Day Trips to Isla Mujeres from Cancun

Isla Mujeres is one of the most visited destinations in the Mexican Caribbean and also one of the islands with the most beautiful landscapes, having Playa Norte, considered one of the ten best beaches in the world, as its main reference. Due to its proximity to the coast of Quintana Roo, visiting the island is one of the best things to see and do in Cancun.

Isla Mujeres, apart from its beaches, also stands out for being an ideal area for water sports, snorkelling, visiting coral reefs and scuba diving. Here are the best excursions you can take to this destination.

The excursions to Isla Mujeres by catamaran from Cancun are the most common ones. With them you will be able to sail through the Caribbean Sea to the island passing by the Coral Reef National Park, where you will be able to snorkel, swim in crystal clear waters and enjoy the coral formations. You will then have time to explore the island on your own.

These tours usually include hotel pick-up in Cancun, buffet lunch with a typical Mexican menu and open bar. You can also choose to visit the Isla Contoy Nature Reserve.

Isla Mujeres usually includes the entrance to the Isla Mujeres Sculpture Space, on the southern tip of the island, which has a lookout point from which you can see the Caribbean Sea.

Snorkelling equipment is included on catamaran excursions to Isla Mujeres. Please note that the island's harbour has an entrance fee of around US$15 per person, which is not included in the price of this type of excursion.

Details of interest

• Tour price... Starts at 47 euros per person with hotel pick-up, expert local guide and buffet lunch. A visit to Contoy Island can also be included for an extra charge.
• Duration of the tour... Approximately 7 hours.
• Advantages of this tour... This is the most common tour, good value for money and you will have free time on the island to explore it at your own pace.

On these excursions you can enjoy a half day tour to Isla Mujeres by sailing boat. This tour also includes a stop for a snorkelling experience in the Caribbean Sea, a visit to the island's Sculpture Space, the permanent assistance of an expert local guide and the snorkelling equipment.

The sailing boat tour is more pleasant than catamaran or other Cancun boat tours, so you will experience a more relaxed trip.

These excursions also usually include an open bar and the option to purchase lunch and a souvenir photo service for an extra fee.

These tours, which also include free time on the island so you can explore it at your own pace and see some of Cancun's best beaches, do not include in the price the port tax paid on arrival at Isla Mujeres, which costs approximately fifteen euros.

Details of interest

• Price of the excursion... Starts at 79 euros per person with hotel pick-up, expert local guide and open bar. Lunch and photo souvenir service can also be arranged at extra cost.
• Duration of the excursion... Approximately 5 hours.
• Advantages of this excursion... It is a more relaxing option than the catamaran, it includes free time on the island and you will be able to snorkel.

This excursion departs early in the morning from Puerto Sam in Cancun to the protected areas of the open sea to see whale sharks.

These sharks are harmless, so if you are up for it you can swim with them and snorkel on site, always with the assistance of an expert diver, and as a final stop you will visit Playa Norte on Isla Mujeres.

Playa Norte was voted one of the ten best beaches in the world and is the most beautiful tourist landscape on Isla Mujeres. There you will have time to tour the beach and the island and these tours usually include buffet lunch and drinks.

These tours include snorkelling equipment and hotel pick-ups, but not the Isla Mujeres port tax, which is around fifteen euros.

It's a good option to see the marine life of the Caribbean Sea and to swim with sharks at sites closer to Cancun than on a trip to Xcaret or Xel Ha.

Details of interest

• Price of the excursion... Starts at 169 euros per person with hotel pick up, expert diver, lunch and drinks.
• Duration of the excursion... Approximately 5 hours.
• Advantages of this excursion... You will get to see the local marine life, swim with sharks and visit Playa Norte, one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
• Disadvantages of this excursion... It is a very complete tour because you will be able to swim with sharks and visit Playa Norte, but you will have very little time on the island and it might not be enough.

This is the best option if you are travelling with friends or in a group and want to have fun on one of the most beautiful islands in the world.

You can book a cruise from Cancun that includes a snorkelling stop at the coral reefs, buffet lunch and free time on Isla Mujeres, all while on the boat you have access to an open bar and a DJ playing party music.

On Isla Mujeres you'll also have access to an open bar at a private beach club provided by the tour operators and round-the-clock assistance from an expert local guide.

If you are visiting Cancun with children, please note that this tour is suitable for adults only.

These tours usually do not include hotel pick-up, so the cruise departs from the docks at Playa Tortuga. The price of the tour does not include the port tax which is paid when entering Isla Mujeres and costs approximately fifteen euros per visitor.

Details of interest

• Price of the excursion... Starts at 78 euros per person with cruise transfer to and from Isla Mujeres, lunch and open bar included.
• Duration of the excursion... Approximately 7 hours.
• Advantages of this excursion... This is one of the best options if you are travelling in a group or with friends because you will be able to combine fun and a tour of Isla Mujeres.
• Disadvantages of this tour... This tour is only suitable for adults and children are not allowed.

On this personalised excursion you can travel with your group aboard a private sailing boat on a relaxing excursion that includes sailing around Cancun Bay and arriving at Isla Mujeres.

With this activity you can live a day of adventure to discover the paradises that the Mexican Caribbean has to offer with the assistance of a professional crew.

These excursions include an open bar of national alcoholic beverages and the option to personalise the tour within the limits proposed by the tourist service provider.

On a day tour you will have free time to explore Isla Mujeres while the sailing boat awaits you at anchor in the harbour. You can also opt to rent a golf cart at an extra cost to make your tour of the island more enjoyable.

If you travel to Cancun in January you can enjoy some of the best weather in the Mexican Caribbean.

Please note that these excursions do not include the port tax which is paid when entering the island and costs approximately fifteen euros. The Cancun Bay tour includes a trip around the coral reefs and views of the coastline and Cozumel Island.

Details of interest

• Price of the excursion... Starts at 137 euros per person for a base group of four visitors.
• Duration of the excursion... Approximately 8 hours.
• Advantages of this excursion... This is the best tour to relax during the sailing to Isla Mujeres and to visit the best places of Cancun Bay.
• Advantages of this tour... It is an option that can be expensive for small groups.

Among the different excursions you can choose from to Isla Mujeres from Cancun you will see that the options also involve different means of transport and that can make the difference when choosing the ideal alternative for you.

If you are looking for an excursion with a sporty sailing spirit and to relax in the company of a small group, sailing boat trips will be the best option, as they are small and fast boats.

If you are looking for an economical and stable sailing option, you can opt for the catamaran, as it is a much larger boat than the sailing boat, and therefore with many more participants, although be aware that this could be a bit suffocating if you want a more private experience.

On the other hand, the cruise is a relaxing and enjoyable option, as the larger boat tends not to move too much during the sailing and usually offers a more complete service than the catamaran, although it can be much more expensive.

You can book excursions to Isla Mujeres from Cancun online in advance or you can buy them at the office of one of the tour operators in the area once you arrive in Cancun.

I recommend that you buy them in advance to secure your spot, as they sell out in the high season months. If you're travelling to Cancun in April, for example, it's best to plan your excursions in advance.

When booking, I advise you to be aware that some tours, such as the party cruise, are for adults only.

Excursions to Isla Mujeres usually last half a day or a full day, departing from Cancun in the morning and returning to Cancun in the afternoon or evening.

Isla Mujeres is a day trip destination, so a daytime tour is usually sufficient.

The shortest excursions last between four and five hours and the longest last approximately eight hours. The shorter tours may be a good option if you are planning a short stay in the city or if you plan to visit other Cancun attractions such as the Underwater Museum.

The answer depends on the excursion you book, but on all of them you will see Playa Norte, which is considered a paradise in the Mexican Caribbean, and you will have time to explore the island at your own pace, which will be enough if you have a couple of hours available, since the island is not very large.

You will also be able to swim with whale sharks, enjoy the coral reefs, visit Isla Contoy if you choose that option, snorkel and see Isla Cozumel and Cancun's best beaches from the bay.

In Isla Mujeres I also recommend you to visit the area of Punta Sur, which has a viewpoint facing the immensity of the Caribbean Sea and a sculptural space.

If you are travelling to Cancun during the high season I advise you to book in advance, this way you will be able to secure a place on the excursion of your choice and also know who the service provider is and the activities included in the tour, which will make your trip safer.

Cancun in May, one of the busiest months for tourists, can be cumbersome if you do not have prior reservations, so it is ideal to have an itinerary in which you plan your trip in advance to avoid delays once you arrive at your destination.

If you're up for it, I recommend that you don't miss the opportunity to swim with whale sharks and enjoy snorkelling in the protected area, which is one of the most beautiful in the Caribbean Sea.

If you prefer a more relaxed option to get to know the local fauna, you can choose to visit the aquarium of the Xplor Multiadventure Park.

It will depend on the excursion chosen, but the cheapest tours are those that include a catamaran transfer to Isla Mujeres from Cancun harbour and cost approximately 47 Euros.

If, on the other hand, you prefer a more complete alternative such as one that includes swimming with whale sharks or a relaxing trip on a private sailing boat exclusively for your group, options start from 137 euros per person and up wards.

In all tours you must bear in mind that the excursions do not include the port tax paid at the entrance to Isla Mujeres, which costs approximately fifteen euros.

Isla Mujeres is one of the most beautiful islands in the Mexican Caribbean and the entire Caribbean Sea, with one of the best beaches in the world and a warm climate all year round. But, in addition to that, the excursions to the island include very interesting activities such as visits to coral reefs, snorkelling experiences or tours of Cancun Bay.

Moreover, the excursions to Isla Mujeres are designed so that visitors can do them during one day, returning to Cancun in the afternoon or evening, which ensures that you don't waste too much time on transfers.

This is ideal if your trip is only for a few days. If that's your case, here's a list of the best Cancun activities in three days.

Isla Mujeres and the surrounding sea is a protected natural area, so it is very difficult to get there on your own. Among the excursions available, you can choose either just the transfer to the island or one that includes other activities.

In any case, once you find the tour that best suits your trip, what I recommend is that, if you have the possibility, you opt for one that includes snorkelling experiences or visits to coral reefs, as Isla Mujeres and its surroundings have some of the best in the Riviera Maya.

Also, by going on a guided tour you will have the assistance of an expert local guide and his explanations, added to the relaxing experience of sailing in the Caribbean Sea, which has crystal clear waters and landscapes that will leave you in awe.