11 Spectacular Things to do on Isla Mujeres

Only a 20-minute ferry ride outside of Cancun Mexico lies a beautiful island with some of the best beaches in the world. Isla Mujeres is one of the most popular locations to visit when coming down to Cancun because of all the things to do. A popular itinerary is to go visit Chichen Itza and then go to the island for a few days afterward.

Many people go to Isla Mujeres because of the famous Playa Norte. We spent some time here but the most fun we had was when we rented a golf cart. The island is a lot bigger than just that one area. There are some cool areas to check out that you will find out in this blog.

Where is Isla Mujeres?

Isla stands for “Island” in Spanish and Mujeres means Women. This is the Island of Women, a small island located off the coast of Cancun, Mexico.

This island is only 7 kilometers long but it is full of beauty. Isla Mujeres sits in the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico on the opposite side of Cuba.

Click here to get a better view of the map of this island.

Best Time to Visit Isla Mujeres

The peak season for Isla Mujeres and much of Mexico runs from late December to March. This is when the weather is the best and also correlates with much of the winter months in the Northern Hemisphere.

A lot of travelers want to get away from the cold weather in their home country and visit somewhere warmer. Spring Break for college is the most popular week to visit but I wouldn’t suggest coming that weekend unless you only wanted to party.

How to Get to Isla Mujeres

Most likely you will be arriving at the Cancun airport. The cheapest option to get downtown is to take the ADO bus. It is a big red coach bus. You can’t miss it. The cost is around $4.50 USD.

Once here you will want to make your way to the Ultramar Ferry Puerto Juárez. This taxi cost us $60 pesos ($3 USD) but prices can fluctuate. After arriving at the ferry you will want to buy your ticket. A round-trip ticket to Isla Mujeres cost us $18. You can take the return trip whenever you’d like.

Best Tours in Isla Mujeres

11 Things to do in Isla Mujeres

1. Rent a Golf Cart

The best way to get around the island is easily by renting a golf cart. If you want to get to do as many things are you can on Isla Mujeres, then this is a must. There are many different areas around the island to buy one. We bought one near our Airbnb for $50 for 24 hours. They aren’t going to be cheap but look around for the best deals.

2. Enjoy Lunch at the Famous “The Joint” Restaurant

This is a unique restaurant and you will probably see signs for it as you get off the ferry. It is a Carribean-styled restaurant with reggae-themed colors. Honestly, it was a lot pricier than I thought it would be and what we had to eat was alright but the vibe was great. There was a live band playing and it was pretty packed, even at 2 pm.

This is a great place to stop by on your way back from other attractions like Punta Sur.

3. Visit Playa Norte

One of the biggest reasons people flock to this island every year is the famous Playa Norte. It ranks as a top 10 beach in the entire world and for good reason. It can get very crowded at times but the water is crystal clear. The sand is so white that I mistook it for sawdust. This is a good place to go to drink and have a good time. Go once when you get here and once you finish all of your other activities. A nice and relaxing reward.

4. Crayola House

This is a neat little colorful house in a small neighborhood on the island. There isn’t much to see here besides enjoying its uniqueness. It is a great pit stop to take some photos. It is a guest house but who knows, maybe someone will give you a tour.

5. Sit on the Rainbow Stairs

To go along with the colorful house of Crayola there are the rainbow stairs. Each stair is a different color and shares words of positivity/hope on it. Stop here on your golf cart trek and take some photos. It is a nice picturesque place throughout the town.

6. Explore Punta Sur

The southern part of the island is probably the biggest attraction other than Playa Norte on the island. There is a place where you can let your mind wander and think about what it was like for the people centuries ago to inhabit it. There are different caves to walk through and many paths to follow alongside the cliff. You can grab a bite to eat here or also visit the convenience store inside for a drink. The entry fee is around $2-$3 USD.

7. Visit Garrafon Reef Park 

Right outside of Punta Sur is the Garrafon Reef Park. Here you can dine, drink, zipline, and even kayak. The prices were a little too expensive for our blood but there is plenty to do here. It is worth checking out if you want to find more things to do on Isla Mujeres.

8. Spend the Day at Parque de Los Suenos

This is a super fun beach park with a bar, restaurant, rope swing, kayaks, and water slides. It doesn’t cost anything to get in but they want you to spend a certain amount of money. Make sure they don’t force you to pay $300 pesos upfront because you don’t have to. Grab a few drinks and explore all that it has to offer. You can easily spend hours here as we did.

9. Eat Street Food

On the streets parallel to Playa Norte and perpendicular to the main strip of restaurants you will see many food trucks. We practically went here every single night for dinner because it was so good. Our favorite was the street tacos. I got three street tacos for $6 USD, which is a little pricey for Mexico but this is a huge tourist attraction. They filled me up though and were absolutely delicious.

10. Visit the Underwater Museum

A popular thing to do off the island is to visit the underwater museum. There are many statues underwater that you are able to scuba dive or snorkel around to take a closer look. It is said that there are so many objects underwater that it is impossible to see them all in one go.

11. Go to the Skate Park

Isla Mujeres has things to do for all kinds of people. If you are a skateboarder and happen to have your board, then you should stop by and check it out. It could be one of the best views you have ever skated to. It is located right along the beach. You will be able to hear waves crashing the entire time you are skating!

Final Thoughts on Things to do on Isla Mujeres

When I first looked into Isla Mujeres it looked like a typical tourist trap. Don’t get me wrong, there are definitely spots like that on the island but it is full of so much more. Many people when they visit here only go to the beach. I suggest you not do that and instead fully explore the island. It was a great combination of relaxation and adventure. I loved it here as there were many things to do on Isla Mujeres.

Thank you for reading my guide on Isla Mujeres! I hope you can come and see what the hype is all about.