Located in Playacar, in the center of Mexico's Riviera Maya region, the all-inclusive Sandos Playacar Beach Resort & Spa is a vast resort best known for its myriad activities and gracious hacienda-style atmosphere. Surrounded by ancient Mayan ruins and the temple of Tulum, the property is pervaded with Mexican culture. The resort’s grand beach, land and water sports, fine dining and proximity to archeological sites and eco parks attracts casual travelers, couples and especially families.

Resembling a Mexican village, the sprawling resort property is dotted with palm forests and overlooks an expansive stretch of white beachfront; the lobby boasts a lofty, eaved ceiling, marble floors and lounging areas with overstuffed leather furniture. Standard rooms and junior suites are cozy, with tiled floors, painted light blue walls, wood furnishings and bright tropical fabrics. Accommodations come with one king-size bed or two double beds, satellite television, a mini bar and an adjoining terrace and balcony overlooking the swimming pools, garden or ocean. Hacienda Junior Suites come with separate living areas and double sofa beds, and marble baths feature all the latest amenities.

Sandos Playacar Beach Resort & Spa invites guests to choose from a number of a la carte restaurants and buffets as part of the all-inclusive package. The Grand Buffet Festival offers alfresco dining as chefs prepare cuisines from around the world at cooking stations with themed nightly menus. El Gaucho serves grill and steakhouse favorites. Asiana dishes up Asian-fusion specialties family style and Il Piemonte Buffet provides everything Italian, including antipasti, pizza and homemade pasta. Iztapalapa cooks up Mexican and TexMex essentials, while Fogo de Janeiro presents the best of Brazilian cuisine.

Guests can lounge by the resort’s seven swimming pools, including both adults-only and children’s pools, or on the sandy beach. Activities include tennis, pool, Ping-Pong, water aerobics, basketball and bicycle tours. Water sports offered are windsurfing, sailing, kayaking, snorkeling and in-pool scuba diving lessons. Kids and teens clubs keep younger guests engaged in various activities and programs throughout the day, and cabaret shows, music performances and theme nights entertain adults in the evening. The spacious spa boasts 22 treatment rooms, hydrotherapy baths and showers, a state-of-the-art fitness center, facilities for Pilates and yoga, a solarium and steam baths, and offers facials, massages, body treatments and beauty salon services.