Where To Stay in Isla Mujeres, Mexico: The Best Hotels
An island paradise located just a few miles from the coast of Cancun, Mexico, Isla Mujeres makes for the perfect overnight or two-day trip to experience all its island vibes, beautiful landscapes and next-level beaches. Isla Mujeres has the best beaches I’ve seen in Quintana Roo and I’ve spent my fair time in this part of Mexico, so if you’re looking for nothing but pure relaxation and turquoise water on one of the world’s best beaches, do yourself a favour and head straight to this paradise island. At Roam & Thrive we also know how important a great hotel stay is for your vacation, so, during our last trip to the island we visited and compiled this list of where to stay in Isla Mujeres taking out the hassle of finding an excellent stay.
Most hotels on Isla Mujeres have an outdoor pool, ocean views and are located only a short walk away from the nearest beach. Whichever hotel you decide to chose, they all make great bases for exploring this lovely island from North Beach all the way to the Mayan Ruins on the southern tip of Isla Mujeres.
Isla Mujeres is very easy to get to from Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum or even from Valladolid by public transport. Start by making your way to Cancun, to Puerto Juárez and taking the Ultramar ferry from there.
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BEST TIME TO VISIT ISLA MUJERES
Isla Mujeres shares its warm, tropical climate with Cancun and the whole Riviera Maya. Generally, the best time to visit is during winter (December-February). At this time temperatures are at their lowest- a mild average of about 28°C/82°F, humidity is low and there is very little cloud coverage and rainfall, allowing you to make the best out of your vacation.
While the winter months are a great time to visit weather-wise, this is also the busiest time. You can expect the beaches and restaurants to be extremely crowded and you’ll have to make hotel reservations months in advance.
July and August are also high seasons months, more for European travellers. At this time the weather is also good albeit much hotter than in the winter months.
The months of May, June, September and October are low season on the Mayan Riviera. During this time you can expect to experience extreme heat and humidity (in May and June) and even a hurricane in September or October. There is also a higher amount of rainfall during this time. If you are prepared to take a gamble on the weather you’ll be rewarded with beautiful, empty beaches and being able to book everything at the last minute.
April and November are the shoulder months to visit Isla Mujeres. During this time you’ll still see many people, just not as much as during the high season but you can still manage to find a good hotel deal at this time. We visited towards the end of April and the weather was perfect and there weren’t too many people. We didn’t have to book much in advance either.
THE BEST AREAS TO STAY IN ISLA MUJERES
Isla Mujeres is a small island, in fact, it’s so small it takes just 20 minutes to drive from the top end to its southernmost point, in a golf cart! Wherever you choose to stay you’ll never be too far from the beach, local restaurants, nightlife and services.
Having said that, most of the action is seen in the north part of the island in the main town of Isla Mujeres- right where you’ll disembark off the ferry. Here you’ll find everything you’ll need for an idyllic stay- the best restaurants and entertainment, golf cart and scooter rentals, hotels and of course the best beaches on the island all within walking distance. Playa Norte is the island’s most beautiful beach and if you’d like to spend most of your time here you might consider staying on the north side of the island.
We personally stayed in the main town on the north side of the island and we were very happy with this decision. Everything was close by and we were happy to rent a golf cart to explore other parts of the island during the day. It wasn’t too noisy in the evening either.
If you prefer a more relaxed all-inclusive, resort-style stay you might want to consider other parts of the island, especially if you’re visiting during the high season. The Western Peninsula is another great option, for lovely, calm, white-sand beaches which are, for the most part, empty. There’s no noise in the evening here but you’ll have to eat at the hotel restaurant in the evening or have your own transport to go further afield.
The southern part of the island, Punta Sur, is mostly rocky so if your plan is to spend most of your time relaxing on the beach during your stay, I’d recommend against staying in the south. You can always come down to visit this gorgeous part during the day while making the most of the northern beaches for the larger part of your trip.
WHERE TO STAY IN ISLA MUJERES: THE BEST HOTELS
Icaco Island Village – Adults Only
Bright, airy and incredibly stylish, Icaco Island Village is a beautiful hotel on the paradisical Isla Mujeres. An adults-only property (bye screaming children around the pool) located just south of the main town on the north side of the island, this hotel boasts large, bright rooms with beautiful sea views. Full of natural tones and boho decor, stylistically similar to what you might find in Tulum, a stay here is fun, comfortable and with everything you might need for your tropical escape- hello good air conditioning. Rooms all come with a space to relax, a kitchen area equipped with a coffee maker, fridge and basic crockery. Some also come with a gorgeous balcony overlooking the incredibly blue Caribbean Sea. Breakfast is delicious and served in your room.
CHECK RATES AND AVAILABILITY booking.com | Hotels.com | Agoda
Selina Poc Na Isla Mujeres
Selina is probably one of the best options on the island if you’re a digital nomad or if you like to meet people. Following the similar Selina set up that’s often seen around the world, this beautiful budget, hostel/hotel/co-working space is idyllic, to say the least. Located right on the beach- this property literally has the best sunrise views on the island. Choose between a comfortable dorm room if you’re on a budget or a large, deluxe double room for a little more privacy. Selina has an amazing pool area surrounded by palm trees and hammocks, a chill-out area, a co-working space and they also organise yoga in the morning and social events and parties in the evening.
CHECK RATES AND AVAILABILITY booking.com | Hotels.com | Agoda
Casa Barco Hotel Boutique
A truly unique and budget option and with a boat theme running throughout, as the name suggests, this lovely hotel is beyond cute. Located just a 5-minute walk from the best beach on the island- Playa Norte and very close to the ferry terminal, this hotel has everything you need for a great short stay.
Rooms are spacious, have an en-suite bathroom, coffee maker, fridge and microwave- perfect for reheating meals or keeping drinks cold. The boat-like rooms also have a lovely little terrace overlooking the sea and on the rooftop, you’ll a small plunge pool from which to watch the sunset.
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Lotus Beach Hotel – Adults Only
The best option on the island in my opinion for its gorgeous decor, service and location- there isn’t anywhere else you’ll want to be. This adults-only property is the perfect escape for couples wanting to get away to the island for a few days of nothing but relaxation. Occupying a prime spot right on the north end beach, the sea is never out of view but if you prefer the swimming pool there are two to choose from as well as a gorgeous outdoor bar, chill-out area and private beach club, Guru, just metres away from the bluest water of the Caribbean.
The suites are inspired by the seven chakras and in harmony with their surroundings- offering the maximum amount of restfulness and peace. If your goal is to really escape, revive and rest- this is the place for you.
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Hotel Beló Isla Mujeres
For a more glamourous, modern stay try the beautiful Hotel Beló for world-class service and experience in paradise. Located further to the south of the island- right next to the Turtle Farm, this resort-style hotel is sleek, contemporary and extremely comfortable. Enjoy the spacious rooms, fine decor and excellent service in between exploring the whole island. Start the day with a swim in one of the several outdoor swimming pools followed by a workout in the impressively equipped fitness center and a delicious breakfast at the beach. Then, rent a golf cart to navigate the island and make use of their free guest parking. For a beautiful and quiet place to stay away from the touristy part of the island, hotel Beló is perfect.
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Zoetry Villa Rolandi Isla Mujeres Cancun
With its boutique-style, brilliant service, one of the best spa and wellness centres on the island and location in a quiet part of Isla Mujeres, this property is a firm favourite among wellness-focused travellers. Guests are met in Cancun and transferred over to this part of the island in a 40-foot private yacht where you can enjoy the incredible sea views before arriving at the property.
At the property, suites are spacious, clean and airy and staff are always on hand to make sure your stay is as amazing as possible. They also have a great on-site restaurant, offer a number of different water sports like SUP and have a spa where you can enjoy a few different treatments as part of their wellness program. A stay here really is the ultimate balance between wellness and relaxation.
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Ixchel Beach Hotel
With an unbeatable location right in the middle of Playa Norte, this is the perfect place to stay to be in the centre of all the action. With two buildings facing one another, two outdoor pools, a small but well-equipped fitness center and clean, comfortable rooms, this property is close to everything- golf cart rentals, restaurants, you name it. Rooms have private balconies with sea views and some even come with a private jacuzzi to soak in as the sunsets.
CHECK RATES AND AVAILABILITY booking.com. | Hotels.com | Agoda
Izla Beach Front Hotel
My favourite property on this quiet part of the island, Izla hotel is where to come to find peace and luxury. Suites here are spacious, modern and cosy with great room service, air-conditioning and balconies with divine views of the turquoise Caribbean sea. With two pools, one in the garden area and the other, an infinity pool on the rooftop as well as a beach, there isn’t a shortage of places to relax and enjoy the island. Service and food here are outstanding too and focus on wholesome ingredients. There really isn’t a nicer hotel on this side of the island.
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Nomads Hotel & Beachclub
For lovers of boho-chic and Tulum vibes, you’ll want to head straight towards this southern part of the island to Nomads. With a backpacker hotel/hostel vibe, this is a great place to stay if you’re travelling alone or wanting to meet other like-minded travellers. Choose from their luxury dorm rooms, standard or deluxe sea view rooms and cosy yourself into a hammock or a beach lounger for an afternoon on their private beach. Nomads Hotel also offers fast, free wi-fi, a guest kitchen to prepare simple meals, water sports like paddleboarding as well as a variety of social events, parties and happy hours.
CHECK RATES AND AVAILABILITY booking.com | Hotels.com | Agoda
Casa Alkimia Town
Casa Alkimia is exceptional in every way and if you’re looking for a small, quiet boutique hotel that’s just a five-minute walk from Playa Norte, this is it. Each room is beautifully decorated with nature-inspired decor, boho accents and earthy tones throughout its immaculate white-washed walls- it’s stylish beyond belief.
Each room comes with a living area and coffee maker and a private terrace- the perfect spot to enjoy your morning coffee as the sun comes up. While there isn’t much else but simple suites with a private bathroom, this unique hotel gets everything right – the reviews are a testament to that. There are two locations to choose from, one in town the other towards the southern part of the island. If you like simple, cosy yet incredibly unique stays, make sure not to miss out on a stay at Casa Alkimia- one of the best Isla Mujeres hotels.
CHECK RATES AND AVAILABILITY booking.com | Agoda
THE BEST HOTELS IN ISLA MUJERES FOR:
BUDGET STAY: Casa Barco Hotel Boutique, Selina Poc Na Isla Mujeres or Nomads Hotel & Beachclub
COUPLE’S ESCAPE: Izla Beach Front Hotel, Casa Alkimia Town or Lotus Beach Hotel – Adults Only
PERFECT FOR FAMILIES: Ixchel Beach Hotel
LUXURY STAY: Zoetry Villa Rolandi Isla Mujeres Cancun, Izla Beach Front Hotel and Hotel Beló Isla Mujeres
FOR WELLNESS TRAVELLERS: Zoetry Villa Rolandi Isla Mujeres Cancun and Lotus Beach Hotel – Adults Only
For more luxury boutique hotels, vacation rentals and inclusive hotels on Isla Mujeres, use the form below to find your ideal stay:
TOP TIPS FOR VISITING ISLA MUJERES
↠ If your hotel doesn’t offer a private boat transfer, you’ll have to take the Ultramar ferry from Cancun. Tickets, schedules and departure points can be found on their website here.
↠ Credit cards aren’t widely accepted on Isla Mujeres. Large hotels will have them but most restaurants, rental agencies and tours won’t. Make sure to bring enough cash from the mainland. There are a few ATMs around the island but they charge for withdrawals and they do sometimes run out of cash.
↠ We encourage you not to visit Garrafon Natural Reef Park and Dolphin Discovery as both keep captive dolphins. On this blog we care about the welfare of animals and we encourage you to do the same. If you do love animals then please make an effort not to support these places.
↠ All hotels on this list offer free wi-fi in and around the property- rooms included.
Do you have any comments or questions about where to stay in Isla Mujeres? Let me know below
Planning a trip right now? These are just some of my favourite websites I use to book everything from hotels to rental cars!
Rentalcars.com for quick and easy car rentals worldwide
Booking.com for great deals on hotels
Agoda also for great deals on hotels
Get Your Guide and Viator for tours and adventures around the world
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Tulum Itinerary: The Ultimate Wellness-Focused Tulum Weekend Guide
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Ricardo
These options look amazing! Thanks so much for sharing
The pool at Selina looks insane!! 🙂
Eileen Bennhoff
LOVE your comments about Garrafon and Dolphins. We are looking into snorkeling with the whale sharks. It looks like the tours strive to be eco-friendly. Would you agree? Or do you think it is not fair to the whales. Thank you!
Alex
Eileen BennhoffThank you and thanks for reading! yes, I think they do strive to be eco-friendly. I think it really depends on how many people and boats there are in the water at a certain time. Unfortunately, we visited outside of whale shark season but I know there are a few tours that do focus on the health of the whales.
Eileen Bennhoff
Thank you!