Inclusive Resort In Quintana Roo, Mexico:
It Started With “I Do” And Ended With “Let’s Come Back”
I first visited the Occidental at Xcaret for a family wedding back in 2010. It was a very different trip. Much shorter (a quick 3-day/2-night shuffle) and not much time for me to see everything the Occidental had to offer. But the hospitality of the staff, the elegant landscape, and the proximity to the Xcaret Park left a lasting impression. So, when my boyfriend wanted to plan an all-inclusive vacation that’s a short plane ride from New York City, the Occidental at Xcaret resort came to mind.
For my first trip, I barely had time to unpack my bikini. This time? We went all-in, literally and figuratively.
I Came Back For A Romantic Xcaret Experience
It was a sunny day in June when boyfriend and I started our romantic getaway at the Occidental at Xcaret Destination in the Riviera Maya. It was barely 10 am when our car service pulled up to the Playa Del Carmen resort, but the temperature was already soaring to 94 degrees Fahrenheit.
As our car door opened, our hostess greeted us right away with two freshly squeezed iced tropical drinks and a big welcoming smile. “Welcome to the Occidental. Let’s get you checked in!” We grabbed our drinks, which were refreshingly chilled and just what we needed after an hour-long trip from the airport, and headed over to the check-in counter.
Inside, the grand lobby was massive and, honestly, jaw-dropping. Large arching ceilings, open architecture with bright and airy walkways, and best yet – no lines at check-in. It took about 20 minutes to get everything sorted, just enough time to finish our drinks. Then, we were off to our room.
Our walk from the lobby to the hotel room was pure magic. Colorful exotic birds – parrots I think? – were hanging out in the atrium, while spider monkeys were in the trees above, rustling about playfully. A beautiful waterway snakes through part of the resort – it’s connected to the Xcaret Park and passes through part of the lobby and souvenir shops. As we walked, we could see the shops to the side of adorned with arching bridges reminiscent of Venice, Italy. I could see from my boyfriend’s face, the Occidental at Xcaret was already exceeding his expectations and he hadn’t even seen the room yet.
A Spacious Room With A Sunrise View
The resort is set up with multi-level villas. The villas are all open architecture, so the entrance way is bright and breezy. We chose a Deluxe Room on the main level. We were very surprised at how spacious it was, since this was the smallest room level at the resort.
The bed was comfortable, the linens were plush, and the room itself was clean and well-kept. Inside the closet was a hotel safe for our passports and wallets, but the best part of the room was the patio.
The patio had a sweeping view of the pool area, which we found serene in the mornings. The whole resort feels like it’s in the middle of a preserve with lush trees and wildlife surrounding the villas. So, as sunny as it was, the patio was quite shady, which we preferred. Speaking of tree cover, from our patio, we saw spider monkeys and howler monkeys (both endangered), deer, coatis (aka Mexican raccoons – so cute!), and iguanas. We started (and ended) each day on the patio.
Your All-Inclusive Perks
In all my research for all-inclusives, the most frustrating part is figuring out what is and isn’t included. I’ve done the research here for you. Here’s a cheat sheet of everything a person would need to know about a stay at the Occidental at Xcaret.
And You Can Leave Your Wallet Behind – Everything Listed Below Is Included:
***** 3 meals a day, plus 2 snacks, plus unlimited alcoholic drinks
***** Lots of restaurants (11 in all) to choose from: Asian-fusion, steak house, Italian, Mexican, seafood, two buffets (You get a certain number of restaurant reservations with your stay.)
***** Private lagoon beach access with sun loungers
***** 5 pools with Adults-only and family-friendly
***** Kids Club with supervised activities to keep the little ones entertained
*****Fitness Center
*****10 bars, (including poolside for daytime) and a nightclub for adults
***** Evening entertainment
***** Taxes and Tip are included
***** Sports activities include tennis, shuffleboard, paddle ball, mini golf, archery, even pool volleyball
***** Tram service from the hotel villas to the beach
These Amenities Will Cost You A Little Extra – But Worth The Splurge:
***** (My FAVORITE excursion) Xcaret Park.
From my villa it was a 10-minute walk through the resort to the park entrance. There is an additional fee for the park, but man is it worth it. Entrance fee is around $99 per day or you can get unlimited access throughout your stay (around $240), which is what we did and it was the right move for us. I’ll break down all the cool things to see at the park in a bit..
***** Spa for massages and treatments
***** Beauty salon
***** 18-Hole Golf course (off premise)
***** Tours of Tulum, Xel Ha and Chichen Itzá
***** Scuba diving (includes certification and equipment rental)
Lagoon Beach Adds A Mellow, Super Relaxing Vibe
The resort has a private man-made beach that is perfect for lounging in leisure. Full disclosure: the beach area isn’t very big (I knew that from my last visit), but it was perfect for a lazy day of sunbathing with a book and taking dips between pages.
Sure, it’s not the kind of beach you’d see in a 90s beer commercial, but if your vibe is ‘sip, read, repeat,’ you’re in the right spot. The water was calm because it’s technically a lagoon, not a true coastal beach. I’m not a huge fan of choppy waves, so I was very happy with this experience. If you’re expecting to surf the waves though, you may be disappointed.
As still as the water was, kids and adults alike were enjoying themselves. I did snorkel a bit in the lagoon. There were some small fish, enough for me to be satisfied. Word on the beach was that visibility was better for snorkeling just past the adult saltwater pool. The surf there was a little too rough when I went, so I passed on that.
All in all, I enjoyed the beach and went two whole days during our stay. The lagoon area was bustling but not overcrowded – score! There was a spot for beach volleyball where a game was always going, and you could jump in anytime (which I did). The beach buffet was excellent too – lots of fresh fruit and the bartender there made the best daiquiris on the entire resort.
Xcaret Park: The Real MVP Of Our Trip
There were so many highlights on our vacation, but the one feature that stood out from the rest – the proximity to Xcaret Park. It’s just footsteps away. I am a nature lover and adventurer, so this one pulled at all the heart strings for me.
It’s an eco-archaeological park that blends nature, adventure, and historic Mayan culture all into one. It offers around 50 attractions in all. We loved snorkeling through the ancient caves and underwater gardens (the water is really cold). We explored the remains of a primitive Mayan village. There’s lots of wildlife – I was told you swim with the dolphins and observe jaguars and other native species, but we didn’t do that. We did stay for one of the cultural shows, which was spectacular! There are jungle trails to explore as well as lots of cool souvenir shops to bring back a fun treasure back home. Xcaret Park really was an unforgettable experience. I would go back just to explore the park one more time.
I will say (and I don’t say this lightly), out of all the national and state parks I have ever visited, Xcaret Park is at the top of my favorites list. I highly suggest going for at least one day, and the snorkeling through the underground caves is a must!
We Stayed In Budget And Had A Great Time
When we added it up, we definitely feel like we got a deal at the Occidental at Xcaret. Our Deluxe Room was cool and relaxing, our pool days were filled with water volleyball and cocktails at the in-pool bar, the food was okay and we found plenty of options to feast, the beach was perfect for lounging with the occasional dip, and the Xcaret Park was a big highlight that, if I’m being honest, will probably bring us back for another visit. All in all, this was a solid trip that I look back on fondly and consider to be a great time and a great deal.