Xcaret - Mexico’s Disneyland

By Irene Butler

Blissfully wrapped in turquoise surf, soft sand and alluring jungle, my “inner child” leapt for joy as I scurried between the kaleidoscope of attractions and activities. Xcaret (ish-cah-reht) Eco Park is carefully planned for sustainability of the local communities and the environment. With samplings of all that is Mexico, there is something for everyone, whether aged six or sixty-plus.

A ride up to 80 metres in a rotating tower awarded us a panoramic view of the 200-acre park and the Caribbean with inviting shades of blue shimmering above the second largest coral reef in the world.

We then made a bee-line for the talcum-powder beach. Bodies languished on chaise lounges or swung in hammocks strung between palms. But this was not for me - at least not yet. I was eager to pick out one of several novel water activities.

Our attention was drawn to a cluster of white helmets rising out of the sea. Seeing my puzzled expression, a young fellow standing beside me said, “That’s Ocean Trekking, you should try it.”  I was intrigued to see that although helmeted, the participants wore bathing suits rather than diving gear. Also surprising was the age variance - two children aged about 8 and 12, along with their mother, and an octogenarian grandfather. This was for us!

After being instructed by our guide, Ana, on how to communicate underwater, we were lowered into the sea to a depth of about 10 feet. As soon as I was assured of normal breathing through the air hose attached to my head gear, and the stability of my weighted boots, I became lost in the wonder of the ocean floor. Reefs of pink and pale orange were illuminated by the sun’s rays filtering through the water; yellow and silver shoal fish darted about, some so close they grazed my helmet. A giant turtle cascaded by. Aquatic flora of emerald danced to the rhythm of the sea. We emerged from this magical world -without even getting our hair wet.

I scoured our handy itinerary for what to do next. Floating down one of the park’s underground rivers and swimming in a cenote (sinkhole) won out. Our guide for this adventure, José, explained, “The Yucatan Peninsula is covered with a porous limestone layer under a thin veneer of soil. Rainwater seeping through this layer forms a massive underground river system. Where the limestone collapses, making the river accessible from above, are known as cenotes.”

Donning life jackets, we bobbed along on a gentle current sided by a tangle of jungle with swinging howler monkeys and perched macaws. And then through limestone caverns with glimmering stalactites, ending in a lagoon of mangroves inhabited by pink flamingoes.

Thoroughly waterlogged, land exploration was in order. At the Butterfly Pavilion we followed the metamorphosis from eggs to the egression of the winged beauties from their chrysalis. Butterflies fluttered amid the expanse of tropical plants, often posing on leaves for our cameras to capture their intricacies of colour.

On to the hatcheries where we watched hordes of sea turtles separated in pools by age – from tiny hatchlings, to eight-inch yearlings soon to be released into the sea. The nearby aquarium displayed the underwater kingdom of the reef, with informative placards on the creatures that call it home.

Indigenous fauna were enclosed in the park’s spacious surrounds. The panoply of native plants would excite the most avid botanist. A field of Blue Agave, from which tequila is made, reminded me that a Margarita would be nice (along with a relaxing lunch).  Rick readily concurred.

After icy mango libations and piping hot enchiladas, we waddled over to the replicated Mayan village in time to see warriors enact the Dance of Fire. {put Village pic here} For the ancient Mayans this dance heralded a new life cycle occurring every 52 years.

Part of the village consisted of archeological ruins from the post-classical period (1400-1517 AD) when Xcaret was a ceremonial city and thriving port for trades with other Mayan cities in commodities such as gold and jade.

The evening “Spectacular” began as we settled into the 6000-seat theatre. As the lights dimmed, the central stage became alive with performers portraying the story of their history, from the rise of the great Mayan civilization, to the Spanish Conquest, then the fusion of cultures.

An ancient game of Pok-ta-pok was electrifying. Lean warriors raced and leaped bouncing a 9-pound rubber ball with only their hips, the objective being to send the ball sailing through the stone hoops along the sides of the walls. Next, from the Aztec, a burning ball was smacked with wooden sticks in a pre-historic version of hockey called Uarhukua.

I concluded the only thing little about this Eco Park was the meaning of Xcaret in Mayan -“little inlet”. The park’s “wow” factor is of mega-proportions. Wishing we had more time (although our tired feet did not agree) we ambled from the grounds filled with mirthful memories.

Location and planning:

-Xcaret is located 35 miles south of Cancun & 6 miles south of Playa del Carmen.

-Travel Agencies (in Cancun and Playa del Carmen) offer day trips to Xcaret.

-Xcaret Bus Terminal Ph: 998-881-2401 (next to Fiesta Americana Coral Beach Hotel on Isla Cancun) has daily buses.

-Xcaret Occidental Grande Hotel (769 rooms) is a 5 min walk from the park. www.occidentalhoteles.com

For Admission Prices and Schedules:
www.xcaret.com

Tourism Mexico
www.visitmexico.com

Photo Credits: Rick Butler & Xcaret Park