Just north of Cancún, where the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico meet, is this small, beautiful island.  The ferry from Puerto Juárez brings passengers, the slower one has more locals, the faster one, more tourists.   The downtown area offers many shops...

Just north of Cancún, where the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico meet, is this small, beautiful island.  The ferry from Puerto Juárez brings passengers, the slower one has more locals, the faster one, more tourists.   The downtown area offers many shops and restaurants.  Golf carts and mopeds rentals are available and recommended.   Playa Norte (North Beach) is ideal for sunbathing and wading.  The waters here are clear, calm, shallow and warm, great for snorkling.  The sunset here is magnificent.  The Parque Nacional El Garrafon is on the Punta Sur (South Point) of the island.  The Mayan ruin here is named, Templo Maya Diosa Ixchel.  There are iguanas everywhere.  The waters here are rough and swimming is only recommended in designated areas.  Although Isla Mujeres is a tourist destination in its own right, it is quite a contrast from Cancún.  It has more local flavor than the major tourist areas.

Isla Mujeres was hit by hurricane Wilma in 2005, many buildings and piers have been damaged or destroyed, many birds and fish died. The island is still a pearl in the Caribbean sea, but it needs some more time to recover.

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