The Islands of the Mexican Caribbean

The Charming Islands of the Mexican Caribbean

 

The common characteristic of the islands is their peaceful beauty and their diverse flora and fauna. This is particularly true of Contoy, which is uninhabited as it is a National Park, and is known for its beautiful bird sanctuary.

Isla mujeres is commonly described as a peaceful island of fishermen with some alarming stories of pirates. In reality, it presents a very different image, with small boutique hotels scattered along its 7 km length, and over 975 hotel rooms. It is located 14 km from Cancun, across the Bay of Women.

 

Holbox, known as the rustic island home to flamingos, specializes in ecotourism. It is located off the north coast of Quintana Roo, and has only 20 hotels, mostly cottage-style, and 262 rooms. Holbox offers unique outdoor activities and unforgettable tours, suck as the whale shark and exotic bird watching.

Cozumel, only 15 minutes flight form Cancun, or 35 minutes boat ride from Playa del Carmen, is an island rich in traditions and culture that predates the Spanish arrival. It has over 4,000 hotel rooms, is 48 kilometers long, and is the largest island in Mexico. Its international fame is due to the enormous and beautiful coral reefs that surround it, and as such, it is an excellent destination for aquatic activities. Cozumel has the second best diving reef in the world, second only to Australia. The annual arrival of the cruise ships, about 1,300 of them, bearing more than 2 million passengers, makes Cozumel one of Mexico's most important ports.