




©1999-2008
Isla Mujeres Net
Apartado 73
Isla Mujeres, Q. Roo
Mexico 77400
|
|
The most common
question asked about traveling to Mexico is:
"Can I drink the water?"
Isla Mujeres has an extensive water purification system but, no one
on the island drinks the water from the tap. Bottled water is
readily available at all Restaurants, Hotels and grocery stores.
There is no problem brushing your teeth using tap water and don't
worry if you swallow a bit in the shower. Nine times out of ten the
dreaded "tourista" is caused by too much sun and overindulging
during "Happy Hour" and too few glasses of water to keep
youself hydrated. Use common sense and be sure to drink lots of bottled
water!
What to Bring
Arriving in Mexico (Airport Walk-thru)
Getting to Isla Mujeres
Arriving on Isla Mujeres
Currency
From the United States Government
Tips for Travelers to
Mexico
|
Your Travel Documents
To enter Mexico you will need to present the following:
- A valid passport or your birth certificate with
embossed seal and government issued photo ID (driver's license). It
is a good idea to have copies of the above including your tickets.
- Mexican Tourist Card which you will be given at the
airport when you check in or on the plane. Be sure to completely fill out the Tourist Card
before you land in Mexico, it will save time at immigration. Put your Tourist Card in a
safe place, you will required to present it when you depart Mexico.
Travel Documents for
Minors:
- A valid passport or your birth certificate with
embossed seal
- When a minor is traveling
alone, they must have a
notarized letter signed by the parents or legal guardians giving them permission to
travel.
- When a minor is traveling
with one adult, provide a
notarized letter signed by the parent or guardian not traveling
giving them
permission to travel with the other parent or guardian.
- If the minor is in the custody of one parent, a
notarized custody document should be provided.
- If one parent is deceased, provide the death
certificate.
Your Luggage
- Most airlines allow 2 pieces of luggage per person.
If you are traveling on a charter it is a good idea to check with the company. Some
charters only allow 1 piece of luggage per person.
- Be sure to tag all luggage (including your carry-on)
with your name, address and phone number. If you know where you will be staying, add that
information as well.
- Be sure all your travel documents, tickets, money,
credit cards and traveler's checks, medications, valuables and personal items are in your
carry-on or purse.
- We recommend you bring a change of clothes in your
carry-on. If your luggage is "delayed" at least you'll have something to
wear!
- If you are bringing anything that can be ruined if
it gets wet - pack it in a plastic bag. Occasionally tropical rain storms soak the luggage
on its way from the plane to baggage claim. I learned this the hard way :-)
Here's are two great tips from
Cancun Online:
"If you are coming to Cancun from a cooler climate, I suggest you dress in
layers for travel on the airplane. Example, put on some shorts and T-shirt or your
clothing for the warmer climate with a layer of warmer clothing on top. This way,
when you arrive you can make a quick change of clothing without having to go to a bathroom
or dressing room, but be sure to leave room in your carry on. You will be much more
comfortable on your ride from the airport to your hotel!"
"If you are planning to take advantage of shopping opportunities on your visit
I advise that you pack an empty carry-on or two in one of your suitcases. This way
you can fill it with your treasures for travel back home. Be sure to tag it!"
Clothing and Personal
Items
- Basic summer clothes. Be sure to bring a light
jacket or sweater, it can get a bit chilly at night. Isla is very casual, t-shirts and
shorts are fine anywhere, but you might want to bring something dressier for evening.
- Suntan lotion, a travel size mosquito repellent
(especially in summer), your toiletry items such as shampoo, shaving gear, deodorant,
tooth brush and paste, etc. If you forget anything the stores on Isla stock all of these
items but the selection is small.
|
Airport Walk-thru
- Follow the crowd down the escalator to the
immigration area where you will present your Tourist Card (you will
be given a tourist card for each person traveling to fill out on the
plane) and Passport or Birth
Certificate. Remember to put your Tourist Card in a safe place, you will need it to leave
the country.
- After immigration go to the baggage claim area (to
your left of the immigration area) and pick up your bags. There are carts for rent next to
the carousels.
- Proceed to Customs
(to the right of the baggage carousels) and present your completed
customs form (usually given when you check-in at the airport or on the plane). One form is
needed per family.
- Press the button... 9 times out of 10 you'll get the
green light which means go on through. Every once in awhile you'll get the red light and
your luggage will be searched. Be sure you do not have any OPEN food packages or
fruits and vegetables. A box of Ritz crackers and a jar of peanut butter are fine as long
as it's UNOPENED.
- Proceed thru customs and
continue down the hall to the exit doors. On each side of you there
will be booths for rental cars, time shares, etc.
Getting to Isla
- After going through Customs,
continue down the hall to the exit doors, you will
be in the "Arrivals" area. There are several ways to get
to the ferries to Isla from the airport.
- If you are being met,
they will be waiting here. Listed on the General
Info page are several airport transfer companies.
- There are ticket booths where you can purchase
transportation vouchers to Puerto Juarez. Be sure
you tell them you want to go directly to Puerto Juarez or you might get there by the
"scenic route" through the Hotel Zone of Cancun.
- If you are traveling by yourself try to find someone
else who is going to Isla and share the cost of the taxi. The fare from the Airport to
the ferries is about $40 USD and the airport vans
are $10 US per person. The ride to Puerto Juarez takes approximately 30 minutes.
- The least expensive option is
to take the bus from the airport to Cancun Centro and then another
bus (or taxi) to Puerto Juarez. Travel time is usually 50 - 60
minutes.
The Ferries
- The are two Ferry docks to
Isla Mujeres. Puerto Juárez
& Gran Puerto Cancun which is 15 minutes north of downtown
Cancun. Express boats leave every half hour and the
crossing takes about 15 minutes and the fare is 35 pesos. The
first crossing from Cancun is at 6:30 AM, beginning at 9:00 PM
the express boats leave every hour until 12 midnight.
These fast boats cost $35 pesos and the crossing takes around 15
minutes.
When you arrive
at either Puerto Juarez or Gran Puerto Cancun, there are porters
waiting to help you with your luggage and load it on the ferries.
Please don't forget to tip!
| Punta
Sam to Isla Mujeres |
Isla
Mujeres to Punta Sam |
8:00
AM
11:00 AM
2:45 PM
5:30 PM
8:15 PM |
6:30
AM
9:30 AM
12:45 PM
4:15 PM
7:15 PM |
|
- When you arrive on Isla there is a
taxi stand next to the pier. There are also men with "tricycles" waiting to help you with your
luggage and escort you to the Hotel. Most of the hotels are located in the downtown area
and are within walking distance. Be sure you have all your bags, it can get a bit
confusing on the Isla dock.
- Isla's only Bank, HSBC, is almost directly across
from the ferry dock. There you can exchange currency and traveler's checks. Be sure you
sign your checks EXACTLY how your signature appears on your passport and/or driver's
license.
- ATM machines are located
throughout the airport and on Isla.
|
The currency in Mexico is the Peso. There are $20.00, $50.00,
$100.00, $200.00 and $500.00 peso bills. The coins are $.10,
$.20, $.50 centavos and $1.00 , $2.00, $5.00, $10.00 and $20.00
pesos. US dollars are accepted everywhere, even the small
neighborhood stores. We suggest you wait until you arrive on Isla
before you exchange any travelers checks or cash. Be sure to bring
plenty of $1 dollar bills for tipping!
|
©1999-2008
Isla Mujeres Net
All
rights reserved
|