The magical beauty of the Caribbean beaches is all around this little piece of paradise that is Isla Mujeres. An ideal place to spend your vacation entirely communing with nature and completely forgetting the pressures of modern life, Isla Mujeres gives you the opportunity of laying on the white sand while the sun warms up your skin, as well as going into the depths of the ocean to take a close look at lazy sharks. In Isla Mujeres there is a special kind of magic for every person.
Water sports are a fact of life in Isla Mujeres. You can sail the water pushed by the Caribbean breeze while you practice windsurf, or glide slowly over the reefs in a kayak. The clarity of the waters and the vicinity of the reefs make it also a great place for exploring the deep.
One of the reasons Isla mujeres is so popular among underwater life lovers, is because it offers great opportunities to practice diving and snorkeling. Among the favorite sites for the experts in the matter is Los Manchones, a 300 meter wide and 1 kilometer long coral reef. Since it is not very deep (9-12 m), it is considered an appropriate place for beginners to enjoy the stunning beauty of the coral formations and the everlasting movement of the multihued fish that inhabit them.
For a more adventurous plunge, the ideal place is the Cave of the Sleeping Sharks. In this place a low salinity abnormality in the water causes the sharks to feel sleepy. In the cavities of this coral cave, the fish stay lethargic while they get rid of the parasites that usually attach themselves to them. Because of the depth of the cave as well as the nature of the fauna, this is not an activity recommended for beginners.
The Cross of the Bay, a monumental bronze sculpture that was submerged in 1994, is nowadays a submarine pilgrimage place visited by fishermen and divers alike, as much to honor the symbol as to admire the great amount of multicolored fish that have made it their home.
Not too far off Isla Mujeres, where the continental platform descends, some wrecks can be visited and their most recent crew admired. The Ultrafreeze and the Buque de la Naval are two of the most popular. This immersion is recommended for experienced divers.
For those who wish to admire the amazing beauty hidden in the reefs of Isla Mujeres without going completely underwater, snorkeling is a great option. One of the most ad-hoc places to enjoy the variety of shapes and colors of fish and corals is the El Farito reef, that has a maximum depth of 3 meters (10 ft). Here you can delight in the barracudas, sea fans and parrotfish as well diverse coral formations that abound.
El Garrafon is another place where snorkeling lovers can enjoy all the wonders that the reefs of Isla Mujeres have to offer. The reef, that has an approximate depth of 4 meters, is about 340 meters long and is a shallow reef. In addition, this park offers visitors the opportunity of experiencing the Tyrolean traverse adventure, underwater walks and kayaks.
Dolphin Discovery is a marvelous dolphinarium that allows kids and grown ups, regardless of their swimming abilities, the opportunity of appreciating these cute aquatic mammals up close in their natural habitat. There are different options for this interaction, but it is swimming with dolphins what allows the greater socializing with them. The park is located south of Isla Mujeres.
The southern cliff, located in the southern tip of the island, is where the worship place of the Mayan goddess Ixchel was located. Nowadays you can find the remains of this sanctuary there, not to mention a spectacular view of the Caribbean.
The hacienda Mundaca is surrounded by an old legend. It is a fact that Fermin Mundaca de Menchaga arrived to Isla Mujeres in 1858, and it was believed he was a pirate. There is no proof of the piracy, but history does tell us that Mundaca made his fortune as a slave driver.
Legend has it, that Mundaca fell in love with a lovely girl much younger than himself, known as “La Trigueña”, so in hopes that a demonstration of riches would gain him the affection of his beloved, he built a beautiful hacienda with his own hands. He called this property “Vista Alegre”, and it occupied more than one third of the island. When he was rejected by the young lady, he went mad and finally died. The remains of the hacienda can be visited and even now the echoes of its past splendor can be perceived.
Years ago, the people of Isla Mujeres realized how important the conservation of the environment was, and the threat that the increase in tourism would represent for the balance of the ecosystems of the region. Happily, ecotourism has become one of the main attractions of the island and this has made the conservation tasks easier.
Isla Contoy is a refuge for marine birds since 1961. This small island in the Caribbean is 4 miles long and a little more than half mile wide. It is visited by species like cormorants, brown pelicans and frigate birds. It is possible to dive in its surrounding waters and, since the nearby reefs are between three and five meters deep they are particularly apt for beginners. Isla Contoy can only be accessed in authorized ships, and you can observe the birds from the boat or from the lookout in the island. Every year, from May to September, four endangered species of turtles arrive on the island to lay their eggs: Hawksbill Turtle, Loggerhead Sea Turtle, Leatherback Sea Turtle and Green Sea Turtle.
Another interesting place for the entire family is the Granja de Tortugas (Turtle Farm) in Isla Mujeres. Here, the eggs of the giant sea turtles, that have visited these shores for years and years, are placed in special pens to avoid predators. Once the turtles are born, they are placed in buckets until they are ready to be set free. The liberation is accomplished by school children of the region. This zone is protected by the federal government.
From Mayan ruins to 19th century haciendas, and from shallow waters to deep wrecks, Isla Mujeres offers a wonderful variety of possibilities, always in deep communion with its environment. Give yourself the opportunity of enjoying the peace and serenity that Isla Mujeres emanates.
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