Isla Contoy is a small, uninhabited island off the northeast tip of the Yucatán Peninsula, set aside as a national park and Ramsar wetland. Only a limited number of visitors are allowed each day, and only on authorized tour boats, so it feels far removed from the resort coast.
AT A GLANCE
Best time
December to April is driest and sunniest, though it is also the busiest time for tour boats.
How long
Plan on one full day, since the trip is a boat tour with a few hours on the island.
Getting there
Book an authorized tour from Isla Mujeres, Cancún or Playa del Carmen.
Why visit Isla Contoy
Isla Contoy is only about 8.5 kilometres long, with an area of roughly 3 square kilometres, yet it is one of the most important seabird sites in the Mexican Caribbean. The island has been protected since the early 1960s and was declared a national park in 1998.
Visits are tightly managed. Only authorized boats can bring visitors, and only 200 people are allowed on the island per day. The result is a quiet beach, clear water and a rare chance to watch wildlife with little disturbance.
On the island
The beach
The sandy beach is the natural centre of the day. The water is clear and calm, which makes it good for a swim after the boat ride.
The nature museum
A small nature museum explains the island's ecosystem and its role in protecting tropical birds and sea turtles.
Trails and bird watching
Walk the island's trails and look up. Frigatebirds are everywhere, riding the wind with their long forked tails, and migratory birds nest in the trees.
Pelicans and ospreys
Near the shore, brown pelicans swoop over the waves and perch on piers and pylons, and a few ospreys nest close to the coast.
Mangroves and dunes
The landscape is low-lying, with coconut palms, coastal dunes covered in creeping grasses, a mangrove swamp and rocky shoreline dotted with small cacti. Stay on marked paths to protect the fragile vegetation.
Turtle nesting beaches
Loggerhead, green, hawksbill and leatherback turtles all use the island's beaches for nesting. You are unlikely to see nesting during a day tour, but your guide can explain the conservation work.
On the water
Ixchel Reef
Most tours include a snorkeling stop at Ixchel Reef, either on the way to Contoy or on the way back, so boats do not crowd the reef at once.
The boat ride
The crossing is on open water, and it can be bumpy. If you are prone to motion sickness, take medicine before you board and sit near the middle of the boat.
Isla Mujeres, the gateway
Isla Mujeres
Isla Mujeres is the closest town to Contoy and a good place to spend a night before the tour.
Hacienda Mundaca
Hacienda Mundaca was built by Hernán Mundaca, a pirate who lived on the island in the early nineteenth century. The ruins are an easy stop for anyone who wants history before or after the national park.
Whale sharks
From mid-May through September, whale sharks gather in the waters near Isla Mujeres in large groups. Ask a licensed operator about whale shark trips, and follow all guidelines for keeping a safe distance.
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Food and local flavors
Most Contoy tours include lunch on the beach, and some boats serve snacks and drinks on board. Back on the coast, Yucatán seafood is the highlight. Order ceviche, fresh fish and shellfish marinated in citrus with onion, cilantro and tomato. Tikin xic is a whole fish, often grouper or red snapper, coated in achiote and sour orange paste and cooked wrapped in banana leaf.
In Isla Mujeres town, small seafood restaurants make it easy to eat well after a tour, and a walk along the waterfront is a pleasant way to find one.
Popular dishes to try in Isla Contoy
Where to stay
Isla Mujeres is the best base for an early boat. Staying on the island means you can walk to the dock, spend the evening in a relaxed town, and avoid the ferry crossing on the day of your tour.
Cancún has the widest choice of hotels and the main airport, which makes it practical for short trips and anyone arriving late. Ferries to Isla Mujeres leave from Puerto Juárez.
Playa del Carmen is further south and suits travellers who want a lively town and plan to combine Contoy with other day trips along the coast.
Where to stay in Isla Contoy
Best time to visit
December to April is the best season, with sunny days and little rain, and temperatures stay in the high twenties Celsius all year. It is also when most foreign visitors arrive, so book early.
Summer brings whale sharks to the nearby waters between mid-May and September. Weather at sea matters more than the date, so keep your schedule flexible and ask your operator about conditions.
Getting there and getting around
Cancún International Airport is the nearest major airport. From Cancún you can take the ferry from Puerto Juárez to Isla Mujeres, which takes about eighteen minutes.
Visiting Contoy independently is not possible. Only authorized tour boats may land, so you must book a tour with an approved operator, and permission is handled through the park offices in Isla Mujeres or Cancún.
On the island you simply walk the trails, then sit back and go wherever the boat takes you.
A suggested itinerary
First day
Arrive in Cancún, take the ferry from Puerto Juárez to Isla Mujeres and spend the afternoon at Hacienda Mundaca and the waterfront.
Second day
Board your authorized tour boat in the morning, snorkel at Ixchel Reef, walk the trails on Contoy, eat lunch on the beach and return to Isla Mujeres in the afternoon.
Third day
Keep a spare day for weather delays, or book a whale shark trip in season before heading back to Cancún.
Practical tips
- Book only with an authorized tour operator, because that is the only legal way to land.
- Do not bring regular sunscreen or insect repellent, since all such products are banned on the island.
- Bring cash for the park entry fee and for tips.
- Take motion sickness medicine before the crossing if you are prone to it.
- Wear a hat and sunglasses, and look for shaded spots on the beach.
