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Puerto de Abrigo, Laguna Macax, , Isla Mujeres, 77400, Mexico
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of people enjoy staying here
79 Opinions
Watching the boats go by
XANADU ISLA MUJERES MEXICO
Palaya Norte
Hotel Lobby
What are the reefs like there. I tried to buy tickets to Garrafon and they said that the park was closed
The reefs there are really nice. Lots to look at and a lot of fish. We were there in Feb 06 and Garrafon was closed. From what I hear it is still closed due to the hurricane last year.
It's open. Just nobody goes there because it's $50 and most people figure out it isn't worth it.
You can enter the park swimming from the Garafon Castillo Beach Club next door...where you can hang out for $4 a day.
The reefs are untouched. Hurricanes seldom damage reefs. They build over centuries and have seen worse. You don't get hurt by hurricanes in the water...just when land comes into the picture.
The beaches of Isla are badly eroded, not by hurricane, but by current shifts or something. I blame Al Gore, personally. But the reefs (and Isla Mujeres IS a reef, actually...a high spot in a limestone reef) are fine and the underwater world is fantastic, weather permitting.
From the ferry, there is a developed tourism park, with beaches, water sports, snorkelling, and just walking around the landscaped gardens with conveniences such as restaurants, shops, etc. nearby. It isn't a park with the "local people and custom" atmosphere at all (for that venture outside the park grounds towards the village), but a nice resort to relax and enjoy the water.
More scary than it looks!
From atop a hill at Garrafon Park, strap yourself in and hang on to the cable pulley whilst you slide down over the sea. Don't wear sandal which you might kick off and lose in the water!!
There is a taxi stand just to the left (north side) of the ferry dock, and the posted rate to where our hotel is was 54 pesos. However, once we were away from the taxi stand, the going rate was 40 pesos to just about everywhere on the island. There may be a higher fee if you want to get out in busy areas. Just make sure you arrange the price before you get in the taxi.
If you are looking for Mexican Tamales don't buy the ones they are selling on the Malecon.
These are not corn tamales and they are all tamale and hardly any meat.
They had no flavor at all.
The ones you want are the ones in the corn husks not the banana leafs.
Now if the ones in the banana leafs are green chile tamales then those are the best.
While eating at a restaurant on the beach we asked the waiter about locals giving boat tours. He said he had a friend that would do it for $60.00. That was for all four of us.
It was great!!
We went snorkling, to see the turtles, to see the dolphins from the boat, and to a beach where the kids got to hold a shark.
The guys were friendly and good with the kids. There boat was not new but they had all the safety equipment needed.
Life jackets for all and a life preserver.
They also had extra snorkling gear which we needed because ours was cheap and kept falling apart.
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Q: Are there any grocery stores in isle de mujeres "Are there any food stores in isle de mujeres. We like to cook when on holidays."
A: "I have not been there, but with 11,000 people (or whatever) and a local hospital, you would think that the locals would have to shop somewhere...here are some references..."
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Address: Puerto de Abrigo, Laguna Macax, , Isla Mujeres, 77400, Mexico
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