? They write it in their reviews, even those who only came for a drink or dinner: we read every one and tell the 5 things that matter, from the location to the bill.
Location
7 in 10 guests who mention it are happy with it. The hotel sits on the coast beside Xcaret park, 12 minutes from Playa del Carmen: guests write of the parks a shuttle ride away, included in the stay, and of the rivers that run between the Casas.
Room
5 in 10 guests who mention it are happy with it. Guests write of handsome, modern suites, comfortable and spacious, some facing the sea, others the river or the jungle.
Staff and service
Guests remember the warmth of the staff and the cooking at the Culinary Collective restaurants, which are part of All-Fun Inclusive.
Breakfast
At breakfast guests praise the Mexican buffet, included like the other meals in All-Fun Inclusive.
Price
The price takes in the group’s parks, the Isla Mujeres ferry, the transfer from Cancún and almost all food and drink.
The numbers, and how we count them
| What | Score out of 10 | Guests who mention it | Happy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | 7.2 | 73 | 66% |
| Room | 5.5 | 82 | 51% |
| Staff and service | 5.0 | 328 | 43% |
| Breakfast | 5.4 | 26 | 38% |
| Price | – | 125 | 20% |
The scores come from 500 Google reviews with text, left from 7 April 2026 to 29 September 2026. The other hotels are the ones weighed for a stay on the Riviera Maya: for each we read its latest 500 Google reviews with text, or all of them where there are fewer, as of 1 October 2026. The score is the average of what they say, from 0 if they speak of it very badly to 10 if they speak of it very well. Where only a few mention something, the score stays close to the guide’s average: a handful of voices does not make a reputation.
The hotels we weigh it against on the Riviera Maya:
- Hotel Xcaret Arte
- Grand Velas Riviera Maya
- Fairmont Mayakoba
- Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun
- Paradisus Playa del Carmen
Price: for two on the night of 7 September 2027, from 14,770 pesos (seen on Google Hotels on 13 October 2026).
What a night costs, season by season
The calendar read on 13 October 2026 ranged from 14,770 pesos for a night in September 2027 to 27,175 pesos on 25 November 2026. I would compare a complete stay before booking: each calendar amount is for a single night searched separately for 2 adults.
| Period | Pesos a night |
|---|---|
| 14 October to 18 November 2026 | 15,540–24,420 |
| 19 November to 26 December 2026 | 16,387–27,175 |
| 27 December 2026 to 2 January 2027 | 21,687–26,708 |
| 3 January to 8 September 2027 | 14,770–22,638 |
The lowest price any seller showed on Google Hotels for a single night for 2 adults, read on 13 October 2026; room category and meal plan are unspecified. The calendar stops on 8 September 2027. Booked as 7 nights from 16 November 2026, the lowest seller Google listed that day asked 20,103 pesos a night.
Hotel Xcaret México, from the river to the cove
The river by kayak, the jump from a riverside suite’s terrace, the pools along the balconies, Casa Fuego’s rooftop above the cove, the footbridge over the bay, the Muluk Spa, La Xentral’s buffet and a stage show.
YouTube
3:28
YouTube
0:36
YouTube
0:06
YouTube
0:22
YouTube
8:18
YouTube
1:34
YouTube
0:05
YouTube
7:56
What to expect
Rivers between the suites, an adults-only Casa, the spa in Casa Agua, HA’s Michelin star and a world for children.
Casa Fuego, adults only
The Casa without children has its own restaurant, open only to its guests, and a rooftop terrace looking out to sea.
The Muluk Spa
It sits in Casa Agua, all stone and turquoise water. Treatments are extra; a Spa Suite comes with a volcanic-stone tub on the terrace.
HA’, the Michelin star
Carlos Gaytán’s cooking is the only meal you pay for. The other restaurants are included, but book them in the morning.
For children
Slides and pools for children and teenagers, the Xiquit Inn playroom and the Xiipal club; Casa Luna is the Casa for the youngest, up to 9.
Good to know before you book
Restaurants need booking ahead, and on days with many arrivals check-in takes an hour or 2, guests report in 2026. Source: 500 Google reviews read, 7 April 2026 to 29 September 2026
The breakfast invitation guests receive at the airport or on arrival is the sales presentation for the group’s membership, and lasts over an hour. Source: 500 Google reviews read, 7 April 2026 to 29 September 2026
Xcaret, Xplor, Xplor Fuego and Xenses need no booking; Xel-Há, Xoximilco and Xenotes do. Photos and optional activities in the parks are extra.
The shared transfer from Cancún is included and needs no booking: every 30 minutes from 9am to 5pm, then hourly.
Almost all food and drink is included; HA’ is paid, and Casa Fuego’s restaurant is for its own guests only.
Muluk Spa treatments are not part of All-Fun Inclusive; some Casa Agua suites carry their own benefits.
Check-in at 3pm, check-out at noon; early arrival or late departure costs extra, unless the rate includes it.
Between May 2025 and September 2026, 19 of the 2,000 most recent Google reviews describe cockroaches, almost always in the room.
Between August 2025 and August 2026, 12 Google reviews describe queuing for breakfast at the buffets, from 20 minutes to an hour.
The 17 suite categories
Getting here
The hotel is on the coast between Playa del Carmen and Xcaret park, and the shuttle from Cancún airport is included.
| Cancún airport | Shared shuttle included, every 30 minutes from 9am to 5pm and hourly overnight; the hotel estimates 45 minutes, we measured 55 on the roads. |
|---|---|
| Playa del Carmen | 12 minutes by car, 9.7 km, to Quinta Avenida. |
| Xcaret park | 4 minutes, with All-Fun Inclusive transport. |
Journeys are measured on OpenStreetMap’s roads; shuttle times from the official FAQ, read on 28 September 2026.
Beyond the hotel
Xcaret park next door, Playa del Carmen, the lagoons of Xel-Há and the ruins of Tulum above the sea: the whole Riviera Maya within an hour’s drive.
Xcaret park
The park the group grew from, included in the stay: 4 minutes by car, 1.9 km.
Playa del Carmen
Quinta Avenida, the pedestrian street of shops and bars: 12 minutes by car, 9.7 km.
Xel-Há
The park of lagoons and rivers, included but to be booked: 35 minutes by car, 43 km.
Tulum
The Maya ruins above the sea, outside All-Fun Inclusive: 46 minutes by car, 57 km.
From Hotel Xcaret to the Riviera Maya
The hotel, Xcaret park, Playa del Carmen, Xel-Há, Tulum and Cancún airport.
Loading map…
Recommended for you
A day at Hotel Xcaret México
On arrival
Settle into your room
Check-in starts at 3pm; early arrival costs extra unless your rate includes it.
The morning
Choose the day’s park
For Xel-Há, make the reservation: the journey takes 35 minutes, with transport included.
The afternoon
Paddle along the rivers
Back at the hotel, take a kayak or paddleboard onto the rivers.
Before dinner
Bathe on your terrace
In a River Spa Suite, the volcanic-stone tub makes the terrace a place to linger.
After dinner
Make time for a film
The hotel includes movie nights among its family activities.
Hotel Xcaret México reviews
Platform scores and what guests say: the wonder, the parks, the membership presentations and the service.
Scores read on 29 September 2026
Tripadvisor16,408 reviews4.6/5
Google20,191 reviews4.6/5
Expedia1,761 reviews8.8/10
Booking.com718 reviews8.6/10Guest voices
From the hotel’s Google listing, September 2026: the discovery, the parks for the family, a guest on a fourth visit and the membership presentation over breakfast.
GoogleGetting lost, and finding
Architecturally a dream: it is huge, you get lost, but wherever you end up you find an astonishing spot. A reason to come back and see the rest.
Google · September 2026Read the review
GoogleThe parks with the family
Going with the family is a joy, because entry to the group’s parks is included. Would do it all again, except the membership presentation, which runs too long.
Google · September 2026Read the review
GoogleThe fourth time
On a fourth visit the hotel still charms, but the staff’s service disappoints more each time, as if they were there reluctantly.
Google · September 2026Read the review
GoogleLuxury is in the details
The difference between an average hotel and a premium one is in the details, and that is exactly where this stay, in the Lobby 2 area, fell short.
Google · September 2026Read the review
GoogleBreakfast with a sales pitch
Invited to a membership breakfast presentation: over an hour’s wait before it began, then walking out and asking for the ferry refund.
Google · September 2026Read the review
Questions before you go
Official sources read on 28 September 2026; Google Hotels prices captured the same day.
What does All-Fun Inclusive include?
Entry and transport for Xcaret, Xel-Há, Xplor, Xplor Fuego, Xenses, Xoximilco and Xenotes, the Xcaret Xailing ferry to Isla Mujeres with transfer to the Cancún pier, the shared airport transfer and almost all food and drink at the hotel (official FAQ). HA’, the Muluk Spa, park photos and optional activities are not.
Which parks need booking?
Xel-Há, Xoximilco and Xenotes; Xcaret, Xplor, Xplor Fuego and Xenses do not.
How many suites and Casas are there?
1,800 suites, according to the hotel’s FAQ, in 10 Casas: Luna, Vida, Sol, Viento, Tierra, Espiral, Agua, Fuego, Eclipse and Cielo. There are 17 categories: 8 Suites, 3 Junior Suites, 2 Swim Ups and 4 Master and Presidential Suites. The official pages give no floor areas.
Which Casa for families, which for adults?
Casa Luna is designed for families with children up to 9, with its own playroom and children’s pool. Casa Fuego is adults only, with a restaurant and rooftop; Casa Agua and Casa Eclipse also have adult spaces.
Is the airport transfer included?
Yes, the shared one from Cancún, both ways, with no booking: every 30 minutes from 9am to 5pm and hourly overnight. The hotel estimates 45 minutes; on the roads we measured 55.
Is the spa included, and can non-guests use it?
Muluk Spa treatments are not included in All-Fun Inclusive; some Casa Agua suites carry spa-related benefits. The hotel publishes no day pass for people staying elsewhere.
How much is a night?
Google Hotels, read on 13 October 2026 for 2 adults, showed 17,268 pesos for 15 October, 22,085 pesos for 22 October, 16,290 pesos for 16 November and 18,097 pesos for 15 December, with parks and transport included under All-Fun.
Is Hotel Xcaret Arte the same hotel?
No. Hotel Xcaret México, Hotel Xcaret Arte and La Casa de la Playa are 3 different hotels from the same group, with their own rooms, restaurants and age rules. All 3 are booked on the same site: check the name before paying.
What is there for children? Is there a beach?
A playroom, the Xiquit Inn, the Xiipal club, slides and pools for children and teenagers; Casa Luna is the Casa for the youngest. The hotel also has a stretch of beach with signed access.
Are pets allowed?
Yes, the hotel calls itself pet-friendly. Maximum weight and cleaning fee are in the booking’s policy.
Are there accessible suites?
Yes: ramps, wheelchair access and some adapted suites, subject to availability, marked on the category pages.
Is the ferry to Isla Mujeres included?
Yes, return trips with Xcaret Xailing and the transfer to the pier in Cancún’s hotel zone.
Wi-Fi and parking?
Wi-Fi is included in rooms and public areas. There is a car park with valet; the hotel does not say whether it is free.
Do all suites open onto a pool?
No: direct access belongs to the Swim Ups, such as the Garden Swim Up and the adults’ Ocean Front Swim Up in Casa Fuego.
Is booking direct worth it?
On the official site you pay in full when you book. The fair comparison with a portal is between 2 totals for the same suite and dates, with the same cancellation terms.
What is the food like, and what is included?
The restaurants of the Culinary Collective, led by chefs Alejandro Ruiz, Miguel Bautista and Luis Arzapalo, are part of All-Fun Inclusive; Carlos Gaytán’s Michelin-starred HA’ is paid separately. Book the restaurants ahead: many guests advise it.
What is the spa like, and what else is there for wellbeing?
The Muluk Spa is in Casa Agua and is being extended; the hotel publishes the treatment menu, paid separately, but no floor area, wet areas or day pass. Included in the stay are 3 gyms, padel and tennis courts, yoga, meditation, paddle-boarding and kayaks.
What is the pool like?
There are many pools, including the Trajinera and infinity pools facing the sea; the Swim Ups open straight from the room and Casa Luna has a children’s pool.
Where exactly is it?
On the Chetumal–Puerto Juárez federal highway at kilometre 282, south of Playa del Carmen, next to Xcaret park: a resort on the sea, outside the town.
Can you hold a wedding or an event?
Yes: Palmeras Beach, the Fuego inlet, the Playones, the Catholic chapel at the top of the Xpiral and 2 convention centres, in Casa Tierra and Casa Cielo, and a Casa designed for groups. The hotel publishes no prices; planners give $16,750 for the Paraíso package with 30 guests, and at least 80% of the guests must stay here. Venues, packages and rules are on the wedding page.
Is it open all year?
Yes. The rate calendar read on 28 September 2026 showed bookable nights from October to December.
What does the hotel do for New Year?
On 28 September 2026 the hotel published no New Year’s Eve programme; dinners at the restaurants stay included in All-Fun Inclusive, HA’ apart.
Other hotels in the guide
Emirates Palace
The 2005 palace on the Gulf: 114 domes, 1.3 km of beach and rooms from 55 m² up.
Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora
Overwater bungalows facing Mount Otemanu, beach villas and a private lagoon where you swim among the fish.
The Brando
Marlon Brando’s atoll, 20 minutes by air from Tahiti: 35 villas with pools, the reef in front and the Tetiaroa Society’s naturalists.
The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort
Overwater villas from 144 m², a butler for each, the Lagoonarium’s Napoleon fish and a spa on an islet of its own.
Amanemu
Aman’s hot-spring resort on Ago Bay: a spring-fed bath in every suite and villa, a 2,000 m² spa with open-air pools and, since June 2026, dinner in the rate.
The Datai Langkawi
The rainforest resort above Datai Bay: villas on stilts, a path down to the beach and naturalists who lead you among hornbills and monkeys.
Soneva Jani
Water villas of more than 500 m², each with a pool, a slide into the lagoon and an opening roof over the bed; the reef is a boat ride away.
Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab
The 2025 island resort beside the Burj Al Arab: a terrace with every room, a beach and 4 pools.
Velaa Private Island
A 20-hectare island with 47 villas, all with a pool, a golf academy, a snow room and the Maldives’ largest private wine cellar.
Atlantis The Royal
The 2023 tower of blocks on the Palm: breakfast and Aquaventure included, 44 suites with private pools.
Cheval Blanc Randheli
LVMH’s maison in the Maldives: 46 villas with 12.5-metre pools, a Guerlain spa on its own island and Le Carrousel kids’ club.
Soneva Fushi
The first Soneva, since 1995: more than 60 villas in the jungle and 8 over the water, The Den for children of 4 to 17 and a reef you can swim to from the beach.