Isla
Mujeres is close to Cancun
The ferry ride to Isla Mujeres is about 15 minutes from Cancun. You can
see the island from Cancun's beaches. Isla Mujeres is very small, and
you can easily see it all in a day trip from Cancun. However, there is
plenty to see for a 2-3 night vacation.
Isla Mujeres is pretty laid back. Locals walk, bike or have golf carts
so their pace of life is slow. There is good shopping in the downtown
area. Isla is not so tiny it doesn't have the basic services, there are
banks, money exchanges, pharmacies, etc.
There aren't many cars on this tiny island. You can rent a bike, moped
(wear your helmet) or golf cart for a full or half day and see most of
what there is to see. Golf cards cost about $50 a day, mopeds $20, bikes
$4. Gomar is a good place to rent, Fco. I. Madero #65, telephone and fax
998 8770604. If you do rent a vehicle, be sure to check it all over and
note any damage with the clerk before checking it out. Also, get the insurance.
There are taxis on Isla Mujeres. You can fly to the island from Playa
del Carmen with Aerosaab.
Food and sleep
There are many hotels within walking distance of the docks. A nice mid
range hotel is the Meson del Bucanero, Hidalgo #11, tel. 998 8770210 fax
998 8770446.
Nautibeach Suites and Town Resort Isla Mujeres is a condominium complex
on Playa Norte. This white sand beach is more than enough for anyone to
enjoy on their vacation. The vacation rentals here are first class, with
a range of unique suites and vacation packages to chose from. tel. 998
845 3467
The Mexico Lindo restaurant is decent for lunch, and the Red Eye Cafe
(Juarez and Mateos) is a super place for breakfast (German run). There
are dozens of other restaurants of all kinds - French, Mexican, seafood,
all natural, bakeries, etc.
Beaches, snorkeling, and pirates
Most of the activity on Isla Mujeres takes place in the many beach clubs.
One is Playa Paraiso tel. 55185802, but they are all similar. Beaches
on the North and West sides are the best for swimming. The eastern and
southern sides are NOT for swimming because there are dangerous currents.
Isla
Mujeres means Island of Women because the Maya used to worship the goddess
Ixchel here. Her temple is located at the southern tip of the island.
There is a lighthouse to climb nearby.
El Garrafon National Park is the
islands most famous attraction. The snorkel park was upgraded by the same
people who built Xel Ha and Xcaret
on the mainland. 988 849 4950. Departure from El Embarcadero at 9:30 and
11 am
As an alternative, you can get a boat from the ferry which will take
you snorkeling just off shore. The current is fast, so you don't have
to swim much, and there are plenty of fish. The reef is a bit mangled
for over use. You have to buy a $1 bracelet to snorkel, which is good
for your whole trip. The money goes to preserve the fish.
You can also visit the sea turtle hatchery further along the road from
9am to 5pm 998 8770595. Divers can visit the Cave of the Sleeping Sharks,
or any number of reefs around the island. There are several dive shops
like Coral
Dive Center and Sea Hawk divers 998 8770296.
At Hacienda Mundaca to walk sandy jungle paths and see the animals from
El Garrafon who are temporarily housed here (crocs and monkeys). Pirate
and slave trader Fermin Mundaca de Marechaja fell in love with a local
18 year old beauty and built the hacienda and magnificent gardens to woo
her. She ran off with a young islander and Mundaca dies of grief and madness.
On the ferry pier you can arrange sport fishing outings or trips to Isla
Controy to visit the bird sanctuary there.
The
Ferries - times change
Note: times are listed differently in different books and brochures,
and can even be different from the ones posted at the ferry. Prices operate
the same way. Be flexible and get there early to ask at the ticket counter,
or have your hotel call ahead to check. It sounds complicated, but is
actually convenient and easy.
The main ferry leaves from Puerto Juarez, just north of Cancun, is supposed
to run every 30 minutes, but sometimes only runs every hour. It takes
less than 30 minutes to get to Isla Mujeres. It costs about $2 (they keep
changing the price, so who really knows). 7am, 8:30am, 9:30am etc. up
until 8:30pm (sometimes later). Depending on demand sometimes they skip
a time and you have to wait another hour. There are bathrooms and luggage
storage at the dock. 998 8770382 or 998 8770618
The
car ferry leaves from Punta Sam at 8am, 11am, 2:45pm, 5:30pm, and 8:15pm.
Passengers can also ride for $1. Cars cost more around $5+. Trips take
about 45 minutes. Tel. 998 8770065
The tourist ferry departs from Cancun's hotel zone at 9:15am, 11:30am,
1:45pm and 3:45pm. The boat dock is at Playa Tortugas near Fat Tuesday's.
Trips take about 30 minutes.
Private boats also dock at Puerto Juarez and will take you over for snorkeling
and leave you on the island, or return you to Cancun. If you have a group
of 4-8 this can save you money over the regular ferry. These boats are
smaller, so the trip takes longer.
There is a small airport on the island with flights on AeroBanana 998
87-25040 or Aerosaab.
They both fly day trips to the Tulum and Chichen Itza ruins, and Aerosaab
flies back and forth to Playa del Carmen.
More
Information
My Isla Mujeres has great local
travel information.
Mundaca Travel
can help you with travel arrangements on Isla Mujeres.
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