The most beautiful and clean beaches in the Mexican Cancuna area are the beaches of Isla Blanca. But they are not located in Cancún itself, but on the continental part of the neighboring municipality of Isla Mujeres. On the way to Isla Blanca you first pass Costa Mujeres — an area almost entirely built up with fir trees and villas, where there are also many beautiful beaches, but access to them is difficult. Then the fences from the trees disappear, and you are able to go almost to the sea — this is the beginning of Isla Blanca. The area is located approximately 30 km from the center of Cancúna. A 9-kilometer sandy road passes through it, ending about 6 km from the northern tip of the peninsula.
Actually, Isla Blanca, although translated as «White Island», is a long sand spit, attached to the mainland by a thin strip of land and extending into the ocean. Often during tropical storms or hurricanes, the sea floods the narrowest part, creating an island out of the spit — from here the name «island». «White» — This is from a reference to the color of the sand. The tourist infrastructure here is developed situationally, even the road is poor, but here it is very beautiful and always uncrowded. There are no traffic jams, no high-rise hotels, no loud nightclubs. Instead, you'll find a wide strip of white sand along the peninsula's ocean coast, empty except for a few rustic beach clubs and the occasional beachgoer. It gets more crowded only on weekends. The coast is known for its steady winds (November to June) and shallow waters, which attract fishermen and kiteboarders.
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Length of beaches in Isla Blanca — more than 20 km, in other words about the same as the Cancúna Hotel Zone. Most are unnamed and quite wild, and access may be difficult due to long sections of barbed wire fencing. While the beach itself is legally public, the land between the road and the beach is mostly private, although there may be a passage through it to the beach. And you need to find this passage! There are no parking spaces as such, therefore everyone leaves their cars on the roads leading from the highway to the beach, and then walks further. Where you slow down, advertisements for various “parking lots” will be thrust into your window. You will have to pay 50-100 pesos to locals for parking. We heard that sometimes they ask for 200 pesos, but this is arrogance. The first paid parking — behind Riu Dunamar, where the asphalt ends and the dirt road begins. They charge 100 pesos for parking. But to be honest, being located right next to the village is not appreciated, because the beaches will be better further on. Under any circumstances, first find a passage or passage to any beach, go take a look, and then you’ll figure it out.
Isla Blanca has a few simple beach clubs with sun loungers and umbrellas. Their menu is most often very primitive and consists of beer and freshly caught fish dishes. Look for hand-drawn signs along the road pointing to beach clubs. The best is Cabañas Playa Blanca (Pirata Morgan) with a well-kept beach, shade from a palapa (straw umbrella) and even electricity after sunset.
Among the travel services offered in Isla Blanca, we mention scuba diving, kayaking, kitesurfing, and cycling.
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If you're visiting the beaches of Isla Blanca for the whole day, you should consider stocking up on water and provisions. Cellular connection works intermittently — plan ahead if you need to return to the city. Take cash only; credit cards are not accepted anywhere in Isla Blanca.
You can bring your dog with you, since no one controls access to live animals on the beaches of Isla Blanca.
By car
The easiest way to get to Isla Blanca — You can get there by car yourself. From Cancun, head north on Avenida Bonampac, through Puerto Juarez. The road will initially be paved, passing through a number of beach resorts, before becoming a sand road to Isla Blanca.
There are no gas stations on Isla Blanca. Don't drive off the packed sandy road to avoid getting stuck. Calling a tow truck in Isla Blanca is difficult and expensive. Observe the speed limit (60 km), as the police patrol the road from time to time in search of carefree «generous» violators.
By public transport
Alternatively, you can reach the beaches of Isla Blanca by colectivo, public transport minibuses. From Canun they start from the intersection of Avenida Tulum and Avenida Lopez Partillo, an area known as Crucero. The stop is located approximately between the intersection itself and Farmacia Canto, towards Puerto Juarez.
The minibuses are red with white stripes, numbered IMR-1 and sign «Isla Blanca» front. The stated time from the board of Isla Blanca — 7:00, 11:00 and 16:00, back — at 7:30, 11:30 and 16:30. But we know for sure that this schedule is incomplete, since we went at other times. The minibuses fill up very quickly, so it's best to arrive early. Price of travel — 30 pesos one way, travel time — 45 minutes — 1 hour