Isla Mujeres
A tiny car-free island paradise — Playa Norte is one of the world's best beaches, just 20 minutes from Cancun
Explore Isla Mujeres
Click any marker to find out more about each spot.
Things To Do in Isla Mujeres
The best beaches, snorkelling and island experiences near Cancun.
Playa Norte
Playa Norte is consistently rated one of the best beaches in the world — and it's easy to see why. The water is extraordinarily calm and shallow, a brilliant turquoise that is perfect for swimming. The sand is powdery white. The beach is lined with beach bars and restaurants. It's the perfect antidote to the busy Hotel Zone.
Snorkelling & Diving
Isla Mujeres is surrounded by excellent snorkelling and diving. The Garrafon Natural Reef Park at the southern tip of the island has good snorkelling on a natural reef. The MUSA underwater museum — a collection of over 500 life-size sculptures on the seabed — is one of the most extraordinary diving experiences in the world.
Isla Mujeres Town
The town of Isla Mujeres is one of the most charming in Mexico — colourful buildings, car-free streets, excellent restaurants and a relaxed, bohemian atmosphere. The main street (Hidalgo) is lined with restaurants, bars and boutique shops. The town is small enough to explore on foot or by golf cart.
Punta Sur & Garrafon Park
The southern tip of Isla Mujeres is home to the Punta Sur lighthouse and the Garrafon Natural Reef Park. The lighthouse offers panoramic views of the Caribbean. The park has excellent snorkelling, kayaking and zip lines. The cliffs at Punta Sur are dramatic and the views are extraordinary.
Golf Cart Tour
The best way to explore Isla Mujeres is by golf cart — the island is only 8km long and 800m wide, making it easy to circumnavigate in a couple of hours. Golf carts can be hired from the ferry terminal and from several rental shops in town. The coastal road offers stunning views of the Caribbean on both sides.
Isla Mujeres Travel Guide
Isla Mujeres is one of the most beautiful and relaxed places in Mexico — a tiny, car-free island just 20 minutes by ferry from Cancun that feels like a completely different world. The pace of life is slow, the beaches are extraordinary and the atmosphere is genuinely magical.
Playa Norte, at the northern tip of the island, is consistently rated one of the best beaches in the world. The water is extraordinarily calm and shallow — a brilliant turquoise that is perfect for swimming and paddling. The sand is powdery white. The beach is lined with beach bars and restaurants. It's the perfect antidote to the busy Hotel Zone.
The town of Isla Mujeres is one of the most charming in Mexico — colourful buildings, car-free streets, excellent restaurants and a relaxed, bohemian atmosphere. The main street (Hidalgo) is lined with restaurants, bars and boutique shops. The town is small enough to explore on foot or by golf cart.
The snorkelling and diving around Isla Mujeres is excellent. The Garrafon Natural Reef Park at the southern tip of the island has good snorkelling on a natural reef. The MUSA underwater museum — a collection of over 500 life-size sculptures on the seabed — is one of the most extraordinary diving experiences in the world.
The best way to explore the island is by golf cart. The island is only 8km long and 800m wide, making it easy to circumnavigate in a couple of hours. The coastal road offers stunning views of the Caribbean on both sides.
Ferries to Isla Mujeres depart from Puerto Juárez in Cancun every 30 minutes. The crossing takes about 20 minutes. The island makes an excellent day trip from Cancun, but it's also worth staying overnight to experience the island after the day-trippers have left.
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