There are more things to do in Isla Mujeres than most visitors expect for a small island. It sits just off the coast of Cancun, a short ferry ride away, with a walkable downtown known as El Centro packed with restaurants, bars, and shops right next to Playa Norte, one of the best beaches in the world.
If it is your first visit you will likely stay close to that area, and that is fine. But the best things to do in Isla Mujeres stretch well beyond downtown. If you are wondering what to do in Isla Mujeres beyond the main beach, rent a golf cart and explore mid-island and the south end. You will find great restaurants, bars, a view at Punta Sur, and activities you would not stumble onto on foot.
So please, leave downtown and explore all of Isla Mujeres.
For more on the island, check out my Isla Mujeres Travel Guide.
16 Things to Do in Isla Mujeres
From the beaches and beach clubs near downtown to whale shark tours and frozen mojitos on the south end of the island, these are the best things to do in Isla Mujeres whether it is your first visit or your fifth.
1. Relax at Playa Norte
No trip to Isla Mujeres is complete without a day at Playa Norte. It is the island’s most famous beach and one of the most beautiful beaches in Mexico, with powdery white sand, calm turquoise water, and swaying palm trees. The water is shallow and clear, making it ideal for floating for hours, and the beach bars and restaurants that line it mean you never have to go far for a cocktail or fresh ceviche between swims.
You can rent a lounge chair for the day or bring a towel and find your own patch of sand. Either way, it is easy to see why Playa Norte is consistently ranked among the best beaches in the Caribbean and one of the top things to do on Isla Mujeres.
2. Explore Punta Sur
One of the best reasons to rent a golf cart in Isla Mujeres is to drive to the southernmost tip of the island, Punta Sur. Locals and frequent visitors will tell you sunrise is the best time to go since it is peaceful and the light is something else. I have not made it for sunrise yet, and honestly probably never will. But I have been for sunset, and even with more people around it is still a great view.
You can walk down pathways at the tip and watch the waves crash into the rocks. There is a small restaurant, some shops, and a few food carts. There is not much shade, so bring sunblock.
3. Enjoy a Beach Sunset
Location
Watching the sunset is one of the best things to do on Isla Mujeres, and the island has several good spots depending on the time of year. These are my favorites:
Playa Centro: Sometimes labeled as Playa Sol by bloggers, this beach faces southwest, making it the best spot for winter sunsets. You can sit on the sand or grab a cocktail at Coco Restaurant and Beach Bar.
Playa Norte: In summer, when the sun sets further north, Playa Norte is still the best place to be. Most beach bars stay open through sunset, so you can grab a drink and sit at a table or on the sand. This beach is magical at any time of day.
Kin Ha: Worth staying for sunset after a day swimming in the pool or ocean. Do not rush out before the light changes.
Soggy Peso: The bar sits back from the water a bit, but you still get a solid view through the coconut trees with a strong margarita in hand.
Playa Tiburon: My least favorite on this list, not because of the view, but because this is where many of the day tours from Cancun arrive and it gets busy. Most boats are gone by sunset though, so it does settle down.
4. Snorkel or Dive at the Underwater Museum of Art (MUSA)
Just off the coast of Isla Mujeres lies one of the most unique attractions in Mexico, the Underwater Museum of Art, known as MUSA or Museo Subacuático de Arte.
The submerged gallery features over 500 life-size sculptures placed on the ocean floor, created to help restore coral reefs and promote marine life. Each piece slowly transforms into an artificial reef, covered in coral and sea life over time. It is one of the best snorkeling spots near Isla Mujeres and a genuinely memorable dive if you are certified.
You can explore MUSA by snorkel, scuba, or glass-bottom boat depending on your comfort level. Local dive shops like Squalo Adventures and Pocna Dive Center run regular trips, or you can book guided excursions to MUSA on Viator from Isla Mujeres or Cancun. Tours typically include equipment, a certified guide, and stops at nearby reefs. If you are booking independently, boats depart from marinas near downtown and Playa Lancheros. The Manchones Reef section sits about 30 feet below the surface, making it ideal for snorkelers.
Tip: Book early during high season, bring biodegradable sunscreen, and wear a rash guard. Morning tours tend to have calmer seas and better visibility.
5. Swim with Whale Sharks
Swimming with whale sharks is one of the most extraordinary things to do in Isla Mujeres, and the island is one of the best places in the world to do it. Every summer, between June and September, the waters around Isla Mujeres attract the largest aggregation of whale sharks on the planet. Despite their size, whale sharks are filter feeders and completely harmless to swimmers.
Tours depart early in the morning and typically run four to five hours. Most include snorkeling equipment, a life jacket, breakfast or snacks, and a certified guide. You will be in the water alongside the sharks in small groups, which keeps the experience from feeling crowded.
Boats book up fast during peak season, so reserve as early as possible. You can book a whale shark tour in Isla Mujeres through Viator from Isla Mujeres or Cancun or through local operators.
Tip: Bring biodegradable sunscreen and a rash guard. Conventional sunscreen is prohibited to protect the sharks.
6. Spend the Day Swimming at Kin Há
Kin Ha is classified as a beach club despite having no beach. What it does have is a dock lined with lounge chairs and a three-level pool. The adults-only pool has a swim-up bar and the kids pool has a small waterslide. You can walk out on the dock and jump into the ocean from a rope swing, bounce on the water trampoline, or get into the water with snorkeling gear or a paddleboard.
The food has improved a lot and it has become a solid spot for weekend brunch. It is also open later than most beach clubs and bars on the south part of the island, which matters since places outside of downtown tend to close early. This is one of my favorite places on Isla Mujeres to spend a full day.
Despite having no beach, Kin Ha is one of the best beach clubs on Isla Mujeres.
7. Spend a Day at a Beach Club
If your hotel does not have a reserved beach area, a beach club is worth considering. The best beach clubs on Isla Mujeres are open to the public and give you reserved seating, shade, restrooms, and waiter service, sometimes with pools, hammocks, or DJs. You pay either a day pass fee, typically around $10 to $25 USD, or a minimum spend on food and drinks, usually $25 to $50 USD per person.
These are some of my favorites:
Mayan Beach Club: My favorite beach club on Isla Mujeres, located on the northwest corner of Playa Norte with a great location right on the sand and solid food and drinks.
Guru Beach Club: A trendier adults-only option with lounge beds around a small pool. The beach is just around the corner from the main stretch of Playa Norte and tends to be less crowded, but I usually end up staying at the pool.
Green Demon Beach Club: Directly on Playa Norte with a laid-back beach bed and hammock vibe. Good spot if you want to be on the main beach without the effort of finding your own chair.
Kin Ha: Located on the south part of the island and worth the trip, though I have given it its own section above since it deserves more than a quick mention. It is the only beach club without a beach, with chairs lined up on a deck over the water instead.
8. Try Local Beer at La Isla Brewing Co
Just around the corner from Mango Cafe sits La Isla Brewing, the island’s only brewery. Stop in and they will pour you tastings before you commit to anything. They brew a Blonde Ale, IPA, Double IPA, Rum and Vanilla Porter, Ginger Beer (gluten free), and my favorite, a hibiscus beer. Hibiscus, known as Jamaica in Mexico, shows up in a lot of drinks on the island and it is worth trying if you are not familiar with it. You can order Dos Equis or Corona anywhere. You can mix and match six-packs to go, so there is no need to choose just one.
9. Take a Guided Tour
There are plenty of activities on Isla Mujeres you would never find on your own, and a guided tour is the best way to find them. These are two of the most popular options:
Isla Driver Robby: Robby and his team run private golf cart tours around the island. The tour is flexible, so you can go where you want without being locked into a set schedule, but he also knows spots most visitors never find. Facebook
Cultura Cruisers: Bicycle, walking, or golf cart tours with a focus on local food and culture. This is one I personally recommend. culturacruisers.com
10. Try Mayan Tikin Xic for Lunch at Playa Lancheros
Tikin Xic, pronounced “teek-in sheek,” is a Yucatan-style whole white fish marinated with adobo de achiote and sour oranges. It is traditionally wrapped in a banana leaf and cooked in a pit beneath a wood fire, though these days it is more commonly butterflied and cooked in a grill basket.
One of the best places to try it on Isla Mujeres is Playa Lancheros, a restaurant right on the beach toward the south end of the island. It takes around 40 minutes to cook, which gives you time to have a drink on the beach or take a swim while you wait.
11. View the Rainbow Stairs
One of the most popular photo stops on Isla Mujeres is the rainbow stairs in La Gloria neighborhood, also known as the Escaleras de Colores.
Each step is hand-painted in bright rainbow hues with inspirational Spanish phrases and tropical motifs. The stairs connect two streets on a steep hill and offer a peek into everyday island life beyond downtown. They were originally painted by local artists and residents to bring color and community spirit to La Gloria and have since become a regular stop for visitors exploring the island by golf cart.
12. Stroll the Malecón Caribe
The Malecón Caribe runs along the northeastern coast of Isla Mujeres, starting at the Isla Mujeres sign and heading south to just before the airport. It is less than a mile long but it is one of the more peaceful walks on the island, running along a rugged Caribbean-facing seawall where waves crash against the rocks.
You will see people jogging and biking but it does not get crowded. Murals and ocean-view benches line the path, and if you are staying in Centro it is an easy morning walk before breakfast.
It is also the best place on Isla Mujeres to watch the sunrise. The light hits the water in shades of pink and gold and you will often have the walkway nearly to yourself at that hour.
13. Breakfast at Mango Cafe
Mango Cafe is one of the best breakfast spots on Isla Mujeres and a place most visitors end up coming back to more than once. It sits mid-island, so it pairs naturally with a day spent renting a golf cart and exploring the island.
My favorite dish is the stuffed poblano pepper with egg, onion, bacon, and cheese. The coconut French toast is also one of the most popular items on the island, and they offer a selection of flavored mimosas including watermelon and hibiscus.
For the full list of the best breakfast spots on Isla Mujeres, check out my best breakfast on Isla Mujeres guide.
14. Grab a Frozen Mojito at The Joint
Down near Punta Sur on the south side of the island sits The Joint, a reggae bar with live music and both Mexican and Caribbean food. It is one of the best bars on Isla Mujeres, and the frozen mojito is the reason most people make the trip.
Beyond the classic frozen mojito they also offer specialty flavors including coconut, tropical mango, orange-cilantro, cucumber, mixed berry, and ginger-mint. On a hot day in Mexico, it is hard to argue with any of them.
15. Stop for a Margarita at Soggy Peso
The Soggy Peso is one of the most popular bars on Isla Mujeres and the margaritas here have a reputation for being the strongest on the island. It sits about a 20-minute walk from downtown, or a short cab ride, tucked back in the trees in a way that feels more like a Florida Keys tiki bar than a tourist spot on a Mexican island.
It faces west, so the sunset view is solid, and the crowd tends to be a mix of tourists and expats who have made it a regular stop. Strong margarita, good sunset, laid-back vibe. Worth the trip out.
16. Spend a Day at Aquatic Funday Park
Location
Aquatic Funday Park is worth knowing about if you are on Isla Mujeres for several days with kids. It has waterslides, beach chairs, and food, and entrance runs around $43. I would not make a day trip from Cancun specifically for this, but as one day of a longer stay it is a good call.
Isla Mujeres is a small island that rewards the visitors who get off the main strip and explore. Whether you are snorkeling at MUSA, watching the sunset at Soggy Peso, or just floating in the water at Playa Norte, there is no shortage of things to do in Isla Mujeres across a few days.
If you are still planning your trip, the Isla Mujeres Travel Guide covers everything you need before you arrive. For food, check out the best restaurants on Isla Mujeres and the best breakfast on Isla Mujeres. And if you need a place to stay, the best hotels on Isla Mujeres breaks down the options by neighborhood and budget.
El Borracho Burro Cantina across from Kin Ha is also worth a stop for live music and a good bar vibe if you are already on the south end of the island.
Isla Mujeres
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