Isla Mujeres : 10 fun things to do
Isla Mujeres: Is it worth a visit?
Isla Mujeres holds a special place in our hearts—it's a small island just off the coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, directly across the water from Cancun. Nestled on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second-longest coral reef system globally, Isla Mujeres boasts turquoise Caribbean waters, pristine white sand beaches, and opportunities for world-class diving and snorkeling.
Many tourists often choose between Isla Holbox and Isla Mujeres. We decided not to make a choice and visit both islands. This turned out to be absolutely the right decision!
Isla Mujeres: How to get here?
There are several places where you can take the ferry to Isla Mujeres. However, there is only one place where you can also take your car on the ferry: Punta Sam. Isla Mujeres is a fairly large island and not cheap, so we find it convenient to have our own transportation on the island.
The most expensive crossings leave from Cancuns hotel zone.
The most popular place is Puerto Juárez, just north of Cancun. Here, you already pay noticeably less than the crossings from the hotel zone. If you want to take a car ferry, you can only depart from Punta Sam, which is about 10 minutes north of Puerto Juárez.
We didn't make a reservation for the ferry; simply being there at least one hour before departure is enough. The fare includes one driver with additional costs for each passenger. We paid 2000 MXN (approximately €100) for a car with a driver and three additional passengers (round trip).
Prices and schedules do change a lot, you can check it here!
Isla Mujeres: 10 fun things to do
1. There's plenty to explore on Isla Mujeres, particularly renowned for its Whale Shark tours due to the shorter sailing distance, making the trip more enjoyable. We booked our tour with Sea Hawk Divers, who provided thorough information and excellent service. Starting early at 7 am with breakfast and seasickness pills, we boarded a small boat with a group of 10. After a four-hour journey, we reached a gathering of boats where we swam with the majestic whale sharks, a National Geographic moment. Despite feeling seasick during the second swim, I managed to capture some great images with my GoPro. Lunch was skipped due to seasickness, but we enjoyed snorkeling at a reef near Isla Mujeres before returning to Playa Norte for another meal and a refreshing beer. It was a fantastic day! You can read the full story in the Mexico itinerary blog!
2. Swimming with Dolphins at Dolphin Discovery: Visit the dolphin encounter center for a unique experience swimming and interacting with these incredible creatures. The cost is over €100, so we opted out to save budget for the rest of our trip. We drove by and noticed it's a bustling place!
​
3. Relaxing on the Beaches: Isla Mujeres boasts stunning beaches like Playa Norte and Playa Garrafón, where you can relax, sunbathe, and swim in crystal-clear waters. These are some of the most beautiful beaches I've seen in my life; the water feels like a warm bath!
​
4. Renting a Golf Cart: While we had our own car, renting a golf cart is popular for exploring the island if you don't have one.
​
5. Kayaking and Paddleboarding: Rent a kayak or paddleboard to explore the calm waters around the island.
​
6. Visiting Isla Mujeres Turtle Farm: Learn about sea turtle conservation efforts and, during nesting season, participate in releasing baby turtles into the ocean. Please note the center is currently closed; reopening later this year is uncertain.
​
7. Exploring Underwater Art: Dive or snorkel to visit the famous MUSA (Underwater Museum of Art), featuring stunning sculptures submerged in the sea.
​
8. Visiting Punta Sur Sculpture Park: Enjoy exceptional ocean views; entry to the park is $10. You can view the sculptures outside the park if you prefer not to enter. Fun fact: the sunrise at Punta Sur is magnificent, as it's the first point in Mexico where the sun rises (most eastern point).
​
9. For Those Who Love Touristy Activities: Try jet skiing, parasailing, or join fishing tours, all widely available on the island.
​
10. Enjoying the good restaurants at the island.
Hi! We are Bart, Kris, Lore and Ruben. We are a family of 5, yes, we also have a dog named Spike.
​
Maybe we can inspire you to explore a bit more of all those beautiful corners of our planet? Go to our trips and find out!