Isla Mujeres

Welcome to Isla Mujeres or, for we gringos, the Isle of Women . . . population 14000, all women (just kidding). Isla Mujeres is the place to go if you want to escape the hustle of Cancun and relax on a small tropical island.

Bear in mind that Isla Mujeres only accepts the cool, laid back mojo of pseudo-hippies. It is the Island spirit that calls together birds of a feather. If you are an up-tight stress mess that doesn't know how to relax, you are only allowed to come for the day and must return to the mainland before dark.

All kidding aside, while Isla Mujeres doesn't have the same chic Euro-Cafe atmosphere as Playa del Carmen . . . it does attract a lot of the same international cool that made Playa del Carmen a destination with a cosmopolitan flavor. It's shares many things in common with many of the smaller islands in the Caribbean . . . the most important ingredient being an easy going attitude that has yet to be perverted by shopping malls and discotheques. Not that I have anything against shopping or dancing, but the small island pace that makes it so relaxing would be ruined if it were turned into an Americanized theme park.

The Island is only 8 km long, so the little island is easy to find your way around. Shopping is where you disembark from the ferry . . . the best beach is on the North side of the island, and that's really all you need to know (ha).

You can reserve rooms on the Internet or, if you are planning to stay for a while, just pan the streets for places with rooms to rent.

What to bring :

• Sun screen
• Bathing suit
• Chill pill
• Some Pesos
• Cold beer is for sale on the beach