Tours and Tickets to Experience Isla Mujeres

There are plenty of ways to experience Isla Mujeres. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Private Beach Escape! Isla Contoy and Isla Mujeres with Snorkeling
• Full Experience Isla Mujeres: Food aboard + Premium drinks + Snorkel + Free time
• Private MUSA Snorkeling Experience at Isla Mujeres and Cancun
• Isla Mujeres, Cancún Private Sunset Trip
• Day Trip to Isla Mujeres with Lunch

While you don’t need Isla Mujeres tickets to visit, you will need to take a boat. Plenty of tours can help you reach the island—and have fun along the way. Round-trip Ultramar ferry trips start at around US$32, while boat and sailing trips with onboard parties and buffet lunches are closer to US$90–100. You can also book private boating escapes for US$800 or more.

To get to Isla Mujeres from Cancun, you can take a ferry from the dock in Puerto Juarez, located a few minutes from downtown Cancun. If you want to take your car, you’ll need to head to the Punta Sam car ferry terminal. The crossing to Isla Mujeres takes about 20-30 minutes and ferries typically depart every hour on the hour. Alternatively, you can hire a private water taxi.

Located off the coast of Cancun, Isla Mujeres is a popular day-trip destination, which offers a more relaxed atmosphere to Cancun’s other beaches. At Garrafon Reef Park, you can go kayaking, snorkeling, and swimming. On the northern tip of the island you’ll find Playa Norte, and just off the southern coast is the Underwater Art Museum, which is home to more than 600 sculptures.

The best time to visit Isla Mujeres is from December to March. The island’s carnival celebrations take place in late February-early March, featuring five days of dancing, parades, and performances. From January through April, expect to encounter the biggest crowds and the highest hotel rates. If you want to swim with whale sharks, plan to visit between May and August.

Yes, Isla Mujeres is filled with rich historical significance and cultural artifacts. The Temple of the Goddess Ixchel—the Mayan mythology goddess who represents fertility, the moon, and medicine—is located in Punta Sur. And a notorious pirate built Hacienda Mundaca, an expansive estate and gardens. A more recent addition is the colorful Crayola House, which was once the home of Lenora Vaughn, the wife of blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Yes, Isla Mujeres is considered one of the best places in the Caribbean Sea to swim with whale sharks. During their annual migration, from June 1 to September 15, the warm weather in the Mexican Caribbean attracts these magnificent sea creatures. Take a guided tour if you’d like to learn more about whale sharks, as well as their conservation.

Yes, Isla Mujeres is safe for tourists and the crime rates are low. As with any tourist destination, keep an eye out for pickpockets, watch your belongings, and avoid walking alone, especially at night.