Isla Mujeres, Cancún

I will admit that I've never had a huge desire to do this, but since I was with my best friend and it's something she has always wanted to do, we did it. I have to say it was a lot of fun, once you get past feeling sorry for the dolphins. But I imagine they are well loved and well cared for (as any animal can be in captivity) so off we went. This was about $99 US dollars, and we were able to do 5 or 6 "tricks" with the dolphins (kiss, shake hands, dance, hold in our arms, etc) Our dolphin was Donna, and it was so funny to watch her smile! I'm not sure if she was actually smiling, but it looked like it from time to time. The entire experience took about 2 hours, and they take plenty of pictures and video for you to buy at the end (of course!)

4 more images

When we left Cancun on the ferry to Isla Mujeres, the weather was gorgeous and sunny. Within an hour, the weather turned for the worst and what was a sunny day became overcast. That is the main reason for why we didn't fully enjoy the island, but of what we saw, it is a cute Caribbean island, very easy to get around. The other drawback was that in order for us to go out snorkeling, we had to take one of the boats. We paid US $30 for the two of us to go out for two hours. We went to an area with a "shipwreck" and that's where we ended up snorkeling by but close to a few rocks. When you're out with the tourist boats, it is mandatory to wear a life vest. This is pretty annoying in shallow water to get around but it is their rules. I didn't enjoy the snorkeling trip that much because the water started to get rough as a storm came that evening and we were just surrounded by dozens of other tourists and we just kept banging up against each other...

TO BE CONTINUED...

2 more images

Most call the trip out to Isla Mujeres (Isle of Women, sounds inviting doesn't it) a "booze cruise". But the booze only comes out at the end of the day, so don't focus on that. The trip to this small island off Cancun is definitely worth it. There is a big jewelry market on the Island, with pretty decent prices. The excursions usually include snorkeling, which is great out there. (which is also why the booze doesn't come out until the trip home, they don't want to get you snockered, then give you a snorkel and fins and dump you in the water. But I digress...)

The town on Isla Mujeres is very quaint. Definitely book a trip out there if you get a chance. Ask you hotel for a recommendation if a trip there isn't already included (as it is with a lot of the all-inclusive resorts)

You can have a tour almost in each hotel to this amazing island in the tour includes snorkeling in the second biggest arecife in the world after Australia's.

Of preferences get this tours in the hotels or official sites, due to many people promise you tours and ask for money in advance. Don't accept this ones.

Our resort, Moon Palace, gave us two free daytrips as part of our package and our favourite trip was to Isla Mujeras.

We set off by boat from the hotel's private jetty to this incredible island. The sea was a little choppy and we were told that this trip cannot be taken any time the sea is rough. I would have suffered any amount of sea sickness to experience this Island Xanadu.

We disembarked onto the softest white sandy beach, and along the jetty friendly staff from our hotel waited to greet us with cold drinks. We could have spent the day lazing on the pristine sand, but a number of further trips were offered at a very reasonable additional cost. I opted for one of these, and will do a seperate tip on it shortly.

For those who opted to stay beachside, there were comfortable beach chairs, umbrellas, soft towels, and non stop food and drink. I spent about an hour and a half lazing here at the end of the afternoon and laughed out loud as I was floated in the sea on a lilo. I felt sixteen again, and even then I don't recall laughing so joyfully.

Isla Mujeras is perfect - the people are friendly, it's very picturesque, the sand is white, the sea is crystal clear by the shore and pure turquoise out at sea. I saw a little place for sale by the ocean side and was tempted to buy - the only thing that deterred me was the threat of hurricanes.

There are many things to do on this Island - swimming with the dolphins, visiting a turtle farm, wander the typically Mexican village, take a trip by boat around the Island perimeter - you could spend a week here alone!

I am still longing to go back.

Isla Mujeres is a 30-minute boat ride from Cancun. Passenger ferries travel to and from the island from Puerto Juarez every 15 minutes during the day. The ferry price is very cheap, under $5 a trip.
Isla Mujeres has extensive white sandy beaches, craft shops and jewellers, specialty restaurants, and tropical music bars. Garrafon Park at the island's southernmost tip has spectacular snorkelling/diving along a reef, a big picturesque rock cliff, turtles, dolphins, and birds.
Although Isla Mujeres has a reputation as a "backpackers' Cancun", many people rave about it, and your hotel will put it at the top of your "to do" list (because it's easy to get to), I'm personally not a big fan of the island. I think most travellers would be better off just enjoying the Cancun beaches and shopping at Cancun's Mercado 28. Or taking the time to travel to the towns further south. So I'm putting this at the bottom of my "Must See" list. (And edging it towards "Tourist Traps".)
It seems the poverty of many of the island residents, which is evident if you walk to the Eastern side of the island from downtown, is largely ignored. It also seems like everybody wants a few bucks, you could spend bags of money here on everything from overpriced souvenirs to beach chair rentals. There are also a lot of maniac teenage tourists on scooters that want to run you over. Most of the people who work on Isla Mujeres commute over from Cancun in the morning, and then back in the evening.
I've been to Isla Mujeres four times, the best experience was on an island tour called the "Dolphin Express," the staff was friendly and worked extremely hard to make sure everybody had a good time. They spent just enough time downtown shopping and for a few extra dollars you could snorkel, scuba, or swim with the dolphins. The lunch that was included was fantastic. That was a great day!

Isla Mujeres is a beautiful island with great restaurants and shopping. I took a package trip which included snorkeling off the island which was a great experience for my first time. The package included all you can eat and drink which was also a bonus. They had shark petting and volleyball. The staff on the cruise boat was a riot.

This tour is well worth the $55 US dollars. You get included: all drinks, all meals, snorkeling, turtle farm visit, bike ride, bottom glass boat ride, relaxing at the beach and a visit to the downtown shops. WELL WORTH IT!

We took a trip to Isla Mujeres setup by the hotel as a gift for staying there. The Trip included a party boat ride to the island with free drinks followed by lunch on the beach.

After the lunch we took a tour of the Turtle Farm on the island where they help raise endangered turtles. I wouldn't be surprised if some of them ended up in a soup either.

Shopping is a big attraction on Isla Mujeres and you can get the local crafts and jewelry there at a negotiated price. Unlike some of the carribean islands, the mexicans seemed far less aggressive.

Some of the other people took moped bikes around the island which would probably be a good trip as well.

The return trip included more drinking and partying. Pace yourself, this is Cancun!

This is a beautiful tour to Isla Mujeres, close to Cancún. The Island of Women, where time passes slowly and you feel to be like in heaven. The tour is in a Tropical Yacht "Dolphin Express" with all inclusive system.
During the trip you will be able to enjoy the landscape, the music and some party inside the yacht. After that the yacht make the first stop in a wonderful beach "Villa Pirata" where you can practice snorkel, Kayac, scuba diving or to swim with the dolphins. In this place you will have a delicious lunch and after that the tour continue to the downtown of Isla Mujeres.
In downtown you will find many typical stores to buy souvenirs and there are also many jewel stores.
The experience of this trip is amazing and you will have a wonderful day.
Departures, 10 a.m. returns 4:30 p.m