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04/07/09
The Beach is Back, the Return of Playa Norte, Isla Mujeres
Filed under: Cancun Casa Blog, Cancun Tourism
Posted by: Dangers @ 9:18 pm

Chalk this one up as the Mexican Caribbean success story of the year and no it’s not happening in Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, Tulum or even Isla Cozumel, it’s happening or should I say it has happened on tiny but beautiful Isla Mujeres. As of March 27, 2009, the bulk of the beach restoration work at Playa Norte has been completed.

The beaches are back, let me say that again, the beach at Playa Norte is back.


(Courtesy of Wikipedia/ Stock Photo/Not Current http://wikitravel.org/en/Isla_Mujeres )

Isla Mujeres is the small island off of Cancun’s coast, approximately eight miles by sea, Northeast of Cancun, a once sparsely populated fishing village long before Cancun’s development for tourism, Isla Mujeres has long been a Caribbean gem for those seeking a quieter side of the hustle and bustle of Cancun and the rest of the Mexican Caribbean. The island is a little over 4 miles long and less than 4/10ths of a mile wide at its widest point and boasts some of the best diving, fishing, snorkeling and sunbathing in the region, especially on a stretch of beach known as Playa Norte or North Beach.

Unfortunately, Playa Norte has been falling victim to tropical storms and rough seas the past few years, and was in danger of losing it’s predominant spot as one of the great beaches of the Mexican Caribbean. This year the citizens of Isla Mujeres decided to turn back the clock and hire an outside contractor, Marente’s Company, to perform the magic of restoration on Isla’s premier beach. A restoration reportedly that added 60 meters of sand to the beach that was famous for beach daze, topless sunbathing and laid back drinks in the shade under nearby palapa roofed beach bars while people watching, enjoying the Caribbean view, and assorted boat drinks and cervezas. 

The beach area while considered fully recovered from the typical viewpoint will still have some ongoing work to be done recovering some standing breakwaters and pilings initially utilized to hold back the sand. However, now, the beach is open, awaiting and entertaining current visitors and tourists with a return to status of one of the best kept secrets in Mexican Caribbean Beaches.

Visitors can reach Isla Mujeres and Playa Norte by ferry or water taxi from Cancun daily via a handful of ports located within the Cancun Hotel Zone and further North in Puerto Juarez. Isla Mujeres is also home to the National Park and Eco Park at Garrafon, the Pirate Mundaca Memorial and Park, the Tortuga Sanctuary, numerous local shops, restaurants and hotels among other sites. Shell collecting is popular along its east side Caribbean beaches and a handful of beautiful by the sea villas including the “Shell House” are located eastside on the southern end of the Isla. The Isla also has a Lighthouse Park and concession along with a modern art farm at Punta Sur.


(Punta Sur)

But for today, the good news is, the beach is back…

Tuesday on the island, Not much goin’ on, the parties are all over, they ended just past dawn…

Dangers…

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