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Mexican Caribbean
Isla Mujeres

Isla Mujeres

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Isla Mujeres

A gem of the Mexican Caribbean nine miles off the coast of Cancun.

Five miles of island twenty minutes away by ferry: white sand, turquoise water and a pace that drops the moment you step off the boat. You get around by golf cart.

It holds Playa Norte and, at the southern tip, the cliffs of Punta Sur with the temple of the goddess Ixchel. Offshore, Isla Contoy shelters birds and marine life.

Right now
27°Drizzle
Best for
Beach, snorkeling and day trips
Whale shark season
May to September

Getting here

Airport

Concourse of a terminal at Cancun International Airport, with shops and passengers

Airport

Cancun International Airport

You arrive through Cancun International Airport and then travel by road to one of the ferry terminals.

  • Private shuttle: The transfer drops you straight at Puerto Juarez or in the Hotel Zone.
  • Bus: Airport buses reach downtown Cancun, ten minutes from Puerto Juarez.

Ferry

Passenger boat crossing the Caribbean Sea in front of the Cancun hotel zone

Ferry

Puerto Juarez and Gran Puerto

The crossing takes about twenty minutes from Puerto Juarez, a little longer from the Hotel Zone.

  • Puerto Juarez and Gran Puerto: The most frequent departures, every half hour, and the shortest crossing.
  • From the Hotel Zone: Playa Caracol, Playa Tortuga and El Embarcadero, with fewer sailings a day.

On the island

Golf carts parked along a cobbled street in the center of Isla Mujeres

On the island

By cart, bike or taxi

The island is five miles end to end and can be crossed in half an hour.

  • Golf cart: The usual way to get around; rentals sit right by the pier.
  • Bike or taxi: Downtown is walkable, and taxis cover the road down to Punta Sur.

The beach

Playa Norte

Playa Norte is one of Isla Mujeres' signature spots. White sand, shallow water and a generally gentle surf make it an ideal place to enjoy the Caribbean Sea.

White sand and turquoise water at Playa Norte, Isla Mujeres

Under water

MUSA, Manchones and Garrafon Park

The underwater museum of contemporary art and the Manchones reefs can be visited with a mask or a tank. At Garrafon Park, the snorkeling and diving start from the shore itself.

Swimmers in the turquoise water of Garrafon Park, Isla Mujeres

Punta Sur

Cliffs and the temple of Ixchel

Mexico's easternmost point combines cliffs above the open sea, a sculpture park and the remains of the Maya temple dedicated to Ixchel.

Cliffs at Punta Sur in Isla Mujeres

More about Isla Mujeres

Aerial view of an island in the Mexican Caribbean

September 30, 2024

Discover the Magic of Mexico’s Caribbean Islands

A quick guide to Mexico’s Caribbean Islands: Cozumel for divers, Isla Mujeres for slow days, Holbox for nature and Contoy for birds.

Read the article
Isla Mujeres Garrafón

September 29, 2024

10 Things to Do in Isla Mujeres

Discover the best things to do in Isla Mujeres: Playa Norte, Garrafón, MUSA, Punta Sur, whale sharks and more on this small Mexican Caribbean island.

Read the article
Playa Norte, Isla Mujeres

September 29, 2024

Discover the Archaeological Sites of Isla Mujeres

Explore the archaeological sites of Isla Mujeres: the Temple of Ixchel at Punta Sur, El Meco on the mainland and the MUSA underwater museum.

Read the article

Isla Mujeres

27°Drizzle
75%21 km/h
Best time to visit
  • Thu29°26°

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