Four Days in Paradise: Hotel Xcaret Mexico Recap
I’ve been back three days and I’m already having Mexico withdrawals. As I mentioned in my previous post, one of my childhood best friends married his happily ever after at the beautiful Xcaret Park at the Hotel Xcaret Mexico resort. We (I) spent four beautiful days in paradise and I’m seriously missing it. Since we arrived everything was smooth sailing. Here I’ll recap my trip, the resort, and all the details from my weekend in heaven.
I flew into the Cancun airport, terminal 3, and then my best friend and their wedding party flew in and landed ten minutes after me, but in terminal 4. The transfer to their terminal was super easy. After I passed customs and got my bags, I hopped on the inter airport shuttle and went over to terminal 4. From there, I got escorted to the bus area and met up with the group while they checked in with the airport reps for the hotel. Hotel Xcaret had a beautiful lounge at the airport that you could sit and drink at while you waited for the hotel transportation to arrive. Just as an FYI, I had previously emailed them my flight information to setup the transportation so all I had to do was check-in with the reps. Once the bus arrived, the drive to the resort was between an hour and an hour and a half depending on traffic. The bus did go to other terminals to pick up people, but that was very quick.
Upon arriving at the resort, which for me was around 12 PM, I checked-in, gave them my suitcase to store, changed into a bathing suit and shorts and got to exploring. Several of the people I traveled with went to eat, I changed and ran to the pool to start getting sun and drinking my tropical drink. The resort was all-inclusive, so they provided you with a bracelet that is your key to the resort (room included). Since I was a part of a wedding, our bands were white. We did not stay in the Arte, which is for adults only, so the kids (or minors) bands are yellow.
After I laid out about two hours, I went over to the Mercado de la Merced for some lunch. the Mercado was a great place to have chosen because it had literally EVERYTHING (from pizza, to quesadillas, to tacos, meat, salad bars, ceviche, etc.). It was delicious too. Once I finished lunch, it was time to go back to get my room assignment, so I did just that. The customer service at the resort is unmatched and they called someone to walk me and my bags to the room. I actually loved that because it ensured I would not get lost the first time I went to my room!
I’m not sure if I mentioned this in my first post about this adventure, but Hotel Xcaret Mexico is a modern hotel that combines the nature and tradition of the Mayan culture, and modernism in its architecture. The hotel features incredible views of the sea, rivers, pool, and the jungle from any point of your room. This part of the hotel is open to guests of all ages, but it also features an adults-only section for those who want a more secluded and private experience. Now, Hotel Xcaret Arte, is more of a contemporary art-deco style hotel that is exclusively for adults.
My suite particularly was what they classify as a “Garden Suite”, so my room had a beautiful view of the open floor plan lobby, the rivers, and the lobby pool. Some of the first-floor rooms had an open balcony and you could go swimming in the little rivers or lay out on the hammock. My room was on the fifth floor, which is where the lobby was, so I had a hammock and couch on my balcony. My best friend and his bride had a gorgeous beach view at the suite and his mom had a river view as well, but on the sixth floor.
Since only some of the wedding guests arrived with the bride and groom on Thursday there wasn’t anything to do wedding-wise so, once I checked in and unpacked, I met up with the group at the pool closest to the lobby. I only spent a few minutes there since I was told that we’d be having dinner at the restaurant in the cave, Xpiral Cuevas Restaurant, which opened about an hour from the time I was told we were going. I obviously then ran back to the room to shower and change, narrowly making it to the meeting area on time! I will say that I’m glad I made it when the group met because I would have never found the restaurant by myself. Since it’s inside a cave, you have to go down this insane path and stairs, etc. and I would have gotten lost quickly. Actually, the first day there I walked a total of 7 miles because I kept getting lost so imagine.
Anyway, back to Xpiral Cuevas Restaurant…it was obviously all-inclusive; however, this restaurant was very similar to a Texas de Brazil or Fogo de Chão. If you are not familiar with those, they are mostly a Brazilian steakhouse where you get your entree and sides, then the wait-staff comes to your table with different types of meats on large skewers at different temperatures and they’ll cut you a slice depending on what your preferences are. If you do not eat steak, which this particular night I did not feel like eating it, there were other options in the buffet tables. I actually loved, and I do mean LOVED, the chicken. it was slathered with a garlic cilantro dressing that was delicious. After dinner, several people went to the Cantina to continue drinking but I had been up since 3 AM so I headed back to my room.
One thing I loved about the hotel, besides the views and the food, was that they left us goodies to keep. When we checked in and our rooms were assigned, the room had a water bottle for us, a beach bag with the resort name, and the slippers were for you to take home. Later that night, they left me one of the artisanal baskets full of candy that I could take home with me as well. Of course, the mini fridge and snacks in the room were part of the all-inclusive and they had room service available 24/7.
Friday morning, I slept in a bit, waking up close to 10 AM so I ordered room service for breakfast. I will admit it was divine. Once I finished, I headed out to the pool where I grabbed some chairs and laid out to read for a bit. I spent about three hours by the pool before I decided to go back to the room for a late lunch and then to get ready for the welcome party. Since I knew we were having dinner during a show, which would be later than usual, I grabbed some room service to eat while I relaxed and got ready for the night. The welcome party was a white theme, to represent purity, so I wore the dress my older sister lent me. The cocktail hour part of the party took place down at one of the beachy areas around the cave and the river. Once we heard speeches and mingled, we walked over to the open theater where the dinner show would be. They served us a three-course meal and we got to watch a Mayan dinner show. It was an absolutely fun time.
Saturday was my best friend’s big day, so I woke up early and went to breakfast with his mom. After breakfast, I laid out for a few hours to get sun and drink while I read my book. When lunch came around, I headed back to my room and ordered room service. Then I took a shower and had a lazy day until I had to get ready. We had to be at the lobby at 5:30, so I read on the hammock in my balcony while I waited for my lunch then I took a shower and watched TV while I munched on lunch. Around 3:30 I started to get ready and do my makeup (which came out great considering I did it myself!). Once 5:30 rolled around, I went to the lobby to catch the bus over to where the wedding would be.
The wedding was at the Xcaret park, which is within the resort but a bus ride over. We had a cocktail hour by the beautiful chapel and then walked over to where the ceremony would take place. The ceremony was a Mayan ritual, so we stood above where my best friend and his bride would be. This allowed us to watch the ceremony and traditional ritual take place. Once the ceremony was over, we were led down to the cave where the reception was held. It was absolutely breathtaking. They had delicious food, signature cocktails, dancing, and a photobooth. We had an amazing night surrounded by family and lots of love.
Unfortunately, I had to return back to Miami Sunday, so I had started to pack during my lazy day. Majority of the guests were staying until Monday or Tuesday, but I had commitments and work to get back to. Since I had a head start on packing, I scheduled a spa morning at the resort until my bus would arrive for my flight. I had the most amazing massage and relaxing facial with the most gorgeous view of the river and ocean beyond that. The room where the services took place was outside, so it was easy to fall asleep with the most peaceful sounds. After my spa morning, I grabbed lunch at the Mercado again and headed to check out.
The entire trip was a dream. The resort was absolutely beautiful, and the ceremony was stunning. I may be biased, since it was for my best friend, but I had the time of my live and the wedding was spectacular. Here’s to forever for them and until next time for me! I can’t wait to go back and actually go to the parks to do some of the fun activities they have. That’s definitely one of the perks I wish I had more time to take advantage of, although the all-inclusive experience with the beautiful views was amazing in itself.
