There’s a whole lot of “special” at Hotel Xcaret Arte, whose long list of features begins with unlimited admissions to all of the affiliated theme parks in the area. Here are some of the other exclusive benefits of staying at this Riviera Maya property that you won’t find anywhere else.

With a win under its belt for World Travel Awards as Mexico and Central America’s Leading New Hotel for 2022, and a Bronze Travvy Award for Best All-Inclusive Adults/Couples Resort, the secret’s out for Hotel Xcaret Arte.

But awards are always just overviews, conversation-starters. It doesn’t tell the whole story of a place, and they very rarely even explain why the winner won. And with a place as multi-faceted as Hotel Xcaret Arte, it’s certainly doesn’t provide insight that does the resort justice. Which is why we went ahead to do just that.

Here are seven things you can do only at Hotel Xcaret Arte and/or its sister properties.

1. Attend an expert-led art workshop.

Hotel Xcaret Arte makes art its focus and each of its accommodation buildings center around one type of fine art … or the art of living. For example, those who appreciate fine art should definitely upgrade their stay to Casa de los Artistas, whose painting, drawing, and linocut workshops is exclusive to that building’s guests. For practical art and design, the weaving workshops at Casa del Diseño and pottery and ceramics workshops at Casa de la Pirámide should be something on their radar. Dancers will appreciate the workshops at Casa de la Música, where they can learn about Latin dances such as cumbia, bachata, and more. And the workshops at Casa de la Paz are as lit as lit gets … literature, we mean!

2. Dine at Xaak Restaurant for a taste of modern Mexico.

Yes, the resort has a total of ten not restaurants, but full-out culinary dining experiences, each of them exceptional. However, the one you want to splurge hard on is this contemporary Mexican restaurant, whose name comes from the large food storage baskets hung from the ceilings of Mayan homes.

The additional charge for this seven-course tasting menu designed by Roberto Solís (S1, E3 Iron Chef Mexico), the brand’s culinary director Franco Maddalozzo, Paco Méndez (Michelin-star COME), Jonatan Gómez Luna (Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants Le Chique), and Oaxacan cuisine ambassador Alejandro Ruiz is well worth it. This menu features unique, distinctly Mexican ingredients and flavors and modern techniques that make every dish unlike anything you’ve ever had – nor will ever have – in your life. It’s complemented with a pairing by multi-award-winning sommelier Sandra Fernández, who has studied wine all over the world and holds the title of the most important representative of wine culture in Mexico, per the Mexican Association of Sommeliers.

3. Sing praises of the hotel from your choice of rooftops.

Just as each of the accommodation buildings have their own artistic theme, they also have their own rooftop attractions, maximizing their use of every square inch of their efficient eco-friendly design. At Casa del Diseño or Casa de los Artistas, take in ocean views from up above while enjoying full food and beverage services. Casa de la Pirámide offers “teepee lounges” that shield spacious daybeds beneath their shelter as you sip the day away. Casa de la Música offers the novelty of swimming to a soundtrack, with speakers built into the rooftop pool to power your laps or leisure. Drinks are also available here to keep your liquid leanings satisfied.

4. Have a drink in a speakeasy.

Everybody likes a good secret, and this one’s a juicy one … as in, you’ll find plenty of fresh ingredients behind the bar at El Deseo Speakeasy. It’s open from 8 PM to 4 AM, which makes it incredibly special as its hours extend well beyond what one usually expects at an all-inclusive resort. Live music is a given for most nights, but at 11 PM, a DJ takes over the space. The ceiling lights bounce and pulse with the rhythm of the tunes to keep you in party mode, and to help fuel your late-night revels, keep an eye out for the taco cart that will magically appear outside its doors at around the same time.

5. Visit all of the Grupo Xcaret’s theme parks … for free.

One of the best benefits of staying at any of this brand’s resorts is included admission to their very many award-winning adventure and theme parks. Part of their All-Fun Inclusive™ value proposition, guests get access to all seven of their attractions, plus round-trip transportation from the resort straight to the parks. And there’s no understating how big this benefit is. Their flagship, Xcaret Park, was just awarded "Best Attraction" of 2022 by TripAdvisor travelers, taking the top spot for all of Playa del Carmen, with Xenses not too far behind in the sixth spot. But don’t sleep on Xel-Há, Xavage, Xenotes, Xplor and its nighttime experience Xplor Fuego, or the Xoximilico party boat. Make your reservation for all except Xcaret, Xplor, and Xplor Fuego (which don’t require pre-planning) when you get there to ensure you don’t miss out.

6. Go Xailing however you like.

New to the attractions list for the brand is Veleo by Xcaret Xailing and Xcaret Xailing. The first is a catamaran tour that conveniently departs at La Casa de La Playa’s marina (giving Hotel Xcaret Arte guests a sneak peek at this ultra-exclusive resort) for a wonderful outing on the Mexican Caribbean. The latter is a modern ferry that transports visitors from the Cancun Hotel Zone for day trips to the famed Isla Mujeres. With this new offer, Hotel Xcaret Arte guests can explore Playa Norte, the cliffs of Punta Sur, or just bask in the tranquility of the isle, a value many vacationers to the Yucatan Peninsula usually are happy to pony up for. A pro-tip offered by Melissa Fernandez, Hoteles Xcaret’s Sales Executive for the U.S. and Canada, is to “make your reservation on site that day,” since it is weather dependent. With the stunning climate of the region, though, you can pretty solidly bank on being able to take to the seas at some point during your visit!

7. Catch a free ride.

The saying goes that there’s no such thing as a free ride, but Hoteles Xcaret proves it wrong. Roundtrip airport transfers in luxury, Xcaret-branded coach buses are included for guests staying at any of their resorts, starting and ending any visit in ease and comfort. They depart every half hour from 6 AM to 9 PM and every hour in for those arriving later. Even more frequent are the “Despeinada” busses that transport Hotel Xcaret Arte guests to Xcaret, Xplor, and Xplor Fuego. Those leave every 20 minutes. For the other parks, making the required reservations guarantees your ride, with pick-up times varying based on that day’s schedule.