Isla Mujeres – Beautiful Beaches And The Easternmost Point Of Mexico
Isla Mujeres was dedicated to the Mayan goddess Ixchel in pre-Columbian times. Mayan girls are said to have made a pilgrimage here and offered a sacrifice to the goddess in the form of a female figurine. In return she would grant them love and fertility.
When the Spanish later arrived on the island, they found these statues and named the island after them. In addition to Mayan history, you’ll find beautiful white-sand Caribbean beaches, unique underwater life and streets full of bars where you can enjoy a true holiday atmosphere.
HOW TO GET TO ISLA MUJERES
You can take a trip to Isla Mujeres either on your own or with a local tour operator. If you have more time, it’s worth spending a few nights here, but even a day trip will be fine.
The ferry to the island departs from several points in Cancún. You can sail to the island from the hotel zone, but you’ll pay a little more money for the trip. We’ll tell you the cheaper option.
The cheapest way is from the port of Puerto Juárez (about 540 MXN), the boat leaves every 30 minutes.
To get to this port, take the local Coletivo. If you go from the hotel zone just get on the R1 line in the direction of El Crucero.
If you are coming from the city centre, get on this colectivo at Avenida Tulum. Once you reach the intersection by El Crucero Park, get off and walk to the right (east) on Avenida Lopéz Portillo. There will be a Colectivo on your left with a sign saying Puerto Juárez. Hop in and in a few minutes you are at the port. The trip from the city center takes less than 20 minutes and you’ll pay a total of 22 MXN. If you like to walk, you can also walk to the bus stop on Avenida Lopéz Portillo from downtown, it’s not far.
HOW TO GET TO THE CENTRE
As soon as you arrive in Isla Mujeres, you’ll get several offers at the port to take you to your accommodation or to rent a scooter, car or golf cart.
Cars and golf carts are really expensive, but driving around the island on a golf cart will definitely be an experience.
Renting a scooter is the cheapest option, for which you will pay MXN 600 for one day. A taxi ride isn’t exactly the cheapest either. However, there is one way to travel around the island for a few crowns.
There is a local bus that runs around the entire island. It stops right in front of the port and wherever you go, the trip will only cost you 20 MXN. The bus will take you to all the interesting places on the island and you can also catch it anywhere along the route.
ACCOMMODATION
The harbour is the main centre of the island, if you want to stay on the island and be in the centre of everything, this is the ideal place. However, if you’re on a budget, you’ll be better off staying in a village in the middle of the island.
From our own experience, we can recommend staying with a local family, Casa Amaya. A short walk from this accommodation there is a bus stop, a supermarket, a nice sea view and a great cafe. For a double room you will pay 723 MXN per night. Rooms are clean, free water is available, Wi-Fi works but don’t count on high quality. Contact the owner on +529 981 066 773. You can also find accommodation at www.booking.com.
THINGS TO DO IN ISLA MUJERES
Finally, the interesting places on the island.
PUNTA SUR – the most eastern point of Mexico
The southernmost point of the whole island and the easternmost point of Mexico, Punta Sur, is definitely not to be missed. Here is a short hiking trail where you will see lots of iguanas, Mayan ruins and the incredibly beautiful colour of the Caribbean Sea. This is where the first rays of sunlight in all of Mexico hit every morning, so if you decide to go here for sunrise, you’ll be the first person in the entire country to see the sun that day. Oh, and there’s a bus coming :-).
THE BEACHES OF ISLA MUJERES
The main reason to visit the island for most tourists, however, is the local beaches. The white sand, the gradual access to the sea and the turquoise colour of the water literally tempt you to spend the whole day on the beach.
The nicest beaches are in the north of the island, but if you come here in high season, expect them to be very crowded as well. Playa Centro, Playa El Cocal and Playa del Norte are likely to be very busy, but if you head to the other side of the island to Playa Media Luna or Playa Lancheros on the southwest coast, you’ll likely have some privacy to yourself.
ACTIVITIES
If you like snorkelling and water sports, a visit to the Garrafon Natural Park and the underwater museum MUSA – Museo Subacuático de Arte – will certainly be an experience. While visiting these places is a bit more expensive, there aren’t many underwater museums in the world, for example. For more information on these activities and current prices, visit https://musamexico.org/ and https://www.garrafon.com.mx/.
TIPS FOR VISITING ISLA MUJERES
The island is quite crowded in high season, but this is especially true for the northern part of the island. If you’re not in a hurry, be sure to stay on the island and visit other parts of the island. The island is not large and you can basically walk around the whole island. We also walked several tens of kilometers on the island and found places where we were completely alone. For example, there’s a walking route that runs almost the entire east coast, starting in a town in the north, and it’s really nice to walk on that side of the island.
WATCH OUT
Watch out for the classic tourist traps. Taxi drivers tend to charge tourists more than locals. The same goes for car and scooter rentals right at the port. Don’t get ripped off. It’s always better to research multiple options first, get multiple quotes and then make a decision.
If you are planning a trip to Yucatán, be sure to read our other articles about Yucatán. Don’t forget to visit colonial Valladolid, magical Bacalar and you know what to do in Cancún?
