Imagine Disney-meets-National-Geographic: Xcaret aims to package the Yucatan's Mayan history and its tropical lagoon ecology into one day-long fun experience. The result is well-executed; Xcaret is a terrific place for a family to spend a day.
Highlights include:
- Underground River Float: 1,590-foot swim in an underground river; lifejackets and gear provided; even kids as young as five can go
- snorkeling lagoon; float tubes
- premium (i.e. extra charge) activities such as dolphin encounter, sea trekking, and snuba
- Butterfly Pavilion; Tropical Reef aquarium
- pumas and jaguars in l arge "cageless" area in Jaguar Island
- Mayan Village
- live entertainment including horseback show and Papantla Flyers (flying around a pole, 30 meters in the air)
- Xcaret at Night: grand finale, a spectacular night show
All resorts organize excursions to Xcaret, but you can also rent a car and drive yourself; or take one of the buses that fly down the highway, and then return to your resort by one of the taxis awaiting at the end of the Night Show.
- read more about Xcaret -- many photos, too.
Occidental Grand Xcaret Resort
This resort -- part of the giant Occidental Hotels group-- has a prime location by the Xcaret theme park, and beautiful pools and grounds. However, a cloud attached to the place several years ago when a boy drowned in a pool: the family remains bitter about how the tragedy was handled; a lawsuit may still be unresolved.
continue to Puerto Aventuras, km 86
