Sandos Caracol Eco Resort – All Inclusive

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

26202 reviews

• 

  Do NOT go here unless you are going with kids.

  Just a heads up……..do NOT go to this resort unless you are going with kids! The resort grounds are beautiful, the food was good, the staff are excellent but if you want a quiet relaxing holiday you won’t find it here. We stayed in the adult only section which was nice but kids are allowed in all the restaurants. I don’t think we had a meal without witnessing some kind of sad melt down from some poor child that was so tired and overheated. And kids cannot resist sticking their little hands into all the buffet food. Also the beach is very very very rocky and almost impossible to get into the ocean.

  Jan 29, 2025
• 

  2nd time!!!

  This was our second time here and we loved it!! The staff everywhere on this resort is very hard working. Service at the adult Select club restaurant is top notch service. What a great group of people, I have to say I miss them the most. Always smiling and helpful. The buffet at the Italian and regular buffet is not good but the A la cartes, Asian, Mediterranian and Brazilian were delicious. Rooms need to be refreshed as they are lacking decor in the adult section. The beautiful grounds make this place worth going with all the wonderful animals and beautiful greenery. There's only one thing that they should change and it's the restaurant reservation system. Good thing my husband is a night owl otherwise we wouldn't be able to book anything. I will return again. Also, for those of you looking to party it's not a party place very family oriented.

  Jan 29, 2025
• 

  Ok if your taking kids but not for just adults

  Our room in adults only great beds are comfortable pillows, comfortable spacious Adults only beach is OK except a lot of noise in the afternoon from the DJ so that we would go to the adult pool in the afternoon just fine as that is where all the monkeys are A Lots of action for children and activities. This resort caters to families. If you’re wanting adults only avoid this resort. Waitress at the lobby bar the sweetest Amairany Spa Jesus and Angel massage Were awesome Spa they take you through sauna and shower, then salt and mud steam and Hydro bath and then you have your massage. All very nice female section was nice, but while I was having a shower in their males were coming back-and-forth workers. You have to make your reservations for the à la cart at midnight or try early the next morning it never worked if we put two people but if I put one person we could sometimes get in. We paid an extra $50 to get a reservation at the beach restaurant Restaurants Coho Brazil by adult pool nice breakfast and lunch. Dinners good. Laura is excellent El tempo great experience where the chef cooks in front of you Riviera excellent meal on the beach with beautiful blue glasses Los lorios. Set menu but good. Italian buffet not impressed and regular buffet is typical. Did not try Mexican Buffett They don’t have butter just margarine 😝 Guest services will try to upsell the elite program.

  Jan 28, 2025
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  An honest review of the good and the not so good.

  With so many negative reviews for this resort I really want to try to give an honest review covering what I consider the good and not so good points about this resort. We are still here for one more day and I want to write this while my mind is fresh. What I consider the absolute BEST thing about this report is the setting. The grounds are AMAZING. It truly is set in a jungle, so if you’re after a beautiful beach resort, this might not be the place for you. I’ve been to many (35+) all inclusive resorts, most of those in Mexico and I’ve never seen a place like this. If you’re willing to walk, you will see some absolutely spectacular sights. The wildlife is abundant, from coatis to monkeys to raccoons etc. it’s just full of wildlife so be prepared for that. There are a lot of trails that wind through some lovely areas showcasing natural cenotes, small ruins, abundant tree and plant life. I just loved this part of the resort. The beach is not a beautiful white sand beach, there definitely IS a lot of coral on the beach and in the water but there is some nice sand and the beach has its own appeal, it’s rugged and natural. THAT is the thing to keep in mind, this resort is an eco resort so it’s not groomed like many beach resorts are. This is NOT a resort for anyone with mobility issues. You will have to be prepared to walk a lot and not all of the walking is smooth, easy walking. And no elevators in this eco resort so if you’re not on a ground floor be prepared to climb a lot of steps. The rooms are fine, beds are pretty comfortable and housekeeping does a good job of keeping them clean. But you need to recognize that you’re in an extremely humid atmosphere and it’s not easy to keep buildings shiny and new inside or out in this environment. Buffet food is just that…buffet food. They have a pretty good selection but the food could definitely be hotter. Even if you get there at opening the food tends to be cold. I also was not impressed with the service in the buffets. We often had to go get our own coffee and water or soft drinks if we wanted something, as the staff tended to be far more worried about cleaning tables that had been vacated than they were about tending to the customers looking for a drink. The a la cartes we went to were MUCH better. Better food, better service by far, however trying to get a reservation at an a la carte is a NIGHTMARE. They want you to book with their app at midnight (which is ridiculous) but you could be on the app at 12 am on the dot and there would be no availability. It was ridiculous. And if you try to book through the concierge you need to hope they like you because it’s hit and miss if they will help you. One day I was talking to a concierge after trying to book through the app unsuccessfully for 3 nights and was told we can’t help you, you have to use our app ; meanwhile the lady talking to the other concierge RIGHT beside me was able to make a reservation for that night with no problem. It’s a frustrating situation and really needs addressing because many guests are frustrated and angry over it. We also went to the concierge desk about a couple of small issues in our room… a leaky a/c that kept leaving a puddle on the floor in the entrance to the bathroom, which made that spot pretty treacherous as a wet tile floor is so slippery. And the toilet in our room ran constantly with some kind of leaky valve issue. Neither issue was ever dealt with during our week there. Overall, I’m sorry to say that I didn’t find the staff as friendly or accommodating as I’m used to, which is a shame. Pools often have leaves and bits of debris in them but I think that’s just because there are so many trees in the resort and the slightest breeze can send leaves fluttering around. The water is cool but that’s the case in most resorts because they don’t heat them. The water at the water park is REALLY COLD but it didn’t seem to stop the kids from enjoying themselves. Sorry for the length of this review. I hope, if you get through reading it, that it helps you make a decision about booking. I think if you want to try something different from the usual beach resort then this could be a great option for you. It truly is a beautifully, natural place to see.

  Jan 26, 2025
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  Mediocre - It could be so much better!

  An honest review of this resort. Location: Approx. 45 minutes from the airport. Checking out from the airport went smoothly and the driver was courteous. The resort is 15 minutes from Playa del Carmen. Room: We ended up with a larger suite in Block 1 overlooking the pool and a corner view of the ocean. The room is dated however it was clean. We had two bathrooms with a separate room with bunkbeds and two comfy reading chairs. Not sure how we got assigned to this block as it is usually reserved for the Royal Elites (which is a scam in itself). We had asked for an adjoining room with our daugther/son in-law and grandaughter but they ended up at the other end of the resort. The fridge is stocked with cans of pop and sparkling water and they supply a water jug dispenser. The bed was comfortable, and the AC not noisy. The hot water was hit or miss, however we would let it run longer and tried to take our showers off peak times. They supplied us several times with extra sparkling water and the service was quick when we asked for an umbrella to our room. Food: Lacking. The Main International Buffet was busy with what appeared to be choices of meats, cheeses, fruits and they would make your eggs. Because of the openess of the food and people I could not eat there. The food was cold. The Italian offers a better quieter buffet but the food is mostly cold. We would ask her to put it back on gridle to heat up. They had a decent selection of fruits and salads. I preferred going to the Adult section and ordering off the menu for breakfast. The food was always cold but it was okay. A la carte restaurant reservation system is ridiculous. You have to book at midnight and you still don't get your reservation. Many people complain about this. We even went to the concierge who said he would help us and make some reservations for us and call us. This never happen. They simply appease you knowing that you will be gone soon. We simply showed up at the restaurant and asked to be let in. We lucked out to get in without a reservation at the Asian twice. I enjoyed the food there as it was freshly cooked in front of you. Service was good. The steak house was decent. Again the food is cold and overcooked steak. The Brazil was good with meat served off the skewers. It was overcooked but at least it was fresh and hot. The Riviera was okay however my husband's calamari was undercooked. The Mexican Restaurant had a decent breakfast and dinner buffet. The taco bar in the centre was also okay. They did offer breakfast with good pancakes and other choices. They did have hot dogs and burgers for kids at the pool and at the buffet. All in all, we didn't starve but there is nothing about the food that is great. We travel alot and for this reason I would not go back to this resort. You will find something to eat, however this is where they just don't get it right. The Royal Elite club membership is a SCAM! Do not go to this presentation unless your prepared to give them your credit card number and over $10,000 for a membership that does not make sense. They lure you in at the reception, making you think that they are really interested in getting to know you and care about your time there. They don't. They simply want their commission and your signature on the spot. The free shopping excursion with Sunwing is also a waste of time. We were stuck at the souvenir shop for over 3 hours because of an accident. There was families there with young kids. No one wanted to buy the tacky souvenirs that apparently are cheaper at the resort. Thanks to Isa, the resort report who was the person who helps us the most, we took her suggestion and took the collectivo bus from the resort of $4 US each way pp and enjoyed a full day in Playa del Carmen. Some of the shop keepers are annoying and try to lure you in however you simply say no and walk away. The resort is run down and dated, however it is clean and they are always working around the areas.They closed down the games room as water damage caused the ceiling tiles to collapse. The grounds are beautiful with many walking paths. The monkeys, coatis, raccons are everywhere. The animal area has donkeys, pigs and sheep. We did snorkel in the cenote and we did use the water park. All the slides were working. I enjoyed the adult pool section, the Aquagym in the main pool, some yoga on the beach and the other Adult section near the beach was decent with some snacks and good bar service. Beach: Rocky. If you walk to the right of the resort you will find a smaller section with some sandy areas, however we walked both ways and it is mostly rocky. You need water shoes. We also enjoyed the Cirque Show and the Micheal Jackson show was great! I give this resort between a 2 and a 3. There are alot of activities for families.

  Jan 25, 2025