Isla Mujeres

[edit] View from lighthouse on the southern tip Transportation on Isla Mujeres consists primarily of taxis, golf carts, and moped scooters. As of 2005[update] there were 121 taxis, 500 golf carts, and 1500 moped scooters. A bus service also runs from the downtown to the different neighborhoods, called colonias in Spanish (where most locals live). The island was formerly served by Isla Mujeres National Airport, but the airport and landing strip have closed. Ferry service to the mainland[edit] Three main ferry and catamaran companies (UltraMar, Cancun Sailing, and Jetway) run to the island from Puerto Juárez, Cancún, and Gran Puerto. Many party boats also make day trips to Isla Mujeres. The island is popular with day trippers, but activity quiets down in the evening after the tour groups leave.

[edit] Aerial view of Isla Mujeres Isla Mujeres has fostered a strong restaurant industry and culture, with many restaurants throughout the island. There are numerous places to eat fresh seafood cooked with local and traditional recipes, and other restaurants offer Mexican, Yucatecan, Italian, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Israeli, French, Thai, Cuban, and Maya cuisine, among others. In the north is El Centro (downtown), whose central axis, Hidalgo Street, is the main dining and entertainment area. Also on the north end is the famous beach Playa Norte, which recovered quickly after Hurricane Wilma hit the area in 2005. Besides these attractions, swimming with dolphins can also be experienced at the Island. Isla Mujeres has been a popular location for destination weddings for several decades, with the island's larger hotels sometimes used for wedding parties. Weddings are performed throughout the island, primarily at beachside venues on its west and north sides. Isla Mujeres is close to many coral reefs, such as the one in Garrafon Park, an attraction popular for snorkeling and scuba diving. The Cancún Underwater Museum, created by English sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor, is off the island's western coast. Isla Mujeres is also home to a population of sea turtles. There used to be a facility named Tortugrana on the southern end of the island for the rehabilitation and breeding of sea turtles, but this closed in 2021. The island's relative proximity to Cuba has made it a popular stepping stone for Cubans trying to reach the United States in recent years. Isla Mujeres is considered one of the world's best places to catch sailfish. Beachside homes in Isla Mujeres

[edit] Many homes have been built on the island, including those of people who have lived on the island for generations, affluent condos or houses for seasonal use, snowbirds, fishermen, and those working in the tourism and restaurant industry. The island also has a dedicated yacht and boating presence, with many docks on the west coast, including some designated for seasonal use. In general, the island's population declines in the winter due to the decline of tourism during that season. Some island residents ferry to and from Cancún daily for school or work. Shopping on the island for residents was limited for many decades, making day trips to Cancún (sometimes on a specialized ferry for automobiles and shipping trucks) necessary to purchase items such as a television or foods not stocked at one of the many minisupers (locally run convenience stores) or the downtown supermercado (supermarket) in the city square. As the tourism industry increased in the late 2000s, businesses such as Chedraui began to establish a presence, reducing residents' need to go to Cancún. The island has many stadiums, including a full-scale baseball park and organized football venue, along with makeshift dirt or sand fields on which local children and organized teams play. Technology on the island (particularly in the colonias) was humble for many years, as it was slow to adopt innovations in entertainment beyond the standard television. By the early '00s, technologies such as cable television, the arcade cabinet (most commonly an original or repurposed Neo Geo) and cellular phones began to become commonplace in local households. Quinta Region Naval (Base), Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo, Mexico, 2022 Isla Mujeres is the home of Mexican naval base Quinta Región Naval. Very little violent crime has been reported on the island over its history. The island has a reputation for its relaxed nature, as the safety of both residents and tourists is unusually high. The biggest danger to residents has historically been the threat of tropical storms and hurricanes, some of which, such as Hurricane Carmen and Hurricane Wilma, have caused devastating damage.