About Isla Mujeres

In Spanish means "Island of Women". This name was given to this island by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba when he discovered it in 1517. He observed the island was deserted except for the ¨Ixchel¨ temple (pregnant women, medicine, the moon and supreme creator goddess) surrounded by hundreds of women little sculptures-wooden and clay, therefore name it "Isla de Mujeres" (Island of women). It was an important Mayan ceremonial site.

Later, during the Spanish conquest, it was a hideout for famous pirates and smugglers. In 1821, the Spaniards fatally wounded Pierre Lafitte in this island. A few years after, the smuggler Fermin Mundaca established here his hideout. Deep in-love with a beautiful Spanish woman, built a palace for her, and around it a fortress, but the beauty married someone else and the pirate let himself die of love.

At present Isla Mujeres is a picturesque Caribbean fishermen island located 5 miles north of Cancun, boasting great beaches and beautiful shallow reefs with myriads of colorful fish. A scuba divers and snorkelers paradise, home of the "sleeping Sharks" caves.

9 Km. (5.6 Ml) away form Cancun shore, today Isla Mujeres is one of the most visited islands in the Caribbean for its picturesque constructions, handcrafts and its impressive coral reefs with myriads of colorful fish and clear water that make this little island one of the best places for snorkeling and scuba diving in the world.