What to expect: This family Mexico resort on the scale of a theme park, is like a small town containing exceptional parks and recreation areas. Because the hotel sections are limited to three stories and green spaces abound, the resort's size never overwhelms. Long-term visits reward guests with ample opportunity to explore the resort and perhaps encounter a colorful toucan in its natural environment. Seeing iguanas sunning themselves is a certainty.

Amenity highlights: Lodging at the resort is divided into four sections. With the exception of the colorful, village-like Pueblo de Rio along the river, each section has its own pool and sundecks. In the exclusive, 45-suite Royal Club, the private pool complex includes a 30-foot-diameter hot tub. In the 128-room Cangrejo section, the large pool is crossed by a stone bridge and contains five cool-water spas tubs. The resort's main pool is located at the 393-room Flamenco section. It consists of three enormous swimming areas connected by channels beneath stone bridges.

Each guest receives a one-day pass to world-renowned Xcaret Park, the adjacent nature park that is one of Yucatan's principal visitor attractions. Xcaret was an important Mayan port and ceremonial center and now serves as an eco-entertainment park, archeological site, and nature reserve. Some 25 attractions are scattered throughout, including a wild bird breeding aviary, butterfly pavilion, jaguar sanctuary, orchid conservatory, and coral-reef aquarium.

Insider tip: On the beach is a temazcal (traditional Mayan sweat lodge) shaped like a stone igloo. Guests sweat in steam produced by scented water poured on heated volcanic stones (surcharge).