Travel Guides ISLA MUJERES Contents

DISCOVER ISLA MUJERES 01

ISLA MUJERES PROFILE 03

ISLA MUJERES ATTRACTIONS 04

ISLA MUJERES DINING 09

ISLA MUJERES SHOPPING 10

ISLA MUJERES NIGHTLIFE 11

THINGS TO DO IN ISLA MUJERES 12 DISCOVER ISLA MUJERES

Isla Mujeres is the ideal place for a dream vacation on Mexico’s Caribbean coast. It has a peaceful atmosphere and is perfect for scuba diving and snorkeling, featuring a diverse and colorful array of marine flora and fauna that live in its crystal clear waters. It is located just 20 minutes by boat from the beaches of Cancun and has a fascinating past full of pre-Colombian legends and pirates. The island is less than a mile wide and just five miles long, offering lots of tropical palm trees to relax under.

The only way to get to get to Isla Mujeres is by sea. Ferries leave from Puerto Juarez and from the Cancun Hotel Zone, and arrive at the island’s main pier. Here you can hire a golf cart or a scooter to tour the island, making for an unforgettable experience!

1 IDYLLIC BEACHES Isla Mujeres is one of the top tourist destinations for professional divers, travelers looking to escape the monotony of ordinary life, and tourists from nearby cities who come to relax and enjoy one of the tours.

At Punta Norte (the northern part of the island) you’ll find stunning beaches for yoga, swimming, and sunbathing; this is also where the Pirate Mundaca Hacienda is located. Heading out to sea you’ll find famous places to snorkel like “El Farito” (The Lighthouse) and, to the east of the island, the Cave of Sleeping Sharks, which is surrounded by coral formations. At Punta Sur (the southern point of the island) you can see Garrafon Natural Reef Park, as well as a sculpture park and the temple where the Mayans worshipped Ixchel, the goddess of love.

2 ISLA MUJERES PROFILE

Famous for its beaches and their tranquil waters.

Home to part of the second largest barrier reef in the world.

Attractive island for scuba diving and snorkeling fans.

Excellent eco-tourism destination.

Giant turtle farm.

Delicious seafood cuisine.

The first place the sun touches in Mexico every morning.

3 ISLA MUJERES ATTRACTIONS TURTLE FARM

This is one of the main attractions on Isla Mujeres. For years now, it has been one of the places where giant sea turtles come to lay their eggs. Every year from May to September they bury their eggs in the sand, where they wait to hatch. At the turtle farm, the turtles are protected and the newborns are placed in tanks to later be released to the ocean.

PIRATE MUNDACA HACIENDA

This site used to be the residence of a famous pirate from Mexico’s Caribbean coast: Fermin Mundaca. Nowadays only traces of its 19th century splendor remain; nevertheless, a small zoo has been set up here with local wildlife, and it has beautiful gardens that you can walk around. The site is the location for not just one, but lots of fascinating stories about love and death that you can hear from the locals.

4 A PARADISE FOR SCUBA DIVING

Isla Mujeres is famous as a scuba diver’s paradise. Hidden in its waters are the beautiful natural reefs of El Farito, Islache, and Manchones. There is also an area with sunken ships, while expert divers will love the Cave of Sleeping Sharks.

ISLA CONTOY

Isla Contoy is an island uninhabited by human beings, an important bird sanctuary that is home to great nesting colonies and wild frigates. It is a fantastic place to admire the beauty of nature. Located about 45 minutes north of Isla Mujeres, Isla Contoy also has a viewpoint with a tower offering spectacular panoramic views. There are lots of excursions available throughout the day, but the number of visitors is restricted, making reservations a must.

5 THE SCULPTURE PARK

This beautiful park was inaugurated at the southernmost point of the island as a result of the Punta Sur Isla Mujeres First International Sculpture Meet in 2001. It also just happens to be the first place in Mexico touched by the rays of the sun at dawn. Here you can see the work of 13 artists of different nationalities. The main Mexican sculptors who participated in the project were Jose Luis Cuevas and Sebastian. The sculptures are located outdoors and exposed permanently to the sea breeze, featuring the crystalline waters of the Caribbean Sea as a stunning backdrop. GARRAFON NATURAL REEF PARK

The park is called “El Garrafon” (Large Water Container) because of the incredible coral reefs and crystalline water in the area, which are its main, but not only attractions. Garrafon Natural Reef Park is part of the largest barrier reef in the hemisphere, and the ecosystem is home to more endangered species than any other on the planet. Other attractions here include a number of zip-lines for tourists who want a rush of adrenalin, along with infinity pools and restaurants.

6 THE MAYAN TEMPLE

In pre-Colombian times Isla Mujeres was consecrated to the goddess Ixchel, the Mayan deity of the moon, love, and fertility. Back then they used to give offerings that included, among other things, clay figures of women. When the Spanish Conquistadors arrived at the island and found these clay figures, they decided to name it Isla Mujeres (Women Island). Nowadays only a small Mayan temple has survived on the island. It is located in the Punta Sur area and, when combined with its stunning setting, it is well worth a visit.

7 PUNTA SUR

Towering 60 feet over the sea, you’ll find the cliff area known as Punta Sur. Here you can admire an incredible sunrise, as it is the first place in the country warmed by the sun’s rays. Due to the white color of the sand surrounding the island you can see different tones of blue in the waters of the Caribbean Sea, which offer a relaxing spectacle as the waves crash against the rocks. Punta Sur also has a picturesque lighthouse from where you can see Cancun, as well as a stone pathway surrounding it. SWIMMING WITH DOLPHINS

Swimming with dolphins on Isla Mujeres is an experience that’ll last in your memories for a life- time. This incredible educational experience is safe, fun and available for everybody – you don’t really even have to know how to swim, as lifejackets are provided. The level of interaction with the dolphins can range from a “fin-shake” to a kiss, according to the package that you choose. There are also other creatures that await you in this wonderful place, such as bull sharks, manta rays, tamarins, macaws, and toucans.

8 ISLA MUJERES DINING

The influence of Yucatecan cuisine and seafood dishes stand out when we talk about the cuisine of Isla Mujeres. The creativity of the islanders for lending their own unique touch to the food has made the island well-known for its “Tikin-Xik Fish”, which is char-grilled after being seasoned with an achiote and bitter orange sauce. Another popular dish is conch ceviche prepared with avocado, orange, and Xcatik chilies.

Isla Mujeres has seen an influx of Europeans over the years, meaning that tourists will find all kinds of dishes available on the island; everything from German pastries to tasty Italian cuisine, without forgetting, of course, fantastic Mexican specialties.

9 ISLA MUJERES SHOPPING

Most of the stores on Isla Mujeres offer a wide variety of souvenirs and typical goods from this region of Mexico’s Caribbean coast. If you’re one of those collectors who like to purchase something from every place you visit, then you’ll find lots of things in the shops here, mainly handicrafts made by local artisans using things like shells, sand, and starfish. DOWNTOWN

There are countless handicrafts stores in downtown Isla Mujeres, mainly by Avenida Hidalgo and the neighboring streets. Each one offers a wide variety of beautiful Mexican pieces, ranging from figures made solely from shells and string, and various creations made from Oaxacan black clay, to wooden masks, glass ashtrays and acrylic keychains, to complex “alebrijes” (brightly colored folk art sculptures of fantastical creatures).

10 ISLA MUJERES NIGHTLIFE

Isla Mujeres is not really somewhere with wild parties every night, as there aren’t many nightclubs; nevertheless, you can find some lively places right by the sea. Those tourists looking to have a good time can start by admiring the sunset in one of the bars, which are usually full until midnight during high season.

In the evenings Isla Mujeres is full of life in its own, more bohemian way. Avenida Hidalgo is the main place to go, as this is where the most popular bars and restaurants are to be found on the island.

11 THINGS TO DO IN ISLA MUJERES

Tan on the beaches of Punta Norte.

Snorkel at the main reefs on the island, such as El Farito, Islache, and Manchones.

Visit Garrafon Natural Reef Park, which is home to endangered species.

Try “Tikin-Xik Fish” and conch ceviche.

Discover the stories of the Mayan Temple and the goddess Ixchel.

Participate in the turtle conservation programs.

See the Sculpture Park in the south of Isla Mujeres, with its outdoor sculptures and the Caribbean Sea as a backdrop.

Dive at the Cave of Sleeping Sharks.

Swim with dolphins.

Visit Isla Contoy and the bird sanctuary.

Admire the beautiful ocean view from the rocks of Punta Sur, and see the first rays of sunlight.

Listen to the stories of love and death told at the Pirate Mundaca Hacienda.

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