Isla Mujeres sits just off the Cancun coast and is one of the easiest and most rewarding day trips from the city. In a single day you can swim at one of the calmest beaches in the Mexican Caribbean, drive a golf cart round the whole island and stand on the easternmost point of Mexico. There are two ways to do it: on your own with the public ferry, or on an organised catamaran trip. This guide compares them and lays out a simple plan.
Option one: the public ferry
Passenger ferries run from Puerto Juarez, just north of downtown Cancun, to the town on Isla Mujeres in about twenty minutes, with departures roughly every half hour through the day. There are also less frequent sailings from the Hotel Zone at Playa Tortugas and Playa Caracol, which are convenient if you are staying there. Return tickets let you choose your own hours, and the ferry suits independent travellers who want to explore at their own pace and spend their money on the island.
Option two: a catamaran day trip
All-inclusive catamaran trips from the Cancun side combine hotel transport, an open bar, a snorkel stop on the reef and a few hours of free time on the island, with lunch often included. They are the festive, no-planning choice, good for groups and anyone who wants the sailing itself to be part of the day. The trade-off is less time ashore and a fixed schedule, so check how long you will have on the island before you choose.
A simple self-guided plan
Catch a ferry by about nine to make the most of the cooler morning. From the pier, walk ten minutes to Playa Norte and swim while the beach is quiet and the water is at its calmest. Late morning, rent a golf cart near the ferry pier, bringing your driving licence and cash or a card for the deposit, and drive south along the coast road. Stop for lunch at one of the seafood restaurants on the bay side, then continue to Punta Sur for the cliffs, the sculpture garden and the small Maya shrine to Ixchel. On the way back, visit Garrafon Natural Reef Park if you want an afternoon of organised snorkelling, or simply stop at a beach club. Return the cart, have an early dinner or a drink on Avenida Hidalgo and take an evening ferry back to Cancun.
Adding a snorkel trip
If snorkelling matters more than the golf cart loop, book a morning trip to the MUSA underwater museum, which visits the sculptures and nearby reefs in three to four hours, and spend the afternoon at Playa Norte and in town instead. Families with non-swimmers can see the reef from the glass-bottom boat in an hour or two.
What to bring
Reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, swimwear and a towel, a refillable water bottle, cash in pesos for golf carts, taxis and small restaurants, your driving licence for the cart and a waterproof bag for your phone. Wear sandals you do not mind getting wet.
Timing tips
Weekdays are quieter than weekends, and mornings quieter than afternoons, when most day-trippers arrive. Ferries and boat trips can be suspended in strong wind, particularly during winter cold fronts and in hurricane season, so keep a flexible day in your Cancun plans. Check the last ferry time before you settle into a sunset drink.
Should you stay overnight instead?
A day is enough for the highlights, but the island is at its best after the last day-trippers leave, when the town quietens and the sunset over Playa Norte belongs to the people staying. If you can spare one or two nights, our three-day itinerary and where-to-stay guide show how to make the most of them.
Other ways to see the island in a day
If you want more than a beach and a golf cart, several boat trips combine Isla Mujeres with something extra. In summer, whale shark tours leave very early and finish with a stop on the island. Isla Contoy trips usually call at Isla Mujeres on the way to or from the bird sanctuary. Sunset catamarans sail in the late afternoon and return after dark, which suits a relaxed evening after a day on the Cancun beaches. Check the inclusions, return times and pick-up points before you choose, as they vary widely.
