Fodor's Expert Review Iberostar Tucan and Quetzal

The Iberostar Quetzal and the Iberostar Tucan are twin all-inclusive resorts located in the gated community of Playacar, which happens to be the most upscale one in Playa del Carmen and also to have one of the best beaches in the area. The hotels are family-friendly and offer a wide array of activities for all ages in a setting where nature and Mayan culture are well represented.

room

The rooms are wide and colorful in a contemporary Mexican way that may have seen better times. Each suite comes with its own terrace or balcony, some enjoying garden or jungle views, while other pool or ocean views. Overall the rooms are ok, equipped with all the amenities expected from a hotel of this category, however they lack a bit in style.

YOU SHOULD KNOW Some suites close to the theater area can be noisy during certain hours of the night.

bathroom

Most bathrooms come just with shower and one vanity sink, although some suites like the Presidential one have a double sink, separate shower, and bathtub, plus an outdoor Jacuzzi by the terrace. Décor is modern if unimpressive.

lobby

A large wide palapa with marble floors and pink columns functions as the lobby of the Iberostar Tucan and Quetzal combo. Plenty of comfy sofas fill the place and a few shops offer the typical products for a family vacation trip.

pool

The strength of Tucan & Quetzal hotels is that they have something for everybody in the family, and pools are no exception. The main pool is large and wide with a hot tub in the middle. Then there is a kids’ pool, an adults’ pool with its own swim-up bar and even a sports pool.

spa

The Spa at these Iberostar resorts is one of their highlights, as it offers its treatments and therapies in a variety of places by the pool or the beach, or even better in a secluded hut deep in the middle of the jungle, where all you can hear is the stream of water running by your side. A gorgeous indoor pool and a wooden-sauna are worth a mention here too.

gym

There is a fitness center with cardio and weight equipment, as well as free weights under a thatched-roof palapa. Tennis, football and basketball courts also add to the physical activities offer of Tucan & Quetzal.

dining

If by themselves all-inclusive resorts offer plenty of options, when you put two of them together the culinary experience is amazingly wide and diverse. There are buffet and a la carte restaurants, with Japanese, Italian and Mexican options to choose from.

To avoid unpleasant surprises, making a dinner schedule and booking in advance all your dinners can guarantee you a table in the restaurant of your choice.

drinking

The swim-up bar located in the adults-only pool is a perfect drinking spot during the hot hours of the day. By night, the theater/nightclub is the place to enjoy a tropical cocktail while enjoying the performances of local artists.