Day-trip to Isla Mujeres

A short ferry ride across the water from Cancún lies Isla Mujeres, a laid-back little island that feels a world away from the resort strip. With calm turquoise bays, the beautiful Playa Norte (regularly rated among the Caribbean's best beaches), and a relaxed town to wander, it makes a perfect, affordable day trip. Rent a golf buggy to explore, snorkel the reefs, and enjoy the slower pace. The scheduled ferry is cheap and easy. It's the antidote to Cancún's intensity. We'll explain how to catch the ferry, what to do on the island, and how to make a budget day of it.