Know Before You Go: Visiting Isla Mujeres

Let’s make this clear from the get-go: There’s no bad time to visit Isla Mujeres, as this is a truly year-round Mexican destination. However, there are some better times to visit, depending on what you want from your trip. Skip summer if you don’t want sudden downpours or especially humid conditions—however, that is peak whale shark season.

High season in Isla Mujeres, as in nearby Cancún, is during winter and early spring, when the warm weather attracts people from colder climates, as well as visitors looking to soak up the island’s carnival period (usually in February or March). Conversely, fall is the low season, so you’re likely to get great deals and still have great weather.

Any Isla Mujeres travel guide worth its salt will recommend dedicating a chunk of your trip to lounging on Playa Norte, the island’s flagship and most famous beach—however, that’s not the only beach you’ll want to stop by (more on that below). And if you’re a real water baby, pack your fins, as Isla Mujeres snorkeling tours are among the best in Mexico.

However, if you want to see more of the island than the beaches—such as Punta Sur, Isla Mujeres, where you’ll find the Mayan ruins of Ixchel’s temple—consider golf cart rental. Isla Mujeres is famously filled with these easy-to-operate buggies which provide a super common way to explore the island, and mean you can reach more of the top attractions and still make it back to your ferry by evening.

Insider tip: To rent a golf cart, you’ll need to bring your driver’s license (from your home country) and be at least 18 years old.

The aforementioned Playa Norte is definitely the best-known of Isla Mujeres’ beach options, home to beach bars and clubs where you can rent a sun lounger and have drinks delivered to you ocean-side. This beach is also great for wading and snorkeling, given the generally calm and shallow waters.

However, Playa Centro is a good option if you want an early-morning beach visit and enjoy swimming (just note that the water gets deep fast here). Another sunrise favorite beach on Isla Mujeres is Playa Media Luna, where strong currents and a rocky shoreline make swimming a no-go, but the views more than make up for it.

It’s really easy and straightforward to reach Isla Mujeres from Cancún, whether you want to visit independently or take an excursion that includes a stop at the island. The best (and most popular) way to get there on your own is to take the ferry to Isla Mujeres from Cancún.

There are three different departure points, so you can pick the one that’s most convenient for you: the Ultramar Terminal in Puerto Juárez, and Playa Tortugas or Playa Caracol (both in the Hotel Zone). You can book online in advance to lock in your preferred times, or buy on the day.

Insider tip: Alternatively, plenty of guided day trips—often by catamaran—are also available to get to the island.

If you decide not to take the ferry to Isla Mujeres yourself, rest assured that you can still visit the island with ease from Cancún. There are lots of boat cruises—some with lunch and an open bar—that head out to the island to drop anchor and snorkel off its shores, while others combine Isla Mujeres with Isla Contoy, a limited-access nature reserve. Other cruises even time their departure for sunset, so you can enjoy the views from on-deck.

On the island itself, terra firma sightseeing-only tours (no boat in sight) of the town and surrounding attractions are available, some of which happen on foot and others of which make use of golf carts for ease.

Isla Mujeres is more or less the same, weather-wise, as Cancún, so you should expect to pack the same sorts of clothes. Think: beachwear (sarongs, bathing suits, bikinis), sandals, light cover-ups, and loose materials ideal for humidity. You might also want to bring an umbrella or rain jacket if you plan on being on the island during the rainy season, though you’re unlikely to need one at any other time.

You should also bring bug repellent, sunblock, and sunglasses, as well as anything that you want for the day itself—a good beach read, your Kindle, or a handheld fan, for example.

If you use a wheelchair or have other mobility issues, taking the Ultramar ferry is still the best way to get to Isla Mujeres as it has priority boarding lines, ramps, and staff on hand to assist you throughout. The first floor of the ferry has reserved wheelchair-accessible seating and is also air-conditioned.

Once on the island, sidewalks are often crowded and populated by vendors which may make getting around trickier than it needs to be; plus, there are often uneven sections and raised curbs. However, Miguel Hidalgo (the town’s central street) is entirely wheelchair accessible, and some of the beaches offer wheelchair-accessible pathways so that you can make it to the shore.

• Is Isla Mujeres safe? Yes, Isla Mujeres is a safe destination in Mexico. However, take the normal care you would with regards to keeping your personal belongings in zipped bags and in view at all times—especially when on the beach or drinking.

• Should I tip on Isla Mujeres? Yes, as with anywhere in Mexico, you should tip on Isla Mujeres when dining at restaurants or streetside stalls, taking guided tours, or buying drinks. The baseline is 10 percent of the bill, though 15 percent is always gratefully received. Tip your drivers, cleaners, and other service workers, too!

• What’s better—Isla Mujeres or Cancún? It depends what you want. Isla Mujeres is great if you want an island getaway with pristine beaches, whereas Cancún is better for resort stays, local shopping opportunities, and day trips to other places on the Yucatán Peninsula, such as Chichen Itza.

• What’s the weather like on Isla Mujeres? Generally, the weather on Isla Mujeres is hot and humid pretty much year-round. During the summer months, expect flash downpours and storms and keep in mind that you are in a hurricane zone.

• Are there ATMs on Isla Mujeres? Yes, you’ll be able to find ATMs from most major Mexican banks on Isla Mujeres dispensing Mexican pesos. Getting US dollars may prove trickier, but it’s better to take and use local currency out of respect for the country you’re visiting anyway.