21 Best Things To Do in Isla Mujeres, Mexico

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For such a small, sleepy place, there’s a wide variety of things to do in Isla Mujeres — an island located off the coast of Cancun in Mexico.

Translated from Spanish, Isla Mujeres means the “Island of Women”, named after the Mayan Goddess Ixchel, the Goddess of fertility and happiness.

There are numerous incredible places to visit in Mexico, but make sure you add Isla Mujeres to the list!

A quick, 20-minute ferry ride from Cancun will whisk you away to an island paradise of warm turquoise waters, swaying palm trees and white silky sand beaches.

Isla Mujeres is perfect for a day trip but we recommend staying longer, especially if you want to escape the party scene and all of the crazy things to do in Cancun. This is the place to come to enjoy a relaxing island break.

Note: This post has been updated March, 2022 to reflect current rates, attractions and things to do (and not do) in Isla Mujeres. Enjoy!

In this post, I’ll list the 20 best things to do in Isla Mujeres you don’t want to miss, but first…

Getting To & From Isla Mujeres

You have different options to get to Isla Mujeres from the Cancun Airport — either by bus, taxis at the airport, or private transportation booked prior to your arrival. 

Many people opt to take private transportation to Isla Mujeres booked with Cancun Airport Transportation. The vehicle provided is a van, and the ride is private — if you book it, you get the vehicle to yourself.

You can also share with a group of people to reduce the cost. The vans include a bilingual driver, air conditioning, and insurance.

To get from the Cancun airport to Isla Mujeres, the cost of the whole van would be $45 one-way, or $75 round trip. Click here to learn more. 

1. Laze On The Pristine Playa Norte Beach

A 10-minute walk from the Ferry Pier is the popular beach of Playa Norte or North Beach. This is the main beach on Isla Mujeres and has been named one of the best beaches in the Caribbean!

The water here is calm, and shallow, making it a great spot for families or for just a chilled out day of floating around.

2. Check Out Punta Sur

Punta Sur is located on the southern tip of Isla Mujeres. Here you can visit the Pre-Colombian Mayan Ruins of Ixchel, or simply admire the stunning rocky views. This is a gorgeous place to simply come and enjoy the scenery.

If you’re looking for a great place to relax, snorkel and have a drink in Punta Sur, check out Garaffon de Castilla — which is located next to the Garrafon Reef Park (which we list below, and don’t recommend).

For 100 pesos ($5), you have access to the lounge chairs, showers, change rooms and snorkel gear as well. This is a nice, mellow spot to relax during the afternoon.

Garrafon Reef Park is located next door and is home to the Sculpture Garden, ziplining, and other “resort” type things. In 2001 the Sebastian Foundation and 23 famous artists from Mexico and around the world created sculptures to represent the Mayan civilisation. 

Note: While we recommend visiting the southern part of Isla Mujeres, Goats On The Road does not support Garrafon Park due to the fact that captive dolphins are kept here. Be a responsible traveller and consider where you want your tourism dollars to go. 

☞ See Also: Things To Do in Playa del Carmen – a list of the top 21 fun things you don’t want to miss!

3.  Rent A Golf Cart (one of the best things to do in Isla Mujeres)

To be able to experience all the things to do in Isla Mujeres we recommend that you rent a golf cart for the day. This is completely normal and is a popular thing to do.

There are many golf car rental agencies available around the ferry port and you can expect to pay $45 – 55USD per day for a 2 seater.

If you wish to hire a golf buggy for a week you can expect to pay anywhere between $270 -375. The longer the rental, the cheaper the rate will be. You will need a valid driver’s licence in order to rent a golf cart.

And, if you’re into golfing, and not just riding golf carts, make sure to head to the town of San Pancho on the west coast. Golfing is one of the top things to do in San Pancho, the course there is well kept and very nice! Or, there are some great golfing opportunities in Cancun as well.

4.  Join a Yoga Class

The Treehouse overlooks Playa Norte and it is a paradise for yoga lovers. Enjoy an early morning sunrise yoga class or an evening sunset class.

If you’re looking to get some exercise during your trip, practicing yoga is one of the top things to do in Isla Mujeres. Prices start at $20 for 90 minutes and there are classes to suit all levels. For the latest timings, and classes check out their Facebook page.

⇒ See Also: 21 Things To Do in Mazatlan

5. Walk Around Centro & Admire The Sea Wall Murals

As responsible travellers, we’re all for the preservation of our world’s ocean and we were delighted to see the ‘Sea Wall Murals’ of Isla Mujeres.

These murals were created by various top street artists from around the world to raise awareness of marine species threatened by extinction in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.

☞ See Also: Things To Do in Puerto Vallarta – a list of the Top 20 things you don’t want to miss!

6.  Day Trip to Isla Contoy

Isla Contoy is located 30 km north of Isla Mujeres. This natural wildlife reserve and bird sanctuary is 9 km long and 20 metres wide and was declared a National Park in 1998.

Isla Contoy is one of the most important areas in Mexico for nesting sea birds and sea turtles. There is a maximum of 200 tourists allowed to visit on a daily basis. A day tour starts from $75 per person click here for more information.

7.  MUSA (Underwater Museum of Art in Isla Mujeres)

One of the most popular activities in Isla Mujeres is to visit MUSA, (Museo Subacuático de Arte). You can tour the underwater museum by glass-bottom boat and enjoy over 500 sculptures by the creator Jason deCaires Taylor.

For a better experience, and to get closer to the sculptures, head on a snorkelling tour or go scuba diving. MUSA was created to encourage visitors to visit an alternative area around Isla Mujeres taking the pressure off the nearby reef.

Underwater sculpture parks are created as tourist attractions, but they are also used as artificial reefs to help promote the growth of coral and the return of more marine life. A visit to underwater sculptures (by the same artist) is also one of the top things to do in Grenada, and the Bahamas.

The site in Isla Mujeres is divided into two galleries with 3 salons:

• Salon Nizuc – at a depth of 4 metres and suitable for snorkelling, the Jungle Tour and the Glass Bottom Boat Tour
• Salon Punta Sam – suitable for snorkelling
• Salone Machones – at a depth of 8 metres and suitable for both snorkellers and scuba divers

For more information on booking click here.

8.  Go Fishing

The turquoise blue waters of Isla Mujeres are perfect for deep-sea fishing, inshore fishing, and spearfishing. The best months for sailfish and marlin are from mid-December through to July. If you prefer tuna fishing the best months are between April and August.

Depending on what type of fishing you enjoy the most, there are many charter operators that will cater to your needs, ranging from charter boats to private yacht tours.

⇒ See Also: Puerto Escondido – The Ultimate Travel Guide

9. Swim With Whale Sharks

Another popular water activity in Isla Mujeres is to swim with Whale Sharks (it’s also one of the top things to do in Cabo San Lucas). The best time to go to Mexico if you want to see these beautiful creatures is during the summer months of June to September.

Whale Sharks can reach a length of 14 metres and they are really just gentle giants weighing in at around 15 tonnes.

Official regulating bodies have put a cap on tours at around $145 per person. The tour includes swimming with the whale sharks, breakfast, lunch, soft drinks, snorkel equipment and usually some time to snorkel the reefs.

It is illegal to touch the sharks and you must keep a distance of 2 metres. It’s important that you do your research and go with a reputable, eco-conscious tour company that regulates and respects the rules. Have a look at this highly-rated tour with EcoColors Mexico.

☞ See Also: Things To Do in La Paz – Mexico’s Chilled Out Town

10. Visit La Tortuga Granja (Turtle Farm)

Located on Sac Bajo is La Tortuga Granja, the hatching ground for the sea turtles on Isla Mujeres.

From May to September these grand creatures lay their eggs in the soft sand where volunteers assist in gathering the eggs and placing them in pens to keep them safe from predators.

From August to October, you can witness the local children and tourists releasing the turtles into the ocean. As with the whale sharks, don’t touch the sea turtles. Entrance fee is $3.00 per person.

11. Get Underwater While Scuba Diving

Isla Mujeres has some of the best scuba diving in the Caribbean. Here you can enjoy some incredible caves, and an abundance of sea life — eels, groupers, snappers, turtles, parrotfish and numerous corals.

A unique experience is diving at the Cave of the Sleeping Sharks where a large group of reef, bull, and nurse sharks can be seen sleeping on the bottom of the ocean. At a depth of 20-30 meters, this dive site is recommended for advanced divers.

Other popular sites include the Machones Reef (800m in length), Tavos Reef, Media Luna, Punta Sur and the site of the Navy Boat Shipwreck (at a depth of 21m). Check out Squalo Adventures for scuba diving trips.

12. Joysxee Floating Bottle Island

Update: sadly, due to a horrible storm, this island isn’t here anymore and is permanently closed. 

An island made from plastic bottles! What a great way to utilize some of the excessive amounts of plastic on the island.

If you plan to visit, make sure the creator Richard Sowa is in residence. He will come and collect you by small boat and charges 50 pesos ($2.50) per person to take you back to his island made from over 150,000 bottles.

Richard explains how he gathers plastic bottles from Isla Mujeres and creates a platform from them by placing them into bags. On top of the bags, he places wooden pallets, plywood, carpet, sand and dirt, and rocks and then plants mangroves that assist in binding it all together.

A visit here is one of the most unique things to do in Isla Mujeres. 

13. Snorkelling in Isla Mujeres

If you are a beginner and haven’t done much snorkelling in the past, the best place to snorkel is El Farito. El Farito, to the north of the island, is shallow and perfect for beginners to see schools of colourful fish.

Los Machones is more suited to advance snorkellers with a depth of 35 – 40 feet. Other amazing snorkel sites include MUSA, Garrafon Natural Reef Park and Isla Contoy. For more snorkelling and diving, don’t miss Mexico’s most popular island and all of the incredible things to do in Cozumel!

14. Volunteer Walking Dogs

If you love dogs, you’ll want to make sure to drop in at Isla Animals.

The team here is always looking for volunteers who are able to help out with walking dogs, giving puppy cuddles, and if you’re interested, bathing, grooming, and assisting at the spay/neutering clinic.

Isla Animals accepts volunteers every day from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, no appointment is necessary. Feel free to drop in and say hi and help out. Volunteering truly is one of the most memorable and meaningful things you can do in Isla Mujeres. 

15. Visit Mercado Municipal

A visit to Mercado Municipal in Centro is a must on your list of things to do in Isla Mujeres. Not only can you soak up the local atmosphere, but the authentic food is cheap and delicious.

For as little as a few dollars, you can enjoy the best fish tacos and empanadas on the island. It does close early afternoon so make sure you arrive around lunchtime. 

16.  Experience The Zocalo

Every Mexican town has a central square called a Zocalo (it’s one of the best things to do in Mexico City as well). I recommend visiting the Zocalo on Isla Mujeres in the evening, as you’ll find food vendors selling tasty local Mexican street food. Plus, there’s music, entertainment and dancing.

☞ See Also: Things To Do in Guadalajara: A List of The Top 21 Best

17. Go On a Shopping Spree

Shopping for authentic souvenirs and clothing is one of the top things to do in Mexico as a whole. You’ll find the usual Mexican souvenir shops in Isla Mujeres, but if you’re after Tequila or Mezcal, folk art, silver jewellery, hammocks, and Mexican ceramics there are certain shops that you should check out. 

Some of the best shopping can be found along Avenida Rueda Medina, but don’t miss:

• Galeria de Arte Mexicano –  Av Guerrero 3 for silver jewellery
• Galeria L’mento Arte – Av. Hidalgo, at Plaza Los Almendros for wooden boxes, ceramics and hand carved goods
• Isla Mujeres Artist Fair – On the first Thursday of every month between November and April the fair takes place in the Zocalo between 4 pm and 9 pm. There are works of art, jewellery, clothing and book stalls with a selection of local food vendors offering Mexican cuisine.

18. Sunset Cruise on a Catamaran

A perfect way to end the day is to enjoy a cocktail or two whilst sailing at sunset around Isla Mujeres. This super fun, 4-hour boat trip includes swimming, drinks and food, and of course, the beautiful sunset.

Don’t miss the highly rated Isla Mujeres activity! For more information and to book click here.

☞ See Also: Manzanillo, Mexico: The Ultimate Travel Guide

19. Eat Tasty Food

You’re in Mexico, so it comes as no surprise that the food in Isla Mujeres is amazing! Not to mention, this is an island so you can expect some delicious seafood options. Here are a few restaurants you don’t want to miss:

• Cafe Mango at Playa Obispo for local Mexican cuisine. A great breakfast cafe.
• North Garden for breakfast by the beach on Playa Norte
• Cafe Mogagua at Av Juarez at Madero for breakfast and lunch

If you’re backpacking Mexico on a budget, you’ll definitely want to check out the Mercado Municipal for cheap eats. 

☞ See Also: Things To Do in Oaxaca: A List Of The Top 21

20. Taco and Margarita Tour

Tacos and margaritas go hand in hand! Discover some of the best taco stands and unique margaritas on this fun 3-hour walking and foodie experience. 

For tacos, you’ll get to sample some tasty varieties — Al Pastor, Shrimp, Chicken, Fish & Tripa or Arrachera (beef). And for margaritas, there are some refreshing and interesting options as well — Pomegranate, traditional lime, Paloma and either Cucumber-Basil or Watermelon-Jalapeno. 

Not only will you be able to eat and drink, but you’ll be exploring the island while learning more about Isla Mujeres with your English speaking guide. Click here to learn more about this fun trip. 

21. Join a Cycling Trip

Isla Mujeres is the perfect place to go cycling. During this fun experience, you’ll cycle around the whole island — which is just 14 kilometres in total — with a guide who is actually from Isla Mujeres. 

Learn about the island, visit some neighbourhoods, enjoy the sea views, and stop for drinks and food along the way. Click here to learn more about this highly rated, unique activity in Isla Mujeres.

Now You Know What To Do in Isla Mujeres

In 2001, SECTUR (Mexican Board of Tourism) put together a Pueblo Magico program to recognise Mexican towns that have a special appeal or magic about them in 3 categories — natural beauty, history and culture.

Isla Mujeres now shares the title with over 80 other towns and cities throughout Mexico. The island has a special charm to it, making it a place you will want to return to again and again.

It shares the limelight with the charming cobblestoned village of Tepoztlan and its magical pyramid, San Miguel de Allende, San Cristobal de las Casas, Tulum and Taxco, to name a few.

Isla Mujeres is a perfect vacation destination for families, couples, solo travellers and backpackers. It’s one of those destinations that draws you back year after year and has so much to offer visitors.

Who couldn’t love its warm azure waters, perfect temperatures all year round, fun activities and stunning sunrises and sunsets?

Hopefully, this list gave you some great ideas for things to do in Isla Mujeres on your next holiday. Have you visited Isla Mujeres? Add another activity or two in the comments below!

Images in this article are courtesy of Shutterstock.com.

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