This is a great time for people living in Cancun to visit Isla Mujeres. Low season rates mean a range of places are available for 400 pesos, and less, per couple, per night (a/c, cable TV, ensuite, near north beach). Beaches and restaurants are largely deserted. Those who work there have more time to chat, so you can get to know them a little better. A few businesses have closed, owing to low season, but your business is well appreciated by those who remain open. My wife and I spent 24 hours on the island Fri-Sat. It cost us just 1,400 MXN, transport included, eating and drinking where we will, what we will.
Playa Norte, Isla Ah, Rivergirl, first time I ever saw Playa Norte was Feb, this year, so I can't answer your question (perhaps it was even better, before), but it's a delight, especially in the early morning hours when it's deserted, the sea calm, and everything is bathed in a pink glow.... ___________________ I've liked it there since I first saw it, and for those living in Cancun, it offers an amazing transformation in environment- from big city, to village; from concrete and traffic, to sand and sea. Standing in the center of the village at the north end, you can see the sea looking east, or looking west. The rocky coastline of the east side of the island offers a nice contrast with the sandy, north and west sides. One of our pleasures is sitting on the east coast in the early evening, watching the cruise ships slowly make their way north from Cozumel, to Florida- reminding us how we were introduced to this part of the world.
Before Wilma it was BIG. Then when they rebuilt Cancun's beaches they used the sand from offshore north of Playa Norte as the source. And then Playa Norte lost most of it's sand. But I think it has been gradually coming back in the last year.
UPDATE ON BEACHES We just returned from an overnight visit to Isla Mujeres. While I've always found the Playa Norte there to be very beautiful, with wide beaches, extremely soft white sand, and clear Caribbean waters, on this visit the beaches were reduced by 50% and had quite a lot of sea grass on them. I spoke with Brock, a Canadian and long-term resident there. He said that while Hurricane Ida was responsible for the sea grass being on the beach, it was not responsible for the loss of beach area. He went on to explain that the loss of beach was an annual affair, lasting a few weeks, a result of a "north wind" which, he said, tended to blow in November. He added that this process had already reached its limit and the beaches were again being built up, naturally, and would be fully restored in a few weeks, if past experience was a guide. Felipe Biermann, owner of the Sunset Bar and Grill, confirmed the information that Brock had supplied about the beaches. He also said wedding related businesses were now showing signs of a full recovery, at Isla. And, there certainly were a good many more people there, now, than there were a month ago, many of whom he said were part of large wedding parties. Looks like the good times may be slowly returning to our part of the world! For those who may be interested, the very low season promotions are still in effect, many places. We stayed at the Cabanas Maria del Mar, where a room with a balcony and sea view cost 560 pesos for two persons, including breakfast served on the beach. There are other decent places to stay near North Beach, now costing even less than this.
