Following our visit to the Riu Dunamar in February 2018 (if you want to read my review of that property just click here), my husband and I took a private shuttle to another new all-inclusive resort which also opened December 2017. Hotel Xcaret Mexico is the first stage of a six stage project (Destino Xcaret) designed and built by the Mexican firm Grupo Xcaret. The entire project will eventually consist of a multipurpose stadium, a shopping center, and 6,000 guest rooms across 12 hotels. Hotels will range from luxury accommodations to those with four star ratings.
Category Archives: Riviera Maya News
Temporary Restriction to Akumal Bay Snorkeling
For the months of February and September 2018, snorkeling tours will not be allowed to enter Akumal Bay in a further attempt to try and allow the ecosystem to recover from overuse (an estimated 22-23 million visitors each year visit the Akumal area, while snorkeling with the turtles in Akumal Bay is supposedly ranked the 10th most visited destination in the world for international tourists). If you’re going to only swim and/or snorkel by yourselves without a tour guide, that is still permitted as long as the buoy restrictions are respected.
Hotel Xcaret Mexico Room Category Clarification (Hopefully)
For those of you wondering about the room categories or guest room buildings at the new Hotel Xcaret Mexico, here is a quick review of what I have discovered about them.
Colectivos Becoming Unsafe?
Use caution when choosing to take a colectivo/combi in the Riviera Maya; there has been a recent report of a robbery of a driver/passengers in the route from PDC to Puerto Aventuras on a Saturday night around 9:15 p.m. Three individuals reportedly stopped the vehicle on the pretense of wanting transportation, got inside, then threatened to use force/guns if valuables including cell phones/purses, etc. were not handed over. The robbers got away, so if they were successful once they may decide to do the same crime again. Others may also see this as a quick way to make money and follow suit.
DreamWorks Theme Park Is Out, Amikoo Resort Is In
While everyone expected the Mexican government to give the official OK to a DreamWorks theme park in the Riviera Maya, they have instead decided to authorize the building of a Mayan-inspired amusement park and resort in the area of Punta Maroma in the Riviera Maya (located north of Playa del Carmen).
Map of Akumal Bay Snorkeling Restrictions
For those interested in where the buoys/roped-off areas are for snorkelers in Akumal Bay, here is a pic which was posted by Kay Walten of Locogringo.com. For the month of Sept. 2017, all guided tours are officially suspended from the bay (but that doesn’t necessarily mean there won’t be any out there), while general visitors may still snorkel outside the roped-off areas. Here is the map I found on Kay’s Facebook page. Notice how these areas extend onto the front sea area of the Secrets property.
Crackdown on Illicit Alcohol–Results of a Surprise Investigation
Mexican authorities have recently done an investigation on 31 resorts, restaurants, and nightclubs in both Cancun and the Riviera Maya in order to see who may be serving illicit/bootleg alcohol. Their investigation resulted in the following findings: Continue reading
Adulterated Alcohol Risk In Cancun
Following alcohol related lab tests done by COFEPRIS (Federal Commission for Protection Against Sanitary Risk), it has been determined that the Iberostar Paraiso del Mar is NOT serving any tainted alcohol to its guests. This comes after allegations made by a Wisconsin family earlier this year that the resort had given their 22 yr. old daughter adulterated alcohol which resulted in her subsequent death.
New Xel-Ha Park Waterslide to Open Summer 2017
Riviera Maya’s Xel-Há Park is set to debut the world’s fourth tallest waterslide this summer. Faro-Tobogán will be 141 feet tall, and riders will travel at 26 feet p/second; toboggan riders will end their ride in a cenote. In addition to the waterslide, the Faro-Tobogán water park will include tunnels and submerged sculptures, so the waterslide is part of a new attraction within the existing park.
Karisma’s New Villa Opening in June 2017
The Karisma brand will be opening its fourth property within its Villa Collection, part of its esteemed Connoisseur Collection, in the Riviera Maya this June. Villa Casa Del Mar is situated next to Azul Beach Resort Riviera Maya and will consist of the following amenities: Continue reading