In early November of 2023, I decided I needed one last vacation before the end of the year, so I jumped on a flight to Cancún, got absolutely rinsed by the taxi mafia at the airport, and made it on a ferry over to the tiny island of Isla Mujeres, just 20 minutes off the coast of Quintana Roo. The bright blue waters and hot sunshine on my skin was a warm welcome back into the summer mindset, and I was looking forward to a brief “workcation” with some scuba diving and exploring mixed in.
Isla Mujeres is possible to do on a day trip from Cancún, thanks to the frequent ferry schedule that starts early. I was really glad to have several days to explore, but if you’re staying in Cancún as your home base, you can still see and enjoy a lot on Isla Mujeres for a day.
Getting Around Isla Mujeres — Rent a Scooter or Golf Cart
Isla Mujeres is very small, but big enough to warrant renting your own wheels for a day or two of your vacation. I loved zipping around the island on my scooter, cruising from the north part where I was staying all the way down to the southernmost tip where there is a sculpture garden and historical area, along with some lovely nature conservation areas. Having a scooter was so much fun and driving felt safe, with traffic not being much of a problem.
Accommodation on Isla Mujeres — Selina Pocna Hostel
Selina Pocna Isla Mujeres was my first experience staying at a Selina hotel, and overall it was a nice time! This hotel chain is marketed as boutique hotels focused on working travelers — think digital nomads, remote working, workcations, etc. The office area had great amenities for getting work done like large desks with office chairs, plenty of plug sockets, printers, coffee, and it was quiet. It was a great coworking space for working during the day while I was in Isla.
The rooms were also nice, while the walls were a bit thin it was nothing that my earplugs couldn’t fix. There was also a full kitchen and lots of activities to enjoy, along with a pool, hammocks, and other amenities. I would definitely stay at another Selina in the future, I thought it was a great way to enjoy a vacation while still having the space to be productive and get work done. It was also a nice touch to sip a free welcome drink upon arrival from a hammock in the sunshine.
Pro-Tip — grab a coffee from “The Coffee Break” shop that is attached to the hostel before you start your work day! They had some great coffee, little sandwiches, and pastries that were all super affordable.
Isla Mujeres Restaurants & Bars
Isla Mujeres is more of a vacation destination vs. a travel destination, much of what you’ll do here is relax on a beach or by a pool, eat delicious Mexican food, watch the sunset, and drink cocktails and cold beer. There aren’t lots of museums or other attractions, although there’s plenty of pretty nature to enjoy. Because of this, I had a great time exploring the local restaurants and trying lots of incredible food. I didn’t have one bad meal while I was here, but here were some of my favorite spots.
La Cazuela M&J
Looking for a hearty breakfast from a local, family-run spot? La Cazula M&J is a tiny bit off the main drag away from the super touristy restaurants and bars, and it offers some amazing food. Cazuela is a style of dish that has many variations from various Latin and South American countries, and the breakfast style typically involves some baked eggs, chorizo, or other proteins like beans. It was delicious, and an amazing breakfast to enjoy while in Isla Mujeres, and the restaurant is tiny and staffed by a local family who were super friendly.
Abuelos Restaurant Isla Mujeres
This was another small spot off the beaten track in Isla, still close to all the main attractions but tucked away on a quieter street. The food was amazing, I had Snapper with a mango chipotle sauce that came with rice and veggies, it was a nice healthy meal during a vacation where I was eating more heavy food and drinking more than usual.
Oh My Brunch
If you’re looking for a traditional American-style brunch experience, Oh My Brunch is a great option on Isla Mujeres. They had delicious coffee and classics like Avocado Toast & Iced Americanos, and it was a beautiful spot with a relaxing atmosphere and attentive servers. It’s right next to the Selina Hostel, so it’s a great spot to stop quickly if you’re staying there.
Street Food
There are some great street food stands near Playa Norte on Isla Mujeres, with everything from tacos to churros, fresh coconuts, tamales, and more. I grabbed a chocolate-filled churro and enjoyed it while walking around and making my way to the beach for the sunset.
Lola Valentina
This super cute restaurant had swings along the bar, a friendly bartender, and a great breakfast menu. I had steak chilaquiles and iced coffee here for breakfast one day, and really enjoyed practicing my Spanish with the bartender. The food was delicious and filling, and the vibe was great. Lola Valentina would be a great spot for an evening or with a group on a girl’s trip, they do live music and DJ’s in the evening, and the cocktail menu looked amazing.
Ruben’s
This was a great, casual spot near Playa Norte that was cheaper than a lot of the other places I went on Isla Mujeres. The enchiladas were amazing, the rooftop was great, and my server was super nice. I enjoyed a delicious margarita with a massive plate of green chicken enchiladas. Definitely make a stop at Ruben’s for an evening meal, it was great.
Mexa Posh
This was a trendy spot in the main, busy tourist area of Isla Mujeres. The food was good — I had tacos and the chips and guac appetizer, which was an insane amount of guacamole. It was really tasty, just would have been nice to share it. I’d definitely recommend this spot for groups visiting Isla, it had a really cool vibe and was located right in the thick of all the action. It’s a bit pricier than other restaurants I visited, but the food was amazing and was still cheap compared to what you’d pay for that much guac in the US.
Mamma Rosa Italian
This was the only non-Mexican meal I ate while on Isla Mujeres, and it was absolutely delicious. A seafood pasta with some wine at a lovely Italian restaurant? It’s kind of a must on any vacation. Mamma Rosa was a great place for a relaxing dinner in a beautiful atmosphere on Isla Mujeres. The seafood was cooked perfectly in the pasta, and it was exactly the meal I was craving that day. Paired with a cold white wine, it was an ideal way to end a busy day of scuba diving and exploring the island.
Top Things to See & Do in Isla Mujeres
Aside from wandering around shopping at the tons of boutiques and souvenir shops on the island, there are some great places to explore and things to do in Isla Mujeres if you’re looking to fill a few days. Jump on your scooter or into your golf cart and cruise around and see these highlights during your vacation.
Scuba Diving & Exploring the MUSA – Underwater Museum of Art
Have you ever been to an underwater museum? MUSA, or Museo Subacuático de Arte, is one you can visit if you’re interested in scuba diving or snorkeling while in Isla Mujeres. It’s a unique dive site, boasting 500 sculptures from both local and international sculptors. It’s an artificial reef that attracts fish and other life to grow and flourish alongside the coral reefs nearby.
I went diving in Isla Mujeres with Pocna Divers, as the dive shop was very conveniently located on-site at the Selina hotel and they were well-reviewed as a dive option on the island. In addition to exploring the MUSA, we went to another dive site that was a beautiful coral reef, teeming with fish. I saw an eagle ray, the biggest lobster I’ve ever seen, a green sea turtle, Christmas Tree worms, and countless schools of fish. It was a great diving experience and the water was warm enough that I didn’t even need my short wetsuit.
If you want to experience the amazing marine life in Isla Mujeres without getting in the water, consider going whale watching!
See the Sunset at Playa Norte
Honestly, one of my favorite things I did in Isla Mujeres was walk to the beach to watch the sunset. It’s a free thing to do and Playa Norte was just a five-minute walk from Selina Isla Mujeres. The sunset was beautiful each night and there are beachfront bars all along the stretch of sand, perfect for grabbing a beer and relaxing as you watch the sky change colors.
Kin Ha Isla Mujeres Beach Club
I learned about this beach club on the southern part of the island from a TikTok video I watched of top things to do around Isla Mujeres, and I am so glad I found out about it! It’s free to enter, the only requirement is a minimum spend of 500 pesos, which is about $30 USD. This is easy to do with a couple of rounds of cocktails and tacos!
The Kin Ha Beach Club was a calm place with lounge chairs, kayaks, snorkeling gear (I brought my own, but you can use theirs if you don’t have any) and just a relaxing vibe for swimming and sunbathing without having to worry about anyone swiping your stuff on a busy beach. Kin Ha also has a hotel attached, and would certainly be a chill place to stay. I’d recommend stopping here after you explore Punta Sur, and bring a book and plan to relax for a few hours.
Punta Sur
This ecological nature preserve along the southern coast of the island offers stunning views of a rugged, rocky beach, the blue waters of the Caribbean, and interesting sculptures. It’s a $5 entry fee to wander around, and I would say it’s certainly worth it. I drove my scooter here and parked it to walk around and enjoy learning about the history and culture of Isla Mujeres, all with the stunning backdrop of the ocean and waves crashing around. This is the best place to watch the sunrise on the island, contrasted with the sunset on Playa Norte. Keep your eyes peeled for iguanas!
And those were the highlights of my adventures in Isla Mujeres! Overall, I’ll be honest and say I don’t think it’s a great solo traveler destination. As with many vacation spots, it’s less about travel and sightseeing and doing other things that are fine to do on your own. Here, it’s all about relaxing, going out to eat, enjoying the sunshine, and living slowly, things that are best enjoyed with friends or a partner. I would definitely love to come back, but on a trip with people to share rounds of tacos and margaritas with.
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