This is the number one island in Mexico this year – and it’s just 15 minutes from Cancun!

Ahh, the Mexican Caribbean… the sun-drenched white sands embraced by teal colored seas, the epic all-inclusive resorts where every guest is treated like royalty, and the ancient Mayan world that lies just beneath the surface, begging to be excavated.

It’s no wonder Americans continue to flock there year after year after year, but if you think overtoured, tried-and-true Cancun still rules the scene, you’re in for a surprise.

Isla Mujeres, an island a stone’s throw from the mainland of Cancun, only 11 kilometers long and just 0.8 kilometers wide, may be small in size, but it scored big at this year World travel awards—that’s the Oscar of the tourism sector for you.

It took home the prize Best island destination in Mexico And Central Americaand we can’t say we’re surprised:

This island has some of the most beaches in the entire Mexican Caribbean

Isla Mujeres, a small Caribbean island just off the Mexican mainland, across from Cancun, may be small in size, measuring just 4.5 miles long and 0.7 miles in diameter, but are packaged with wonders that you must see– and the best part is that it’s only a 15-minute ferry ride from the Hotel Zone!

For starters, it has some of the most beautiful beaches in the entire Mexican Caribbean, with Playa Norte, located on the northern tip of the island, being a major highlight: picture-perfect white sand surrounded by blue-green colored seas, laid-back beach bars and minimal sargassum all year round.

Playa Centro, near the ferry terminal where tourists arrive from Cancun, is just as beautiful powdered sugar sand backed by tall palm trees and traditional canteens, and let’s not forget tiny Playa Tiburón, a quieter stretch of coast where you can occasionally spot nurse sharks.

An underrated cultural destination

Although the Mexican Caribbean is one of the most culturally rich destinations in the world, dotted with millennia-old Mayan ruins and Spanish-built fortified towns, Cancun isn’t exactly known for its architectural heritage or native or colonial-era gems.

It was built as a planned resort gringos in the 1970s after all.

Isla Mujeres, on the other hand, is incredibly rich in culture: in Punta Sur, the more wild, unspoilt south of the island, you will find the Temple of Ixcheldedicated to the Mayan goddess of fertility, love and the moon, located on a small coastal cliff with panoramic sea views.

On the other side of the island, tourists can visit Hacienda Mundaca, an almost intact 19th century estate built and previously owned by Fermín MuNdaca, a pirate and slave trader who, according to legend, fell in love with an islander and decided to stay.

Then of course, almost halfway between both, there is the town of Isla Mujeres, known locally as Centro: with its colorful streets and murals, quirky shops and local markets, this is the best place to sample food and experience everyday island life.

Isla Mujeres fits every budget!

Isla Mujeres is much more scenic and peaceful than Cancun and the wider Riviera Maya for its size: again, this is a very small island and there are only a limited number of hotels and accommodation providers that can accommodate it.

To be more precise: there are only 123 such properties mentioned on Booking.comwhile Cancun and the immediate surroundings, including coastal areas such as Costa Mujeres, are home to no fewer than 721 hotels and guesthouses.

There’s something for every budget here too, from cheap hostels just steps from the beach, from $28 per night (Mayan monkey), to mid-range, rustic boutique hotels for $176 per night (check out the trendy Casa Alkimia town), to total luxury from $644 (Almare).

Is it safer than Cancun? In short, yes.

Needless to say, Isla Mujeres is significantly less busy and even safer then Cancun – okay, maybe Playa Norte isn’t exactly deserted, but it usually gets busy around ferry arrival hours because this is the beach that tourists go to check out when they’re only on the island for a day.

In terms of safety, you should know that Isla Mujeres is a close-knit community of 13,000 people, where violent crime is rarely heard of, and even the number of pickpockets is significantly lower than on the mainland.

There is very little gang activity, and the island’s effective police force makes up for that a less attractive destination for criminals. In other words, it’s one of the safest places you can vacation in the Mexican Caribbean, especially if you stick to the well-known tourist trail.

For day trippers and weekenders, you can easily explore the island by golf cart: the best way to brave the winding dirt roads. Rates for a typical 4-person golf cart start from $75 for 11 hours, and you must bring your driver’s license.

This fall to Isla Mujeres

The most convenient way to reach Isla Mujeres from the United States is to fly into Cancun International Airport (CUN) and arrange a transfer to the ferry port.

There are two important starting points:

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior head writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60 countries to his name (and is currently weaving stories from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.