“Tambien.” Laura had just ordered a mojito and that was suddenly sounding really good to me. Practicing my non-existent Spanish, I politely said, “Tambien, por favor.” The bartender, who spoke absolutely perfect English, indulged my linguistic fantasy. At that moment, I knew the Hacienda Tres Rios was going to be the perfect home base for our trip.
Our visit to the Riviera Maya was for Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), which happens to be my birthday. More specifically, it was my 40th birthday. We’d planned to visit the Xcaret Dia de los Muertos celebration, while also enjoying the Xplor Park and the brand new Xenses Park. (Get discounted tickets to Xcaret, Xplor and Xenses here.)
But we also took time to enjoy the Tres Rios Nature Park property, including participating in some of the activities they offer. We took a Segway tour out into the mangrove swamps (you ride on trails and elevated platforms) as you explore the 10 cenotes on the property. It was a fun experience and unlike any other Segway tour we’ve ever taken.
After the mangrove tour of the Tres Rios Ecopark, we did a “Sense” experience. We had no idea what we were in for. It was a surreal and unusual encounter stimulating all your senses. We don’t want to give away any of the elements or activities, but you’ll be challenged by the senses you use less frequently: smell, touch, taste and sound.
But the best thing about the resort was the pool…and the chance to do absolutely nothing at all. We spent a whole afternoon lounging on the recliners, ordering delicious adult beverages from the friendly staff and cooling off in the water when we got too warm. In short, it was a chance to relax and recharge.
Click here for the latest prices at Tres Rios.
The Hacienda Tres Rios
The Hotel: The property consists of 6 buildings in a semi-circle facing towards the ocean. The resort itself does not sit “on the beach” and the ocean is not visible from guest rooms due to the lush vegetation surrounding the river and pool area. Each building has an elevator and a bridge over the river to the pools. The hotel is surrounded by the Tres Rios Ecopark, lush mangrove swamps and cenote sinkholes.
The Restaurant: There are 7 Hacienda Tres Rios restaurants on the property. On our first night, we had a formal fine dining experience in the Porto Bello Italian restaurant. Each morning, we helped ourselves at the Casa Las Islas buffet. One day, we dined al fresco at the Il Forno Pizzeria by the pool. But in Mexico, you need Mexican food. For that, there’s El Alebrije (try the mole!).
The Bar: The sports bar in the lobby serves cocktails and mixed drinks of exceptional quality. At an all-inclusive, our standards for drink quality are usually pretty low. However, the drinks at the resort were exceptional.
The Spa and Recreational Facilities: The resort has a small gym off the main lobby area. According to the calendar on the property, some activities like yoga are available. The property is extremely large and makes for great walks or a bike ride. In addition to biking, a number of other activities are offered.
The Rooms at Hacienda Tres Rios
The Rooms: All the rooms at the resort are suites, which is to say, they all have a couch/sitting area. Every room also has a balcony overlooking one of the rivers and the central resort area. The minimalistic tiled rooms are clean and comfortable, since you’re focus is on the beautiful property outside.
The Bed: The bed is arguably one of the most comfortable hotel beds we’ve had in a long, long time.
The WiFi: The hotel has excellent free wifi throughout the entire property.
The Television: The room had a large flat panel TV mounted from the wall, although TV reception was somewhat limited.
The Safe: The room has a safe for valuables.
The Bathroom
The Bathroom: The bathroom consists of a large sink area with a toilet in a small, private room. But the most obvious feature in the bathroom is the massive, walk-in shower. It is literally the size of a double bed and you can lay down in it.
The Details
The Cost: Rooms start at $385.00 per night on an all-inclusive basis. However, the resort frequently runs specials with rooms as low as $149.00 depending on the day of the week and the season. Beyond the all-inclusive experience, they also offer time shares and rental properties.
The Location: Hacienda Tres Rios Nature Park is located between the Cancun International Airport and the town of Playa del Carmen. It is 37 miles (60 kilometers) from central Cancun and 8 miles (13 kilometers) from downtown Playa del Carmen.
The Transportation: The hotel is best reached via taxi from either the airport or Playa del Carmen. If arriving by rental car, there is parking available. Taxi services can be easily arranged by the hotel for activities.
The Airport Transfer: The nearest airport is the Cozumel International Airport (CZM), which is about 30 miles (48 kilometers) from the hotel.
The Address: Carretera Cancún-Tulum, Km. 54, Tres Ríos, Riviera Maya, Quintana Roo ZIP 77760
The Website: www.haciendatresrios.com/ (Check latest prices here.)
The Final Verdict
The resort is an ecological oasis amid the busy resorts of Mexico’s Caribbean Coast. It was a great base for us to explore the Riviera Maya attractions, while also relaxing in comfort.
We were the guests of the Hacienda, the Tres Rios Nature Park, and Experiencas Xcaret. All opinions of the fun and relaxing are our own.
Lance Longwell is a travel writer and photographer who has published Travel Addicts since 2008, making it one of the oldest travel blogs. He is a life-long traveler, having visited all 50 of the United States by the time he graduated high school. Lance has continued his adventures by visiting 70 countries on 5 continents – all in search of the world’s perfect sausage. He’s a passionate foodie and enjoys hot springs and cultural oddities. When he’s not traveling (or writing about travel), you’ll find him photographing his hometown of Philadelphia.