Isla Mujeres is one of Cancun’s most popular day trip destinations. Promising golden beaches, blue waters, snorkelling and some of Mexico’s finest resorts – this small island is truly beautiful. But is Isla Mujeres Worth Visiting? Given that it’s a ferry ride away from Cancun, is it really worth the hassle of visiting from Cancun? Read on to find out.

About Isla Mujeres

This tiny island is only 7km (4.3 miles) in length and just over half a kilometre in width (0.4 miles), and yet it attracts thousands of travelers from all around the world. So, what is the secret to Isla Mujeres’ fame?

Ralph enjoying the water around Isla Mujeres.

Since around the 1970s, visitors have loved Isla Mujeres’ tranquil atmosphere and diversity of attractions. From the paradisical Playa Norte, to the rugged cliffs of Punta Sur, to the alluring MUSA Underwater Sculpture Museum – whether you’re a sun seeker looking for relaxation, or scuba diving adventurer – Isla Mujeres has something that appeals to everyone.

While some areas of Mexico don’t exactly have the best reputation, you’ll be pleased to know that Isla Mujeres has some of the lowest crime rates in the entire country, with the only major safety concern really being the slim possibility of hurricanes.

How to Visit Isla Mujeres

Getting to Isla Mujeres is relatively easy, as there are ferry options from the port of Puerto Juarez, as well as the beaches of Playa Tortugas and Playa Caracol. The ferry ride from Puerto Juarez, just a few minutes from downtown Cancun, lasts about 15 minutes and departs every half hour.

While the ferry is a perfectly acceptable way to visit Isla Mujeres, I would recommend the more exciting method of getting there by luxury catamaran. By doing this, you can make a fantastic day trip out of the experience. Tours usually include entrance fees to the island, a delicious lunch, open bars and an unforgettable snorkelling experience.

Enjoying the luxury catamaran en route to Isla Mujeres.

We used the highly rated company Cancun Adventures. They also provide tours to Tulum, Chichen Itza, Holbox, Coba and various cenotes. We chose this tour provider based on the quality and quantity of reviews, as well as the popular Isla Mujeres Luxury Sailing Tour they had on offer.

Where to Stay in Isla Mujeres

Although Isla Mujeres is a small island, it’s home to some of the best accommodation options in the region. Here are our top picks, suited to every kind of budget.

Budget: Casa Iguana Hostel

The Casa Iguana Hostel seamlessly blends rustic charm with affordability. Within easy walking distance to the beach, this is perfect for travellers who want something simple and clean.

You can take a closer look at Casa Iguana Hostel by clicking here.

Mid-Range: Imperla Hotel

With almost a perfect rating across booking websites, the Imperla Hotel has been praised for its cleanliness, friendly staff and being so close to Playa Norte – right near the beach, restaurants and other amenities.

You can take a closer look at Imperla Hotel by clicking here.

Luxury: Casa del Jaguar Beach Hotel

Staying at the Casa del Jaguar Beach Hotel would be all about living your best life in one of the Caribbean’s best islands. This 5-star beachfront hotel offers luxury living at its finest.

You can take a closer look at Casa del Jaguar Beach Hotel by clicking here.

How to Book a Catamaran Tour from Cancun to Isla Mujeres

We would highly recommend a catamaran tour to Isla Mujeres.

As I mentioned before, we did a Luxury Sailing Tour to Isla Mujeres using Cancun Adventures, and couldn’t recommend it more.

The tour starts off at a scenic pier specifically for Cancun Adventure catamarans before sailing through the pristine waters of the Caribbean Sea. The guide takes you through everything that you need to know about the safety protocols, and then you stop off for some awesome snorkelling.

If you’re a first-time snorkeler, this is the perfect opportunity as the guide takes you from start to finish. You’ll be equipped with a flotation belt, snorkelling goggles and fins – I felt super safe the whole time and really enjoyed myself.

After snorkelling, you’ll be provided with a tasty lunch. On my tour, lunch consisted of yummy tacos, empanadas and a zesty salad.

My favourite part of the luxury sailing tour was just lazing around the catamaran and taking in the stunning blue waters surrounding me. This was truly some of the brightest blue waters I have ever seen, as you can see in the photos.

Before you know it, you’ll dock near Playa Norte of Isla Mujeres and be given free time to explore the island. Then, on the way back to Cancun, we experienced such a pretty sunset, which was the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the open bar.

The perfect sunset to end the perfect day.

Overall, this was an unforgettable day of snorkelling, swimming and exploring a new island. The staff and crew on the catamaran were very professional, helpful and friendly. You can have a look at the tour and all its inclusions by clicking here.

Final Verdict - Is Isla Mujeres Worth Visiting?

Would we recommend visiting Isla Mujeres?

Yes, Isla Mujeres is definitely worth visiting. I have to admit, I was sceptical of visiting Isla Mujeres for numerous reasons. I only had a limited time in Cancun, and I had mixed feelings about leaving Cancun to go somewhere else.

But after visiting Isla Mujeres, I have no regrets at all. The island ended up having some of the best beaches on my 3-month trip to the Americas, and the luxury catamaran sailing trip just topped off the whole experience. Such a great memory for us.

Are you planning to visit Isla Mujeres from Cancun? Did you find our blog post helpful? Let us know!

Follow my journey on Instagram!

Thank you to Cancun Adventures for providing such a great tour. While this blog post was written as part of a collaboration with Beyond The Bay, our experience is a true representation of how we felt about the tour.

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