Enjoy our list of some of the top things to do in Isla Mujeres!
I grimaced under my cloth facemask, with sweat dripping down my brow as I unstuck the back of my legs from plastic seat covers in the back seat of a stifling hot red taxi cab. This little limestone rock wasn’t much to look at, or so I thought in the few minutes it took to drive from the ferry terminal to our seaside apartment for the weekend. We were making a calculated risk traveling during the summer of 2020 – was this even going to be worth all the trouble and added pandemic stress? I suddenly felt remorse starting to sink in.
Never judge a book by it’s cover, they say. I’ve never been so happy to be wrong about a first impression. Over the course of a long weekend, we would knock a couple items off our bucket list while falling in love with the people who call this speck of land home. Isla Mujeres (which we lovingly dubbed “Isla”) offered us adventure, hospitality, and most importantly a brief respite from the stresses of the pandemic back home. We loved Isla for a quick non-rev summer adventure, and we think you will, too! Here are our top 6 things to do in Isla Mujeres this summer!
6. Take in Sweeping Ocean Views and Enjoy the Beaches
This probably goes without saying, but at less than a kilometer wide and situated right off the coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, there is hardly a place on the island without a sweeping ocean view. We booked a condo with a rooftop infinity pool on the east side of the island to maximize our morning sunrise and afternoon rainbow views. Even west-facing apartments get a beautiful view of the sun setting over the Yucatán.
The northern tip of the island is home to Isla’s largest swath of white sand beaches. The beach itself was closed during our visit, but we were able to dive in to the shallow crystal turquoise waters off the beach after our dive adventures.
5. Eat Delicious Food
Despite its small size, Isla Mujeres is home to a number of excellent restaurants. Even though several recommended spots were closed due to the slowdown during the pandemic, every restaurant we did get to try was a hit.
We enjoyed everything from perfectly cooked fresh catch, chosen by us from a cooler in the kitchen at El Rincon Isleno to more sophisticated chef-prepared dishes at Fuego de Mar and Limón. Hands down our best dining experiences were at the highly recommended Los Tacos De Humo.
We first stumbled in to this brightly colored, narrow restaurant in search of simple fish tacos. Much to our delight, the tacos here are anything but simple. Chef Omar creates perfectly balanced dishes complimented perfectly by his house made salsas. Even better, locals and visitors can bring in fresh catch and let Chef Omar work his magic to curate a unique and delicious meal with any fish you can catch. Chef Omar and co-owner Alejandro also offer exceptional company while you enjoy your meal!
4. Go Deep Sea Fishing
Since we were in Isla for his birthday celebration, Rufio decided to add an extra day to our stay to enjoy deep sea fishing. We arranged a shared charter with another couple visiting the island for a full day on the water. Our captain and crew were incredible, helping us all reel in a variety of fish – from snapper to bonito to my nemesis, (humu humu nuku nuku apua’a) the feisty triggerfish.
3. Dive an Underwater Museum
The Museo Subacuático de Arte (MUSA) features several submerged sculpture galleries by the British sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor, accompanied by a few installations from Mexican sculptors. The artificial art reef was designed to protect the natural reef and create new habitats for marine life.
At maximum depths of 30 feet, ample sunlight reaches the galleries, giving light and movement to the structures. Swimming around and through the nearly 500 statues can be mesmerizing, awe-inspiring, and sometimes creepy depending on how the shadows are moving.
2. Swim with Whale Sharks
The possibility to see and swim near whale sharks in the wild was the main draw for us to Isla Mujeres. It was an activity that had been on our bucket list for years, and the experience in Isla did not disappoint.
As with all wildlife viewing activities, I did plenty of research on the local laws and local tour operators to determine which follow sustainable and ethical practices. We booked a morning tour with DC Explorer, who took great lengths to ensure we had an unforgettable experience while respecting the safety and security of the animals.
1. Enjoy Isla Hospitality
While the whale sharks were hard to beat, it was the people of Isla that made us fall in love with this place. It wasn’t run of the mill “be nice to tourists so they tip well” feigned hospitality – the people here were genuinely kind and welcoming. The kind of welcoming that invites you into their home to celebrate with a bunch of locals when they found out Rufio shared a birthday with our dive instructor. It was the kindred spirits on the boats and in the taco shops, who immediately found us on Facebook and Instagram, followed us, and still comment on our adventures to this day like we’re old friends. From the moment we arrived, every interaction we had with the people who lived there was warm, friendly, interesting, kind…purely and truly welcoming.
From the exciting dives to the good food and the amazing people, our long weekend on this unassuming little speck of limestone completely exceeded all our expectations.
Sojourn Information
Non-rev tips/how to get there
Non-rev direct to Cancun International Airport (CUN) and hire a taxi or private van to the Puerto Juarez ferry terminal. If you arrange the private transportation in advance, the driver can have your round-trip ferry ticket ready upon your arrival. A fellow non-rev traveler put us in contact with a boat captain on Isla who arranged our transportation and our fishing trip. He can also help with golf cart rentals if desired. Send me a message if you’d like his contact info!
The Ultramar ferries leave every half hour between 5:00 am and 9:30 pm. For more information visit the Ultramar website.
Where to stay
The island is divided into North Beach, Downtown, Mid-Island, and South Point. Most hotels are located in North Beach and Downtown, while Mid-Island and South Point are replete with rental houses, condos, and apartments. During normal high seasons, the North Beach and Downtown areas are particularly crowded. Even though crowds were low because of the pandemic, we still opted to stay in Mid-Island for a little more peace and quiet. We also knew we wanted to be on the Caribbean side of the island to enjoy that sweeping ocean view I mentioned.
We found Isla 33 Resort and Villas, and were sold with the semi-private penthouse infinity pool. The location was super convenient for visiting some of the great mid-island restaurants, and was a short taxi ride to downtown where our dive and fishing operators were located. The concierge was very helpful for helping us call taxis, the apartment was spacious, clean, and beautiful, and the host gave us great recommendations.
Use this link to find availability for Isla 33 and nearby rentals!
Getting around
Many visitors rent golf carts or bicycles, both of which are super convenient. Since we were spending the majority of our time out on the water, we relied on taxis and our feet during the evenings, which we found was more cost effective for our visit. The building we were staying in had a concierge, so we would let them know when we needed a taxi and they would call for us. We would ask restaurants to call when we were ready to go back in the evening.
Excursion Operators
As mentioned, we used DC Explorer for the whale shark excursion, and they were also associated with the deep sea fishing charter our local contact helped us arrange.
For diving, we were in excellent hands with the staff at Pocna Dive Center. The staff here were professional, experienced, very responsive, and most importantly just a pleasure to be around.
Learn more about MUSA here.
Safety
General
We felt very safe walking around Isla day or night, though common sense travel safety applies everywhere in the world. Always stay alert and keep your belongings secured.
COVID-19
At the time of our visit, negative tests or proof of vaccination were not required – though we tested before and after travel anyway. Mask mandates and social distancing requirements were taken very seriously in Isla, as well as requirements to sanitize hands (and feet!) before entering any business. Case counts were also extremely low, perhaps a testament to their stringent mitigation policies. Read more on our tips for non-rev travel during the pandemic here.
There is still plenty of time to enjoy all the fun things to do in Isla Mujeres this summer! Are you going? Leave a comment below!
Disclaimer: Some links may be affiliates. That means if you make a purchase using the link, I’ll earn a small commission to help me run this blog, at no cost to you! As always, the opinions and recommendations presented in this post are mine, and always an honest reflection on our experiences. Thank you for reading!
Leave a Comment