Sandos Caracol Eco Resort Mexico with Tweens : Parenting To Go

On a whim we booked a multi-generational trip to Mexico and stayed at the Sandos Caracol Eco Resort in Riviera Maya. We spent 6 nights and experienced this Mexican resort to the max! On this trip we were joined by my parents so we were 2 adults, 2 tweens and 2 seniors. Despite reading so many negative things online prior to booking this all inclusive family resort, I booked it because it sounded like it had so much on offer for families looking to keep busy. During the busy Christmas season our budget definitely would not stretch for all of us to stay at Hotel Xcaret and Sandos Caracol seemed like a budget friendly option. Staying at Sandos Caracol also gives you access to Sandos Playcar which is said to have a stunning beach and you have access to their restaurants during the day time as long as you taxi yourself over. We ran out of time and didn’t get to check it out. Read on to hear my thoughts on why Sandos Caracol might be a great option for families looking for an activity filled all inclusive getaway.

Our Sandos Caracol Review

This family friendly all inclusive resort is located in a jungle with wild animals roaming around freely. The resort also promised numerous all-inclusive activities and they have a cenote, waterpark and farm onsite. If you’re looking for an adults only experience, there is an adults only side but truth be told, there’s no avoiding the kids here so keep that in mind. We loved the many activities on site and enjoyed the abundant natural elements at this resort. I also truly appreciated the various environmental friendly practices in place. For travellers who want to be socially and environmentally conscious, this resort is definitely one to keep in mind for your next family vacation. The staff were friendly, our room was spectacular and there were evening events to keep us entertained. The one area that could use improvement is the culinary program but if you keep in mind that this is a 3* resort then you’ll actually be impressed with the options. I will go into more detail about the culinary options but I want you to know that our family still ate well and I even gained weight during the trip – haha! My vegetarian mother found it easy to fill her plate to the brim and Apollo’s lactose allergy was not an issue and he found desserts he could enjoy too. Overall I highly recommend this all inclusive resort for families looking for fun activities whilst being immersed in a jungle surrounded by friendly animals in the wild and a beach to lounge at. And you can take pride in knowing that you’re staying at a resort that has garnered the prestigious Gold Travelife Award for its commitment to sustainability in Riviera Maya, Mexico!

When it comes to booking your family vacation, I usually prefer to purchase all inclusive bundles where you get a package deal for your flight, transfer and hotel but this time around I found it much easier to book things separately because we found a great deal on Canada Jetlines. We booked our flights directly with them and then I booked the resort and transfer with Holibay tours who I can certainly recommend because the owner was always ready when we needed advice and he was very helpful in arranging everything we needed for our multi-generational family vacation.

You could also book directly through the Sandos website and the perk of booking directly is that you may hit upon a sale which will not only help you save some dollars but also give you the chance to get points via their loyalty program, Sandos4u– these points can be redeemed at the resort for various experiences.

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Room options

Tips for making the most of your visit

Villa and Room Options at Sandos Caracol

Let’s start with the room options because no Sandos Caracol Eco Resort review would be complete without telling you about the numerous room options available. Your room type will determine the colour of the bracelet you will receive and this will determine the areas you can access. On top of all that there’s also a couple VIP rooms which the hotel can randomly upgrade you to and there’s the Royal Elite section which has a special option that can only be accessed by booking from a member (a timeshare owner of sorts). So yes, the various room options can get complicated but hopefully I can shed some light on the main rooms at Sandos Caracol Resort.

What are the Room Options?

The resort’s rooms are split up into 3 categories. There’s the family section, the adults only section and the royal elite section. If you’re on the Sandos Caracol website you will see the family, adult and Royal Elite offers but know that to get the most VIP bracelet of all (the Black one), you MUST book the Royal Elite special option through an existing member and you can find them on various Facebook groups. Jeff Bries comes highly recommended in this Facebook group.

All rooms have :

Bathrobes and slippers
Laptop-sized safe
Air conditioning
Vanity mirror
Minibar (which gets restocked daily to my kids’ glee)
Iron and ironing board
Hairdryer
Telephone
Wifi
24/7 Room Service
Coffee pot
Water dispenser

Family Section

Eco family superior Suite Sandos caracol — Eco family Superior Sandos Caracol

Eco Family Superior : These rooms have been recently renovated and you have a king bed and bunk beds for 2 kids in one room and a single sink bathroom.

Eco Family Suite : The Eco Family Suites are perfect for families with 5 people (3 adults 2 kids or 2 adults and 3 kids) because it has one master bedroom with a king-size bed and an adjoining room with a bunk bed for three. You also have 2 full bathrooms and complimentary toiletries. But the highlight is the private balcony with an outdoor tub like pool.

Eco Family Penthouse : Most penthouses are on the 3rd floor and you will have to walk up a set of stairs. I’m only mentioning this because it was not an option for us travelling with my mom who struggles with stairs. Something you may want to keep in mind if you’re on a multi-generational vacation. This is the largest and most luxurious family room option. There’s a master bedroom with ensuite bathroom, and a separate living room with a pullout couch and bunkbed for 3 children. There’s two bathrooms in the Sandos Caracol Penthouse and there’s a TV in each room as well.

Adults Only Select Club Section

The rooms for this adults only section are away from the main areas to help create a bit of a barrier from the family focused activities, so keep in mind that you will have to walk about 7 to 10 minutes to get to the beach and main party pool area. However, you are very close to the Select Club area with easy access to the adults only pool, hot tubs, a la carte breakfast options and the Select Clubhouse with a bar and snack room. One of the great perks is that you have access to the Select Clubhouse bar and snack room by the beach area too and there are private cabana beds which are free for you to access. It was lovely being able to step in there and grab a quick snack and drink without having to walk to the main pool area. Kids are not allowed in the area but they can play by the beach because that’s a public area – they just can’t chill on the bed with you. I only say this because even if you’re staying with kids, you can have the gold bracelet that allows you to access the adults only section amenities without staying in the adults only area.

Select Club Superior Room : You have the option of a king bed or 2 double beds and also have a terrace or balcony to lounge at.

Select Club Deluxe : One large room with a king bed and a separate sitting area with a couch. The main perks with this room is that there’s a jacuzzi tub if you’re looking for that extra amenity.

Select Club Penthouse : Here you will enjoy a bedroom with king bed and double sink bathroom. There’s a living room with a full size sofa that can become a full sized bed and there’s an extra large balcony with a Jacuzzi tub.

Royal Elite Section

Anyone can book these rooms but keep in mind that if you book these rooms from a member (not from a booking site like Expedia or even the hotel’s website), then you will receive the extra privileges with a Black wristband (which I will explain more about below). Families booking in this section should know that even though kids won’t receive the Gold bracelet perks, adults will! That said, I personally am not a fan of these rooms for families because there are no bunk beds and you have to resort to two doubles or a king and a sofa.

Royal Elite Superior : These rooms offer a king bed or two doubles and bathroom with double sinks. There’s a balcony and while they allow 2 adults and 2 kids, know that you would only have two doubles here and no bunk beds.

Royal Elite One Bedroom Suite : This is probably the best option for families because there’s a master bedroom with double sink ensuite and large jacuzzi tub for parents. Then there’s a separate living room with a double sofa bed and a large balcony. There’s only one bathroom though so keep that in mind, especially with tweens and teens ! You can request a roll away bed like you can see in the above picture.

Royal Elite Penthouse : Large bedroom with king bed and living room area with a sofa day bed and balcony access can be found in these rooms. They also have a jacuzzi tub.

No I will mention another option – apparently the hotel has a few VIP rooms that aren’t available to be booked but you (like we) may get upgraded on the spot. We had booked an adults only Select superior room for my parents and a eco family superior for ourselves but at check-in they asked if we’d like to be together and we said yes to that Christmas miracle. What this meant was that we had a condo of sorts. My parents had their own king bed room with an ensuite which connected to a living room with a day bed (and we ordered a rollaway bed too) and then there were a flight of stairs indoors which brought you to another king bedroom which not only had an ensuite but also a jacuzzi tub and a balcony. I really liked that Christmas miracle!

What do the Bracelet Colours Signify?

At check in you will each be given a bracelet and this bracelet is the key to your room and depending on the colour, will give you access to various amenities at the resort.

There’s the green bracelet which gives you access to all the activities and areas of the resort except for the adults only and Royal Elite(RE) sections. At the end of the day I think the biggest thing you’d be missing out on is being able to access the adults and RE only areas (pool, hot tub, beach club) and specialty breakfast/ lunch restaurant without a gold or black wristband. You will still have access to the main restaurants, a la cartes, 2 pools, kids club and all the many activities so I wouldn’t worry too much about it if there’s a budget you’re playing within.

If you book in the adults only Select section or the Royal Elite section via the website or a site like RedTag.ca then you will receive a gold bracelet. Parents travelling with kids can get the gold bracelets if you’re staying within the RE section or you can upgrade to it at check in I’ve been told. The gold bracelets gives access to the Select Club Houses which are special areas (we found two – one by the adults only pool and one by the beach) that has space to lounge at, play some games and relax at. They also serve premium brands when it comes to alcohol ( I even found Frangelico at the beach one) and often has snacks and treats in a self-help area. Gold bracelets can also have breakfast and lunch at the a la carte restaurant without having to do the buffet (but truth be told I actually preferred the buffet) and of course you have access to the adults only pool and hot tub areas.

I also saw some red bracelets when I was there and was informed that those who booked via Expedia received those bracelets and that they are similar to the gold ones.

Now you’ll see some Black bracelets floating around as well and that’s because there’s a “secret” Royal Elite (RE) bracelet option at the resort and I only found out about it after I booked our rooms. So here’s the skinny on the special “RE” perks. You can only book these with a member (Jeff comes highly recommended from this extremely helpful Facebook group) and this is the only way to access the black wrist bands which give you access to the VIP Royal Elite section. There are plenty of perks like special meal options, a ceviche party and access to the infinity pool and bar. What I found interesting is that kids 12 and under stay for free when you book with Jeff, so that’s something to explore when you’re booking your Sandos Caracol Eco Resort vacation. Another huge perk is that you have access to a concierge to make dinner reservation requests prior to arrival so you don’t have to deal with the crazy lines to book the a la carte options or wake up at midnight to book via the app once you’re at the resort (I’ll go into this crazy booking system in the food experiences section)

Family Friendly Activities at Sandos Caracol Eco Resort

The main reason to choose this all inclusive Mexican resort is for the numerous activities included with your stay. They have something for everyone ranging from pool side activities to traditional rituals. Between the full sized waterpark (I’m not talking about a small slide here okay), the on-site farm, cenote and full sized theatre, you will be busy!!!

Here’s what you can enjoy at Sandos Caracol All Inclusive Resort

Waterpark : Definitely the main draw for kids is the large adult sized slides along with an amazing play area for toddlers and smaller slides for the younger kids. You have unlimited entry here and while there’s no alcohol served or allowed in this area, there’s a cafe serving lemonade, hot dogs, fries and such. The little kids’ Aqua Park area is open daily from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. The water slide area is open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Even my mom went on the slides with the kids, so this fun for adults too.

If you’re wondering about the height requirements :

Medium-Sized Water Slides – min height 3 feet 7 inches (10 year old Apollo and 12 year old Akira went down a few of the medium sized ones).

Big-Sized Water Slides – min height 4 feet 7 inches (10 year old did most of the slides but couldn’t do one. 12 year old did all of them. Both said there were a few that hurt their back).

Outdoor Sports : You have access to 2 outdoor tennis courts, a basketball court, biking trails and lawn games. I am pretty sure they had pickleball courts too. We were able to book the courts at no cost from the activities hut near the Kids Club and they had the rackets and balls we needed as well. If you want to rent segways they can be done at an extra cost or you can get free bikes (closed toed running shoes required) and these are both available near the front reception area. While they do have kids bikes, there’s no training wheels but there are some bikes with baby seats.

Cenote : There’s a beautiful cenote close to the Elephant bar and they allow drop ins during select times of the day. All we did was turn up, get fitted for a life jacket and then swam away. I saw some folks with snorkel gear they brought themselves but I am not sure if there’s anything to see here. The water wasn’t cold during our December visit either. There is another cenote by the adults only pool area but it is small and swimmable like the main one.

Farm : There’s a lovely (and ethical) farm on site where you can go and feed the rescued animals. We booked this one through the kids club as Apollo was still eligible for that amenity (12 and older cannot attend the Kids Club). Families are allowed to join the kids so we all were able to join the Eco Team as they taught how to care and feed the rescued animals living at the Mini Farm. I’ve also included some photos I took of the monkeys and coaties around the resort.

Plant a Tree : I loved this activity because it was a way to give back. Each room gets 1 plant and so my parents gave theirs to the kids as well. Akira and Apollo carried the pots from one area and then planted them in another under the guidance of the Eco team. It was a fairly easy activity and there is a bit of waiting around as each person digs their spot, so bring a bevy along with you for this activity! Just don’t get upset if your plant gets uprooted by the wild animals looking for food.

Jade River Adventure : I’ll be upfront – I expected way more from this Sandos Caracol Eco activity for those 6 years and older. We swam through the mangrove and got to an open area with a couple fish but we weren’t there for long at all so it was another slow swim back through the mangroves. It was cool to have access to the area but if the group is large and there are slow swimmers (some of whom will kick you along the way), then your time in the main part may only be 5 minutes. Bring your own snorkel gear because they didn’t offer any but they did give us life vests.

Photo Safari : I didn’t get around to doing this but you get to walk around with a guide who knows all the best spots for spotting birds and other animals.

Kayaking and Scuba Diving : I was never up early enough to do this activity but a guided kayak tour at 9 a.m. does sound relaxing – even with kids along. You can also borrow kayaks during the day but we never had any luck with that. We were told to go to the activities desk behind the main pool (where you can also get fresh towels from) and that they will assist with the activities. Sadly we had no luck when we attempted to try the free Scuba diving experience in the pool and I didn’t see anyone doing it during our visit either. You can pay for scuba classes if you want!

Yoga and other activities : There was a schedule posted by the main theatre area that had a list of daily activities. There’s everything from yoga to dance parties by the pool. We even saw some fun blow up basketball games by the pool during our stay. Keep an eye out on the schedule if you want to partake in some fun activities like beach yoga or archery.

Sports Hall : This was Apollo’s favourite area of the resort (in addition to the pool and beach). There are ping pong, foosball and snooker tables here. It’s on a first come basis and for the most part, people are great at sharing. Feel free to tap those who have been there for a long time and ask them if you can join in. One thing we did notice is that the ping pong paddles and balls went missing often. The staff are doing their best to keep it stocked but bringing a couple balls with you isn’t a bad idea. This area is very chill with a bar nearby and I was told that they often show the big sports games here as well.

Xcalacoco Tour : We booked this tour for Christmas day and then decided to cancel it because we wanted to just chill at the beach instead. However, had we gone on this one we would have learned the secrets of the mangrove and the jungle and the traditions of Mayan culture in this guided walk. This tour gives you an in-depth feel for Mayan culture and they offer a mix of focuses such as healing properties of plants or learning about the symbols and statues around the resort.

Swimming at the Pool : The resort has 4 pools but not all are accessible by everyone. There are two pools that anyone and everyone can access. Then there’s an adults only pool with hot tubs for those with gold and black bracelets. And finally, the Royal Elite folks have a fancy infinity pool. We had gold bracelets but also had kids so our favouite was the swim up bar by the main pool. Yes I know people pee in that pool, but whatever. It was still fun to hang there.

Kids at Sandos Caracol Beach — Beach area by Sandos Caracol

Snorkeling at the Beach : The beach area by the resort is rocky and you should bring water shoes with you. Kids will love frolicking here trying to see rocks and fish. If you want a really pretty beach then keep walking towards the left of the resort, past the massage hut and the fish pedicure until you come by The Fives Beach Resort beach. This is my favourite beach area on the strip and it’s open to the public so we just wandered there and spent Christmas morning swimming and watching the schools of fish swim around us. Chris and I even exchanged our 10th anniversary vows by the pier here!! Definitely carry your snorkeling gear as there’s plenty of little fish for the kids to marvel at. I didn’t see anything all that fancy but there were fish! There you go, that’s my Sandos Caracol Eco Resort beach review!

Watching a Show : There’s a show every single night and they are done well but if you don’t get to the outdoor ones at least half an hour before starting time, you’re not really going to have a good enough view. This is why Akira and Apollo got bored (and so did I to be honest) during the outdoor ones. We LOVED the indoor ones in the theatre because there’s way more seating here and everyone has a good view of the stage. They did a great job with the Beauty and Beast + Coco production and the Sacred Fire outdoor one was definitely intriguing (but we gave up on it because we couldn’t see much).

As you can see, there was simply way too much to do here that Akira and Apollo didn’t want to hang at the Kids Club (kids need to wear socks here) or the Teen Lounge but those options are also there, especially for parents who want to sneak away to the on-site spa or gym! You can see more activities and experiences here.

Food Experiences at Sandos Caracol Resort

Alrighty let’s chat about the food shall we? This is the one area that you will hear complaints about frequently from visitors to this family friendly all inclusive resort in Mexico. When it comes to a Sando Caracol Eco Resort review, the food is the only shortcoming. However, it’s NOT all THAT bad peeps, honestly. You know I am picky about my food so here’s my food review for Sandos Caracol and my tips on how to have a good food experience at the resort.

Food at Sandos Caracol Resort

Buffets : Everyone can access the buffets and there’s always a buffet open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. No reservations needed but there may be a line up. The good news is that the lines move very quickly and there was barely a line up when we’d go for breakfast a few minutes before closing (same goes for lunch and dinner) which worked out well for us because we aren’t early diners. We mostly had breakfast and lunch at Laguna. They had a wide spread of options so we could grab fruits, fresh veggies, cheese, deli meats and breads easily. For breakfast the kids grabbed cereal and I always went to the freshly made egg station and had my eggs made the way I liked them. I then took the fresh tortillas that were always available and made breakfast tacos! For lunch they always had rice, pasta and meats of some sort and yes… there was stuff to make tacos too! Even though we never made it here for dinner, we would come by after our a la carte so that Apollo could get a dairy free sorbet ice cream! Once I grabbed the lamb chops they had and it was SOOOO good! Las Mascaras is the Mexican restaurant that was open for dinner buffet as well and the day we arrived we dashed her for a late meal (we were the last people to arrive and quickly pilled our plates). The food here was really good and I wish we came by here for dinner vs. trying SOME of the a la carte restaurants. At the end of the day, the chicken nuggets were always over fried at Lagunas but there were sausages and burgers and the kids never complained because they loved grabbing whatever they wanted. When it came to drinks, the coffee was just ok and the margaritas I ordered were only so-so. We did manage to get almond milk one day but had to ask 5 people for it before we did.

When it comes to the a la carte restaurants you need a reservation. With the exception of Fogo de Brazil and El Templo (where you have to line up daily and try your luck at 9 a.m. when the activity stand opens) the best way to get a reservation is to hop on the website/app 5 minutes before midnight to try and grab a reservation. Alternative you can also try to walk in and ask the hostesses if there’s cancellations. This Facebook group also has lovely members who share their reservations if they aren’t able to make it.

One of the main perks of booking under the Royal Elite (RE) program is that you can book your restaurant reservations 5 days prior to check-in and that will save you a lot of trouble if you’re adamant about the a la carte dinners.

Fogo de Brazil : I enjoyed our meal here. There’s a buffet to grab salads at and then the serves bring meats your way. They only did one round of each but I was too full to ask for more of the grilled cinnamon pineapple anyways! My mom is a vegetarian and they made a special dish for her so she still enjoyed a meal at this meat centric restaurant. This is a popular restaurant and the only way for non RE members to dine here is to stand in line at the desk by the sports bar each morning and try their luck.

El Templo : Definitely a fun experience. The chef cooks in front of you and puts on an entertaining show whilst cooking your meal. We’ve enjoyed this experience at a few all inclusive resorts and this Sandos Caracol restaurant experience was definitely on par. Once again, my vegetarian mother had her veggies cooked first (without egg) and we also got some sushi and miso soup. Just be mindful that the sushi may have cream cheese, which was not something we anticipated so I ate Apollo and Chris’ ones because neither of them eat cheese and we didn’t think to mention it! This is a popular restaurant and the only way for non RE members to dine here is to stand in line at the desk by the sports bar each morning and try their luck. I hear walk-ins are successful when there are cancellations too.

Los Lirios: This restaurant is supposed to be the fanciest as it’s in the RE section but while the interior was gorgeous, we had hits and misses here. Chris did not like the food here one bit but I thought it was manageable. Yes the chowder was disgusting and the steak was really rubbery despite asking for it to be cooked medium rare but the shrimp dish I ordered was well made (albeit on the small side). The desserts were also good here and the kids were happy with the burgers and fries.

Salvia : I enjoyed going here for lunch when we were hanging by the main pool and beach. Not only because of proximity but because they served tacos and served them quickly! For those mid afternoon hunger pangs, this was a great option. They usually only have 2-3 items (tacos, burgers and maybe hotdogs) so don’t go in expecting a wide spread.

La Toscana : This is the Italian restaurant at Sandos Caracol and this was my least favourite food experience even though our server was lovely. There’s a self help buffet area with a few pastas, desserts and salads options. You can also order a la carte meals to compliment the buffet items but they just didn’t hit the spot for me.

La Riviera : I loved the vibe at this beachside restaurant. We dined here during a special Christmas eve (which is the big celebration in Mexico) so we had a set menu that evening. We enjoyed most of the dishes and appreciated that they took extra care towards some of the dietary requirements. They also had pasta options for the kids. Dining here definitely gives you that Mediterranean vibe and I’d choose this for an elevated experience.

Santo Taco : This taco truck opens in the evening (usually 6 to 10 p.m.) and it’s a first come first served situation. Sadly there’s only a few tables and they don’t allow take out. You get 3 tacos per order/flavour so going with the family is a great idea so you can mix and match the various options. Simple tacos done right!

Room Service : Yes room service can take a while but we did manage to get food to the room on a few occasions. Midnight fries were definitely enjoyed as was breakfast on Christmas morning. I just wish they had phones with speaker capabilities because holding for 20+ minutes gets exhausting!

Drinks at Sandos Caracol Resort

Alright first up, the coffee at L’Elephant bar was decent and they made frappes but if you’re a coffee aficionado like Chris, definitely bring your own travelling kit with you. If you have access to the Select Club then you will be able to manage like Chris did because they have Nespresso machines for self use!

Mocktail were made everywhere and our kids enjoyed the virgin pina coladas and daquiris (strawberry and mango were their go to options) but know that they can be very sweet!

As for cocktails, they were okay but I figured out some tips. I don’t like the fake sugar like taste in many of the drinks so I started ordering the mojitos with lots of fresh muddled mint and my favourite drinks were when I went to the juice bar and got the smoothie from there and then added rum or tequila from the pool bar. The secret to the juice bar is to get there as soon as they open around 11 a.m. and be really nice when you ask for the combos. They have a set menu but I always managed to get them to give me the kiwi one without the strawberry or grenadine.

Another custom drink I enjoyed was Cafe liqueur, mezcal and coconut cream shaken over ice. Spirit selection was decent at the resort because I spotted Absolut, Jack Daniels, Canadian Club, Crown Royal and Kraken. If you have Select Club access then you can add Frangelico to your daily coffee like I did because they have a few more brands there and I’m sure RE has even more!

The sparkling wine offered at the resort was fine by my standards but it’s no champagne. As for the red wine, I had it a couple times at dinner and each time was a different experience. The one at Los Rios was the better option so take a glass back with you to your room! We brought a couple bottles of red wine from Canada so we has those when we felt like wine time. I know it’s an all inclusive experience but sometimes you just need to bring a few comfort items, okay?

If you’re into craft beer like Chris is, then you won’t be happy with the Sol and Dos Equis offered here. You can take a taxi to Playa Del Carmen (CAD50 for a return trip) to visit Chela de Playa and Off the Vine Playa to stock up though! Chris spent CAD90 on beer for the following 4 days and he drank these along with a few mixed drinks and a bottle of wine we had brought from home.

Just remember that this an eco resort and they recycle the plastic cups. These cups are sturdy and there are special bins throughout the resort so please don’t just toss them!

Sandos Caracol Adults Only Experiences

Now I did say that there’s a lot of kids here and that is very true. I mean, you’ve read about the all inclusive activities included when you stay at the Sandos Caracol Eco Resort…of course there are kids. But what if you’re a kid at heart and looking for an adults only experience? Well, the good news is that you can partake in most of the activities I mentioned above AND you also have some adults only areas and experiences. Because the adults in our party had the gold bracelets we were able to enjoy many of the adults only perks.

Kid Free Meals : As mentioned earlier, you don’t have to elbow your way through the buffet for breakfast and lunch because you have access to the adults only section at Fogo De Brazil (kids are allowed to the Brazilian dinner) called La Jungla. You can also visit the Select Clubhouse if you have the gold or black bracelets and there’s snacks in there as well.

Adults Only Pool, Hot Tub and Beach Bed : I did not swim here but it was very pretty and hella quiet when I did walk by! There are triangular beds that are on a first come first serve basis as well. Those beds are also by the beach (next to the Select Clubhouse) and I loved going there for sunrise as it was right by our room/condo.

Spa Access : The on-site spa does allow kids for manicures but not for anything beyond that from what I understand. So your massage and hydrotherapy would be 18+ only. Based on what I have heard, the massages are just “aeh” and you’re better off walking to the massage huts on the beach. I paid CAD50 for a 60 minute massage and a 10 minute fish pedicure along the beach, as an FYI. But what I did hear is that the Sandos Spa hydrotherapy circuit (you sit in the hot tub that has built in loungers and jets) is really awesome and priced at USD22 for 1 hour. Of course if you book a massage at the spa, hydrotherapy is included and they also serve sparkling wine and treats here from what I’ve heard from other guests – just ask! Oh also, those with RE black bracelets have free hydrotherapy access.

There is a salon and fitness centre in this are too but once again I did not have time to experience those amenities.

Romantic Boat Ride : This is a free activity for ALL adults (regardless of your bracelet colour). This quick romantic boat ride lasts about 15 minutes and we did see a couple turtles but nothing beyond that as we went through the mangroves, sipping our sparkling wine and nibbling on the treats they provided. At the end of the tour you get to take the bottle or sparkling wine and any leftover treats with you.

Sensory Experience : While this can be done by the entire family, most kids won’t enjoy it so I suggest this for an adults only option. My mom and I were the only ones on this tour and we were blindfolded and taken on a walk through the Mayan area of the resort. I am going to keep the mystique on this one but know that there’s a heartfelt message at the end and that your senses will be activated as you walk around. My main tip is to take your own eye mask or blindfold if you’re planning to do the sensory eco activity. I certainly wished someone told us to bring our own-because there were extra olfactory senses being activated . They do their best to hand wash these but humidity and air drying them doesn’t always work out. So take your own!

Christmas at Sandos Caracol All Inclusive

To be honest, I was the only one wearing a Christmas hat at the beach on Christmas day! The resort had all the usual activities and shows but it was mostly a regular day. The reason for this is that Christmas Eve is the bigger celebration for Mexicans!! Don’t worry, Santa still comes at the same time as everywhere else. On Christmas Eve most staff were decked in Christmas hats and the Kids Club had a cookie decorating station set up for everyone to participate. The restaurants also had a special menu offered at the a la carte restaurants (we dined at La Riviera that night if you want to see the pictures above).

The street fair area on Christmas Eve had some extra performances and so we definitely heard Feliz Navidad a fair bit. This was my first time spending Christmas at an all inclusive and the vibe was definitely very chill. For someone like me who LOVES Christmas and the EXTRA trimmings, it was a bit weird to not have my own tree! Don’t worry though, the resort has many Christmas trees and you’ll still know that it’s Christmas time!

Tips to Make the Most of your Sandos Caracol Vacation

Okay so there’s a few tips I picked up during our multi-generational all inclusive stay at Sandos Caracol Resort and the below tips are in no particular order – so read them all okay?

Join this Facebook group because it will help you get answers to many of your questions
Booking flights and this hotel separately might be cheaper. It was for us and don’t be disheartened if the resort is sold out because we checked in with HoliBay a couple days after seeing that it was sold out on the usual vacation sites and he was able to book a room for us. Also I heard that Jeff from the Facebook group is the best person for RE options!
Using the “app”, which is really a website, is the best way to learn about the various services available at the resort.
Don’t loose your towel cards – we air dried often and didn’t really use the pool towels too often but you can get the towels by the swings near the kids club or you can get them behind the main pool’s DJ area.
You can visit the sister resort and enjoy the same perks there. Taxi is about CAD50 for a return trip and your towel cards work there too! We didn’t have enough time to explore all on offer at Caracol so we didn’t think it was worth exploring another resort.
If you have friends at nearby resorts, they can visit Caracol for a day. There are 2 day passes offered. $100 until 5 pm- no a la carte. Or $190 until 11pm with access to a la carte (given the struggles to book a la carte, I’m not sure how this would work to be honest).
You can Check in online prior to arriving and save some time. That said you still have to go the main reception area for the rest of your check in so you may only save a few minutes.
There is a store for forgotten items but things are VERY expensive. My dad did manage to buy a pair of slippers for USD20 but they were dollar store quality because the nice ones were USD50+. A small travel sized bottle of contact lens solution was USD20 to give you an idea. I was told that going to the local Walmart would be cheaper if you need to buy multiple items.
Apollo lost his bracelet and we never did get it replaced. I know others who have got their replaced and on occasion they’ve been asked to pay for the lost one too. Apollo has no idea how he lost his but it was on the second to last day and no one checked his kids band so we didn’t encounter any hassles.
Tips : My recommendation is to convert CAD to Mexican Pesos (MXN) before you leave Canada. Ensure you get small notes because it is very difficult to get change at the resort. The gift shop will break notes if you’re purchasing from them but it isn’t easy to get many small notes. There is also an ATM (that charges a fee in addition to whatever your bank charges) at the resort but it only deals with USD and MXN and doesn’t give small notes. Small USD notes also work well for tipping.

There are many resort photographers going around taking pictures at no cost to you. They did a great job to be honest but I didn’t buy them because I had my own tripod and take decent family pictures myself. That said, you can purchase a variety of packages starting at US20 by visiting the photo store in the shopping area prior to leaving the resort.
We were not asked to pay any taxes on arrival at the airport – I have heard of others being asked to do so but in December 2023, we did not encounter this
We walked everywhere and had no issues but we did see many families with toddlers who had those wagons to cart their stuff around. Similar to a stroller, just know that there are cobbled pathways to keep in mind.
The free wifi at the resort was good for us. It was very strong in our room and Chris had no issues working during our stay. There are a few dead zones as you walk through the jungle but it was no big deal for us.
If you get a ‘no’ from one staff member, try another. This is how we got a few things like extra pillows, blankets, almond milk etc.
There are many upgrade options (like the Sacred Fire dinner and a show) so if you’re looking for elevated experiences for special occasions just ask the concierge and they’ll definitely hook you up (at a cost).
Be kind to the amazing folks who work here and treat them with kindness

If you want to try an e-sim, here’s a $3 off code for your first AirAlo sim. It’s what we use when we travel! Use the code “YASHY5624” when you sign up or apply it at checkout. It is helpful if you want to stay connected during the drive from the airport to the hotel.