Isla Mujeres, or the island of the women, is 8 km long, and its broadest point is of 800 Mr. His name would have been given to him in 1517 by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba, which directed a Spanish forwarding in the search of labour to work the gold mines of Cuba. The many statues representing of the women who were in the Maya temples of the island would have inspired this name with Córdoba. The majority of these temples had been built undoubtedly in homage to Ix-Chel, the goddess of the Moon and Fruitfulness. It seems that the Mayas never lived Isla Mujeres. The island was used to them undoubtedly only as place of pilgrimage. Today the island is very appreciated for the beauty of its beaches, its coral reefs, its temples and its landscape. Moreover, one finds there very good restaurants, hotels offering a quality positive ratio/price and many shops of craft industry.

The town of Isla Mujeres, with its 10.000 inhabitants, extends to north from the island counts about fifteen streets which intersect. The balconies out of wrought iron and the walls bleached with lime give him a small completely Mexican air. The main part of the restaurants, hotels and shops of the island is in this small town, where it is good to walk apart from the rush hours. As for those which are in the search of animation, they will not fail to go to Casa of Cultura (AV Guerrero), where, twice a day, the music beat full sound and where musicians, dancers, painters and other artists local express themselves of thousand and one ways.

In the south of the island, you will be able to visit the farm Tortugranja, a cattle-breeding farm of tortoises. Being given the fast decline of the population of the tortoises in the Caribbean, the environmental organization Eco Caribe took the responsability to proceed to the breeding, and the safeguard of the threatened species.

Another attraction impossible to circumvent not to miss, ruins of the temple of the Ix-Chel goddess. Located at the southern point of the island, on a cliff close to the headlight, the ruins unfortunately almost were entirely swept by the terrible Gilbert hurricane in 1988. However, one guesses there still today the walls and architecture. In addition to being a place of pilgrimage, the temple was used also formerly as astronomical observation post.

Lastly, very popular near the plungers, the national park El Garrafón is a place run by the beginners for the diving-tuba because of its calm water. In the park, you will also find an aquarium, a small museum, a restaurant of seafood, a cloakroom, racks and showers.