Review
Sandos Caracol
Enveloped by natural beauty, Sandos Caracol Eco Resort in Riviera Maya, Mexico, offers guests an incredible opportunity to immerse themselves in the region’s unbelievable natural beauty while learning about the local landscapes and wildlife. This all-inclusive hotel located on a beautiful unspoiled white sand beach is only 45 minutes from the Cancun International Airport and just 15 minutes from downtown Playa del Carmen.
Designed for nature-lovers and explorers, this hotel lies in the middle of a lush green area at the edge of an exotic jungle, surrounded by cenotes, mangroves and natural lagoons. This is an excellent 4-star property for couples who want a tropical, eco-friendly and educational experience for their wedding week and their guests.
The resort boasts over 80 eco and archeological experiences offered daily. The property also has a water park with 27 water slides for the young and young at heart! There’s even a vegan restaurant on-site.
Weddings
If you’re looking for a tropical wedding escape, a lush hideaway that offers unbelievable natural scenery, and want to have a “green wedding”, you will want to get married at Sandos Caracol Eco Resort. One of the most unique wedding ceremony locations at this resort is a cenote – a natural water spring in the jungle. This breathtaking backdrop really sets this resort apart from others. Imagine saying “I DO” on the deck of the “Cenote Cristalino” while live Mayan drum music plays during the ceremony!
Cenote Ceremony
If the turquoise waters of the Caribbean as your backdrop is what you’re after, then the “Birdcage Gazebo” is where you would want to say your vows! The area is rather private and a great spot for a garden cocktail reception following the ceremony. Decorated with beautiful tropical flowers, it is a fairy-tale type location for your wedding ceremony.
Beach Gazebo
Just outside of the Royal Elite Vacation Club is the beautiful rooftop terrace. The terrace can be used for ceremonies and receptions and is a great way to keep your celebrations very private from other guests. The wedding packages at Sandos Caracol Eco Resort are very reasonably priced. The Emerald Breeze and Caribbean Fantasy packages include private receptions and up to 3 hours with a DJ for under $5,000 USD for up to 30 guests.
Rooms
The resort has 4 sections: Family, Signature Eco Collection, Select Club Adults Only and Royal Elite.
Standard Room – Family Section:
Overall, these rooms are very basic, and realistically are of 3* quality in appearance and amenities. We suggest upgrading to the Signature Eco Collection rooms; this will help set the right vibe for your big week and your guests will thank you.
Signature Eco Collection
There are two room categories in this section: Signature Eco Superior and Signature Eco Junior Suite. These rooms are newly renovated and we strongly recommend experiencing the upgrade. The Signature Eco Collection rooms are beautifully designed and have great inclusions such as free Wi-Fi, 24-hr room service, robes & slippers and beautiful jungle scenery.
The Superior room has a king bed and bunk beds for the little ones. The Signature Eco Junior Suite is an even better option for families with 3 children. There is a king bed, bunk beds with a third bunk pull out in a separate room, 2 bathrooms and a plunge pool/Jacuzzi on the balcony. This makes the room an excellent option for families who have kids who need naps or to go to bed early.
Select Club Adult Only Section
The adults only Section is a little underwhelming at this time. The rooms are older and a bit more basic than some of the resorts competitors offer. They are, however, in the process of upgrading these rooms, and based on the Signature Eco rooms in the family section, we are excited to see how they come out! There is one room category we do recommend in this section: the Select Club Penthouse. These rooms, while not renovated, do have separate living and sleeping areas, Jacuzzi on their balconies, and all the same inclusions of the Signature Eco rooms like 24-hr room service, free Wi-Fi as well as a private beach club and concierge.
Royal Elite Rooms
There are three room categories in this section as well. Again, they have not been recently renovated, but they are all located right by the beach. For your guests who prefer the beach, this may be a better section for them.
Things to do
No one will go bored at this resort! From the Aquapark and eco-experiences, the spa, golfing, bicycles and cultural experiences, this resort has everything and it is all included in your package price. There are eight cenotes at this property and you are able to swim in a number of them.
If you are travelling with children, there is a Baby Club for 2-3 year olds (with parental supervision), a Kids Club for 4-12 year olds (with babysitting) and a ton of activities for teens. It truly is a family friendly resort that is fun and educational.
Since the resort is in a jungle setting, there are bug spray stations located all over the property, though we do recommend bringing your own as well. In late spring/summer months, the humidity does bring more mosquitos, but in the hot and dry winter months, they are not too bad.
Things to do
With 8 restaurants and 10 bars located across the property, you will never return home saying you went hungry. There are 3 buffets and 7 à la carte restaurants. There are no reservations required at the buffet restaurants and no limit to the number of à la carte visits you can have, which is a nice change from resorts that offer more restrictive dining schedule.
One restaurant that really sets this resort apart from others is the à la carte, Salvia, which is a vegan/vegetarian restaurant. As a past vegetarian for ten years, it is amazing to see a vegan friendly resort option! Don’t leave anyone in your family out from amazing dining experiences offered at this property.
The Sandos Caracol Eco resort is a truly eco-friendly destination wedding or family vacation property. We have two wedding groups travelling to this spectacular resort this year and we are confident they are going to have a unique destination wedding experience. Immerse yourself in the jungles, culture and beaches of Mexico’s Riviera Maya at Sandos Caracol Eco Resort!
