Out on as far as one can go on the farthest eastern edge of Mexico not far from Cuba is the island of Isla Mujeres or the “Island of women”.
Why it is called that is debatable. Some say the first Spanish discoverers found only women (as the men were off fishing). Some say because it was where women went from the Mayan mainland for fertility purposes. There are (or were) temples there at one time. Some say it was because pirates kept their women there…for safety and “purity”.
It is about fifteen miles off the coast of bustling prosperous Cancun and is reached via a high speed ferry that runs every half hour across the bluest and greenest waters you will ever see.
Above– Arrival dock at the town.
We have a timeshare at the Mia Reef resort at the far end of the island on it’s own private island. Our villa is one of those on the far left of the picture above. It is a luxury I know but it is nice to have a place to go where the weather and water is always warm and all one can do all day is loaf on a perfect beach.
As we now live in Mexico the pent up demand for warm weather is not as prevalent as it once was but as it had been four years since we were last year we thought a revisit was in order. The place was under new owners too and we were interested to see what had been done.
Above-the view from the lobby of Mia Reef.
Above-the villas we have share in.
Above– As the island may have looked many years back before tourism came. The area was only designated for tourism in 1974. Before that lonely white sands with just fishermen. Below– two Mayan influenced deities of the island.
Below– Villa Rolandi another deluxe hotel with it’s infinity pool and on the horizon Cancun.
Below-the island is definitely intensely color-full.
Below- Some of the few remaining old style wood buildings with tin roofs.
Above– Could it be him?
Below- Caribean dancers
Below– A small street restaurant in the village.
Below– In a precarious environment for turtles the turtle sanctuary provides a safe haven.
Below-The windswept far south of the island has a sculpture park. Also a giant iguana sculpture.
A very dramatic setting for a cafe with Cancun on the skyline.
Below– At the end of each day the Cormorants would dive into the sea for their supper.
…and always a spectacular sunset.
Below– After the hurricane the dock all blown away.
Note- It was difficult choosing just a few images for this blog as everywhere is colour and every night has a great sunset.