During the peak of the Mayan civilization, Isla Mujeres was a sanctuary dedicated to the goddess Ixchel, deity of the moon and fertility. After the fall of the Mayapan Confederation, in 1194, the cacicazgos arose as the new form of government. When the Spaniards arrived in Quintana Roo, the territory of Isla Mujeres was part of the Ecab province. The inhabitants of this province were mostly fishermen and traders, but in Isla Mujeres there were camps for farmers and salt gatherers. This activity was very important for the rest of the Yucatan Peninsula.
When in 1517 Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba discovered the island, he found the sanctuary of the goddess and many female statues, so he called it Isla Mujeres (Women Island). The territory of Ecab quickly surrendered and swore obedience to Francisco de Montejo, who was the representative of the Spanish Crown.
The island continued to be uninhabited during the following three centuries, and was only visited by fishermen and pirates, who used it as a refuge and to “safeguard” their women while they sailed the seven seas. According to the legend, pirates as famous as Jean Lafitte and Henry Morgan once paraded around the beaches of Isla Mujeres and buried their treasure in these lands.
When the Guerra de Castas (Mayan uprising) started, in 1847, there were huge population movements, and a good part of the Yucatán population reestablished themselves in Isla Mujeres fleeing the conflict. In 1850 the town of Dolores in Isla Mujeres was founded. It had, at the time, a little over 250 souls.
With the construction of the Hacienda Vista Alegre, by the pirate Fermin Mundaca, Isla Mujeres was reinforced as a settlement, for the hacienda took up almost 40% of the total extension of the island. With it came agriculture and cattle rising. By the end of the 19th century, Isla Mujeres had a population of 651 and a definite urban area. Fishing was its primary economic activity.
In 1902, by means of a presidential decree, the territory of Quintana Roo was created and Isla Mujeres was one of the original municipalities. The exploitation of sugar cane, salt, cotton and gum were the main economic activities of the entity. Oddly enough, regardless of the situation of Quintana Roo during its turbulent political history, Isla Mujeres was always a municipality or delegation. Even when, in 1931 and 1934 the territory of the state was abolished and merged with the surrounding states, Isla Mujeres retained its status as a federal territory.
When the State of Quintana Roo was created, in 1974, Isla Mujeres became one of the 8 municipalities of the state. Along with Isla Contoy, Isla Blanca and a continental portion, Isla Mujeres makes up the municipality of the same name. Nowadays it has an approximate population of 15,000.
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