Home | Cancun | Xcaret in Cancun: Is it worth it? Prices and all tips
Imagine a beautiful place with underground rivers, trees, exotic animals and beach. It sounds like a dream, right? Xcaret Park in Cancún, Mexico, has all that we talk about and a lot more attractions. Only to fulfill this dream you need to disburse some good dollars.
Therefore, it is necessary to understand what the park is well before deciding whether or not it is worth spending a day there. In this post, we will give you all the tips with details of the attractions, prices, types of tickets, how to reach, in addition to telling you how our experience there was.
XCARET, IN CANCON: ALL TIPS
To make it easier to understand everything about Xcaret let’s divide the post into topics:
Where I’s doing?
Although many think that Xcaret Park stays in Cancun, it is actually located in the Playa del Carmen region.
XCARET: The PARQUE
Xcaret Group is a Mexican company that emerged in the 1990s. In addition to the park of the same name, they also have other attractions: Xel-Há, Xplor, Xplor Fuego, Xoximilco, Xenses and Xavage, and the tour Xenotes.
Xcaret is a park full of natural beauty with cenotes, underground rivers, caves, archaeological remains and rich fauna and flora. It started to work in the late 1990s.
How long is the view?
Xcaret is a very large park: 80 hectares of extension. Therefore, you need to book a full day to get the most out of the attractions. Besides, the night show is very beautiful. So it’s worth really spending the whole day there and even then it won’t be possible to know everything.
The GRESS GRESS
Before we talk about the attractions, let’s better understand how tickets work. It is worth buying from the site before, since the value is usually lower than at the box office. Just remember to print the voucher because they require the paper at the time of entry.
The values I will give here were checked in July 2020, but on the site have the updated prices.
The cheapest ticket is $98.99 for adults. Next comes the Xcaret Plus Entry (US$ 125.99). Children up to 4 years old do not pay and 5 to 11 years pay half a half. Another option is Xcaret Total ($156 for adults and $10 for children).
In our opinion, the ticket with the best value is Xcaret Plus. In addition to the 50 attractions that are already in the cheapest ticket, there is an buffet-style meal in one of the restaurants with a beer and water, coffee and soft drink at will during lunch.
In addition, you have access to Area Plus with lockers, changing rooms and private bathrooms. The snorkel, towel and safety bag are also included.
For people, it is the best option because if you are to rent snorkel, eat and have access to lockers, the value will come out much higher than the difference between tickets.
Besides this intermediary, it has the most expensive entrance, which also includes an activity: Snuba, Adrenaline or Sea Trek. It’s worth it if you want to do any of them.
Just like at Disney, the park sells the photo package, but honestly, I don’t think it’s worth it.
BEST OF THE FORAGES
The park has 50 attractions ranging from underground rivers, exciting shows, cultural activities on Mexican traditions to beaches.
RIOS SUBTERRANELES
Without a doubt, the most important attractions of the park are underground rivers. They’re beautiful. In fact, it is very fun to swim throughout the length of the river, see the fish, enter the caves and enjoy nature. Only you get tired a little, you see? It takes about 1h the circuit depending on your pace.
If you have bought the most expensive ticket, they will give you a bag to store your most basic belongings, such as towel and slipper, and will deliver at the end of the river. You will also have access to a locker to store personal items, in addition to being able to use the dressing room.
A tip: take a change of clothes to wear after leaving the river or when you no longer want to get wet. The park offers vests available for everyone, which are mandatory during the journey in the rivers.
There are three rivers: Blue River, Maia River or Fish-Boi River. All are about 600m long and 1.60m deep. The good thing is that there are some intermediate exits for those who do not want to make the whole journey.
For those who prefer, you have the option to walk along the river on a raft. The look is beautiful.
SHOW NOTURNO
The night show, Xcaret Mexico Spectacular, is one of the most awaited attractions by the public that goes to the park. There are more than 300 artists on stage to tell a little of the history and culture of the country through dance and music. It is beautiful, but a little tiring. I confess we left before we finished.
The show tells the story of Mexico from the pre-Hispanic era to today. There are about 300 actors, musicians and singers on stage.
The show takes place in a beautiful and immense theater. The show is so crowded that there is even the possibility of buying the ticket only for the entrance to the park at night.
OTHER Attractions
Among the other attractions of the park are: the Reef of Corals, the Bombore and the Aviário, the Children’s World (a space dedicated to the small), jungle trails, a cellar, a farm with a traditional 19th century mansion, a Chapel of Guadalupe, Mayan Caves, replica of a Mexican cemetery and Torre Panoramic.
Xcaret also has several special shows, such as the Voladores. and attractions that tell the history of the Mayan people, such as the houses and culture of the time, as well as archaeological sites.
Another attraction that can not be left out is the beach, with the right to loungers, kiosks and natural pools.
PAYMENT THROUGH
Among the attractions paid aside are: Adrenaline (boat ride at a speed of 90km/h with dives and 360o turns), the Sea Trek (that helmet you put on and can stay up to 6m deep), Snuba, Snorkel Tour, spa and even an ancient purification ritual.
There is a dinner option during the evening show. There are seven typical Mexican gastronomy dishes. Honestly, I don’t think it’s worth it ($58.49 per person – July 2020 value).
the ANIMALS
I think the part of Xcaret that made us very discouraged was the fact that still there are still many animals in the park today. There is, for example, the option of swimming with dolphins (From US$ 89.99).
We know it is a dream of many people, but it is sad that the animal is out of its environment and that it is there being “model” for photos with us.
The park also has attractions with sharks, rays, turtles, manatees and butterflies.
HOW TO GUAR DO
The park is located 74 km from Cancun and 10 km from Playa del Carmen. A tip: if you are in Playa, it is worth taking the van on Calle 2 and say that you will go to the park. The amount is very cheap, it should be less than US$ 1. There he leaves you very close to the place where you should take the free bus that leads to the entrance.
At the time of purchase of the ticket, there is the option for those who want to buy the transport as well, but it is not worth it. The parking is free.
Food
Look… if there’s one thing we liked it was the gastronomy in Xcaret. There are many restaurants, almost all with buffet. The food is really good and has for everyone. It is worth buying the Plus ticket with a meal included. Thus, it does not hurt to spend.
La Cocina specializes in Mexican food, El Yucateco, in regional cuisine of Yucatán, La Caleta, in international grill and buffet, La Laguna, in international cuisine, Dos Playas, in fish and seafood, and La Peninsula, in international food, fish and seafood.
It also has restaurants that are not included in the ticket, such as El Manglar, specializing in seafood and Pacific dishes, and La Isla, an international buffet.
The park also has bars, cafeterias and cafes.
Do not forget to take
Do not forget to bring bathing suit, slipper, towel (if you do not have included in your ticket), sunscreen, change of clothes and the printed voucher of the purchase of the ticket.
VALE THE PENA IR TO THE XCARET?
This is a very controversial question. The truth is that practically all the people we have already talked and also who comment on the photos we post from the park on our Instagram love Xcaret.
I think for those who go to Cancún and Playa del Carmen behind beautiful beaches can do so skip this tour. After all, it is VERY expensive and lasts a whole day. It is not the Caribbean at its core, but rather a theme park built to give this feeling.
Think, if the ticket with a meal costs $125.99 per adult, u ma family with 4 people will spend more than 400 dollars to spend the day in the park, since in addition to tickets and lunch, children will want other things during the day.
However, of the parks in the region, Xcaret should be the best. Xel-Há has a more water park footprint, as we tell in a very old post here of the blog.
But if you have a lot of desire to know the underground rivers, watch the show and see the animals, it is worth it. The park is very beautiful, well structured and ready to receive tourists.
HOTEL OF XCARET
For those who want to live the most complete experience, there is the option to stay at Hotel Xcaret Mexico (see the value of the daily rates). An all-inclusive resort that offers access to all parks and group tours. The hotel has ten restaurants and eight bars and is located near the park.
