Hotel Xcaret Arte: Our All-Fun Inclusive Escape

We spent four nights at Hotel Xcaret Arte, Grupo Xcaret’s adults-only resort just south of Playa del Carmen, and left already planning our return. It was the rare trip that balanced adventure, relaxation and a genuinely good party, and I never once felt nickel-and-dimed.

What “All-Fun Inclusive” actually means

Xcaret Arte isn’t cheap, but the price covers far more than a typical all-inclusive. Your stay includes:

• Your suite, meals and drinks at the resort’s restaurants and bars

• Unlimited entry to Grupo Xcaret’s parks and tours: Xcaret, Xel-Há, Xplor, Xplor Fuego, Xoximilco, Xenses, Xenotes and the Xichen tour to Chichén Itzá

• The buffet and lockers at each park

• Transportation to and from Cancún airport and to the parks

In other words, the excursions you’d normally budget for separately are already paid for. The real constraint is time, not money.

The resort itself

The grounds are breathtaking: limestone formations, a natural saltwater river winding through the property, immaculate tropical gardens and Mexican art around every corner. The resort has 900 suites and is adults-only (16+).

Arte is organized into themed buildings called casas, all connected to Casa del Patrón, the central hub. Each casa has its own personality and workshops:

• Casa de la Música – dance classes and an outdoor stage with live music. Watch from the tables, the swim-up bar, or your hammock if your room faces the stage like ours did.

• Casa del Diseño – textiles and weaving, facing the Caribbean

• Casa de la Pirámide – pottery, with views of the river

• Casa de la Paz – the quiet one, home to the spa and a rooftop vegan restaurant

• Casa de los Artistas – the premium, 18+ beachfront casa with painting workshops and its own restaurant

Pools and water: About 20 pools in all, including rooftop pools and bars on several casas. The main pool has a huge swim-up bar and an ocean view. Don’t miss the natural saltwater canals, the secluded sandy coves along the river, and the water slides that drop you right into it.

The beach: Great for walks and exploring tide pools, but it’s rocky with rough waves. Swim in the river and pools instead.

The food: excellent, period

Not excellent for an all-inclusive. Excellent. Arte has 10 restaurants and 10 bars, and all but two restaurants are included.

• Mercado de San Juan – the main buffet, styled like a colorful Mexican market. Tacos, pozole, grilled fish and meats, ceviche, fresh tortillas, pastries, ice cream. The best buffet quality I’ve encountered anywhere.

• Cayuco – a smaller Mediterranean buffet by the main pool

• Encanta – a multi-course tasting menu by Michelin-starred chef Paco Méndez, with a musical performance played on glass bottles. Not to be missed.

• Arenal – elevated beachside dining

• Tah-Xido – hibachi on one side, sushi on the other. We sat on the sushi side and were genuinely impressed.

• Cantina VI.AI.PY – Mexican dishes with lively Mexican music

• Cosexa – a rooftop vegan restaurant with a fully plant-based menu, on top of Casa de la Paz

Sit-down restaurants require dinner reservations, so book early.

After dark: Follow the glowing red lanterns to Deseo, the speakeasy. When the buffet closes at 11 p.m., a taco cart sets up outside and serves some of the best street tacos I’ve had.

Drinks: Cocktails were good, if a little sweet. My one complaint as a wine drinker: house wines were solid, but if you want a specific varietal you’ll pay extra for a bottle.

Park #1: Xcaret – a love letter to Mexico

Xcaret doesn’t have the thrills of the other parks, but it’s packed with culture, history and natural beauty. It’s the perfect way to start your trip.

The underground rivers are the main event. There are three (the Blue, Mayan and Manatee rivers), each winding through caves and jungle on a different route. All three start and finish at the same spot. Here’s how it works:

1. Stop at the locker area. Store your things in a locker, or hand them to an attendant who bags them and delivers them to the river exit.

2. Grab a life jacket. They’re required.

3. Keep only your phone, and only if you have a high-quality waterproof pouch to wear around your neck.

4. Swim, take in the views, and collect your bag at the end.

Don’t miss:

• The butterfly pavilion – one of the largest in the world, with exhibits on the butterfly life cycle

• The aviary – a tropical garden with rope bridges, waterfalls, a bird nursery, and quail chicks hatching in real time

• Mini-Mexico and the Mayan village – scale replicas of Mexico’s great pyramids and architecture

• The buffet – traditional Mexican food that’s genuinely good, with a live band and trained horses walking past

Pro tips:

• Towels cost about $4 each at the park. Rent one, or bring yours from the hotel.

• Water shoes are highly recommended.

• Consider the photo package. Scan your bracelet at camera stations in the most picturesque spots. We paid $240 for photos from two parks plus the hotel, and not juggling our phones while swimming was completely worth it.

Park #2: Xplor – for the adrenaline seekers

Xplor was a one-of-a-kind experience. You get a helmet at check-in and wear it the entire day.

• Zip lines – 14 in total, split across two routes, including the highest in the Riviera Maya (about 147 feet). Be ready for plenty of stair climbing between lines.

• Amphibious vehicles – essentially ATVs you drive through jungle, caves and water (drivers must be 18+ with a license)

• Cave river swim – a longer (about 30 min) or shorter (about 10 min) route, ending at a mesmerizing waterfall

• The expedition – a mix of wading and swimming through a cave river, plus a small water slide

• Raft paddling through the caves with special paddles

• A big water slide and a children’s play area

Life jackets are required for the water activities. Water shoes are mandatory, so invest in a supportive pair since you’ll wear them all day.

The buffet is a solid mix of Mexican and American options. It’s less special than Xcaret’s, but I loved that every dish listed its allergens. Two beverage palapas serve aguas frescas, juices, coffee and milkshakes.

Xplor Fuego is the nighttime version, lit by torches, with most of the same attractions (only one zip line circuit runs at night). Check park hours with the front desk. Neither Xplor nor Fuego ran every day during our stay.

Park #3: Xoximilco – a floating fiesta

Xoximilco is less a park and more a night out. It’s near Cancún, about 45 minutes from the resort, and pays tribute to the famous Xochimilco canals of Mexico City. It took me out of my comfort zone, and I had an absolute blast.

How the night unfolds:

1. The bus drops you at the “park,” where there’s dancing and shopping while you wait to board.

2. You board a trajinera, a big, colorful gondola with a dining table for up to about 20 people. Snacks are waiting: chips, chicharrones, guacamole, salsas and fried crickets, plus beer, canned cocktails, sodas and bottomless tequila shots.

3. A boatman poles you along the canals while your host runs icebreakers and drinking games and leads the dancing. You start as strangers and end as friends.

4. You pull up alongside floating bands playing traditional Mexican music.

5. At one stop, the comadres climb aboard and serve a plate of traditional dishes.

6. Part way through, there’s a stop on land for a restroom break and more dancing, then dessert of Mexican candies and coffee.

Plan for the whole evening. We left around 6 p.m. and were back at midnight. The food was fun to try but not at resort level, so plan on hitting the taco cart when you get back.

What we didn’t get to (but is included)

• Xel-Há – a natural water park with snorkeling, slides and lazy rivers

• Xenses – a park built around playing with your senses and perception

• Xenotes – a tour of four cenotes

• Xichen – a guided trip to Chichén Itzá

Know before you go

Getting there and back

• The transfer from Cancún airport is included and takes about 1.5 hours.

• You’re greeted with mini paletas (popsicles), which are always available in the main lobby.

• At check-in you get a bracelet. Wear it at all times.

• If your room isn’t ready (ours was at 3 p.m.), explore or grab a bite.

• The return transfer is included too. Book it with the concierge at the palapa near reception at least 24 hours ahead.

The optional extras

Upsells exist, but they never felt pushy:

• Casa de los Artistas upgrade – the premium beachfront casa with a private restaurant. We were offered it for about $250 more per night.

• Photo package – worth it (see Xcaret above)

• Xaak – a tasting menu led by Karime López, the first Mexican woman to earn a Michelin star

• Le Chique – Chef Jonatán Gómez Luna’s Michelin-starred tasting menu, which moved to Arte in 2026

• Premium wine bottles beyond the house selections

Which Xcaret hotel is right for you?

Grupo Xcaret runs three All-Fun Inclusive hotels side by side. Hotel Xcaret México is the big, lively, family-friendly option with more than 20 restaurants, ideal for kids and multigenerational groups. Hotel Xcaret Arte is adults-only (16+), with an elevated, artsy and more relaxed feel that suits couples and friend groups. La Casa de la Playa is the ultra-luxury choice: intimate, adults-only, and just 63 suites for travelers who want maximum privacy.

Arte is a great next step for travelers ready to level up their Mexico all-inclusive, and for luxury cruisers curious about a land vacation with a similar “everything’s covered” vibe.

The verdict

My only regret is that four nights wasn’t nearly enough. Book at least seven nights to experience the parks and still have time to enjoy the resort. We’re already planning our return.

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