Things to do in Isla Mujeres Reviews (Cancun, Mexico)

Don't go to Isla Mujeres with Aquaworld

Suffolk County, Massachusetts

April 25, 2011

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You are better off taking the ferry. The Aquaworld trip promised a nice ride back and forth, lunch on their private beach, snorkling, and a trip into town. Well it was a BEER cruise, not fit for families, and the loud music over a crappy loudspeaker ...Read more

The sail over was a blast, great party.

by 2712rincon

Mesa County, Colorado

December 29, 2010

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There was so much to do a day was not long enough. A great place to go for all ages, our group was 5 50 something's and 5 20 something's. A great time was had by all. The cliff jumping as awesome, snorkeling for first timer's, kids whatever age ...Read more

An Island, A Buggy and An Adventure!

by dkm1981

Blackburn, England, United Kingdom

February 28, 2010

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Best of IgoUgo Only a fifteen minute ferry ride away from Cancun, Isla Mujeres is a world away from its rather louder and brasher mainland neighbour and despite its popularity amongst day trippers, it offers a quaint and often calming atmosphere against the ...Read more Only a fifteen minute ferry ride away from Cancun, Isla Mujeres is a world away from its rather louder and brasher mainland neighbour and despite its popularity amongst day trippers, it offers a quaint and often calming atmosphere against the stunning backdrop of the Caribbean Sea.

Since it offers fantastic opportunities for snorkelers and scuba divers, as well as those in search of an encounter with dolphins, there are a great number of trips available from mainland Cancun. However I would strongly urge you to explore the island under your own steam – it is certainly cheap enough and easy enough to do so. You can get a ferry every half an hour during the day from three different points in Cancun for a very reasonable $15US return per person.

On disembarking from the ferry, you’ll be greeted by an astonishing number of sellers all offering you ‘fantastic’ and ‘cheaper than anywhere else’ trips to the islands many attractions. Battling through this tiny onslaught will find you in Punta Norte, the island’s main ‘town’, but more on that later. Your first stop should undoubtedly be at one of the shops that rent out golf buggies. There are hundreds of them and finding one close by isn’t difficult.

Now why on earth would I want to hire a golf buggy I hear you cry! Well the short answer is that it is the done thing. The long answer is that it is a cheap, easy and, most importantly, a fun way to get around the island. The island comprises of one main road that circumnavigates it quite nicely and, at any one time, there are up to 500 buggies doing just that! It costs about $25US dollars to hire a buggy for a day and you’ll need to leave some kind of identification as a deposit. For that princely sum, you’ll get the most rickety machine you’ve ever entrusted your life to, a key and a driving lesson that is so quick that you’ll miss it if you blink. It’s not too hard to work out though – there is one forward and one reverse gear as well as two pedals, one that says ‘go’ and the other ‘stop’.

Once you’ve picked up your trusty stead, you are free to explore the islands many great pleasures. Going in a southerly direction, your first stop will be the turtle sanctuary. For an entrance fee of around 50p, you’ll be donating to a worthy cause in the preservation of the endangered sea turtles that are bred for release into the wild. You can see the turtles in varying stages of their lives from the newly hatched babies to the giants that swim in the sea.

On the way back down the little road stop at the ‘Island that Floats on Plastic Bottles’ – it’s a quirky little island that has been built by its rather eccentric owner who’ll take you on a guided tour if he’s around.

Next stop is the Garrafon Park where you can take a swim in the magnificent blue waters, enjoying a little snorkelling if it takes your fancy. For the more adventurous, there is a series of fairly high zip wires to enjoy or you can have a go at ‘snuba’ which is a funny-looking set up that allows you to walk under water.

At the Southern most point of the island is the Sculpture Park and Templo de Ixchel. Another 50p entry fee allows you to wander around the park which showcases various sculptures from artists around the world whilst admiring the absolutely breathtaking views. The Templo de Ixchel is a Maya ruin that has taken a severe battering over time, but the walk around it is an absolute must. You can walk down the side of the cliff to the waters edge where there are now barriers between you and the crashing waves. This in itself is rather unnerving, but well worth it.

Back up the cliff are a selection of cafes and shops, which make it an ideal place for a refreshing ice cream before heading back to the car park where you have the challenge of distinguishing your own buggy from the thirty or so other identical ones! Heading back north along the main road you’ll have to mind the speed bumps which are alarmingly high when you go over them in a golf cart (that incidentally couldn’t possibly reach anything near a high speed). Along here you’ll pass the islands tiny ‘airport’ and a rather ingenious conch shell shaped house. On your right hand side is miles and miles of crystal clear sea. We stopped here for a photo opportunity and I have to say it’s the closest I’ve felt to being stranded in paradise. The miles of white sand are virtual empty and it is truly possible to feel at one with nature.

Continuing along this road will take you back into the main town. Here is the only place where you feel a little intimidated in your little buggy – narrow streets lined with shops criss cross the area and people and cars dominate the roads. Don’t feel too alarmed though, the drivers are obviously accustomed to the buggy and are very considerate of them. The tourists not so much! Stop outside the cemetery and wander around the unnaturally brightly coloured tombstones. I’ve been to a few cemeteries in my time and I have to say that this is the most colourful and clean looking one I’ve ever seen. The graves are covered in what looks like bathroom tiles and it looks more like a children’s play area than the resting place of the island’s dead.

It takes less than an hour to wander the streets of Punta Norte and there are plenty of opportunities to pick up some cheap souvenirs and sample some Maya cuisine before returning your buggy. This in itself is quite a challenge as all the streets are one way and many are pedestrianised – you’ll find yourself feeling like you are in some kind of life-sized logic puzzle before very long!

If you are in Cancun, I can’t recommend a trip to Isla Mujeres enough – it offers a fantastic chance to explore and quaint, beautiful and fun island in the most novel way possible. It is an absolute must visit place for anyone in the area.
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From journal A Holiday In Cancun

1 of the 2 Places to Go in Cancun

by Wizeazzgurl

Union, New Jersey

June 23, 2008

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Isla Mujeres is far different as far as the vendors go.In Cancun, they are disgusting and insulting if you do not buy from them, pushy as heck and when it comes down to it, the deals are not that great to begin with.However, in Isla Mujeres the ...Read more

Different Experience from Cancun

by glendkaplan

Jessup, Maryland

December 21, 2007

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Isla Mujeres is a very nice place. We traveled there from Cancun on a guided tour, which wasn't worth it. The tour operators were more interested in rushing us through the snorkeling and into the tourist trap souvenir shops. The ferry ride back ...Read more

Island Life

by 12CGTV

SAN DIEGO, California

August 21, 2007

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Its inhabitants, mostly fishermen, invite you to join in the simple and pleasant tropical way of life. With its white sand beaches, ideal for sunbathing and watching the sea, it is easy to yield to the temptation of good food, dancing, water sports, ...Read more

From journal Isla Mujeres 2007

North Beach

by 12CGTV

SAN DIEGO, California

August 19, 2007

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I had not been on the island for about two years so this was a big change for this little island. Ixchel Beach Hotel Condominiums, located on Playa Norte, are the newest luxury condominiums on Isla Mujeres. The property is operated as a luxury ...Read more

From journal Isla Mujeres 2007

The Island

by 12CGTV

SAN DIEGO, California

August 19, 2007

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The Island is 8km long, 300m to 800m wide, and 11km off the coast of Cancun. The town of Isla Mujeres is at the island's northern tip, and the ruins of the Mayan temple are at the southern tip.

From journal Isla Mujeres 2007

Isla Las Mujeres

by Mrs. King

Upper Marlboro, Maryland

March 26, 2007

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The fun cruise! Another all day excursion but very good. The crew is hilarious and they work very well together. They kept the crowd engaged and excited about the tours.Isla Las Mujeres is a beautiful small island. There's shopping, ...Read more

From journal Mexico '06

Isla Mujeres

by willowdell

Raleigh, North Carolina

December 27, 2006

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Best of IgoUgo We didn't want to take any of the tour packages for our trip to Isla Mujeres, because they all included so much stuff we weren't interested in. Plus, we always want to save money! We took the bus to the area where the ferries leave. We had to stop ...Read more

From journal Fiesta Americana Cancun

IgoUgo

Isla Mujeres

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User Reviews

Don't go to Isla Mujeres with Aquaworld

The sail over was a blast, great party.

An Island, A Buggy and An Adventure!

1 of the 2 Places to Go in Cancun

Different Experience from Cancun

Island Life

North Beach

The Island

Isla Las Mujeres

Isla Mujeres

Isla Mujeres

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Nearby Things to Do

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Avg. User Rating:

User Reviews

Don't go to Isla Mujeres with Aquaworld

The sail over was a blast, great party.

An Island, A Buggy and An Adventure!

1 of the 2 Places to Go in Cancun

Different Experience from Cancun

Island Life

North Beach

The Island

Isla Las Mujeres

Isla Mujeres