Things to Do in Isla Mujeres

Isla Mujeres was named by Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century after finding female clay figurines left by the Maya, who used the island as a sacred site dedicated to Ixchel, the goddess of fertility.

The island is only 4.5 miles (7 km) long and less than 1 mile (1.6 km) wide, making it small enough to explore by golf cart, scooter, or on foot in a single day.

The underwater sculpture museum Museo Subacuático de Arte (MUSA) features over 500 underwater sculptures and is one of the world's largest underwater museums, attracting divers and snorkelers year-round.

Isla Mujeres sits in the path of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second-largest coral reef system globally, offering some of the Caribbean's best snorkeling and diving within minutes of the shore.

The island has no Mayan ruins within its borders, but nearby Cancún's El Meco ruins and the Punta Sur lighthouse offer historical and archaeological context to the island's pre-Columbian significance.