Isla mujeres, the Paradise of the Riviera Maya.

Cancun is a great destination, besides being a city with an indisputable beauty it is a strategic point to visit dream places that are relatively close. Islands, without doubt, have a unique charm. It can be the fact that you can see the sea from any point or like in this case, are little towns that just started to develop but do not count with the infrastructure of large cities, this makes them perfect places to escape from routine and stress, they are places with a peaceful atmosphere and where you can have direct contact with nature.

Today we will be talking about the closest Island to Cancun, and one of the most beautiful in the Southeast of Mexico: Isla Mujeres. This Island is the perfect destination for a backpacking trip or a romantic getaway. Its atmosphere is very calm and less glamorous than Cancún´s, perfect to enjoy the beautiful beaches of the Mexican Caribbean.

Isla Mujeres was discovered by the Spanish in the year 1517. In pre-Hispanic times the island was consecrated to Ixchel, Mayan goddess of the Moon, love and fertility, which received offerings with feminine forms that believers placed on the Island beaches. When the Spanish conquerors arrived and observed the female figures, they named it Isla Mujeres (Woman Island).

Located in the Caribbean Sea, it is a destination known for its white sand beaches and crystal clear sea, the most popular beach and favorite for bathers is Punta Norte, where you can find restaurants, bars and hotels to enjoy a delicious meal while your feet touches the soft sand.

Downtown Isla mujeres, you can buy all kinds of crafts from the region, such as decorative objects, clothing and accessories. You can also taste endless culinary specialties such as Mexican, Caribbean, Italian, fine cuts, among others as well as delicious ice cream parlors, coffee shops and bakeries for those with a sweet tooth.

Tikin-xic fish is an island specialty that is offered in several places and it's extremely delicious. This Fish is seasoned with spices from the region that give it a characteristic red tone, and then roasted over the embers.

At nighttime the island has a really good atmosphere, at downtown you will find bars with live music, ideal for a special dinner. Afterwards, you can't miss the Qubano bar featuring a live salsa band, to dance salsa all night under the light of the stars.

On the other side of the island, Punta Sur you will find the remains of a Mayan temple and the beaches with the most beautiful views, they are not for swimming since they have rocky cliffs. For those of us who enjoy nature, at Punta Sur you can find the sea turtle sanctuary, kids surely love it.

Transferring from one side to another on the island, will not be a problem since Isla Mujeres is very small, only half a mile wide and 4.5 miles long, and although you can comfortably travel in cars and taxis, it is more interesting and fun to do it in a golf cart, motorcycle or bicycle, which are available for rent.

As if all this was not enough to delight the tourists visiting the island, the underwater world is more fascinating, and that is because a big part of the Mesoamerican reef is in this area, diving and snorkeling lovers travel to Isla Mujeres with the main objective of venturing into the sea depths, and observe enormous amount of fish of different colors that inhabit this fascinating environment.

Isla Mujeres is right in front of Cancun, only a twenty minute ferry ride. The boat can be taken from two nearby ports, one is at the 3 mile marker of the hotel zone, at the Calinda bridge (next to the lighthouse) and the other is located in Puerto Juarez city port .

If you plan to visit Mexico soon, definitely Isla Mujeres should be on the list of destinations to visit, in this Caribbean paradise you will enjoy from the moment you get off the ship until your return home and surely being there you will swear to come back at another time because as the old sayings goes: “Life takes you unexpected places, love brings you home.”