Punta Bete

Royal Resorts mega Hacienda timeshare is just to the south of the Caracol. Debris washes in along the beach front. Built in phases the resort now extends well to the north along the beach.

Page down for Sandos Caracol information.

Photos above looking south from the Sandos Caracol Village

Punta Bete Area

its resorts

The year 2005 ended with a hurricane called Wilma... crossing Cozumel and slamming into the areas north of Playa del Carmen. Why not try something a bit different. A resort that not only had a tropical orientation in the Wilma zone, but also one not frequented by the typical USA type. It is an area of wide open beaches and small resorts, some of which were damaged by the hurricane and still are not fully functional. Other megaresorts are under construction, repairs, relocation or expanding. Page down for the Sandos Caracol Village info.

The ol' Capitan Lafitte after hurricane.

Sandos Caracol

********************************** Restaurants **********************************

They are using a daily schedule for restaurants starting in 2009. It changes weekly. They had a Brazilian restaurant in the Select Club area also in 2009. Skewers of meat are sliced off a hunk onto your plate while at the table. Salad bar first and then they bring turkey, pork, chicken and a couple types of beef on skewers for 6 total. Could be better but eatable.

The resort had been Italian owned until 2005 when it was purchased by a Spanish group. After Wilma there was a bit of extra work to do. Changes are ongoing and in 2008 and 2009 remodeling of rooms, building painting, and re-thatching roofs was going on. With almost 1000 rooms in the complex there are enough guests to support lots of restaurants, bars, pools, and activities. Security cameras are everywhere. Pathways on the outer perimeter are used by the golf/guest carts and you can hear the gas engines during the night hours. This is especially true in the loop paths of the Select Club.

Click to Enlarge to see the Select Club area photo details.

They also have separated an area of the resort as the Select Club. It is the pool (la Jungla) in the lower left of the layout and surrounding newer buildings (area of 58-78) plus the beach house with its own new wooden/padded chaise lounges and the futon lounges. Hammocks are behind the beach house in a separate area. The beach house is on the drawing located upper right. The 2 photos below are of this Select Club beach area on the north end.

The Select Club uses golf carts to transport their guests from their rooms to beach and restaurants. Little benches mark the "bus" stops or you can call for a cart via room phones. These golf carts are quite fun to watch with their Mexican drivers.

The area shown above underwent some modifications during the summer and fall of 2010. They are all now white buildings and have solar panels on the roofs. First and second floor rooms were upgraded with flat screen TV's and jet tubs, have better decks and patios, and generally made them into Royal Elite rooms. There is still no ocean view from first floor due to the elevation of the buildings and the pool, restaurant, and beach palapas in front of the rooms.

Royal Elite has a special place at the front desk (furthest) and the car rental and tour rep are at desks just as you come in.

When you check in and are greeted with a special smile and welcome... there is sun on a cloudy day! Guest Services greeted us and introduced us to the features of the resort, showed us to our room and did a fantastic job. Activities boards and maps are posted throughout the resort.

Hi Samira !

The elephant (Lobby Bar) probably has the best bartenders. Right by the front desk and guest services... it is also a prime meeting place.

Activity board 2006 (Left) 2009 and 2008. Want to go into Playa del Carmen? Catch the free "big bus" right by the lobby that shuttles guests to town.

Futbol and sports on TV's. List of taxi rates from the Caracol. The lobby area shown below is next to a great bar and lounge area.

The resort has many gardens and lush vegetation. Lagoons and cenotes provide refuge for a large variety of birds, fish, and assorted critters. Even mosquitoes are evident but their enemy the dragon fly is also in abundance. It was a treat to see orioles nesting, cormorants, and egrets of many varieties. There is an aeration project underway to minimize stagnant water. It has improved the cenotes and lagoons water quality.

The lagoon by the main buffet has large fish and turtles. Look for orioles in the tree tops.

The (Manglar) Piano Bar

...but no piano

Internet was available for 50 pesos a half hour (16 pesos an hour in Playa del Carmen). Now there is wireless so the computers are gone. You can sit in the Piano Bar with your laptop. (Password from guest services) or use their computers by the lobby in a small room by the toilets.

The coffee in carafes in the buffets could be better. By 2009 all the Espresso machines were gone and only the drip type coffee was offered. However in 2010 the new Espresso machines arrived and make a fair cup of 'cinno. We love 2-3 shots of espresso in the morning to get the day going.

The standard drinks were ok. You could ask for name brands and they had quite an assortment of domestics. If one bar didn't have what you wanted you went to another where there was a good chance you would find what you wanted. However you might find the bartender needed help in preparing the specials but they did never seem to mind your advice. They certainly had a desire to offer hospitality.

Seems a bit out of place but between the front lobby and the spa. Next to the backup generator is a stable area with two donkeys. Every village needs character and this pair of burros add plenty of it to the Caracol Village. In this picture she is pregnant and gave birth to a burrito in 2010.

The snack bar from midnight to 7 AM has fruit and sandwich fixings, cereals, breads and rolls and full beverage service. Soft serve ice cream and a Pepsi dispenser are at this palapa also.

Late night snack area (above). Spa below (right side) and gift shop (left side).

The disco was converted into a Kid's Club in 2010. You'll recognize it from the big mushrooms outside. Inside there is a large play system such as you'd find at a McDonalds or Burger King with tubes and nets and slides. In the warm humid climate where fungus, bacteria and viruses thrive it is good that the building is air conditioned. This KC conversion goes with the orientation of the resort to a family focus as they added the water park, the snorkel cenote, and great crafts for the kids in the last couple of years. Across from the Kid's Club is the spa and gym equipment which does not allow those under 16 and provides a refuge to relax. Multiple small saunas rather than the sauna experience of Europe one would expect.

Plenty of exercise machines never more than 25% full. Elliptical, treadmill, steppers, weight and resistance. Two jet tubs (one hot) in the main spa area and a couple more behind the building (Seldom used ...go explore.)

The spa was not as good as many I have been to but they do have full assortment of body treatments, sauna, and a couple of pools. So a good workout in the machine room and relax with a favorite, perhaps a massage on the beach. The beach is rocky in the water but there is an area where you can walk in waist deep on sand. Once you are waist deep you can swim or float. The "whales" they have installed to break the force of the waves is working. The quiet waters of the lagoon harbor many fish and bring in the sand. Bring bread or a little box of Fruit Loops from the 24 hour palapa....cast on the water and stand back.

If you want another sandy soaking area then walk about 3/4 of a mile to the south. There is a cove frequented by the locals that is quite nice. It has parking for autos so you will recognize it when you see it.