10 Tips for Visiting Isla Mujeres on a Budget [2021]

Isla Mujeres is the perfect Caribbean island getaway from the busyness of Cancun or Playa del Carmen, and you can do it on a budget.

I was there for two nights and spent a minimal amount of money while still being able to see the entire island in all its vibrant beauty and its crazy electric blue waters.

Here are some tips from my trip to help you visit Isla Mujeres on a budget.

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1. Use the Puerto Juárez Terminal for the Cheapest Ferry Ride to Isla Mujeres

There are two ferry operators to get you from Cancun to Isla Mujeres: Ultramar and Naveganto. Until December 2017, Ultramar was the only ferry company providing services to Isla Mujeres, and it’s still the most popular option among tourists.

The most common ferry terminal on the Cancun side is Playa Tortugas, which is only serviced by Ultramar. Puerto Juárez is the other terminal, and while it is a little farther away, it’s also slightly cheaper and serviced by both Ultramar and Naveganto.

Back when I went to Isla Mujeres in 2018, I chose to use Naveganto over Ultramar because the ferry ride to Isla Mujeres from the Puerto Juárez terminal was significantly cheaper than Ultramar at the time.

Now the prices are pretty similar which could mean shorter wait times getting to and from the island.

2021 Update: As of August 2020, Naveganto has paused its ferry services for maintenance purposes. Ultramar has since slightly increased their ticket costs from Puerto Juárez, but it still remains the cheapest route to Isla Mujeres from Cancun.

Cost: Ferry to Isla Mujeres Price

Taking either ferry option from the Puerto Juárez terminal instead of the main tourist terminal in Playa Tortugas will save you a few pesos or dollars for your Isla Mujeres budget.

I’ve broken down the ticket costs below.

Experience on Naveganto

While the line for Ultramar was pretty long, there were less than ten people on both rides with Naveganto and we didn’t have to wait in any sort of line.

Finding Naveganto at Puerto Juárez

Address: Terminal Maritima Puerto Juárez, Naval, 84, 77525 Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Go down López Portillo Avenue and pass all the colorful overhangs.

You’ll see Ultramar first, but keep continuing down the road until you see the Captain Hook building. That’s where Naveganto is.

2021 Ultramar Ferry Schedule (Puerto Juárez – Isla Mujeres)

Here is the updated timetable (as of January 2021) for Ultramar rides between Puerto Juárez and Isla Mujeres.

You can check for any updates through their website or Facebook page as schedules may have changed.

You can also find schedules for the following Ultramar terminals:

• Playa Tortugas
• El Embarcadero
• Playa Caracol

2. Scooter around the Island

For 500 MXN (26 USD*) a day, renting a scooter will probably be the bulk of your Isla Mujeres budget, but it’ll allow you to do everything else on this list. This is also the most affordable option if you’re traveling in a pair, as renting a golf cart will cost a bit more (it accommodates up to four people).

The views around the island are incredible, and the ocean’s vibrant electric blues will be unforgettable.

3. Have a Coconut and Enjoy that View

During your adventures around the island, an easy and affordable snack is having a coconut from the little stands off the side of the road for 50 MXN (3 USD*). You can freshen up by drinking the coconut juice/water first, then ask the seller to chop open the coconut for you so that you can eat the meat.

Our favorite stop was on the eastern side of the island just a few minutes after rounding the southern tip. There’s not much on that side besides the one stand and an awesome view.

A refreshing drink, snack, and a view for a budget price. What’s not to love?

4. See the Crayola House and More

The Crayola House is a colorful house painted with every bright color possible. As someone who’s spent time in dull, “normal” home-colored neighborhoods in both California and Japan, I could spend all day chasing polychromatic homes.

The thing is, much like the kaleidoscopic homes in Trinidad, Cuba, it’s not just one building painted like this. Somehow when most of the neighborhood, and even an island, is painted with such vibrancy and freedom, it doesn’t look tacky or childish; it just works: sun, beach, tropical vibes, prismatic homes.

Ride around the island and see for yourself!

Crayola House: Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez, entre Pedro Joaquín Coldwell y, Antiguo Oasis, Meteorológico, Isla Mujeres, Q.R., Mexico

5. Brunch with the Locals

No secret here: eating at restaurants near the beach or in the general downtown area might put a damper on the rest of your stay in Isla Mujeres if you’re on a budget.

To save money, use that vehicle you rented, go exploring, turn into a neighborhood far from the tourists, and there you’ll find lots of little cafes and restaurants that all the locals eat at and you’ll spend half as much than at a restaurant downtown.

We found this little breakfast/lunch cafe across from (another) brightly colored building and we probably spent less than 10 USD each.

6. Garrafon de Castilla Beach Club

As you make your way to the southern tip of the island, you’ll see exactly what I mean when I say the water is electric blue. The majority of the water in this area belongs to the Garrafon Natural Reef Park, which is an adventure park with all sorts of activities like zip-lining, kayaking, and snorkeling. If you’re up for the 70+ USD entrance fee, (yes, that’s in USD, not MXN) go for it.

But if you’re on a budget like I was, just go next door to Garrafon de Castilla Beach Club. For just 70 MXN (4 USD*), you get that same water, showers/bathrooms, and beach loungers. It is small and tucked away, but for 4 USD it’s completely worth it.

Garrafon de Castilla Beach Club: Carretera Punta Sur KM 6, Punta Sur, Isla Mujeres, Mexico

7. Stay at an Airbnb

If you want to stay a night or two on the island so you can fully enjoy yourself without rushing everything into a single day, there are plenty of budget housing options.

We decided on going with an Airbnb, and settled on this one in particular because there was a cat in the picture. (I kind of have a thing for pets but my lifestyle of bouncing around every few months just doesn’t allow for a fuzzy friend at the moment.)

Not gonna lie, pulling up to the apartment was a bit terrifying as the neighborhood didn’t look the best and the building seemed to be in the midst of being renovated.

But the Airbnb host led us up a couple hidden staircases all the way to the top of the building and around the corner was this cute little studio that was just perfect for our two nights on the island.

The cat, a stray but apparently just lives outside the apartment door, would greet us every time we came or left the apartment, making it feel very much like home.

8. Get a Traditional Grilled Fish (Tikin-Xic) at Playa Lancheros

Stop by the restaurant and beach Playa Lancheros for a traditional meal on the beach. Their signature dish is called Tikin-Xic: fresh fish marinated and grilled with tomatoes, lemons, and onions on banana leaves, also served with rice and salad. The price depends on the weight of the fish, and while it’s not on the cheaper end, it can feed between 2-4 people, depending on appetites.

9. Hangout at the Beach While You Wait for Your Fish

It takes a good 45 minutes to an hour for the restaurant to cook the fish, so don’t plan on rushing the meal. In the mean time, you can hangout on the beach you’re already on!

It’s not crowded like other beaches because most of the area is small hotel resorts with their own beach sections. Take advantage of the time and area to walk up and down the beach, stoll down the small pier, or hangout on the restaurant’s cute swings!

10. Sunset at Playa Norte (North Beach)

Named one of the top ten beaches in the world, one look at the water and a step in the sand will tell you why no trip to Isla Mujeres is complete without visiting Playa Norte.

The water is calm and every shade of aqua and blue imaginable.

We decided on going to Playa Norte late in the late afternoon hoping to avoid the huge crowds and it turned out to be one of my top memories in my two weeks in Mexico.

Lounge chairs were abundant, the beach was uncrowded by that time, and the nearby restaurant had some pretty good smoothies and guac.

Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, sunset came and it. was. UNREAL. 

I’ve seen sunsets from dozens of countries around the world, from the sky, land, and sea; but this is in the top five. Easily. 

Two nights and three days was plenty of time for us to see everything we wanted and to not feel rushed. Even though island getaways might seem pricey, Isla Mujeres has so much to offer at budget prices that it’ll be your new favorite vacation destination.

*Approximate conversion based on rate at time of writing

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