Ultimate Isla Mujeres Travel Guide
What to know before you go
Island info
Isla Mujeres is a little island less than 5 square km in area! This tiny island is only 13 km off the East coast of Cancun. If you’re in the Cancun area, it is a must to visit! Isla Mujeres is the definition of small but mighty.
Our Isla Mujeres Experience
We spent time on Isla Mujeres during our visit to Playa del Carmen. From Playa del Carmen to the ferry port in Cancun, it is about an hour drive. We already had a rental car from our stay in Playa del Carmen so we just drove ourselves to the port.
There are plenty of shuttles, buses, and private cars to get you from Playa del Carmen to the Isla Mujeres ferry. If you’re already staying in Cancun, this step is much easier for you.
Watch the full episode here
This video includes: driving from Playa del Carmen, parking, taking the Ultramar ferry to Isla Mujeres, airbnb tour, scuba diving MUSA underwater museum, golf cart island tour and swimming with whale sharks.
How to get there
There are a bunch of different ferries to choose from when heading to Isla Mujeres. The Ultramar passenger ferry (pet friendly) runs every half hour from Puerto Juarez which is the port just south of downtown Cancun. There is a parking structure at the port where you can park you car for about 100-200 Pesos ($6 USD) for 24-hours. If you want to bring your vehicle across to Isla Mujeres, there is a car ferry also available.
Ferry info
The ferry ride is super short. It only takes about 15 minutes from port to port. You can get a round ticket for 300 Pesos ($13 USD).
Isla Mujeres means ‘Island of Women’ so of course we brought our favorite furry lady, Pepper. The ferries are pet friendly, they just have a designated area for you to sit with your pet. It is always good to double check with the ferry company, though, before planning on taking your pet.
How to get around
rentals
If you don’t plan on using a car ferry, you may want some sort of transportation to get around the island easily. We rented a golf cart once we got over to Isla Mujeres (since this time we were traveling heavy with food, a dog, a dog bed, etc.) but you could also rent scooters (we typically only recommend if you have scooter or motorcycle riding experience).
There are quite a bit of warnings about using scooters in new countries especially if it is your first time riding one. Make sure you are aware of all of the road rules and safety precautions!
The top rated rental business for bikes, scooters, and golf carts is Mega Ciros and there are rental locations immediately upon departing the ferry. There are also Taxis waiting. Keep in mind, if you’re staying in the central or southern part of the island there are not taxis driving by to flag down and you’ll want to grab the number of your driver as the island is about 4 miles long… a bit too far to walk for dinner.
Island navigation
Isla Mujeres is divided into 3 main sections: North, Central, and South.
The Northern area is the main place to beach it. Playa Norte is known to be own of the best beaches in Mexico! The surrounding town is “the town” - it’s where your tour will leave from, where you hotel likely is located and the central hub of most shopping and restaurants.
The Central area of the island is more local, small convenience shops at probably where your budget airbnb is located.
The Southern point of Isla Mujeres is pretty rocky, filled with gorgeous vacation homes and a popular place to “circle around” on your scooter or golf cart island tour.
Where to stay
hotels and resorts
Budget Option- Casa Coco has incredible reviews and you can’t beat the price!
Moderate Option- Ixchel Beach Hotel has an expansive beach and is quite the deal for all that it offers.
Luxury Option- Hotel Belo has the coolest boho interior! There are surprises around every corner of this place like hot tubs on balconies and rooftop pools.
Condos and rental homes
Budget Option- Casa Barco has the best reviews for the price and is located close to a lot of great resorts.
Moderate Option- Ikal Ociean View Apartment comes with a beach front, infinity pool, and the cutest decor. All of the reviews say that the host of this Airbnb is great, too!
Luxury Option- Casa Cielo is possibly one of the happiest Airbnbs we’ve ever seen. There’s no way you’re going to be disappointed staying at a paradise this.
Tips from tim and fin
If you’re staying in a rental home, you can usually get day passes to the resorts so you can use their pools/beach!
Use our Airbnb code for up to $55 off you’re first trip!
Things to do
Snorkel Tours
Like we mentioned, the South area of Isla Mujeres is rocky which makes for a bunch of coves along the shore. These coves are where fish like to hang out AKA snorkeling heaven. There are plenty of snorkel excursions to go on that will take you to all of the right places, or you can rent equipment and find spots for yourself!
North Beach
The North Beach (Playa Norte) is THE beach to be at on Isla Mujeres. With blue blue blue waters and the whitest sand, it is an absolute must to visit. Unfortunately, the beach’s reputation has made it quite the tourist destination. Make sure to get there early to get a spot on the sand. There are chair and umbrella rentals available right on the beach!
For a little get away from North Beach, head just South to Playa Sol. It is typically less busy but will just as good of a view.
Whale shark season
Whale Shark season for Cancun/Isla Mujeres is typically Mid-May to Mid-September. If traveling to the area during this season, make sure to go on a Whale Shark tour! Sea Hawk Divers has an awesome tour that will take you right where the sharks are and provides everything from breakfast to snorkeling gear. The trip is $125 USD per person and 100% worth it.
underwater museum
One of the sites most unique to Isla Mujeres is the MUSA Underwater Museum. The museum is a collection of sculptures submerged underwater! There are plenty of different ways to visit the museum like snorkeling, diving, glass bottom boat, and even a jungle tour. MUSA has worked to make sure the underwater museum is accessible in many ways.
Adventure the island
If you choose to rent a cart or scooter, it is always fun to just go on a road trip around the island! It won’t take you long, and you might find a new spot off the beaten path. This is one of our favorite things to do when visiting new places.
Enjoy the island life
Who knew so much life could be packed into such a small island? Isla Mujeres is a Mexican gem and a must visit if you’re in the Cancun area. We hope this gives you a little insight on what to expect from Isla Mujeres.
Grab a cerveza for us!
