Been pondering of packing your luggage and jetting off straight to Cancun now that summer time’s principally knocking at your door?
In the case of all-inclusives, high quality time on the seaside, and only a hassle-free, zero-bureaucracy worldwide vacay, Mexico’s tourism powerhouse is really laborious to beat, however earlier than you go forward and act on that burning FOMO, hear us out:
As counterintuitive as it might sound, summer time’s probably not a good time to be in Cancun. Sure, resort charges are cheaper, and crowding on the major public seashores could also be at a minimal, however there’s one main disadvantage most vacationers naively overlook, solely to get their total seaside trip ruined:
Sargassum.
Ever seen these downright terrible footage of Cancun’s waterfront, with a thick strip of foul-smelling seaweed tarnishing what would in any other case be pristine, powdery white sands?
Yep, this time of yr, the Mexican Caribbean is often battered by the annual sargassum bloom, and from the Resort Zone right down to the quieter seaside cities of Playa del Carmen and Tulum, there appears to be no escaping the phenomenon.
…till you are taking that 20-minute ferry to the paradise island instantly going through Cancun:
Paradise Discovered Simply Off The Cancun Coast
Unimpressive by measurement as it might be, as a small island at solely 4.3 miles lengthy and 0.4 miles broad, Isla Mujeres punches approach above its weight.
From powdered-sugar white seashores and turquoise seas, to laid-back resort zones the place the mainland site visitors chaos doesn’t apply, it’s Cancun on a much-smaller scale, and fully surrounded by water. That is a good-enough trade-off for us, however there’s extra:
In contrast to many of the mainland Caribbean coast of Mexico, Isla Mujeres stays virtually clear and devoid of sargassum in summer time, when the algae sometimes proliferates at a quicker fee, each because of the warming seas and because of the stronger nature of the currents that carry it ashore.
Why, you ask? It is all to do with geography:
We’d need to get just a little technical for a second, but it surely helps clarify why Isla Mujeres is commonly much less affected by sargassum.
How Does Isla Mujeres Keep away from Most Of The Seasonal Sargassum?
Most sargassum is carried towards the Mexican coast by prevailing easterly and southeasterly winds. Isla Mujeres sits simply offshore, whereas lots of its hottest seashores face west towards Cancun and the mainland, in addition to north.
The end result? A lot of the sargassum drifts previous the island and continues towards the mainland’s east-facing shoreline, the place it’s extra more likely to wash ashore. This pure positioning helps protect lots of Isla Mujeres’ seashores from the worst of the seaweed buildup.
To sum it up, the island is of course protected, and for those who’re asking which seaside is the least more likely to see any quantity of sargassum this season, not solely on Isla Mujeres, however your entire Mexican Caribbean, this could be Playa Norte, or ‘North Seaside’.
Usually listed in these prestigious, bucket-list-worthy ‘Greatest Seashores within the World’ rankings, it’s Caribbean perfection materialized:
Fantastic white sands, lagoon-like crystalline seas, so shallow you’ll be able to stroll deep into it and nonetheless by no means sink beneath your waist, and a dozen or so cantinas allotting contemporary seafood and refreshers.
On that be aware, be sure to swing by Javi’s Cantina, only some blocks from Playa Norte, for decent-priced margaritas and a killer shrimp ceviche with guacamole. Travel Off Path seal of approval.
How Secure Is Isla Mujeres Proper Now?
One other space the place Isla Mujeres excels, apart from sargassum-free, paradisiacal seashores, is security.
It scores a formidable 84/100 on the Traveler Security Index, based mostly on studies by vacationers who’ve truly been to the place, not some keyboard bureaucrat bunkered up in a basement someplace, spewing out overcautious journey steering for this or that authorities.
Let’s simply say for those who’re trying to really unwind and luxuriate in your much-needed time within the solar and not using a fear on this planet, you simply cannot go incorrect with Isla Mujeres, much more so than Cancun:
These spectacular security ranges are attributed to the truth that the island’s financial system revolves closely round tourism, and native authorities don’t mess around on the subject of their visitors’ well-being and security.
It is simply over 4 miles lengthy, and roughly half a mile broad, so the vacationer zones are compact, walkable, well-lit at evening, and highly-surveilled.
Bag-snatching and pickpocketing, albeit unusual, aren’t precisely unheard-of, so we might preserve our wits about ourselves when going for a dip on the seaside and leaving objects unattended on the sand, however violent crime affecting vacationers?
Extraordinarily uncommon.
The Excellent Cancun Dupe
We should say that, regardless of its small measurement and the very fact it would not have its personal airport, requiring a brief ferry switch and with most arrivals being filtered by way of Cancun Worldwide Airport (CUN), Isla Mujeres does get very busy no matter season.
The North Seaside particularly can really feel significantly hectic with the day-trippers, and seeing it’s now one among solely a handful of seashores in your entire area that has restricted, if any sargassum, you need to anticipate greater crowds to collect right here throughout the day.
The cool factor about this island, nonetheless, is that it isn’t merely a Cancun dupe for when seaweed batters the Mexican coast: it is a full-fledged vacation spot that possibly warrants your entire weekend.
Earlier than you go forward and guide that point off, do be sure to run a fast vacation spot verify on the Entry Requirement Checker: that is your be-all, end-all instrument for verifying visa restrictions that apply to U.S. passport holders, and entry and keep rules.
Again to Isla Mujeres.
Extra Than Simply Seashores
Punta Sur, the intense south of the island, has clifftop paths, crashing Caribbean waves, sculpture gardens, and unbelievable sundown views. The simplest method to attain it’s renting a golf cart—one of the best ways to get across the island—and occurring a leisurely loop of the rugged shoreline.
Moreover the surroundings, Punta Sur hosts the stays of a temple devoted to the Mayan goddess Ixchel, which the traditional individuals believed represented the moon, fertility, and childbirth.
Isla Mujeres can be on the northern finish of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, and the coral-rich waters alongside its jap aspect are one of many major points of interest. Assume clear water, distinctive coral formations, colourful tropical fish, and underwater sculpture websites that appear to be total sunken misplaced cities.
For a glimpse into island life, try ‘Downtown’, or as locals name it, ‘Centro’:
The primary settlement on the island, it’s centered across the shop-lined Avenida Hidalgo, the place you may discover your common mixture of memento outlets and family-run eating places, or take just a little detour out to La Gloria, a laid-back neighborhood that retains a lot of its fishing village character.
How To Get To Isla Mujeres This Season
The best method to get to Isla Mujeres this season is to fly first into Cancun.
When you get to Cancun (the town), head straight for Puerto Juárez, and hop on the 15/20-minute ferry, operated by Ultramar, that travels straight to the island.
Ferries run just about each half hour, even now within the low season, so you may have loads of flexibility and leeway to discover Isla Mujeres both as a day-trip tour or a complete vacation spot.
A bit of recommendation? This isn’t a type of locations you need to rush by way of. Keep the evening.
Hell, keep your entire week, as a result of when you’re there, it is the leaving that seems like the actual trouble.