Is There Anything To Do?

Whenever you say you live on an island people always have visions of a chapter from Robinson Crusoe. Then they ask me if there's anything to do?  I want to say, "No, I just sit around and talk to a soccer ball named Wilson." If you are reading this blog and you have never been to Isla Mujeres, let me allay your fears.  Isla Mujeres is not a deserted island with only a few shrimp shacks to eat at. It is a vibrant, culturally rich island alive with activity and things to do. Its cobblestone streets are lined with shops, restaurants and live performers. We have a Yacht club, assorted large hotels, countless shops, an underwater national park, and one of the top 10 beaches in the world!

We also have a turtle sanctuary, Dolphin Discovery, some of the best deep sea fishing in the world and the big draw in the summer are the whale sharks.  No where in the world can they be seen in as dense a concentration as in this area.

        Let's get back to shrimp shacks. There are myriads of dining experiences to choose from on the island. You can have a private French dining experience with Lolo Lorena,  Lebanese Food at Olivia's, Italian at Mama Rosa, pizza at Rolandi's, a great burger at Jack's, and some crunchy fish and chips at BoBo's. Theres Thai food, Mexican food, and French crepes at Cafe Hidalago. For dessert the most authentic Italian gelato you have ever put in your mouth is at Gelateria Monte Bianco. The owner, Stephano, will welcome you with a big smile and a thick Italian accent. They also have a wonderful espresso with a velvet smooth chrema that blankets the top. Ok, I'm going on too much about Monte Bianco - but it's so good!
How about festivals? On Isla Mujeres there is always something to
celebrate. In the spring is Carnival, there are Cuban Music
Festivals, sometimes a Lucha Libre Tournament, The Regata del Sol Race, Deep Sea Fishing tournaments, The Festival of the Caribbean, the Whale Shark Festival, the Isla Mujeres Artist Fair, and other assorted fiestas I can't think of off the top of my head.
So as you can see, you're not in danger of dying of boredom while visiting the island. At the same time, since the island is only 5 miles long by 1/2 a mile wide and too small to be taken over by large resorts, it still retains it's island charm. A sailor once told me he liked the island because, "it still had a soul," and I have to agree.  There is just enough grit and garish to make it a genuine Mexican island. So relax -- if you get tired of soaking up the sun on a white sand beach,  reading to your heart's content under a palm tree, floating in the turquoise Caribbean till your skin shrivels and doing all those things you are supposed to do on an island, there will still be something new for you on Isla. And if you still get bored, don't worry - there's plenty of soccer balls here too.