Once a Mayan sanctuary to the goddess Ixchel, Isla Mujeres is about eight miles (13 km) off the coast. Regular ferry service connects it to Cancun with departures roughly every half hour. For the day-tripper, it offers beaches, diving off coral reefs, plenty of bars and restaurants, hiking, swimming with dolphins and a sea turtle refuge, but its nightlife and laid-back pace make it worth an overnight or longer. Four miles (7 km) long and less than a half mile wide, its main mode of transportation is the golf cart.

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