Cancun
Vacations: Isla Mujeres "Island Of Women"
If
you are planning a vacation trip to Cancun, hop the ferry across
the bay to the small finger-shaped Isla Mujeres. The name means
"Island of Women" and there are a number of theories
as to how the name came to be but it's not because of the topless
beach. The important thing is that it's a great place to vacation
in the sun.
On
Isla Mujeres the atmosphere is much more relaxed and relatively
quiet compared to Cancun or Cozumel. The number of tourists
is much less than on the mainland.
The
city is only about 10 blocks long and five blocks wide so don't
expect a whole lot besides the supermarket and cinema. But the
natural sights are what you came for anyway.
There
are accommodations to fit all budgets. Most are downtown and
near the oceanfront. One of the better hotels is Posada del
Mar with air-conditioned rooms overlooking the waterfront. The
Cristalmar Resort and Beach Club is south of town has a great
beach, pool and modern facilities. There are a number of budget
hotels but be careful because the conditions and service vary
greatly from day to day.
The
outlying reefs are great for diving and snorkeling. The windward
side is best but only when the seas are calm. The coral rocks
are quite dangerous when the water is rough. Local dive shops
provide day trips out to the farther reefs for snorkeling and
diving.
Charter
a local boat for a deep-sea fishing trip. Grouper, barracuda,
tuna and red snapper are in abundance year round while in the
spring you can catch the bigger fish like dorado, marlin and
sailfish.
Every
year the Club de Yates of Isla Mujeres puts on a sailing regatta
near the end of April. Also, the Regatta Amigos takes place
several times throughout the year. These events turn into one
big party for the whole island with costumes, dancing, music,
food and tequila.
At
Playa Norte Beach (the previously referred to topless beach)
is on the north edge of town. The water is shallow, blue and
calm with cafes close by. Sailboarding and water skiing are
popular as is the local three-wheeled floating "bike".
Not far away is another beautiful and quiet beach, Playa Lancheros.
On
the south end of the small island is a reconstructed ancient
Mayan temple. It sits on a cliff with a wonderful view over
the ocean. This makes a good excuse to take a walk and see the
island.
Garrafon
Beach is the one spot that seems to draw the most tourists.
Probably because it's such a good spot for snorkeling. Avoid
the crowds by going early. The beach has a coral reef that is
perfect for beginner snorkeling and children. You can have fun
actually feeding the fish. Not too far out you can get a look
at some sunken cannon, an anchor and the resident angelfish.
If
you go in October, don't miss the Isla Mujeres International
Music Festival. It starts on the second weekend of the month
and goes for 12 days of music and dancing.
About the Author
The author, of this article, Peter Shannon, is the owner of
the website http://www.1001-vacation-ideas.com.
Here you will find a large collection of vacation and getaway
ideas for travelers searchable by theme and location.
