Travel Guide Isla Mujeres

According to legend, Isla Mujeres - "the island of women" - owes its name to the Captain of Córdoba who landed there in 1517 in search of slaves to work in the Cuban mines. The island was then a centre of worship for the goddesses Ixchel, Ixchebeliax, Ixhunie and Ixhunieta. When the Spaniards saw the multitude of idols representing women stripped to the waist, they gave this land the name of "Island of Women"... A second version says that the Spaniards named it that way because when they disembarked, they found only women there, the men having left for a long fishing expedition. It is also said that the island is so named because the pirates hid their wives and mistresses there... In any case, Isla Mujeres is a privileged place, a magnetic center of the planet where voluptuousness seems to be concentrated in high doses. The island lacks the visceral sensuality of the jungle and the cultural sensuality of Brazilian beaches. It does not translate into any tangible visual stimulation. It is simply there. Stress seems to melt away like snow in the sun, and with it all prejudices and preconceived ideas. Since Cancún's tourist heyday, the flood of tourists has transformed the island. Tourism has replaced fishing as the main source of income, and you can no longer hang out at the local restaurant and watch the fishermen arrive with their catch of the day on their shoulders. In the past, the streets were only made of sand and vehicles were only seen on the only paved road on the island. Now, there are a plethora of taxis, golf carts and scooters chugging from one end to the other. And yet, the charm of Isla Mujeres seems indestructible. The Isle of Women remains a magical place. There is nothing to do but relax and forget the tensions of the civilized world. After a week's stay, you may well ask yourself whether it is sensible to return to "real life"!Isla Mujeres is Cancún's benefactor: it provides natural protection. Its beaches on the north side are therefore strongly exposed to the open sea and you will find a calmer sea on the south side. The most beautiful of them is called Playa Norte, and among the great wonders to be contemplated, the island can be used as an ideal starting point to observe the whale sharks which settle in the area from June to September.Isla Mujeres counts a flock of hotels of any category and the restaurants do not miss to taste the delights of the sea. The local specialty is the Tikinxik fish, grilled with achiote (roucou) and other spices.