Playa Norte
Consistently ranked as one of the best beaches in the world, Playa Norte is at the top of most must-see lists. With sugar-white sand and swaying palms bordering the turquoise water, it is a screensaver come to life. Spend the day snorkeling and sun-tanning before watching the sun set from one of the many beachside restaurants and bars.
MUSA Underwater Art Museum
Between Cancún and Isla Mujeres, you’ll find this one-of-a-kind underwater sculpture park. Renowned Mexican artists were commissioned to create pieces from natural materials, which now sit on the ocean floor, amongst coral reefs. The aim of the project — which is still ongoing — is to increase the mass of the reefs in the area, and provide more habitats for native marine life. Go on a snorkeling sculpture tour, or see the art from above on a glass-bottomed boat.
Mayan art at Punta Sur
Isla Mujeres got its name from the Mayan goddess Ixchel, and statues of her likeness have been unearthed here dating back to the 1500s. Wind your way up the cliffs of Punta Sur, where you’ll find an open-air sculpture garden, with 23 pieces dedicated to the goddess of love, fertility, and the moon. Don’t miss the Temple of Ixchel, a beautifully preserved Mayan ruin, where young women used to pray to the goddess for their fertility.