Sandos Caracol – Riviera Maya
This resort exceeded my expectations. I didn’t know what to expect since I was not real familiar with this property. My daughters (young adults) loved it also. If you are traveling with guests 18 years and older, I recommend the upgrade to Select Club. A few extra amenities including private pool and beach club for adults only. Rooms are located closer to lobby although away from beach. We were a short walk from shopping and many restaurants. Fresh fruit in our room was a nice touch. Staff and food were wonderful. Eduardo was an awesome guide on our bike tour. We saw him around the resort and he was very helpful. Couples can visit Concierge and sign up for the free boat ride with champagne and chocolate covered strawberries. Jesus will probably be your guide and he was awesome!!
The grounds are rather large, 24 acres. They have shuttles if you need to hitch a ride. There are ruins on site where they perform some evening shows depicting the story of Mayans. The jungle is full of animals from donkeys to spider monkeys to bunnies AND deer (8 babies during our stay). Coatis and cats were around the resort. We did experience mosquitoes so pack repellent although they had dispensers available.
Eco at this resort refers to 3 things: sustainability (solar, recycled water and less disposable waste), eco-education (several eco-activities scheduled daily) and giving back to the community. This refers to vendors on site selling local handcrafts. The resort accepts clothes, shoes and school supplies at the drop off near theater. I wish we knew ahead so please take note. The only negatives, not a big deal, is wifi in common areas only. If you are located near those areas, you may pick it up nearby. I had access all over while my girls were limited to lobby. Not a bad thing for a mom. Beach area is not huge and rocks in the water. Take watershoes if you want to enter the ocean. Otherwise walking down the beach is fine. There are some decent areas in the water and people were snorkeling. Apply plenty of sunblock and grab a cold drink before venturing out. Beach spa offers 60 minute massages along with a 5 minute trial. Price was $35 during our stay and my daughters said it was great. I was good with the free session.
Activities are numerous such as beach/water volleyball, zumba, swimming in the cenote, bike tours, etc. You don’t have to worry about boredom. The Aquapark includes slides for teens and adults, not just kids. Check it out. They offer snacks like hot dogs, hamburgers and the best ice cream. We tried a new drink called Horchata made of rice. Delicious! It is located near the Chill Pool if you don’t want activities but music and time to relax. Kids allowed but it is located away from the main pool. Let me know if you want more information. This resort is not the right fit for ALL travelers so let me help guide you to one best for your vacation.
