World Tour Guides: Isla Mujeres among the ten municipalities of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. The municipality, located in the northeastern corner of the state is mostly on the mainland and has a municipal seat of the same name; Isla Mujeres. The municipal seat is a small island town a short distance off the northeast coast of the Yucatan Peninsula in the Caribbean Sea about 13 kilometers (8.1 mi) northeast of Cancun. It is the easternmost municipal seat in Mexico. The island is some 7 kilometers long and 650 meters wide.
In Pre-Columbian times the island was sacred to the Mayan aged goddess of childbirth and medicine, Ix Chel. When the Spanish arrived here in the 16th century they named it Isla Mujeres because of the many cult images of goddesses here. But the first news we have about Isla Mujeres are from the period between the years 564 - 1516 AC, when the island was part of the mayan province called Ekab. Since then, the island was considered sacred by the mayan civilization, therefore, this was not a mayan village where to live in, but a sanctuary dedicated to mayan goddess Ixchel. Ferry boats run from the island and Puerto Juarez or Gran Puerto on the mainland. The island is popular with day trippers, but activity quiets down in the evening after the tour groups leave. There are numerous places to eat fresh seafood cooked with local and traditional delicious recipes, also many other types of food are available at restaurants on the island such as: Black Angus steaks, mexican, yucatecan, italian, caribbean, mediterranean, hebrew, french, thai, cuban & maya.
Hidalgo Street is the main dining and entertainment area. Also located on the north end is a famous beach called Playa Norte, which has recovered quickly since Hurricane Wilma hit the area in 2005. Besides this several amenities, swimming with dolphins can also be experienced at the Island via Dolphin Discovery. The island of Isla Mujeres is located close to one of many coral reefs such as the one located in Garrafon Park, which is an area popular for its snorkeling and scuba diving. The Cancun underwater museum, created by English sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor, is located off the western coast of Isla Mujeres. Isla Mujeres is also home to a population of sea turtles. Because of the recent endangerment of sea turtles in the area, a facility was set up on the southern end of the island for the rehabilitation and breeding of them. This facility is open to the public.
The island's relative proximity to Cuba has made it one of the favorite stepping stones of Cubans trying to reach the United States in recent years.
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