A beautiful view of Isla Mujeres from the ocean.
Isla Mujeres is less than half a mile wide and a mere 4 miles long. Nevertheless, it’s a beautiful little tropical destination that sits 5 miles off the coast from Cancun and can easily be reached by taking a 20 minute boat trip from the Mexican mainland. It’s not as popular as neighboring Cozumel but its still a great island to visit. The name Isla Mujeres means “Island of Women” and it got its name because of the large amounts of female statues which were found inside of the Mayan temples when Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba first arrived here in 1557. Today the island is frequented by tourists from all across the world, cruise ship passengers and scuba divers. It’s also become popular for its beautiful main village, colorful fishing boats lined up at the local harbor, Mayan temples and sandy streets lined with restaurants and shops.
The atmosphere on Isla Mujeres is very calm and laid back but that does not mean you won’t have anything to do. You can laze around on the beaches all day long or enjoy any of the following island activities.
Isla Mujeres is known for its white sandy beaches and these very same beaches come with a variety of water activities for you to enjoy. Some of these activities include snorkeling, sailing, kayaking, fishing, swimming with dolphins and lots more. There is also an underwater sculpture museum that has been created by an artist named Jason de Caires.
There are a lot of places on Isla Mujeres where you can rent a golf cart or bike which you can use to make your way around this beautiful Mexican island. Visit places such as the Hacienda Mundaca, Garrafon Park, villages and the Turtle Farm. There are also a number of places on the island where you can attend a few yoga classes.
The island has a few Mayan temples which are famous for their sculptures of women but you won’t find much more than that here. However, if you want to explore a couple of Mayan ruins then head to the Mexican mainland and explore the ruins found along the Yucatan Peninsula coast such as Xcaret, Tulum and various others. Nearby Cozumel island also holds a number of Mayan ruins.
Isla Mujeres is a great island but why limit yourself when it’s so close to many other islands? There are two other islands situated a few miles north from Mujeres – Isla Holbox and Isla Contoy. Isla Holbox is a famous fishing destination while Isla Contoy is known for its bird sanctuary. Isla Contoy is uninhabited and they only allow a small number of visitors per day so it’s advised to make your booking ahead of time.
The weather is warm and pleasant for most of the year, however the island is in the Caribbean and the region gets its fair share of hurricanes during the hurricane season.
Isla-Mujeres.net: Isla-Mujeres.net is regarded as the official website of this Mexican island destination. Get more information here.
Isla Mujeres on Fodor’s: Visit fodors.com to read more about where to go, what to do and where to stay on Isla Mujeres.
