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Isla% 998 / POP 12,600 Mujeres

Why Go? History ...... 76 Some people plan their vacation around Cancún and pencil Sights ...... 76 in Isla Mujeres for a whirlwind visit. But Isla Mujeres is a destination in its own right, and it’s generally quieter and Activities ...... 77. more affordable than what you get across the bay. Sleeping ...... 78 Sure, there’s quite a few ticky-tack tourist shops, but folks Eating ...... 81 still get around by golf cart and the crushed-coral beaches Drinking & Nightlife . . . 82 are even better than those of and Holbox. As for the calm, turquoise-blue water of Isla Mujeres, well, you re- ally just have to see it for yourself. There’s just enough here to keep you entertained: snorkel or scuba dive, visit a turtle farm, or just put on the sunglass- Best Places to es and open that book you’ve been dying to finish. Come Eat sunset, there’s plenty of dining options, and the nightlife scene moves at a relaxing island pace. ¨¨Mañana (p81) ¨¨Olivia (p82) ¨¨Mininos (p81) When to Go ¨¨Angelo (p82) ¨¨For the experience of a lifetime, go between June and September and you can snorkel with 15-ton whale sharks in ¨¨Pita Amore (p81) nearby waters. ¨¨It’s quite a sight to watch sea turtles come ashore for Best Places to nesting season in August and September, and if you want to get a closer look at the little fellas you can always drop by the Stay island’s turtle farm. ¨¨Poc-Na Hostel (p78) ¨¨ tend to get booked up during the winter high season ¨¨Casa El Pío (p79) (December to April), so you’re better off visiting in November ¨¨ Villa Kiin (p81) when you’ll find vacancies and low-season discounts to boot. ¨¨Hotel Rocamar (p79) ¨¨Hotel Na Balam (p81) - - - - - Gar BEACH BEACH BEACH MUSEUM LOOKOUT/GARDEN com; Carretera a a Carretera com; . And you thought

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Today Today some archaeologists believe that Map p80) Map has a shallow swimming spot that’s ideal for for ideal that’s spot swimming shallow a has kids. Lancheros Playa p78) (Map southernmost point served by local buses, this beach is less attractive than Playa the ruins over time and there’s now little to little now there’s and time over ruins the sea the garden, sculpture the than other see town from Taxis distance. the in Cancún and M$80. about cost Beaches Norte Playa ( main you beach, won’t want the to island’s color the are waters shallow warm Its leave. of blue-raspberry syrup and Playa the beach, outer the beach Unlike is coral. crushed Norte is safe and the water is only shore. chest- from far even deep Secreto Playa (Map p80; island the of rest the from Club Reef Avalon Museo Capitán Dulché www p78; (Map Km rafón, 4 Isla Mujeres had no culture. Here you not only get sculp a a museum maritime the detailing also there’s but history naval island’s of grinding dozens with dotted garden ture to of be the one happens also There stones. best beach clubs here – and not we’re just bar. boat cool the of because that saying SurPunta M$30) admission (ruins you’ll find a dedicated lighthouse, sculpture temple a garden of remains worn the and to Ixchel, Maya goddess of the pummeled moon have and hurricanes Various fertility. theory suggests that in 1517, when Francisco Francisco when 1517, in that suggests theory Hernández de Córdoba sailed from and arrived here to procure the slaves, ex contain temple a stone discovered pedition ing clay figurines of Maya it goddesses; is the after island the named Córdoba thought icons. the island was a for stopover the Maya en route to worship their goddess of fertility, Ixchel, on Isla Cozumel. The clay idols are thought to have represented the goddess. in the ex figured have also may The island for extended which trade, salt Maya tensive coastline. the along kilometers of hundreds 1 - -

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Mujeres Sights

Isla 76