Despite being a top destination this last summer, Isla Mujeres is still a perfect destination to go away and disconnect. You may find more than 3 reasons to visit Isla Mujeres, but these should be more than enough to convince you.
As Isla Mujeres is located roughly eight miles off of Cancun’s northern shore, you can even plan a day trip there from Cancun. This taste of paradise is less than a half-mile wide, that’s about 4 miles long. After a visit to the island, you’ll wonder why you never vacationed here before.
How to get to Isla Mujeres?
Visit our site and discover the easiest way to get to Isla Mujeres from Cancun Int. Airport or any other destination in the Riviera Maya.
Check out our previous post on Taking the Ferry to Isla Mujeres
1. Awarded beautiful beaches
Isla Mujeres is home to two of the cleanest beaches in Mexico. Due to all the heavy sargassum, these two stand out. Thankfully, sargassum has exited the scene and is now leaving the beaches in Cancun and the Riviera Maya.
Playa Norte and Playa Sur are probably the most beautiful beaches and even though they can get crowded, the number of people that visit doesn’t compare to the crowded beaches in Cancun.
These beaches are awarded and given the Blue Flag certification. The Blue-Flag acknowledgment is set to bring in more visitors than before. Even though the shores of Playa Centro and Playa Norte have always been popular with American tourists, this only adds up to its beauty. As the most pristine beaches on the island, they both earned the blue-flag certification in recognition of fulfilling the high-quality standards.
2. Excellent food
As an island, Isla Mujeres is not only surrounded by water but by beautiful beaches that are found on every corner. This is why dining by the sea, or somewhere with a water view is something you’ll always have a chance to experience. Finding fresh seafood is not difficult either. Any of the seaside restaurants in the downtown area and on North Beach offer some of the freshest, most delicious (and relatively inexpensive too!) seafood that you’ve ever tasted. In fact, the fish is brought very early in the morning from the fisherman or just moments before it’s served to you. The restaurants on the beach have that tropical vibe and simplicity you look for, mixed with excellent food and cocktails with a unique view.
3. Unique connection with nature
Golf carts are a very popular mode of transportation on Isla Mujeres and, on any given day, you’ll see caravans of carts tooling around the island. Half-day and full-day cart rentals are available. During your island tour, stop by Turtle Farm (La Tortugranja) to see baby sea turtles and other marine life. Turtle Nesting Season commenced this May and will end in September. If you happen to be in the area during this time of the year, you might be able to participate in a turtle release! In this special activity, people can help newly-hatched sea turtles make their way to the sea. This activity is supervised by experts, so if you want more information or if you happen to see turtles at the beach, please notify your hotel ASAP.
After your visit to the turtle farm, continue going toward the southern end of the island. As many tourists only come for a day trip you’ll be surprised not many visits this side of the area. But if you can, we recommend you set some time apart to visit this area. There you will find a small Mayan temple and spectacular sea views. If you continue walking or driving a golf cart around the island, you will pass by the “seashell house”, an unconventional home that is built in the shape of a conch shell.
Conclusion
Overall, these 3 reasons to visit Isla Mujeres should sum up all the great things the island has to offer. Let us tell you there’s a way to make your trip to Isla Mujeres cheaper than you imagine, in case you weren’t fully convinced. The absolute cheapest time to take a vacation in Isla Mujeres is usually late January.
- January 1st to March 4th (except the week of February 12th)
- August 13th to December 16th (except the week of November 19th)
Take that trip down to Isla Mujeres and explore the downtown area (at the north end of the island, by the ferry docks). The stress has many of the typical souvenir stores, in case you want to purchase unique gifts; like wood carvings, Talavera pottery, hand-painted rugs, or handcrafts and works of art created by local artists. There’s so much to see and do on the island, from scuba diving and all kinds of water sports to golf cart adventures! You must visit!