Mexico Destinations: Isla Mujeres
Situated
eight miles off the coast of Cancun, Isla Mujeres, or "island
of women," offers a tranquil alternative to the bustling
mainland resort areas. The tropical island is blessed with beautiful
beaches, exotic sunsets, and is ripe for relaxation and discovery.
Discovered by Spanish explorer Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba
1517, Isla Mujeres has an interesting history behind its name.
Cordoba found the tropical island while searching the region
for slaves and gold. It was in an abandoned state, yet decorated
by exotic semi-clothed statues of the Mayan Goddess Ixchel.
The tropical island is five miles long and less than a mile
wide, which allows easy access to the interesting and exotic
attractions. Visitors will find most sightseeing opportunities
are either a short walk, a bicycle ride or golf cart drive
away from the resort area (bicycle and golf cart rentals are
aplenty). The exotic beaches are a main attraction here, with
waters that fade from fluorescent lime green at Playa Norte
to pale turquoise at the snorkel-worthy Garrafon reef.
On the tropical Isla Mujeres, the major beaches are on the
north and west sides. The north side's most popular and crowded
beach is Playa Norte. More secluded and exotic beaches appear
on the west side, such as Playa Paraiso, Playa Lanchero and
Playa Indios, which are known for their shark pens. The tropical
Manchones Reef, Banderas Reef and Cuevones Reef also provide
for wonderful scuba diving and snorkeling. There is also much
to do without getting wet, like visiting the Isla Mujeres
Turtle Farm, the exotic Mayan Temple (dedicated to the Goddess
of Fertility) and the Lighthouse, which marks the tip of the
island.
ISLA MUJERES RESORTS
ISLA MUJERES ACTIVITIES
Beaches: There are beaches all around the
Isla Mujeres, though the major ones are on the north and west
shores. Calm, turquoise waters and soft white sands make them
ideal for sunning, swimming, and snorkeling. The north side's
most popular and crowded beach is Playa Norte. Playa Paraiso,
Playa Lanchero and Playa Indios are more secluded beaches located
on the west side, mid-island near Hacienda Mundaca. These Isla
Mujeres beaches feature open-air palapa restaurants, gift shops,
bathrooms, chairs and opportunities to rent beach toys, kayaks,
snorkeling gear, chairs and umbrellas.
Garrafon National Park: Named for an incredible
reef formation and part of the longest reef in the hemisphere,
Garrafon National Park is the island's main attraction. Its
spectacular cliffs offer the highest elevation in the Yucatan,
not to mention dazzling views of the island surroundings.
The gentle currents of the Garrafon make swimming and snorkeling
easy. Facilities (pool, sea platforms, deck chairs and palapas),
life vests, inner tubes, kayaks and binoculars are all included
in the entrance fee.
Scuba Diving & Snorkeling: The scuba
diving and snorkeling around the Isla Mujeres are unforgettable.
The Manchones Reef begins just off the Isla Mujeres shore,
with the Cuevones and Banderes Reefs close by. The waters
are calm and clear?perfect for beginners as well as advanced
divers. A special dive site features the Cruz de la Bahia
(Bay Cross), which planted into the Manchones Reef in 1994
as a tribute to the men and women of the sea. Every August,
divers celebrate the founding of Isla Mujeres with a mass
dive on this spot. The Cave of the Sleeping Sharks is also
a favorite, where divers can explore a deep underwater cave
filled with sleeping sharks.
Isla Mujeres Turtle Farm: Isla Mujeres offers
protected grounds for giant sea turtles to lay their eggs
from May through September. The eggs are placed in pens and
kept from predators. The newly hatched turtles are placed
in tanks until they are released into the wild by local school
children. The Isla Mujeres Turtle Farm is located on Sac Bajo
and is funded by the Mexican Government and donations.
The Mayan Temple and Lighthouse: The Mayan
temple of Isla Mujeres is dedicated to Ixchel, the Mayan Goddess
of Fertility. For centuries, Mayan women came to the island
on pilgrimages to visit the temple and seek Ixchel's help.
The temple was also used to send signals to the mainland.
The adjacent lighthouse marks the southern tip of the island.
The keeper occasionally allows visitors to climb to the top,
which affords spectacular views.
Daytrip to Cancun: Directly across the gentle
Bahia de Mujeres awaits Cancun, Mexico's most visited destination.
Ferries transport curious tourists back and forth from Isla
Mujeres for ecological adventures to Xel-Há and Xcaret
and for Mayan discoveries such as Tulum and Chichen Itza.
Cancun bustles day and night, drawing visitors to its action-packed
beaches, top-notch restaurants and renowned bars and clubs.
Scuba divers flock to the Yucatan?s shore to experience one
of the world's largest barrier reefs (second only to Australia's
Great Barrier Reef), while golfers indulge in one of Cancun's
championship golf courses.
Dining
For a small island, Isla Mujeres has a large selection
of restaurants and cafes. Yucatecan cuisine, the local specialty
combining Mayan and European ingredients, has gained a reputation
as one of the finest in all of Mexico. Isla Mujeres also
offers a selection of international restaurants featuring
everything from gourmet Italian to French bistro-fare.
Gourmet: Known as the best restaurant
of its kind in the Caribbean, Casa Rolandi specializes in
fine Northern-Swiss Italian cuisine. The menu has a wide
range of classic and imaginative dishes featuring pasta,
seafood and more. The meal always ends with something sweet,
such as the Panna Cotta con Frutti di Bosco (cooked cream
with berries). Casa Rolandi is located in the upscale Villa
Rolandi Gourmet and Beach Club, Sac Bajo.
Highly Recommended: Restaurant La Cazuela
M & J is a very popular restaurant with tourists and
locals. Overlooking the Caribbean while dining on the front
or back patio. For breakfast, Chef Marco Fraga (also the
owner) prepares his well-known creation, "La Cazuela,"
which is a mix between an omelet and a soufflé. For
lunch, guests enjoy the best hamburgers on Isla Mujeres.
Nightlife
Sergio's Sports Bar: Sergio's Bar is the
only bar on Isla Mujeres with tap beer and billiards. It
is located across the basketball court in the town square.
Jax Bar & Grill: Serving lunch and
dinner, Jax Bar & Grill has a lively bar with a spectacular
view that is perfect for watching the sunset. It is known
for its friendly bartenders and hamburgers.
Buho's: Known as the "Swing Bar,"
Buho's restaurant and bar delivers a highly enjoyable happy
hour. It is located in front of Cabanas Maria del Mar on
Playa Norte.
Playa Sol: Playa Sol is one of the most
popular places to hang out on the beach and watch the sunset.
It's located at the beginning of Playa Norte.
