How to get to Isla Contoy (Mexico) from Cancun: a guide to visit the last paradise in the Mexican Caribbean

To visit Isla Contoy, a small island north of the famous Isla Mujeres (near Cancun) is to see not only one of the most beautiful beaches in the Mexican Caribbean but also its last virgin paradise.

Getting to this paradise involves going on an organized tour from Cancun or Isla Mujeres (it is not possible to go on your own) since the island is included in the Isla Contoy National Park, created precisely to protect the island and its surroundings.

In this guide you will find everything you need to know to visit to Isla Contoy with practical information on the best season to go, prices, who to go with, rules of the national park to make your experience as special as ours was.

Basic facts to visit Isla Contoy

When to go: you can go all year round although the ideal time to go is during the dry season (November to April); you can also go during the rainy season (May to October) since it does not rain every day or all day but you have to take into account that there is a higher probability of hurricanes between June and November. More info here

How many days: One day is enough to do the tour that will take you to Isla Contoy, although you will want to stay a few more days in Cancun or Isla Mujeres to enjoy all that these places have to offer.

Rules: Visiting the Isla Contoy National Park is a regulated activity (for example, sunscreen is forbidden in order not to harm the marine life) and with a limited schedule and number of boats and people (maximum 200 people per day). Besides, you can’t go on your own, you must go on an organized tour with an authorized company. More info here.

How to do the activity: you have to hire a tour of about 7 hours with an authorized operator (and in advance especially in high season as the daily quota can be exhausted). More info about the tours here.

Who to do the tour with: very important to choose a responsible company. We recommend Kaankun Tours who explained and complied with the rules at all times. More info here.

How much it costs: The tour usually costs from 1700 MXN (90$, the cheapest we saw) to 2800 MXN (150$, prices as of April 2024) including food, drinks and snorkeling equipment. In addition to the tour you have to pay a fee/tax at the pier of 20$ (about 350 MXN per person). More info here.

Weather: As in all the Mexican Caribbean, in Isla Contoy there are two main seasons, the dry season from November to April (29º of maximum and 20º of minimum) and rainy season from May to October (30º of maximum and 25º of minimum) being that in this last season there is probability of hurricanes between June and November, reason why it is recommended to go to the area in the dry season (although in November, December and even January there are still usually rainy days, it depends on luck). In addition, you will have to take into account the famous sargassum that usually invades the beaches of the Mexican Caribbean from April to August, although in recent years the sargassum hardly reaches the beaches of Contoy. The water in the island is usually between 26º and 29º, depending on the month.

What to bring: Windbreaker, towel, sunglasses, water, cameras and, of course, travel insurance(in this link a 5% discount on the insurance we always use). More info here.

Where to stay: ideally you should stay in Cancun (in the hotel zone), and use the city as a base to do this and other amazing activities. More info here.

Language: Most tourists are from outside of Mexico, so it is common for Spanish and English to be spoken. Some companies have staff that speak other languages as well.

Currency: MXN ($) Mexican Peso (1$ equals 20 MXN approx.). Check the updated exchange rate here. Many companies also offer prices in dollars

Internet connection: If you are visiting for a few days, your phone supports eSIM and you don’t want to complicate things, we recommend Holafly eSIM (unlimited data, 5% discount with the code RANDOMTRIP) or Airalo eSIM (limited data, but cheaper, 15% discount with the code RANDOMTRIP15). Otherwise, the cheapest way is to get a local SIM (we recommend Telcel). More info here

Where is Isla Contoy

Isla Contoy is a Mexican Caribbean island located off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, 30 kilometers north of Isla Mujeres, near Cancun . Here you can see the location of Isla Contoy within Mexico.

And in this other more detailed map you can see the location of Isla Contoy in relation to other known places in the Yucatan Peninsula, such as Cancun, Isla Mujeres, Holbox or Cozumel:

How to get to Isla Contoy

To get to Isla Contoy you have to go on an organized boat tour from Cancun or Isla Mujeres. Most people visit Isla Contoy on a tour from Cancun that also takes you through Isla Mujeres (only a couple of hours, leaving you in Playa Norte), but if you include Isla Mujeres in your itinerary and want to visit Isla Contoy from there, you can also hire the tour on the island itself, in most agencies you will find in the northern area.

Isla Mujeres is about 20 minutes from Cancun and Isla Contoy is 1:30 hours from Isla Mujeres. It is not possible to go to Isla Contoy by yourself or directly from Cancun.

There are many direct international flights to Cancun and we recommend that you use flight comparators such as Skyscanner and Kiwi and be flexible with dates to get the best possible price for your flight.

When to visit Isla Contoy

The weather in Isla Contoy, as in the entire Mexican Caribbean, is divided mainly into two seasons:

• Dry season (November to April): less chance of rain, milder temperatures (it is still hot). The winter months (December to March) usually have the best weather, although depending on the year this may vary, and during December and January it is common for “nortes” (north winds) to arrive with somewhat cooler winds and sporadic rains that can sometimes even cause port closures for small boats, affecting tours.
• Rainy season (May to October): it rains more, it is warmer and there is a probability of hurricanes (the official hurricane season is from June to November).

The ideal time to visit Isla Contoy is during the dry season, to have a better chance of good weather and less hurricanes, from December to April, although if your trip is in another season you can also try your luck.

Sargassum in Isla Contoy

Another problem that affects several areas of the Mexican Caribbean from April to August is Sargassum (a floating macroalgae that moves according to the currents), although like everything, it depends on the year. The advantage of Isla Contoy is that, in the last few years, the sargassum has hardly reached the island’s beaches, so in principle it is not something you should take into account (this may change in the future).

Information about Isla Contoy

Before getting to know this paradise, here are some interesting facts about Isla Contoy and its National Park.

Brief introduction to Isla Contoy National Park

Isla Contoy National Park is, since 1961, the first Natural Protected Area established in the Mexican Caribbean, decreed a National Park in 1998.

It is located 30 kilometers north of Isla Mujeres where the waters of the Caribbean Sea meet those of the Gulf of Mexico. The Ixlaché reef, south of Contoy, marks the beginning of the second longest barrier reef in the world, the Great Mesoamerican Reef. It is precisely in this reef where there is abundant biodiversity that can be seen while snorkeling on the tour to Isla Contoy.

The island is almost 8 km long from north to south, 700 meters wide (at its widest point) and covers an area of 230 hectares, making it the most important refuge for marine birds in the Mexican Caribbean, and therefore also known as the “Island of the Birds”.

Its lagoons, mangroves (which cover 70% of the island’s surface) and lowland forests are home to 152 species of birds (such as frigate birds, cormorants, boobies, herons, brown pelicans and terns), reptiles, crustaceans and fish.

The national park also encompasses a marine portion of 4,900 hectares where, every summer, three species of sea turtles come to lay their eggs: hawksbill, white and loggerhead turtles. The waters surrounding the island are also very rich in nutrients that feed more than 234 species of fish identified in the area, including whale sharks and manta rays.

According to what we were told on the tour, already in pre-Hispanic times, the population settled along the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula made incursions to Isla Contoy precisely because of its biodiversity. At that time the population used marine species not only as food but also as raw materials (e.g. shells and spines of rays).

The island’s eco-tourist zone has a dock (where tour boats arrive), a visitor center with a museum exhibit, a 20-meter-high observation tower, two interpretive trails (which can only be visited with a guide, not on your own) where you can appreciate the island’s flora and fauna, a bird-watching lookout, two palapas where food is served buffet-style for tours, and a field station equipped with wind generators and solar panels.

Rules for visiting Isla Contoy

Besides the fact that you are not allowed to visit the island on your own, only on tour, and that it is an uninhabited island (only one park ranger stays overnight to protect it), there is a maximum daily quota of 200 people who can visit the island. In addition, there is a set of rules that must be followed within the National Park:

• Smoking of any kind of cigarettes (including electronic cigarettes) is not allowed.
• You are not allowed to use sun creams (not even those that are supposed to be biodegradable or “environmentally friendly”). You can apply sunscreen one hour before arriving at Ixlaché Reef and Isla Contoy (for example, on Isla Mujeres before boarding).
• The use of drones is not allowed
• It is not allowed to touch the fauna (nor of course to take absolutely any animal out of the water).
• It is not allowed to pour any residue into the water
• You are not allowed to carry plastic bottles. Ideally, you should bring a reusable bottle like one of these to always carry water with you on the boat.
• If you want to listen to music, only with headphones to avoid noise pollution.
• Snorkeling on the reef without a guide is not allowed.
• It is not allowed to tour Isla Contoy without a guide. The tour includes a 30 minute guided tour if you wish to see the island (optional).

If you are interested, you can see here the management program of Isla Contoy National Park.

Are the rules enforced on Isla Contoy?

In our experience, during the activity, they were complied with. In any case, if you see any person who does not comply with them, report them immediately.

How is the tour to Isla Contoy

The order and type of activities may vary depending on the weather and the different tour operators, but in general, tours to Isla Contoy include the following:

• Transfers from the hotel to the pier
• Boat transfers to Isla Mujeres and Isla Contoy
• “Open bar” of drinks on the boat and at mealtime
• Bread and fruit on the boat
• 1 to 2 hour visit to Isla Mujeres (North Beach)
• Snorkeling at Ixlaché reef
• Visit to Isla Contoy
• Relax on the beach of Isla Contoy
• Buffet lunch at Isla Contoy

How long is the tour to Isla Contoy?

It depends on the tour, but they usually last between 7 and 8 hours. In addition to the navigation time, you have to add the time of all the stops in Isla Mujeres, Ixlaché Reef and Isla Contoy.

The departure time is usually around 9:00 am and the return at approximately 5:00 pm. The trip lasts between one and two hours depending on the type of boat, the starting point and the sea conditions.

How many people go on the boat?

It depends on the tour, the company and the price: there will always be a minimum of one captain, one guide and the number of tourists depending on the capacity of the boat. In our case we were around 20 tourists on the boat.

How much does the tour to Isla Contoy cost?

The tour usually costs from 1700 MXN (90$, the cheapest we saw) to 2800 MXN (150$) including food, drinks and snorkeling equipment. In addition to the tour you have to pay a fee/tax at the pier of 20USD (about 350 MXN per person)

The price depends on the company you go with, the duration, the type of boat used, the number of people…

Recommended company for the Isla Contoy Tour

In our case we went to Isla Contoy with Kaankun Tours and we highly recommend them as they not only complied with the rules at all times, they also gave us an excellent briefing of the different stages of the tour, unlimited drinks on board and delicious food in Isla Contoy. Also, we would like to highlight the kindness of the whole team on board.

The price of the tour was 1700 MXN for adults (and 1400 MXN for children under 12 years old)* and the tours depart from Tuesday to Sunday from Cancun at 9:00h (or from Playa del Carmen at 8:00h) and return at approximately 17:30h*.

*prices as of April 2024 and schedules subject to change.

Our experience in Isla Contoy with Kaankun Tours

At Randomtrip we did a combined Kaankun Tours tour of Isla Contoy and Isla Mujeres from Cancun, which included several activities:

• Transfers (round trip) from the hotel to the dock
• Transfer to Isla Mujeres and from Isla Mujeres to Isla Contoy (and back to Cancun) by boat.
• Fruit and bread on board (in our case we were given delicious homemade doughnuts).
• Open bar (beer, cocktails…) on board the boat and during lunch time at Isla Contoy.
• Visit to Isla Mujeres with 1 hour of free time on the island (meeting point at Playa Norte, one of the most beautiful beaches).
• Snorkel at Ixlaché reef with snorkel gear, fins and vest included.
• Visit to Isla Contoy with a guided tour to see the flora and fauna of the island, learn about the different types of mangroves, walk the island’s trails, visit the aviary in one of the island’s lagoons, visit the species museum and go up to the island’s lookout point.
• Free time to relax at Isla Contoy beach
• Buffet lunch in Isla Contoy

We were picked up at 8:50 am at the hotel and taken to the pier, where we arrived around 9:20 am. We waited for about an hour, having a coffee, to leave for Isla Mujeres.

We arrived at Isla Mujeres at 11:00 am and were given an hour off on the island with local liquor tasting upon arrival (optional). In our case we already knew the island well because we had been touring it for several days a few months before so we opted to just relax on Playa Norte during our free time. If you also spend more time on Isla Mujeres, check out our complete guide to Isla Mujeres.

Best things to do in Isla Mujeres (México): a travel guide with everything you need to know to visit this island from Cancun

At 12:00h we were at Playa Norte de Isla Mujeres to embark and continue to Isla Contoy, which is 1:30h away by boat. It was at this time that we were informed that the use of sunscreen is not allowed, since we were about to enter the waters of Isla Contoy National Park.

Before arriving at Isla Contoy, we made a stop in the surrounding blue waters to snorkel at the Ixlaché reef. We weree provided with the snorkeling equipment, fins and mandatory vest and we went in a group, with one guide in front and one behind. The sea was quite rough so some of the people who did not feel comfortable doing it, returned to the boat with one of the guides. The snorkeling tour was short due to the sea conditions and somewhat disappointing with respect to the biodiversity we expected to find. Unfortunately, climate change has made its presence felt and coral bleaching is very visible…

After snorkeling around the Ixlaché reef, it was time for the highlight of the tour: to get to know and set foot on the paradisiacal Isla Contoy. As soon as we started to see it from the boat we recognized it as it was described: a fine sandy beach lined with palm trees, no beach bars or stores and no more than a dozen people scattered between the water and the sand.

Upon arrival we were told that for those who were interested in taking a guided tour of the island, there will be two groups: a guided tour in Spanish, before lunch, and a guided tour in English, after lunch. We took a dip in the crystal clear waters and signed up for the guided tour in Spanish.

During the tour, which passes through one of the interpretive trails, our guide took us to the Visitor Center where he told us about the variety of species that inhabit the island and showed us the map of the island where the Advanced Naval Station (ENA) of the Mexican Secretary of the Navy (SEMAR), the Lighthouse (of SEMAR), the Fishermen’s Camp and Cooperatives of Women, the Dune Observatory “Sikimay” and the Morros Water Trail are located.

The map also showed us where the seven bodies of salt water (not fresh water) that exist in Isla Contoy are located: Laguna Norte, Laguna Pajarera Norte, Laguna Muerta, Laguna Puerto Viejo, Laguna Pajarera Central, Laguna de las Garzas and Laguna Pajarera Sur.

It is precisely to the Central Pajarera Lagoon where we then went to contemplate the mangroves that cover 70% of the island’s surface and are home to so many species. However, our guide told us that crocodiles do not live here permanently because they need fresh water for their nests and the water here is brackish. They can subsist here for quite a long time because being reptiles, cold-blooded animals, they have a slower metabolism and do not need to eat every day.

The next point on the guided tour is our favorite, the observation deck of the island. The panoramic view of Isla Contoy is breathtaking and, above our heads, dozens of frigate birds fly overhead.

The postcard is formed by the meeting of the waters of the Caribbean with the Gulf of Mexico, the contrast of the green-island with the blue of the sea, the dance of hundreds of palm trees in the wind and the overflight of frigates.

We would say that this experience alone is worth the guided tour but it would be detracting from everything we have learned in the previous points.

We finished the tour a bit hungry and, precisely, our guide tolds us that food was ready. The meeting point was at the dining palapa where, in addition to other hungry visitors, a couple of iguanas and hermit crabs accompanied us.

The food was buffet style with several options to choose from, including vegetarian. The pico de gallo and tortilla chips were especially tasty, so much so that we repeated.

After enjoying lunch it was time to relax in paradise. Here, ideally, you should not have left your snorkeling gear on the boat (we took our own equipment) because, in addition to splashing around on a paradisiacal beach, you can see plenty of marine life such as rays and fish.

After an hour of relaxing, it was time to go. We were the last tour to leave the island at 5pm, so we had the opportunity to enjoy Isla Contoy with very few people. We said goodbye with the promise to come back and start our way back to Cancun.

To help us say goodbye to such a paradise, the Kaankun Tours team on board served us cocktails (margaritas, tequila sunrise, rum cola, whatever we wanted) and played lively music.

We returned to Cancun before 18:00h just to say goodbye to the sun of an incredible day in paradise.

Map with the places we visited during our tour to Isla Contoy and Isla Mujeres

Here is a map with the places visited during our tour:

• North Beach, Isla Mujeres
• Ixlaché Reef
• Contoy Island

Get inspired by the stories of our visit to Isla Contoy

You can see the featured Instagram stories about our visit to Isla Contoy at this link.

By the way, do you already follow us on Instagram?

Things to see and do in Cancun and from Cancun

Besides visiting Isla Contoy and Isla Mujeres, there are many things to see and do in your days in Cancun. Here are the main ones, you can see more in our complete guide to Cancun:

• Enjoy Cancun’ s beaches such as Playa Caracol, Playa Forum, Playa Chacmool, Playa Marlín, Playa San Miguelito, Playa Ballenas or Playa Delfines.

• Visit Chichen Itza, one of the 7 Wonders of the World (hire this top-rated Chichen Itzá tour which includes visiting Valladolid and Cenote Chichikan, and will pick you up in Cancun or other points of Riviera Maya).

• Visit some of the famous cenotes of Yucatan: (hire this top-rated Chichen Itzá tour which includes visiting Valladolid and Cenote Chichikan, and will pick you up in Cancun or other points of Riviera Maya).

• Visit the archaeological site of Coba: this tour includes Coba ruins, a Cenote, Tulum ruins and 1h in Playa del Carmen

• Visit Puerto Morelos, where you can snorkel and enjoy an incredible beach in a more relaxed environment. This tour will take you to Puerto Morelos and on a boat to snorkel on the National Park

• See other beaches in famous Playa del Carmen

Qué ver en Cancún (Península de Yucatán, México) en 1, 2, 3 ó 4 días: la guía completa para explorar el Caribe Mexicano

Where to stay in Cancun

Contrary to what we usually recommend (and where we usually stay in our trips like, for example, in Tulum), in Cancun we have to recognize that the ideal place to stay is in the Hotel Zone. Although it is more expensive than downtown Cancun, it is where you can easily access the beautiful beaches of the area (free of charge), restaurants and nightlife areas.

At Randomtrip we stayed at the Selina Cancun Laguna Hotel Zone both times we visited Cancun and we still find it to be one of the best value for money options both for the facilities and the location. It is a 5 minute walk to the beach.

The hotel‘s rooms, of various types, have views of the Nichupté lagoon , which gains a special splendor at sunset when several species of birds return to the lagoon’s bird island.

The hotel also has a swimming pool, bar and restaurant, a kitchen for guests who want to use it and, very important for people like Randomtrip who work while traveling, an excellent and ergonomic coworking space.

If you prefer another type of accommodation (such as an all-inclusive or an apartment), take a look at all these in this link and remember that the prices we mention are approximate and change according to the type of room and the season.

Where to eat in Cancun

Our days in Cancun were not, by far, where we ate the best in the Yucatan Peninsula. Being a very touristy area, this is reflected in the decline of quality and authenticity of the gastronomy (where multinational chains prevail) and the high prices. Nevertheless, here are some recommendations that we tried and liked, some very close to the Selina hotel where we stayed and others, in search of more local food, in downtown Cancun:

• Tacos Rigo: a good option for tacos in the hotel zone
• Hanaichi: it is rare that we recommend a Japanese restaurant in Cancun but, given the craving we had, we tried it and it was a great surprise. Impeccable sushi and some of the best gyozas we tried outside of Japan. We repeated.
• Pescaditos: in downtown Cancun, known for its fish dishes such as ceviche.
• Qué Gorditas: good, nice and cheap, here you will find, as the name indicates, gorditas, quesadilllas and burritos with different fillings.
• BaoVegan: a vegan and local restaurant with delicious dishes and good prices, in downtown Cancun.

Recommendations to visit Isla Contoy as a responsible tourist

• Do not be an accomplice to animal abuse: follow the rule “Observe, Do Not Touch“. Do not do any kind of action that may harm the local flora and fauna and if you see someone doing it, report it immediately.
• Be responsible when visiting a place: a large influx of people to a certain site can have a negative impact so respect the rules, do not climb the tree/monument you are visiting, do not paint on the walls, avoid touching and, out of respect for the rest of the people visiting the place, do not make noise or “monopolize” the place with your photos.
• Avoid the use of plastic and do not throw garbage away
• Respect other people: don’t play your music loud, pick up your garbage; don’t throw cigarette butts, etc. Leave the place better than you found it.
• Always travel with travel insurance: medical expenses, theft or problems with your plane on a trip can cost you a lot of money, so the ideal thing is to take out travel insurance. At Randomtrip we always use IATI and we recommend it. If you purchase your insurance through this link you have a 5% discount.

Checklist: what to bring to Isla Contoy

Here is the list of the must-do’s we took on our tour to Isla Contoy:

• International plug adapter such as these as they use type A plugs (those with two flat parallel pins).
• A  reusable water bottle like one of these to carry water with you all the time and void single-use plastic.
• Water Shoes as these ideal to carry always with you to avoid hurting your feet when entering the water or not touching the ground.
• Snorkel kit (mask and snorkel) like this, a must to bring on this trip and contemplate the seabed. Besides being more hygienic because you do not share your snorkel with anyone, in several places they do not rent the equipment and, even if they do rent, with a couple of times you already amortize the price of your own kit.
• Water proof dry bag like this one, very useful to keep your photographic equipment, cell phone and wallet safe from getting wet on the boat (whales sometimes blow near the boat or even hit the water with their fin or tail near the boat, and water can reach the boat).
• UV protection T-shirt like this because in some parts of the Mexican Caribbean it is forbidden or not recommended to use sunscreen / sunblock because its composition damages the marine ecosystem.
• Quick-drying towel such as one of these, which, in addition, does not take up much space in the backpack/suitcase.
• A hat or a cap (like this one) and sunglasses to protect yourself from the sun
• A good camera to register your adventures. At Randomtrip we carry a Sony ZV-E10 and a Gopro Hero12 Black (for underwater pictures)
• A Power bank: taking so many pictures will drain your batteries, so it’s always a good idea to carry a good powerbank. At Randomtrip we travel with these 2 (Anker 20000 mAh and  Anker 10000 mAh), which allow us to charge both our phones and our cameras.
• Sun screen: the sun is strong in Baja California Sur so it is a must to take care of your skin. Always look for a Coral Friendly Sunscreen, i.e. one that protects your skin without harming marine ecosystems by avoiding ingredients such as oxybenzone and octinoxate, which are harmful to corals. Nor that it has been tested on animals.
• Mosquito repellent: like this one, it should have at least 15% deet
• First aid kit: In our first-aid kit there is always a medicine against seasickness (such as biodramine for seasickness on boats), antibiotics, anti-diarrhea medication (and a probiotic to recover more quickly), antihistamines, painkillers and antipyretics and, of course, travel insurance. If you hire your travel insurance with IATI using this link you will get a 5% discount

---

Want to know the last unspoiled paradise of the Mexican Caribbean? Do you have any questions before embarking on this adventure? Leave them in comments!

Disclaimer: Kaankun Tours allowed us to experience the adventure of Isla Contoy in exchange for reporting our experience here on the blog, but all opinions and information expressed in this post are our own.