Xcaret Park — Attraction in Quintana Roo

Xcaret: A Journey into the Soul of Mexico An Awe-Inspiring Spectacle of Nature, Culture, and Wonder Welcome to Xcaret, a truly unique eco-archaeological park nestled in the heart of the Riviera Maya. More than just a theme park, Xcaret is a vibrant testament to Mexico's profound connection with its natural wonders and rich cultural heritage. Prepare to be enchanted, amazed, and deeply moved as you embark on a journey that will awaken your senses and stir your soul. A Day of Discovery and Immersion: Your Xcaret adventure begins as you step into a world where ancient traditions blend seamlessly with breathtaking natural beauty. Explore crystal-clear underground rivers that wind through mystical caves, their serene currents carrying you through geological formations millions of years in the making. Feel the cool embrace of the water as sunlight filters through natural openings, illuminating the vibrant marine life of the coral reef aquarium, a living tapestry of the Caribbean's underwater wonders. Wander through lush tropical jungle trails, where the air hums with the symphony of exotic birds in the sprawling Aviary, a haven for macaws, toucans, and countless other species. Witness the delicate dance of thousands of butterflies in the mesmerizing Butterfly Pavilion, a kaleidoscope of color and life. Discover the awe-inspiring Mayan ruins scattered throughout the park, remnants of a civilization that once thrived in this very spot, their ancient stones whispering tales of a glorious past. Take a moment for quiet reflection in the serene Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a beautiful testament to Mexican faith, or ponder the unique artistry of the "Bridge to Paradise" Mexican Cemetery, a colorful and poignant celebration of life and memory. Every corner of Xcaret invites you to engage, learn, and reconnect with the natural world and the spirit of Mexico. The Grand Finale: "Xcaret México Espectacular" - A Night of Unforgettable Majesty As dusk paints the sky with hues of orange and purple, the true magic of Xcaret begins to unfold with the "Xcaret México Espectacular" show. More than 300 artists take to the stage in the magnificent Gran Tlachco theater, transporting you through 500 years of Mexican history and folklore. From the mystical Pre-Hispanic dances that honor ancient rituals and deities to the thunderous excitement of the Mesoamerican ball game, every act is a testament to the vibrant soul of Mexico. Witness the elegant precision of the equestrian show, feel the rhythm of traditional music and the energy of regional dances from across the country, each costume and movement a brushstroke in Mexico's rich cultural portrait. The "Xcaret México Espectacular" is a sensory masterpiece, a symphony of light, sound, and movement that culminates in a grand celebration of Mexican identity. It’s an immersive experience that will leave you with a profound appreciation for the resilience, passion, and artistic brilliance of the Mexican people. You'll leave with your heart full, your spirit uplifted, and a deep sense of awe for the wonders of Xcaret and the enduring beauty of Mexico. This is not just a show; it's an experience that will resonate long after the final...

This theme park is one of the most well managed, thoughtful and organized parks I have ever been! I have so many good things to talk about it - even knowing how good it is going, I was still pleasantly surprised multiple times throughout the day.

Firstly, there’s different routes painted on the floor with different colours to different areas and each attraction spots has its own number. It makes it so easy to just follow the color to where you want to go. Secondly, there’s many staff throughout the park you can ask direction from and all of them were super helpful and friendly. I fell down and hurt myself, and the staff kindly led me to the first aid room, waited for me and made sure I am okay and knew how to go to my next spot before leaving.

This is not like any parks but a natural park that showcases many different sides of Mexican culture, practices and landscape, even a Mexican fashion show, local market and a cemetery. The underground rivers was one of the most amazing experience I had there - the views were special; they arranged staff to carry your stuff with a lock and key from starting point to end point so you dont have to walk all the way back and take your things; the water was clear and clean; there’s rope you can grab to help you go faster in the water; they separated the approx. 1 hr experience to 5 sections so you can exit earlier without finishing the whole route if you want.

I paid extra to join the Dolphin Ride experience - the dolphin Litzia was very cute and it was special to be able to ride with her in the water. The activity area we were in seemed relatively small for the dolphins so I hope they have another much bigger spaces at down time to swim freely and happily.

The beach inside was pretty, sand was soft, tons of hammocks for people to sleep in. Dning in one of the beachside restaurants (#36) with that ocean view was very relaxing. I didnt snorkel as I saw there’s only small fishes in the water.

The route in the jungle (brown line) to the night show was extra special. Starting at 6 pm, they have a welcome ceremony where different “live statues” / performers playing special characters in the Mayan tradition, would welcome you on both sides of the path. It was honestly a magical experience. And of course the night show was amazing. I particularly liked the Mayan ball game and the match where performers were playing “fire hockey” with a ball on real fire on their bare feet!! I couldnt believe they could actually score!! I also opted for the 7 course dinner at the VIP area during the show - the food was actually great, with 3 wines included and I was at ease knowing that my seat was already secured.

Lastly, the transport was so well organized. You just need to follow the staff in red shirts and they would tell you which bus to hop into back to hotel. Minimal waiting time throughout the process.

Xcaret park is such a well thought-out park that honestly I would want to go back again to finish other activities I couldnt this time! It definitely worths your time and money, don’t...

An all-day adventure park that you shouldn't miss if you're visiting the nearby area!!

Yes - it's expensive. I'll address that right away. But if it's within your means, you should 100% experience everything that xcaret has to offer.

Everything we had read prior to arriving was to aim to get there early and do the river float early.

Although I agree with getting there early, I don't think it mattered much when you go to do the river float. From the get-go there are already lots of people doing the float, and we found towards midday and even 3-4pm, the river had generally the same amount of people.

So I'd say do the river float when it makes sense to you - don't feel you need to rush it in the morning.

One thing we didn't know in advance was that you can pack clothes and other goods to arrive at the end of the river float. They chauffeur the bags to the end, so when you're done the float, you can grab your items instead of keeping everything in a locker (and having to walk back to get them).

Also - there are three different river floats you can choose to do. From what I understand, they're all similar and they all lead to the same end point. No need to do all three of them unless you really want to see the specific details of each float path. One float was perfect for us!

Otherwise, there is so much to do in xcaret. Their maps are so detailed and there are walking paths everywhere to get from one point to another.

We did some snorkeling, but honestly I wouldn't get too excited for it. It was a fun activity for about 10 minutes and that was about it.

We stayed the entire day, including dinner, and we were able to see everything in the park. Albeit, we are fast walkers and had made a plan in the morning - but what I'm trying to say is that it's possible to see everything despite what some reviews say.

The lunch buffet was incredible. We did Michoacan Restaurant which was right beside the turtles. A great selection of food and it wasn't very busy either.

We also stayed for the night show and paid for the dinner. The dinner was very good although you could skip it and just pack a dinner if you aren't big on cuisine.

Either way - don't skip the night show! What an amazing display of culture, excitement and entertainment! I couldn't believe how well each region in Mexico was represented during the show and how entertaining everything was at the same time.

Regarding transportation, although there is a bus that you can take that brings you back to Playa del Carmen - we made an arrangement with a taxi driver in the morning to pick us up after the show.

No waiting, and direct drop-off where we were staying. Highly recommend this option as the crowds are massive after...