Isla Mujeres Facts

Introduction

13km (8 miles) N of Cancún

Isla Mujeres (Island of Women) is a casual, laid-back refuge from the heady tempo of Cancún. It lies not far off the coast and is visible from the resort. As Caribbean islands go, Isla is a bargain and a good fit for anyone who prefers simplicity and ease over variety and action. The island's only town is right next to North Beach, the best beach on the island. With beach towel in hand, you can leisurely stroll to the beach from any hotel in town; there's no need for transportation. Don't think that Isla is an escape from commercialism -- it isn't. But commercialism is writ small here, which is in character with the destination. The island is small, the town is small, the hotels (with a couple of exceptions) are small, the restaurants, the bars, the excursion boats -- small, small, small. There are several inexpensive hotels, mostly in town, and a smattering of luxury boutique hotels spread out to other parts of the island.

The scale of the island heightens the contrast between high season and low season, making the crowds and bustle much more noticeable at peak travel times. At midday, suntanned visitors from the Cancún tour boats hang out in open-air cafes and stroll the pedestrian streets lined with zealous souvenir vendors calling attention to their wares. The scene takes on a carnivalesque hue during the hours when the tour-boat traffic is at its peak. Then, later in the afternoon, things settle down.

Trips to the Isla Contoy bird sanctuary are popular, as are the diving, snorkeling, and fishing jaunts. In 1998, the island's coral coast became part of Mexico's Marine National Park system. The reef suffered substantial hurricane damage in 2005, but it's rebounding. The water clarity illuminates the wonderful array of coral and tropical fish living here. The underwater life you are likely to see includes French angelfish, longspine squirrelfish, trumpet fish, four-eye butterfly fish, green angelfish, stoplight parrotfish, southern stingrays, sharp-nose puffer fish, blue tang, and great barracuda.

The island and several of its hotels attract regular gatherings of yoga practitioners. In the evening, most people find the slow, casual pace one of the island's biggest draws. The cool night breeze is a perfect accompaniment to casual open-air dining and drinking in small street-side restaurants.

1.  Isla Mujeres is a small island, approximately 8 miles from Cancun.  The island is roughly 5 miles long and 1/2 mile wide, at it's widest point. 

2.  Isla Mujeres means "women island".  It is believed that the Spanish, who arrived on the island in the 16th century, named the island "Isla Mujeres" because of all the cult images of goddesses they found on the island.

3.  Even though there is an airstrip on the island, there no commercial flights.  The only way to get to the island is by taking a ferry or boat.  Ferries to and from the island operate regularly, with ports in both Puerto Juarez (small town just outside of downtown Cancun) and Cancun's hotel zone.

4.  Fun Fact:  Golf carts, mopeds, and bicycles are the main forms of transportation, on Isla Mujeres, although there are cars and taxis.  Most tourists prefer to rent golf carts, however.  It's not uncommon to see caravans of tourist-filled golf carts cruising around the island, during the day.

5.  A small Mayan temple is located on the southern tip of the island.

6.  Isla Mujeres was not a village inhabited by Mayans.  Instead, it was a sanctuary dedicated to Ixchel, the Mayan goddess of love and fertility. 

7.  The island was a religious center for the Mayans during the 10th-12 centuries.

8.  Interesting Fact:  The island was formed by ocean currents depositing sediment in one area.  This is why the island's topography is mostly flat and there is an abundance of sand. 

9.  One of the island's most popular attractions is a private home which is shaped like a giant conch shell.  The home is not open to the public, but tourists often stop to photograph the unique structure.

10. Each Summer, whale sharks migrate to the warm waters near Isla Mujeres.  Whale sharks pose no real threat to humans so you can safely swim near them.  During the Summer months, tours to swim with whale sharks, in their natural habitat, are available.        

11. The island is home to sea turtles and, each Summer, the turtles lay their eggs on the beaches of Isla Mujeres.  There is a Turtle Farm on the island that, aside from breeding turtles & caring for ailing turtles, collects the turtle eggs and protects them until they hatch.  At that time, the facility's staff & volunteers help the tiny turtles make their way safely into the ocean.  The Turtle Farm is open to the public and is one of the island's "must-see" attractions.

12. The newest, and most unique, attraction in Cancun & Isla Mujeres is the Underwater Museum.  The museum has 100s of sculptures that have been placed underwater so coral will grow on them.  The sculptures are beautiful and make for interesting snorkeling and diving trips.  There are 3 locations for the museum.  Two are off the coast of Cancun, and the third location is off the western coast of Isla Mujeres.  Snorkeling tours to the Underwater Museum can be booked with Aqua World Cancun, or several other local tour operators.