The Island of Women

The Island of Women is called isla mujeres the name of the area within the Mexican tongue. It is placed simply off the northeastern coast of the Yucatan peninsula. It is specifically small, being simplest 7 kilometers lengthy and 650 meters huge.

Etymology

The island became considered sacred through the Mayans, as it become there that they worshipped Ix Chel. Ix Chel is the moon goddess in historic Mayan mythology. Because of that, the Mayans placed numerous cult snap shots of the goddess inside the island. It was from these photos that the Spanish led by using Francisco Hernandez Cordova gave the name "Isla Mujeres" to the island.

History

Isla Mujeres became determined by an day trip led by way of Cordova in 1517. Sailing from Cuba searching for slaves to be compelled into the mines, Cordova determined the island. Cordova and his companions landed and searched the temple of Ixchel in the southern factor of the island. They took returned some pieces of gold, and left.

For three hundred years, no one lived inside the island. However, pirates and fishermen sought refuge within the island earlier than crusing the high seas. Notable pirates like Henry Morgan and Jean Lafitte had been one of those pirates that set foot to the island. Because of that, legends approximately treasure being buried beneath the white sands of Isla Mujeres are abundant in the island.

It was no longer handiest throughout the start of Mexico's independence that Mayans arrived in the island. Finding ample supply of fish in the waters round Isla Mujeres, the Mayans slowly repopulated the island.

Tourist Activities in the Island

The island is immensely packed with day trippers. It is in the course of the day that excursion groups and vacationers common the island, even though there are inns and institutions in the island itself consisting of of Grupo Mayan.

Isla Mujeres is a really perfect region in Mexico wherein you may revel in sparkling seafood because fishing is one of the important industries inside the Island. Mayan delicacies is likewise to be had within the island.

Being a small island, traffic can finish visiting the island in just at some point. One terrific spot inside the island is the temple of Ixchel, which served each as a temple and as a lighthouse. However, simplest the ruins of the temple remained after Hurricane Wilma destroyed the shape.

Getting to the Island

There are many methods to get to the island from the airport in Mexico City. You can take either a taxi or airport van from the airport to Puerto Juarez, in which you will embark the ferries bound for the island. You can also pick to take a bus ride to Cancun Centro, after which every other bus to Puerto Juarez. The taxi course is normally more pricey, but will get you there in 1/2 the time required when taking the bus. However, journeying by bus is cheaper.

When you get to the ferry docks, you can then board a ferry boat in an effort to take you to the island. The ride is most effective 15 minutes and costs 35 Mexican pesos.