With travel back in full swing, it’s time to reclaim lost experiences: authentic cuisine, rich cultures, memorable excursions, and bold culinary adventures. If excellent food ranks high on your vacation priorities, Riviera Maya’s Hotel Xcaret should be at the top of your list—especially since the resort launched its international guest chef series, offering exceptional fine-dining events that make for once-in-a-lifetime meals.
Cancún International Airport is roughly an hour and a half from the resort. From there, Hotel Xcaret offers a complimentary shuttle or private car transfers for an extra fee. As our driver announced our arrival, the slightly humid air stirred the jungle foliage and carried the scent of the Caribbean. On entering the lobby, a welcoming staff member handed new guests a fruity popsicle to cool down. The infinity pool appeared to spill seamlessly into the sea, tropical birds formed a living soundtrack, and I immediately felt like I’d stepped into paradise.
Hotel Xcaret commands sweeping views of the brilliant Caribbean blue. The resort’s Mexican eco-architecture—wood, warm earth tones, stone, and woven materials—echoes the tranquil natural setting. While it isn’t a budget option, choosing a garden or river suite offers peaceful surroundings, and a swim-up ocean suite lets you step into water whenever you like. For added pampering, personal butlers are available to escort you across the expansive property (the resort features 900 guest suites), manage reservations for dining and activities, and prepare a relaxing bath when you return to your room.
Outdoor activities like kayaking and paddleboarding are plentiful, but I came for the culinary offerings. For travelers who appreciate the convenience of an all-inclusive resort, Hotel Xcaret represents the pinnacle. With 12 dining venues, the resort emphasizes quality over quantity. Highlights include:
Mercado De La Merced
Mercado De La Merced feels like a high-end food hall with an impressive array of options. Ten buffet stations showcase specialties: a cevicheria serving freshly prepared ceviche, a sashimi bar offering fish caught that day, handmade empanadas, giant grilled prawns made to order, and a charcuterie selection featuring Mexican cheeses and cured meats. If you crave familiar comfort dishes, the Italian station turns out pasta and pizza, while the meat station serves grilled steaks and slow-roasted pork carved on-site.
If Mercado’s energy is too intense for morning dining, try Bio for breakfast. A serene path leads to a cave beside a turquoise river where this vegan restaurant sits. Bio offers a refreshing reset: nutrient-packed smoothies, vibrant chilaquiles—like breakfast nachos drenched in red or green salsa with macadamia crema—and vegan hotcakes topped with plant-based butter and hazelnut spread for a sweeter start.
Las Playas is ideal for a relaxed lunch between waterside activities. Located right by the sea, it specializes in fresh seafood starters like oysters and a delicate salmon carpaccio served with fennel, apple, and a mezcal granita. Tacos and tostadas are light and satisfying—options include pork crackling, octopus, and generous crab tostadas—while heartier plates cover burgers, ribs, and flank steak. Pair your meal with the passion fruit mezcalita, a tart margarita with a smoky mezcal twist.
For elevated dining experiences that require reservations, two standout options are:
Ha’
Not included in the all-inclusive package but well worth the extra cost, Ha’ is the restaurant of Carlos Gaytán, the first Hispanic chef in the U.S. to earn a Michelin star for his Chicago restaurant, Tzuco. Ha’, meaning “water” in Yucatec Maya, embraces a water theme throughout the dining experience. The eight-course tasting menu highlights native ingredients and refined techniques, creating layered textures and flavors that narrate Gaytán’s culinary journey. During my visit, Gaytán collaborated with Chef Pino Posteraro, and the menu wove international technique with regional authenticity for a memorable evening.
Sunday Brunch at Las Cuevas Restaurant
Sunday Brunch at Las Cuevas is another unforgettable culinary event and not included in the all-inclusive plan—but it’s worth the splurge. Situated inside Mayan caves, the brunch presents more than 70 Mexican and international specialty items. Begin in the cheese and cured meats room with fresh bread, serrano ham, and a selection of cheeses, paired with a Mexican sparkling wine. A panadero roams the caves with a basket of fresh bread, ensuring you never run out.
Next, visit the raw bar for clams, mussels, abalone, prawns, oysters, and king crab. The sushi station features a variety of fresh fish, including an impressive ahi tuna carving ceremony that serves poke to guests. Highlights include uni nigiri served at a fraction of the usual price at specialty restaurants.
Away from the caves, multiple stations offer large-format meats such as tomahawk steaks and prime rib grilled over coals. Chefs prepare fresh tortillas and assemble tacos on request with proteins like carnitas and grilled chicken. For adventurous diners, try risotto with escamoles—ant eggs—for an authentic regional taste.
Dessert choices are plentiful and playful, from fruit tarts and airy cakes to churros, doughnuts, and cannoli. A standout is the marquesita, a Yucatán street-dessert: a rolled crepe filled with sweet options like banana and Nutella, served warm and crisp.
Hotel Xcaret
Website
Carretera Federal Chetumal-Puerto Juárez, Av. Solidaridad 2-Kilómetro 282 Lt 023
77710 Playa del Carmen, Q.R.
Mexico