Isla Contoy, Riviera Maya - all you need to know

Isla Contoy is an uninhabited island and a protected national park, situated approximately 30 km north of Isla Mujeres.

Unlike most of the islands around Cancún, you won’t find any hotels, restaurants, shops or regular ferry services here.

You can only reach the island as part of an organised tour with an authorised operator. The number of visitors is limited to 200 per day.

We recommend Isla Contoy as one of the best day trips from Cancún and Isla Mujeres. The main attraction is not the snorkelling or the range of activities, but the protected natural environment, the turquoise sea and the chance to see a coastline free from hotels and extensive tourist infrastructure.

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What is Isla Contoy

This narrow island is approximately 8 km long and just under a kilometre at its widest point. It has been protected as a national park since 1998.

Isla Contoy lies in the area where the waters of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico meet.

Thanks to its rich waters, mangroves, lagoons and the absence of permanent settlements, it is one of the most important nesting sites for seabirds in the Mexican Caribbean.

To the south of the island lies the Ixlaché coral reef, which forms part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System.

Things to do on Isla Contoy

The itinerary for each trip varies, but usually includes the following activities.

Snorkelling on the Ixlaché reef

Snorkelling at the Ixlaché reef usually takes place before arrival or after departure.

The activity lasts approximately 40 minutes, and equipment and a lifejacket are usually included in the price.

Snorkelling is subject to weather and sea conditions. In strong winds, the operator may cancel this part of the trip without cancelling the whole excursion.

Island tour

Upon arrival, you can set off on a short guided tour. The routes follow marked trails through the coastal vegetation, to the lagoon, the visitor centre and the viewpoints.

Don’t expect a hike lasting several hours or the chance to explore the whole island on your own. Only a small part of Isla Contoy is accessible, and venturing off the marked trails is prohibited.

Swimming and the beach

You’ll spend most of your time on the light sandy beach by the jetty. The water is usually shallow, calm and ideal for swimming.

There are no sun loungers or a traditional beach bar on the beach. Simple shelters providing shade are available.

Lunch

Most trips include a lunch prepared right on the island. The most common dishes are Tikin Xic fish, grilled chicken, rice, salad and side dishes.

Drinks, water and sometimes beer are usually included in the price. If you require a vegetarian meal or any other special dietary requirements, please book in advance. The choice available on site is very limited.

How to get to Isla Contoy

There is no public ferry service to Isla Contoy, and you cannot visit the island independently. Access is only possible with an authorised operator and a certified guide.

Trips usually set sail from the following locations:

Departure point	Total duration	Our verdict
Isla Mujeres	6 hours	The shortest and most comfortable option
Punta Sam and Costa Mujeres	7 to 9 hours	An excellent choice if you’re staying north of Cancún
Cancún and Puerto Juárez	7 to 9 hours	The widest selection of organised excursions
Puerto Morelos and Playa del Carmen	10 hours	Expect a longer transfer
Akumal and Tulum	12 hours	An unnecessarily long day – consider spending the night in Cancún
Bacalar	A day trip doesn’t make sense	Stay overnight in Cancún or on Isla Mujeres first

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How much does a trip to Isla Contoy cost

A standard organised trip costs around 150 usd per person.

Offers including a hotel transfer from Playa del Carmen or Tulum tend to be more expensive.

The official national park entrance fee is 225 mxn per person. On some trips this is included in the price, whilst others charge a combined port and conservation fee on arrival 20 usd – payable in cash only.

Also, be wary of offers where you only pay a deposit via the booking portal. The remainder of the price may be required in cash upon arrival at the boat.

Before booking, always check:

whether the price includes entry to the national park
whether a harbour fee is payable on site
whether a hotel transfer is included
where the boat actually departs from
whether lunch and drinks are included
what the cancellation policy is in the event of bad weather

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What the full-day trip involves

We went on a trip from Isla Mujeres and describe our whole day in a separate article: Our trip to Isla Contoy.

Isla Contoy or Isla Mujeres?

The two islands are completely different and should not be confused with one another.

	Isla Contoy	Isla Mujeres
Character	Protected natural area	Tourist and inhabited island
Access	Organised trips only	Regular ferries
Accommodation	Not available	Wide choice of hotels
Restaurants and shops	None	Centre of the island
Main attraction	Nature, birds and the beach	Playa Norte, the town and Punta Sur
Recommended duration	One organised trip	At least a full day

Don’t treat an hour-long stopover on Isla Mujeres as a proper visit to the island. In that time, you’ll only manage to walk through part of the town centre, buy some souvenirs or pop over to Playa Norte for a short while.

If you want to really get to know Isla Mujeres, set aside a whole day for it or stay overnight. Choose a combined trip mainly for the sake of Isla Contoy.

Beaches and sargassum

The beach used by visitors lies on the western side of the island and tends to be quieter than the east-facing beaches along the Riviera Maya.

Isla Contoy tends to have fewer problems with sargassum than Tulum, Playa del Carmen or the east coast of Cancún.

As a result, Isla Contoy is usually completely free of sargassum, even during the peak season when it appears everywhere.

A major advantage remains the absence of hotel developments, beach clubs and loud music. However, the island may not seem entirely deserted, as all organised groups use the same limited visitor area.

When to visit Isla Contoy

The national park can be visited all year round. However, your trip will be heavily influenced by the weather, wind and sea conditions.

The weather is usually most stable from December to April. However, a north wind is common in January, which can cause harbours to close.

From May to October, there is a greater likelihood of showers, storms and rough seas. Even during this period, however, it does not rain every day and trips usually go ahead as planned.

If a closed harbour prevents the boat from reaching Isla Contoy, the operator should offer an alternative date or a refund. However, simply missing out on snorkelling due to rough seas does not usually entitle you to a refund for the entire trip.

National Park Rules

Stricter rules apply on Isla Contoy than on ordinary beaches.

Stay only on the marked trails and with a guide.
Do not touch the corals or marine life.
Smoking is not permitted on the island.
Do not use drones.
Do not enter restricted areas of the island.
Do not litter and minimise your use of single-use plastics.
Do not use loudspeakers or play loud music.
Follow the instructions of guides and park rangers.

The use of sun cream and insect repellent may be prohibited, even for products labelled as biodegradable.

The best protection is a T-shirt with UV protection, a hat, sunglasses and light clothing that covers your skin.

There may be mosquitoes in the mangroves and along the trails. As the use of insect repellent may be restricted, please bring light, long-sleeved clothing.

Facilities and services on the island

We describe what it was like and what we took with us on the trip inour detailed article‘Our trip to Isla Contoy’.

Is a visit to Isla Contoy worth it?

Isla Contoy is well worth a visit if you want to see a protected island with no hotels, roads or the usual tourist infrastructure. We recommend the trip to lovers of nature, beaches, photography and birdwatching.

It makes the most sense if you’re staying in Cancún, Costa Mujeres or on Isla Mujeres. It’s still quite feasible from Playa del Carmen, but the journey takes practically the whole day.

Where to stay before the trip

The most practical base is Isla Mujeres, as the boat journey is shortest from there. Cancún or Costa Mujeres are also good options, as they offer the widest selection of day trips and hotel transfers.