Isla Mujeres on Riviera
Maya
Small Caribbean island Isla
Mujeres is located off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. The town
on the island has the same name. Isla Mujeres also belongs to the state
of Quintana Roo in Mexico.
The island is about 7 kilometres long
and about 650 m wide. Population has reached 13.315 (2005).
During old times of pre columbian era
this island used to be sacred to Ix Chel (Mayan moon goddess). In 16th
century, after arrival of Spanish, the island was named Isla Mujeres
which means "Island of Women". That was after many moon goddes
cult images were found there.
On the south part, there used to be a
small Mayan temple, but most of it was damaged by Hurricane Gilbert in
1988.
After 1970s tourism grow
substantialy. There are ferry boats services running every 30 min.
between Isla Mujeres and other parts of Mayan
Riviera: Puerto Juarez and Puerto Cancun. There are numerous
restaurants where fresh seefood can be eaten. Hotels & villas prices
has a wide range, from cheap hotels to expensive luxury hotels and
resorts on the south west part like Hotel Villa Rolandi. There is the
Caribbean sea on the east side with rocky coast and on the west side
Cancun can be seen across the sea.
Playa Norte is a very famous beach in
the Isla Town on the north end side.
There are many coral reefs on the
island and this area is a paradise for scuba diving and snorkeling.
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