If you travel to the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, a trip to Isla Mujeres is a must. This small Caribbean island is something out of a movie, with turquoise waters and white-sand beaches. Below is my experience visiting the island, followed by some tips for your trip.
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Just a 20-minute ferry ride from Cancún, Mexico, there’s a little island called Isla Mujeres. The “Island of Women” is known for a variety of things, including amazing shades of blue water, an underwater museum, snorkeling spots, and the fact that it was a sanctuary for a Maya goddess.
On the third day of our tour of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, we hopped on the ferry to Isla Mujeres. We had no plan except lying on a beach and swimming in the turquoise waters.
I didn’t do my usual research, so we didn’t know what to expect. We thought we would just have a chill day. It turned out to be everything but that.
You can find practical info about visiting Isla Mujeres on a day trip from Cancún at the end of the article. I also included a selection of guided tours you can book online. If you don’t want to go through the whole article and just want my top tour recommendation, this would be it:
Join a boat trip with locals
Our plan for a relaxing day got ruined the second we set foot outside the port on the island and realized everyone was trying to sell us a boat tour around Isla Mujeres.
We were determined to ignore them until someone behind us shouted, “It’s usually 800 pesos, but for you, I’ll make it 400”. We didn’t really believe it was a special price just for us, but we stopped. After a quick calculation, we realized 400 pesos was a great deal, so we asked for more information.
Five minutes later we were sitting on a bench, waiting for the tour to start. On top of the boat ride, we would go snorkeling, visit the Underwater Museum of Art, have lunch, and relax on a beach.
The history and legends of Isla Mujeres
The first stop was Playa Norte, on the island’s northern tip. On the way there, our guides told us the story of the island, and how it got the name Isla Mujeres.
Turns out the island has quite a long history. I was part of the Maya province of Ekab 1500 years ago. Back then, the island was sacred to the Mayans and a sanctuary for Ixchel, the Maya goddess of the moon, fertility, medicine, and happiness. Francisco Fernández de Córdoba discovered the island in 1517. According to the legend, when he arrived on the island, he found it inhabited only by women. Hence the name of Isla Mujeres, or the Island of Women.
Another legend has it that women who bathe in the waters of Playa Norte would get pregnant with twins. When our boat stopped offshore, we ignored the legend and jumped into the warm, shallow water, gazing fascinated at the variety of shades of blue. The turquoise and cyan blue near the shore abruptly shifted to dark shades of blue towards the open sea.
Snorkeling near Isla Mujeres
After some sunbathing and enjoying the tepid water, we hopped back on the boat. We sailed towards our next stop, a snorkeling spot.
It was my first time snorkeling, and after struggling to figure out how the breathing tube worked, I gave up and dunked my face into the water with only the glasses on. I tried holding my breath as much as possible while trying to spot the fish speeding right below the surface.
The water was so transparent that we could see the fish without dipping. But underwater, there was a whole new world. Dozens of tiny fish graciously swam right below the surface. Most of them were silver and yellow with black stripes. I later discovered they had a funny name: Sergeant Major.
The Underwater Museum of Art
But the trip highlight was yet to come, and it would challenge me quite a bit. Before the trip to Isla Mujeres, I didn’t do my research accordingly, so I didn’t know exactly what to expect from the Underwater Museum of Art (aka MUSA – Museo Subacuático de Arte).
Our guide had shown us a picture of the underwater statues when he was selling us the trip. At the time, I hadn’t fully realized that meant I had to jump into the open ocean to see them.
We had a bumpy ride on the way to the museum. Our boat jumped over the waves, splashes of water soaking us, the chilly wind adding to the sense of unease at the idea of jumping in the water. I was shivering, my soaked towel sticking to my skin as I internally debated whether the museum would be worth the swim in the cold, rough sea.
My pride saved me. I didn’t want to be the only loser staying on the boat, so I just jumped in the cold water, my phone in a plastic pouch to take pictures underwater. The act of courage was soon rewarded by the sights lying under my nervously flapping feet. I never knew I could hold my breath so long underwater. Truthfully, I never even tried. But for once, it was worth the effort.
Hundreds of statues covered the bottom of the ocean and somehow didn’t seem at all out of place. Every now and then, a colorful little fish would glide away. Among the sculptures, I could see divers swimming gracefully. I stared in awe, only resurfacing when I needed oxygen, and dumped my face right back under.
A home-cooked meal on Isla Mujeres
In a remote corner of the island, there’s a small beach with a huge dining area. We soon realized it must be where all the locals offering boat tours bring the people for lunch. There were long tables crowded with people eating grilled fish.
We joined our table and devoured a late lunch, famished from the long morning out at sea. It was a simple and delicious meal, the kind of home-cooked food you would enjoy with family on a Sunday.
Enjoy the little things and be spontaneous
After the boat tour, we stopped to watch the sunset on a nearly deserted beach close to the port. Watching the sun go down beyond a few clouds hovering just above the horizon, I felt so grateful for the unexpected turn of the day.
The ocean was a flat, shiny surface, with shy little waves lazily washing over the shore. I felt my face burning from a whole day spent in and out of the water. The sun was now just a tiny orange arch under that cloud, sinking fast into the ocean. I thought back to how the day could have gone in a whole different direction, had we followed our plan. And I’m so happy we didn’t. Spontaneously joining that boat tour of Isla Mujeres allowed us to see and experience so much more.
Bottom line: don’t just stick to your plan. Be spontaneous. Embrace the adventures that life throws your way. You’ll thank yourself!
Isla Mujeres was only a glimpse of our challenging yet beautiful Mexican adventure. Check out also my articles on Isla Holbox and Cenote Ik Kil.
Isla Mujeres: Useful Info
Flying to Cancún: Spirit Airlines, United, and Aeromexico fly from several US cities to Cancún for as low as 200$ for a return flight. I always search for flights on Skyscanner for the best offers.
Getting to Isla Mujeres: From Cancún to Isla Mujeres, catch the Ultramar ferry for about 20 minutes from Puerto Juárez or the Hotel Zone.
Finding boat tours: For a spontaneous choice, buy a tour from the several people selling them outside the port. They were about US$20 for half a day when we visited. I assume they are a bit more expensive now. Otherwise, here are a few great options you can book in advance:
- Isla Mujeres: Catamaran Ride with Open Bar, Snorkeling, and Lunch
- Isla Mujeres: Snorkel Tour at Musa and Manchones Reef
- Isla Mujeres Snorkeling Tour Adventure
- 3 Hours VIP Semiprivate Tour Isla Mujeres Full Snorkeling Experience
Staying there: We stayed in Cancún and went to Isla Mujeres for the day. We chose an accommodation close to Puerto Juárez, with beautiful ocean views. I booked most of my accommodations in Mexico on Booking.com, my go-to platform. You can browse more options on the map below:
Travel Resources
Below is a selection of my go-to travel websites and apps.
| Website/App | Category | Description | Book Here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Booking.com | Accommodation | My favorite website for great accommodations for different budgets. | Find a Place |
| Kiwi.com | Flights | My new favorite platform for finding affordable flights. | Find Flights |
| 12Go | Transportation | Widespread App across Asia, now also available in Latin America. | Transportation |
| SafetyWing | Insurance | One of the best travel medical insurances for frequent travelers. | Get Insured |
| GetYourGuide | Activities | My go-to platform for tours and experiences with lots of options. | Experiences |
| Viator | Activities | Another great platform to book activities and adventures globally. | Find Activities |
| DiscoverCars | Car rental | My go-to platform for car rental anywhere in the world. | Rent a Car |
| Airalo | eSIM | My favorite app for buying digital SIM cards when traveling abroad. | Get an eSIM |
| Saily | eSIM | A great alternative to Airalo, with cheaper plans in some destinations. | Get an eSIM |
| Maps.me | Navigation | My favorite navigation app for hiking trails and remote areas. | Get Maps |
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