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 Isla
Mujeres is an ideal vacation choice, aside from its
legends and history, the island processes great
natural charm and spectacular scenery. It's only 8
kilometers long and 1.5 km wide, you can sightsee the
entire island, including both leeward and windward
coasts, on a bicycle, golf cart or motor scooter.
Downtown (Centro) is host to many fine boutiques and
art and crafts stores and the restaurants offer a wide
range of fine cuisine. You will see many brightly
painted traditional Caribbean wooden houses and at
night, locals and tourists stroll the street and relax
in the town square and share the experience of life on
Isla Mujeres.
 A
generous strip of the Great Mayan Reef, the longest
system in the hemisphere, runs the length of the Isla
Mujeres. Diving and snorkeling this gorgeous
underwater world are favorite pastimes, as is
sunbathing on Playa Norte, the island's most popular
beach. The water here is clear and shallow, making it
the perfect water sports arena. A boat tour around
these beautiful waters is a must for all visitors as
is a trip to nearby Isla Contoy.
Isla Mujeres was visited hundreds of years ago by the
ancient Maya, one of the greatest cultures the world
has ever produced. They believed the island was sacred
to the mother goddess Ixchel, and erected statues in
her honor along the shore. These blatantly feminine
figurines captured the imagination of Francisco
Fernandez de Cordoba when he and his men arrived in
1517 and to him goes the credit for the islands
provocative name, Island of Women.
In the centuries that followed, Pirates and
adventurers of every kind landed on the islands velvet
shores. One of them, Fermin Mundaca, fell hopelessly
in love with a native girl and built her a wonderful
hacienda. She turned him down flat, fleeing the island
in the arms of her Mayan lover. Utterly dejected,
Mundaca let the place go to ruin. It was later used as
a Pirates hideout and is still standing today, a
favorite tourist attraction
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