Family Fun in Isla Mujeres, Mexico

Andrew Kensley is the father of two, and dad blogger at The Colorado Writer. This article was exclusively written for Momaboard and if it doesn’t get you booking for Mexico, it will at least start you dreaming about your next vacation.

Andrew says:

If you’re planning a family voyage to Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, anywhere from Cancun south to Playa Del Carmen, a stop in Isla Mujeres is a must. While Isla (as the locals call it) is only a 25-minute boat ride from Cancun over sparkling turquoise waters, it’s essence couldn’t be further removed from Cancun’s traffic, tourist kitsch, and over-boozed spring breakers. Endless sunshine, family-friendly beaches, inexpensive food and a small-village feel make this intimate 4-square-mile island an ideal family day trip. But next time, we’re staying for a week.

Getting to Isla Mujeres:

From Cancun International Airport, your best best is to reserve a shuttle ahead of time to take you to Puerto Juarez to catch the ferry. If you’re already staying at one of the hotels in Cancun’s popular zona hotelera (hotel zone), take the city bus to the port, about 10 minutes north of the hotel zone. The Puerto Gran ferry (Ultramar) costs 80 pesos (about $7 US) round trip for anyone over 4 feet tall, 40 pesos for the shorties. Sit up top for great views.

Money Exchange in Isla Mujeres:

The CIBanco Exchange office in Isla is located 2 blocks up to your left on Rueda Medina, the main road as you exit the port. It requires only a passport, is quick, easy and safe, and you’ll get a better rate than any of the hotels or Casa de Cambio kiosks in Cancun. The HSBC bank across from the ferry terminal exchanges only travelers checks and requires more documentation than you’re likely to have with you. You can also withdraw pesos from the HSBC ATM, probably at a decent rate, but with withdrawal fees from HSBC and your home bank.

Fun For Kids in Isla Mujeres:

Playa Norte, the best beach on Isla, is only a five-minute walk from the ferry terminal along Rueda Medina, past the CIBanco. Long stretches of white sand beaches are free unless you want to rent chairs and/or an umbrella. It’s not a bad deal if you plan on spending the day or even a few hours. It gets hot and the shady spots under the palm trees get snapped up by mid-morning. With a little bargaining, you can rent 4 chairs and an umbrella for the whole day for about $50 US, probably less if you passed high school Spanish.

The beach actually faces northwest and is sheltered from the easterly Caribbean currents. The result is calm, shallow, crystal waters ideal for the youngsters to play in. We saw plenty of school aged kids, and my 7- and 5-year-old daughters, Ella and Sophia, made new friends and splashed in the waves for hours.

Beachside Shopping in Isla Mujeres:

Local vendors walk up and down the beach selling everything from nuts to handmade purses. They are persistent but will respect a polite “No, gracias” if you’re not interested in their wares. We did, however, spend our pesos wisely for a wonderful woman named Violeta to braid our daughters’ hair. Considering she took at least 20 minutes with each kid and the braids lasted 2 weeks like she promised, at 260 pesos apiece (plus a tip) we got our money’s worth. Moreover, it gave the kids an excuse to rest in the shade.

Lunch in Isla Mujeres:

Isla’s downtown, or Centro (total area: 6 streets by 4 streets), has many affordable and tasty food options. We shared an outdoor lunch at Rosticeria La Mexicana on Avenida Guerrero: a tasty roasted half-chicken with corn tortillas, rice, beans, grilled onions, and 2 bottled sodas for a grand total of 90 pesos (less than $10 US). And all you parents set to spoil your kids with the luxuries of vacationing in the tropics, breathe easy. You’re never more than a block from a convenience store with freezers stocked full of ice cream bars.

Getting Around Isla Mujeres with Kids:

If you plan on staying in the immediate vicinity of Playa Norte and Centro, foot travel is your best option. If you want to explore the rest of this island haven, the most fun and affordable way for the whole family is to rent a golf cart. On Isla, cart rentals are regulated so all companies charge the same rate. We rented from Prisma, on Avenida Rueda across from the gas station (ask for Jesus), and had no troubles. For 500 pesos (about $45), you can use the cart until 5 pm, or $15/hour for up to three hours. The island is small enough that cars, mopeds, and golf carts peacefully coexist, and no one’s in a hurry. We drove down the west side, stopped at the turtle restoration farm, (at 30 pesos/person, inexpensive and worth a short look–check out the albino), continued to Punta Sur, the southern tip, and took in the fantastic views of where the Gulf of Mexico meets the Caribbean Sea. That spot alone is worth the trip.

With the golf cart you can stop anywhere you want to check out the scattered roadside stands selling anything from cervezas (beer) to sculptures, and the unique beachfront property, most of which are for rent. The views of the sea on the way back up the east side are fantastic, with waves crashing over wild, rocky beaches. If you’re adventurous, you can stop anywhere and climb down for a swim, but I wouldn’t recommend taking the little ones with you. There are no life guards and you’ve have to be a very strong swimmer to attempt it.

Mexico is so close that us that we often take it for granted, or venture to the same tried places like Puerto Vallarta and Cancun. Venture out to to Isla Mujeres, you will not regret it.