How can you reach the Sian Ka'an nature reserve?
March 14, 2020
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Travelling to Playa del Carmen in Mexico? Then we have a hotel tip for you. We stayed in Playa del Carmen at Sandos Caracol Hotel: a unique accommodation on the Riviera Maya, but also in the middle of the jungle of Quintana Roo in Mexico. In this blog we share our personal experience with the Mexican eco-resort.
Sandos Caracol Hotel: a surprising all-inclusive resort
In general, we don't often choose all-inclusive resorts during our travels. We like to explore a destination on our own and try out many different restaurants and bars. Our choice is therefore more likely to fall on accommodations that are small-scale, rather than large all-inclusive resorts. Still, we were very positively surprised with our stay at Sandos Caracol in Playa del Carmen!
The resort is grand, but you don't feel like you're staying at an all-inclusive resort at Sandos Caracol. Sandos Caracol feels more like a Mexican village of sorts, with several restaurants, stores and bars spread throughout the nature-rich "village.
Spend the night in the middle of the jungle
Sandos Caracol is located in the middle of the jungle of Mexico. The surroundings of the hotel are beautiful. All around you see coatis, monkeys, peacocks, deer, iguanas and other wild animals. On the resort is an ancient, authentic Mayan ruin and from Sandos Caracol you can walk straight to the tropical white sand beach with crystal clear water.
The beach at Sandos Caracol is a very fine white beach. However, there are pebbles in the sea in some places. It is therefore wise to bring water shoes. You can also walk a little further along the beach to different areas where there are no pebbles.
Location Sandos Caracol in Playa del Carmen
If you want to explore outside the resort, Sandos Caracol in Playa del Carmen is the ideal base. From Sandos you can be on Fifth Avenue within 15 minutes by cab. This is the busy and incredibly cozy center of Playa del Carmen.
Do you possess a rental car? Then from Sandos you can easily explore the beautiful surroundings of Quintana Roo, such as the various Mayan ruins of Tulum and Cobá, the cenotes, Lake Bacalar and the UNESCO nature reserve Sian Ka'an.
Also read: Visit the Sian Ka'an nature reserve
The ancient Maya called Sian Ka'an the place "where heaven was born," and when you see the beautiful nature here, you quickly understand why it is called heavenly. How incredibly beautiful it is here!
The accommodations
Sandos Caracol offers different room types. An overview of the room types can be found here. The standard rooms are not overly luxurious, but definitely good, neat and very clean. The beds are also nice.
The all-inclusive content: dining at different restaurants
What we really like about Sandos Caracol is that during your stay you don't really notice that the resort operates under an (ultra) all-inclusive concept. This gives you the benefits of all-inclusive, but it doesn't feel like a real mass concept. Thus, at the resort you can opt for dinner in the form of a buffet, but there are also several à la carte restaurants. For example, you can eat Italian, but there is also a Brazilian rodizio and an Asian teppanyaki restaurant.
We definitely recommend taking advantage of the à la carte restaurants. These restaurants, like the buffet restaurants, are included in the total cost of your trip, but the restaurants are really much cozier! Also, the quality of the food here is very good. Keep in mind that you must book the restaurants in advance (often a day in advance). Our recommendation is El Templo. This one is popular, so be quick!
The facilities
In addition to the various restaurants, there are many amenities at the Sandos Caracol resort. These include two different swimming pools, a number of bars and terraces, a spa, theater, a pool bar, stores and a fine, modern gym. You can also boogie board, take dance lessons and an aquagym class.
Sandos Caracol Eco Resort offers six different eco-themed tours according to the 'All-Nature Experience' concept. The themed tours will take place at the Sandos Caracol resort. These six eco-tours are: Soul of Nature, Aquatic World, Adventure in the Jungle, Ancestral Cooking, Maya World and Nature and Survival. Activities associated with the themed tours range from kayaking through the mangroves and biking through the Mayan jungle to traditional Mexican learning to cook and yoga sessions. The resort contributes to nature conservation in a variety of ways.
In principle you do not have to leave Sandos Caracol for fun activities, but we recommend you do! The region is very beautiful and has a lot to offer in terms of nature and culture and cozy Mexican villages and cities.
What is the cost of staying at Sandos Caracol Eco Resort?
Sandos Caracol Eco Resort is a five-star hotel. This puts the hotel in the higher price category. For a week of Sandos Caracol in April or July with two people, you will pay an average of just over €200 per night (€100 per person) for a standard room. This includes food and drinks 24/7 and all facilities. For good deals and last minutes, we recommend Booking.com (hotel only) and TUI (with flight) to keep an eye on.
The best travel time to visit Playa del Carmen and Sandos Caracol
The high season in Playa del Carmen consists of two parts. The true high season runs from December to about mid-April. This makes Playa del Carmen a popular winter sun destination. During this period, Playa del Carmen - and Sandos Caracol Eco Resort - is mostly visited by American and Canadian travelers. Dutch tourists can actually be seen visiting Playa del Carmen throughout the year.
The second high season takes place in the summer months of July and August. However, the months of May and June and September and October are also very pleasant in terms of climate. It is therefore advisable to avoid the high seasons (due to high prices).
Continuing to travel through Quintana Roo in Mexico
From Sandos Caracol Eco Resort in Playa del Carmen, you can do several excursions and activities. For example, we chose to take a day trip to Sian Ka'an and visit the Mayan ruins of Cobá. But you can also travel on to Tulum, Cancun and even Chichén Itzá: one of the most famous and largest Mayan complexes in Mexico. Sandos Caracol is therefore a fine place to recover for a few days during a multifaceted tour of Yucatán and Quintana Roo.
Naomi van Hagen
Curious, creative and passionate about travel, I’m always on the lookout for unique destinations where culture, gastronomy and adventure come together. As a travel blogger, I share personal stories and insider tips from countries like Brazil, Greece, Indonesia, Thailand and Peru, from hidden gems and rich traditions to unforgettable culinary experiences. My blogs are based on real travel experiences and in-depth local knowledge. Ready to plan your own adventure? As a personal travel consultant, I’ll help you create a tailor-made trip that perfectly suits your travel dreams.
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