Waiting at the Puerto Juarez dock for our ferry to Isla Mujeres
On the ferry to Isla Mujeres. Couldn’t have asked for better weather!
First cerveza
The water really does look like this! It gets really nice about halfway from Cancun to Isla Mujeres.
Perfect blue skies
The first sunset on the island. This is on the east coast, where the shores are rocky.
Walking along the northeast coast of the island
There was a street fair going on the first night on the island.
The main strip is lined with restaurants and vendors. We found a place that was serving a craft brew, produced locally on the island.
The Isla beer list.
Trying an isla beer
The view from our AirBnb. It was loud at night, but it was great being close to everything.
The island is very small, and most people drive golf carts around. There are local taxis and mopeds, but cars are pretty limited otherwise.
Descending on dive #1. The dives weren’t the greatest, but it was still nice to get a couple in.
Brain coral. There wasn’t a lot of wildlife, but we did get to do some swim-throughs which were fun.
Coming up to a swim-through
Going through a swim-through
A typical restaurant along the main strip
We found out pretty quickly that prices on the island have gone up since our last visit. Daily specials became our go-to.
These nachos were amazing! A place called Mamacita we stumbled on.
I can’t remember the name of the restaurant where we got these tacos, but the server claimed the beef was locally-raised by the restaurant owner. These were really good.
Sunrise at Playa Norte
Waiting on our whale shark excursion boat. Unfortunately that didn’t go as planned, so we decided to rent a golf cart for the day and drive around the island
Cliffs on the southern tip of the island, near the Mayan temple ruins. The picture doesn’t really provide a point of reference for scale. It was a really long way to the bottom.
All that is left of the Mayan temple ruins on the island. There is a $3 entrance fee, but the views from the end of the island are worth that alone.
There is a walkway that winds down around the cliffs past the ruins, where you get some pretty breathtaking views of the sea.
There are a bunch of modern art sculptures leading up to the ruins, and visitors have stacked stones like this in a bunch of spots as well.
We found a weird abandoned road/path, so of course we drove down it. There were signs like these posted all over.
A road side vendor somewhere along the way
Great views on the road!
One of the places we stopped along the way. Lisa got excited when she saw the swing.
Back at Playa Norte for the sunset
Walking back to the main strip after sunset
The end of the main strip, where all the restaurants and vendors start.
“Hey Amigos! Check out my stuff! Almost free! Everything $1!”
We found a rooftop bar/restaurant just down from our Airbnb to relax before dinner.
More tacos!
Lisa swimming at Playa Norte
The water was pretty much perfect. If you ever find yourself on Isla Mujeres, definitely check out the northern tip of the island. The beach is a lot larger, and the water stays more shallow much further out than the west side of the island. You can also rent 2 chairs and an umbrella for the entire day for 120 pesos – a little over $6.
Anyone who has driven in Mexico must know this sign all too well.
The best part is that there was also a “Facebook Bar” on the island. I guess this one was for older people?
One of the many stray animals on the island. Lisa described Isla Mujeres perfectly… it has the right amount of “grime.” It’s totally safe, but not completely overrun with resorts and foreign chains. There are run-down buildings and it’s not polished at all, but it’s nice to stay somewhere that feels more “local.”
Yep, those are grasshoppers. A “traditional” dish, or so we were told
Lisa trying the grasshopper guacamole
Trying the grasshoppers. They actually weren’t bad… kind of salt and crunchy. We ate all of them.
