10 Tropical Things to Do in Isla Mujeres, Mexico

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My favorite part about Isla Mujeres isn’t in its turquoise waters or boho streets but in its name, which translates to “Women’s Island.” I had heard about this tropical slice of paradise and decided to put it on my bucket list. And I’m so glad I did!

Isla Mujeres easily became one of my favorite islands in Mexico. Perhaps even more so than the wild and sandy island of Holbox or the Caribbean port island of Cozumel! I would love to go back and take a seat at one of its cute swing bars, or rent another golf cart and drive around the outskirts of the island.

Most people take day trips to Isla Mujeres from Cancun (like we did). But even in just one day, you can easily get a sense of the island’s good vibes. 

Whether you’re spending just a day or a week, here are the top 10 fun and tropical things to do in Isla Mujeres, Mexico! 

10 Fun & Tropical Things to Do on Isla Mujeres

1. Rent a golf cart and explore the island

To properly get started exploring the island, you have to rent a golf cart! 

This might not seem like the best thing to do in Isla Mujeres, but it is! Both locals and international tourists can be spotted navigating the island’s narrow streets, and even the main highway, on a golf cart. 

Especially if you’re limited to just one day on Isla Mujeres, renting a golf cart and exploring around is one of the best ways to see the island beyond the shop-lined streets and boat terminal.

To rent a golf cart in Isla Mujeres, you’ll need two things: cash and your passport or photo ID as a deposit for safekeeping until you return the cart. 

Golf cart rentals aren’t cheap, but the cost is affordable if you split among family or friends. Most golf cart rentals cost around $1,500 MX pesos per day, or upward of $500-650 pesos per hour. 

We rented two carts for an hour to drive to the tip of the island and back, but it was way too rushed. I recommend renting for at least 2-3 hours, if not the whole day.

2. Lounge in paradise on Playa Norte

Playa Norte is one of the most idyllic beaches on Isla Mujeres. Spending the day here is one of the best things to do if you’re looking to relax and enjoy the Caribbean views! There are several beachfront restaurants featuring lounge chairs and bar service.

In our experience, unless you were a hotel guest, you had to pay an additional fee for the chairs and restaurant service. 

I think we paid around 200 pesos, but we were a large group and were able to negotiate the price a bit. The water is extremely blue and gorgeous! Our only disappointment from that day was the rainy weather and overcast sky.

3. Walk oceanside at Punta Sur – the southern tip of the island

Speaking of Punta Sur, visiting the island’s southern tip is one of the best things to do in Isla Mujeres! 

You can walk along the oceanside cliffs for panoramic views, marvel at the ruins of the Goddess Ixchel, and visit a beautiful sculpture garden. 

The best time to visit is early morning before the crowds arrive around 10-11 am. The admission fee costs around $100 MX pesos for visitors and $50 MX pesos for Quintana Roo residents. You should also bring along an extra 5-10 pesos for the on-site restroom.

4. Discover all the sealife mural art around town

Discover Isla Mujere’s rainbow of beautiful murals, featuring local marine animals! (You can do this on your own or with a guide). 

The wall art in Isla Mujeres is colorful and really adds an extra feeling of tropical paradise to the atmosphere.

You can also rent a golf cart and go on a DIY wall art treasure hunt! The best place to start is in El Centro. From there, head to el Pantéon (the cemetery) for stunning artwork. 

The guided tour takes visitors through the Madera Art Gallery, including admission to the Punta Sur park and the Tortugranja turtle sanctuary (where more murals are hidden). However, if you want a bit more flexibility, you can do all of this on your own.

5. Support local women at the Women’s Beading Cooperative

An off-the-beaten-path thing to do in Isla Mujeres is to stop by the Women’s Beading Cooperative. 

This initiative was started by local women on the island who joined their handicraft forces to create this co-op. The proceeds from their beading handwork directly benefit the women and their families! 

All of the jewelry is unique, handmade, and priced extremely fairly. You know where the work came from, making it an especially meaningful souvenir!

Catch them in their shop from 9-5 pm Mon-Sat and until 3 pm on Sunday. 

Full address: Calle Paseo de Los Peces MZ 160 L5, La Gloria, 77400 Q.R.

6. Swim responsibly with whale sharks

Whale sharks are one of the top attractions in Isla Mujeres, as these gentle giants come to visit the water just off the island during the peak months of July-August. 

You can do a snorkeling tour to get up close to these beasts, but please book with a responsible/sustainable tour company that respects wildlife and dedicates their time to preserving the natural environment.

7. Snorkel or scuba dive in the island’s clear waters

Snorkeling and/or scuba diving is a must-do activity in Isla Mujeres! The water is inviting, stunningly clear, and turquoise, and has plenty of vibrant undersea life. 

Both the Squalo Adventures and Carey Dive Center offer snorkeling/scuba diving tours, are well-rated, and have decent prices.

8. Explore downtown for the best shops and cafes

El Centro in Isla Mujeres has plenty of cute shops and cafes that are worth taking a stroll around town for!

I really loved walking down the hip pedestrian-only streets downtown (Miguel Hidalgo Street) and seeing all the terraces and fun bars.

El Patio and Fayne’s are two popular Caribbean bars in town for late-night fun and dancing, while Cafe Mogagua offers the best coffee and breakfast. And if you’re looking for the coolest beachfront swing bar, head to Buho’s!Other favorite places to eat in Isla Mujeres include Lola Valentina, Olivia, and Javi’s Cantina.

9. Volunteer at Isla Animals (Animal Rescue)

Give back to the small community of Isla Mujeres by using some of your time on the island to volunteer with Isla Animals, a local rescue that specializes in rehabilitating dogs. 

Volunteers can help out with socializing puppies, cleaning, repairs, bathing, grooming, and leash training, along with a variety of other administrative needs. 

It’s also possible to adopt dogs from Isla Animals and they specialize in helping with the paperwork to get them home with you safely. They’ve helped people from around the world take dogs in need home.

10. Check out the underwater museum MUSA

Isla Mujeres and Cancun share the Underwater Museum of Art – MUSA inside the National Marine Park. You can do the trip from Cancun or a short boat trip from Isla Mujeres. 

The mission of the MUSA is to regrow, protect, and preserve the natural reef systems that have been damaged due to climate change. The MUSA has over 1,300+ artificial habitats across 12 galleries to help regrow the coral reef and promote healthy marine life. You can visit the museum with a 2-tank scuba dive tour here.

Itinerary for One Day on Isla Mujeres

If you only have one day in Isla Mujeres, consider this itinerary I made just for you! 🙂

Morning

• Arrive in Isla Mujeres via ferry from Cancun
• Explore around El Centro, walk down Miguel Hidalgo street
• Stop at a cafe for coffee/tea
• Support the women at Women’s Beading Collective
• Grab lunch at Javi’s Cantina (or another restaurant)

Afternoon

• Rent a golf cart for the day/afternoon
• Stop by the Turtlegranja turtle farm
• Continue driving down to Punta Sur
• Visit Punta Sur
• Return to El Centro, stopping along to marvel at the coast along the way

Late Afternoon-Evening

• Spend the remainder of the sunny afternoon at Playa Norte
• Swim/snorkel at Playa Norte
• Grab a tropical drink at Buho’s (the beach swing bar)
• Eat dinner at Fayne’s (or somewhere else)
• Finish the night off at El Patio Casa de la Musica

Travel tip: If you have to return to Cancun in the evening on the same day, the ferries are every 30 minutes up until 9:30 pm. So, you still have time for dinner in Isla Mujeres. After that, the last ferries back to Cancun are at 10 pm, 11 pm, and midnight.

Where to Stay on Isla Mujeres

Spending the night on Isla Mujeres is absolutely worth your while. You’ll get to experience the beauty of its remote location without the day trip crowds and really get to know the island instead of rushing around.

The best place to stay on the island will depend on what you’re looking for. Most boutique hotels are in the bustling downtown area in El Centro near the ferry port along the pedestrian streets.

These are a few ideas for where to stay on Isla Mujeres…

Best budget-friendly places to stay in Isla Mujeres – Mayan Monkey, Casa Azul Maya

Mid-range/Boutique hotels – Hotel Caracol, Hotel Boutique Bahia Tolok

Luxury stays – Lotus Beach Hotel, Izla Beach Front Hotel, Hotel Secreto

Must-Have Isla Mujeres Travel Items

Reef-friendly sunscreen. When traveling anywhere tropical, I always like to carry reef-friendly sunscreen (like this one).

If I don’t, I’ll usually cave and have to use a commercial brand that usually contains oxybenzone or octinoxate — two chemicals that are proven to be environmentally damaging and harmful to marine life. But most often, I try just to wear a large t-shirt or clothing to protect myself from UV rays to avoid using large amounts of sunscreen.

Underwater camera gear. I just bought into the underwater camera gear and I couldn’t be happier with my choice! I have a DJI Osmo Action and my only wish is that I would’ve had it sooner for our snorkeling and swimming adventures in Isla Mujeres. If you have an underwater camera, don’t leave it at home!

Isla Mujeres Travel Tips

How to get to Isla Mujeres

The most convenient way to Isla Mujeres is by ferry from Cancun. 

The Ultramar ferry costs around 290 pesos/pp one-way or 580 pesos round-trip. Ferries leave from both the Cancun Hotel Zone and Puerto Juarez, making it extra convenient, no matter where you’re staying.

Xcaret Xailing is another ferry company option that leaves from the Cancun Hotel Zone. Boats leave about once an hour from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm. This option is a bit less expensive than Ultramar with a one-way ticket costing about 250pesos and a round trip ticket 490 pesos.

Is Isla Mujeres safe?

Yes, it is a safe island to visit in Mexico. Most parts of Mexico are safe for tourism unless you plan to come and deal with cartels and drugs. That’s when you wouldn’t be safe. When you are out at night in Isla Mujeres, be aware of yourself, don’t get drunk, and try to avoid walking around alone.

Weather

The weather on the island is consistently tropical year-round. You can expect breezy winds and sudden tropical storms, but mostly hot, sunny weather that’s ideal for beach days and swimming in the Caribbean Sea. The weather will ultimately determine what to do in Isla Mujeres.

Best time to visit Isla Mujeres

The best time to visit Isla Mujeres depends on what you want to do and see there. 

Whale shark season is from mid-June to August, which also collides with the wetter and hotter months of the year. Going in December/January is a peak time to visit for the weather and holidays, so the downside of that will be lots of crowds.

If you can, book your trip to Isla Mujeres sometime between February and May when the days are dry and sunny and the holiday crowds have waned out (if you want to see the whale sharks, then book later).

Isla Mujeres, Mexico: A Tropical Travel Guide

I hope this guide for things to do in Isla Mujeres helps plan your getaway trip to this beautiful tropical island!

If you are in Cancun, don’t pass up the opportunity to take a day trip to Isla Mujeres. Use my itinerary to help you plan your adventures!

Looking for more Mexico island inspiration? Read my island guides to Cozumel and Holbox.

Have you been to Isla Mujeres, Mexico? If not, is it on your bucket list? Drop your thoughts and questions with me in the comments below!

xx Bri

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