Wild Child Rating: 5/5
Perfect for parents who want sun, but kids who want fun.
Mexico Logistics
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We booked via TUI as a package holday and this hotel was not our initial booking, but due to a fire in our original hotel we ended up moving here 2 days before. No regrets. Â Having everything in one place for a long haul booking is so much easier and TUI always make this seamless, they also made moving hotels so easy.
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Flying direct from Newcastle is a game changer for a long flight especially with kids who are high energy,  the flight time was 10 hours so I had to be prepared. We always book a middle row  and then one aisle seat for long haul, this way the kids can spread out across the middle. Luckily my husband had two empty seats next to him so both kids had two seats each - win.
Booking & Getting there
Where We Stayed
We stayed at Sandos Caracol Eco Resort. When looking for a hotel I wanted something that felt immersed in the culture, and still had a lot to do for kids. Sandos ticked every single box, it's built as a nature resort right in the middle of a forest so you have monkeys swinging around trees, cenotes to swim in with turtles, a farm on site and then the beach and pools.Â
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It's one of the largest resorts in Riviera Maya with 955 rooms, and you can get golf buggies and bikes to get you around. Each of the rooms are located in individual blocks, and then the centre is focused around the restaurants, a shopping promenade and the entertainment complex.
What's included in the all inclusive
Included:
Full dining at diverse eateries
All beverages, including spirits, at resort and beach bars
Unrestricted use of all swimming areas
Expansive water park with 29 thrills
On-site cenotes for swimming
10 ecological adventures—mangrove tours, nature walks, and animal spotting
Supervised kids' club
Full daily activity roster
Nightly performances, featuring the sacred fire ritual
Non-motorized aquatic sports
Resort-wide high-speed internet
The Water Parks
The water park alone was one of the main reasons we booked, its in its own separate area that is gated and has its own toilets and bar/cafe area.
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There's 29 slides ranging from huge kamikaze drops to medium sized body slides and then a toddler zone. A lagoon section has cascades, water jets, and lounge areas. This also has a pool bar so parents can sit and grab a drink while the kids play.Â
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One thing to note is the toddler pool is accessed by stairs on either side - so you will need to help little ones, there's a smaller pool on the main level for tiny children. The ground on this is also a little rocky so take pools shoes.Â
The Cenotes
One of the things that makes Sandos Caracol genuinely different from a standard beach resort is the natural cenotes within the grounds. There's one in reception so you are immediately greeted with this, it also has a lovely seating zone above meaning me and my daughter could sit with a drink from the bar while the boys were swimming. Life jackets and snorkels are included and must be used when in the denotes.Â
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The water is cool, clear and completely unlike the sea or a pool. We were lucky enough to swim with turtles right in the resort which was an amazing feature of our holiday.  The resort also offers guided eco-activities around the mangroves and the jungle and these are worth doing at least once for the wildlife alone. We had so many howler monkeys just chilling on our balcony - beware if your leaving clothes out overnight because they will be taken.Â
The Restaurants
La Laguna
The main international buffet, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This is your fallback option and it's a good one. The breakfast spread is extensive and the evening buffet covers every preference including children who have decided on holiday that they will only eat chips.Â
Las Mascaras
Mexican buffet. Do this one early in the trip, the food is lovely and it's a great introduction to what Mexican cuisine actually is beyond what you've had at home.
Fogo de Brazil
Brazilian rodizio. Waiters bring different cuts of meat continuously to the table, until you tell them to stop. The kids absolutely loved this, you can book this when you arrive as it does book up.
El Templo
Asian teppanyaki. The theatrical cooking element makes this a brilliant choice for children who are at the age where the performance is as important as the food. Offer a great kids menu too, again book this as soon as you arrive as it gets booked.
La Toscana
Italian. The reliable comfort choice for an evening when everyone is tired and nobody wants to make a decision on what to eat.Â
Los Lirios
Steak and fish, the more premium a la carte option. Worth it for at least one evening as an adults treat.
El Nido
A casual taco spot. Exactly what it should be and consistently popular.Â