COSTA / ISLA / PLAYA MUJERES

If action is what you’re seeking an escape from, the “Island of Women,” or Isla Mujeres, is romance at its best. Once known as a sanctuary of the Mayan goddess of love and fertility, Ixchel, here lies unspoiled beaches, quietly luxurious resorts, and lovely restaurants and bars in Playa Norte, accessible by golf carts, mopeds, and bicycles. Even gentle whale sharks retreat to these calm waters during summer, joining the many visitors who take equal advantage of the deep sea fishing available here. Nearby, the tiny, motor-free Isla Holbox also provides tourists with an opportunity to swim with the world’s largest shark, or mingle with flamingos—over 40,000 gather between spring and fall—while Isla Contoy, inhabited only by wildlife and welcoming a mere 200 tourists per day by law, lets visitors see nature the way nature intended.