Isla Mujeres is small, about 7 km (4.3 miles) long and 650 m (0.4 miles) wide, but it packs in a long list of things to do, from swimming at Playa Norte to snorkeling with whale sharks. Most visitors get around by golf cart, which you can rent for about MXN 800 to 1,000 a day. Here are the best things to do in Isla Mujeres, with locations, hours, and prices. If you’re deciding which season to come, start with the best time to visit Isla Mujeres guide.
Things to Do in Isla Mujeres: Beaches and the Sea
Playa Norte (North Beach)
Playa Norte runs along the island’s north tip and is the main beach, with shallow, calm, waist-deep water that stays clear almost year round. It’s free and public, with beach clubs like Guru and Green Demon renting loungers and umbrellas for about MXN 200 to 400 per day. Get there before 10 am in high season to claim a spot, and walk to the far western end for fewer crowds and sunset views. It’s a short walk from the downtown restaurants and shops in Centro, and several of the hotels in our where to stay in Isla Mujeres guide sit right behind it.
El Farito
El Farito is a free snorkel spot off the island’s north end, marked by a small lighthouse on a sandbar. Boats run tours here for about MXN 300 to 400 per person, or you can swim out from the nearby shore when the water is calm. Expect parrotfish, angelfish, and the occasional ray in water 2 to 4 m deep.
Kayaking and Paddleboarding
Rentals cluster along Playa Norte and in Centro, typically MXN 300 to 500 per hour for a paddleboard or sit-on-top kayak. The calm west side facing the lagoon is the easiest place to paddle, and several operators run sunset paddle tours. No experience is needed; the water is flat and protected.
Things to Do in Isla Mujeres: Snorkeling, Diving and Wildlife
MUSA Underwater Museum
MUSA (Museo Subacuatico de Arte) is an underwater sculpture garden with more than 500 life-size figures sunk off the island’s southwest coast. Snorkel tours run about US$50 to US$60 per person and last 2 hours; scuba dives run US$100 to US$120. The shallowest sculptures sit at 4 to 8 m, visible on the snorkel route. For the calmest water and best visibility, come November through April, as our Isla Mujeres weather by month guide explains. Book with a licensed operator, as you can’t reach the site on your own.
Whale Shark Snorkeling
From mid-May to mid-September, whale sharks, the largest fish in the ocean, feed in the plankton-rich water north of Isla Mujeres near Isla Contoy. Tours depart at 7 to 8 am, last about 4 hours, and cost US$120 to US$150 with gear, a guide, and usually a ceviche lunch. Book ahead for June and July, the peak months, and bring reef-safe sunscreen and a rash guard. This is one of the island’s signature events draws each summer.
Tortugranja Turtle Farm
Tortugranja on Calle Zazil-Ha (about 3 km south of Centro) is a small conservation center that raises and releases green and loggerhead sea turtles. Entry costs about MXN 50. It’s open daily roughly 9 am to 5 pm, and it’s a 5 minute golf cart ride from downtown. Hatchling releases happen in late summer and fall.
Things to Do in Isla Mujeres: Landmarks and Culture
Punta Sur and the Sculpture Garden
Punta Sur, the island’s southern tip, has a cliff-top trail, a small Maya temple to the goddess Ixchel, and a modern sculpture garden. Entry is about MXN 90 (US$5), open daily from roughly 9 am to 5 pm. Come at dawn or sunset for the sunrise or sunset over the Caribbean, and climb the Garrafon lighthouse for a view down the whole island.
Garrafon Natural Reef Park
Garrafon Park wraps around the south end’s reefs and cliffs. A standard day pass runs about US$70 to US$90 and includes snorkeling, kayaks, a zipline into the sea, and a buffet lunch; open roughly 9 am to 5 pm. The pricier Royal Garrafon pass adds a temazcal and premium food. Book a day ahead in high season.
Hacienda Mundaca
Hacienda Mundaca is the overgrown 19th-century estate of Fermin Mundaca, a slave trader turned pirate who built it for a local woman. The ruins are free to wander off the main road about 3 km south of town, with a small entry fee of MXN 20 to 50. It’s a quick stop on a golf cart loop of the island’s south half.
Things to Do in Isla Mujeres: Day Trips and Getting Active
Isla Contoy Day Trip
Isla Contoy is an uninhabited national park island 30 km north, a bird sanctuary for more than 150 species including frigatebirds and brown pelicans. Day trips run about US$80 to US$100 per person and include the boat ride, a snorkel stop, lunch, and a guided walk. Only 200 visitors a day are allowed, so book a day or two ahead. You’ll need the park fee and a bio bracelet.
Golf Cart Loop of the Island
Renting a golf cart (MXN 800 to 1,000 per day) is the standard way to see the island. The paved loop from Centro to Punta Sur takes about 20 minutes each way without stops. Budget a half day to hit the turtle farm, Hacienda Mundaca, and Punta Sur, then finish back at Playa Norte. Most rental shops on Avenida Rueda Medina ask for a driver’s license and a deposit.
Day Trip to Cancun
The ferry to Cancun takes about 20 minutes, so it’s easy to spend a day shopping at La Isla mall or visiting the Hotel Zone’s beaches and nightlife before riding the last ferry back. Ferries run from early morning to about 9 pm, and a round trip costs about MXN 300. See the Isla Mujeres travel tips article for ferry times and piers.
