Isla Mujeres, Mexico Day Trip from Cancun

Overview

Of all the many Mexican destinations to choose from, Cancun stands out as one of the most popular. A beautiful resort destination, filled with luxury hotels and soft, sandy beaches, Cancun is a real paradise for sunbathing, snorkeling, swimming, and relaxing. It’s also a great place to see more of Mexico through various day trips and tours.

One of the most interesting Mexico day trips you can do from Cancun will take you to Isla Mujeres. Translating to English as 'Women Island', Isla Mujeres is about 8 miles off the Yucatan Peninsula Coast. It boasts of Caribbean Sea beaches, clear waters, excellent seafood restaurants, and amazing coral reefs for snorkeling and scuba diving.

There's plenty to do on Isla Mujeres, with the island holding a lot of appeal for families, couples, and groups of friends. It’s only a short distance away by ferry, and it’s quite an affordable day trip option as well. Here’s how you can plan a dream day trip from Cancun to Isla Mujeres.

Getting to Isla Mujeres from Cancun

If you're planning an Isla Mujeres day trip, you'll need to start off in Cancun. Ferries leave from Puerto Juárez, Cancun, and Gran Puerto to Isla Mujeres. The ferries run all through the day, starting early in the morning and continuing until late in the evening. You can get a return ticket on the ferry to Isla Mujeres for around 300 pesos on average, and the journey only takes about 15 minutes.

Important Information and Things to Do at Isla Mujeres

- Getting Around - Taking a car to Isla Mujeres isn't recommended as there isn't much parking on the island and it's quite a small place, so having a car is quite unnecessary. In general, you'll be able to walk to most places on Isla Mujeres with ease, or you could choose to rent a golf cart to get around more quickly. Most of the ferries won't even allow cars on board.

- Best Time to Visit - When considering the best time to visit Isla Mujeres, this is quite a subjective issue with no right or wrong answers. Simply put, the best time to visit Isla Mujeres for you will depend on your own needs and preferences. If you love heat and humidity and don't mind the crowds, visiting in the summer months will be fine for you. If you prefer when places are a little quieter or want to visit the island when the weather isn't quite as sticky, visiting in spring or fall is a better idea. Hurricanes and storms can be seen on the island throughout the year, especially in August and September, so be sure to check the forecast when planning your trip.

- Carnaval - Many people love to visit Isla Mujeres for the island's 'Carnaval' celebrations. These annual festivities take place 46 days before Easter each year, so the exact dates will vary, but the celebration usually occurs in late February or early March. It's a fun festival with lots of live music and dancing in the streets, as well as parades and street food, so it’s always a good time to visit.

- Things to Do at Isla Mujeres - There are plenty of things to do and experiences to have at Isla Mujeres, and the way you plan your day will depend on what activities you enjoy the most. Some visitors will simply want to sit on the beach, relax, work on their tans, and enjoy the view. Others will want to head out into the water and down beneath the waves to explore the local coral reefs via snorkeling or scuba diving. You can also head off on fishing charters or dolphin spotting tours in the Caribbean Sea from Isla Mujeres. Some of the prettiest places on the island include the Malecons. These two promenades run along the east and west sides of the island. They're lovely places to walk along, admiring the views, sitting on the benches, enjoying some snacks, and saying hello to some of the locals. You can also spend time seeing the various lighthouses dotted around Isla Mujeres or visting the island's colorful cemetery.