Mexican paradise found: Beautiful Isla Mujeres and Isla Contoy tour
Last updated: 25.02.25
Imagine strolling along soft, powdery white sand, the sun warming your skin as you make your way toward a refreshing swim in the crystal clear waters of a beautiful tropical island. Welcome to a true Caribbean paradise, located in a protected national park. An Isla Mujeres and Isla Contoy tour is the perfect getaway from Mexico mainland.
The sun shines brilliantly overhead while palm trees sway gently casting just the right amount of shade for you to relax in true Caribbean style. With postcard worthy scenery surrounding you, this is the ultimative place to unwind and soak up the beauty of nature as a beach lover.
On this unforgettable day tour, you will explore not just one but two stunning islands: Isla Mujeres and Isla Contoy. Furthermore you can dive into the transparent turquoise waters and snorkel among tropical fishes at a colorful coral reefs (weather permitting). An Isla Mujeres and Isla Contoy tour is a magical tropical getaway!
We took this amazing trip while staying in Playa del Carmen, but you can also book it from other locations in Mexico (see details in “Pratical information about tour”). Isla Contoy was my favorite of the two islands and, without a doubt, home to the most beautiful beach we visited in Mexico – A place that feels straight out of a postcard.
In this blog post, you will find useful details to help you plan your own Isla Contoy tour and Isla Mujeres adventure.
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Mexican paradise found: Beautiful Isla Mujeres and Isla Contoy tour
Both Isla Mujeres and Isla Contoy are located in the Caribbean Sea, just off the northeastern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico.
Why visit Isla Contoy?
No cars, no hotels, and no noisy towering buildings – Just lots of untouched nature. Isla Contoy in Mexico is a true tropical paradise, free from the distractions. It’s just you and an amazing beach that looks like something from a postcard, where you can fully enjoy the beauty of the Caribbean.
Even though this place is the ultimative paradise, it remains uncrowded due to a limited daily access – only about 200 visitors per day. The island is part of the Isla Contoy National Park which is a protected nature reserve.
It’s a small island, measuring only 8.5 km (5.3 mi) in length and covering an area of approximately 3.17 square kilometers (1.22 sq mi).
Why visit Isla Mujeres?
Get ready for another Caribbean paradise! This island is named Isla Mujeres, which translates to “Island of Women”. It’s a stunning destination offering more activities to do. Isla Mujeres measures approximately 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) in length and 650 meters (2,130 ft) in width. At this island you will find a laid back atmosphere with beautiful white sand beaches and crystal clear waters. Many visitors love relaxing and enjoying the beaches of Isla Mujeres.
As mentioned Isla Mujeres offers you more opportunities of things to do. Unlike the more untouched Isla Contoy, Isla Mujeres is more developed and home to a local population. In addition to its stunning beaches, you will find souvenir shops, restaurants and hotels. Which gives you more options for exploration and relaxation.
If you are looking for a break from the beach, take a stroll through the island’s vibrant colorful streets. Plus if you want to extend your stay, you can book a hotel on the island and experience island life at your own pace.
Everything you need to know about an Isla Mujeres and Isla Contoy tour
A complete guide to visiting Isla Mujeres and Isla Contoy
This is what a tour to these tropical islands might look like – First a quick overview of the tour we did:
- Isla Contoy National Park
- Isla Contoy
- Isla Mujeres
Parque Nacional Isla Contoy
After pick up and transfer your first stop is Parque Nacional Isla Contoy, where you will enjoy a snorkeling tour through colorful coral reefs, swimming among tropical fishes. Be aware that snorkeling depends on good weather and sea conditions. On our tour snorkeling wasn’t possible, so we were compensated with extra time on the islands.
Isla Contoy
The second stop you will explore is the protected nature reserve of Contoy island. Here you will have time to relax on a picture perfect beach, go for a swim in the clear waters and soak up the beauty of this untouched paradise. Additionally you will enjoy lunch on the beach.
Isla Mujeres
The last stop is the island: Isla Mujeres. On this vibrant Caribbean island you can shop for souvenirs, enjoy a delicious ice cream, explore the colorful streets and relax on another beautiful beach.
Pratical information about the tour
In this section you will find all the essential details about the Isla Mujeres and Isla Contoy tour we experienced.
Please note: Changes may occur – Always verify the latest details when booking.
This table shows what is included and what is not included in the specific Isla Mujeres and Isla Contoy tour, that we did:
| ✅ This is included in the tour: | ❌ This is NOT included the tour: |
| Professional guide Round trip transportation Coffee and tea Lunch (grilled chicken or Tikin Xic Style fish, rice, totopos, salad and fresh fruit) Drinks (water, softdrinks & beer) | Tips for the guide $20 ecotax fee (payable per person in cash on the day of the tour) |
Pick up points:
Pick up is included in the tour and you select your preferred location when booking. Transfers are available from:
- Cancun
- Tulum
- Playa del Carmen
- Puerto Aventuras
If you’re not staying at one of the pick up hotels, but in a private residence, hostel or bed & breakfast, they will do their best to arrange pick up at your location or at the nearest meeting point. For instance we were picked up at a meeting point near our accommodation in Playa del Carmen.
Once your purchase is complete, specific pick up arrangements will be organized.
Pick up times:
Depending on your pick up point there is different pick up times. These are the expected times:
- Tulum: around 06:00 AM
- Riverera Maya: between 07:00 AM and 07:40 AM
- Playa del Carmen: between 07:00 AM and 07:40 AM
- Cancun: between 08:00 AM and 08:40 AM
You will receive your specific pick up time after booking.
Tour duration:
The tour lasts approximately 8 hours, depending on transportation times. We were picked up in Playa del Carmen and returned 12 hours later. So expect it’s a full day experience.
Tour languages:
The tour is offered in 8 languages: English, German, Russian, Portuguese, Italian, French, Spanish and Dutch.
Tour availability:
You can join a tour every day of the week except Thursday. Check online for real time availability when booking.
Tour price:
The tour costs around $169 per person.
To secure your spot while staying flexible, you can reserve now and pay later.
Cancellation policy:
The cancellation policy of Viator allows you to cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund (however it’s always a good idea to double check if their cancellation policy may have been updated before booking).
It’s time to add “Beach Escape: Isla Contoy and Isla Mujeres with Snorkeling” tour to your Mexican itinerary. Booking the tour online is super easy.
Review of the tour: Our personal experience on an Isla Mujeres and Isla Contoy beach escape tour
In this section I share our personal experience and honest opinion about the “Beach Escape: Isla Contoy and Isla Mujeres with Snorkeling tour”.
The beginning of the tour
Our day started early with a morning pick up at a meeting point near our accommodation. Along with other travelers, we were driven to the port, where our sailing adventure began. During the car transfer we were provided with a banana, a snack bar and juice to enjoy. When arriving at the port, we had a break, allowing everyone to grab a coffee and use the restrooms before leaving the mainland of Mexico.
Before boarding we received a brief introduction to the trip. Our guide was not only friendly but also very passionate about protecting the coral reef. Off the coast of Mexico lies the second largest coral reef in the world. It’s easy to understand why they would like to protect it. Instead of using sunscreen with harmfull chemicals, that can harm the reef, our guide recommended wearing light long sleeved clothing and a hat for sun protection.
Unfortunately due to poor weather conditions, we had to skip the snorkeling part of the tour – Such a shame! (However we later had our best snorkeling experience in Mexico on a different day). Instead we had extra time to relax and explore the islands. Which was a nice alternative.
To ensure a smooth sailing experience, I took a pill preventing seasickness before departure.
The route looks something like this: Approximately 45 minutes of sailing to the first island, then another 45 minutes to the second island and a final approximately 15 minutes ride return to the mainland.
1. stop – Isla Contoy
Around 09:00 AM we were ready to take off for our first destination – Isla Contoy. After 45 minutes of sailing through lots of waves we arrived at a breathtaking beach and what can only be described as a little piece of paradise. As we pulled in, a huge sea turtle greeted us in the crystal clear waters. It was such a magical moment to start our visit to the island. I was so excited!
Without a doubt this was the most beautiful beach we visited during our entire month in Mexico.
First we joined our guide for a short island tour, where he shared fascinating insights about the island and its wildlife. Along the way we spotted lots of Hermit Crabs and lizards. All thriving in their natural habitat – So cool!
After the guided tour it was time to cool off in the turquoise waters while enjoying the views and tropical atmosphere. The water here was some of the clearest water I have ever experienced! Unlike other touristy beaches, Isla Contoy doesn’t have souvenir shops and lots of people, making it feel more untouched and peaceful. For me that made the experience even more special. I love discovering beautiful places without huge crowd. It’s no secret that this island was my favorite!
We enjoyed a lunch on the beach, followed by more relaxation and scouting for more sea turtles before leaving for the next island adventure.
2. stop – Isla Mujeres
After another 45 minutes of sailing, we arrived at island Isla Mujeres – A vibrant Caribbean island with more activities and things to do.
Since our snorkeling session was canceled, we had 2 hours to explore this colorful island. First we went for a beach walk enjoying the clear turquoise waters. The beach was beautiful, but unlike Isla Contoy, it was much busier with more people.
After our beach walk we decided to explore the town side of the island. I’m not sure if walking is the most common way to get around, because I have never seen so many “golf carts” in one place. A true island paradise even if your legs are taken a break too 😉
While wandering through the town we discovered souvenir shops and colorfull buildings, adding to the Caribbean holiday vibe. The sun was shining and we stoped to enjoy a delicious ice cream before heading back to the boat.
After island hopping between two very charming Mexican islands, it was time to head back to the mainland. Once we arrived at mainland our transportation took us back to Playa del Carmen, where we arrived around 06:20 PM (18.20) – 12 hours after our tour began. We ended the day the best possible way in Mexico – With tasty tacos and memories of an amazing day.
Related questions
What is the difference between Isla Mujeres and Isla Contoy?
There is a big difference between the two islands. Isla Contoy is a small uninhabited island located in a protected national park. You can only visit the island with a guide and it has a limited amount of visitors allowed per day. Isla Contoy is perfect for nature lovers seeking a peaceful atmosphere and an untouched paradise. Here you will experience a postcard worthy white sand beach with crystal clear waters and diverse wildlife. Activities are more limited and focused on nature such as snorkeling, wildlife spotting and relaxing on the beach.
Isla Mujeres on the other hand is a more lively and vibrant with a local population. This island has restaurants, hotels and shops – Along with the beautiful beaches. There are more activities to do on this island such as shopping. It’s much busier than Isla Contoy.
Which island was my favorite?
I loved visiting both islands, however I had a clear favorite! As a nature lover who enjoys unspoiled places with fewer crowds, Isla Contoy was my favorite of the islands. Furthermore it also has one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever visited (and I have seen many!).
What should you bring on the tour?
Here is a packing list for an Isla Mujeres & Isla Contoy tour:
- Towel
- Swimsuit
- Change of clothes
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Long sleved T-shirt (if you want a better protection against the sun – As sunblock is not allowed to use on Contoy Island)
- Cash (if you like to buy souvenirs, tips, the ecotax fee or any extras)
- Comfortable footwear (we wore flip flops, but choose what works best for you)
Is sunscreen allowed on Isla Contoy?
No, sunscreen and mosquito repellent are not allowed on Isla Contoy. This rule helps protect the coral reef and marine life. That’s why it’s a good idea to bring alternative sun protection as long sleves and a hat to protect your skin.
Is the tour worth it?
Absolutely – The tour is definitely worth it! It’s the perfect getaway from the Mexican mainland to stunning paradise beaches.
Especially the hidden gem of island Contoy impressed me! The island was uncrowded, felt untouched and home to the most beautiful beach we visited during our 1 month stay in Mexico.
Are there other tours?
Yes you can easily find alternative tours to these two amazing islands.
If this specific trip somehow doesn’t fit your Mexican itinerary or preferences, you can explore other day trips to Isla Contoy and Isla Mujeres. My go to travel site for booking experiences is Viator. Because the site is easy to use, offers a ton of activities to choose between worldwide, provides 24/7 customer support and it has free cancelation (usually up to 24 hours in advance). All this makes it super convient and flexible if your plans change on your Mexican holiday.
You can also find tours that skips Isla Contoy and go directley from Playa del Carmen to Isla Mujeres. Or the other way around – Only Isla Contoy. (OBS: When searching be careful – Many tour listings include both islands, so check before booking).
Book an Isla Mujeres and Isla Contoy tour
I hope you are excited to explore these two Caribbean pearls and add them to your Mexican itinerary!
If you would like to book the exact tour as we took, you can find a link here (by using this link, you support me and help me create even more travel blog posts at no extra costs to you – Thank you so much!. Your support truly means the world to me!).
If these islands caught your attention, but this particular tour is not the right fit – Don’t worry! You can easily find another tour that better matches your preferences:
If you are looking for more travel inspiration and fun activities in Mexican, check out this blog post on the 12 best things to do for even more unforgettable Mexican adventures.
For more inspiration about Mexico, you may also like:
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