I love Cancún’s balmy, multi-blue-toned water, but I’m less fond of the crowds, nightlife, and traffic. These days, when I travel, I want as much peace and nature as possible, from calming ocean waves to the squeaky chatter of local birds.
I’ve been to Cancún countless times, but recently visited the nearby Isla Mujeres for the first time — and found it to be the quiet, tropical escape that I needed.
This island is just a 30-minute boat ride from Cancún, but it feels worlds away. It’s also much smaller — the entire island of Isla Mujeres is 5 miles long, less than half of Cancún’s Hotel Zone alone.
The island is ideal for those who, like me, want to avoid the crowds and loud music of Cancún and Tulum.
The island is just a quick ferry ride from Cancún
Isla Mujeres is an easy day trip from Cancún, but there are plenty of hotels — from luxury options to budget picks — for those who wish to stay longer.
On this trip, I picked an all-inclusive resort that provided a catamaran ride from Cancún, though there’s also take a ferry for under $20 (one way).
The vacation began the moment I boarded the catamaran: I found a prime, comfortable spot next to the captain and enjoyed the scenic boat ride. The crew told us it’s not rare to see dolphins along the way (although we sadly didn’t).
One of the first things I did upon arriving was explore the island. It was fun to pass brightly colored homes painted in shades like banana yellow and aquamarine, and watch cute iguanas sunbathe.
I also stopped at popular Instagrammable spots and monuments, such as the Mayan goddess Ixchel statue at Punta Sur, toward the southern tip of the island.
Isla Mujeres is one of the best places in the world to swim with whale sharks
Every year, hundreds of whale sharks arrive on Isla Mujeres between summer and early fall for a bountiful plankton feast. I learned that this is widely considered one of the ethical places to swim with whale sharks because regulations are in place to protect the animals and their environment.
I was lucky enough to visit during the prime season to see these gigantic, gentle creatures on a boat tour. I also got an unexpected bonus: There were at least a dozen surprise manta rays swirling around.
Isla Mujeres is also a fantastic base for scuba diving. I didn’t get a chance to dive on my trip, but next time I visit, I plan to explore the MUSA Underwater Museum, which has hundreds of life-sized underwater sculptures.
There are several white-sand beaches, but my favorite was the popular Playa Norte, located on the northern tip. I highly recommend stretching out on the sand and grabbing a treat from one of the roving ice cream vendors.
The food was incredible
Seafood is especially good here, and you’ll find nearly every kind of Mexican food you’d expect on the mainland.
I tried tikin xic for the first time; locals told me that it was one of the island’s most famous dishes. It’s usually served whole, marinated Mayan-style with peppery achiote paste and spices. I couldn’t get enough of the tender, smoky, and slightly spicy fish.
I didn’t get to try these dishes while I was there, but I was told that cochinita pibil (marinated, slow-roasted pork) and marquesita (a fried, crepe-like wrap filled with cheese) were other local musts.
Isla Mujeres is a perfect place for Cancún and Tulum fans who want turquoise water without the crowds
I hate crowds and lines, and I loved feeling relaxed at every activity and restaurant. I found that I could also walk around town and feel comfortable and at ease, since the streets felt generally less populated with tourists.
For those who are interested, there was some nightlife, with live music and bars downtown — but in my experience, the party scene seemed to wrap up on the earlier side, around midnight.
This was a bonus for me, since I’m usually in bed by 9 p.m. and I don’t drink alcohol. For a sober, early-bedtime girl like me, Isla Mujeres is the ideal alternative to Cancún.
I already can’t wait to go back.
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