It was a rainy day in San Pancho, so we decided to head to our favorite restaurant to use the Wi-Fi. While enjoying our turkey sandwiches, we got a FaceTime call from one of our travel buddies:
“Hey guys, want to meet up at the end of January?”
“Sure! Where?”
“Yucatan area?”
“Yep, let’s make it happen!”
Just like that, the planning to meet up with our best travel friends began. We first met Bernie and Toni-Lee in the western desert of Siwa, Egypt, back in 2011. We hit it off instantly, and the long, 8-hour desert ride was filled with lively conversation.
Since then, we’ve met up with Bernie and Toni-Lee in seven different countries: Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Nepal, Mexico, China, and Canada. Meeting people and forming bonds while traveling is truly incredible, so when Bernie called, we knew we had to make the effort to get together again, this time in southern Mexico.
Back in 2014, during our trip around the Yucatan area, we heard about Isla Mujeres but opted for Holbox Island instead. This time, we didn’t want to miss out on Isla Mujeres, also known as the Island of Women. Just to clarify, it doesn’t mean the island is filled with women; that’s simply the Spanish translation.
It had been 17 days since we last swam in the ocean, and although we loved the colonial cities of Guadalajara, Guanajuato, and Mexico DF, the white sands and clear waters were calling us. We flew from Mexico City down to Cancun, and getting to the island from the city was straightforward. We headed to Puerto Juarez, bought return ferry tickets for 146 pesos each ($10 USD), and enjoyed the swift, 25-minute ferry ride over the turquoise water to the island.
As we shouldered our heavy backpacks and stepped onto the dock, excitement washed over us. There’s just something about the beach—especially the Caribbean—that we absolutely love. We hurried to our guesthouse, Hotel Las Palmas, eager to meet up with our friends.
A note and hand-drawn map awaited us: “I’m at the beach, Bernie is diving, see you soon! Love, Toni.” We quickly changed into our bathing suits and headed to the stunning Playa Norte (North Beach). Despite the beach being packed with people, its beauty shone through. White sands, beach bars, palm trees, and crystal-clear, warm, shallow waters made it perfect for swimming. We eventually found Toni, greeted her with big hugs, and picked up right where we left off in Canada the previous year.
The following week felt like a holiday. We lounged on the beach, enjoyed delicious local and western food, and strolled along the streets and waterside promenade. The cement walkway was perfect for a run or an evening walk.
Nick and Bernie, dive buddies since Egypt, were thrilled to reunite underwater. The scuba diving was fantastic, boasting visibility of 20-30 meters. They saw many fish, lobsters, turtles, and eagle rays. Nick even logged his 65th dive!
We explored the island in a golf cart, the preferred mode of transportation. After leaving the bustling north end, the roads were practically empty. We visited a turtle sanctuary (which felt more like a zoo), a beautiful church with glass windows, a colorful cemetery, and Punta Sur, the southernmost tip of the island. Here, we enjoyed a picnic with guacamole and tostadas, pasta salad with veggies and tuna, hardboiled eggs, and cantaloupe. The food, company, and views were all wonderful.
Punta Sur is the southernmost point of the island and the easternmost point in Mexico. If we stood there in the morning, we’d be the first to see the sunrise in the country—but we all knew that wasn’t happening!
We are, however, big fans of sunsets. For some reason, the beach cleared out during this time, leaving just us and a couple of locals to enjoy the sun setting behind Cancun in the distance.
After a week of beach lounging, tasty food, and perhaps too many margaritas, it was time to move on. We spent one last night together in Cancun before parting ways. I wonder where in the world we’ll meet up next!