Isla Mujeres Place guide

Silky white-sand beaches, sweeping coastlines, the ruins of a Mayan temple, a turtle sanctuary, and an underwater art museum – do you have enough reasons to visit Isla Mujeres yet? Named “Island of the Women” dedicated to the Maya goddess Ixchel, this island is a small and easy day trip from Cancún’s increasingly concrete jungle. Rent a scooter or golf cart as soon as you get off the ferry, which will power you through all 7 kilometers of road to be traversed here. It may not sound like much, but the place does pack a powerful punch!

Playa Norte is the most visited beach close to the ferry pier on the island’s northern shores. You can choose a spot to chill all morning here or venture further. Rocky cliffs at the edge of the sea will greet you on the southern end of the island, where you will find Mexico’s, Punta Sur. That stands for “South Tip” in relation to Isla Mujeres, but it should be called “East Tip” is the country’s easternmost point!

Garrafon Natural Reef Park is also located on the south, a place for activities such as snorkeling, kayaking, and hiking. It also houses a sculpture garden and the island’s patron goddess Ixchel, housed in temple ruins. There’s also the nearby Tortugranja, a turtle rescue and breeding operation great for educational, family-friendly fun.

Diving: Whale sharks, colorful corals, fascinating wrecks and a shark cave are the underwater highlights of Isla Mujeres. But the most unique of them all? The Museo Subacuático de Arte (MUSA) – a monumental underwater contemporary museum of art! Five-hundred permanent life-sized sculptures reside beneath the surface, aiming to demonstrate the interaction between art and environmental science.