Where is Isla Mujeres, Mexico? Isla Mujeres (Island of Women) is a Caribbean island in Mexico, which is about a 30min drive from the Cancun airport and a short 20 minute ferry ride to the island.
What's it like? Isla is an idyllic little island that has preserved its beauty, charm and relaxed vibe. This colorful Mexican island is full of friendly, vibrant people and has one of the top 10 beaches in the world with a chance to swim with the worlds largest fish (Whale Sharks) and lots more unique island experiences. It’s also a great place to find unique boutique shops and enjoy amazing local and international dishes and fun nightlife.  Isla is the perfect destination to enjoy some fun in the sun for single travellers, friends, couples or families.  Embrace the island's culture, along with all the amenities you need, including a grocery store, pharmacies, food delivery and private chef services.
What's the best beach? North Beach is THE beach to go to, with endless white sand bottom and crystal clear waters, it has been named the top ten beach in the world various times, and for a very good reason. Go early in the morning if you want to beat the crowds. During the day you can throw your towel on the sand or you can rent lounge chairs and an umbrella for a reasonable price. Always be clear on the price before you rent.
What do I need to know about the ferry crossing to the island? The most common ferry is from Puerto Juarez (Cancun) to/from Isla Mujeres and run by Ultramar. Jetway is another company with smaller boats and less frequent ferries. A few things to note. The ferry ticket you buy is not for a specified seat or time, you must line up to get on the ferry, with a first come, first serve system. Ferries are particularly busy in the mornings and evenings while many people are going to and from work. If you are leaving the island to catch a flight during these times, please be mindful to arrive to the ferry terminal early in case you miss the ferry and need to catch the next one. They run every 30 mins or every hour in off-peak times. You can purchase tickets online or upon arrival. Pricing information can also be found here: https://www.ultramarferry.com/en
Is Isla Mujeres (Mexico) safe? The answer is Yes. As with any country, including your own, there are safe and not so safe areas to be. For some reason the media and governments specifically love to pick on Mexico and paint the whole country in one negative colour of fear. Is this fair or accurate? Absolutley not. Is the information you are reading and the sources it is coming from always depicting accurate and true facts? No. Are similar crimes in other cities in the States for example creating the same travel warnings and tainting the entire town, city, state or country in the same way? No. Does that mean Mexico doesn't have its own issues and is perfect and 100% crime free? No. So where can you get up to date accurate information about anywhere you want to travel, including this little island in paradise? The answer is from groups like ours (see our FB page) and the people that live here and vacation here year after year. From the people that are here on the ground or who just got back from their vacation etc. Use common sense, as you would anywhere and you should be fine. Relax and enjoy your vacation in paradise. I think the millions of visitors to the island each year would agree.
Is it best to use Pesos or Dollars? Both Mexican Pesos and USD are accepted on the island. Please note that when using USD in most restaurants and shops on the island, that you are NOT going to get as good an exchange rate than exchanging it at a casa de cambio (an exchange booth) or bank. While you are on the island you have the choice of using USD, exchanging money, bringing pesos from your home town or using an ATM. If you are going to exchange money, you are better to exchange your dollars at an exchange booth or bank (you will need your passport at most), where you will get more pesos for your dollar. Also please note that Banamex and HSBC on the island do not exchange money. The best places to exchange money (with the best rates) on the island are Banca Azteca in Elektra, which is located on the north end of Av. Guerrero or CI Bank which is located on Rueda Medina (the ferry street), heading north towards North Beach (Playa Norte). There are other exchange booths that will allow you to take out more money or where you don't need your passport, but their rate will be slightly lower. Please note that damaged, ripped or torn bills are not accepted in Mexico. The alternative is withdrawing money from the islands ATMs where you will pay both a local fee (rates vary) and fee from your bank at home (rates vary). It is easier for islanders to accept local currency, as having to exchange dollars can mean standing in long line ups at the exchange booths or banks, however they do end up profiting on each dollar because of the better exchange rate they will receive at such places and the lower rate they charged you. Another important tip: whether you choose to use pesos or dollars please have small change on hand for various things like taxis, tips, water etc. Lastly keep in mind that not all businesses accept credit cards or may charge a fee for doing so.
When is the best time to visit? Isla is one of those places that you can visit anytime of year, assuming you like hot and sunny, which it is most of the time.  When it does rain it is usually for short bursts *unless there is.a 'Norte' (North wind) or storm rolling through, which can last for a few days.  The temperature is generally hot, but comfortable in the winter months with a cool breeze on the Caribbean side. If you’re looking for a warm holiday getaway, this is the perfect time to visit Isla. However, it is also the busiest.  Summer is typically super hot and densely humid.  Hurricane season is from June to November and hard to predict these days, but overall the wettest months are from September to November, which is a quieter time of year for the island.
Should I stay at an All Inclusive? There are several All Inclusives on the island. We will include a list for you below. When asking whether it's best to stay at an AI or rent a hotel, boutique hotel, airbnb or vacation rental etc, it all comes down to personal choice. What most experienced Isla visitors will tell you is that there is way too much to enjoy, eat, drink, shop and explore on Isla to do an AI, not to mention meet many friendly locals. One common arguing point is that the food at AI's is not very good. However if AI is your thing you can of course enjoy both worlds. For example enjoy a day by your pool sipping cocktails and enjoy a night out on the town at one of Isla's many restaurants, bars and shops. There are also many activities to enjoy on the island such as renting a golf cart, snorkeling, fishing, diving or swimming with whale sharks etc. Privilege Aluxes Isla Mujeres Hotel Zoëtry Villa Rolandi - Isla Mujeres, México Hotel Mia Reef Isla Mujeres Hotel Belò Impression Isla Mujeres by Secrets
When can I swim with the Whale Sharks? What do I need to know? The season to swim with whale sharks is from mid May to mid September. There are various operators on the island, not all of which have a licence to operate. There is a set fee of $150usd for this trip and you can always ask the operator to see their license if you have any doubts. You can book this trip ahead of time or once you are on the island. Please note that the Whale Sharks may be far out to see at some times of the season and the boat trip is usually 1-2 hours out to sea. Seasickness medications are recomended. Once you have reached the Whale Sharks you will be allowed to swim with them in the water a few times with a guide, two people at a time. No touching is allowed. There are very strict guidelines to follow and any responsible tour operator will respect those rules in order to protect the whale sharks, their behavioural patterns and enviroment. If you would like pictures of your experience be sure to ask your tour operator ahead of time if they provide this service and at what additional cost. Please always do your research and should a responsible & reputable tour operator. We recomend www.islawhalesharks.com
Is there seaweed (sargasso) on the island? Every summer for the last 5 or 6 years the Mayan Riviera gets hit with seaweed aka sargassum or sargasso in Spanish. Luckily due to the positioning of the island, what little seaweed we do get gets cleaned up daily so you can rest easy that Isla's world famous North Beach / Playa Norte is seaweed free. It's one of the only seaweed free locations on the entire Riviera. Check this FB page for monthly updates: https://www.facebook.com/RedSargazo/?locale=es_LA
Is there reliable WIFI? Most, if not all accommodations include WIFI, there are several networks used on the island and some are better than others. In general the WIFI should be good enough to make video calls etc, but sometime it is slow or cuts out due to weather, power outages or an over saturated network. It is best to ask directly about the services available where you are staying.
What if I need medical attention while I'm on the island? Here is a list of Isla's Medical Doctors. Some are general doctors, some have specialities, some do house calls, some have offices, some work at the hospital. Please do your research to find the right fit for you and your needs. Medisla - Dr. Salas 998 845 2370 Doctora Greta Shorey 998 402 6874 Medica Rojas Dr Abraham 998 202 2777 Dra Xhanat-tze Mora 998 233 1054 Dra Leily Osorio Mares 998 180 5652 Dr Mendoza 755 121 8488 Dr Pons 922 127 4556 Dr Márquez 998 241 9048 (Pediatrician) Dr Avila 998 338 4280 Dra Tere 998 135 6979 Dra Betzaray 998 846 3075 Dra Linette 552 330 5670 Dra León 553 399 6395 (Pediatrician) In case of any medical emergency on the island it is best to be prepared and know your options. For any serious medical condition it is recommended to be treated in a private hospital in Cancun. Here is some information and options of nearby private hospitals in Cancun, which as a tourist on Isla Mujeres with insurance is the best way to go (private). Our aim is to provide the resources of information, please do your own research to decide what's best for you and your loved ones. Also please note: The hospitals in Cancun will most likely require full payment ahead of time before treatment or at least before release. It is recommended to contact your insurance company ahead of time when possible to get approval for any costs so that you know that you will be reimbursed. The hospital will provide all the documentation for the insurance company. It is recommended to have a credit card with a high limit in case of emergencies so that they can provide treatment as soon as possible. TOP 3 Private Hospitals in Cancun (info copy and pasted from their websites) Hospital Galenia - Private hospital Open 24 hours · 998 891 5200 Av. Tulum, Lote 1, Mza. 1, SM. 12 Esq. Nizuc Fracc. Sta. MarÃa Siké Hospital Galenia is the only hospital in the southeast Mexico and the only 3rd best best hospital in the state of Quintana Roo that holds the Certificate of Medical Attention Establishments which has been granted by the Joint Commission International (JCI), Accreditation Canada International (ACI) and the General Health Council (CSG Mexico). These accreditations are a clear surety that the hospital completely fulfils the international standards for the Medical Tourism. The medical staff of the hospital is either board-certified or board-eligible. The physicians have been specially trained in many of the best medical schools and great hospitals in the world. The medical staff provides services in more than 70 specialties, and currently deals with patients of the United States and Canada. https://hospitalgalenia.com/ Hospital Amerimed - Private hospital Open 24 hours · 998 881 3400 Av. Tulum sur no.260 Manzanas 4, 5 y 9 · In Plaza Las Americas AMERIMED is a hospital network situated at the main tourist destinations in Mexico. It is the first organization that specializes in medical tourism in the Mexican country according to the US standards for quality services. Presently the group consists of a network of four hospitals. Amerimed Hospital is the best option for medical care at the Mexican tourist destinations. https://www.amerimedcancun.com/ Hospiten Cancún - Private hospital Open 24 hours · 998 881 3700 Av. Bonampak 10 As with all centers of the Grupo Hospiten, the center in Cancun has virtually all the necessary facilities you will expected to see in a world-class, modern hospital. Its staff is well-trained and highly professional in their approach to giving necessary medical attention to patients. https://hospiten.com/centros-y-hospitales/hospiten-cancun _______________________ ARTICLE OF THE BEST PRIVATE HOSPITALS IN MEXICO https://funsalud.org.mx/.../upl.../2021/01/7-Ranking-Sur.pdf
How can I suport the locals? Are there any non-profits? Here is a list of Isla Non-Profits that could always use your support. Lean On Me, Isla Mujeres Rescuing the islanders little yellow school house Isla Kids Isla Mujeres Scholarship Program Isla Mujeres Scholarship Group Isla Diabetes Clinic Isla Mujeres Helmets for Children Better access for Better learning Isla Mujeres Shoes For Children MX Friends of Keys 4 Life Ron Brown Scholarship Fund Isla Animals Clinica Veterinaria de Isla Mujeres A.C. https://www.helpinganimalslivingoverseas.org/ Isla Mujeres Cats Need Help