Two scarlet macaws greet us in the lobby of the Iberostar Tucan. Palm trees, statues of Mayan Gods and Mexican urns surround the perches. The soothing sounds of fountains mix with bird chirps, reinforcing the fact that we're at a resort in Mexico. We like the attempt at local color, even if it is a little hokey.

En route to our room we walk through what's referred to as the "jungle," a swath of palm trees, ferns and other tropical plants that lead from the dining areas to the pool. We admire the swans, the pink flamingoes and the toucans that live among the shady trees.

The relatively good-sized jungle is one of the Iberostar Tucan's defining characteristics -- one it shares with its adjacent sister resort, Iberostar Quetzal . The two Iberostar properties are part of Playacar, a large, gated, private community in the Riviera Maya's Playa del Carmen. Playacar contains about a dozen, large, all-inclusive properties as well as smaller hotels, townhomes, timeshares and condominiums. Playacar has sandy beaches and easy access to Playa del Carmen, an open-air, pedestrian mall lined with boutiques, restaurants and cafes.

Although the Iberostar Tucan and the Iberostar Quetzal, have separate lobbies, the two resorts, each with 350 rooms on either side of the property, share pools, restaurants, beach facilities, children's programs and theater entertainment.

In the Iberostar pyramid of family properties, Tucan, as well as Quetzal, are at the base. The resorts, however, are solid choices, providing a good value, budget stretching vacation with tropical scenery, a children's program and a wide, sandy beach.

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