Xcaret Arte Hotel: the MOST complete guide [MAPS + DAILY PLANNING]

Who would have thought that we would enjoy a vacation in an all-inclusive hotel SO MUCH! We still don’t believe it, but it is a reality that the Xcaret Arte hotel in Riviera Maya in Mexico is the main culprit that we have changed our minds about this type of trip. Because… WHAT a hotel! 😍

And since we have enjoyed it so much, it has seemed essential to tell you EVERYTHING about this wonderful hotel: prices, restaurants, room types, hotel map, tips to make the most of it… In short, we want to make the Xcaret Arte hotel guide more complete of the world 😉

Because it is very likely (it happened to us too) that at first you feel overwhelmed with all the things that the hotel offers, which I will tell you in advance since there are many.

You might be interested in | Xcaret Mexico Hotel: the MOST complete guide

The best travel insurance for Mexico with a 5% discount

🎬 Subscribe to our Youtube channel here: http://bit.ly/SuscríbeteAComiviajeros 🎬

A bit of context about the Xcaret Arte hotel

Several years ago we discovered the Xcaret universe thanks to Alan por el Mundo, but until very recently we had no idea that we could enjoy it in the first person.

The Xcaret Arte hotel is the second hotel of the Xcaret group, one of the most important tourist brands in the Riviera Maya. First it was the Xcaret México hotel, a brutal hotel designed for families, later, in June 2021, they opened the Xcaret Arte hotel, whose theme revolves around art and numerous artistic disciplines and is only for adults over 16 years old, and in December 2021, he opened the third, also adults only: La Casa de la Playa.

Xcaret Mexico is next to Xcaret Arte and Xcaret Arte is next to La Casa de Playa. If you want, you can consult our Xcaret México hotel guide.

The Xcaret Arte hotel is the twin brother of the Xcaret Mexico hotel, although there are significant differences between them. The most important ones are that in Arte children under 16 years old are not allowed, that it has swimming pools on its rooftops (something that Xcaret México lacks) and that all the activities that can already be done in the hotel, in Arte are they expand with the artistic workshops offered by each house. But don’t worry, we’ll talk about that a bit further down.

CHECK HOTEL PRICE NOW

Why Xcaret Arte?

The art at the Xcaret Arte hotel goes far beyond its name and the entire complex is a tribute to Mexican artists.

They say that here one is a guest, a work and an artist. But not only that, the art in the hotel is manifested in infinite forms throughout the resort: in the furniture, in the decoration, in the architecture, in the activities that are offered, in the animation… In fact, as you go strolling through the hotel it is common to find artists showing their art: musicians, dancers, painters, singers, actors…

Important things you should know about the Xcaret Arte hotel

• If you stay at the hotel you can enjoy its ‘All Fun Inclusive’ concept. This means that unlimited premium meals and drinks are included in the accommodation price, including the minibar and 24-hour room service. But not only that, it also includes transportation and admission to all the parks and experiences of the Xcaret group (Xcaret, Xel-Há, Xplor, Xplor Fuego, Xenses, Xoximilco, Xavage and Xenotes) and transportation to and from the Cancun airport.
• The Xcaret Arte hotel is much more than a hotel, so if you don’t want to, your vacation there doesn’t have to be the typical vacation of lying in the sun and doing nothing else. We stayed at the hotel for a total of 10 days and did not stop doing things. There are many different activities to be entertained as long as you want.
• One of the strengths of the Xcaret Arte hotel and one of the great reasons why we chose it is its BRUTAL gastronomy. It has a total of 9 restaurants, plus cafeterias and ‘street’ stalls, all with different concepts, all interesting and all a reason to visit the hotel.

• Keep in mind that of all the restaurants offered by the hotel, there is one with a fee (Xaak), another that is exclusive for people staying in the Casa de los Artistas (Kibi-Kibi) and three others (Tah-Xido, Encanta and Chino Poblano) that require a reservation and that only offer dinner service.

• We are going to talk to you about prices later, but keep in mind that it is a quite expensive hotel. The key to finding offers is to book in advance and make use of the promotions that usually appear on their website. The cheapest price you can find is around 450 USD per night for two people in a basic room (it’s not basic at all 😉 ), but in high season it can go up to 1,000 USD. And if you find a bargain, do not hesitate, because the hotel worth it.
• If you love the hotel but first want to explore it for a day before paying the price for a night, you can use a Day Pass and enjoy all the hotel’s services for one day. There are several types of pass, but the cheapest one costs USD 100 per person.
• You will be able to access everything thanks to the (precious) bracelet that they will give you when you check-in: your room, the restaurants, the parks, the xelfie points… And don’t lose it, because it costs 150 USD. The normal ones are gray, but the guests of Casa de los Artistas have it gold and those of the most luxurious rooms (Junior Suite, Master Suite and Presidential Suite), black.

CHECK HOTEL PRICE NOW

Arrival at the hotel and check-in

Before I start telling you EVERYTHING you need to know about the hotel, I would like to talk to you about how is the arrival at the hotel from the airport and the check-in process.

From the moment you set foot in the Cancun airport, you know that the experience you are going to live is unique. And it is that even the smallest detail is taken care of.

Transportation from the Cancun airport to the hotel

When you leave the terminal, the first thing you have to do is look for the Xcaret staff so they can assign you the bus that will take you to the hotel.

Do not worry, because they are easily recognizable: they are extremely friendly, they wear pink polo shirts and signs with the name of the hotels. Also, if you arrive at terminal 4, you will be lucky enough to be able to enjoy the Xcaret Lounge, where you can drink and snack whatever you want without paying anything at all.

From 06:00 to 09:00 there are buses from the airport to the hotel every half hour and from 09:00 to 06:00 every hour.

You should know that you can also have the drinks you want on the bus because they have a fridge at the entrance (and free WiFi!).

Check-in and room assignment

The bus from the Cancun airport takes approximately one hour to reach the hotel, although times may vary depending on traffic.

When you arrive, you forget about your bags and the reception by the hotel staff begins: a towel to clean your hands, a cool drink, a welcome sweet… When you give your name, one of the staff members will accompany you to the lobby of the House that has been assigned to you or that you have chosen (a little further down I will tell you about this in depth) to check-in.

Once there you will receive all the information about the hotel, schedules, recommendations, and… the bracelet that gives you access to EVERYTHING!

Keep in mind that when you check-in they will retain 400 USD on your card as a credit in case you generate any extra expenses at the hotel.

Xcaret Art hotel map and room layout

Although the hotel is quite large, the entire hotel can be explored on foot without any problem.

Of course, perhaps at first it can be a bit of a mess to get your bearings. That is why we have created this SUPER map with all the houses, restaurants, swimming pools and activities, so that you can be clear about where you are at all times.

If you want to download the map in maximum quality to easily consult it when you are there, you can do it from here 😉

As I was saying, sometimes finding your way around the hotel can be complicated, but we had three infallible tricks:

• Giant shells on the ground mean an elevator is nearby.
• The ‘street’ is always on the 3rd floor, the lobbies of the houses on the 5th floor and the rooftops on the 7th.
• To find out which house you’re in at any given moment, you just have to look at the number of a nearby room. The first number identifies the House (1 for Diseño, 2 for Artistas, 3 for Pirámide, 4 for Música and 5 for Paz, and the higher that number is, the farther you are from the sea), the second number identifies the floor and the other two are the room number. For example, we were in room 4670: room number 70 on the sixth floor of the Casa de la Música 😉 Easy, right?

The Houses (Casas) of the Xcaret Arte hotel

The Xcaret Arte hotel is divided into 6 houses: Casa del Patron, Casa del Diseño, Casa de los Artistas, Casa de la Pirámide, Casa de la Música and Casa de la Paz. And don’t think their names are just that. No, each house lives up to its name in the food, in the decoration, in the shows, in the swimming pools…

In addition, in each house there are several types of rooms: Suite, Junior Suite, Swim Up and Master Suite. But not only that, because each room can be different depending on the views it has, which can be of the garden, the river or the sea. There are rooms that even have direct access to the river from their terrace (Swim Up), but those cannot be reserved, you have to ask for them when you arrive at the hotel and pay a supplement.

CHECK HOTEL PRICE NOW

We are going to talk a little about each of the houses of the Xcaret Arte hotel:

• Casa del Patrón

We could say that this house is like a hotel lobby (although it does not function as a typical reception). There are no rooms in the Casa del Patron. This is where you will start your experience when you arrive at the hotel and where most of the information booths and restaurants are. Everything begins and ends at the Casa del Patron.

• Casa de los Artistas

The Casa de los Artistas is the most exclusive house in the hotel, and you can only access it if you have the luck and the budget to stay there (or in Junior Suite or superior rooms in any of the other houses). It is the closest to the sea, so it has a privileged view of the Caribbean.

In the Casa de los Artistas, only people over 18 years of age are admitted and its guests have an exclusive restaurant (Kibi-Kibi), a bar, a swimming pool, a rooftop with a glass pool area, where food is also served, a library and a gym. Their painting workshops are also exclusive.

To stay in the Casa de los Artistas you will have to choose one of the following rooms: Suite River ADULTS, Suite Ocean Front ADULTS, Junior Suite Ocean Front ADULTS, Swim Up Ocean Front ADULTS or Master Suite Ocean Front ADULTS.

• Casa del Diseño

La Casa del Diseño is the second best house in the hotel (considering its proximity to the sea). Its lobby is beautiful and is decorated with sewing machines, thread rolls, looms… In short, elements that constantly allude to fabric design.

Even if you are not staying in this house, you can access it, its workshops and its rooftop. The Casa del Diseño rooftop pool is the largest of all the rooftops (except Casa de los Artistas), it has sea views, hammocks and they also serve food. Its workshops revolve around looms, fabrics and clothing.

Generally you cannot choose to stay in the Casa del Diseño, you only ensure it by choosing one of the following rooms: Suite Ocean Front or Swim Up Ocean Front Diseño. Choosing any other type of room that this house has, you could also be in Pirámide or Música: Suite Garden, Swim Up Garden, Suite Ocean View, Junior Suite Ocean View or Master Suite.

• Casa de la Pirámide

La Casa de la Pirámide is so called because it is the house with the best views of Xpiral, the pyramid that serves as a junction point between the Xcaret Arte and Xcaret México hotels.

Even if you are not staying in this house, you can access it, its workshops, its rooftop, its pool and its beach. We love the rooftop pool of the Casa de la Pirámide because it has great views, there are usually few people and it has some very cool teepees.

In addition, Casa de la Pirámide has a wetbar with a waterfall and a small beach that overlooks the river, and from which you can go swimming (something that we highly recommend).

The workshops of the Casa de la Pirámide revolve around pottery and the creation of handcrafted pieces.

Along with Casa de la Música, this is where the largest number of rooms are concentrated. To stay in Casa de la Pirámide you have to choose one of the following rooms (although you could also be in Music or Design): Suite Garden, Suite River, Swim Up Garden, Suite Ocean View, Junior Suite Ocean View o Master Suite.

• Casa de la Música

Casa de la Música, as its name suggests, is a great tribute to music, which is why it has a large stage in the center. Every day on this stage there are concerts, shows and musical plays that can be enjoyed from your own room or from the pool’s wetbar.

Even if you are not staying in this house, you can access it, its workshops, its rooftop, its pool and its beaches. The Casa de la Música rooftop pool is our favorite because it has a brutal atmosphere: there is a DJ playing live music and the music can be heard even underwater.

In addition, Casa de la Música has a wetbar where there are almost never people and two small beaches that overlook the river, and from which you can go swimming (something that we highly recommend).

The Casa de la Música workshops are all for learning to dance different types of music: salsa, bachata, cumbia, mambo…

Along with Casa de la Pirámide, this is where the largest number of rooms are concentrated. To stay in Casa de la Música you have to choose one of the following rooms (although you could also be in the Pyramid or Design): Suite Garden, Suite River, Swim Up Garden or Master Suite.

CHECK HOTEL PRICE NOW

• Casa de la Paz

La Casa de la Paz is the house dedicated to relaxation and rest. It is the smallest house, the furthest from the beach and the house in which the hotel spa is located.

The great peculiarity of Casa de la Paz is that its rooms have a volcanic stone bathtub on the terrace and a sauna in the bathroom of the room. In addition, its rooftop does not have a pool, but is conditioned to do aerial yoga classes.

All guests of the Casa de la Paz have a daily hydrotherapy circuit included in the spa, something that the rest of the hotel guests have to pay separately.

Even if you are not staying in this house, you can access it, the spa, its beautiful lobby (which is a small library) and its rooftop. Of course, keep in mind that the price of the spa is not included unless you stay in this house (I’ll tell you about the spa a little further down 😉 ).

To stay at the Casa de los Paz you will have to choose one of the following rooms: Suite Garden SPA, Suite River SPA o Junior Suite SPA.

The rooms of the Xcaret Arte hotel

Even if you book in the most basic room of the hotel, you have to know that it will be a GREAT room: spacious, super bright, with a large hydromassage bathtub and decorated with exquisite taste in a tribute to Mexican art.

I am going to tell you about the most basic rooms such as the Suite River or the Suite Garden, which are the ones we are familiar with, but keep in mind that if budget is not a problem for you, you can consider reserving much better rooms than these (which are already VERY good rooms).

The decoration of the rooms of the Xcaret Arte hotel

As I have already been telling you, throughout the hotel the decoration is one of the main protagonists, so in the rooms it could not be different. So you will find artisan furniture by Mexican artists from different regions of the country in a lot of details: the chairs, the paintings, the lamps, the embroidered cushions, the tables, the mirrors… EVERYTHING!

It is VERY easy to get used to living and sleeping in such a place, but it is also important to keep in mind that it is not at all the usual and that it is really impressive.

CHECK HOTEL PRICE NOW

What’s in the room

The room has absolutely everything you may need during your stay. And what you can’t find, you can order it from room service and they’ll bring it to you in a moment (sneakers, toothbrush, sunscreen, etc…).

Beyond the basic things that all hotel rooms have, I would like to highlight the ones that we liked the most:

• Super wide terrace with hammocks for two people.
• Giant television with Apple TV where, in addition to watching movies with Netflix and other streaming services, you can order food from room service (it is included and unlimited 24 hours a day), see photos of the hotel and the parks you visit, book transportation to the airport or consult information about restaurants and other hotel services, such as the spa.
• The minibar is included and unlimited throughout the stay. There are soft drinks, water, beers… The same goes for the varied Mexican sweets that you will find upon arrival.
• There is a Nespresso coffee machine with also unlimited capsules.
• Every day they bring you a small box with typical Mexican sweets and a card explaining what sweet it is and what Mexican region it comes from. The best of all is that you can take the boxes home 😉 Every day is a different one and they are beautiful!
• The lighting system is great because you can modulate depending on the amount and type of light you need. To turn them all off you just have to press a button.
• The hot tub is perfect and also every day they replenish the bath salts and bubble soap, as I call it, which makes some BRUTAL bubbles 😝
• The shower is super spacious and decorated with beautiful hand painted tiles.
• The amenities of the Xcaret Arte hotel are not the typical basic ones to get by, no. They are good amenities and there is practically everything: gel, shampoo, conditioner, mouthwash, disinfectant gel, cream, bath salts… In addition, they change the aroma of the soaps during the stay.

If you want to see the complete room, don’t miss the video at the beginning of this post 😉

Xcaret Arte hotel restaurants

One of the great reasons why we chose the Xcaret Arte hotel was its gastronomy. Because is a hotel very focused on good food and on valuing Mexican culinary art.

If like us you enjoy food and trying new things, you will love the Xcaret Arte hotel, because it has nothing to do with the international buffets that are usually found in all-inclusive hotels in the Riviera Maya and Cancun.

Seriously, all the restaurants at the Xcaret Arte hotel are a good reason to come to the hotel and each one of them has a touch that makes it different so that you can enjoy the variety during your stay. In addition, they pay special attention to the drink, designing cocktails that go perfectly with the food and with the theme of the restaurant.

• Mercado San Juan

It is a beautiful buffet with Mexican food where you can have breakfast, lunch or dinner. It is open all day and is perfect to enjoy a typical Mexican market. What we liked the most about this restaurant were the quesadillas and the carnitas tacos.

It is not necessary to make a reservation.

• Cantina VIAIPY

It is one of our favorite restaurants in the hotel and has Oaxacan cuisine. It is led by chef Alejandro Ruiz and you can have lunch and dinner à la carte.

What we like most about the VIAIPY Cantina is that at night there is live music and a brutal atmosphere. You have to try the guacamole and the melted quesillo. You can see the menu here.

It is not necessary to make a reservation.

• Arenal

It is very close to the beach, in the coves, in a beautiful setting. It is also one of our favorites (we went several times).

You can go for lunch or dinner à la carte and try the so-called comfort food by chef Orlando Trejo. Order the bone marrow, the pineapple tetela and the yellow fin tuna. You can see the menu here.

• Cayuco

If your plan is not to move from the main pool, you will love Cayuco because it is right next to it and is open for breakfast (buffet), lunch (buffet) and dinner (a la carte).

It offers fusion cuisine of Mediterranean and Mexican flavors created by chef Franco Maddalozzo. You cannot miss the ceviches prepared at the moment with very fresh fish. You can see the menu here.

It is not necessary to make a reservation.

CHECK HOTEL PRICE NOW

• Cafeteca

Located in the hotel area from where taxis and all transport leave, the Cafeteca is perfect for a quick breakfast or snack.

It is open from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., so you can go at any time. Best of all is the warm pastries.

It is not necessary to make a reservation.

• Encanta

It is a contemporary Mexican cuisine restaurant led by chef Paco Méndez, winner of a Michelin star.

Encanta offers a brutal 10-course tasting menu and is one of our favorite restaurants. You can see the menu here.

It is only open for dinner and advance reservations are essential.

• Chino Poblano

Chinese food and food from Puebla together in the same restaurant. This is what chef Jonathan Gomez Luna offers us at Chino Poblano with his 7-step tasting menu. You can see the menu here.

It is only open for dinner and advance reservations are essential.

• Tah-Xido

A Japanese restaurant could not be missing from the gastronomic offer of the Xcaret Arte hotel.

It is led by chef Luis Arzapalo and offers à la carte food (with delicious sushi) and teppanyaki tables where they cook live and with a show. You can see the menu here.

It is only open for dinner and advance reservations are essential.

CHECK HOTEL PRICE NOW

• Xaak

It is the only restaurant in the hotel that is not included and if you want to try its 9-course tasting menu you will have to pay separately (2,400 MXN per person, approximately 100 euros).

Its cuisine, directed by chefs Alejandro Ruiz and Alberto Solís, mixes flavors from Oaxaca and Yucatán and has pre-Hispanic influences. It’s not cheap, but we really liked it. It is perfect for celebrating special occasions and can be visited even if you are not staying at the hotel. You can see the menu here.

It is only open for dinner and advance reservations are essential.

• Kibi-Kibi

Kibi-Kibi is an exclusive restaurant for guests of Casa de los Artistas and people staying in a Junior Suite or higher. It is run by chef Roberto Solís and offers a fusion of Yucatecan and Lebanese cuisine.

It is an a la carte restaurant and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can see the menu here.

It is not necessary to make a reservation.

• Room Service

Ok, this isn’t a restaurant, but it’s a great option for breakfast, lunch, or dinner if you don’t feel like leaving your room. The menu changes depending on the time of day and everything we tried was delicious, especially the shrimp fajitas, beef tacos and salmon bagels.

Keep in mind that depending on the time, the meal can take between 30 and 90 minutes.

Rooftops and pools of Xcaret Arte

One of the things we enjoyed the most during our stay at the Xcaret Arte hotel were its rooftops and pools. And it is that all the houses (except Casa de la Paz) have a rooftop with an infinity pool, a bar, special drinks, brutal views, games to pass the time…

In addition, some have food (Artistas and Diseño), others a DJ playing live (Música) and others some beautiful teepees to lie down (Pirámide).

Rooftops of Xcaret Arte hotel

• Rooftop of Casa del Diseño. Its pool has sea views and is one of the largest. It has hammocks, loungers and Balinese beds. In addition, they serve food until 5:00 p.m. Being larger, having sea views and serving food is one of the busiest. For us it is the least good of all, but not the worst 😉
• Rooftop of Casa de la Pirámide. It is usually the quietest of all because there is no music and they do not serve food. And we love it precisely for that. Being smaller, the attention is much more personalized. We also love the views of the Xpiral and that, apart from the sun loungers, it has perfect teepees to take a good nap.
• Rooftop of Casa de la Música. It is our favorite rooftop because of the good atmosphere it has. It is the farthest from the beach and the one with the worst views, which is why there are usually fewer people than the rest. We love it because it has a DJ playing live, which makes for a great atmosphere. In addition, the music is heard underwater, the attention is amazing and it has some brutal Balinese beds.
• Rooftop of Casa de los Artistas. It is exclusively for guests of Casa de los Artistas and its infinity pool has privileged views of the sea. It also has a section of glass pool perfect for Instagram photos 😝 Just like Diseño, they also serve food.
• Rooftop of Casa de la Paz. It does not have a pool, but a space to practice aerial yoga. Classes are from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Pools and wetbars at the Xcaret Arte hotel

In addition to the pools on the rooftops of the houses, at the Xcaret Arte hotel there are several more pools that I would like to tell you about:

• Main infinity pool. It is the largest pool in the hotel and the one where there are usually more people. It has ocean views and a wet bar. In addition, Cayuco restaurant is right next door and many of the food stalls and spontaneous animations of the hotel take place around it. There is a Xelfie point in the pool (I’ll tell you about what this is a little further down).
• Pirámide pool and wetbar. It has great views of the Xpiral and is right next to one of the hotel’s river beaches. This pool has a waterfall and a Xelfie point.

• Música pool and wetbar. It’s right in front of the Casa de la Música stage, so it’s great when there are concerts or shows. You also have direct access to two of the hotel’s river beaches. This pool has a Xelfie point.
• Artistas Pool. It is located just above the Kibi-Kibi restaurant and is exclusively for guests of Casa de los Artistas. It’s beautiful to take instagrammable photos from the restaurant 😝

Activities to do at the Xcaret Arte hotel

If there’s one thing you’re not going to do during your stay at the Xcaret Arte hotel, it’s get bored 😉 So we wanted to make a small compilation of ALL the things you can do, not counting, of course, to enjoy the hotel’s swimming pools and restaurants.

1. Workshops

The artistic workshops are one of the most innovative activities of the Xcaret Arte hotel and are a great opportunity to get closer to the purpose with which the hotel was born and to Mexican art. All of them are taught by people who have dedicated their lives (or dedicate them) to the art they teach in the workshop.

Keep in mind that you can do all the workshops in all the houses (regardless of which one you stay in), except for the one in the Casa de los Artistas, which is exclusively for its guests.

The workshops are held in the same space as the gift shops of each house and usually last between an hour and an hour and a half. It is not necessary to book, just arrive 15 minutes in advance, but keep in mind that guests of Casa de los Artistas and superior rooms can do it, so arriving early will ensure you a place 😉

It is important that you know that for some of the workshops you will need more than one class, so if you are especially interested, it is best to start them at the beginning of your stay. For example, in the pottery workshop you will need a day to mold, another to fire and one or two to paint the piece.

CHECK HOTEL PRICE NOW

• Painting workshop – Casa de los Artistas

Watercolors, landscaping, linoleum engraving, collage or drawing are just some of the artistic techniques that you can learn in the Casa de los Artistas workshop. The workshops last between an hour and an hour and a half and have capacity for 10 people.

• 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.: Watercolor or landscaping
• 10:50 a.m. to 11:50 a.m.: Collage
• 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.: Engraving in linoleum
• 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.: Drawing
• 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.: Mixed technique

These workshops can be done every day except Saturdays.

• Craft weaving workshop – Casa del Diseño

If you want to delve into the history and art of Mexican fabrics, this is your workshop. You can learn the art of looms and thread, weave macramé or discover everything about Huichol weaving. The Casa del Diseño workshops all last one hour and have capacity for 10 people.

• 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.: Tour of the looms
• 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.: Spinning ideas
• 12:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.: Weaving macramé
• 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.: Traditional fabrics
• 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.: Huichol weaving
• 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.: Looms

These workshops can be done every day except Wednesday.

• Pottery workshop – Casa de la Pirámide

The workshops at Casa de la Pirámide are always the most popular, so it is best to go as far in advance as you can. You do not always have the opportunity to create and mold pieces with your own hands. These workshops last between one and two hours and have a capacity for 10 people, except for the lathe, which is only for 4.

• 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.: Painting ceramics
• 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Creating with your hands
• 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.: Pottery
• 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.: Lathe

These workshops can be done every day except Tuesdays.

• Dance workshop – Casa de la Música

If you have a dancing soul, without a doubt these are going to be your favorite workshops. What we like the most about the Casa de la Música workshops is that in addition to learning, you do sports 😉 They are also super fun. These workshops last between an hour and an hour and a half and have capacity for 15 people, except Jarana and Artesas, which are only for 4.

• 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.: Salsa
• 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.: Bachata
• 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Cumbia
• 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.: Mambo
• 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.: Jarana
• 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.: Artesas

These workshops can be done every day except Sundays.

CHECK HOTEL PRICE NOW

• Aerial yoga classes – Casa de la Paz

In Casa de la Paz there are no workshops per se, but every day, on its rooftop, aerial yoga classes are offered from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

2. Coves

One of the things that most caught our attention when we began to investigate the hotel were the coves.

This area of the Mexican Caribbean is characterized by being quite windy and full of rocks, so these coves fed with the sea water itself are a great alternative to avoid strong waves, rocks and why not say it, sargassum.

Here the water is much calmer, they are in a really beautiful environment, they have sun loungers, bar service and they are usually super quiet. In addition, they are a super instagrammable corner of the hotel.

3. River beaches

In Casa de la Pirámide and in Casa de la Música you will find three small beaches. They are salt water but they are not really beaches, since they are actually in a river. Could we call them river beaches? 😝

They all have sun loungers and bar service.

4. Muluk Spa

Like a good luxury hotel, the Xcaret Arte hotel also has a spa, which, by the way, requires a fee.

As a spa, it has nothing special or different from any other spa in the world: saunas, Turkish baths, pools at different temperatures and a pool with many jets. What the Xcaret Arte spa stands out for is the environment it is surrounded by and the service they offer. You don’t know how cool it is to lie down in the sauna and have two slices of cucumber and a cool towel put on your eyes.

Also the spa is beautiful. The main pool is surrounded by vegetation and we were able to enjoy it alone practically all the time because they control the capacity quite a bit so that you can be calm and really relax.

A hydrotherapy circuit in the spa costs approximately 40 euros per person. And from there up. Because there are countless treatments and massages that you can do. Remember that if you stay at the Casa de la Paz you can do one circuit per day without having to pay for it.

You can check the spa menu here and the prices of the treatments here 😉

5. Beach

The Xcaret Arte hotel has very few bad things, but one of them is the beach. As I said a little above, this area of the Mexican Caribbean is quite rocky and windy. So the hotel beach is not at all the typical paradise Caribbean beach that you are probably imagining.

Even so, it is a beautiful beach, with hammocks and bar service, so you can enjoy it a lot anyway. If in your mind are the typical crystal clear Caribbean beaches, this is not your hotel.

6. Islands

If you look at our map, above the Xpiral, between the Xcaret México and Xcaret Arte hotels, there is a wooded area where it seems that there is nothing. Well yes there is!

And it is that although it may not seem like it, that area are islands connected to each other and to the two hotels with hanging wooden bridges. This area is designed for those who enjoy training outdoors (in addition to running, there are several areas for strength training), but it is also perfect for taking a walk in nature and seeing native animals.

7. Nightlife

If you want to enjoy a bit of nightlife during your vacation, at the Xcaret Arte hotel you have two options:

• Cantina VIAIPY. Every night until 3:00 am there is live music and the atmosphere is brutal.
• El Deseo. To get to it, all you have to do is look for the taco stand near the Casa de la Música store and workshop (from then on I’ll let you be surprised 😉). It opens every night until super late and also has a very good atmosphere. At the beginning of the night they play live jazz and then it works more like a disco. All premium drinks are included.

8. Xpiral

This pyramid, which gives its name to one of the hotel houses, is one of the most curious places in Xcaret Arte. It marks the separation between Xcaret México and Xcaret Arte and is a great place to go to see the sunrise or sunset.

In addition, at the top it has a chapel and the stairs you go up are beautiful for taking photos. If you prefer not to make any effort, don’t worry, there is also an elevator 😉

9. Kayak and Paddle Board

Who said that we have come to the hotel to relax? 😝  Another activity you can’t miss during your stay at the hotel is kayaking and paddle boarding.

The area of the coves also serves as the setting for this activity in which you can tour the salty rivers of Xcaret Arte and Xcaret México.

Of course, both activities are free, but in high season it is essential to book the day before (on the map you have the exact location). You can enjoy kayaking and paddle boarding for half an hour every day.

It is a super fun activity that we highly recommend because you can also enjoy this area from another perspective. Keep in mind that the river closes at 6:00 p.m.

10. Swimming in the river

Do you remember that when I mentioned the river beaches I told you about swimming in the river? Well, this is what I meant! In this area of the salty river of the hotel (which is different from the coves and from the kayak and paddle board) you can take a vest and jump into the water to fully enjoy a different experience.

The area that can be explored is not very large (although you can expand it if you swim across to Xcaret México), but it is full of things to do such as slides, hammocks…

It is one of the hotel activities that we enjoy the most. Keep in mind that the river closes at 6:00 p.m.

CHECK HOTEL PRICE NOW

11. Xelfie Points

There are a total of 20 Xelfie points scattered throughout the hotel. And you may be wondering… what the hell are Xelfie points? Well, they are places where by scanning your bracelet you can take all the photos you want.

These photos are ‘saved’ and then you can see them on the TV in your room (or in the stores of each house) and if you like them, buy them for 59 USD.

On their own, in our opinion, they are not particularly worth it, but if you buy the photos of any of the Xcaret parks that you visit, they give you all the ones you take at the hotel for free 😉 For example, those of Xenses and Xplor are worth very much worth it.

12. Hotel shows

At the beginning of this super guide to the Xcaret Arte hotel, I mentioned that the art in the hotel is super present wherever you look. And that includes the shows and animations that you will find while you go through it.

There is everything: dancers, skaters, painters, actors, puppets, singers, musicians, mimes… If you don’t want to miss anything, it is best to ask for a schedule at one of the hotel’s information desks because that way you can find out what schedules and zones, as they vary by season.

13. Xcaret Parks

The ‘All Fun Inclusive’ concept of the Xcaret Arte hotel also includes transportation and admission to all the Xcaret parks, which are quite a few: Xcaret, Xel-Há, Xplor, Xplor Fuego, Xenses, Xoximilco, Xavage and Xenotes.

We are going to publish a super guide talking about all of them so that it is much easier for you to choose in case you do not have time to go to all of them, but there are several things that I did want to tell you about here:

• For most of the parks you do not need to reserve, but keep in mind that for some like Xenses, Xenotes or Xoximilco you will need to book in advance.
• From 8:00 a.m. and every 20 minutes, the bus that takes you and brings you to the Xcaret, Xplor, Xplor Fuego and Xenses parks leaves from the lobby of the hotel. These parks are quite close to the hotel so it will not take more than 10 minutes.
• Xel-Há, Xavage, Xoximilco and Xenotes are further away, so it is best to ask when you arrive at the hotel.
• Xenotes is not a park in itself, but an excursion in which 4 cenotes in the area are visited. We didn’t do it, but from what we’ve seen and read, it’s pretty fun.

During our stay we visited Xenses, Xplor and Xoximilco and soon we will talk about them in independent posts.

You might be interested in reading this post | Xcaret Parks Mexico which ones are worth it? Prices and opinion of all of them

Daily planning to make the most of your stay at the Xcaret Arte hotel

It is clear that the best thing is that you make your own planning according to the things that you like the most, but if you do not know where to start, here is our proposal:

Keep in mind that the most complicated thing is to find the balance between enjoying the hotel and visiting the largest number of Xcaret parks, especially if you do not stay at the hotel for a long time.

CHECK HOTEL PRICE NOW

*In this planning we have not included the restaurants of the Xcaret México hotel, where you can also go for lunch or dinner if you want because we have preferred to focus on those of Xcaret Arte, but if you do not mind moving and do not want to repeat, you can go to all of these:

• Mercado de la Merced. Mexican cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Trajinera. Fish and seafood for lunch and dinner.
• Cantina Los Faroles. Oaxaca cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Chibali. International cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Las Playas. Comfort food focused on à la carte Mediterranean cuisine for lunch and dinner.
• Bio. Vegan cuisine for breakfast and lunch.
• Las Cuevas. Grilled meat for dinner. Reservation required.
• Xin-Gao. A la carte oriental cuisine for dinner. Reservation required.
• Teatro del Río. Tasting menu with a 5-course Mexican show for dinner. Reservation required.

How much does the Xcaret Arte hotel cost?

As I mentioned at the beginning, the Xcaret Arte hotel is not a cheap hotel, but it is very worth it for all the services it offers.

Prices vary a lot depending on the season, the time you book, the place from which you make the reservation or if you find any promotion.

Some tips for booking the Xcaret Arte hotel:

• Always book from pages that you know and offer you trust, such as the hotel’s own website or Booking.com. We have read many cases of people being scammed, especially in Mexico.
• Look a lot and compare prices because the rates change a lot depending on the season.
• Take advantage of the offers and promotions that the hotel usually launches. We found a bargain thanks to Black Friday.

How much do we spend?

And well, since I know you have an urgent need to know how much we spent, I’ll tell you. We stayed 10 nights during the high Christmas season (from December 23 to January 2) and paid a total of 5,827.25 euros for the two of us.

Keep in mind that this includes accommodation, food and drinks, and plenty of activities. The price per person and night is 291.36 euros. Remember: peak season.

To give you an idea, the same dates on Booking.com cost more than 14,000 euros. But we have also seen dates in which it is the other way around and on Booking.com it is much cheaper than on the hotel website, so don’t stop looking at it because you will still be surprised 😉

CHECK HOTEL PRICE NOW

Day Pass at the Xcaret Arte hotel

As I mentioned at the beginning, if you want to spend a day at the hotel and enjoy its services without staying, you can do so by taking a Day Pass. The only way to buy it is at the hotel reception, so until you are there you cannot know if there will be places or not.

If you prefer, you can call by phone so they can tell you how availability is going, but in any case it will be indicative information.

These are the three types of Day Pass that exist and their prices:

• Day Pass: From 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. It costs $100 per person.
• Night Pass: From 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 a.m. It costs $120 per person.
• Full Day Pass: From 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. It costs $160 per person.

You have to keep in mind that these passes do not include the restaurants for which reservations are required or the Xcaret parks and experiences that are included in the hotel’s All Fun Inclusive concept.

Tips for staying at the Xcaret Arte hotel

You still think it’s funny that we give you tips for staying in a hotel, but the truth is that we think it’s important to tell you some details so that you can take advantage of your stay 100%, which is why you paid for it 😉

• I know you’re on vacation, but if you want to enjoy the full experience (and take advantage of the dough it costs), it’s important that you get up early. The ideal would be to get up at 7:00 a.m. to have breakfast at 8:00 a.m. and that the day spreads to the fullest. Yes, we get up early even when we go to relax 😝
• Plan well all the activities you are going to do and the parks you are going to visit. You can do it in an excel, like we did, so you don’t miss anything 😉
• If you arrive in Cancun in the afternoon, our advice is that you sleep that night in a hotel near the airport so you don’t have to pay for a full day at the hotel that you won’t take advantage of. And the same with the day of departure. The good thing is that it doesn’t matter what time you check-in or check-out, because both days you can enjoy the hotel (and everything that is included) for the full day.
• Don’t forget to book your return transport from the hotel to the airport at least one day in advance.
• Reserve at least 3 weeks in advance the restaurants that require a reservation. You can do it by mail or by phone once you have the reservation number. It is important that you do so because we met many people who were left without trying some restaurants because they waited to make a reservation once they arrived at the hotel.
• The main infinity pool and the rooftop of Casa del Diseño are usually the places where most people congregate, so if you prefer a little more tranquility, focus on the wetbars and rooftops of Casa de la Pirámide and Casa de la Música.

Hotel Xcaret Arte reviews

In summary, we would like to tell you about the strengths and weaknesses that, in our opinion, the Xcaret Arte hotel has:

Good things about the Xcaret Arte hotel

• The drink and food are really BRUTAL. Seriously, it’s amazing how good you eat and drink at the hotel.
• The attention of all the staff is incredible and goes far beyond good treatment.
• At the Xcaret Arte hotel there is always something fun to do. It is impossible for you to get bored.
• You can take advantage of the whole day at the hotel on the day of check-in and check-out.
• Being adults only you avoid shouting and jumping in the pools, so it is a super quiet hotel. In addition, despite having visited it during the high season, at no time did we feel that there were many people.
• The entire hotel can be easily explored on foot.
• The hotel’s salty rivers are brutally beautiful and perfect for doing different activities.
• The All Fun Inclusive concept is wonderful and makes rest and relaxation holidays as complete as you want.

Bad things about the Xcaret Arte hotel

• In the hotel there is very little signage, so it is very easy to get lost, especially the first days.
• If you arrive at dawn, like us, the check-in is quite poor. In the end we got the same things as if we had checked in at a normal time, but it’s still a bummer.
• If you arrive early to check-in, we have read that sometimes the rooms are not ready, but the truth is that we did not have that problem.
• Although it is a brutal hotel, it is very expensive.
• Communication with the hotel before arrival is a bit tedious (they take time to answer emails and telephone calls) and the reservation system in general seems a bit of a drag, especially for restaurants.

CHECK HOTEL PRICE NOW

If you want to know more about the hotel, learn about the experiences of other travelers, discover everything about the Xcaret universe or learn more about Riviera Maya, take a look at these Facebook groups 😉

• Hotel Xcaret Arte
• Parques Xcaret
• Riviera Maya

The best travel insurance for Mexico with a 5% discount

If you liked this post about the wonderful Xcaret Arte hotel, which is part of our travel guide to Riviera Maya, don’t forget to follow us on our social media profiles, where we tell you everything live:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Youtube
• Linkedin