Riviera Maya | Santos Caracol Eco Resort Review: All-Inclusive Paradise

The writer was hosted.

Your next Caribbean vacation doesn’t have to revolve around pools and beach time — it can be so much more. Sandos Caracol Eco Resort All Inclusive is a Riviera Maya experience the whole family will love, with coatis and spider monkeys, mangroves and Mayan ruins and a water park and white sand beach.

Front desk in the open-air lobby at Sandos Caracol Eco Resort All Inclusive — Front desk in the open-air lobby. Photo credit: Heidi Gollub

Sandos Caracol Eco Resort Overview

Sandos Caracol is a huge all-inclusive resort in Playa del Carmen, in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. From the moment you stroll into the open-air lobby and see a sparkling green cenote beyond, you’ll know you’ve found someplace special. Tucked in a jungle of palms and tropical flowers with a river running through a mangrove forest, this resort offers nature experiences from native tree planting to animal tending. And when not enjoying scheduled activities, you can hit the water slides or relax by the Caribbean Sea.

A cenote at Sandos Caracol Eco Resort All Inclusive — Swim in a cenote, believed by the Mayans to be the entrance to the underworld. Photo credit: Heidi Gollub

Here are some highlights of the Sandos Caracol Eco Resort:

Water park with 29 slides.
Eco activities from kayaking in the Caribbean Sea to snorkeling in the Jade River.
Kids Club for ages 4 to 12, with an indoor playground and children’s pool.
Teen activities for ages 13 to 17, such as table tennis and beach soccer.
Two outdoor pools, plus a Select Club adult-only pool and jacuzzi.
Cenote with naturally chilled water for swimming and snorkeling.
Walking trails through the mangrove forest, to see wildlife and Mayan ruins.
Bikes you can borrow to explore along the resort’s bike path.
Boogie boards you can borrow from the dive shop on the beach.
Tennis courts, beach volleyball and scheduled fitness activities like Zumba.
Evening shows at an outdoor theatre.
Vendors who sell handmade goods, so you can support locals without leaving the resort.
Sandos Foundation donation bins, where you can donate clothing, shoes, toys and school supplies to support the local community.

Swimming pool at Sandos Caracol Eco Resort All Inclusive. Photo credit: Heidi Gollub

Sandos Caracol All Inclusive Plan

As an all-inclusive resort, Sandos Caracol makes vacationing easy. Your food, drinks, activities and even tips are included in the price of your room.

Sandos Caracol’s all-inclusive plan includes:

Unlimited food and beverages at eight restaurants — six of them specialty restaurants for à la carte dinners — and 24-hour room service for in-room dining.
Alcoholic beverages for guests age 18+ from eight bars, including a swim-up bar at the main pool.
Free wifi in your room and in public areas throughout the resort.
Water sports like kayaking and snorkeling, and a scuba diving lesson.
Scheduled activities, including beach and pool games.
Bike rental for the bike path around the resort.
Tennis court rental, with use of rackets and balls included.
Kids Club, open 8 hours daily.
Fitness center for 18+.
Outdoor evening shows for all ages, including a traditional Mayan fire ceremony.

Snorkeling in Jade River at Sandos Caracol Eco Resort. Photo credit: Heidi Gollub

Experiences you can pay extra for include:

Sacred fire dinner with fire show on Saturday nights at 7:30 p.m.
Spa for treatments and hydrotherapy that includes a sauna, steam room and pool.
Beauty salon, Temazcal, for guests age 18+.
Romantic dinners on the beach.
Golf at an 18-hold course next to the hotel.
Babysitting and laundry services.

Sandos Caracol Eco Resort All Inclusive Signature Superior Room — Sandos Caracol Eco Resort Signature Superior Room with bunk beds. Photo credit: Sandos

Rooms and Suites at Sandos Caracol Eco Resort

Sandos Caracol Eco Resort has 955 guestrooms in three areas: Family, Select Club Adults Only and Royal Elite. All rooms have air conditioning, wifi, a 5-gallon water dispenser and a mini bar that is restocked daily.

Coati enjoying a snack at Sandos Caracol Eco Resort All Inclusive — Coati enjoying a snack. Photo credit: Heidi Gollub

Family. This section has standard rooms with a balcony or terrace. Coatis may visit you on your balcony, especially if you have a jungle-view room. The Signature Eco Collection in the Family section has superior, suite and penthouse rooms that have been completely renovated.

Adults-only clubhouse at Sandos Caracol Eco Resort All Inclusive — Adults-only clubhouse with a pool table, bar and snacks. Photo credit: Heidi Gollub

Select Club Adults Only. This section for guests age 18+ has superior, deluxe and penthouse rooms. By staying here, you gain access to the Select Club Adults Only Ocean Front Club House with a concierge, showers, premium bar and pool table. It leads to the adults-only beach area with hammocks, lounge chairs and Bali beds.

Royal Elite. Anyone can book these rooms for an elevated experience, not only Royal Elite Vacation Club members. Royal Elite guests over 18 years old can also enjoy all Select Club Adults Only facilities, such as the pool, clubhouse and reserved beach area.

Teppanyaki experience at Sandos Caracol Eco Resort All Inclusive — Teppanyaki experience at Sandos Caracol. Photo credit: Heidi Gollub

Dining at Sandos Caracol Eco Resort

At Sandos Caracol, you’ll eat a buffet breakfast and lunch, or get room service. But for dinner, you have lots of options.

Breakfast and lunch

La Laguna — international buffet.
La Toscana — Italian buffet.
Las Máscaras — Mexican buffet

Dinner

La Riviera — Mediterranean, à la carte.
Fogo do Brazil — Brazilian Rodizio à la carte.
El Templo — Japanese Teppanyaki experience.
Los Lirios — Steakhouse and fish à la carte.
La Toscana — Italian à la carte.

What To Pack for Sandos Caracol Eco Resort All Inclusive

Reef-safe sunscreen, for swimming in the cenote and ocean.
Refillable water bottle, to hydrate using the 5-gallon water jug in your room.
Snorkel gear, so you don’t have to worry about the rental time restrictions.
Water shoes to protect your feet from rocks on the ocean floor.
School supplies to put in the Sandos Foundation donation bin for rural communities.

A large tree and bushes before the water at Sandos Caracol Eco Resort All Inclusive — Jungle meets the sea at Sandos Caracol. Photo credit: Heidi Gollub

Day Trip to Sandos Playacar

As a guest of Sandos Caracol, you can also spend the day at Sandos Playacar, a sister property about 15 minutes away. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., feel free to check out everything Playacar has to offer, no reservation necessary. You’ll just need to arrange transportation there and back, which can be done through Seek and Go in the resort lobby. You can’t dine at Playacar’s à la carte restaurants on a day pass, so make plans to be back at Sandos Caracol for dinner.

Beautiful flowers at Sandos Caracol Eco Resort All Inclusive — Beautiful flowers abound at Sandos Caracol. Photo credit: Heidi Gollub

The Bottom Line

Sandos Caracol Eco Resort is a great choice for adventure-loving families looking to explore nature in Mexico’s Riviera Maya. See spider monkeys, hike in the jungle, swim in a mangrove forest river and visit Mayan ruins — all without leaving the resort.

Caracol is about 45 minutes from Cancun, but you’ll need to arrange your own transportation from Cancun international airport. Once at the resort, you can relax and indulge in an all-inclusive experience.

Download the Sandos Stay app to check in online up to seven days before arrival. You’ll also gain easy access to a resort map and schedules for pools, restaurants and activities. To ask questions of current and past Sandos Caracol guests, join one of the Facebook groups for avid fans of the resort.