Things to Do

• Annual Carnival and other Celebrations I.e. Cinco de Mayo, Día de Muertos, Summer / Winter Solstice, music festivals, etc.
• Beaches
• Snorkelling – visit the underwater statues
• Diving / Diving Certification
• Turtle Farm
• Swim with whale sharks (seasonal)
• Adventure Parks
• Turtles laying eggs / turtle release (seasonal)
• Visit Punta Sur where you can learn about the Pirate Mundaca, walk around the tip of the island, visit the Temple of Ixchel, shopping and more
• Churches
• Hacienda Mundaca
• Fishing
• Boat tours
• Volunteer Opportunities
• Shopping / Local Markets
• Although Isla doesn’t have large nightclubs like those in Cancun, there is no shortage of nightlife options downtown with live music and dancing.
• Take a bike/food tour with Cultural Cruisers www.culturacruisers.com

As Cancun is only a short ferry ride away, there are many other activities/attractions that are easily accessible but generally require a day away from the island. We encourage our guests to ask us about off island activities/attractions if they are interested.

Helpful Hints

After many years of travelling to Mexico and owning property, it seems there is always something new to learn. Below you will find a list of helpful hints specific to Isla Mujeres that we hope will assist you and make your stay at Sol 2 Soul Casitas and Isla Mujeres that much more enjoyable.

Although you will find that many of the local people speak English, Spanish is their native language. It is helpful for travellers and appreciated by locals when foreigners know some basic Spanish.

• Please – Por Favor (pohr-fah-VOR)
• Thank you – Gracias (gra-SEE-ahs)
• You’re welcome – De nada (deh-NA-da)
• Yes – Si (see)
• No – No
• Hello – Hola (o-la)
• Good morning – Buenos Dias (boo-EHN-os DEE-as)
• Good afternoon – Buenas Tardes (boo-EHN-as TAR-dens)
• Good evening – Buenas Noches (boo-EHN-as NO-chehs)
• I’m sorry – Lo Siento (low see-EHN-toe)
• How much does it cost – Cuanto Cuesta (kooAN-toe KWEHS-ta)
• See you later – Hasta luego (AHS-ta looEH-go)
• Bill / check please – la cuenta por favor
• I do not understand – Yo no comprendo (yoh no kom-PREN-do)
• Where is the restroom – Donde esta el baño (DOHN-deh ehs-TA el BAH-neeo)

Tipping is customary on the island. Many have very minimal or no pay and rely on tips i.e. Servers, house keepers and those who bag your groceries. Tips are generally 10-20%. Tips are best in pesos, but if using Foreign money, never leave coin as the locals cannot exchange this.

Always review your bill at restaurants, although it should not be done, some restaurants will automatically add a tip. Tax should also not be added to a bill. If it is a printed receipt, sometimes it will show the tax broken down, but the tax plus the cost should be the total that was displayed on the menu.

Pay in the local currency and carry smaller bills.

When renting a golf cart, stay as far to the right as possible to allow other vehicles to safely pass. Use arm signals to turn. Most of the roads in Centro are one ways, so make sure you are going in the correct direction before turning. Use extra caution at any crossroad, as they are not always marked with stop/yield signs. Slow down for the topes (speed bumps/humps).

When taking a taxi, always confirm the price. There is a list of taxi fares at the main taxi station to the left of the ferry (when exiting the terminal). Always get in/out of the taxi on the passenger side. Don’t be surprised if the taxi picks up other passengers. If you want a private taxi be sure to tell them. It is not out of the ordinary for a taxi to charge a bit more if there is luggage.

Haggling when shopping is okay, but not in restaurants.

Although you should not drink the water from the taps, the ice on the island is made from purified water and is safe to have in your drinks.

Due to the infrastructure of Isla Mujeres, there are very few places that you can flush your toilet paper. Even if there are no signs saying not to flush the “papel” (paper), it is always best to use the waste can beside the toilet.

Most importantly…do not underestimate the chiles!!