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Wishing for Isla

Posted by & filed under Photograpy, Places/Locales.

Well, it’s official: this winter is just not going away. So it’s no wonder that while expecting more snow on Tuesday, I am wishing for Isla… Isla Mujeres that is.

Isla Mujeres is an island off the coast of Mexico and its easternmost municipality. I spent 5 glorious sunny days there last October on an impromptu vacation. Only a 15-min ferry ride from Cancun, it felt like a world away from its overly touristy, well-known cousin. And if you are like me and don’t like the crowds, then southern part of Isla (away from the busy port) is just the place to visit, especially off-season.

My base for this vacation and probably, the main reason I came to the island was Casa de los Sueños, a small boutique hotel with a great infinity pool/bar, a private beach/dock and easily one of the best views on the Isla.

Also, a short golf cart (yes, the preferred method of transportation here!) ride from the Casa is Punta Sur, the easternmost part of the island and Mexico overall. If you walk all the way to the ruins, you will see a plaque that says – if you see a sunrise at this point, it means you are the first to see the sunrise in the whole country of Mexico – which of course I took as a dare.

In addition to beautiful sunrises, numerous iguana sightings and slightly entertaining statues exhibition, the Punta Sur footpath takes you around the tip of the island right by the water as far as National Reef Park Garrafon. After an amazing discovery of ginormous, ancient-looking sea shells along the shore, I even took a dip in rocky but clear turquoise waters. And an added bonus: I saw no one… one of those rare times when you can feel in the moment without being interrupted.

Another short ride away and also worth a visit is the turtle farm where you can see the local preservation efforts to maintain the turtle population and possibly get a chance to “handle” just-born turtles and other sea creatures.

For more pics, visit my Isla Mujeres set on Flickr.

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