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)

See what others are saying about Playa Norte, Isla Mujeres.

Lover's Beach ( Playa del Amor ) Cabo San Lucas

Playa del Amor ( Beach of Love )
This beach is most commonly referred to as Playa del Amor or could also be called Playa del Amante ( Lover’s Beach ). Its common English referrence is Lover’s Beach and the locals will have no problem understanding that this is the beach you’re talking about.

Once known as Playa de Doña Chepa, Playa del Amor is a charming location, but to get to this hidden cove you’ll need some kind of floating transportation. The easiest way to get there is to hire a water taxi at the marina in Cabo San Lucas. The captain will take you on an informative tour of the diving areas around the arch (El Arco), point out Playa del Amor, then go around the popular point for a wonderful view of the dramatic area where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean.

You should pack a romantic lunch of your choice and plan on spending the most of the day enjoying Playa del Amor and the striking wind and water shaped rock formations. Just ask your skipper to come back for you at a pre-determined time all for one price. Be cautious if you want to go swimming here, the powerful waves and currents of the Pacific ocean in this location make swimming quite dangerous. Swim and snorkel only on the Sea of Cortez side of Playa del Amor.

Playa del Amor - Lover's Beach

There are no services available on Playa del Amor and the beach can be easily accessed by water taxi, or glass bottom boat from the Cabo San Lucas marina, or you may rent a kayak from Médano Beach. You can also be adventurous and climb the rock formations from the Medano beach side over to Lover’s Beach. This is not recommended and it is the usual way that many locals get over to the secluded cove.

Cabo San Lucas is world-famous for the breathtaking display of natures force at Land’s End as well as Playa del Amor. Until you stand near the arch and feels the powerful forces of nature and its beauty here, you really haven’t experienced Cabo San Lucas. The towering majesty of the rock formations are impressive and awe inspiring, the caves, Lover’s Beach, and the clear azure tropical waters. There is great snorkeling on the bay side, running from Playa del Amor to the marina breakwater just outside the entrance of Cabo San Lucas harbor. This marine sanctuary is great for viewing a wonderful variety of colorful tropical fish as well as game fish. So rent snorkel gear and have a mini adventure, take a water taxi and be sure to arrange your return trip as well and have fun.

See what other Mexico tourists are saying about their visit to Lover’s Beach.
Last port-of-call Cabo San Lucas
Greetings from Hello World!
The Honeymoon
Vacay #1: Mexico
Babymoon
Lover’s Beach
Annual Trip to Cabo!!!
A Trip to the Lover’s Beach in Cabo San Lucas
First port of call – Cabo San Lucas
Honeymoon!
Riu Palace Hotel and Lovers Beach ~ Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
back and blogging!
Los Cabos
jimena
Heavy sigh….
I’m back online….and LOVING it!
Don’t Be a Squid in Cabo
cabo “boom boom pow” 2009….(part two)
cabo!!
babblings and cruise info
divorce beach
mexico
The cruise as seen by our point-and-shoot
jesus provides transport to lover’s beach
Cruisin’
DOUG’S 60TH BIRTHDAY – CABO SAN LUCAS
cabo conclusion!

Xpu-ha Beach Tulum

Riviera Maya, Mexico

The Mayan ancestors named this beach Xpu-Ha ( ish-pu-ha ) meaning “morning dew” for it’s great beauty and luscious and spectacular vegetation.

A long stretch of sugar-white sand, Xpu-ha ( ish-pu-ha ) was made for swimming and walking. They’re starting to build more around there, but it’s still fairly remote. And the bay is gorgeous. While there’s a beach right by the famous ruins of Tulum, the best beaches are just south. And though they’re great for swimming, they’re almost made for strolling. You can walk for miles on these beautiful beaches.

Xpu-ha is on a small bay about 60 miles south of Cancun. You can get to this beach by going south down the Riviera Maya. The entrance is marked just off the resort community of Puerto Aventuras.

xpu-ha beach

The beach is a length of sparkling white sand. Around the bay’s northern point, there is a lagoon and slightly inland from that, there is the stunning Xpu-ha cenote. The cenote is very long and narrow and reaches into the jungle for 500 meters, its shape and size makes it one of the Yucatan’s most unusual cenotes. It only takes about 15 minutes to walk from the beach to the lagoon, then another 10 minutes to walk inland from the lagoon to the cenote.

There are also few private homes at Xpu-ha and some rustic cabañas that can be rented. There are also two small cafes and several dive operators. These local divers are professional who know the area very well. Xpu-ha has also a RV park and campground as well as a beach bar and restaurant. It has two little beach front restaurants/bars that serve the catch of the day. There is good snorkeling here, but watch out for the fishing and dive boats that harbor here – you don’t want to get run over while you are watching the fish.

See what other Mexico tourists have to say about their trip to Xpu-ha Beach.

Accomodations

Al Cielo Hotel
The clear azure waters of the Mexican Caribbean, the white sandy beaches, the coconut palms and the thatch roof palapas have been combined to make Al Cielo Hotel a privileged and unique place for it’s natural beauty.

Al Cielo Hotel
Carretera Federal Cancun-Tulum KM 118
Xpu-Ha Beach 1.5
CP 77710 (Riviera Maya)
Solidaridad, Quintana Roo
Mexico
011-52-984-840-9012

Xpu-Ha Palace
Designed to enjoy nature at its best, in an environment where local flora and fauna cohabit in a showcase of native species, among rustic and charming bungalows, Xpu-Ha Palace has adapted its facilities to welcome pets. During your stay you will have all the advantages of the all inclusive features and the possibility of bringing your furry companion on a complimentary * basis. Your pet will also be provided with services and amenities at no additional cost. From special bedding to a relaxing grooming session, and with the talented handlers at the pets’ club he will also feel a very special guest.

Xpu-Ha Palace
KM 265 Carretera Chetumal Puerto-Juarez
Riviera Maya, Mexico 77710
011-52-984-875-1010
Fax 011-52-984-875-1012
Xpu-Ha Palace
Xpu-Ha Palace is a Palace Resorts property.

Aventura Spa Palace invites you to take your body, mind and spirit on a journey that will at once purify, restore, and revitalize the senses. Ideally positioned in the heart of the Riviera Maya, where the tropical sun meets the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea, the ultimate pampering experience awaits.

Aventura Spa Palace
KM. 72 Carretera Cancun – Tulum, Riviera Maya,
Quintana Roo 77710
011-52-984-875-1100
Fax 011-52-984-875-1101
Aventura Spa Palace
Aventura Spa Palace is a Palace Resorts property.

Catalonia Royal Tulum
Barcelo Maya Palace Deluxe
Barcelo Maya Colonial and Tropical Beach
Barcelo Maya Beach and Caribe

Other attractions are the coral formations that are simply superb at some places. Besides, some nearby ancient sites like Chichen Itza and Tulum are worth visiting.Some of the places featuring the best of Mexican beaches are listed below. Tulum (on the Caribbean coast) has one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, with picturesque Mayan ruins overlooking the same. The ambience thus created is awesome and is the reason why thousands of tourists visit the place each year. Tulum is 130 km south of the massive resort of Cancún. It is a tiny but perfectly formed white sandy cove, with beautiful palm trees and the inviting azure Caribbean Sea to swim in. The entrance to Tulum has a huge car park, souvenir shops, café and restaurants. As such, there is no place to stay on the spot, but there are a few hotels and restaurants in Tulum village. Beside, there are plenty of resort type places, cabañas (beach huts) and campsites along the coast road south to Punta Allen.

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.

Puerto Angel area (on the Pacific coast) is known for its tranquility with the most popular beach being the Zipolite. Security is a bit of a problem here. Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo (Baja California) proffers miles of marvelous beaches and is a major American tourist destination for fishing and young partying. The best beaches are the Playa Cemeterio, Playa Santa Maria (great for swimming), Playa Costa Azul, Playa Canta Mar (ideal for surfing) and Playa Solmar (whale-watching from January to April).

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.

Between Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco, the central Pacific Coast has several hundred miles of coastline with fine sandy beaches and excellent facilities. The place is known for its fantastic seafood, lively nightlife and scores of activities.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_Morris

Depending on your preferences, the best time to plan your Mexico beach vacation is likely between November and May. Although the weather is quite nice during the winter, Christmas and Easter generally attract huge holiday crowds and prices skyrocket. June and July are by far the hottest months of the year and Mexico beaches will be oppressively humid. Summer also sees the greatest influx of insects to the area, although these months are generally the least expensive travel times.

Once you’ve decided when to plan your Mexico beach vacation, you’ll next want to decide on a destination. Cancun beaches are the most popular for travelers from all around the world. The water is clean, the beaches are seemingly endless and the town of Cancun offers plenty of activities. Most travelers stay at a Mexico beach resort when staying at Cancun beaches, and there are certainly plenty to choose from in Cancun. Cancun beaches are famous throughout the world for exceptional scuba diving, in particular and any Mexico beach resort in the area will offer information about diving, as well as discounts on diving tour packages.

Tulum is another popular beach destination. Located on the Caribbean coast, Tulum is one of the prettiest beaches in all of Mexico and offers a lovely view of ancient Mayan ruins that overlook the beach to boot. Tulum is a great destination for beach lovers looking to relax and splash about in the water without a lot of the busy activity that characterizes more touristy towns like Cancun. Electricity more sparsely available in Tulum accommodations, however the sandy cove and calm waters of this beach location is the perfect place for a swim.

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.

Although the most coveted Mexico beaches can be found on the Caribbean coast, the Pacific coast also has a nice group of Mexico beaches. Puerto Vallarta is one of the more well known, particularly among divers who travel to the area for the migration of humpbacked whales each winter. Acapulco is another Pacific Coast favorite, with a huge collection of Mexico beach resorts all along the shore.

Smaller Mexico beaches can be accessed from many of the larger resort towns, and travelers will be delighted to find that there are really no bad beach choices in Mexico. Depending on whether you want to include shopping, sun bathing, scuba diving, fishing, or even surfing as part of your Mexico beach vacation, you”ll be sure to find the ideal Mexico beach for any kind of travel.