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Isla Mujeres
What to do in Isla Mujeres
Beaches
There are beaches all around the Isla Mujeres, though the major ones are on the north and west shores. Calm, turquoise waters and soft white sands make them ideal for sunning, swimming, and snorkeling. The north side's most popular and crowded beach is Playa Norte. Playa Paraiso, Playa Lanchero and Playa Indios are more secluded beaches located on the west side, mid-island near Hacienda Mundaca. These Isla Mujeres beaches feature open-air palapa restaurants, gift shops, bathrooms, chairs and opportunities to rent beach toys, kayaks, snorkeling gear, chairs and umbrellas.
Garrafon National Park
Named for an incredible reef formation and part of the longest reef in the hemisphere, Garrafon National Park is the island's main attraction. Its spectacular cliffs offer the highest elevation in the Yucatan, not to mention dazzling views of the island surroundings. The gentle currents of the Garrafon make swimming and snorkeling easy. Facilities (pool, sea platforms, deck chairs and palapas), life vests, inner tubes, kayaks and binoculars are all included in the entrance fee.
Scuba Diving and Snorkeling
The scuba diving and snorkeling around the Isla Mujeres are unforgettable. The Manchones Reef begins just off the Isla Mujeres shore, with the Cuevones and Banderes Reefs close by. The waters are calm and clearùperfect for beginners as well as advanced divers. A special dive site features the Cruz de la Bahia (Bay Cross), which planted into the Manchones Reef in 1994 as a tribute to the men and women of the sea. Every August, divers celebrate the founding of Isla Mujeres with a mass dive on this spot. The Cave of the Sleeping Sharks is also a favorite, where divers can explore a deep underwater cave filled with sleeping sharks.
Isla Mujeres Turtle Farm
Isla Mujeres offers protected grounds for giant sea turtles to lay their eggs from May through September. The eggs are placed in pens and kept from predators. The newly hatched turtles are placed in tanks until they are released into the wild by local school children. The Isla Mujeres Turtle Farm is located on Sac Bajo and is funded by the Mexican Government and donations.
The Mayan Temple and Lighthouse
The Mayan temple of Isla Mujeres is dedicated to Ixchel, the Mayan Goddess of Fertility. For centuries, Mayan women came to the island on pilgrimages to visit the temple and seek Ixchel's help. The temple was also used to send signals to the mainland. The adjacent lighthouse marks the southern tip of the island. The keeper occasionally allows visitors to climb to the top, which affords spectacular views.
Daytrip to Cancun
Directly across the gentle Bahia de Mujeres awaits Cancun, Mexico's most visited destination. Ferries transport curious tourists back and forth from Isla Mujeres for ecological adventures to Xel-Há and Xcaret and for Mayan discoveries such as Tulum and Chichen Itza. Cancun bustles day and night, drawing visitors to its action-packed beaches, top-notch restaurants and renowned bars and clubs. Scuba divers flock to the Yucatan's shore to experience one of the world's largest barrier reefs (second only to Australia's Great Barrier Reef), while golfers indulge in one of Cancun's championship golf courses.