Discover the Magic of Mexico’s Caribbean Islands
The Mexican Caribbean has four islands that deserve a trip of their own, and no two feel alike. Cozumel is built for divers, Isla Mujeres for slow days on the sand, Holbox for nature at walking pace, and Contoy for birds and very little else. Here is a quick guide to all four.
1. Isla Cozumel: A Diver’s Paradise Among Mexico’s Caribbean Islands
Cozumel’s reefs belong to the Mesoamerican Reef, the second-longest reef system in the world after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, and most of them lie inside the Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Cozumel. The water is clear, the current does much of the work, and sites like Palancar Reef and Punta Sur have made Cozumel one of the best-known dive destinations anywhere. Snorkelers get their share too, closer to the surface and just as bright.
2. Isla Mujeres: Laid-Back Island Life
Isla Mujeres is a ferry ride of about 20 minutes from Cancún, and the pace drops the moment you step off the pier. It is known for white-sand beaches, Playa Norte first among them, and for the easy warmth of island life. This is the place to do very little, and do it well.
3. Isla Holbox: Barefoot and Boho
Holbox has sand streets, next to no cars (golf carts and bikes do the job) and a loyal following among travelers who want nature without a schedule. On dark nights the sea lights up with bioluminescence, and murals cover the walls in town. Flamingos feed in the lagoon in season, and from mid-May to mid-September whale sharks gather offshore; swimming with them is done only with permitted boats.
4. Isla Contoy: Nature, Untouched
Isla Contoy has been a national park since 1998 (Parque Nacional Isla Contoy) and has no permanent residents, no hotels and no restaurants. Entry is capped at 200 visitors a day, all arriving with authorized tour operators, which is why it remains one of the best-preserved corners of the Mexican Caribbean. It is a refuge for seabirds and a birdwatcher’s dream: empty beaches, clear water and nothing to do but look.
Adventure, rest or a bit of both: the islands of the Mexican Caribbean cover it. Pack a bag and see for yourself in Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, Holbox and Contoy.
