Isla Contoy insider tips
Located at the confluence of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, only 30km from Isla Mujeres, this small island of less than 9km long is the oldest national park in the state of Quintana Roo. It is a protected area that shelters the most important nesting place of marine birds in the whole Caribbean zone of Mexico. Here are some Isla Contoy insider tips.
There are also 10 nesting points of turtles: among them, the Loggerhead, the Hawksbill and the Dermatemys mawii. There are 7 saltwater lagoons on the island, only one of which is accessible to visitors, the Laguna Azul.
Nobody lives here, except for some biologists and coast guards.
The snorkeling
The activity is nice in itself, because the water is really magnificent in the region. You can see corals, fishes and even statues.
The problem: the fact of being surrounded by other groups and thus having to evolve in a tight way in the water not to lose the guide takes away a touch of charm. The same goes for the fact of feeding the fishes so that they come closer and can better observe them.
But the sun is shining, the water is refreshing, and the place is heaven.
Rules to observe on Contoy
- no smoking
- no touching of fauna or flora
- no sun cream
How to get to Contoy?
As Isla Contoy is a protected island, only a few companies have the permit to go there. The boat departures are from Cancun and Isla Mujeres.
There are also excursions to Contoy from Playa del Carmen, which will take you by van to Cancun to join the boat.
From Playa del Carmen: an organized tour costs 110$usd (2090 $MXN) per person and includes transportation by van to Cancun and back (1h30), port tax, a very simple breakfast (coffee and sweet bread at the port), the boat trip with open bar and small snacks, snorkeling equipment, a meal in Contoy, and a stop in Isla Mujeres It is also possible to go there with a private boat, but it is then necessary to make a preliminary request for a permit in one of the offices, either in Cancun or Isla Mujeres.
Isla Contoy insider tips: A short visit to Isla Mujeres
Before returning to Cancun, the boat stops on its way to Isla Mujeres for a free visit. Isla Mujeres, “the island of women” owes its name to the Mayan temple dedicated to Ixchel, goddess of fertility, discovered on the island. Today, it is a tourist destination where vacationers go to enjoy the beaches, snorkeling and diving spots.
This is definitely not the atmosphere of Contoy: here there are small resorts, a small airport and a harbor capable of accommodating several boats. But fortunately, it is still a human-sized island, charming, which has not been completely transformed, modernized, to accommodate tourism.
