Never been, so where is it safe to eat and drink on the island, don't wanna get sick. Also Is topfree ok there? Any Isla info is appreciated, thanks!!
We have been to Isla a few times and have eaten at many places downtown including street meat. All has been good and we have never gotten sick. Especially good was the Poc Choc which was seasoned pork from a little hole in the wall place.
went last year for the 1st time ate, drank, and had a good time. Never got sick. As for topless If i remember right it was ok to do so but most women didn't.
There's a couple of decent waterfront places just to the left as you get off the ferry. Many little spots scattered around the downtown shopping area too. But the best meal I had while I was there was the fish tacos at Jax's Bar and Grill. Turn left on the street as you get off the ferry and walk two or three blocks to the corner. You can't miss it. Decent food prices and 60 pesos for a bucket of beers. (as of Feb. '10) And I spent six days on the island, saw most all the sights, but never noticed any ladies going topless. Not to say that it couldn't or shouldn't be done.
Isla tends to be a family holiday place. But, you do see the occasional woman topless, it's just not a big part of the scene there. Isla is a nice place to visit, with great sunsets, fine powdery white sand, excellent restaurants, and the charm of one or more authentic Mexican villages.
It's only in the last couple of years that the number of topless women on Isla has declined. You used to see a lot more when the island was more of a European destination of choice. There was actually a sign at the Maria del Mar entrance to Playa Norte with a bikini top hanging from it suggesting (in a funny way) that women leave their tops off when entering the beach. Every year we see fewer and fewer topless women, but they do still appear now and again. As for food, lots of great restaurants, wouldn't worry about getting sick.
Because Cancun is a "new" city, just 40 or so years old, there is little that could be called "charming" about it, but Isla gives us a taste of Mexican village life, which is nice, being just a 20 minute ferry ride away. We were there last night, having a fine meal on the beach at Sunset Bar and Grill, watching the night unfold, with the ferry ride there and back reminding us of why we chose Cancun in the first place- the proximity to the Caribbean.
I think only us "uptight American's" would think that topless disqualifies a beach from being family friendly... "If God thought that nudity was OK, we would have been born naked." -Ignorant American :icon_mrgreen:
I don't know if it's just "uptight" Americans, Life. Mexicans for the most part seem to have a rather keenly developed sense of modesty (at least that's my impression). Around the world it seems to be Europeans most prone to throwing off their clothes (wasn't the bikini invented there?). I've always forgiven them, sun being in short supply in their part of the world. ____________________
Thanks for the replies!! Are there any small places to eat and drink or are the restaurants mostly large,sit down type? We were thinking of going to a few places to sample the local cuisine and see the island, along with renting a golf cart. Thanks again!!
