Isla Mujeres, Mexico, has a wild side, a very wild side. In fact, it has two wild sides.
Drive to the Tip of the Island
It’s worthwhile to rent a golf cart and drive the length of the 7 km island.
Along the way, you will find Chedrauil, the big grocery store, a village, the natural bush land of the island, treed roads, a turtle farm, a dolphin experience, roadside food and seashell crafts.
As the Southern tip of the island narrows you can see both sides of the island at once and it is quite spectacular.
Usually there is a Mayan man dressed in Mayan costume who will explain some of the Mayan traditions and customs should you be interested.
There is something about the Mayan flute music that stops me in my tracks. The ancient music is soothing and gentle yet at the same time it is haunting and mystical. Drums and flutes intermingle in a special way that reminds me of forests and nature. Take a listen:
A statue of the Mayan Goddess of Ixchel stands behind the Mayan man.
It is often cold and terrifically windy at the Southern tip of the island, Punta Sud, but also mesmerizing to watch the waves slam into the rocks on one side, the East side, while the other side, the West side, is a gorgeous creamy turquoise and calm. As the wild wind tears at your hair and waters your eyes, the views are dynamite.
Drive Down the East Side of the Island
Then, just turning your head the opposite way… the West side… with it’s unbelievably soft turquoise sea…
Ancient Mayan Ruins
You can walk down through a park like area around the tip and even back around along the sides of the cliffs, but if you continue walking down to the tip, there are some ancient Mayan Ruins on Isla Mujeres.
Isla Majeres Ruins
Isla Majeres Ruins
There is also a restaurant at Punta Sud, Isla Mujeres, and of course we had to stop for some guacamole and corn chips.
The Wild East Side of Isla Mujeres
We spent a few hours at the Southern tip, but it was really on the drive back on the East side of the island where we were awestruck by huge wild winds coming across the open sea, and in contrast to the calm turquoise waters of the West side, wild waves smashing onto the rocks, and then suddenly hidden coves of blue-green water appearing, calm and still, surrounded by cliffs.
Some people were even hanging out on the edge of protruding rock ledges in a daunting flirt with nature.
We stopped time and again to see another cove, or more voluminous waves while we held onto our hats in the Wild Wild Wild wind on the East coast of Isla Mujeres.
Returning to Town a Definite Contrast
Throngs of people lined the streets of Isla Mujures…
So if you want to take a break from the touristy part of Isla Mujeres with it’s gorgeous white sand and turquoise water, take a ride (and a walk) on the wild sides of the island: the lesser-known Southern tip and the East coast.
