Isla Mujeres Reviews (Cancun, Mexico)

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

South Point

by gandjwhite

Rapid City, South Dakota

January 27, 2006

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Best of IgoUgo Isla Mujeres—an island polarized. One end (the north end) is more like the “string quartet” version of the island. Here you find the quiet beach, the tranquilizing sun, the lulling of the wind. You can bask on this side for hours ...Read more Isla Mujeres—an island polarized. One end (the north end) is more like the “string quartet” version of the island. Here you find the quiet beach, the tranquilizing sun, the lulling of the wind. You can bask on this side for hours in a dreamy half-awake, half-asleep state of mind. But, if you decide to wake up a little bit and put on your adventure hat it’s off to the opposite side for a little more refreshing exhilaration.

The south end of the island is a bit more like the “drum circle” version of the island. The water surges and pulsates up against the cliff edges. Whirlpools dance and waves crash almost as if marching to the beat of the drum. Although this end of the island serves up a little more in terms of natural awe and wonder, it is no less relaxing than the north end—just in a different way. You are bound to feel more alone on this end. Just you and the sea and the local iguanas which run freely and bask on the warm rocks. You and the coconut vendor who punches the hole in the fruit and inserts a straw for you and then, when your done drinking, cracks it in half so you can enjoy a coconut snack. ($1-$2) Here is where you will catch the best sunset. Here is where you really feel Isla Mujeres. Be sure to walk down past the concrete structure on the point. Take the sidewalk down the bank to the water edge. Here is the best view of the wild sea. It feels like you’ve stepped into some kind of sea-cave netherworld. The water is amazing from this vantage point.

A few tips for your journey to the south end: 1) Bring your sunscreen! You’re completely exposed to the sun once you leave the palms of the north end. 2) Rent the scooter, not the go cart! You can walk faster than the go carts! 3) Make sure you get a coconut. 4) There may be a few venders selling some handicrafts—they’re fun to talk to but I don’t remember them having anything very interesting for sale. But, you might buy something anyway just because. 5) Bring your snorkel gear and stop off beside Garrafon for a real adventure (see my review of Garrafon in this journal).
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From journal Isla Mujeres--Everything Cancun Isn't!!

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

Isla Mujeres Day Trip

by bluevuefam

Charleston, Illinois

July 23, 2005

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Best of IgoUgo Several groups gather at the Aqua World site for several different functions, which can be kind of confusing. You get a free breakfast of fruits, drinks, cereal, etc. Then your group loads onto the boat to ride over to Isla Mujeres, about a ...Read more

From journal A Week in Cancun - One Time Only!

Isla Mujeres

by samer_k

plano, Texas

March 21, 2005

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Best of IgoUgo Isla Mujeres, or "Island of Women": I never really got a good explanation of the basis of the name, but it's a neat island to explore! I have been to the island three times now. Now, you can take a tour or excursion, or you can do what my wife and ...Read more

From journal Cancun Fun, Sun, and Yes, It Is The Caribbean!

Isla Mujeres

by AZGAL

Glendale, Arizona

May 9, 2005

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Garrafon is a reef park on Isla Mujeres. Off-season, they were doing a lot of repairs to the dock, so it was noisy and there was a crowded entrance stairway to the area for snorkeling. It was disappointing snorkeling. There were not as many fish ...Read more

From journal Cancun in December

Isla Mujeres

by xzxangeleyezxzx

Paterson , New Jersey

July 7, 2004

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I booked through my hotel rep. It cost $45 and you get round-trip ferry and get to spend six hours at the Garaffon on Isla Mujeres. You get a buffet lunch and can snorkel ($2 reef fee and you get a snorkel you can keep), kayak, swim, lie in water ...Read more

From journal Caribe Real Resort & Spa( formally Contiental Villas Plaza) and Info On Tours and Clubs

Snorkeling

by telisha

del rio, Texas

May 10, 2004

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We booked this trip through Daniel at the Fiesta Americana Cancun Hotel. It was one of several different ones you can book. One of our party didn't want to snorkel, so we didn't book the all-inclusive one. We still got one that included round-trip ...Read more

From journal Hola and Adios Cancun

Isla Mujeres

by chrisdwood

Herndon, Virginia

May 26, 2003

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This was a joint tour offered by Aqua World and Palace Resorts. The tour boat took us to Isla Mujeres to an all inclusive beach resort on the southeast end of the island with lunch included, a small swimming area with kayaks, floating mattresses, ...Read more

From journal Wonderful Week in Cancun

Isla Mujeres

by misskris

Traverse City, Michigan

August 31, 2005

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The "woman's island" is a jewel about 15 minutes off the coast of old-town Cancun. It is full of shopping, from T-shirt shops to island chic and high-end jewelry. The beaches, though, are what make is such a fun trip. Surrounded by pure white ...Read more

From journal Cancun, Mexico

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