"It’s hard to imagine that an all-inclusive, especially one along that tourist-made stretch between Cancún and Tulum, could be the first hotel in the Americas to win EarthCheck certification for sustainability. But rather than swim-up bars teeming with sunburned masses in fluorescent wristbands drinking daiquiris, Hotel Xcaret Mexico (and that’s ESH-car-ette) on Mexico’s Riviera Maya has a vibe more like a boutique hotel (albeit one with seven pools). The cheerfully embroidered cushions made by women in Chiapas and floor tiles from Puebla in all of the 900-plus rooms wouldn’t be out of place in Tulum’s more boho-chic barefoot inns. Mercado de la Merced, Xcaret’s main restaurant, is a Wonka-esque explosion of authentic ceviches, sopas, asados, and Mexican sweets. Zip-lining over the jungle and snorkeling in a closed cenote are pretty damn fun too—and covered in that all-inclusive price."
