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Isla Mujeres has long been a popular destination for water
sports enthusiasts. With beautiful white sand beaches, crystal
clear turquoise waters, magnificent reefs near by and
challenging deep-sea fishing, Isla has something for everyone.
Explore the natural wonders of the Mexican Caribbean.
Back to Things to Do or
Forward to Fun on the Land
The Beaches of Isla
Mujeres
There are beaches all around Isla Mujeres. The major beaches are
on the north and west sides of Isla. Calm, turquoise waters and
soft white sand make them ideal for sunning, swimming and
snorkeling. The spectacular and rocky eastern shore is too
dangerous for swimming, the currents are very strong on the
Caribbean side. There are posted warnings, but accidents can
happen so please be careful. Even on Playa Norte there are areas
where the undertow is quite strong. CHILDREN 12 YEARS AND UNDER
MAY NOT SWIM UNLESS SUPERVISED BY AN ADULT! Playa Norte (North
Beach)
Considered one of the best beaches in the Caribbean, Playa Norte
(once known as Nautibeach and Playa Cocos) is the most popular,
therefore crowded beach on Isla Mujeres. You can rent water
toys, kayaks and snorkeling gear as well as lounge chairs and
beach umbrellas. There are several palapa restaurant/bars that
will also bring drinks and snacks to your towel or beach chair.
Just wave at a passing waiter.
Playa Paraiso, Playa Lancheros and Playa Indios
These more secluded beaches are located on the west side of Isla
Mujeres, mid-island near Hacienda Mundaca. There are open air
palapa restaurants, gift shops, bathrooms, chairs and umbrellas.
You can also rent kayaks, canoes and even beach toys for the
kids. One of the biggest attractions of these beaches are the
shark pens where you can take a swim with the sharks. Don't
forget to tip the trainer.
Garrafón de Castilla
Located next to Garrafón Isla Mujeres at the south end of the
island. The $20 peso admission includes use of lounge and beach
chairs with beach umbrellas, restrooms and shower facilities.
Snorkel gear, lockers and towels are available for an additional
fee. There is a restaurant, snack bar and a small gift shop.
Playa Garrafón de Castilla features a Nurse Shark pen where you
can swim with the sharks and snorkeling areas that rival
Garrafón Isla Mujeres.
Scuba Diving and
Snorkeling
Visit
Isla Dive Guide for information about scuba diving and
snorkeling the waters around Isla Mujeres! The scuba diving and
snorkeling around Isla Mujeres is unforgettable. The Manchones
Reef begins just off of Isla's shore and the Cuevones and
Banderas Reefs are close by. The waters are calm and clear -
perfect for the beginner as well as the advanced diver. The Cruz
de la Bahia (Bay Cross) was planted into the Manchones Reef in
1994 to pay tribute to the men and women of the sea. Divers
celebrate the founding of Isla Mujeres in 1854 with a mass dive
here on August 17.
Almost 50 years ago, a young lobster diver from Isla Mujeres
named Carlos García Castilla, discovered a deep sea cave where
sharks went in... but didn't come out. Out of curiosity he free
dove some twenty meters (about 65 feet) and found that the
sharks were asleep with their eyes wide open. The Cave of the
Sleeping Sharks. Explore this wonder yourself...
Garrafon Natural Reef Park and Dolphin Discovery
Garrafón
Natural Reef Park is named for an incredible reef formation,
part of the longest reef in the hemisphere. The shallow waters
of Garrafón make swimming and snorkeling child's play, so gentle
are the currents. There are gift shops, restaurant and snack
bars, bathrooms with showers and dive shops. The entrance fee
gives you full use of the facilities (pool, sea platforms, deck
chairs and palapas) as well as life vests, inner tubes, kayaks.
Lockers, towels and snorkel gear are additional charges. The
park also offers guided tours to Punta Sur and the "Blue Eye
Cave", Zip line flights and Caribbean. A great way to spend the
day and well worth the entrance fee! Garrafón Park is located on
the south end of the island facing Cancun. Take the opportunity,
come swim with the dolphins and have amazing moments through any
of our package deals ! Visit
www.garrafon.com for more information.
Swim
with dolphins at
Dolphin Discovery at Isla Mujeres. An experience of a
lifetime! Swimming with the dolphins is everything you have
imagined and more. Everybody will delight in this hands-on
experience, listening to the dolphins sing, watching them "tail
walk", and even hugging and kissing these people-loving
creatures. Choose from Dolphin Encounter, Dolphin Swim Adventure
or Dolphin Royal Swim.
Whale
Shark Tours
These gentle giants are the largest fish in the sea reaching
lengths of 40 feet (12 meters) or more. Whale sharks are
filter-feed, swimming with their wide mouths open, collecting
plankton and small fish. Although massive, whale sharks are
docile fish and you can safely snorkel with them,
The best months to observe and snorkel with these fantastic
animals are June, July, August and September.
July
16th - 18th The Annual
Whale
Shark Festival
Boat
Charters
At the ferry dock there are some young men representing many of
the small launches that will take you on a water tour of the
island including snorkeling and lunch. Lorenzo speaks fluent
English and can help you decide which "tour" appeals to you
most.
Captain Tony Garcia on the "Guadalupana"
offers tours around the island. Located at #7A Matamoros, Tel:
877-0229 E-mail:
capitantony@latinmail.com
The Cooperative located on Ave. Rueda Medina, just half a block
north from the ferry dock, offers fishing and snorkel trips. You
can also charter a small boat just to cruise around the island.
Fishing and Tournaments
The fishing around Isla Mujeres is great! From large tournaments
to off-shore and deep sea fishing. Isla Mujeres is a fishing
village and many families still catch their dinner every day.
During the height of the season you'll see many fishing yachts
docked at the marinas. There are several international fishing
tournaments held yearly; In February the Island Time
Fishing Tournament, In May the
Isla Mujeres Annual Fishing
Tournament and of course the
Barracuda Bash Fishing Tournament.
Sport Fishing with Captain Anthony Mendillo. Tel: 877-0759
Fax: 877-0211 E-mail:
fishkinm@cancun.com.mx Full and half days fishing aboard
the KEEN M, a 29 ft US build custom diesel powered sport fishing
boat and the Lilly M is a 36 foot Vernese Express. Both are
fully equipped with the finest fishing gear and ready for the
most exciting deep sea fishing and light tackle angling
adventure in the waters of the Mexican Caribbean!
Sea Hawk Fishing offers some of the best off-shore and
deep-sea fishing trips.
Guadalupana Boat Tours with Captain Tony Garcia offers
trolling and bottom fishing at a very reasonable price.
At the Cooperative you can charter a boat for a few hours or
day.
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