Things to do in Isla Mujeres
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Isla Mujeres
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Peak weather, dry and sunny, peak prices. Christmas, New Year and Semana Santa sell out.
Shoulder sweet spot, crowds and prices drop, heat builds and whale sharks open in June.
Whale shark peak and summer peak, serious heat and routine afternoon thunderstorms.
Low season, lowest prices and highest weather risk, hurricane season peaks and September is wettest.
Quiet bargain, hurricane risk recedes, prices stay low until Thanksgiving and water stays warm.
What's on
- Annual Handline Barracuda Tournament Late January
Charity fishing fixture in late January.
- Carnaval February, pre-Lent
Colourful family oriented Carnaval in the plaza, with Dia de la Candelaria in February.
- Dia de la Marina 1 June
Festival honouring sailors, a genuinely local celebration.
- Whale Shark Festival Mid-July
Parades, conservation talks and street food in Centro in serious heat.
- Independence Day 15-16 September
Festive plaza celebrations for Independence Day.
- Hanal Pixan / Dia de Muertos 1-2 November
Altar exhibitions in the square blending Maya Day of the Dead tradition with family events.
Best things to do in Isla Mujeres
Playa Norte
Calm shallow turquoise water and white sand, best early morning or after 4:30pm before day boats peak.
Punta Sur
Cliffs, sculpture garden and Ixchel temple at the easternmost point in Mexico, go at opening for light.
MUSA - Museo Subacuático de Arte
Over 500 coral encrusted sculptures in shallow water, snorkel the gallery or dive it with Manchones.
Hidalgo Street
Evening wander past restaurants, bars and the plaza between the ferry dock and Playa Norte.
Women's Beading Cooperative
Local women sell their own beadwork here, the shopping stop reviewers actually endorse on the island.
Whale Shark Snorkel
June to mid September aggregation offshore, two swimmers at a time with a guide, no cages or touching.
Kin Ha
Garden ocean club with kayaks, pools, rope swings and slides, the active beach club day on the cart loop.
Garrafón de Castilla
Small cheap snorkel beach club with calm clear water and many fish, best value shore snorkelling.
Where to stay in Isla Mujeres
Playa Norte / north end
first trip, all-round base
Beach and Hidalgo restaurants within a five minute walk, no cart or night taxi needed.
Centro
best value base
Ferry, cheapest eating and evening town at your door, five to ten minutes from Playa Norte.
West coast mid-island / Sac Bajo
quiet, couples, second trips
Sunset road with private beach and dock access and real privacy, at the cost of taxi dependence.
South end / Punta Sur
resort-anchored luxury
Cliffs, sunrise and Garrafon next door, town only by vehicle, book as a resort holiday.
Mid-island colonias (La Gloria)
long-stay rentals only
Residential and authentic with superb local restaurants, but no beach and unlit roads at night.
Think twice about
- Ferry-dock / Hidalgo tout gauntlet
Tour, timeshare and cart upsell pitches concentrate here. Stay two streets back and it largely disappears.
- East-coast windward properties marketed as beachfront
Rocky coast with rough surf and dangerous swimming, a dramatic view not a beach holiday. Map check before booking.
- Mainland Playa Mujeres / Costa Mujeres listings sold as Isla Mujeres
Large all inclusives north of Cancun are a ferry ride away from the island, not walkable to Playa Norte.
- Deep mid-island rentals without transport arranged
No beach and few lit walking routes back at night, and taxi supply thins late. Fine only with a cart.
Best restaurants in Isla Mujeres
Limón
Small candlelit garden grill in La Gloria, arguably the island best dinner, cash only and reserve ahead.
Olivia
Mediterranean dinner in a lantern lit courtyard one street off Hidalgo, Moroccan fish and tapas stand out.
Lola Valentina
Creative Caribbean Mexican cooking and the island best cocktails, plus a breakfast worth a separate trip.
Los Tacos de Humo
Small casual taqueria for creative fish tacos and house salsas, arrive before the lunch peak.
Lonchería La Lomita
Home style Mexican cooking in the residential middle, like dinner at a Mexican grandmother house.
Mercado Municipal Isla Mujeres
Market loncherias serve cochinita, panuchos and juices early, cheapest authentic breakfast on the island.
Playa Lancheros
Beach restaurant famous for tikin xic, whole fish in achiote and sour orange grilled slowly, lunch only pace.
Mango Café
Island favourite breakfast room for stuffed poblano and coconut French toast on a patio.
Best bars in Isla Mujeres
La Isla Brewing Co.
The island only brewery, known for hibiscus beer, a casual stop on the Centro wander.
The Joint Isla Mujeres
Reggae bar for frozen mojitos on the cart loop, the standard southbound afternoon stop.
Fayne's Bar and Grill
Waterfront live music evenings, a recurring local pick for sunset drinks and bands.
Tiny Gecko
Live music bar with happy hour and Caribbean view, listed among the island recurring music venues.
Outdoor things to do in Isla Mujeres
Playa Mujeres Golf Club
Greg Norman 18 holes through mangroves and lagoons on the mainland, a ferry plus taxi day from the island.
Whale Shark Tour Isla Mujeres
Licensed small group boats run an hour offshore in season, book early in the stay for weather reruns.
Isla Contoy National Park
Protected uninhabited island capped at 200 visitors a day, with birds, trails, beach and reef snorkel.
Manchones Reef
Two tank dive pairing MUSA sculptures with aquarium like Manchones Reef, turtles, rays and dense fish.
El Farito
Shallow easier reef snorkel by the lighthouse by local boat, the everyday mid price water staple.
Garrafón Natural Reef Park
Big commercial park with reef snorkel, kayaks and a zip line over the water, book only for the full day.
Ceviche Tours
Family run charter for sportfishing and whale sharks, with catch cooked as ceviche on the beach.
East Malecón
Sunrise walk or run on the east malecon and first light in Mexico, for looking not swimming.
Best hotels in Isla Mujeres
Impression Isla Mujeres by Secrets
Top luxury adults only all inclusive on the southern cliffs, reached by private catamaran from mainland.
Almare, a Luxury Collection Resort, Isla Mujeres, All-Inclusive
Other south end luxury pick with sunrise views and Garrafon access, town only by vehicle.
Zoëtry Villa Rolandi Isla Mujeres Cancun
Small boutique all inclusive on Sac Bajo lagoon with private beach and the classic Casa Rolandi dining.
Privilege Aluxes Isla Mujeres Hotel
Adults only all inclusive one minute from Playa Norte and walkable to Centro, default luxury first trip.
Ixchel Beach Hotel
Classic condo style beachfront directly on Playa Norte, best value true beachfront stay on the island.
Mía Reef Isla Mujeres
All inclusive on its own islet off Playa Norte by wooden bridge, with sheltered Kings Pool swimming.
Izla Beach Front Hotel
Larger modern west coast hotel with two pools and sunsets, south end calm at a mid range price.
Selina Isla Mujeres
Famous hostel with dorms and privates, coworking, yoga and Pocna Dive Center, the social solo base.
Is Isla Mujeres expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | MX$1,250 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | MX$2,800 a person |
| Splurge | MX$6,000 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- MUSA - Museo Subacuático de Arte: weeks ahead
- Whale Shark Snorkel: weeks ahead
- Golf Cart Island Loop: a few days ahead
- Playa Mujeres Golf Club: weeks ahead
- Whale Shark Tour Isla Mujeres: weeks ahead
- Isla Contoy National Park: weeks ahead
- Manchones Reef: weeks ahead
- El Farito: a few days ahead
- Whale sharks book days ahead in July and August and go early in the stay. Contoy book a week or more ahead.
- Limon and Lolo Lorena reserve when you book your hotel. North end hotels need 2 to 3 weeks ahead in peak.
- Golf carts sell out mid December to Easter, reserve ahead in peak season.
Is Isla Mujeres safe?
- East coast and Punta Sur are not swimmable. Swim north and west and obey flags.
- Golf carts are the main injury vector: sober driver, licence carried, photograph the cart before leaving.
- Much older plumbing cannot take toilet paper, use the bins provided. Arrange transport back from mid island dinners.
Isla Mujeres travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Playa Norte beach club chair trap: ask if there is a separate chair fee or it is 100 percent minimum consumption.
- Dock and Hidalgo tour pitches and half price whale shark or Contoy offers are unlicensed until proven otherwise.
- Check marine park wristband is included and the boat is permitted by the Capitania de Puerto before boarding.
Getting around Isla Mujeres: public transport and more
- Ultramar ferry from Puerto Juarez in Cancun runs about every 30 minutes, 20 to 25 minutes crossing.
- Walk Centro and Playa Norte. Rent a golf cart for one loop day only. Agree taxi fares before you get in.
Who Isla Mujeres suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Great |
| Couples | Great |
| Bachelor parties | Good |
| Families | Good |
| Bachelorette parties | Great |
Make Isla Mujeres your trip
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