Cancun Mexico

If you are looking for the Cancun Mexico vacation of your dreams, you’ve arrived at the right place. Xcaret Arte Resort in Mexico holds a special place in my heart, and ranks at the top of my list for all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean and especially in Mexico. This adults only resort will captivate your heart from the moment you arrive. 

Here you find an in-depth overview of Hotel Xcaret Arte in Cancun, Mexico which sits right in Quintana, Roo on the Riviera Maya coastline. I’ll share some unique Xcaret Arte photos from my trip as well, so you can have a good idea of what to expect when you arrive. 

A Brief Overview and History of Hotel Xcaret Arte Resort in Cancun

Hotel Xcaret Arte is the adult’s only resort which is situated right next door to Xcaret Mexico (which is the family side). The fact that it is an adult’s only all-inclusive resort makes this the perfect choice for couples and solo travelers worldwide wanting to enjoy everything that the Riviera Maya has to offer. This is a great honeymoon spot, or even a place to celebrate a special occasion, like an anniversary, birthday or even something as simple as a milestone achievement or career promotion.

The adult side of Xcaret Arte will be much quieter than the Xcaret Mexico side, with less crowds and no children. Although those staying at Casa De Los Artistas do have access to use the restaurants and amenities at Xcaret Mexico for an extra upcharge. 

This resort was built after the original Xcaret Mexico was born, with the developers deciding it needed to be conceptualized as an extension of the original Hotel Xcaret. The theme of the resort is purely Mexican Art, and the celebration of both art and life as evidenced by the name “Arte”

Around the resort, you will find beautiful Mexican artwork and sculptures showcasing various Mexican themes which are truly stunning. Coming here is really like unlocking and discovering new puzzles. In some ways, I feel like the resort has so much to offer and so much mystique, it takes days or even weeks to uncover new paths, walkways, sculptures and cool places and underground cenotes and areas that I’ve never known about from day to day. 

A Review of Pricing – Booking at Hotel Xcaret Arte Resort 

At Hotel Xcaret Arte, the price per room each night can vary depending on the season and time of year. In the high season, the nightly rate can exceed $1000 a night or more. Occasionally, you can find good deals on Costco Travel that includes a flight package. In the low season, you might be able to find a deal for around $800-900 a night which is considered good these days. 

In some cases, you can also book through a friend or family referral. Any Xcaret Mexico or Arte member can “refer” you into the program which gives you up to 20-25% off the nightly rate for up to a 7 night stay. Of course, the catch here is that you must attend a 90-minute timeshare presentation that includes breakfast. To qualify for those offers, you must be referred by someone who is currently an Xcaret member and the incentive is given to encourage you to join the Xcaret membership program. 

Private Lounge at Cancun Airport & Transportation to Hotel Xcaret Arte 

After deboarding the plane, you will walk down a long hall and into the immigration center where they will stamp your passport. Walk past this secure area, and then get ready to be offered taxis and transportation services through another long hallway where it seems like every corner you turn there is someone encouraging you to come to their booth to book a taxi, rent a car or join an excursion.

Just say “No, gracias” if you aren’t interested. 

Look for the employees wearing an Xcaret shirt and follow the signs to the private Xcaret lounge where you will be greeted by an Xcaret employee and asked to show your passport. Once complete, you will be invited to the lounge area which is an airconditioned area for you to sit to wait for the next Xcaret bus to Hotel Xcaret Arte and Resort. 

Transportation to and from Hoteles Xcaret Arte is included, and the buses come and go every half hour past 9am and every hour before 8am. The wait is short, and you will then be guided to a charter bus that says “Xcaret” along with a group of other travelers headed to either Xcaret Mexico or Xcaret Arte.

Arrival and Check-In to Hotel Xcaret Arte

The arrival and check-in to Hotel Xcaret Arte Resort was very smooth and welcoming. Coming off the bus, you are greeted by a group of Xcaret Arte staff ready to take your luggage and collect your bags for check-in. No need to roll around any heavy luggage here. 

As you walk up the steps, you will be greeted by a pleasant set of ladies offering you complementary ice cream specially made from Mexico. The choices are usually chocolate, strawberry or pineapple flavored. I especially like chocolate and pineapple. 

Don’t take too long savouring the delicious popsicle ice cream, because the staff members at Xcaret Arte Resort will then whisk you away into the check-in area where you will provide your deposit and credit card information. If you signed up for a Xcaret Membership tour, you will be given the tour date and information to attend. More on this later. 

Also, you should have received an itinerary of things to do, and restaurants as well as excursions for reservation about 30-45 days prior to your arrival where you filled out your preferences on what restaurants, excursions and Xcaret parks you want to go during your stay. If not, the concierge will review the reservations on your itinerary with you as well as try to accommodate any last minute changes you have. 

Hotel Xcaret Arte – A Review of the Rooms

When I stayed here, I opted for the River Suite once – and the Tropical Garden Suite on the following visit. I loved it so much, I came back again 2 weeks after my 1st trip to Hotel Xcaret Arte. Yes, it was the craziest thing ever – but I was so captivated by this place that my fiancee and I had to return again for a second trip less than a month later. 

The River Suite was beautiful, which gave us the view of a natural cenote and we had the view of the Chapel as well on the property as well as the central theater where they often did nightly performances and concerts. The first time was at Casa de Los Artistas, and the second time at Casa De la Piramide. 

There are varying rooms and sizes depending on your needs, everything from the basic lower tier room like the Garden Suite, to the River Suite , River Jump Suite (which offers a balcony ledge for you to jump directly into the cenote) all the way up to the oceanfront view Suite and of course Casa Fuego which provides you access to all the features, amenities and restaurants of the Xcaret Mexico side. Although each room tier upgrade does come at a considerable cost.

Casa De Los Artistas is considered the VIP building of the resort and comes at a hefty up charge. 

All rooms come equipped with a double vanity sink, a beautiful rainfall shower with bamboo flooring and Mexican tiling to make you feel like you’ve landed in an exotic cottage in the middle of the Mayan jungle. 

Hotel Xcaret Arte Resort in Mexico – Review of the Amenities

The pool and amenities at Hotel Xcaret Arte is beautiful. There is 1 main infinity pool that overlooks the ocean at Xcaret Arte Resort. This is a pool-side bar with lounge chairs and umbrellas and is a nice place to relax when not in the parks or doing excursions. 

There are several buildings that have roof-top pools as well like Casa de los Artistias, Casa de la Piramide, Casa de Diseno which include custom cocktails and a quick bite of eat with the pools on the rooftop overlooking the ocean and the skyline of the Riviera Maya. It is quite the sight to see. 

When not dining at one of Xcaret’s 12 restaurants on property, there is also arts and crafts, a pottery class and a beautiful state of the art gym in several buildings. There are also beautiful walking trails as well, with the scenic nature of the resort taking place in the Mayan jungle. There is a walking trail circuit that even takes you across an obscure walking bridge to the Xcaret Mexico side (the family side). 

Hotel Xcaret Arte – Discover the Excursions and Parks at this Resort 

The best thing is that all the transportation to and from the resort and excursions and activities are all included at no additional charge. There will be buses for every activity and excursion, some scheduled and requiring reservations, and others do not. 

I will cover an in-depth overview of all the Xcaret parks, including the water parks, shows and long distance excursions in other articles but the Xcaret parks: Xcaret Mexico Park, Xplor, Xplor Fuego, and Xenses do not require reservations.

While, the “Xenotes” Tour as well as the Tulum and Xel-Ha as well as Xoxi-Milco and of course the Chichen Itza tours do require reservations and must be well-planned ahead of time. 

A Review of Restaurants at Xcaret Arte 

Depending on what you chose, Xcaret Arte also has a Michelin rated restaurant on property as well for an extra upcharge, “Le Chique” or “Xaek” restaurant. 

Here, I’ll cover some of my favorite restaurants at Xcaret Arte, but in a separate article I’ll cover all the Xcaret Arte Restaurants. 

Encanta – One of My Favorite Upscale Restaurants at Xcaret Arte Resort

Like the name implies, Encanta stands for “Love” and I do love it, as Encanta is one of my favorite restaurants at Hoteles Xcaret Arte in the resort. The 7-course tasting menu is absolutely delicious and this is included in your all-inclusive experience with no extra upcharge. Everything here from the appetizers to the main course and even into the dessert is included. They do have extra fine-wine or other dishes outside of the included menu if you choose. 

           

 

This is similar to a really high scale Mexican tapas restaurant where the chef and waiter brings you specialty dishes that are specially curated and tell a story behind each dish. In my case, due to my peanut allergy I did get one or two dishes in my menu altered to avoid peanuts.

This is one restaurant where you want to go dressed to impress as it takes place right in front of the main courtyard at Hotel Xcaret resort in front of the movie theatre, so if they are playing any sort of concert that night you can also choose the outdoors seating to watch the concert or show. 

Later on in the evening, special performers will play musical glass with the empty wine bottles in the middle of the restaurant, creating a deeply intimate and acoustic atmosphere for you and your special person. 

This is just an incredibly intimate, and romantic restaurant that sets the tone for relaxation and pure bliss at Xcaret Arte Resort.

Tah Xido – Japanese restaurant at Hotel Xcaret Arte 

Tah Xido is one of my 2nd favorite restaurants at the Xcaret Arte Resort in Cancun Mexico because it brings a super exotic Japanese theme into Mexican culture. Upon entering the restaurant, it doesn’t fail to impress. The decor here is a nice blend of Japanese authenticity and artwork coupled with hints of Mexican flair and culture here.

 

Walking in, you’ll see the cute decorations and bird cages hanging from the ceiling, leaving the viewer in mystique and up for interpretation. The vibe is relaxed and classy and a very nice way to conclude a long day at the Xcaret parks.

This restaurant is separated into two areas, the Hibachi side where there is a live chef cooking authentic Japanese hibachi dishes in front of you and your group at a hibachi table. Everything here is served and cooked fresh in front of you. 

I had the Trio combination or “Todo (everything)” which means I got an assortment of tomahawk steak, shrimp, salmon and chicken with noodles and vegetables. It is a full course setting that includes a salad and a soup. Depending on your hibachi chef, they may even whip up a nice appetizer for you made of japanese mayo and cabbage! 

On the A la carte menu side, you will be given the option to order from a generous a la carte menu which includes appetizers like wonton , miso soup, to a large assortment of traditional sushi and sashimi plates and even a main course like the “Tah-Xido” salmon which is one of my favorite dishes there. Occasionally, you may be offered the chef specialty which is a specially infused ramen dish. Everything here is super delicious

Arenal – The Seaside Restaurant that You Don’t Want to Miss at Xcaret Arte 

Arenal is a high-end restaurant right next to the beach in Xcaret Arte that serves up great seafood and traditional Mexican dishes. Here you can get creative appetizers like ceviche to steak and fish of the day for the main course while overlooking the cenote leading up to the beach. It’s a beautiful atmosphere, and I love the swings seating here that they incorporate into the whole dining experience. 

Cayuco- The Poolside and Beachfront Buffet Seafood Restaurant at Hoteles Xcaret Arte

You couldn’t come to Cancun, Mexico or even the Riviera Maya and not expect to have some semblance of seafood… In fact, this seafood restaurant sits literally adjacent to the infinity main pool in the resort right in front of the beach, so you can have a serene environment and vibe as you enjoy the festivities in the buffet. 

The seaside artwork, decor and theme matches everything because everywhere you look, your eyes will be attracted to the crystal clear blue waters of the ocean as well as the food. 

Mercado San Juan – An Open Air Buffet Restaurant in Xcaret Arte 

One of my favorite restaurants in Xcaret Arte has to be the buffet, Mercado San Juan. This is a beautiful open-air restaurant set in the scenery of an authentic Mexican market as if you were  perusing a real farmer’s market in Mexico City. The scenery here is absolutely beautiful, with artwork on the walls and ceiling embodying true Mexican culture.

Here at the buffet, you will find authentic traditional Mexican cuisine, true to the culture. Everything from your traditional tacos, empanadas, moletes, and fajitas and tons of other unique Mexican food items that you wouldn’t expect to see anywhere but here. The dessert aisle is equally as beautiful, everything from signature candies, cakes, ice cream and all to your heart’s content. 

These are just some of the restaurants you will encounter at Xcaret Arte, in another later article I will provide a more in-depth overview of each restaurant at Xcaret Arte. 

Nightlife – My Hotel Xcaret Arte Review of the Nightlife Scene at This Resort 

There isn’t a whole lot by way of nightlife at Hotel Xcaret Arte, as this is not really designed to be a party resort. It is designed for couples and individuals to enjoy the beach, activities and restaurants – so if you’re looking for a raucous night on the town this resort may not be for you.

They do have classy evening events like shows in the main theater, a “speak-easy” at Xcaret Arte near the main building lobby that opens up and serves drinks in the evening to the wee hours and even a cute little taco stand that serves up late night tacos for those people wanting a midnight snack or a late bite to eat after visiting the speakeasy. 

My Experience with Xcaret Staff at the Resort

The staff are friendly and do their best to accommodate you with your needs and reservations whenever possible. I even called for room service and for some essentials like water and a toothbrush at 2am and a concierge from Xcaret delivered it to me within 10-15 minutes directly to my room. Everything felt like a truly upscale experience. 

Cleanliness at Hotel Xcaret Arte – A 5 Star Experience

One thing that amazed me at my stay at Hotel Xcaret Arte is how beautifully well kept the resort is and how clean everything is. The staff at Xcaret are very meticulous in cleaning everything from the walls, windows, even one day I saw a maintenance crew meticulously cleaning the pond and removing debris. This seems to be a regular thing here, and everything in the resort smelled clean and looked great. 

Room cleaning was done 1-2 times a day on a daily basis, and the housekeeping service ensured my room was always fully stocked up with towels and other essentials and toiletries. I never felt short on anything. 

Everyday, there would be a separate crew to refill my restockable fridge with beer, soda, water, mineral water, juice and Mexican snacks and candies too. 

Luxurious Feel to Xcaret Arte Resort

Perhaps it is the emphasis on high-end beautiful artwork or the theme itself, but Xcaret Arte does feel quite luxurious. From the moment you walk into the lobby, you’ll notice the magnificent and well-appointed Mexican art and decor, and the smells and aromas from the resort will be permanently fixated in your brain wanting you to come back again.

My Overall Review of Xcaret Arte Resort – A Dream Vacation

I just got back from Hotel Xcaret Arte about a month ago at the time of writing, and I can’t wait to go back. I long to enjoy the beautiful resort, culture and people again. If this is your first time going to Xcaret Arte, I invite you to go in with an open mind. You will have a great time, and maybe even love it so much you’ll want to go back again and again!