Isla Mujeres is located off the eastern shore of the Yucatn Peninsula, across the bay of Cancn. When discovered, this small islands beaches were littered with female-gender statues: hence the name, which in English means 'Island of Women.' The locals are fishermen and divers who have lived here for generations. Sunsets are spectacular, a ball of fire going down over the water, setting behind the cityscape of not-so-distant Cancun. Island attractions are many and varied: Garrafon National Park, the Mayan temple, a turtle farm. For dive enthusiasts, there are the offshore reefs of El Farito, Punta Norte and the incomparable Manchones, as well as the Cave of the Sleeping Sharks.
