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.
In this post, I’ll list the 21 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 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.
For 100 pesos ($5), you have access to lounge chairs, showers, change rooms and snorkel gear as well. This is a nice, mellow spot to relax during the afternoon.
If you’d rather just admire the amazing natural views and then sit down to enjoy some Mexican food, don’t miss Capricho Ranch which serves up tasty tacos! Get directions here.
Note: While we recommend visiting the southern part of Isla Mujeres, we don’t support Garrafon Park which is also located here. This is 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 cart rental agencies available around the ferry port and you can expect to pay around $65 per day for a 2-seater. This company is one of the many options available, shop around when you arrive.
If you wish to hire a golf buggy for a week you can expect to pay around $420. 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.
If you just want to head out for a day to enjoy some bars, you can join this hilarious golf cart pub crawl! With a driver, you won’t have to worry about drinking and driving. Many drinks and lots of snacks are included in the fun tour. Click here to learn more.
If you’re into golfing, and not just riding golf carts, make sure to head to Manzanillo, Cancun, and Puerto Vallarta, which have some excellent golfing opportunities.
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.
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5. Walk Around Centro & Admire The Sea Wall Murals
We’re all for the preservation of our world’s oceans 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.
You can check them out yourself, or join this tour to head out with a friendly local guide who will explain the murals, the artists, and the history. It also includes a bit of sightseeing around the island.
☞ 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.
This tour usually picks up guests from Cancun and heads over to Isla Mujeres and Isla Contoy, but you can request a pickup from other places like Tulum or hop on when they stop at Isla Mujeres. Contact them for more details.
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.
Isla Contoy Address: Ed. Capitanía Regional de Puerto Juárez, Región 86, Manzana 2, 77520 Cancún, Q.R., Mexico. Click here for directions.
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.
This operator stays closer to shore so is perfect for families or anyone who might get a little seasick, while this one is an awesome full-day deepsea fishing trip for those anglers who really want to hook into a monster.
- Click Here to learn more about the family-friendly inshore fishing day trip
- Click Here to learn more about the deep-sea fishing trip
We’ve done a lot of deep-sea fishing trips in Mexico and around the world and it’s always a great time with friends and family.
⇒ 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.
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10. Drink Some Craft Beer
Mexico is home to many different types of lagers – you’ve probably sampled Corona, Dos Equis, or Pacifico – but don’t miss out on the incredible craft beers!
A visit to Isla Brewing Company is one of the best things to do in Isla Mujeres for beer lovers, especially when it’s raining on the island. These locally brewed craft beers are a must-try.
As a bonus, if you buy bottles of beer to take away, you’ll get 10 pesos back when you return them. This a great way to recycle, and get a discount on your next beer purchase!
Isla Brewing Company Address: Jesús Martínez Ross 62, Meteorológico, 77400 Isla Mujeres, Q.R., Mexico. Click here to find it on the map.
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.
If you’re new to scuba diving and have never tried it, Mujeres is the place. This tour will take you out into shallow water with a certified diving instructor who will swim alongside you while you enjoy the beauty of the coral reefs here.
If you’re experienced, then this dive shop is highly rated and you can book dives online.
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).
We went scuba diving on Isla Mujeres with Squalo Adventures and were very happy with their safety protocols, service, and boats.
Click Here to learn more about scuba diving around Isla Mujeres for first-timers.
Click Here to book a two-tank dive with our favorite dive shop on Mujeres.
12. Chill Out at a Beach Club
There are a few beach clubs on the island, but Amazona is a good option. For $40, you get access to beach chairs, a buffet lunch, and drinks. Of course, they aren’t going to be premium drinks, but hey, for all you can drink at $40, that’s a pretty good deal.
If beach beds and chairs aren’t your thing, laze in one of the hammocks suspended in the sea! With music, sun and sand, you really can’t go wrong. Chillin’ out at the beach club is one of the best things to do in Isla Mujeres for couples, or friends.
Address: Amazona Beach Club – Perimetral Pte. 080, 77400 Isla Mujeres, Q.R., Mexico. Get directions here.
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.
Better yet, consider joining a tour like this one that includes a boat to take you out to the best spots and a friendly local guide to show you the amazing sea life around Mujeres.
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!
Click here to learn more about the best snorkel tour in Isla Mujeres.
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.
Isla Animals Address: Parque, Isla Mujeres , Hacienda Mundaca, Q.R., Mexico. Click here for directions.
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.
Mercado Municipal Address: Centro – Supmza. 001, 77400 Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Click here for directions.
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.
Zocalo Address:
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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 – for silver jewelry. Av Guerrero 3.
- Women’s Beading Cooperative – handmade jewelry with profits going directly to the female artisans. Address: C. P.º de los Peces 160-L5, La Gloria, 77400 Isla Mujeres, Q.R., Mexico. Get directions here.
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! This tour leaves from Cancun, but contact them about a pick-up in Isla Mujeres. For more information and to book click here.
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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:
If you’re backpacking Mexico on a budget, you’ll definitely want to check out the Mercado Municipal for cheap eats.
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20. Rent a Yacht
If you’re traveling to Isla Mujeres with a group, or you’ve got $600 to spend for yourself, or for you and your partner, then a day on this private yacht might just be one of the coolest luxury experiences you can have in Isla Mujeres.
This 46-foot beauty can fit up to 15 guests and can take you anywhere you want to go. You can get picked up in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, or on Isla Mujeres and you can spend the day relaxing in quiet coves or just cruise along the coast.
The cost is pretty fair if you have a large group. With 15 people the total price is less than $40 per person, which is pretty incredible on a luxury vessel like this.
Click here to learn more about this amazing yacht and to contact the owners for reservations and booking.
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. The tour technically starts in Cancun, so if you’re in the big city it’s a great day trip to the island, but it’s also possible to just meet the guide on Mujeres to start the trip. Click here to learn more about this highly rated, unique activity in Isla Mujeres.
Now You Know What To Do in Isla Mujeres
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.
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.
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.
