Riviera Maya to Isla Mujeres it’s all good
Very nice Isla Mujeres Video
June 18th, 2012Mating Sea Turtles of Isla Mujeres
May 31st, 2012ISLA MUJERES, MEXICO – Every year from May through August, scores of seas turtles return to the waters off of the southern point of Isla Mujeres, a small island off the northeastern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, to mate…and the mating season has begun for 2012. My wife and I were fortunate enough to be diving off of Punta Sur and witnessed this stage of the life cycle that will culminate with only one out of 1000 sea turtles that hatch will survive to adulthood. 
The male will mount the larger female holding on with his front flippers and wrapping is longer tail under the female to literally hold on while the female swims to the surface to breath.
As we witnessed on our dives, often more than one male will try to mate with the female and sometimes multiple males will be “stacked” on top of the female in attempting to mate. Females will often mate with more than one male prior to laying her eggs on the beach in which she was born.
Museo subaquatico de arte, Underwater Art Museum
May 8th, 2012
The Silent Evolution, a project comprising of an installation of 400 life-sized human sculptures on the sea bed off the coast of Cancun, Mexico, is now reaping handsome results – almost all the statues are now adorned with the artificial coral reef.
Created by British artist Jason de Caires Taylor, the sculpture park is located underwater between Cancun and the Isla Mujeres National Marine Park and was designed to reduce the impact that the yearly visit of nearly three-quarters of a million tourists has. Marine scientists have long expressed their concern of the dangers of tourist activity on the natural formation.
Taylor’s artificial reef, therefore, was planned to draw tourists away from the natural corals… a step that could protect marine life and amuse tourists at the same time. The artist completed the full installation by the end of 2010 and just about a year later, the sculptures are a delightful hub for artificially grown corals as well as home for a variety of aquatic creatures.
The sculptures are made of a special type of cement which has a neutral pH that encourages coral to grow and to satisfy his aesthetic side Taylor’s sculptures explore the relationships between art, science and the environment.
Another advantage of the Silent Evolution sculptures is that this “human reef” promotes tourism in an otherwise barren sea and attracts adventurers towards something unusually artistic under water. These reefs on human faces may look scary at times but that has not kept tourists at bay. The reefs are accessible from both Cancun and the Isla Mujeres National Marine Park.
Check out the slideshow to view photographs of these underwater sculptures… both from when they were first immersed to the latest images, showing these coral-clad statues standing tall to protect the natural coral reefs…
You can watch here a movie of this incredible scenery.
Giant Turtles’ Farm
May 7th, 2012If you have ever wanted to see giant turtles, Isla Mujeres offers the venue. The island is the ancestral hatching ground for the giant sea turtles who lay their eggs in the soft sand each year between the months of May and ending in September. Turtles no longer are killed for their meat as was done in the past. Today, the island offers a federally protected location for the turtles to grow their ranks. The eggs are placed in well protected open pens to keep them safe from predators. Each newly hatched turtle is placed in tanks until the are released into the wild by the local school children and volunteers.
Each season , hundreds of sea turtles survive thanks to the care and love of the islanders. It’s a unique experience and an example for the rest of the world. The residents as well as visitors pride themselves in helping nature take it’s course.
The turtle farm is located on the south part of the island and is managed by the Mexican federal government as well as private funding. The farm is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Isla Mujeres The jewel of the Mexican Caribbean
July 28th, 2011Isla Mujeres (Spanish for Women Island) is one of the ten municipalities of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. The municipality, located in the northeastern corner of the state is mostly on the mainland and has a municipal seat of the same name; Isla Mujeres. The municipal seat.
The island is some 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) long and 650 metres (2,130 ft) wide. In the 2010 census, the town had a population of 12,642 inhabitants.
the first news we have about Isla Mujeres are from the period between the years 564 – 1516 AC, when the island was part of the mayan province called Ekab (there where 4 mayan provinces in what is today the State of Quintana Roo). Since then, the island was considered sacred by the mayan civilization.
Ferry boats run from the island and Puerto Juárez or Gran Puerto on the mainland. The island is popular with day trippers, but activity quiets down in the evening after the tour groups leave. There are numerous places to eat fresh seafood cooked with local and traditional delicious recipes, also many other types of food are available at restaurants on the island such as: black angus steaks, mexican, yucatecan, italian, caribbean, mediterranean, hebrew, french, thai, cuban & maya.
The island of Isla Mujeres is located close to one of many coral reefs, and the area is popular for its snorkeling and scuba diving. The Cancun underwater museum, created by English sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor, is located off the western coast of Isla Mujeres. Isla Mujeres is also home to a population of sea turtles. Because of the recent endangerment of sea turtles in the area, a facility was set up on the southern end of the island for the rehabilitation and breeding of them. This facility is open to the public.
If you want to know more about Isla Mujeres please contact us at customerservice@ixchelbeachhotel.com
One of the most beatiful beaches of the caribbean
July 28th, 2011Isla Mujeres is a privilege island on the Mexican Caribbean, rounded by many of the most beauty and colorful beaches on the Caribbean.
On the east shore of the island is the Caribbean sea better knows by the residents like the “Caribbean side”, there you will find waves splashing on the rocks and a dark blue water, if you are an expert swimmer you will find this beach amazing.
At the south part of Isla Mujeres which is the highest you have amazing views of the see and also if you have the chance you can not miss to take a look of “el hoyo” the hole in English which is a big hole in the middle of the cliffs made it by hundreds of years of splashing waves, definitely is not a place to swim just to enjoy the beautiful views of the sea; but not so far from there, there is a place call by the locals as “el garrafon” which is a reef with a beach access where you can swim around with colorful fishes the access to this reef is trough “Garrafon park” or “el garrafon de cast illa” which is a beach club, if you are interest in get more information about this places just let us know and we will be glad to provide you all the information you may need.
At last but not least, is “Playa norte” north beach which is where Ixchel Beach Hotel is, this is not a beach, This The Beach!!!, with turquoise calm water perfect to hang out with the family or chill with your couple drinking whatever you prefer, is like being on a salted water swimming pool.
The beaches are just one of the wonderful secrets of this amazing island, we hope you will find this post interesting
Isla Mujeres Taste
July 28th, 2011Eat at Isla Mujeres could be a little bit complicated, but not in the bad way, you can have many different options and every one as good as the other one that is not a easy decision where to eat.
Mexican restaurants, Italian restaurants, Cuban restaurants, taco stands by the streets that why we made this post with a couple of the most review restaurants for our guests.
Breakfast options.
Rooster café
Only a few steps from Ixchel Beach hotel on Hidalgo street is one of the first options to have a good breakfast on the island, with a mix of Mexican cuisine and international food always with light options, with indoor A/C or outdoor sitting area this is one of the places our guest recommend, Rooster is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner for a couple days.
Alexia y Geovanny
Typical Mexican food on the municipal market, this business is run for the same family for many years and offers 100% Mexican food at good prices and beyond that quality and cleanness on every served plate, this place is open for breakfast and lunch.
Kalak
To have a good breakfast you do not need to go so far than pick up the phone and dial 6005 from your room to get a healthy delicious breakfast on your door from our in-house restaurant “Kalak”, offering great variety of good food served since 8 am and open also for lunch and dinner.
Lunch options.
Mocambo.
if you are on a Caribbean island why don’t try the seafood, on the mocambo restaurant you will find all about seafood specialties, Mexican food and the native “Tkinxic” fish which is a grilled fish seasoned with Mayan spices, cooked with the traditional recipe, the mocambo restaurant is located on the main avenue next to the ferry dock.
Bucaneros.
Located on the downtown of isla mujeres on hidalgo street, Bucaneros offers snacks, Mexican food and international food with also a large selection of wine, liquors and beers.
Soggy peso.
This is a secret place which only the locals and a few assiduous visitors knows, serving every day a different special menu it is a restaurant that definitely you must know specially on Sundays when they serve their famous Texan BBQ ribs.
Dinner
Rolandis
Located in the middle of the action at the down town, serving authentic Italian food is one of the most famous restaurants on the island, you can sit by the street while you see people walking and shopping or have a table on the inside a/c area.
Olivia`s
Another great restaurant hidden in the side streets of down town, Olivias serve gourmet international food, attended by the owners you have to made reservations at least on day in advance to get a very nice table on the garden.
So there you are just a couple options for the hundreds you can find in every corner of Isla Mujeres, if you need futher information about where to eat please send us your comments to customerservice@ixchelbeachhotel.com
What to do on Isla Mujeres??
July 28th, 2011if you are planning to visit Isla Mujeres and you have this question in your head, What i going to do on a 7.5km Mexican island???, the answer is right here…
First enjoy the ride, the ferry ride to isla mujeres last about 2o minutes while you are here you can enjoy the sun in the open deck of the boats with live music.
On the island you can not miss the beach, more especific playa norte, spanish for north beach wich is like a salted water pool, clear , shalow water to enjoy with your couple or family, if you have enough sun for the day you can rent a golf cart or a moped or if you are green person you always can get a bike and take a look around the island visiting the interest point of the island like, the main square, the east walkboard, the lagoon, the south of the island, the shell house, the scoltorical garden and more…
if you prefer the adventure you shuold know that isla mujeres is part of the second larger coral reef in the world, you can have one of the best diving of your live here in isla muejres, visiting the manchones reef or if you are more extreme the sharks cove is another option, they are sleep the most of the time but still sharks; if you prefer to keep your self on the sourface of the sea you can have a snorkeling day at the bay visiting 3 diferent reefs in the same day.
By the afternoon time, you can enjoy the sunset sit at the launchair of your hotel or having drinks in one of the bars located on playa norte preparing yourself for dinner time at the downtown where you can pick a different dinner option every day.
These are just a few recommendations of all you can do in just a 7.5km mexican island.
if you need more information about activities please contact us at customerservice@ixchelbeachhotel.com
Visit Isla Mujeres!
April 9th, 2011Visit Isla Mujeres!
http://www.isla-mujeres.com.mx/english/index.html
My stay at Ixchel
September 23rd, 2010First I want to say that Ixchel is the best on North Beach , Isla Mujeres Mexico!
The accommodations and locations of the condo was absolutely perfect. It took very little time to get to our beachfront loungers and umbrella from our room. The staff there was very helpful will all our chairs, food and refreshments from Comono’s poolside bar. The food from Comonos was delicious and the beers were ice cold, what more could you ask for. The distance to restaurants on Hildago street and to the market was a very short, cultural enriching to take daily for good local food and entertainment. Sunset Grill at sunset was also a convenient to and from our room for happy hour and dinners.
The staff at Ixchel were the best! Any questions or needs we had was handled immediately, professionally and always with a smile. The rooms had all the modern conveniences with spectacular views day or night. There was more than enough room in the condo for three people and good size balcony to enjoy morning coffee and the beautiful nightly sunsets. I would always recommend the Ixchel Beach Resort to anyone and everyone I know.
Michael Leroy