If you’re staying at one of the Hotel Xcaret resorts – Hotel Xcaret Mexico, Hotel Xcaret Arte, or Casa de La Playa – you’re no doubt excited about exploring one or more of the Xcaret Parks or experiencing one of the exciting excursions that are included in your stay.  There are so many options to choose from, all showcasing the best of the Mexican and Mayan cultures.

Here are some great tips for enjoying each of the included Xcaret parks: Xcaret Park, Xel-Há, Xplor, Xplor Fuego, Xavage, Xoximilco, Xenses, Xichen Deluxe, and Xenotes. 

 

Xenses Park

• We recommend wearing a swimsuit and coverup and/or swim shorts and t shirt + water shoes.
• Lockers are available at Xenses at no charge.
• You can bring a towel to put in your locker if you’d like. They do not have towels here, but you’ll probably be mostly dry before you get back on the shuttle anyway.
• This park does not have an on-site restaurant, so all snacks and drinks here are an extra fee, but they are not exorbitant. I believe a bottled water is about $1 USD.
• You do not want to miss the lemonade from the “water fountain” at Xenses. It’s delicious (no extra charge). Ask an employee where to find it if you don’t see it!
• This park only takes about 3 – 4 hours to go through, depending on your personal pace, so if you want to go to 2 parks in one day, I recommend Xenses in the morning and Xplor Fuego after that. Also, this is the perfect park to go to if you arrive at the resort early in the day and you have to wait to check in until 3pm. You can drop off your luggage, check in, grab a snack/meal, and hop on the shuttle to Xenses. By the time you’re finished with Xenses your room will probably be ready to go!
• I wouldn’t recommend drinking much alcohol before going to Xenses. It’s quite a sensory experience and some of the experiences can be a bit dizzying, so alcohol may not be a good mix here.

 

Xplor & Xplor Fuego Adventure Park

• This park does not need a reservation. Take the free shuttle from the resort to Xplor at any time.
• Xplor and Xplor Fuego are the same park. Xplor Fuego begins at 5:30pm nightly and is night themed with fire lit torches and lights along your path. You can arrive and enjoy the park throughout the day and stay through to Xplor Fuego, if you’d like, or just go for the Xplor Fuego time – it’s all included at no additional charge.
• They have a buffet that opens at 11am daily and is included at no additional charge.
• There is a rib buffet at this park that begins at 5:30pm and is included at no additional charge.
• Wear your swimsuit and a cover up or a shirt and shorts over your swim clothes to this park. If you do the ziplining, the harness will not be comfortable on bare skin, so you will be glad you wore those shorts!
• This is the park where you will want that one-piece bathing suit or swim shorts, if you do the ziplining!
• Wear your water shoes to this park! You will regret it if you don’t.
• There are lockers you can use, if you’d like to stash your things while you enjoy the park.
• There are amphibious vehicles (dune buggies), a zipline adventure, swimming in an underground river, and more. You will get wet and may get muddy on the amphibious vehicle ride. You must be 18 to drive the amphibious vehicle but no driver’s license is needed.
• Take a change of clothes and a towel and leave them in your locker for when you’re finished at the end of the day.
• The buffet is included but the snack and drink stands around the park are not. You will pay extra for these items!

 

Xcaret Park

 

• This park does not need a reservation. Take the free shuttle from the resort to Xcaret Park at any time.
• We recommend wearing a swimsuit under a t shirt and shorts or a coverup, and/or swim shorts and t shirt, and comfortable water shoes.
• Lockers are available at Xcaret Park at no charge.
• You can bring a towel to put in your locker. They do not have towels here.
• The buffet restaurants and drinks (alcoholic and non) are included.
• The river swim at Xcaret Park is fantastic and perfect to cool off on a hot day.
• You can purchase additional activities, like dolphin swim, manatee swim, underwater sea trek, massages, etc., at this park.

 

Xel-Ha Water Park

 

• You must make a reservation in advance (or upon arrival) for this excursion.
• There is only one departure and return time for Xel-Ha water park daily. You will leave in the morning around 9am and drive about 30 minutes to Xel-Ha water park. You’ll spend the day at Xel-Ha and leave around 5pm. The resort will give you the exact departure time. There is only one departure time daily so you need to be on time to take this shuttle.
• As with the other parks, we recommend wearing a swimsuit and coverup and/or swim shorts and t shirt and water shoes.
• Towels and lockers are provided at no charge so no need to bring a towel with you.
• A buffet restaurant and a variety of other restaurants, with a full meal and snacks, and drinks (alcoholic and non) are included.
• You won’t want to miss the River Swim (in tubes) and Snorkeling. Snorkeling gear is included at no charge.
• You can purchase additional activities, like dolphin swim, manatee swim, underwater sea trek, massages, etc., at this park.

 

Xoximilco 

 

• You must make a reservation in advance (or upon arrival) for this excursion.
• The shuttle leaves at appx 3:20pm and will not wait! You must be on the shuttle or you will not be able to go. You will not return to the resort until about 9pm.
• Xoxomilco is appx a 1-hour shuttle ride from the Hotel Xcaret resorts and back so use the restroom at the hotel before you leave.
• There will be a light “tasting meal” served once we’re on the gondola but I’d recommend that you eat a full dinner before you leave. Most people eat at one of the restaurants before leaving or order a meal from room service. You may do a lot of drinking on this outing, so you will not want to have an empty stomach.
• There is a full bar with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages – and plenty of tequila!
• Once on the gondola there is 1 bathroom stop in the middle of the ride.
• It’s a very lively tour – drinking, music (and mariachis, of course!), dancing, games, and more!
• Wear cool comfortable clothing and comfy shoes. Ladies – a light flowy dress and flat shoes/sandals is perfect.
• Bring bug repellant if you’re prone to being eaten by mosquitos 😊
• Bring cash/card to purchase souvenirs and cash (US $$ or pesos) to tip the gondola host(s).

 

XENOTES 

• You must make a reservation in advance (or upon arrival) for this excursion.
• There is only one departure and return time for the Xenotes excursion daily. You will leave in the morning around 9am and drive about 45 minutes to the first cenote. You’ll visit 4 cenotes, have a prepared picnic lunch with drinks (and snacks and drinks – alcoholic and non – throughout the day) and return around 5 or 6pm. Your group will have about 20 people that will travel together all day.
• Wearing a snug fitting swimsuit or swim shirt with sleeves and swim shorts is most ideal. Or wear a regular 2 piece or 1 piece and bring a swim coverup. You’ll want to wear comfortable water shoes as you’ll be pretty active in and out of the cenotes all day.
• For some, the water in the cenotes can be quite cold.
• You’ll be supplied with all the life jackets and equipment that you need throughout the day.
• Towels are provided so you do not need to bring one with you.
• A photographer will travel with you during this excursion, and you’ll be able to purchase those images that day or at any time during your stay, so don’t feel pressured to purchase them on the spot.
• Don’t forget a tip for your tour guide.

 

Xichen Deluxe (Chichen Itza) 

• You must make a reservation in advance (or upon arrival) for this excursion. I would not do this trip if you are only at the resort for a few days. It’s an all day event and is exhausting!
• The shuttle leaves early in the morning and returns at night. You must be on the shuttle at the time they give you or they will leave without you.
• This is a long tour day, at appx 12 hours, so be prepared for the full day away from the resort.
• This tour is not wheelchair friendly or accessible, unfortunately.
• Wear light, comfortable clothing, comfortable shoes, a hat, and sunglasses for lots of walking and direct sun. You may want to bring a swimsuit and towel. There is a stop at a cenote after Chichen Itza and we wished we had brought our swim clothes and towels.
• Bring your sunscreen! There is so much time in the direct sun.
• This is a fully guided historical tour on a luxury shuttle bus, with breakfast, lunch, and snacks provided on the shuttle and throughout the day. We did not love the breakfast that was offered on the bus so we would recommend eating a good breakfast before you get on the shuttle.
• There is a restroom on the bus.
• You can leave items on the shuttle while you’re touring but bring your valuables with you.
• We would recommend bringing cash and/or credit cards with you on this excursion as there are many vendors and areas for purchasing gifts and souvenirs.

 

Xavage Park

•  You must make a reservation in advance (or upon arrival) for this excursion.
• There is only one departure and return time for the Xavage excursion daily. You will leave in the morning around 9am and return around 5 or 6pm.
• We recommend wearing a swimsuit under a t shirt and shorts or a coverup, and/or swim shorts and t shirt, and comfortable water shoes.
• Lockers are available at no charge.
• The buffet restaurants and drinks (alcoholic and non) are included. If you have even 1 alcoholic drink, they will not let you do any of the activities after, so keep this in mind! Might skip that drink with lunch and have water instead.
• This park is not wheelchair friendly, unfortunately.
• Bring your sunscreen!
• The ropes course is so much fun but you’re on it for 1 1/2 – 2 hours in the direct sun and it can be very strenuous. I would start at the lower (easiest) level and decide to move up to the upper levels if you prefer, once you’re already on the course. They actually have some water fountains along the way, which is a nice surprise.

 

Additional Tips:

 

• If you arrive at the resort before your room is ready, just check in, leave your luggage at the bell station, and enjoy the resort or one of the parks until your room is ready. You have full use of both the resort and the parks the moment you check in. 
• If you want to be able to purchase items at the parks during your stay, without needing to carry cash, you can put a credit card hold on file with the resort when you check in. Otherwise, you’ll want to carry a credit card and/or cash with you to the parks and excursions if you want souvenirs and/or extra items.
• Reef/coral safe sunscreen. Regular sunscreen IS NOT allowed at the hotel or at the eco parks. Regular sunscreen kills the reef/coral. You can google coral safe or reef safe sunscreen to find a variety of options. Target and Amazon both have reef safe sunscreen. If you forget to bring it, you can purchase some at the hotel gift shop or at one of the parks. Not all reef safe sunscreens work well to protect from sunburn, but we have had great success with Australian Gold Botanical.
• Good well-fitting water shoes or Teva’s style shoes are a must! They are ideal for all the parks and water adventures. We spend every day in our water shoes.
• Bring a water proof phone case or floating phone bag, like this one – https://theaquavault.com/products/aquavault-waterproof-floating-case if you want to take your phone with you to the parks and excursions.