Among all the amazing things you can do if you travel to Cancun, visiting Isla Mujeres is a must!
This small island located a few kilometers from the pristine shores of CancunIn the state of Quintana Roo, Isla Mujeres is one of the main favorite destinations for beach lovers.
Whether you decide to stay for a couple of days or just visit it on a day trip, you will fall in love with the island. In this post I will tell you Isla Mujeres opinions and if it is really worth it.
Although it has become a super touristy place with shops and infrastructure to welcome a swarm of tourists every day, Isla Mujeres has not lost its original charm of the lazy small town Mexican Caribbean.
The town of Isla Mujeres is tiny, with a few houses around the main street and many noisy street vendors, colorful souvenir shops and restaurants.
If you move along the south coast, you will arrive at the southern tip of the island on the rocky shorewhile on the opposite side is the popular beach North Beach.
On the famous beach, you can enjoy the typical Soft white Caribbean sand beach lined with palm trees and bathed by the turquoise blue sea.
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If you have spent your Mexican vacation in the Yucatan Peninsula checking out the Mayan ruins and learning about the local history, then you should definitely visit Isla Mujeres, one of the best places to spend some time on the beach and enjoy the warm turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea.
Be sure to bring your snorkel gear, as it is the perfect place to enjoy the marine life and nearby coral reefs, as well as a very unique underwater art museum.
The beautiful Isla Mujeres is only 20 minutes by ferry from the coast of Cancun. In this post, you will also find information on how to get there.
I'll tell you all about the island, its beautiful beaches, snorkeling in Isla Mujeres, and fun things to do in a bit, but the first thing to clarify is the name.
Why is it called Isla Mujeres?
The island was discovered by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba in 1517.
In pre-Hispanic times the island was dedicated to Ixchel, the Mayan goddess of the Moon, love and fertility, and believers brought offerings in female forms and left them on the beaches.
When the Spanish conquistadors arrived and found these female figures, they named the island Isla Mujeres.
Isla Mujeres Reviews
We understand that just reading this post is not enough to decide whether or not it is worth visiting the island. In In this link you will find opinions of other travelers about Isla Mujeres. It is always good to read opinions and experiences of other travelers.
At a glance we can see that the opinions of Isla Mujeres are very positive. 755 opinions and Tripadvisor with almost 5 stars on average.
The 13 Best Things to Do in Isla Mujeres
rent a golf cart
The first is the first, rent a golf cart or a mountain bike so you can tour the island. There are only about 21 km to go around it completely and it is 4 km wide.
golf cart rental It's very common on the island, not only because you can't rent a normal car, but also because driving golf carts is much more fun.
You can go around the whole island in 30 minutes if you don't stop, but for what, right? It was just to give you an idea of how small the island is.
Rental companies are usually in town near the ferry dock.
eat on the beach
If you head towards the southern tips, you will find on your right a few restaurants on the beach where you can relax and have lunch there. But the best beaches are on the north side, particularly north beach (North Beach) and Playa del Sol.
If you stay at one of the luxurious beach clubs on Isla Mujeres, you will be able to enjoy all the amenities they offer, including lying on a lounger instead of on the beach
A great option is Zama Beach Club. I haven't been, but it has great reviews and lots of people rave about it. So I thought I'd share it
Pay a visit to the Ixchel statue in Punta Sur, you never know..
In the same southern tip of Isla Mujeres, you can admire the Ixchel statue, the goddess of fertility in Mayan history, and a sculpture garden right on the cliff where you can admire some incredible views, including a magnificent sunset or sunrise, since being on the far edge you can have both .
Spend a full day of adventures in the Garrafón
👉 If you come from Cancun you can book in advance your full-day VIP access to El Garrafón natural park with ferry included
Book through VIATOR
We recommend that if you want to book a tour or activity on the island, you do so with Viator. In this post you will find all the information about this excellent platform for booking tours and activities.
In addition to Viator we also use other platforms, Get Your Guide i Civitatis (especially in Spanish) are very good options for booking activities.
You can read this article from how Get Your Guide works and its prices. The same with Civitatis, the best platform for activities in Spanish and Free Tours in cities.
El Garrafón is a park located in the southern part of the island, near Punta Sur, on a beautiful and rugged coast with incredible places to snorkel, but also offers many other services such as zip lining, biking, kayak, but also great food and drinks.
It is a very popular attraction in Isla Mujeres, but I was tempted not to include it in this post because they do the infamous activity of swimming with dolphins, which I do not want to support, since I believe that dolphins should not be responsible for our entertainment, but swim freely in the ocean
So I hope you don't sign up for that activity 🙂
Admire spectacular views of the eastern side of the island
On the way back you can walk the eastern side of the island where you can find a few small beaches, but swimming is not recommended because it is open sea with crazy currents.
Immerse yourself in the Underwater Museum of Art (MUSA)
👉 I recommend that you book your amazing MUSA diving experience in advance to make sure you can choose the day you prefer.
Book through VIATOR
Gonna diving in the underwater museum, one of the most popular activities in Isla Mujeres. Is called Muse and it is, in effect, an underwater installation made up of statues by different artists in order to promote conservation
It's a spectacular scene and being in such shallow water, you can dive there even if you're not certified. You can also book this excursion from Cancun at one of the dive shops of your choice
It is not necessary to be in Isla Mujeres to immerse yourself in the muse.
See the unmissable North Beach
Playa Norte is one of the most popular beaches on Isla Mujeres and, let me say it, one of the most beautiful with white sand Mexico's beaches.
Spending some time sunbathing on Playa Norte, relaxing on the beach and swimming in the calm crystal clear waters is a must. It is only a 10 minute walk from the ferry terminal, on the left hand side.
Playa Norte is probably more attractive than the Riviera Maya beaches for its calm waters and its green and turquoise tones.
I recommend that you stay until the sun sets behind the city of Cancun coloring the sky with all shades of orange, pink and yellow.
Swim with the whale sharks
👉 Are you planning to join a whale shark tour? I recommend you book in advance to make sure you don't miss out.
If you are here between June and September, you will have the opportunity to sign up for one of the most incredible experiences of your life. Swim with the whale sharks It is possible in Mexico, either from Cancun, Women Island, Holbox, or also from Lower California.
Spend a night on the island
Spend at least one night on Isla Mujeres and hang out in the small town, which comes alive with music and good food as soon as the sun sets behind the sea. There is a good variety of restaurants of all types and tastes to choose from and a wide variety of boutique hotel or Airbnb options.
Here are a couple of accommodation options in Isla Mujeres to make planning easier
- Economic option: Posada Paso del Sol -Check rates and availability at booking.com
- mid-range option Isla Caracol – Check rates and availability at booking.com
- Deluxe option: Zoetry Villas – Check rates and availability atbooking.com
Watch the sunset from Playa Norte
The perfect way to say good night to a beautiful day in Isla Mujeres. If Playa Norte is too crowded, visit the less populated Playa Sol for a quieter experience
Take one of the Isla Mujeres snorkel excursions
If you like water, you must do the activity snorkeling in Isla Mujeres and explore the underwater world, swim among tropical fish and sea turtles next to the coral reef, or explore the famous underwater museum.
👉 RESERVE YOUR PLACE! Book in advance your snorkeling excursion in Isla Mujeres with this company is highly valued
Diving from Isla Mujeres
For the more experienced, it is possible to dive from Isla Mujeres. I suggest you contact local dive shops directly to explore dive sites and make a plan.
Is Isla Mujeres safe for a woman traveling alone?
The short answer is: "Yes, it is." If you're worried about traveling alone As a single female, don't worry. Isla Mujeres is a small and relatively safe island.
With all the bars and hostels, it's very easy to meet like-minded people on the same trip, if you want to of course. Or you can just enjoy the island on your own without being disturbed.
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Then, as always, common sense rules apply like anywhere in the world. So as I usually say, be nice but not naive 🙂
You can definitely do all the following activities alone without any problem. You can read about other common sense rules that apply to be safe when traveling in Mexico.
How to get to Isla Mujeres
👉 If you like things easy, book your land+ferry transfer from wherever you are through this comfortable platform
How to get to Isla Mujeres from Cancun on the Isla Mujeres Ferry
If you want to go to Isla Mujeres on your own, which I always recommend, here are the best ways to do it.
First of all, you must arrive at the ferry terminals (see below) either from your hotel or from the Cancun airport. I suggest you take a taxi, it's faster.
The Isla Mujeres ferry runs quite frequently throughout the day and from different terminals from 7 in the morning to 11:30 at night.
The ferry ride takes only 20 minutes and is worth it for the ride itself. The views of the turquoise water as you approach the island are simply stunning. Here are the different terminals:
- Puerto Juarez – There are different ferry terminals from Puerto Juárez, but the most comfortable and modern is Ultramar. You cannot miss visiting it and it is the most practical place to get to Isla Mujeres if you arrive at the terminal in your own car, since it is where you can easily find a parking space, either inside the terminal (a little more expensive). or just outside.
You can join a tour or get to Isla Mujeres on your own by ferry, which I recommend so you are free to enjoy the island at your own pace.
Here are the places from which you can take the ferry. Click on the links to check their schedules and prices.
Hotel zone (Cancun hotel zone) – In the hotel zone you can find 3 terminals from which you can take your ferry to Isla Mujeres.
They have more or less the same hours. If you are staying in one of the hotels in the Hotel Zone, you should definitely check out of one of them
It is a little more expensive than the ferry from Puerto Juárez, but it is closer and you can get there by bus. You can get on any bus that runs through the hotel zone and tell them where you are going. They will tell you when it is time to get off.
How to get to Isla Mujeres from Tulum
Whether you come from Tulum, Mérida or Playa del Carmen, you will have to arrive in Cancun, from where you will catch the ferry at one of the mentioned departure points.
From Tulum, you have two public transportation options: by bus (ADO), direct to Cancun, or by Colectivo, which you change in Playa del Carmen.
If not, you can take a taxi for around 800 MXN, more expensive but more comfortable. It takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes by ADO, and 2 hours by Colectivo. 1h 30″ by taxi.
Consultation How to go from Cancun to Tulum to Cancun in detail.
How to get to Isla Mujeres from Playa del Carmen
From Playa del Carmen you will have to get to Cancun first and then to the Cancun Marinas to catch the ferry. Take the bus or the Colectivo from Playa del Carmen to Cancun ADO station and then a taxi to the ferry.
You will always find a taxi to take you and bring you from the Ferry to the bus station. Be sure to negotiate the price beforehand.
Read more about how to get to Isla Mujeres from Cancun
Excursions to Isla Mujeres from Cancun
There are quite a few interesting day trips to Isla Mujeres from Cancun, either on a catamaran or on a private yacht.
They are like guided excursions organized by different local tour operators where you usually enjoy a little snorkeling in the bright blue water off the coast of Isla Mujeres, but you also have some free time to enjoy the island on your own.
I recommend you check the previous reviews before you book yours.
Some excursions also combine Isla Mujeres with Isla Contoy, another spectacular uninhabited island, a protected national park and natural paradise.
👉 Pre-book one of the top-rated day trips to Isla Mujeres!
How to get around Isla Mujeres
Getting around Isla Mujeres is very easy. You can rent a golf cart or a bike and take a nice tour of the island. Remember to bring water, especially in the humid summer season, but especially throughout the year you will have to stay hydrated.
You can also ask your hotel concierge or reception to book it for you, as they usually have the best deals.
If you are near the city, it is best to walk to the beach, since everything is within walking distance, including the ferry terminals.
Bicycles and golf carts are needed if you want to explore the island and see other beaches on the coast or try different restaurants.
What is the best time to visit Isla Mujeres?
In general, I think that it is always a good time to visit Isla Mujeres, however, there are some things that you should know in order to better decide when is the best time to go to Isla Mujeres for you.
winter months, from December to April, It is the high season, Easter week being the high season, when the prices are higher and the places are more crowded, but the water is cooler.
In the summer months instead, the prices are lower and you will find warm waters for swimming in the Caribbean Sea. Ironically, it is also less crowded, except in July and August, when there is no school.
From September to the end of October there is more chance of rain and even hurricanes, although they are rare.
Summer is also the season of the whale shark for those who are passionate about wildlife and encounters with whales.
Where to stay in Isla Mujeres
Secret Hotel
Your most elegant hideaway on the island, a design hotel, simple, chic, elegant, and right on the beach, just a few minutes walk from the beautiful Playa Norte.
Secret Hotel It has it all, quiet, simple, with amazing views, exceptional service and close to the city and beaches.
The delicious breakfast is also served in its spacious and contemporary rooms, which include a sofa, an iPod docking station and a plasma TV.
And if you want to end the day with a relaxation massage, you can also enjoy the hotel's spa service. The Secret Hotel has been selected by Conde Nast Traveler magazine as one of the 50 best new hotels in the world
Check the prices in booking.com Yo hotel.com
Zoetry Villa Rolandi – all inclusive in Isla Mujeres
Among the all-inclusive hotels, I would definitely choose the Zoetry Casa Rolandi. It is one of the best hotels in Isla Mujeres
I have not seen this property since it was renamed, but I know the brand very well, which belongs to AM resorts, a guarantee of quality among the Best All-Inclusive Resorts.
In addition, you can enjoy turquoise views in front of the beach and the tranquility of a small boutique hotel, something rare to find among this type of properties.
If you are looking for tranquility and plan to not leave the complex during your stay, this is the place for you.
Check the prices in booking.com Yo hotel.com
Icaco island town
The island town of Icaco is what I call relaxed luxury; cozy, minimalist and sexy.
Although it is not located right on the beach, it still offers great views of the ocean on the eastern coast of the island and the concierge will arrange everything for you: excursions, a romantic dinner, a private chef or whatever you need.
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The elegant interior design of the rooms and public areas combines modern polished white concrete furniture and bedding with homely wood decorations and finishes and artwork.
The inviting rooftop terrace and pool add to the elegant style of the property.
Check the prices in booking.com Yo hotel.com
Find a house for rent in Isla Mujeres
Sometimes I like to rent a place by myself, especially a whole house, or an apartment because I love to go shopping and cook my own food with fresh vegetables and also because I have more privacy.
Renting an apartment is the perfect solution.
I have selected the most beautiful Airbnb in Isla Mujeres and other magnificent apartments for different price ranges to help you find the best home for your vacation in Mexico.
Also, you can browse the map below to compare prices and select your venue by location.
Visit Isla Mujeres FAQ
How much is the ferry from Cancun to Isla Mujeres?
The round-trip ticket to Isla Mujeres costs 300 MXN (Mexican pesos), and the one-way ticket 160 MXN for adults from 15 years old or over 120 cm tall, younger children have a discount.
You can pay in cash (MXN or USD) or by credit card. You can check the the schedule here.
Is it possible to take a car to Isla Mujeres?
Yes it is possible, but only from the Punta Sam ferry service, located just a 10 minute drive north of Puerto Juarez. You can check the price and schedules.
You will have to arrive at least one hour before departure and buy the ticket before boarding.
However, keep in mind that it is not recommended to bring a rental car to Isla and that it is a useless and time consuming hassle.
Parking on the island is very limited and it is much more pleasant to take a golf cart or bike to get around the island and walk around the small town.
What is the weather like in Isla Mujeres?
The weather in Isla Mujeres is exactly what you would expect from a Caribbean climate, perfect for long sun-drenched days, boat excursions, and water sports activities.
In Isla Mujeres it is summer all year round. The only thing to be aware of is the high humidity levels in the wet season, from June to October.
That means there is more rain, but it will only be a quick, passing shower that will make your day hotter and more humid when the sun comes back :)
So make sure you pack lightly, but always carry a strong sunscreen, better if it is ecological.
That is all for now! I hope this guide has helped you, let me know if you have any questions! I'll be happy to help you!
¡Vaya, qué sorpresa! ¡No puedo creer que Isla Mujeres sea tan hermosa! ¡Definitivamente vale la pena visitarla! 😍🐠🏝️ #ParaísoEnLaTierra
¡Totalmente de acuerdo! Isla Mujeres es un verdadero paraíso en la Tierra. Sus playas de aguas cristalinas y su encanto natural son simplemente impresionantes. Sin duda, es un destino que vale la pena visitar y disfrutar al máximo. ¡No esperes más para conocerlo! 🌴🌊🐚
¡Me encantaría visitar Isla Mujeres para hacer snorkel y alquilar un carrito de golf! ¿Alguien ha estado allí? ¿Qué opinan? #IslaMujeresOpiniones
Isla Mujeres es un paraíso para los amantes del snorkel y la exploración en carrito de golf. ¡No te lo puedes perder! He estado allí y lo recomiendo al 100%. #IslaMujeresOpiniones
¡Isla Mujeres es un paraíso! Merece la pena visitarlo y disfrutar del snorkel. ¡Vamos a alquilar un carrito de golf y a explorar!
No entiendo por qué tanto alboroto por Isla Mujeres. Hay muchos destinos de playa mucho más impresionantes y emocionantes que visitar. No me convences con tu entusiasmo.
¡Me encantó Isla Mujeres! Las playas y el snorkel son increíbles. ¡Definitivamente vale la pena visitar!