As a family, one of our favourite things to do is go travelling. We have been very fortunate to visit many countries, experience many different cultures, and see the beauty our world has to offer.
The one country that we love to visit is Mexico. The food, the people, the weather are all things we fall in love with over and over again each time we visit. Before Milo became a part of our family, we would visit Puerto Vallarta. Now as a family, we look for places that cater to children, and that are safe.
Our favourite place to get away to in Mexico as a family is a tiny island called Isla Mujeres.
Isla Mujeres, “Island of Women” is honestly one of the only places that we feel is a true relaxing, escape. It is a small island, roughly 6 kilometres (4 miles) long, and about a half hour ferry ride from Cancun across the Bahia de Mujeres, “Bay of Women”.
We stumbled upon this island a few years back when visiting Cancun. We instantly fell in love when our feet touched the sand. We said that if we ever came back to Cancun, we would only stay on the island. Cancun is not for us; it is overpopulated, loud, and does not have that true Mexican vibe. Perhaps if we were single and in our twenties it would be a different story!
Isla Mujeres is the complete opposite of that of Cancun. It is a quiet, small island with it’s Mexican culture still in tact. In years past we went as a family, and this past March two of our dearest friends joined us with their families! We had the best time!
There are many places to stay on the island, however in our opinion, the best place to stay as a family is at NautiBeach Condos on Playa Norte “North Beach.” Playa Norte is listed as one of the top beaches in the world! The fine sand, crystal clear shallow waters and gorgeous sunsets make it an ideal spot for families with young children. When on the island, we rent a unit at NautiBeach Condos. You cannot beat the location! There are only 30 units in the complex, so it is very quiet. There are walk out units that are steps to a gorgeous pool, an onsite restaurant, and literally two steps onto the beach. In years past, we stayed on the third floor that has a spectacular view of the beach, however next year (yes we already booked!) we will be staying in one of the walk out units that has an ocean view and walks out to the pool. It is easier for everyone, and we won’t have to lug everything up and down the stairs. Other than the location and view, we love that each unit has a full kitchen. We can cook meals and save a bit of money while away.
The best way to get around the island is renting a golf cart. You can rent them by the day or the week and even have them delivered to your hotel which is super convenient! We rented our cart from Isla Mujeres Golf Cart Rentals. We usually rent it for 2-3 days, do a big grocery shop and drive around and explore the island. There is a giant grocery store approximately 15 minutes away from Playa Norte that carries everything you will need. There is a smaller grocery store in town if you do not have a golf cart and if you need last minute items. Just be mindful at how much you buy as you have to pack the cart up with all the groceries!
You can drive around the entire island in about an hour non stop but there are too many great things to stop and look at along the way. We like to leave early and head down to our favourite breakfast place, Polo’s Mango Cafe. There is a spectacular view from inside the church across the street you can also check out. After breakfast we head south and drive along the ocean. There are look out points to stop at to grab your scenic view pic or grab that ocean selfie! There are gorgeous houses that overlook the ocean that you can ogle at and dream of owning!
Continuing south along the ocean, will bring you to Punta Sur, “South Point”. You can go and explore art sculptures, see ruins of the Ixchel temple, climb down the stairs and walk along the ocean cliffside. After exploring here, we start heading back north and go to one of our favourite places to take Milo. The Tortugranja or “Turtle Sanctuary” is perfect for young children and young at heart adults. You can feed the turtles, learn about their life cycle, and have the opportunity to hold and touch sea animals. It’s a great way to pass a couple hours and keep the kids entertained. By this time it’s late afternoon and everyone is ready to head back to the beach to relax. You can go to your room, have a quick bite to eat and head to the beach to chill out for the rest of the day.
Prior to vacation, we purchased snorkeling face masks. These masks are perfect for kids, and adults to use! You don’t have to worry about breathing in water or the glass fogging up. Isla has some of the most perfect waters for snorkeling and scuba diving. We walked down to the pier and hired a man with a boat to take us around the island to go snorkeling. It worked out way cheaper doing it this way rather than booking through a tour company. He brought us to the lighthouse, and to the underwater museum. The waves at the south end of the island where the underwater museum is were a bit rocky, so if you don’t have a strong stomach, beware! If you are not so fond of the deep waters, or your kids are afraid, there is a lagoon to the east of Playa Norte that is PERFECT for kids to snorkel in. It is at the foot of the Mia Reef Isla Mujeres hotel. It is a protected lagoon that is very shallow (waist deep). Bring crackers or bread and feed it to the fish! They swarm around you and it’s THE best way to get up close and personal with the fish.
One of our favourite memories being on the island is spending time with our friends. We all had the best time together. On our last night, we had dinner on the beach and watched the sunset go down. Isla Mujeres is truly a wonderful place to visit, relax and unwind. We are looking forward to returning next year!
