Isla Mujeres Mexico: Things to Do, Food & Accommodation

Isla Mujeres Mexico is a stunning island on the Yucatán Peninsula, just a twenty-minute ferry ride from Cancún. It’s a favourite among travellers for its perfectly turquoise waters, white sandy beaches, and ideal conditions for snorkelling and diving. Near Playa Norte beach, you’ll find a lively little town packed with affordable restaurants, cafés, and bars where young travellers enjoy the nightlife. Even though Isla Mujeres attracts crowds of tourists, if you know where to go, you can easily escape them. Let’s take a look at everything you can get up to here. Isla Mujeres is often treated as a simple day trip from Cancún, but if you’re planning to snorkel, we’d recommend spending at least two days on the island.

How to Get to Isla Mujeres

From the airport First, you need to get to the ferry terminal at Puerto Juarez in Cancún. You can grab a taxi, but expect to pay around 16 €, or take a bus to the ADO centre for about 5 € and then transfer to the “RUTA 13” bus (which costs just a few cents). A one-way ferry ticket will set you back roughly 10 €, and a return ticket is about 18 €. For more details, check out Ultramarferry.com. If you’re flying from the UK, there are direct flights to Cancún from London with British Airways and TUI, or you can find great connecting flights on Kiwi. From your hotel Ask at your hotel how to get to the nearest “RUTA 13” bus stop and ride to Puerto Juarez for just a few cents, or call a taxi. Never accept the first price — you can usually haggle the fare down by 20–30%. We managed to get from our hotel for just 6 €. Then hop on the ferry.

10 Best Things to Do on Isla Mujeres Mexico

1) The Famous Playa Norte Beach

A ten-minute walk from the ferry terminal, you’ll find a gorgeous beach with perfectly turquoise water. Playa Norte is the main beach on Isla Mujeres and has been voted one of the best beaches in the Caribbean. The beach is public, so if you don’t fancy paying for sun loungers and parasols, you can simply lay down your own beach towel wherever you like.

2) Punta Sur

The southernmost tip of the island is Punta Sur, which also happens to be the easternmost point of Mexico. If you arrive here at sunrise, you’ll be the first people in all of Mexico to see the sun come up that day! It’s probably the most beautiful spot on the entire island, where the turquoise water crashes dramatically against the rocks. At Punta Sur, you’ll also find Garrafon Reef Park, which has been home to art sculptures depicting Mayan civilisation since 2001.

3) Rent a Golf Cart

The best way to explore the island is by renting a golf cart. A day’s hire will cost you upwards of 40 €, but the freedom to roam wherever you please is well worth it. And if you decide to skip it, you’ll struggle to discover all the hidden gems the island has to offer.

4) Yoga with a Beach View

If you’ve always dreamed of practising yoga surrounded by palm trees with a view of a perfectly turquoise beach, head to The Treehouse Yoga right next to Playa Norte. The sunrise and sunset sessions are the most popular. A class costs around 10 €.

5) Turtle Rescue Station – Tortugranja

Although sea turtles are protected, they’re still hunted by poachers across Latin America for their meat and eggs. That’s why, for over 30 years, locals and volunteers have been working together to protect these incredible creatures. In the 1980s, a local fisherman established a turtle rescue station. He created a safe place where turtles can lay their eggs, and the station helps raise the hatchlings. Every year, more than 100,000 turtles are released into the wild. Admission is just 1.80 € per person.

6) Street Art Promoting Ocean Conservation

Take a careful look around the streets near Playa Norte, but don’t just focus on the shops and restaurants — pay attention to the street art. You’ll notice that most of the murals relate to ocean life. These works were created by artists from around the world to raise awareness about marine species threatened with extinction in the local waters.

7) Day Trip to Isla Contoy

If you’re spending a longer time on Isla Mujeres, you absolutely shouldn’t miss a visit to the small neighbouring island of Isla Contoy. It’s been protected by the Mexican government since 1961 and became a Mexican national park in 1998. On the southern end of the island lies Ixlaché — the second-longest coral reef in the world, home to 234 species of fish, including the majestic whale shark and the giant manta ray. The local lagoons, mangrove forests, and lowland jungles are home to 152 bird species, including sandpipers, cormorants, frigatebirds, herons, and pelicans. During summer, you can spot three species of sea turtles nesting on the island’s beaches.

8) MUSA Underwater Museum (Museo Subacuático de Arte)

You can visit the underwater museum from either Cancún or Isla Mujeres. Submerged beneath the waves are over 500 sculptures created by Jason deCaires Taylor. On the seabed, you’ll see statues of people and cars — it’s a truly unique experience if you’ve never been to anything like it. There are several ways to explore the museum: you can snorkel, scuba dive, or view the sculptures through a glass-bottom boat. Since we don’t have a diving licence, we opted for snorkelling.

9) Snorkelling and More Snorkelling

Isla Mujeres unquestionably offers some of the best snorkelling conditions in the region. If you’re fascinated by underwater life, you’ll be in absolute paradise here. Beyond the MUSA underwater museum mentioned above, there’s a wide range of snorkelling trips to choose from. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced snorkeller, this island has something for everyone.

10) Swimming with Giant Whale Sharks

If you visit Isla Mujeres between June and September, don’t miss the island’s biggest attraction — swimming with whale sharks. These are the largest sharks in the world, measuring 8 to 10 metres in length. They’re the biggest known fish on the planet and are easily recognised by their distinctive light spots and stripes. They pose no danger to humans, as they feed on plankton. Be prepared to pay around 120 € per person for this experience, but the trip typically includes breakfast, lunch, drinks, and equipment hire. Most tours also include snorkelling stops at coral reefs. A word of warning: touching the sharks is strictly forbidden, and you should always maintain a distance of at least two metres.

Where to Eat on Isla Mujeres

Chayo & Cacao

Finding vegetarian and vegan food in Mexico that not only looks amazing but tastes incredible too can be quite a challenge. If you’re an avocado lover, Chayo & Cacao will make your day — and it’s also a great spot for anyone watching their waistline.

Aroma Isla

If your group includes both carnivores and vegans, Aroma Isla has everyone covered. Their menu features vegan and vegetarian dishes alongside hearty options like schnitzel-style mains and Pad Thai.

Where to Stay on Isla Mujeres – Best Hotels

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Our Pick

Hostel Azucar

If you’re looking for the cheapest accommodation in the best location, check out Hostel Azucar. It’s a bit rough around the edges — some rooms don’t even have windows — but there’s a lovely reception area and a kitchen where you can cook your own meals.

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Mid-Range

Hotel Kinich

This 3-star hotel is located just a stone’s throw from Playa Norte and offers continental breakfast. It won’t win any design awards, but it’s a solid choice if you want to stay close to Playa Norte and the town centre.

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For Families

Suites Lorens

Travelling as a family? Suites Lorens costs just 40–50 € per night for four people and offers beautifully styled apartments. Do note that Suites Lorens isn’t located on Playa Norte — it’s in the middle of the island.

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Luxury Option – Shell House

Who wouldn’t want to spend a night in a shell-shaped house? It’s probably one of the most unique homes in the world where you can actually stay the night. A week here costs upwards of 1,350 € (depending on the season), and it’s usually fully booked. It was designed by one of Mexico’s most famous artists, Octavio Ocampo, for his brother, and it truly embodies the spirit of summer intertwined with the sea and sun.  

Tips & Tricks for Travelling Around the Yucatán

What to Pack Have a look at our packing guide, which will help you prepare. Choose the right travel backpack, discover useful travel gadgets, and make sure you don’t leave anything important behind. Finding Flights Search for cheap flights on Kiwi — it’s our favourite booking platform. From the UK, you can find direct flights to Cancún from London with British Airways and TUI. Also check out our guide to finding cheap flights. Car Hire We regularly use the comparison site RentalCars.com to find the best deals on car rentals. Booking Accommodation Booking.com is our go-to hotel search engine. We always compare hotel prices with local apartments and rooms on Airbnb (get a discount here). Read our guide on how we find budget accommodation. Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance is an absolute must. For shorter trips, we go with AXA (50% discount), and for longer adventures, we use the UK-based insurer True Traveller. Take a look at our comparison of travel insurance providers to find the best fit for you. Guidebook we recommend: Lonely Planet Yucatan