Things to Do in Isla Mujeres: Plan the Perfect Isla Mujeres Day Trip

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Isla Mujeres is a beautiful island just off the shore of Cancun, Mexico. It’s only 13km long and less than a kilometer across and can easily be explored in a single day, making it a popular day trip from Cancun or Playa del Carmen. Isla Mujeres is characterized by stunning white sandy beaches, brilliant blue waters, picturesque rocky cliffs and roads that are mostly filled with golf carts. Though it is a small island there are many things to do on an Isla Mujeres day trip so read on for some ideas of what to do on your trip to Isla Mujeres!

We’ve visited Isla Mujeres a few times during our time in Mexico, and each time has presented a very different, though amazing, view of the island. Whether you want to take an organized tour or are planning your own Isla Mujeres day trip itinerary you are certainly in for a fantastic day.

How to Get to Isla Mujeres

Isla Mujeres is a small island located off the coast of Cancun. While there is a small airport on the island, it is used only for military and private charter, so arriving by air isn’t a very likely scenario. Unless you have money. And in that case, I’m always available to join you, jus sayin.

So your options for getting to Isla Mujeres are pretty much all centered on water travel. The most common way across is to take a ferry from Puerto Juarez, but it is also possible to catch a ferry from the Hotel Zone and from Punta Sam if you have a car to bring across.

The UltraMar ferry has several routes from Cancun to Isla Mujeres so you can choose which one works best for you. With 3 terminals in the Hotel Zone, a roundtrip ticket runs about $400mx, but if you intend to be on the island to watch the sunset (highly recommended!) or have dinner, you’ll want to return into Puerto Juarez and take a bus or taxi back to your hotel because that one returns until 12am while the others are done by 9:15. The ferry between Puerto Juarez also runs every 30 min, while the others are only every hour or more. So if you ask me, its worth the bus/taxi cost to get up to Puerto Juarez to catch the ferry to Isla Mujeres.

Getting to Puerto Juarez

The easiest way to get to Puerto Juarez is to catch a taxi. You can flag down a taxi from pretty much anywhere in Cancun and expect to pay around $100mx each way, depending on how far you have to travel.

Another option is to take one of the public buses to Puerto Juarez. Route 1 & 2 go from the Hotel Zone to right in front of the ferry terminal, and Route X goes from near the ADO station to the ferry terminal. These buses will cost $6-10mx each way so if you’re on a budget this is the way to go.

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Where to Stay for an Easy Trip to Isla Mujeres

When in Quintana Roo we like to stay in Playa del Carmen, especially if we are looking for long term accommodations. But we have stayed in Cancun a number of times, as well as in Tulum, Akumal and Puerto Morelos. Each town offers a pretty different experience, so knowing what kind of visit you are interested in will help you plan the perfect vacation.

While all of these towns offer a great base for a day trip to Isla Mujeres and some of the other fun activities in the area, you might find you prefer one over another like we have.

Cancun – 30 min ferry from Isla Mujeres

Cancun is probably the most well known city to stay in Quintana Roo. With the hotel zone being the most common choice for where to stay on the peninsula, this area makes for a really easy day trip to Isla Mujeres from Cancun. We don’t prefer to stay in Cancun because to me, it feels to Americanized. But if we do stay there, we HAVE to be walking distance from Parque las Palapas ( the BEST food market in Cancun) and the ADO station.

Puerto Morelos – 30 min south of Cancun

Puerto Morelos is a super cute beach town halfway between Cancun and Playa del Carmen. We spent a couple weeks here, enjoying the slow way of life that often comes with beachside towns. If you stay here, or even head here for a day trip, make sure you look for the pastry van that winds through the town around 7 every night! And head out to the dock to book a boat tour to snorkel the reef.

Playa del Carmen – 60 min south of Cancun

Our favourite place to stay in this area is Playa del Carmen. This foodie hub has the perfect mix of Mexican vibe, beach access, shopping, awesome places to eat and nightlife. It’s super easy to get around Playa del Carmen without a car: between taxis, colectivos and walking, this is a super accessible city. It’s also conveniently located for easy day trips to Cancun, Isla Mujeres, Tulum, Valladolid and more!

Akumal – 1.5 hours south of Cancun

Akumal is a community located halfway between Playa del Carmen and Tulum. There are two parts to the town… the typical Mexican Pueblo right beside the highway and the beach-side gated community. We’ve stayed in the gated community and while the homes and neighbourhood are beautiful, it lacks the Mexican charm of the other communities mentioned here. The restaurants in this area are also much more ‘Americanized’ and expensive than what you’ll find in surrounding towns.

Tulum – 2 hours south of Cancun

This hippy-ish town is about an hour south of Playa del Carmen, so will take you about 2.5-3 hours to actually get to Isla Mujeres. This isn’t the best option for where to stay for an easy trip to Isla Mujeres, but if you’re looking for a super chill place to hang your hat, it’s a place to look into. My biggest complaint is that the town is pretty far from the beach, so you have to ride a bike or take a taxi to get there. And when I’m in Mexico, I want to be close to the beach!

Read More: Check out these awesome day trips from Cancun and Playa del Carmen!

What to Pack for a Trip to Isla Mujeres

Reef Safe Sunscreen –

A Sarong –

Your fav bathing suit – You’ll definitely be spending some time on the beach on Isla Mujeres!

Comfortable footwear – Always a must, no matter what excursion you plan. However in relation to some of the other day trips from Cancun, a day trip to Isla Mujeres is going to involve less walking.

A day pack – The easiest way to carry all your stuff is to carry a day pack. I prefer a waterproof one, just in case it rains or we get wet on the beach!

Sunglasses – Protect your eyes from the bright sun, and look cool in the process.

A waterbottle – There are many convenience stores where you can buy water on the island, but we like to do our part for the environment and save some money in the process!

A book – Ebook or paperback: whatever your jam is, having something to read while you relax on the beach is nice.

Your waterproof camera – Especially if you are snorkeling, an underwater camera is a nice accessory to have with you.

A snorkel set – While most places you’ll snorkel will have sets you can borrow or rent, we prefer to carry our own whenever possible. Not only is there the mild ick-factor of using a communal mouthpiece, having your own set means you know that you like how it fits on your face.

A microfiber towel – Fast drying, light and easy to pack makes this a must pack on every day trip we take.

Things to Do in Isla Mujeres: Planning the Perfect Day Trip to Isla Mujeres, Mexico

There are a few

Option 1: Book an Organized tour

Pros of an Organized Tour to Isla Mujeres

• Done for you day trip
• Great price considering all the inclusions
• Riding a catamaran to Isla Mujeres!
• Chance of spinnaker flying
• Open bar
• Watch the sunset from the boat
• Super easy!

Cons of an Organized Tour to Isla Mujeres

• On a tight schedule
• Food is just average
• Not much time for snorkeling

An organized group day trip to Isla Mujeres is the perfect option if you’re unfamiliar with the area and just want someone to take care of the planning for you. Most of these organized Isla Mujeres excrsions offer pick up from your hotel in Cancun or Playa del Carmen, making it an easy way to experience the island.

We’ve taken organized Isla Mujeres excursions twice during our visits to Mexico. Both experiences were with Cancun Sailing, based out of Marina Chac-Chi in the Cancun hotel zone. They offer hotel pickup from anywhere in Cancun or Playa del Carmen, which was a nice option, but we made our own way there via colectivo.

BUDGET HACK: You know those guys trying to sell you on half price excursions and free activities in tourist areas? They want you to attend a timeshare presentation in exchange for discounted tickets! We ALWAYS say yes to them, and have attended around 10 or so different presentations. Both of our day trips to Isla Mujeres have been courtesy of timeshare presentations! PLUS when attending your appointment, you’ll get a delicious breakfast buffet to start your day. Just practice your ‘no’ face before you arrive 

The tour includes a catamaran ride to Isla Mujeres, a guided tour to snorkel the reef and the MUSA Underwater Museum, a buffet lunch, 1.5 hours to explore the island, and a catamaran ride back to Cancun. They also include an open bar on the catamaran and at lunch. If you ask at check in, you may get to go on a boat that also offers spinnaker flying, should the weather be ideal. We haven’t been so lucky yet, but we’ll keep trying!

In the morning you’ll arrive at Marina Chac-Chi to check in for your tour. The marine park fee of $10usd is not included in your tour price, so this is where you’ll pay this fee. Hint: pay in pesos and it’ll be a bit cheaper.

Once you’ve paid, they will give you a snorkel and you will wait on the beach until your group colour is called. When it is, you will gather with your group, hear a few instructions, and get ready to board.

TIP: While you’re waiting, you will likely be approached to buy ‘required’ reef-safe sunscreen. NO, this is not required!!! You can go without sunscreen, but I recommend buying it ahead at Walmart. It will be a fraction of the price! However, to help protect the reef and its inhabitants, PLEASE use an all-natural sunscreen! (HINT: You’ll save even more if you grab it from Amazon before you leave home.)

Taking the Catamaran to Isla Mujeres

When it’s time to board the catamaran to Isla Mujeres we like to try to get at the front of the line so we can sit at the front of the boat. However this backfired the second time when the waters were wavy enough that the boat rocking made me feel queasy… So be aware! Sit towards the back if you’re worried about this. I now take a Dramamine before any water activity just in case!

On our first catamaran to Isla Mujeres we sat on the nets and it was breathtaking. The water was the most stunning shade of turquoise, and the bright blue sky made it the perfect day for a boat ride. Even if you don’t book a full tour, taking a catamaran to Isla Mujeres is an experience I highly recommend, even as a budget traveller!

Each catamaran tour from Cancun to Isla Mujeres has about 40 to 50 people on it. This sounds like a lot, but the boat is actually huge so there is tons of room for everyone. As you can see in the photo below, many guests made themselves comfortable on the netting at the front of the boat. You can actually only see one side of it here- there is another net the same side out of the frame and a large seating area on the boat.

Snorkeling MUSA, the Underwater Museum

After cruising across the channel to arrive at Isla Mujeres the captain will stop short and drop the anchor so that those who want to can go for a snorkel on the reef and to see the underwater museum, MUSA.

The first time we did this tour it was AMAZING. Since the water was so clear we could see everything, including many kinds of fish and tons of MUSA statues. Unfortunately the second time was terrible because we couldn’t see a darn thing! Future reference: if they say the water is too cloudy to see the underwater museum, assume that snorkeling in general isn’t going to be that great!

The unfortunate part with snorkeling on this organized tour from Cancun to Isla Mujeres is that there are guides in the water with you, hanging out at the front and back of the group. They are there to make sure no one gets lost in the crowds of other tour groups in the same area, which is overall a good thing (there can be A LOT of groups on a nice day!)… But it’s also annoying to be constantly prompted to hurry up so you can stay with the moving group.

It’s worth noting that you won’t have time to freely explore here. You’re pretty much led on a fairly continuous route above the reef and MUSA. This wasn’t a big deal to us, since an hour in the water is fine for us, but someone like my aunt and uncle who love snorkeling might be disappointed at how rushed it feels.

That being said, swimming with nearly 500 cement statues sitting on the ocean floor is an absolute must-do if you’re near Isla Mujeres! The coolest thing about these statues is that they will be different every time you visit them thanks to the growth of coral on the artificial reef.

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Food and drink is included

After snorkeling you’ll be offered an open bar on the way to lunch (For safety reasons you can’t drink before going snorkeling). You’ll only have a half hour or so to enjoy this before arriving at a semi-private beach for lunch, so drink up! But don’t worry, the open bar continues through lunch and appears again when you get back on the boat at the end of the day for the ride from Isla Mujeres to Cancun.

When we got to shore we were greeted with the most beautiful place to sit for a meal. The view seriously can’t be beat. But… the food was just ok. The buffet was perfectly average. Mashed potatoes, spaghetti, beans, rice, chicken fajitas and salad. Seth was thrilled to see spaghetti on the menu, and I really enjoyed the fajitas. Other than that everything was pretty simple. Not terrible, but not amazing. Nothing I’d complain about with this view, though!

Our second organized Isla Mujeres day trip stopped at the Ice Bar for lunch, so if you wanted to pay around $20usd each you could get bundled up to enjoy a drink in their bar literally made of ice. Since we come from the land of ice and snow (Alberta, Canada), we opted against that! Both tours also offered the chance to hold a shark to get a photo, but we’re not supporters of that sort of thing so we avoided the docks where they were doing that.

Free time to explore Isla Mujeres

After lunch you’ll hop back on the catamaran for a quick trip to the main port of Isla Mujeres (and another drink if you want one!). Once there you’ll have about 1.5 hours to explore the island.

From our experience, the best way to do this is to rent a golf cart. It takes a bit under an hour to circle Isla Mujeres on a golf cart, so you’ll have a bit of extra time to hop off and explore. If this is your plan you’ll want to hop off the boat and head straight to a cart rental shop. Since several tours dock here each day, golf carts tend to go quickly.

If driving around the island isn’t on your to-do list you can walk around the shops for some souvenirs or head to the beach for a relaxing day in the sand.

If you do decide to get a golf cart, Punta Sur is definitely worth a stop. If you’re lucky you’ll see some of the many iguanas that call the island home. Our favourite views are on the east side of the island, so I’d recommend starting on this side and seeing how far you get before running tight on time!

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Once we got back on the boat, the drinks started flowing again. We made ourselves comfortable on the net and settled in for the sunset ride back to Cancun.

While the organized day trip to Isla Mujeres made for a bit of a whirlwind day, it is definitely one of our favourite ways to spend time when in Quintana Roo.

All in all, the tours were fantastic. However, knowing what I do now about snorkeling in wavy, low visability water, I would reschedule if they said we couldn’t see the underwater museum. Calling in the morning to ask about visibility and whether the spinnaker will make an appearance is the best way to handle this. But other than that, an organized trip to Isla Mujeres from Cancun is an awesome way to see the island.

Option 2: Plan It Yourself Day Trip to Isla Mujeres

Pros of a Plan it Yourself Isla Mujeres Day Trip

• Total freedom with your time
• Get there early, leave late
• Watch the sunset on Playa Norte
• Eat at some island restaurants

Cons of a Plan it Yourself Isla Mujeres Day Trip

• Pay for everything individually
• No open bar
• No catamaran ride

Getting to Isla Mujeres

Having taken a couple organized day trips to Isla Mujeres, I knew that my next trip over from Cancun had to be one that I planned myself, this time with adequate time to explore.

Any plan-it-yourself trip to Isla Mujeres from Cancun starts with getting to the ferry terminal at Puerto Juarez. Sure, you can charter a boat to get across but as a budget traveller, that’s just not something I can advise you on! So, let’s just assume you travel somewhat like us and will be taking the ferry to Isla Mujeres.

Head to the ferry terminal using the directions at the top of this post, and get ready for a day in the sun! Once you reach Isla Mujeres, I highly recommend making a cart rental shop your first stop. Once the organized day tours make it over, the carts get snatched right up and you might have trouble getting one. Since you’ll be on the island for awhile, you’ll likely want to go for the all day rental like we did. This just ensures you won’t have to rush back to return it (aside from having to make it back before they close!).

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Spending the day on Isla Mujeres

Once you have your golf cart rented for the day, you can decide whether you want to hit the beach first and wander the island second, or vice versa. My preference is to relax on the beach for a couple hours, then spend the afternoon exploring, followed by an evening of watching the sunset.

Regardless of what order you want to do things in, you’ll definitely want to head to Playa Norte for some beach time. The crystal clear water and stunning white sand are seriously the most beautiful backdrop for a beach day! Only drawback is that you definitely won’t be the only person that thinks so… This beach can get somewhat crowded, but in my experience there’s always room to spread out your towel, and once you get in the water you won’t even care who’s on the beach!

While relaxing here you’ll no doubt encounter vendors selling sarongs, bags, snacks and drinks. We bought a couple sarongs from one guy, and had fun looking at all that he offered. I got the impression that he worked with an actual store, because he was very unwilling to barter. But still, the prices weren’t terrible.

Exploring the Island

With a golf cart rental safely secured, you will have plenty of time and freedom to explore the tiny island of Isla Mujeres. From fun restaurants to beachside waterparks, there is no shortage of fun things to do! My best suggestion is to give yourself 2-3 hours and just wander. Stop wherever you think looks interesting! There are some amazing views all the way around the island, so stop often and leave yourself plenty of time!

The Joint is a fun rasta themed restaurant to grab a drink and a snack, or check out one of the many water front hotels. Many offer a daily happy hour or day rate, so you can enjoy their drink specials and lounge chairs.

After a couple hours of exploration we stopped for a snack at the Joint on the west coast. It wasn’t the cheapest place, but we didn’t really expect it to be as it’s clearly a touristy hang out. The guacamole was delicious and the fries were tasty (though definitely not homemade as the menu states!).

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Drinks at Sunset

Isla Mujeres is beautiful all around, and you’ll no doubt have an amazing day trip there, regardless of whether you plan it yourself or take an organized tour. But if there’s one thing you won’t get to do with an organized tour, that you absolutely SHOULD make plans to do, it’s to watch the sunset from the beach! Playa Norte is the best spot to watch the sun go down, and will give you a completely different view than you’ll get from Cancun or Playa del Carmen.

Grab a drink from one of the bars on the beach and get comfortable on the sand. This is easily the best way to end your day trip to Isla Mujeres!

After the sun has gone down you can head to one of the restaurants in town (we loved Javi’s Cantina!), but you’ll notice that the shops all close down and the streets empty pretty quickly. Good news is that the ferry to Puerto Juarez runs for a few more hours, so you’ll have plenty of time for dinner before you head back to Cancun.

Final Thoughts

All in all, both ways to do an Isla Mujeres day trip are awesome. If you have extra money and like the idea of an open bar and snorkeling included with people taking care of all the details for you, go for the organized tour. But if you’d like to keep to a lower budget and have more time to explore Isla Mujeres without a timeline, plan it yourself.

I’m glad we’ve had the experience of an organized trip. However, having done 2 already and knowing I have a good grasp of all the things to do in Isla Mujeres, next time I’ll lean more towards planning (or not planning) my own day trip to the island.

I hope this helps you decide which trip would suit you!

Have you been to Isla Mujeres? Do you have any suggestions on where to eat there? Share them in the comments so I have an excuse to plan another trip over! (like I need an excuse… ;))

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