Isla Mujeres Travel Guide

Isla Mujeres is a small island, about 7 km long and less than 1 km wide, just across the bay from Cancun. It is quieter and more laid-back than Cancun: people get around by golf cart, the town is full of colourful streets, small restaurants and beach bars, and Playa Norte is one of the best beaches in the Mexican Caribbean. You can visit on a day trip or stay a few nights.

How to get to Isla Mujeres from Cancun Airport

There is no airport on the island, so everyone arrives by boat. From Cancun Airport, take a transfer to the Puerto Juárez ferry pier, north of downtown Cancun (about 30 km, 25–35 minutes), then the Ultramar ferry across (about 20–30 minutes, 290 MXN one way per adult). Ferries run roughly every 30 minutes from early morning until late evening.

A private transfer is the simplest way with luggage: the driver meets you outside the terminal, tracks your flight and drops you at the ticket office. Prices start at 54 USD one way or 84 USD round trip per vehicle for up to 8 people. Details: Cancun Airport to Isla Mujeres.

Book your transfer to the Isla Mujeres ferry

When to visit Isla Mujeres

December to April is the dry season: sunny, less humid and the busiest time of year. May to October is hotter and more humid, with afternoon showers; hurricane season runs from June to November, with the highest risk from August to October. Sargassum seaweed can reach the Caribbean coast in spring and summer, but Playa Norte, on the island’s sheltered northern tip, is usually less affected than the east side. From roughly June to September, boats leave the island to swim with whale sharks.

Beaches

• Playa Norte – the island’s main beach, at the north end of town: shallow, calm turquoise water, beach clubs and famous sunsets.
• Playa Centro – close to the ferry and the centre, an easy option if you only have a few hours.
• Playa Lancheros and Playa Tiburón – on the calm west side further south, with seafood restaurants on the sand.
• The east coast – rocky and wild with strong waves: great for views from a golf cart, not for swimming.

Things to do in Isla Mujeres

• Punta Sur: the island’s southern tip, with cliffs, a sculpture garden and the remains of a small Maya temple dedicated to the goddess Ixchel – often called the first place in Mexico to see the sunrise.
• Snorkelling and MUSA: the underwater museum (Museo Subacuático de Arte) lies in the shallow water between Isla Mujeres and Cancun; boat tours combine it with reef snorkelling.
• Garrafón: a reef park on the south of the island with snorkelling, zip lines and kayaks.
• Whale sharks: tours from Isla Mujeres in the summer season (roughly June to September).
• Explore by golf cart: circle the island in a few hours, stopping at Punta Sur, the turtle farm (Tortugranja) and the ruins of Hacienda Mundaca.
• The town: murals, Hidalgo Avenue’s restaurants and the church square in the evening.

Tours on our site: Isla Mujeres tours, including the Isla Mujeres Escape Tour and the Pleasure Isla Mujeres Tour.

Where to stay in Isla Mujeres

Most hotels are in town and around Playa Norte – the best area if you want to walk to restaurants and the beach. The quieter south and the lagoon side have resorts and villas where a golf cart is useful. Options range from small family-run hotels and condos to all-inclusive resorts such as Mia Reef Isla Mujeres and Privilege Aluxes, or beach hotels such as Ixchel Beach Hotel.

See all Isla Mujeres hotels – each page shows the transfer price from Cancun Airport.

Where to eat and drink

Isla Mujeres is known for fresh seafood – try tikin xic, fish marinated in achiote and grilled in banana leaf – plus tacos, cafés and beach bars for sunset on Playa Norte. Our listings include Polos Mango Café, Lola Valentina and Mahache, and bars such as Coco Restaurant & Beach Bar and Tiny Gecko Bar.

More: Isla Mujeres restaurants · Isla Mujeres bars. Opening hours change often on the island, so check before you go.

Getting around the island

• On foot: the town, the ferry dock and Playa Norte are all within a 10–15 minute walk.
• Golf cart: the classic way to explore; rent one for a few hours or a full day near the ferry. You need a valid driving licence.
• Taxi: inexpensive fixed fares around the island, useful at night or with luggage.
• Scooter or bicycle: cheaper than a golf cart, but take care on the busy main road.

A little history

For the Maya, the island was a sanctuary of Ixchel, goddess of the moon and fertility. When Spanish sailors arrived in 1517 they found many female figures at the temple, and the island got its name: “Island of Women”. For centuries it was a fishing village; tourism grew together with Cancun from the 1970s, but the island has kept its small-town feel.

Isla Mujeres FAQ