Isla Mujeres or “Island of Women” is a small beautiful island located in Mexico’s Caribbean Sea. It is the perfect island destination away from the Cancun crowd. At first, I was intrigued by Isla Mujeres because of its name. Who wouldn’t want to go to a place called “Island of Women”?!
History
Legend has it that the island was named as such because of the Mayan goddess of fertility and medicine, Ixchel. A temple dedicated to the goddess for worship was built and there were many carvings of women all over the island.
How To Get There
The best way to get there is by ferry. There are two general ferry docks, Puerto Juarez and Gran Puerto. The hotel zone also offers ferries to Isla Mujeres, Playa Caracol is well known because of its central location. Round trip ticket is about $20 for a twenty minute journey.
My friend and I got to the dock early and there was no crowd at all. Make sure to check the ferry schedule, but it usually runs every half an hour.
The minute you get off the ferry, you can tell how small the island really is. My friend and I were able to literally walk around the whole place. The locals are also very friendly and accommodating. The beach is wonderful and not crowded at all. I loved the small town vibe and relaxed atmosphere.
I remember going in one of the souvenir shops and they have TONS of the “fertility” figurines of the Mayan goddess. The store owner said that a lot of women who are trying to get pregnant usually buy one of these things for luck. She tried to hand me one but I didn’t even dare touch it which made her laugh.
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Jen is a Chicago-based traveler and creative. She is a full-time development & communications executive specializing in non-profit organizations. Originally from the East Coast, she created The Jetsetter as a place to share her travel stories and photos with friends and family. Now, it is a place for adventurers and dreamers. Its purpose is to inspire and encourage busy professionals to see the world and achieve a better work-life balance.