20 Islands In Mexico To Discover In 2023

With 7,000 miles (km) of shoreline alongside the Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of California and the Gulf of Mexico, it ought to come as no shock if you be taught that Mexico has over 100 islands in its territory. From probably the most distant uninhabited islands in Mexico infested by Nice White sharks to giant bustling resort islands the place you may calm down on the seaside and eat your favorite meals to lush bio-reserve islands teeming with wildlife, we’re certain that you simply’ll discover one island (one, not less than!) that may have you ever packing your goggles and bathing swimsuit. Listed below are one of the best 20 islands in Mexico.

Islands In Mexico

20 Mexican Islands To Discover

1- Isla Cozumel

Behold, Isla Cozumel: one among Mexico’s greatest scuba diving locations.

Skirting the island’s shores is the Mesoamerican Reef, the second-largest reef system on the planet and famously nicknamed the ‘Aquarium of the World’.

The island of Cozumel has greater than 40 totally different diving websites, together with sunken ships and caves the place you’ll swim amongst sea urchins, big sea sponges and vibrant parrotfish.

Being the most important of Mexico’s inhabited islands, you’ll be joyful to listen to that you may comfortably keep on this slice of paradise and benefit from the wealthy culinary scene and luxurious purchasing.

Planning a visit:

• Passenger ferries make common journeys between Playa del Carmen and Isla Cozumel.
• Conveniently, there’s additionally a world airport: Cozumel Worldwide Airport (CZM).
• One other strategy to go to Cozumel Island is on a cruise, with many cruise ships docking in Cozumel’s harbour.
• Guide your scuba diving journey upfront.
• Cozumel has a superb alternative of accommodations.

2- Isla Holbox

Separated by a lagoon frequented by flamingos and pelicans from Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, Isla Holbox has taken off lately as a hip escape, attracting many younger travellers because of its laid-back vibes and gorgeous wildlife.

The most important draw (actually!) to Isla Holbox is the whale sharks that go to within the summertime to feed within the plankton-rich waters.

Swimming with these light giants is a bucket listing expertise and the waters round this island in Mexico is without doubt one of the few locations anyplace on the earth the place you are able to do this.

The island is car-free and everybody will get round by bicycle or golf cart, which is a refreshing change from the hustle and bustle of the Mayan Riviera.

Planning a visit:

• The whale sharks go to Isla Holbox between Could and September and so do you have to! Excursions are extraordinarily fashionable, so guide on-line upfront.
• Two buses from Cancun day by day go to the city of Chiquila, from the place you may catch the ferry to Isla Holbox.
• There are numerous lodging choices on the island, significantly with the boutique resort scene explosion lately.

3- Isla Contoy

You’ll really feel like a castaway on the tiny island of Isla Contoy, which is simply 5 miles (8 km) in size and solely 1600 ft (489 m) at its widest level!

Isla Contoy is as near a non-public island as you will get in Mexico.

To guard this tiny island paradise, the Mexican Authorities has imposed a restrict of solely 200 guests per day.

What wants safety are the 150+ chicken species that search refuge among the many island’s lush tropical foliage, making Contoy island one among Mexico’s most essential sea-bird nesting locations.

Isla Contoy’s waters are additionally an essential breeding floor for 4 species of sea turtles.

Planning a visit:

• Due to the island’s customer capability, you’ll have to apply for a allow earlier than your journey within the park workplaces in Cancun or Isla Mujeres, the place licensed excursions depart from.
• Nobody is permitted to remain in a single day on the island.
• Sunscreen is forbidden to guard the marine ecosystem.

4- Isla Mujeres

Isla Mujeres, simply quarter-hour from bustling Cancun, is a well-liked vacation spot famed for its thriving pure magnificence and very good snorkelling and diving.

The island has one of the vital gorgeous seashores on the earth (in line with Forbes Life); the seaside is Playa Norte (North Seaside).

The Underwater Museum of Artwork (MUSA) is a novel expertise and shouldn’t be missed.

It’s an underwater museum with a complete of 500 sculptures created from eco-friendly supplies and positioned on the Mesoamerican Reef System, the second-largest reef system on the earth.

The north a part of the island is the developed facet and the place you’ll discover your vacationer amenities, whereas the south is way more relaxed and pure.

Right here, you’ll discover a lighthouse, the ruins of a Mayan temple and a sea turtle sanctuary to discover.

Planning a visit:

5- Islas Marietas

In Banderas Bay, close to the bustling resort city of Puerto Vallarta, lies a bunch of protected islands often called Islas Marietas.

The islands’ protected standing as a marine and chicken sanctuary forbids individuals from stepping foot on the volcanic archipelago however you may nonetheless go to for a day journey.

You recognize what a marine sanctuary means, proper?

Sure! Very good snorkelling and scuba diving.

Maintain your eyes peeled for sea turtles, manta rays and dolphins.

The islands are additionally visited by humpback whales every year from November to March.

A hidden seaside referred to as Lover’s Seaside, accessed through a cave, additionally makes Islas Marietas the right romantic tour.

Planning a visit:

• It’s only attainable to go to these islands on a day journey.
• Most day excursions function from Puerto Vallarta (see accommodations right here), about an hour away, and embrace lunch. Select your tour right here.

6- Isla Todos Santos

To not be confused with the city of Todos Santos, the Pacific islands of Todos Santos are positioned simply off the coast of the Baja peninsula.

Isla Todos Santos is understood for a number of the largest waves in North America. Some can attain as much as 60 toes (18 m).

This attracts many surfers of all ranges wanting to check out their expertise.

Concern not when you can’t surf to save lots of your life.

There’s lots extra to see on Isla Todos Santos, resembling climbing, horseback using and seeing wildlife. You might even see sea lions, seals, dolphins and even whales in your boat journey.

Planning a visit:

• As a result of the island has no amenities, keep within the close by port metropolis of Ensenada. Guide your resort right here.

7- Isla Espiritu Santo

Volcanic Isla Espiritu Santo off the coast of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula will thrill journey seekers, nevertheless, this island is a pure protected space so there are not any mass tourism amenities right here in any respect.

Guests are allowed to remain in a single day in luxurious tenting often called glamping and a good way to take pleasure in your tenting keep is to kayak across the island.

Espiritu Santo’s pure magnificence will take your breath away with its towering pink cliffs, whistling dunes and aquamarine bays.

The celebrities of the island are the numerous sea lions that rise up to mischief in its waters, however you can too see manta rays, whale sharks and sharks.

It’s not simply the waters which are brimming with treasures. The island’s inside has many climbing trails amongst its rugged desert hills to discover.

Planning a visit:

• The most effective time to go to is from July to September to see the big selection of wildlife.
• Boats depart from the marina at La Paz (guide your resort right here), and the crossing takes about an hour. Discover out extra right here.

8- Isla de Venados

The three islands off the shore of Mazatlan are one of many metropolis’s icons. Of those three islands, the most important is Isla de Venados.

Isla de Venados interprets as ‘Deer Island’ and the island bought its title after two deer have been introduced over to the island within the eighties.

It created fairly a stir and drew numerous vacationers asking to be taken to the ‘deer island’. The title caught after that.

Isla de Venados is a tranquil island and presents guests an imposing view of the Mazatlan skyline.

Actions on the island embrace browsing, kayaking, jet snowboarding, paddle boarding, snorkelling, taking part in seaside volleyball and climbing.

Planning a visit:

9- Cedros Island

If you wish to take a stroll into the previous and expertise the Baja peninsula because it was, Cedros Island, 300 miles (483 km) from mainland Mexico, is the place to go.

The island is without doubt one of the extra distant components of Mexico. Nonetheless, Isla Cedros was dwelling to a few of North America’s earliest occupants alongside the Pacific Coast.

The lay of the land could be very mountainous and the island is understood for its wealthy biodiversity, together with a uncommon endemic species of cactus.

The waters surrounding Isla Cedros are the house of sea lions, whales and lobster and are highly regarded for sports activities fishing.

The principle city on the island is called Cedros.

Planning a visit:

• You’ll be glad to be taught that attending to the island is a bit of cake because of an airport positioned on Isla Cedros, which is linked to Ensenada Airport and Guerrero Negro Airport on mainland Mexico.

10- Revillagigedo Islands

240 miles (386 km) off the coast of the Baja Peninsula is the volcanic archipelago, the Revillagigedo Islands.

This group of islands is without doubt one of the nation’s greatest diving spots, with bottle-nosed dolphins, manta rays, humpback whales and 7 species of shark bobbing alongside in these waters.

Be aware that these waters are fairly temperamental and never appropriate for newbies.

Planning a visit:

• The most effective time to go to is when the seas are calmest, between November and Could.
• Attending to the island is an journey in itself! It takes 24 hours to achieve the archipelago by boat, so the one strategy to attain the islands is through a liveaboard from Cabo San Lucas or San Jose del Cabo, which often takes divers out for every week at a time.

11- Mexcaltitan

Alongside the bustling Riviera Nayarit, nestled amongst mangroves and canals, Mexcaltitan is somewhat totally different to the islands featured up to now on this listing because it’s positioned in a lake.

With a historical past stretching again over a thousand years, this island was probably the unique homeland of the Aztecs earlier than they established their new dwelling in what’s now Mexico Metropolis.

Many historians take into account Mexcaltitan the birthplace of Mexico.

The principle attraction to Mexcaltitan is its vibrant homes and the truth that through the wet season, the streets of the city flood.

This makes getting round solely attainable by boat and is why Mexcaltitan is usually nicknamed ‘Mexico’s Venice’.

On the island, you may discover the historic streets, the plaza and essential cathedral and the expansive assortment at El Origen Museum, which can deliver to life the pre-Hispanic period in Mexico.

Planning a visit:

12- Isla de Janitzio

Like our earlier entry, the island of Janitzio doesn’t sit within the ocean however in a lake.

Janitzio is the house of the indigenous Purepecha individuals.

The fishermen who fish on Lake Patzcuaro are iconic of Janitzio for his or her particular butterfly-shaped nets.

One other fashionable draw to the island is the Day of the Lifeless competition as a result of Janitzio is without doubt one of the prime locations to go to expertise the unique traditions behind this celebration, with candlelit boat processions making their strategy to the island on the eve of November 1st every year to honour the useless.

You can’t miss (actually!) the towering 130-foot (40 m) statue of one among Mexico’s revolutionaries, Jose Maria Morelos, seen as you method the island.

You’ll be able to climb as much as the highest of this statue because of a staircase inside and look out on the prime for views of all the island.

Planning a visit:

• Janitzio is accessible through a 25-minute boat journey from the pier of the close by city of Patzcuaro.

13- Isla Agaltepec

Positioned in Lake Catemaco, the small island of Isla Agaltepec (which interprets as Crocodile Island) has round 100 inhabitants and never your regular inhabitants both.

I do know what you’re pondering. No, it’s not crocs!

Agaltepec’s residents are howler monkeys that have been relocated to the island to be shielded from poachers.

The monkeys are a well-liked draw for boat journeys from the close by shores.

Considerably of a misnomer then, the island bought the title ‘Crocodile Island’ due to the form the islands types when seen from the shore, though there are disputes about this too, with some calling the island Dragon Island.

Planning a visit:

• You’ll be able to be part of one of many boat journeys that shuttle vacationers to see the howler monkeys from Lake Catemaco.

14- Isla Maria Madre

Isla Maria Madre, 65 miles (105 km) away from the shore within the Pacific Ocean, is one among 4 islands that make up the Isla Marias archipelago, all named after totally different Marys from the bible.

Isla Maria Madre is the most important of those 4 islands.

Due to its isolation for over eight million years, the island is dwelling to many endemic and threatened species, marking it as a biosphere reserve and guarded UNESCO web site.

The island is inhabited by about 1,100 individuals and used to deal with a jail between 1905 and as just lately as 2019.

As a result of it harboured low-risk prisoners, the jail allowed its prisoners to have interaction in fishing and farming for a ‘jail with out partitions’ expertise.

Actions on the island embrace visiting the previous jail, climbing to the island’s lighthouse and mountain biking.

Planning a visit:

• Boats depart from the ports of Mazatlan and San Blas. It takes about 5 hours to achieve the islands.

15- Isla Tiburon

Isla Tiburon, which interprets as Shark Island (Eek!), is the most important island in Mexico, and a two-mile (3 km) strait separates it from the mainland.

Uninhabited immediately, this island was dwelling to a individuals often called the Seris, who’ve inhabited this area for nearly 2,000 years.

The Seris are a fishing individuals with a rare heritage of ecological data.

They named the island Shark Island as a result of sharks usually got here to feed close to the island.

At present, the Seri individuals nonetheless take into account Isla Tiburon a sacred place as a result of they’ll hint their origins again there.

Individuals come to Isla Tiburon to understand the native fauna and the island’s stunning remoted seashores.

Planning a visit:

• Isla Tiburon was given to the Seris in cooperation with the Mexican authorities, so if you wish to go to, you will have a allow from the Seri Authorities.
• After getting your allow, boats depart from the Seri group of Punta Chueca.

16- Isla Ixtapa

The island of Ixtapa is little identified in Mexico except you occur to be on trip within the Mexican Riviera, the place it’s marketed as the right day journey.

It’s because the island is just a few minutes away by boat from the mainland, making visiting Ixtapa Island very simple and an incredible alternative for households with kids.

There’s lots to maintain you busy on the island, from snorkelling within the crystal clear calm waters to swimming in a alternative of seashores to water sports activities like windsurfing or water-skiing.

Planning a visit:

17- Guadalupe Island

150 miles (241 km) off Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula within the Pacific Ocean lies the volcanic island of Guadalupe, one of the vital distant islands in Mexico.

With a largely arid desert panorama and scarce sources of water, Guadalupe Island is usually uninhabited, with the one those that stay on the island being scientists, navy personnel stationed on the climate station and the fishermen who come for the season.

The island is most identified for cage diving with Nice White sharks because the waters round Guadalupe Island are teeming with sharks due to the seal inhabitants.

Planning a visit:

• The island was designated a biosphere reserve in 2005, which implies that a allow is required from the Mexican Authorities to go to the island.
• The journey by boat from Ensenada takes about 24 hours, so you may solely go to Guadalupe Island through live-aboard. Reside-aboard journeys are a minimal of 5 days.

18- Isla Cerralvo / Isla Jacques Cousteau

Off the coast from the sleepy city of La Paz in Mexico’s Baja California Sur lies Cerralvo Island, often known as Isla Jacques Cousteau.

All native marine life should swim previous the island of Cerralvo as a result of ocean currents.

With 98 toes (30 m) of visibility in its waters, this makes for some spectacular scuba diving and snorkelling alternatives.

There’s even the prospect to see big manta rays.

Planning a visit:

• The island is uninhabited, so solely accessible to go to on a tour. Boats depart for Isla Cerralvo from the close by seaside city of La Ventana, the place one can find accommodations.

19- Isla Perez

Isla Perez, off of Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, is a part of an archipelago of islands protected by Arrecife Alacranes Nationwide Park.

It’s the archipelago’s largest island.

Traditionally, Isla Perez was used for navigation between the Yucatan channel and the Bay of Campeche, which is why you will discover a solitary lighthouse from the 1800s on the island.

The waters are the draw to Isla Perez, with snorkelling, scuba diving and fishing one of the best actions.

Planning a visit:

• As a result of the island is a part of a reserve, a allow is required to go to.
• You’ll be able to keep in a single day tenting on Isla Perez, however there are not any amenities on the island.
• You’ll be able to attain Isla Perez by boat from Progreso, which takes three to 4 hours.

20- Isla Coronado

A part of the Islands of Loreto archipelago, Isla Coronado, with its inactive volcano that slopes out of the Sea of Cortez, makes for an ideal day journey from close by Loreto.

Spend a day on this 4-mile-long (6 km) island recognizing tropical birds, snorkelling amongst vibrant faculties of fish or enjoyable on the seashores.

You would possibly see manta rays, dolphins, whales and turtles.

The pure spotlight of the island is the blue-footed booby chicken which impressed Charles Darwin’s Concept of Evolution.

These birds nest on the island’s rocky cliffs, so maintain your eyes peeled.

Planning a visit:

• From Loreto, the boat journey to the island takes about half-hour and is accessible to go to on a day tour.