Island of women.
this name was given the island in 1517 by Francisco Hernández de
Córdoba, who at the time was leading a Spanish expedition in search
of labourers for the gold mines of Cuba. So much is attested by
the Bishop Diego de Landa in his famous historical tract Relaciónes
de las Cosas de Yucatán, written in 1566. Córdoba was apparently
inspired by the many statues representing the female figure that
were found in the Mayan temples of the island, the majority of which
were certainly erected in homage to Ix-Chel, the goddess of the
moon and the fertility. It seems that the Maya never actually inhabited
the island, that it served solely as the destination of pilgrimages.
Through
the 17th and 18th centuries, pirates and traffickers of all sorts
daily paid homage to "the god of concupiscence" at the
island and left the place to fishermen, who were its only visitors
until the first tourists started to appear, about 20 years ago.
During the second world war, the allies constructed a naval base
here, which today is used by the Mexican government.
The island is eight
kilometers long and 800 meters across at its widest point. the enchanting
charm of this locale is a combination of many white-sand beaches,
lagoons, coral reefs teeming with marine life, and swaying coconut
trees.
The
town of Isla Mujeres has about 10,000 residents and 15 criss-crossing
streets, spread out on the northern end of the island. Wrought-iron
balconies and whitewashed walls contribute to its altogether Mexican
atmosphere. Most of the restaurants, hotels and shops of the island
are concentrated in this little city, and it is a good idea to visit
it outside of the tourist rush hour (mainly between noon and 3pm),
when guides arrive leading throngs of visitors from Cancún and Cozumel.
The beaches and the
coral reefs are generally in the southwest, facing the mainland.
On the other side of the island the sea is so rough that it is unsafe
to engage in water sports.
Through
the 17th and 18th centuries, pirates and traffickers of all sorts
daily paid homage to "the god of concupiscence" at the
island and left the place to fishermen, who were its only visitors
until the first tourists started to appear, about 20 years ago.
During the second world war, the allies constructed a naval base
here, which today is used by the Mexican government.
The
town of Isla Mujeres has about 10,000 residents and 15 criss-crossing
streets, spread out on the northern end of the island. Wrought-iron
balconies and whitewashed walls contribute to its altogether Mexican
atmosphere. Most of the restaurants, hotels and shops of the island
are concentrated in this little city, and it is a good idea to visit
it outside of the tourist rush hour (mainly between noon and 3pm),
when guides arrive leading throngs of visitors from Cancún and Cozumel.