North Beach, Isla Mujeres, Mexico
Isla Mujeres offers several options for water activities, from windsurfing to admiring the wonderful coral reefs while snorkeling, to diving the underwater paradise of El Garrafon National Park, the impressive cave of the sleeping sharks and reefs such as Farito, Islaché and Manchones.
Isla Mujeres hammocks
An Isla Mujeres Mexico vacation is more laid-back and relaxed than Cancun, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to do. It just means you can do nothing at all or fill your days with exciting activities and variety of all types of restaurants and fondas (Mexican coffee shops) as well. Isla Mujeres is for vacationing in a small island with activities for all ages. Beautiful white sand beaches where you can enjoy nature land activities. Crystal clear sea admiring the diverse marine life, sailing and swimming with Dolphins. North Beach (Playa Norte) Isla Mujeres is a great place for relaxing, and the entire island has something for everyone in a great and serene tropical ambiance. Located away from hustle and stress, you can explore the wonders of the Mexican Caribbean. Mixed culture along local Mayan heritage, navigator past & fishermen legacy of more than 150 years ready to be rediscovered exploring the entire island by renting a bike, moped or golf cart. You can visit the Turtle Protection Center and see precious sea turtles, take time to see Hacienda Mundaca, have a delicious coconut ice cream, a spicy shrimp ceviche with a freezing beer, a cheese & wine picnic, a relaxing massage and of course, shop!
Isla Mujeres’ efficient tourist infrastructure includes 1 to 5-star hotels, approximately 1200 rooms, a convention center, cultural center, travel agencies, banks, hospitals, money exchange offices, marinas, dive shops, beach clubs, bicycles, mopeds and golf cart rentals. There is also a wide variety of food ranging from traditional to international.
Isla Mujeres aerial view
Today, Playa Norte Isla Mujeres is a favorite destination for nature lovers and for all those hiding from stress. Locals are very friendly and whether like deep sea fishing thru the Caribbean Sea, talking about baseball and other popular sports with the locals, snorkeling in El Farito reef or El Garrafon park, scuba dive thru the cave of the sleeping sharks or the Manchones why not enjoy your Mexico vacation here. Laughing while having a beer and watching sunsets which are perfect over the blues and greens of the water and the mainland site across the sea channel. All these activities make Isla Mujeres a fun and relaxing place for Mexican tourists to visit.
The island of Isla Mujeres is located close to one of many coral reefs, and the area is popular for its snorkeling and scuba diving. Isla Mujeres is also home to a population of sea turtles. Because of the recent endangerment of sea turtles in the area, a facility was set up on the southern end of the island for the rehabilitation and breeding of them. This facility is open to the public.
Isla Mujeres near Cancun is a secluded island paradise that offers unmatched beauty and charm. Just 7 kilometers away from Cancun across the turquoise waters of the channel, the perfect spot for a wonderful vacation in Mexico. Almost 700 meters in the wider part and 7.5 kilometer long, your Isla Mujeres vacation will be synonymous of an unforgettable adventure starting at the main village dock and its colorful motorboats anchored among the harbor.
Easy to locate, easy to get to. By car Isla Mujeres is just 50 minutes north of Cancun Airport and by express ferry 20 minutes from Cancun-Puerto Juarez with departures every 30 minutes between 5am and midnight on board modern sun deck & air conditioned fast boats.
Founded by Pueblo de Dolores in August 17, 1850, Isla Mujeres, near Cancun Mexico, was named by Spanish Conqueror Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba on 1517 after finding several female figures close to a small archeological site which was a temple dedicated to Ix Chel, Goddess of love, fertility and the moon. For approximately the next 300 years, it was a pirate refugee. Another Spaniard, Fermin de Mundaca was the most famous (1858) who built the majestic Hacienda in the heart of the island. Isla Mujeres was abandoned through the following decades and left a few fishermen and their families.
A quick journey through time will give you a good vision of Isla Mujeres´ rich and long history. The first news about Isla Mujeres date back to before the Pre-Columbian era 564-1516 A.D. when it was a mayan province, Ekab, one of the four provinces or Mayan territories that formed what is today the State of Quintana Roo.
Isla Mujeres rental boats
At that time, Isla Mujeres was not a human settlement, it was a sanctuary to Ixchel (goddess of weaving, happiness, the moon, abundance and medicine, among others). From March 1st to 4th, 1517, a Spanish expedition under Francisco Fernández de Córdoba´s leadership, discovered the island and found a sanctuary with a representation of Ixchel and a court of women, hence the name Isla Mujeres it was given.
By 1850, more than 250 fishermen, pirates and mayas running away from the cruel War of Castes, established themselves in the village of Dolores, on Isla Mujeres. The construction of Fermin Mundaca y Marecheaga´s Hacienda Vista Alegre, was a milestone in the history of Isla Mujeres, since it covered 40% of the total surface of the island, and controlled agriculture and cattle raising. At the end of the nineteenth century, Isla Mujeres had a population of 651 inhabitants in a defined urban area. The marine landscape, with its numerous birds, sailboats and fishermen made up a beautiful scenery.
Playa Norte ( North Beach)
Beautiful Playa Norte ( North Beach) is full of exciting activities. If you are going to be in the Cancun area have fun and visit this easy to access island retreat. On the white and fine sand beaches of Playa Norte, you can enjoy the air, the sun and the water, and it is a perfect place for those who practice yoga, since at dawn they can get full of energy and at sunset a complete peace invades them.
Isla Mujeres Official tourism website has good information on the local accomodations, attractions, food and more available in english.
See what others are saying about Playa Norte, Isla Mujeres.
The Beach is Back, the Return of Playa Norte, Isla Mujeres
A Mini-Vacation on Isla Mujeres
Finally at Isla Mujeres!
Chiling on the beach!
The best months to visit the Mexico beaches are from November to May. July-August, Christmas, and Easter attract large numbers of holidaymakers from both inside and outside the country. The hottest and most humid months, June, July, August and September are to be avoided in view of the torturous weather. Insect problem during these months is another issue. August-November has the possibility of rough seas on the Pacific coast mainly due to storms. For diving off Baja California, the time period from August to November is the best, with its warm, clear waters and blue sky. Mexican beaches can be enjoyed with a huge variety of sumptuous food and drinks and of course, music and dance. 
Playa del Carmen (on the Caribbean coast) is a cool, casual beach with plenty of accommodation, excellent bars, restaurants and shops. Although very popular and draws crowds from all over the world, the place is still low-key, friendly and relaxing. It is the best place in Mexico to buy high quality crafts, especially jewelry. Boats are available for Cozumel, famous for world class diving and a park for swimming with dolphins. Puerto Escondido (on the Pacific coast) has several stretches of magnificent sandy beach, with a laid-back ambience and plenty of inexpensive accommodation. Popular beaches include the 2 km long Zicatela (surfing paradise) to the east of the town and Playa Puerto Angelito on the west. The surf here reaches 7-8 meters during the months of August-November due to south Pacific storms.
The shore of Bahia Concepcion (Conception Bay) has several scenic beaches including Playa Requesón, Playa Buenaventura, and Playa Coyote. It is on the coast of Sea of Cortez, which is a protected marine sanctuary. The facilities are fairly basic (with no fresh water at some places) but the natural beauty and tranquility more than compensate for this. Excellent for water sports and great for seafood (especially clams). Playa Santispac has the best campsite, with some fine restaurants. Playa Buenaventura is for kayaking enthusiasts. Bahia de Matanchen, San Blas (on the Pacific coast) is a small but truly Mexican fishing village of San Blas featuring an excellent town beach but the best in the area is Bahia de Matanchen about 4 km away. It has a broad crescent bay with splendid beaches of prime soft sand and a relaxing atmosphere.
As anyone planning a Mexico beach vacation is aware, Mexico beaches are among some of the most tempting in the world. Mexico beaches are some of the most beautiful in the world. With pristine white sand, clear blue waters and a bevy of activities such as scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, swimming, surfing and much more. Chichen Itza, Tulum, Playa del Carmen, Ixtapa, Puerto Escondido, Cancun, Cozumel and Cabo San Lucas are just a few of the more popular Mexico beach destinations.
Cabo San Lucas is yet another famous Mexico beach vacation spot with miles upon miles of warm white beaches stretching along side Mexico beach resorts and well kempt golf courses. Playa Cemeterio, Playa Santa Maria, and Playa Costa Azul are a few of the beaches located just steps from downtown Cabo San Lucas. Playa Costa Azul is a favorite among surfers, while some of the more northern beaches offer excellent scuba diving.
Mahahual is another interesting little town located on the coast of the mexican Caribbean. It is located just north of the Belize border and south of the Sian Kan Biosphere in the State of Quintana Roo. This marvelous place is now being used as an important port for international cruise ships and it offers a very interesting combination of unspoiled rainforest, lagoons, and beaches.
This is something that makes this place unique. There is always something for every taste. If you prefer to relax and spend some quiet time at the beach, you can do it on non-arrival cruise ship day, but if you’d rather enjoy drinking a beer in a bar, doing some souvenir shopping or just looking at people from different nationalities, you can have that too.
Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya
Playa Delfines, Cancun
Playa Tortugas, Cancun
Playa Norte, Isla Mujeres
Bahia de Puerto Marques, Acapulco
Playa del Amor, Cabo San Lucas
Bahia de Banderas, Puerto Vallarta
Punta de Mita, Puerto Vallarta
Playa La Ropa, Zihuatanejo
