Sandos Caracol Eco Resort Map (Most Up-To-Date)
Sandos Caracol Eco Resort is a sprawling jungle eco complex where rooms sit in three zones – Family, Select Club Adults Only, and beachfront Royal Elite. Key map decisions involve choosing proximity to the water park vs beach, judging 10 to 20 minute walking times, and balancing Royal Elite or Select Club perks with access to cenotes, Jade River, and evening Xcalacoco venues.
| Area / Zone | Best For | Key Tip | Watch Out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Elite beachfront (01–11) | Quick beach and pool access with upgraded suites and penthouses | Ideal if you want 1–3 minute walks to sand and main pool | Higher energy levels, music and foot traffic near pools and theater |
| Family Section core (12–51) | Families wanting water park access and central positioning | Buildings 12–19 balance renovated rooms with very short walks to slides | Noise from aquapark, wildlife calls and main paths can be constant |
| Select Club Adults Only (58–73) | Couples seeking quiet jungle seclusion and adults only pool | Buildings 65–73 are deepest in the jungle for maximum privacy | Longest walks to the beach and shows, reliance on shuttle carts |
| Lobby and Cenote Cristalino hub | Arrivals, departures and first time cenote swimmers | Use this hub to orient yourself and branch toward eco paths and pools | Can feel crowded at peak check in and cenote tour times |
| Aqua Park and main family pools | Children, teens and full pool days near most family rooms | Expect 5 minute walks from lobby and short strolls from Family Section | High decibel environment, slippery surfaces and strict slide height checks |
| Jade River and jungle trails | Nature lovers, photographers and eco activity fans | Follow Path of the Senses for shaded wildlife viewing between zones | Uneven paths and bridges challenge strollers and limited mobility guests |
2025 Sandos Caracol Eco Resort Map + Printable PDF
The layout still runs as a horizontal jungle village built around three lodging zones, the water park, and a cenote and river network. Guests navigate mainly on foot along paved but sometimes uneven paths, with golf cart shuttles easing the long Select Club to beach stretch. Restaurants remain clustered near the main pools and beachfront, while digital resort maps and the Sandos app support wayfinding and dining reservations.
2025 Sandos Caracol Eco Resort Map Guide
Use the map by first deciding which axis matters most for your group – beachfront and pools, water park and family core, or quiet jungle and adults only spaces. Then trace your typical daily loop on foot, noting 10 to 20 minute walks and where cenotes or bridges slow movement. Finally, match zones to trip type, from toddler friendly Family Section buildings to Select Club jungle seclusion or Royal Elite front row access.
Where can I get a detailed property map of Sandos Caracol Eco Resort with buildings and room numbers?
Use the Sandos App’s digital map plus the paper map handed out at check in; both show the numbered buildings and main paths across the resort.
Digital navigation is centered on the Sandos App, which includes a resort map showing the layout, section zoning, pools, cenotes and main walking routes. At check in, staff provide a printed map; this fold out is the most practical way to see how the jungle paths, bridges and activity hubs connect in one view.
Buildings are organized by numbered blocks rather than a street grid, with Royal Elite in 01–11 by the beach, the Family Section mainly in 12–51 around the pools and water park, and the Select Club in 58–73 deeper in the jungle. There is no confirmed public PDF with individual room numbers, so expect maps to focus on building level.
Where are the restaurants at Sandos Caracol Eco Resort, and what type of cuisine does each serve?
Main dining clusters sit by the central pools and beachfront, with buffets plus à la cartes ranging from Mexican and Italian to Asian and Brazilian.
Restaurants cluster around the main pool complex, beachfront and adults only Select Club area, with buffets for capacity and à la cartes by reservation.
- La Laguna – Central by main pool, international buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner, no reservations needed.
- Las Máscaras – Near activity core, Mexican buffet at dinner with strong folk art theme, walk in only.
- La Toscana – Close to pools, Italian buffet at breakfast and lunch, Italian à la carte at dinner with reservations.
- El Templo – In main restaurant zone, Asian teppanyaki at dinner with show cooking, strict dinner reservations.
- Fogo de Brazil – In central dining cluster, Brazilian rodizio steakhouse at dinner, reservation only.
- Riviera – Near the beach, Mediterranean and seafood focused dinner venue, reservation required.
- Los Lirios – By Royal Elite beachfront, steak and fish, breakfast and lunch for Royal Elite plus booked dinner for all.
- La Jungla – In Select Club adults area, quieter international restaurant for à la carte breakfast and lunch for Select Club guests.
- El Nido – Key late night and off hour snack spot, serving tacos, pizzas and grilled items, no reservations.
- Salvia – Beachside snack location with lighter, more vegetarian friendly daytime options, informal dress.
How do guests get around Sandos Caracol Eco Resort, and what are typical walking times between main areas?
Most movement uses jungle walkways, with golf cart shuttles mainly backing up long Select Club to beach trips of about 15 to 20 minutes.
Guest movement centers on paved internal paths like the Path of the Senses, which link the lobby, cenotes, pools, water park and beach. Walking times anchor expectations: lobby to beach usually 10–15 minutes, lobby to water park about 5–8 minutes, and most Family Section buildings sit 2–5 minutes from the main pool zone. Royal Elite buildings near the waterfront cut beach walks to roughly 1–3 minutes.
The Select Club lies deepest in the jungle, so Select Club to beach can run 15–20 minutes on foot. Electric golf cart shuttles run loops to shorten this segment, but guests report variable waits, especially around breakfast and dinner peaks. Bridges and mild elevation changes slow strollers or mobility devices more than distance alone.
How wheelchair-accessible are Sandos Caracol Eco Resort’s paths, buildings, and common areas?
Accessibility is partial, with mostly paved paths and some ramps, but no elevators and limited truly accessible ground floor rooms.
Sandos Caracol is rated as partially accessible because core walkways such as the Path of the Senses are paved and generally navigable for wheelchairs and strollers, though natural undulations and tree roots can make surfaces uneven. Wooden bridges across mangroves are narrow and slightly bouncy, which can be difficult for wide mobility devices or guests with balance concerns. Ramps help at some transitions, including access from resort hardscape to the beach zone.
The biggest constraint is structural. All guest buildings are three stories with no elevators, so guests with mobility issues must request ground floor rooms, ideally the Eco Superior Accessible units that add wider doors and roll in showers, though these are limited. Reaching the actual waterline still involves soft sand, and beach wheelchairs are not consistently guaranteed.
Where are Sandos Caracol Eco Resort’s cenotes and main eco-activity areas, and what wildlife is commonly seen there?
Cenotes cluster near the lobby and jungle paths, with eco activities around Cristalino, Jade River and mini farm where monkeys and coatis roam.
Eco areas sit between the lobby hub, Family Section core and deeper jungle trails.
- Cenote Cristalino sits close to the lobby area and main paths, used for guided freshwater swimming and snorkel sessions.
- The waterfall cenote lies further inside the jungle routes, often used for eco tours and Mayan themed ceremonies and shows.
- The Jade River winds through mangroves between room zones, hosting swim and float adventures plus romantic boat rides.
- The mini farm area stands in a dedicated clearing, housing rescued donkeys, deer and other animals for kid friendly interactions.
- Wildlife commonly includes spider monkeys in the canopy, coatis and agoutis on paths, raccoons near vegetation and many tropical birds.
Where is the water park at Sandos Caracol, and what slides and features does it include?
The aqua park sits by the Family Section near the lobby, with 29 slides split into big teen/adult chutes and a safer toddler splash zone.
The water park anchors the Family Section side of the property, roughly a 5–8 minute walk from the lobby and inland from the beach.
- The complex includes 29 total slides, integrated into a large central pool structure.
- A teen and adult area holds the tallest attractions like Kamikaze and fast body slides.
- A kids zone offers shallow water, 17 mini slides, small chutes and splash features.
- Lifeguards enforce a 1.40 meter minimum height for the large slides for safety.
- Typical operating hours run from about 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, included in the stay price.
- The zone is one of the noisiest parts of the resort, especially midday with families and teens.
What do recent reviews say about Sandos Caracol Eco Resort, and what are its main pros and cons?
Reviews highlight immersive nature, cenotes and value pricing, but flag rocky beach, walking demands and a stricter à la carte reservation system.
Recent reviews align with operational audits, pointing to strong nature immersion and value alongside several recurring pain points.
- Pro – On site cenotes, Jade River and abundant wildlife create an all nature experience rare for mid priced Riviera Maya resorts.
- Pro – Large water park, Xcalacoco cultural shows and a Lite Teen Club keep families and teenagers occupied without leaving the property.
- Pro – Exchange access to Sandos Playacar and mid range pricing give good value compared with higher priced eco options like Xcaret Arte.
- Pro – Shaded jungle layout plus separated Select Club and Royal Elite areas let guests choose between lively family zones and quieter spaces.
- Con – Beach is rocky and relatively narrow, so ocean swimming and barefoot shoreline walks are weaker than at wide sand competitors.
- Con – The property is sprawling, with 10–20 minute walks, uneven paths and bridges that challenge strollers and some mobility needs.
- Con – All three story buildings lack elevators, so upper floors and penthouses are difficult for guests with significant mobility issues.
- Con – Tiered à la carte reservations managed through the app and variable shuttle waits disappoint guests expecting seamless high end service.
What on-site activities and evening entertainment does Sandos Caracol offer, especially options suitable for teenagers?
Days center on water park, eco tours and Lite Teen Club while nights focus on Xcalacoco shows, cenote ceremonies and teen friendly games.
On site programming runs from nature focused days to culturally dense evenings, with several choices that suit teenagers particularly well.
- Aqua park offers 29 slides, with a dedicated teen and adult zone featuring high adrenaline Kamikaze and body slides.
- Lite Teen Club for ages 13–17 runs roughly midday to late evening, with consoles, arcade games, air hockey, pool tables and a soft bar.
- Eco activities include cenote swims, the Jade River Adventure and Animal Keeper style time at the mini farm with rescued animals.
- Xcalacoco evenings bring large scale shows like the Sacred Fire Ceremony, Sacred Cenote performance and Red Queen theater story.
- Activity staff recruit teens for social sports such as beach soccer and water polo, helping them meet peers from other families.
What is included in the all-inclusive plan at Sandos Caracol Eco Resort?
All inclusive covers buffet and reserved à la carte meals, drinks and snacks, on site water park, eco activities and Xcalacoco cultural shows.
The core inclusions center on food, drinks and on site experiences. Guests eat mainly at La Laguna and other buffets without limits, then use a stay based quota of à la carte reservations for venues like El Templo, Fogo de Brazil, Riviera, La Toscana and Los Lirios, booked through the Sandos app or Guest Services. Snacks run late into the night at El Nido, with extra daytime options at Salvia and pool areas.
Activity wise, access to the aqua park and its 29 slides, cenote swims, Jade River experiences, Lite Teen Club and evening Xcalacoco shows form part of the standard stay. External eco parks and regional excursions sit outside the inclusive core.
How do you book the à la carte restaurants at Sandos Caracol Eco Resort?
Book à la carte dinners through the Sandos App or Guest Services, with reservation quotas tied to stay length and room category.
À la carte bookings run on a centralized reservation system. Standard guests receive a fixed number of dinner reservations based on nights stayed, while Select Club guests start with three and Royal Elite members are effectively unlimited. All of these must be reserved either on the Sandos App or at the Guest Services desk in person.
The resort leans strongly toward the app, so guests without smartphones may need to queue at Guest Services. Popular venues like El Templo and Fogo de Brazil fill first, so securing preferred times early in the stay is important.
How does Sandos Caracol Eco Resort compare with Sandos Playacar and Hotel Xcaret Arte, especially for eco-focused stays?
For eco stays, Caracol is wild mid priced and family focused, Sandos Playacar is beach party focused, and Xcaret Arte is luxe adults only with park access.
| Resort | Environment and vibe | Beach and water | Inclusions and price | Best for eco focused guest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandos Caracol | Dense jungle, cenotes, wildlife and Xcalacoco shows create an all nature experience | Rocky, narrower shoreline, better with water shoes than barefoot swimmers | Mid range price, on site eco activities and water park, external parks extra | Families or couples wanting real jungle and cenotes over a perfect beach |
| Sandos Playacar | Manicured, energetic, classic sun and sand resort feel | Wide, sandy, swimmable beach considered a regional highlight | Similar pricing tier, focused on beach time rather than deep eco programming | Beach first travelers who only need light nature elements |
| Hotel Xcaret Arte | Sculpted eco architecture with coves and rivers in a high design adults setting | Man made coves and river style swimming integrated into architecture | Typically 2 to 3 times the price, includes unlimited access to Xcaret group parks | Adults seeking luxury eco immersion with bundled off site park access |
Eco oriented families usually favor Caracol for value and on site nature, while adults with bigger budgets and no kids look to Xcaret Arte, and beach purists choose Playacar.
Which room locations at Sandos Caracol are best for families with toddlers and for couples seeking quiet?
Ground floor Family buildings 12–19 suit toddlers near water park, while Select Club buildings 65–73 suit couples wanting deep jungle quiet.
Families with toddlers do best in renovated Family Section buildings near the water park and main pools.
- Families with strollers should target ground floor rooms in buildings 12–19, close to the aqua park and main pools to avoid stairs.
- These buildings cut walking times for nap runs and minimize hauling gear long distances across the resort.
- Couples seeking quiet should focus on Select Club adults only buildings 65–73, set deepest in the jungle and furthest from pool music.
- Select Club brings a quieter pool and La Jungla restaurant access, with the trade off of longer beach walks or shuttle use.
What should I pack for a trip to Sandos Caracol Eco Resort?
Prioritize eco safe sun and bug protection, water shoes for rocky areas, rash guards for kids and reusable cups for humid pool and beach days.
Packing focuses on the jungle, rocky shoreline and cenote rules.
- Biodegradable sunscreen, mandatory around cenotes to protect the underground river system.
- Biodegradable insect repellent for jungle paths, evening shows and eco activities.
- Water shoes for rocky beach entry, cenote steps and slippery limestone.
- Rash guards for children to reduce sunscreen use under strong sun at pools and water park.
- Reusable thermal cups or mugs to keep drinks cold and cut single use cup waste.
- Usual warm weather clothing and swimwear suited to humid, shaded jungle conditions.
Where is the Royal Elite section at Sandos Caracol Eco Resort, and what exclusive facilities or benefits does it have?
Royal Elite spans beachfront buildings 01–11 by the main pool, with eco tech suites, Los Lirios meals and unlimited à la carte reservations.
Royal Elite sits in buildings 01–11 along the prime beachfront and main pool strip, effectively the front row of the resort.
- Buildings 01–11 give 1–3 minute walks to the beach, main pool complex and many central restaurants.
- Villas in this zone use solar powered water heating and high efficiency air conditioning to cut energy use significantly.
- Room types include Royal Elite One Bedroom Suites and Penthouses with upgraded finishes and in room jacuzzis.
- Los Lirios serves as an exclusive breakfast and lunch spot for Royal Elite guests, then opens as a bookable dinner venue.
- Royal Elite members enjoy unlimited à la carte dinner reservations, a key upgrade over the tiered standard guest system.
What are the best day trips and nearby excursions from Sandos Caracol Eco Resort?
Top excursions are Tulum, Coba or Chichen Itza ruins, Xcaret style eco parks, reef snorkel boats and Playa del Carmen’s Fifth Avenue.
The resort works well as a launch point for classic ruins, eco parks and short town trips.
- Tulum ruins sit about 45 minutes south, pairing cliffside archaeology with a beach stop on the same run.
- Coba is around 90 minutes inland, with jungle pyramids, bike rentals and sacbe white roads between temple groups.
- Chichen Itza is a full day at roughly 2.5 hours each way, often sold as an express World Wonder visit.
- Xcaret Park lies about 15 minutes south, expanding on the eco and cultural theme with large scale shows and rivers.
- Reef snorkel tours leave directly from the resort beach via the dive center, avoiding long bus transfers.
- Playa del Carmen’s Fifth Avenue is a short taxi ride for shopping, Coco Bongo style nightlife and local restaurants.
Archive Sandos Caracol Eco Resort Maps
Below are all official map versions released for Sandos Caracol Eco Resort between 2024 and 2018.
2024 Sandos Caracol Eco Resort Map
2023 Sandos Caracol Eco Resort Map
2018 Sandos Caracol Eco Resort Map
