For a small, boutique property, La Casa de la Playa by Xcaret has already made an immense splash in the upscale travel market in the Riviera Maya. One of the very few resorts in the world to have been added to the Luxe by ALG Vacations®, this intimate, high-end resort has been raising the bar for what all-inclusive luxury means, and the list of beyond-standard service and amenities just keeps on growing.

Find out what it takes for a hotel to get into the Luxe by ALGV portfolio!

Since it opened its doors, it’s won the AAA Five Diamond Award; named the second-best hotel in the entire world and the best hotel in all of Mexico at the Travel + Leisure® World’s Best Awards in 2024; and earned a five-star rating by Forbes Travel Guide. On top of that, they’ve done it all with a firm commitment to sustainability, working directly with EarthCheck Organization. From nice-to-haves like included butler service to above-and-beyonds such as Cristal International Standards for hygiene and security, here’s our Hotel Confidential update on what makes La Casa de la Playa so delightfully Luxe.

“Exclusively Your Way“

With only 63 suites available at any given time, La Casa de la Playa is able to offer customizable, personal vacations beyond the realm of reasonable expectation. They call it “Exclusively Your Way” – an apt name as the staff and programming go above and beyond to cater their already specialized amenities to their guests while maintaining that delicate balance that ensures privacy and discretion.

It starts before visitors even arrive at the resort as they’re whisked from the airport to the property in luxury vehicles. Next, fantastic service continues into 24-hour butler service accommodations, which begin start at all beachfront, with ocean views and direct access to the shore, all the way up to a spectacular by-request Presidential Suite.

Romantic touches, presented without a thought needing to be expressed by a guest. Details noted when the room is serviced. Activities meant to foster closeness, memory-making, and magic. Then there are the highly curated in-“house” experiences, created through collaboration with the best of the best for that subject matter, then recommended to guests who might share that interest.

For example, for those who find a vacation the perfect time to get lost in a book or those who like cozy corners, the Library offers various snug ways to escape to scenes even more fantastical than the ones before the oceanfront panoramic suspended glass windows. Chocolate-lovers can experience this pre-Hispanic legacy under the guidance of master chocolatier Mao Montiel at Chocolaterie; oenophiles have a space of their own called Cava, filled with wines from Mexico and elsewhere hand-selected by acclaimed sommelier Sandra Fernandez.

Then there’s La Bodega, if spirits are more the guest’s flavor. Here, selections from a collection of mezcales and tequilas are poured upon request. And lovers of craft can find their next favorite piece at Wonder Room, a concept store featuring art textile pieces created and selected by designers such as Carla Fernandez, among others.

Experiences Unavailable Elsewhere

One of the features of the original Hotel Xcaret that changed the world of all-inclusive is that admission to all of its incredible parks – including lunch and transfers – are included with your stay rate. An amazing value and amenity, this generosity was unheard of … which makes it hard to top.

Of course, La Casa de la Playa did exactly that, approaching access from the lens of pure luxury and unprecedented exclusivity.

Those staying at this hotel are able to take part in tailor-made experiences at several of the parks – private before and/or after-hours events reserved specifically for them. For example, at the famous Xcaret Mexico Espectacular show at Teatro Gran Tlahco, the flagship cultural performance of the group’s namesake park, La Casa de la Playa guests are able to book a full backstage tour and seven-course dinner. For no additional charge, they can also book a special dinner at a cenote while live jazz performers provide a soundtrack for the evening, or immerse themselves in the culture and history of the region with dinner on an islet of a pre-Hispanic village.

For the more adventurous, there’s Xpeleo, an early morning caving tour at Xplor Park that ends with a Mayan-influenced ceremony, as well as Xcaret Xailing outings, catamaran rides, and ferry service to Isla Mujeres and Cozumel, both prime destinations for divers.

Culinary Program Beyond Compare

Luxury and dining go hand in hand, so it’s no surprise that one of the reasons La Casa de la Playa is a Luxe top pick is for their cuisine. In fact, their included food and beverage program is so elevated that several are straight-up gastronomic experiences.

The two restaurants that co-headline for crème de la crème are HA’ and XAAK. The first is Xcaret’s first Michelin-starred restaurant by chef Carlos Gaytán, a nine-course molecular extravaganza that showcases the most modern, mind-bending techniques in a style that’s earned it international attention. The second is a collaboration between four renowned chefs, Paco Méndez, Roberto Solís, Jonatan Gómez-Luna and Alejandro Ruiz. Together, they’ve designed a signature tasting menu inspired by Mexican culinary tradition where each dish is “a work of art that fuses the classic and the modern,” our insiders rave.

While these two restaurants are the most lauded, the rest of the on-site venues are held to high standards just to hold their own. A total of 21 restaurants are available to guests of La Casa de la Playa, since they have free access to Hotel Xcaret Mexico and Hotel Xcaret Arte, all of which are led by the group’s highly selective Culinary Ensemble.

Last Thoughts on La Casa de la Playa as Luxe

While the baseline criteria to be considered a property worthy of the Luxe by ALGV label is already very high, it’s clear that La Casa de la Playa has far exceeded any reasonable expectation of high-end travel. These exacting details, the care taken to turn a vacation into a multi-sensory, emotionally transportive experience, and the attention paid to each guest to make it the getaway of their dreams, specifically … if that’s not Luxe, we don’t know what is.