Isla Mujeres Catamaran Cruise with Snorkelling and Lunch Cancun

Isla Mujeres, the Island off Cancun

Isla Mujeres is a narrow island about 13 kilometres off the coast of Cancun, in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. It is only around seven kilometres long, with calm, shallow beaches on its northern tip and rocky cliffs at Punta Sur in the south, the easternmost point of Mexico. Spanish sailors named it the Island of Women in the sixteenth century after finding female figurines left at a Maya shrine.

Is Isla Mujeres worth visiting? Yes: it feels far more relaxed than Cancun, with colourful streets, soft sand and some of the clearest water in the Mexican Caribbean. An Isla Mujeres day trip from Cancun by catamaran is the easiest way to enjoy it, because the crossing itself becomes part of the experience and everything is arranged for you, from the sail to lunch on the beach.

The Catamaran Sail across the Caribbean

Your day on the water starts in the Cancun hotel zone, where you board a spacious catamaran with a shaded deck and open nets at the bow, perfect for lying in the sun with the sea rushing below. The crossing to Isla Mujeres usually takes about an hour, with music, drinks served on board and wide views back to the Cancun skyline.

The crew handles the sails and the guide explains the day's plan, safety rules and the snorkelling stop. On calm days the water of Bahía de Mujeres shines in every shade of turquoise, and it is common to see flying fish or seabirds around the boat. This Cancun catamaran tour is designed for relaxing, so bring sunglasses, a hat and a camera rather than plans for a busy schedule.

Snorkelling at an Isla Mujeres Reef

Isla Mujeres sits on the northern part of the Mesoamerican Reef system, and the shallow coral gardens around the island shelter parrotfish, sergeant majors, angelfish, rays and sometimes sea turtles. The catamaran anchors over one of these reefs, chosen by the crew according to sea conditions, for a guided snorkelling stop of about 45 minutes.

Snorkelling gear is handed out on board and the guide stays in the water with the group, so first-timers can join with a life vest. Water visibility is usually excellent, often more than ten metres, and the reef lies just a few metres below the surface. Please do not touch or stand on the coral, and use reef-safe sunscreen only; the island's marine areas are protected.

Beach Club Time and Buffet Lunch

After snorkelling, the catamaran docks at a beach club on Isla Mujeres where you spend several hours at your own pace. There are loungers, shade, calm water for swimming and white sand to walk along, and drinks are served at the club during your stay. In the default option a buffet lunch with Mexican and international dishes is included at the club.

This is the moment to swim, read, take photos of the boats on the turquoise water, or simply rest after the sea. Families like the gentle, shallow entry into the water, and the beach club facilities make it easy to change and shower. Keep an eye on the time the guide gives you for boarding, as the catamaran sails back together as a group in the afternoon.

Cancun Hotel Zone, Start and Finish

The Cancun hotel zone is the long strip of land shaped like the number seven between the Caribbean Sea and the Nichupté Lagoon, lined with hotels, marinas and beaches. Catamarans to Isla Mujeres leave from marinas along Kukulcán Boulevard, which keeps the sailing time short and the views of the coastline wide.

With the default option our driver collects you from your hotel in the hotel zone or the city centre in an air-conditioned vehicle and drops you back after the cruise, so you do not need to arrange a taxi. The best time for an Isla Mujeres catamaran is the dry season from December to April, when the sea is calmer; from June to November the weather is hotter and short storms are more common.