• HOME
  • ABOUT
  • ABROAD
    • Destinations
    • Itineraries
    • City Guides
    • Resources
  • AT HOME
    • San Francisco
    • Freelance Life
  • CONTACT
  • SHOP

Part-Time Traveler

Find your balance of travel and home.

Home » Itineraries » One Day » Take Me To… Isla Mujeres

Take Me To… Isla Mujeres

December 19, 2014 One Day, Travel

Though only a short ferry ride away from Cancun, Isla Mujeres (meaning, “island of women”) seems worlds away.  There are still resorts and beaches dotted with sunbathers, but the island on the Caribbean Sea is small and quiet for the most part. It’s only 7 km in length — in fact golf carts are a popular way to get around.

The island was a Mayan sanctuary to goddess Ixchel for about a thousand years.  If you find yourself in Cancun, but looking for something calmer and a little smaller in scale — with even better access to the natural beauty and culture of the Yucatan…the Isla is worth retreating to.

The laid back feel of Isla Mujeres translated to instant relaxation for me, so take a deep breath and come on a photo journey  there with me now.

Take Me To letters

Isla Mujeres Playa NorteThe white powdery sands of Playa Norte…
Isla Mujeres4Boat trips out on the warm Caribbean Sea…
Isla Mujeres1Fresh fruit drinks and refreshing shade…
Isla Mujeres5Uncrowded beaches…
Isla Mujeres2Unique snorkeling and diving (Cancun Underwater Museum)
Isla Mujeres3A thriving underwater world to explore…
Isla Mujeres6SeaWalls street art and mural project…
Isla Mujeres7Architecture…
isla mujeres streetsAnd glimpses of local life…
Isla Mujeres9Of course not without fresh seafood and fine Mexican cooking…

sunset dinner on the beachAll topped off by a glowing sunset and dinner on the sand.
(Isla Mujeres Palace Hotel.)

Thank you to the Cancun CVB for hosting me. All opinions (and images) are fully my own.

Updated March 2019.

 << Check out more Day Trips from Cancun >>

13 Comments

SHARE
« Best Day Trips from Cancun
A Year of Good Food »

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

  • Gracias, Acapulco
  • Best Day Trips from Cancun
  • A Few New Zealand Photos From So Far…
  • Sydney for Foodies

Want to travel more while still keeping a home base?

Sign up for exclusive content:

 

Winner of Gold and Silver 2019 Solas Awards for Best Travel Writing.

About Anne

Anne Lowrey is an award-winning travel writer based in San Francisco.

After spending a year in the world, she insisted on building a life at home she loved as much as she loves travel. The result was a move to SF, which she affectionately calls her “soul city.” She believes in the balance of and connection between time spent at home and abroad.

Comments

  1. debster says

    December 19, 2014 at 7:26 pm

    wow. and WOW. I wanna go there and visit now.
    thank you for this post. 🙂

    Reply
    • Anne says

      December 19, 2014 at 9:00 pm

      I want to go back! Thanks for reading. Happy travels! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Chanel | Cultural Xplorer says

    December 24, 2014 at 3:05 pm

    Just booked my flight to the Cancun area…. I think I am interested in visiting this Island 😀 Thanks Anne!

    Reply
    • Anne says

      December 24, 2014 at 5:40 pm

      Awesome! When are you heading down there Chanel?

      Reply
      • Chanel | Cultural Xplorer says

        January 10, 2015 at 5:29 pm

        I will be going there in July 😀

        Reply
        • Anne says

          January 11, 2015 at 10:48 am

          Awesome! You will love it. Let me know if I can be of any help 😀

          Reply
  3. Naomi says

    January 1, 2015 at 6:46 pm

    We LOVED our time at Isla Mujeres! Can’t wait to go back again! It was too short a visit!!

    Reply
    • Anne says

      January 2, 2015 at 10:31 pm

      It’s a gorgeous island, with a very different feel from Cancun. I’d like to go back as well!

      Reply
  4. Deepak Acharya says

    January 6, 2015 at 10:12 pm

    Looks like a lovely place 🙂

    Reply
  5. Kristin says

    January 7, 2015 at 6:10 pm

    Amazing photos! That sand and water are stunning. Looks like such a romantic spot for dinner on the beach.

    Reply
  6. Jerry says

    June 14, 2015 at 8:42 pm

    Planning to go to IM for our 35th wedding anniversary in June 2016.

    Reply
    • Anne says

      June 14, 2015 at 8:43 pm

      That’s wonderful! It’s a romantic spot 🙂

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Day Trips From Cancun says:
    March 4, 2019 at 12:56 pm

    […] Read more about another top Cancun day trip – Isla Mujeres […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I’m Anne! I spend part of my time traveling the world and the other part living in my soul city, San Francisco.

I have a love for all things travel. I also have a love for nesting. I do NOT believe the two have to be mutually exclusive. If you seek that balance…you’ve come to the right place.

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING?

Where Am I?

Last: We honeymooned in Greece (Santorini, Milos, Crete) and babymooned in Northern Italy (Piemonte, Lombardia, and Emilia Romagna.)

Next: ???

Now: At home in San Francisco, doubling down on nesting with our newborn baby  ♡

POPULAR POSTS

30 Life Lessons I Learned From Travel (And How They’re Making Me Happier At Home)

Nan: The Quieter Version of Thailand

san francisco restaurants

The Side of San Francisco Most Tourists Don’t See

“If travel is like love, it is mostly because it’s a heightened state of awareness, in which we are mindful, receptive, undimmed by familiarity and ready to be transformed. That is why the best trips, like the best love affairs, never really end.” – Pico Iyer

Plan a Trip

PLAN A TRIP

 

I’ve got…

PLAN A TRIP

  • One Day
  • One Week
  • Two+ Weeks

JOIN THE LIST

Find your balance between home and travel.

Not Como but…Iseo! Looking to return to the lake Not Como but…Iseo!
Looking to return to the lakes of North Italy, we considered Como, Garda, Maggiore, Orta…and in the end we chose Lake Iseo, the one least known (to me.)

It was a beautifully uncrowded atmosphere that only added to our relaxation. Aside from enjoying the lakefront hotel and restaurants, we took a day to visit Monte Isola, the island in the middle of the lake, and another to drive around the perimeter, stopping at villages nestled by the lake’s edge or up into the mountains as needed (cappuccino, gelato, aperitivo, etc.) 

If you’re looking for a smaller, calmer Italian lake experience, add this one to your list! 
—
#parttimetraveler #lagodiseo #italianlakes #italianbeauty
I’ve mostly traveled Italy by train (still my fa I’ve mostly traveled Italy by train (still my favorite way!) but for this trip we decided to rent a 🚗 so that we had a little more freedom to explore and discover smaller villages and countryside. 

If you haven’t yet thought to do this outside of Tuscany, I highly recommend! It’s great to be able to see and support smaller spots and businesses that don’t get much as much tourist traffic. 
—
#parttimetraveler #piemonte #italytraveltips #slowtravel
Bella Italia 🇮🇹🤍 looking forward to shari Bella Italia 🇮🇹🤍 looking forward to sharing more photos this week from my recent journey in Northern Italy!
I’ve also got some news to share…
—
#parttimetraveler #northernitaly #bellaitalia #traveldeeper
Como calls ✨ I’m actually visiting a smaller, Como calls ✨ I’m actually visiting a smaller, much lesser known Italian lake this time. Can’t wait to share more! 🇮🇹
#northernitaly #italianlakes #lagodicomo
Hi friends, it’s been awhile. I’ve got an inte Hi friends, it’s been awhile. I’ve got an international trip planned that starts next week 🧳 😭 Can you guess where? #parttimetraveler #ontheroadagain
Feeling grateful today for another trip taken arou Feeling grateful today for another trip taken around the sun ☀️ and for being able to do so with many favorite people (and in some of my favorite places!)

It can be difficult to celebrate big days or little happy moments amongst the current heaviness of the world. But we must 🌴🌴
—
#bigisland #smallbirthday #alohasunday
9.3.21 :: by far the best day of 2021 and the star 9.3.21 :: by far the best day of 2021 and the start of what makes me most excited for the years to come. ✨
📷 @amandaweiphoto

#sanfranciscowedding #tiburonreception #sfcityhall #2021bride #grateful
Note to self: take more walks just after sunrise 🌁 
#alwaysSF #iphoneonly
Mentally, I’m here right now. 🇬🇷 #milosg Mentally, I’m here right now. 🇬🇷 

#milosgreece #honeymoondestination #parttimetraveler
CONNECT ON INSTAGRAM

© 2022 PART-TIME TRAVELER         Privacy Policy + Terms of Use          Subscribe

THEME BY ECLAIR DESIGNS