Isla Mujeres

A laid-back island just 20 minutes by boat from Cancún. Its north beach is as shallow as a swimming pool, you can explore by golf cart, and in summer you can head out to swim with whale sharks.

Isla Mujeres lies about 13 km north of Cancún. It is roughly 7 km long, and at its widest point it is only 650 meters across. When Spanish explorers landed in 1517, they found many statues of Ixchel, the Maya goddess of women, which gave the island its name. Life here moves much more slowly than in Cancún, and the houses are painted in candy colors. Highlights include: ① North Beach (Playa Norte), a white-sand beach at the island’s northernmost tip with clear, calm water. You can walk dozens of meters out and still only be waist-deep. It is often ranked among Mexico’s most beautiful beaches, and beach bars are lively at sunset. ② Rent a golf cart (about 1,000–1,500 pesos per day) or an electric vehicle to explore the island. Stops include the Tortugranja sea turtle conservation center and the cliffs above the Caribbean coast. ③ Punta Sur at the southern tip, which is the easternmost point of land in Mexico. It has the ruins of a temple to Ixchel and a sculpture park, and it is said to be the first place in Mexico to greet the sunrise each day. ④ Snorkeling near the MUSA underwater sculpture museum and the Manchones reef. ⑤ June to September is whale shark season. Sign up for a tour from the island (about US$150–200) and snorkel alongside the world’s largest fish. ⑥ Garrafón Natural Park, where a single ticket covers snorkeling, zip-lining and other activities. Getting there: take an Ultramar fast ferry from Puerto Juárez in Cancún, or from the Playa Tortugas and Playa Caracol piers in the hotel zone. The crossing takes 20–40 minutes, and a round trip costs under about US$30. You can also join a catamaran day trip. A day trip is possible, but staying a night on the island to see the sunset is recommended.

Isla Mujeres

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Places to eat nearby