Last year, with some points to burn and a desperate need to get out of town, I booked an easy flight from Atlanta to Cancun. From there, I hopped on a one-way trip with Happy Shuttle (not sponsored!), which would take me to the ferry terminal to reach my destination: Isla Mujeres.
Unlike Holbox, which I went to the year before, Isla Mujeres is much easier to reach from Cancun and could technically be done as a day trip. The ferries run every hour and tickets can be purchased for the 25-minute journey at the terminal or in advance. I was even able to wait for the ferry with a beer and free WiFi.
This post contains affiliate links that can earn this website a small income. They will not cost you anything to use.
What to Do in Isla Mujeres
I’ll admit that most of the point of this trip was to do absolutely nothing. I spent my first day wandering around, trying to get a lay of the land. By the second day, I wanted to rent a golf cart to see other parts of the island.
I quickly realized that I should have booked in advance because many of the carts were already gone, picked up by long-term visitors and the day trippers. I finally got one at a different agency, Rentadora Joaquin, a few blocks from where I tried first. They are typically around $65 for the day for a golf cart and $50 for a scooter. There’s also a bus route around the island.
You can join one of several tours of the island including a catamaran excursion with snorkeling, swimming with whale sharks, and trips to Contoy Island. The views from Punta Sur were gorgeous and you could pay a fee to do the cliff walk there.
The beaches are plentiful but the one by Mia Resort was my favorite because if you walked just a bit to the right, it was nice and quiet. The other beaches had beachfront dining and day clubs but were also very windy.
Along the way, I also stubbed my toe on the broken sidewalk. It wasn’t broken but it looked really bad, so I took advantage of the many pharmacies on the island. There are also plenty of massage parlors and tattoo studios.
Where to Eat in Isla Mujeres
My first stop on the island was Picus Cockteleria, a casual seafood restaurant with sandy floors and water views. I had ceviche and a margarita, the perfect combination.
That night I ate at Raw Bar, where I had a mezcal cocktail and more shrimp, this time in a tempura batter with a creamy sauce. One of my favorite meals was actually a taco I found on a street corner.
I didn’t make it there but Ruben’s, Valavento Mangle, La Palapa del Capitan, Beachin’ Burrito, Abuelo’s, and Lola Valentina came recommended.
Where to Drink in Isla Mujeres
La Candona Coffee Bus is cute and tucked away, serving coffee out of a converted bus. You feel like you’re in the jungle when you’re enjoying your drink.
The Soggy Peso is my ideal type of beach bar, reminiscent of my time in Key West and the British Virgin Islands. The drinks were great and I loved the people watching.
Isla Brewing Company was nice for craft beer. Tarzan Beach Club was also on my list but I didn’t end up going.
Where to Stay in Isla Mujeres
I looked at several options before landing on an Airbnb, which was actually a room within a hotel, Casa Maraf. It was pretty bare bones but had a balcony overlooking the town and was right across the street from the ferry terminal. Next time, I’d probably stay further out.
The Selina Poc Na Isla Mujeres is a popular choice, as is the world-famous Casa Caracol, which my friend Alex got to stay in.
A Quick Stop in Cancun
I’d been traveling long enough to know to leave a buffer between a ferry and your flight, so I went back to the mainland to spend a night in Cancun before my trip home. I had thought about doing the Cancun Underwater Museum, which is still on my list, and a stop at the Puerto Juárez Brewery.
But in the end, I just checked into my private room at Mezcal Hostel, which I absolutely recommend, and joined a street art tour at a different hostel. I learned a lot about the city like how it was a planned development and neighborhoods are named for flowers. There’s also a similar private tour option. I had dinner at Las Tostadillas del Mar and that was a wrap on my visit!
Leave a Reply