Isla Mujeres: The Peaceful Mexican Island 15 Minutes from Cancún’s Chaos

If you enjoy the ease of traveling to Cancún when you get the urge to feel white sand between your toes, but don’t want that ocean view to come with the steady beat of a nightclub DJ and crowds yelling for more shots, then let me suggest Isla Mujeres. 

Most of Isla Mujeres’ visitors come to the island for a day trip from Cancún hotels and condos, or nearby resorts that sell sailing and scuba diving excursions to tourists. And that was my primary experience of the island before my niece, Brittney Pevehouse, invited me to join her and eight friends on a trip to celebrate her birthday.

Isla Mujeres offers a laid-back, tranquil island experience, far less crowded than Cancún. It’s small (about 5 miles long), but rather than making a mad dash around the island trying to see everything in a couple of hours before catching a ferry back to the mainland, this time we enjoyed a more chilled-out trip, with time to enjoy more of the local community. 

Isla Mujeres has a history stretching back over 1,500 years, first serving as a Maya sanctuary dedicated to the goddess Ixchel, who represented the moon, fertility, and medicine. In 1517, Spanish explorer Francisco Hernández de Córdoba arrived and named it Isla Mujeres ("Island of Women") after finding many idols and images of the goddess on the island. You can head to Punta Sur, the southern tip of the island, to see some of the Mayan ruins today, along with dramatic cliffs and ocean views.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, when Cancún began to grow as a tourist attraction, the island evolved along with it into a popular destination. English is now as widely spoken as Spanish, but the community has managed to retain more of its local charm and cultural heritage, while evolving with the times to offer trendy options such as European-style espresso coffee drinks served from the back of a vintage VW, known as the Lacandona Coffee Bus. 

Since my niece did all the hard work planning this trip, I asked her to share some of what she learned along the way:

What led you to choose Isla Mujeres as the place to celebrate your birthday? 

Several years ago, while staying at an all-inclusive resort in Cancún, we took a catamaran day trip to the island and rented a golf cart to explore. I fell in love with the vibe of the island and the beautiful water, and said to myself I’m coming back here!

I’d had a similar experience with my previous visits, spending an afternoon at the island’s famous Playa Norte, which is frequently rated as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. And also enjoying snorkeling off a catamaran. The island is surrounded by vibrant coral reefs, including sites like the underwater museum MUSA and Manchones Reef.

What surprised you the most when you were researching and planning the trip?

How many different types of restaurants were available, and almost all of them came with rave reviews on the food. Every restaurant we ate at was delicious. 

One of my favorites was Samura Japanese Cuisine & Bar, not only for the delicious sushi, but also for its cool atmosphere. Heading into the restaurant through a red light tunnel, you emerge to tables on the beach underneath ancient trees strung with twinkle lights and woven wicker lamps.

What surprised you the most once you got there?

How fast the taxis drive!

Speaking of the taxis, if you’re the type to overpack and you’re traveling with a group, be prepared for some island ingenuity when they try to load all of your luggage into their small cars.  When it came time for our group to depart, all the car trunks were so full they wouldn’t close, and our drivers pulled out bungee cords to strap everything down for the ride to the ferry.

Riding in the taxis can be amusing, and they are plentiful on the island, but golf carts are the most popular and practical rental vehicles for getting around while you’re there. Golf cart rentals on Isla Mujeres in 2025 typically cost $75–$100 USD per 24 hours for a standard 4-person cart. Peak season on Isla Mujeres runs from December to April, making it wise to reserve your golf cart ahead of time if you’re visiting then. Renting a car is generally not recommended and can actually be inconvenient because parking is very limited and the streets, especially downtown, are narrow and congested.

What is the number one tip you would give to someone thinking of planning a trip to Isla Mujeres?

Do your research. There are many Isla Mujeres Facebook groups that are a wealth of knowledge. Stay at Casa Bonita. Book your golf cart in advance, and get a private chef to cook dinner if you're traveling with a group; it’s surprisingly affordable. Book a day trip on a yacht (expect to pay around $1,100–$1,300 USD for a four-hour tour). Also, take a trip to the grocery store. It's fun!! Bring bug spray. 

I can second her recommendation on Casa Bonita. The cheerful yellow house had a lot of quirky architecture that appears to be the result of many additions (kind of like a non-sinister Winchester House). That means it has tons of space for a large group to spread out, which is nice because even when you’re amongst friends, sometimes you want to be able to get a little alone time. We booked the entire 6-bedroom casa for around $700 a night, and with 10 of us to split the cost, that meant it was only about $70 a day per person. And speaking of sharing the cost, this trip was my introduction to the Splitwise app, which was an easy, non-awkward way to ensure lodging and dining expenses were shared appropriately.

When we arrived at Casa Bonita, our pre-booked – thanks to Brittney’s advance planning – private water taxis were able to pull right up to the house’s private dock, making us feel extra special from the start. However, windy conditions caused us to take the aforementioned small car taxis to the ferry back to Cancún for our flights home. The ferry is the primary mode of transportation between Isla Mujeres and Cancún. It’s fast, frequent, takes about 15–25 minutes, and a round-trip ticket costs about $28–$30 USD per adult.

We were all sad to leave the pretty house where we had celebrated not just one, but two friends’ birthdays in laid-back luxury that came at a very reasonable cost when shared. After several quick day trips in the past, it was great to have multiple days on Isla Mujeres so it could reveal what I’d been missing - a place where you can experience authentic Mexican island culture without sacrificing comfort or convenience.