This is one of the most beautiful places on Earth.
When you think of Caribbean, this is exactly what you expect.
Isla Mujeres is a Caribbean Island right across Cancun.
And here you can enjoy the number one beach in Mexico.
I am really speechless.
We're in for a day trip.
But we're saving the best for last.
So join us as we discover this fantastic island
in a different mode of transportation.
[laughs]
It's not fast enough for you?
[laughs]
[music]
We're going to spend the day in Isla Mujeres.
Isla Mujeres is our third destination in the Mexican Caribbean.
- Thanks [in Spanish]
Have a good day.
Hello, good morning.
Boat hat now.
With the wind here...
- The tickets work but I expect them to work.
- These are the tickets that we got to go to Cozumel.
We bought this combo ticket.
We didn't need to buy any ticket here.
Really a great deal. - You save a little bit of money.
I'm all about saving. - Me, too.
- Hello, good morning! How are we doing?
- Good!
-That's excellent, my friends. Good morning!
Welcome aboard! My name is Jose.
And it will be my pleasure to play some music to all of you.
[music]
- As we arrive at super charming Isla Mujeres
Thank you very much for your attention and your contribution
Have a good day and thank you!
- That was really nice.
It went by really fast, fast trip.
There's entertainment, live music.
Prepare some tips for the boat.
- We're renting a cart.
- Not any cart, a golf cart.
Look at that.
Are you, ready? - Yeah.
- Do you know how to drive a golf cart?
- No
- Okay, look at this.
This is stop, okay? This is go.
- Reverse.
- Move forward.
- Thanks.
Whoo-hoo.
Whoo-hoo. [laughs]
[music]
Anyone can drive, you know.
You don't need to pay more for a second driver,
so we might even rotate today
Not fast enough for you?
[laughs]
Along the road, you already have amazing views.
[music]
Isla Mujeres is a much smaller island
compared to Cozumel.
It's just 7 kilometers long
and about 650 meters wide.
That's why it's worth it renting a golf cart
to drive around.
Look at how many people are doing the same.
Look at this.
In essence, there are two main spots you want to visit:
the north and the south.
We came directly to the south
because when you come by ferry,
you arrive at the north, close to the most famous beach,
so we'll save that for the end.
And it's good because here I can explain you
a little bit more about Isla Mujeres and the history of this place.
Here, the main explanation why this name 'Isla Mujeres',
or Island of Women.
This is Ixchel.
She was the main Maya goddess.
Historically, this area here in Mexico was inhabited by the Maya,
and Isla Mujeres has always been associated with fertility.
Traditionally, women used to come here
when they were ready to become mothers, you know.
They used to come here to prepare themselves spiritually,
and ask for the blessings of the Goddess Ixchel.
And when the Spanish arrived here in the 16th century,
they saw these images of women everywhere,
the goddesses, right?
So they call it Isla Mujeres, Island of Women.
This is Punta Sur.
As the name suggests, the south point.
There are no beaches here.
You just come for this beautiful view.
[music]
The iguanas are a symbol of the island,
and you see them everywhere.
To visit Punta Sur, 30 pesos or $2.
So pay in pesos because it's slightly cheaper.
Two, please.
- Thanks. - Thanks.
These are the ruins of a small Maya temple
that existed here in this very south tip of the island.
It used to be in better shape,
but it was destroyed by a hurricane in 1988.
But still, you know, just to think that these stones
have been here for centuries and centuries,
and that this was a Maya temple.
Wow.
And here we are the easternmost point of Mexico.
Did you know that?
- Of Mexico? - Of Mexico, entire Mexico.
- No, up there is.
- It's right here. - No.
- No, the island is like this.
Or better like this.
- Up there, the line goes further east up there.
- No, it's here, I'm telling you.
- I'm gonna look at the map.
- Look at the map then.
- I'm gonna look at the map and check it out.
- He clearly missed this sign at the entrance.
Look at this, how interesting.
You can see the two sides here of Isla Mujeres.
Over here is darker, open ocean.
And over here, look at the color of the Caribbean Sea.
On the mainland, you can see Cancun.
- How bright the ocean is all that way.
- Yeah, it's really impressive.
[music]
To enjoy this area, only by boat or there's a walking path down here.
[music]
It's where you get the most beautiful pictures.
Enough of city clothes.
I'm seeing everyone ready for the beach,
the beautiful Caribbean Sea,
beach mode now.
[music]
So worth it paying the 30 pesos to get in here.
You have fantastic views.
[music]
Wow.
- Look how busy.
Look how busy. - Yes.
We beat the crowds.
Ready?
Did you improve your driving skills now...
- No. - ...for the second time?
- No. I need a whole lesson.
So how does it work here?
- It's just like a car, gas and brake.
- Uh-huh. - Simple [in Portuguese]
- Okay, and where is the reverse?
- It's right here.
- And, Renata,
this is the button to go to space.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- Ready? - Yeah.
It's dead.
- [laughs]
- This golf cart has seen better days, huh?
- Uh-oh, uh-oh.
- There we go.
- Whoo! Yeah. - Whoo!
As a huge coincidence, we were just driving our golf cart here,
and I found a famous Instagrammer.
Gabi!
@viajandocomgabi.
She has a wonderful Instagram account.
She's Brazilian, just like me.
And she is actually an expert here in Mexico and the Riviera Maya.
This country is amazing
It's totally worth the time, honestly.
What do you suggest for people to do where to go see here?
What is the most beautiful in your opinion?
- If it's your first time in Mexico, I would say go to Cancun,
because, you know, Cancun is really famous.
But also come to Isla Mujeres
because it's one of the most beautiful beaches,
like Playa Norte.
You should go to Holbox
because it's beautiful, beautiful, so beautiful.
They have like the flamingos and everything.
Tulum because, you know, the hype, the parties,
and super fancy Instagrammers.
But also, go to Bacalar, down south, so pretty.
And if you have the time, Chiapas, Oaxaca, Puerto Escondido,
and you can learn how to surf.
So Mexico...
Oh, my God, I love this country.
Oh, that's so awesome.
And let me tell you, she is extremely friendly.
She's such a nice person.
- I'm Brazilian! - Normally...
But normally, when you see Instagrammers or YouTubers,
you may think, "Oh, they're just nice for the camera,"
but, no, she's not, she's a really nice person.
I'm really glad I met her.
- Thank you so much.
- Just like that, we've got another passenger now.
[laughs]
[music]
Look at this side here of the island, it's really full of rocks.
You cannot really enjoy the beach here.
For the beaches, you should go to Playa Norte.
That's where we'll end up today.
Look at how lovely this house here,
it's called the Crayola House.
And it was painted to look exactly like a box of crayons,
bright and vibrant.
[music]
Just a quick stop here now to see the Guadalupe Chapel.
[music]
Have you ever seen a church with an ocean view?
Look at this
Gabi was saying here, this is the only church, actually,
with an ocean view like that.
- Yeah, here in Isla Mujeres.
And wow, the only one that I've been, but probably...
- The only one that I've been, too. I've never seen a church with a view.
- Beautiful inside.
Probably there are more, but we don't know about it yet.
- Whoo!
Hands up in the air, Gordon.
- Yeah. Nobody is driving.
- Ah! [laughs]
[music]
We say goodbye to Gabi right now.
But before, she has one more very interesting tip here
about where to eat in Isla Mujeres.
So this is the very center of Playa Norte region
and you have Los Burritos here which is my favorite place
for snacks and food.
So you have Mexican food and everything, all kinds of it,
and with a fair price.
Really tasty.
So if you come to Isla Mujeres, make sure you go to Los Burritos.
You're gonna love it. - It's always busy, look at that.
- And it's very close from Hidalgo which is the main street.
- Uh-huh, awesome. - Just take a walk.
- Awesome. So I learned a lot with her today.
Thank you so much. Enjoy the beach, Gabi.
- See you when I see you. Thank you for the ride.
- It's a pleasure. - Bye! [in Portuguese]
- Bye! [in Portuguese]
It is now beach time.
We drove back here all the way to the north of the island,
and we arrived in this beautiful place.
There's like a lagoon here, look at this.
Nice beach club over here,
DJ, nice music going on.
Over here, it's a real lagoon, quiet ocean, no waves.
But if you come to this other side here, then...
yes, you can find some waves here
if that's what you prefer.
This is Playa Norte.
No kidding, this is one of the most beautiful places we've ever seen.
- Beautiful blue, green, aqua. - Yes.
- This is what you expect, you know.
When you think of Caribbean,
this is exactly what you expect.
And the sand is fine, look at this,
beautiful white sand beach.
We even found a shade here to leave our things.
- Look how far those people can go out in the water.
- It's amazing.
[music]
How's the water? - The water is great.
You walk forever. - I couldn't even see you from here.
- See where those guys are? - Huh?!
- I don't even think it's up to here.
I want you to go where those guys are, all that way,
to see how shallow it is the whole way
[music]
Look at how far I am now from the sand.
More than a hundred steps until here.
Wow.
And the water, still here
[music]
For the steps, I counted 100 until the sandbank,
then I started taking pictures and I lost the count.
And the water was still here.
- Yeah, that's why I thought.
I give you a job and you didn't follow through.
- Now, look at this other side.
[music]
Playa Norte was chosen the number one beach in Mexico
by the readers of Tripadvisor.
Amazing.
[music]
That was truly amazing.
At some point, I was surrounded by a school of fish.
No kidding, there were like hundreds of fish there.
They were big.
I even saw crabs.
And the visibility here, wow, I am really speechless.
[music]
- One more stop.
- And this is a favorite here on the island.
Remember we started all the way in the south,
now we're enjoying the north.
As the name suggests, "norte" where it's located?
- In the south. - The north of the island.
[laughs]
And the south is the "sur," Punta Sur.
- No, that's the west.
"Sur" means south, "norte" means north.
[music]
Do you see a lot of women in the Women's Island?
- Yeah. - Yeah.
- 50% - Did you expect more?
- It's the Women's Island.
- I have no expectation. - [laughs]
I had my woman.
- Aw.
[music]
Welcome to Playa Centro.
[music]
I thought that here, you basically had no option,
but go to a day club, you know, that you pay either an entrance fee,
or there is a minimum consumption,
but, no, there's plenty of people here just enjoying the beach.
And this beach is crowded.
[music]
Look at all the boats here.
You can probably go for a nice boat tour.
It's cool that there is a smaller pier right here.
Look at how many people there in line
waiting for a boat tour
[music]
Playa Centro is not in the geographical center of the island,
but it's close to the city center.
[music]
You won't believe, but the water here is considerably colder than over there.
- You think so? - I'm certain.
There it was a natural pool, basically. - Yeah.
[music]
Look at the name of this place.
- Three something.
- What are "mentiras"? - I don't know.
- Lies. Three lies.
What do you think the three are?
- You don't get that food. You don't get that drink and...
- And you don't get that price!
[laughs]
This street here is called Miguel Hidalgo.
It's a pedestrian-only street.
Very charming, lots of shops, and a lot of restaurants.
Very nice.
We're following my new friend's tip.
You have Los Burritos here which is my favorite place for snacks.
And here we are, Los Burritos, to grab something to eat.
And the prices here are really impressive.
They are not touristy prices at all.
Cheers! [in Spanish]
Strawberry smoothy.
It's perfect.
Condiments, my friends.
- Ah, thank you very much. - Thanks.
- Habanero, very spicy.
- Very spicy?
- Yes, it is. - Thanks.
Two tacos al pastor,
that we discovered in Playa del Carmen.
One meat, just a meat taco.
A chicken and quesadilla.
Very tasty.
- Is everything alright, my friends?
- Everything is very well, it's very good.
- Thanks! May I offer you anything else?
- Do you need more?
We just doubled our order here
because it was so good and we want more.
In your spice meter, how does it rank?
- Normal. - Very spicy or no?
- Yeah, for you.
- For me, yeah, but not for...
So you're putting the whole thing. [laughs]
Oh.
- Oh, my God.
How can you say that it's not spicy?
- It's spicy. It is.
I said it was.
My mouth is on fire.
And I put just a tiny little bit.
- It's good and spicy.
- Yeah, now it hits.
I love Mexico.
[music]
I wanted to stay longer.
- Come back. - Yeah.
- It is really nice here.
- The spicy is spicy
[music]
Wow, that was so nice.
Super easy and convenient to rent the golf cart, right?
- Yes - We returned with no bureaucracy at all
- Yeah. - Right?
Now, did you learn how to drive?
- I got us there and back. - You did.
[laughs]
- Okay.
- Now there are two locations here in the hotel zone,
where you can get this ferry to Isla Mujeres,
there's another location downtown.
When you buy the ticket in Playa del Carmen,
they tell you you can only use the terminal downtown, right?
But, no, you get here and you can use it.
- You can use it in any terminal. - Yeah.
That's because ticket here departing from the hotel zone
is more expensive.
Best of all, we saved $15 in total
by buying the ticket combined like this,
both to Cozumel and Isla Mujeres.
Good job.
- But that was your job.
- Yeah. Good job to me then.
- Yeah. Okay.