Isla Mujeres Things to Do Tips by pacia

Golf Cart Around The Island

Renting a golf cart for a day is a fantastic way to get acquainted with your surroundings and explore the island.

There are several places to rent from. Ciro's is my choice (North on Guerrero from Matamoro), but the rental prices are fixed throughout the island. I usually book them through my hotel, Posada del Mar, which offers the same price as renting directly (and provides free delivery and pick-up). US$42 from morning 'til 5pm. I prefer renting for 24 hours, so I can have the cart all day and night without worrying about getting back in time (this is US$10 more). It's nice to be able to drive over to the restaurant of your chice for dinner after a long day...even if it's only a few blocks away. :)

Just relax and get used to the acceleration/braking and you'll be ready to go! You will most likely start from the downtown area. We usually start off around 11am (late starters!) and head south on Medina (the main street on the far West (Bay) side of the island). Getting out of the downtown is a little hectic while getting used to it all, but it is over very quickly (just past the main ferry dock). There will be taxis and other vehicles driving by - just stay to the right side of the road so they can easily pass you.

For a great path/tour idea, order THE Isla Mujeres map, or just venture out on your own. The island is not big, and there are signs everywhere. If in doubt, look for the Garrafon signs and someone there can lead you in the right direction.

There are several places to stop at and explore during this tour: restaurants, a turtle farm, little bars, lookout points...

Whatever you do, don't miss out on visiting Punta Sur (South Point) to see the rocky cliffs and crashing Caribbean waves. Also, be sure to drive back along the East coast of the island, which is open to the Caribbean Sea. It's breathtaking and completely different than North Beach and the other areas of the island.

Isla Contoy

Isla Contoy is a National Park about an hour via boat from Isla Mujeres. This is a bird sanctuary, an uninhabited island, and is breathtaking. Only 200 people are allowed on the island/day.

Our trip started around 9am, included juice and fruit on the way, and snorkeling along the reef.

About 1/2 way we stopped for about 30 min and snorkelled in the protected waters of Ixlache Reef. This was my first time snorkeling, so I'm not sure about the fish I saw, but I do know I saw lots of coral and Parrot Fish. On our final stretch, our guide cracked open the beer and fished for what would be our lunch in a couple of hours.

Soon we were there, and we cut off the motor and glided along the coast. We docked and walked onto a beautiful white-sanded beach surrounded by crystal-clear water and palm trees.

There is a small visitor center/museum that gives you an overview of the wildlife that call this place home - Pelicans, and most notably, Frigates (these are gorgeous birds!), among many others. We walked around a lagoon, and up a path over the to the East coast, which faces the open sea.

We went back for a swim in the bay. Then, the most amazing, memorable moment of the trip happened. A stingray glided toward us. I knelt down and put my hand in the water...he touched my hand with the top of his 'wing' (very rough texture), then swooped back around and this time I 'pet' his underbelly (smooth as silk). We were in awe and sat down in the shallow water and just watched him glide back and forth until he swam back into the sea.

Our lunch was amazing, cooked in Tik-in-chik style (BBQ fish with Mayan spices)!

We gathered our things and headed back to the boat around 2. The trip here was just fine, but on the way back we had to deal with some pretty huge waves - kinda scary, but I wouldn't trade it for anything!

Directions: On the main street (Medina) facing the bay side of the Island there is a dock with a huge "Contoy" sign above it - can't miss it. Just ask for a Contoy trip. The cost is $50-$65 pp, and includes juice, beer, and lunch on the beach of Contoy.