THE US $ 350 MILLION , SUSTAINABLY BUILT HOTEL XCARET MEXICO IS POISED TO UPDATE THE RIVIERA MAYA ’ S REPUTATION AS STRICTLY A PARTY DESTINATION .
Among dining options is Las Cuevas , caves carved out of the peninsula rock .
Contributed BY MEGAN ROWE
When Experiencias Xcaret decided to erect its first hotel , ensuring the resort hewed to a sustainable design was never up for debate . The Mexican Riviera Maya tourism and recreation operator long has walked the green talk at its nature- and culture-focused theme parks , from the snorkeling lagoons at Xel-Ha to Xcaret ’ s jungle encounter .
But this latest , most ambitious venture — a 900-room resort in a natural setting — was a complex undertaking involving a decade of environmental impact studies ; advice and direction from a third-party organization that certifies sustainably responsible projects ; and a fair amount of creativity and flexibility in breathing the project to life .
The result is the recently opened Hotel Xcaret Mexico , a 5-star resort that embraces its natural setting and Mexican culture . The property marks the first phase of a 10-year plan to transform the 900-acre site into Destino Xcaret , an all-inclusive destination .
“ Being ‘ green ’ is what we are all about ,” says Marcos Constandse Redko , CEO and director of Destino Xcaret . “ The whole philosophy is to develop projects that protect and enhance the environment . We adapt to the natural landscape instead of simply building on it .” That ethos also is reflected in Xcaret ’ s portfolio of parks and tours , which celebrate the region ’ s natural beauty and resources .
Before breaking ground , the company spent nearly a decade studying the potential impact the project would have on the building site ’ s geology , terrain and water flow . Among the discoveries : cenotes
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