Xcaret, Xel Ha and More!

During our visit to Hotel Xcaret Arte in August for Chuck’s 65th birthday, we visited several of the parks created by Xcaret Group.

YES, we know we are very behind, but life keeps getting in the way.

But we know we need to catch up, tell you about the rest of our visit, and wrap up the trip so we can share other adventures since that time,

So here we go!

 

Xcaret Park

Xcaret Park is the first of the parks and hotels created by Xcaret Group to showcase Mexican culture and nature in a fun way. Opened in 1990, it predated both hotels.

 

 

Living in the Yucatan, we knew there were things we’d see that were recreations of things we’d explored locally, but the reviews were excellent, so we made a day of hit.

The park is beautiful, with lots of Mayan history and areas that showcase daily life.

 

 

The artwork, decor, and animals were spectacular.

 

 

We especially enjoyed the reproduction of a Yucatecan cemetery. While we live close to the beautiful and historic General Cemetery in Merida, this one had 365 unique and creative graves highlighting art and history.

 

 

Lunch was included in our stay as a hotel guest, and the buffet offered plenty of local foods that were well prepared and served in a beautiful outdoor restaurant.

 

This restaurant served delcious, traditional Mexican food with a focus on the food in the Yucatan. There were other lunch options with international foods or Burgers and Dogs.

 

Our favorite activity was probably swimming through a lazy river that linked through a series of cenotes and caves. It was a great way to cool off, see other parts of the park, and make some new friends along the way.

 

When you visit Xcaret, be sure to visit the aviary. It’s very well done, the scenery is fantastic, and you can get up close and personal with the birds.

 

Xel Ha

We spent part of a day at Xel Ha, the group’s second park, which is all about water. Xel Ha actually means “where water is born” in Maya.

 

We relaxed in tubes as we floated through the natural waterways between the mangroves. There were places to snorkel, jump off cliffs into the water, walk along a rope bridge, and even ride a mini biplane into a shallow pool.

 

The park is beautiful and, like everything else the group does, well-maintained and clean.

We are not fans of animal experiences, like swimming with dolphins. We also don’t ride camels or elephants when we travel. It’s just not our thing.

However, on our way out, we saw some groups swimming with dolphins and went to chat with a vet and a trainer. From everything we could see, the animals were exceptionally well cared for.

 

 

We Had a BLAST!

There was just not enough time during our visit to do everything. Truthfully, we could have stayed at the resort, swam, relaxed, eaten and drank, and still not tried everything.

Xcaret is often referred to as the Disney of Mexico, and as a huge Disney fan and with Mark as a former Cast Member, we can understand the comparison.

While the parks aren’t “ride” based, there are many things to see and do. The cleanliness, directional signs, and friendliness of the staff are excellent.

The employees, who mostly spoke Spanish and English, were in crisp costumes and wore badges with their names and hometowns on them. Everyone was friendly, polite, and helpful.

The resorts are next level. The landscaping, artwork, restaurants, and bars were spectacular.

 

 

Xcaret Arte’s dining experiences, transportation, and admission to the parks are well worth the price. However, it is NOT cheap, so admittedly, it may be out of reach for some people. 

But we found it to be a great value and will absolutely make an attempt to go back. As locals, we’ll look for off-season deals and discounts from their email newsletters.

Xcaret is absolutely something you want to check out!