Following earlier predictions that pointed to Cancun almost selling out for the winter season, Isla Mujeres has just been confirmed as the second municipality in Mexico about to reach maximum occupancy in the coming months. This means if you’re planning on vacationing in the recluse, paradisaical destination, you should get the credit card out now.
Winter is the most-anticipated period for Mexican Caribbean tourism when sun-deprived Americans flock to the region to escape their harsh weather conditions. This year, however, it will not only be simply ‘busy’ as usual: a record number of travelers are expected with more than 9 million airline seats available, though most have already been claimed.
Being home to stunning beaches and lacking Tulum’s Instagram hordes, Mujeres has been getting a fair share of attention lately:
Mujeres Municipality Has Reached Up To 85% Occupancy Throughout 2022
This is not a mere conjecture. According to José Jesús Castillo Magaña, local director of Economic Development and Tourism, Mujeres will have a ‘very strong year-end’, with occupancy reaching ‘almost 100 percent throughout the municipality’, which includes both the island itself and continental areas. Of course, that is based on current booking trends.
As we move into the colder months, we can surely expect a further increase in reservations, meaning there is no easy way to predict when rooms, or even airplane seats, will sell out. Thus, travelers are best advised to book their vacations immediately while there is still availability. Since the wider reopening of Mexico, Isla Mujeres has maintained high occupancy levels.
On average, hotels on the island have reached up to 85 percent capacity throughout 2022, though some months saw even higher levels of 88 or 93 percent, as reported by Mr. Magaña himself. In his view, the island’s successful promotion campaign, its extensive list of attractions, and the quality of services provided were key elements in boosting its growth.
Additionally, security concerns have been driving tourists away from the traditional vacation hotspots of Cancun and Playa del Carmen, where occasional shootings have been known to take place in suburban areas. Although violent acts rarely involve tourists, overcautious visitors may have already made up their minds about skipping those this year.
Isla Mujeres, on the other hand, has historically reported fewer incidents, and local authorities’ zero-tolerance policy when it comes to crime has consolidated its success. At present, the U.S. Department of State is only advising Americans to ‘exercise increased situational awareness’ after dark and suggesting they remain in ‘well-lit pedestrian streets and tourist zones’.
What Makes Isla Mujeres So Appealing To Americans?
Cancun International is the main entry point into the Riviera Maya, serving as a transit hub for millions whose final destinations are other smaller vacation hubs along the coast that do not have their own airport. The list is incredibly extensive and features the household names of Tulum, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Morelos, and of course, Isla Mujeres.
As a 12,000+ people-strong insular community 13 miles off the Cancun coast and served almost exclusively by ferries, it relies heavily on the city’s strong connectivity to fill hotel rooms – though historically, that has been part of the reason why it is so popular among U.S. vacationers. After all, it is one of the most easily-reachable islands in the Mayan World.
It is also particularly favored by Americans in want of some more peace and quiet when visiting Mexico, especially now that the coastline is once more being overrun by tourists. This is particularly true in Tulum, where over-development and the constant influx of foreigners have proved detrimental to the town’s original Mayan character.
Lastly, Mujeres currently occupies the runner-up slot on CN Traveler‘s ranking of the top five islands in North America, proving it is trendier than ever, and similarly to other coastal gems in Mexico, it should easily surpass its 2019 tourism peak, both due to its proximity to Cancun, and the fact that not all Americans landing at this airport remain in the city.
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