We are back in Merida and after 1400km of trouble free driving we've handed the car back and hopped on a very comfortable ADO bus bound for Cancun 4 hours away. At Cancun, a short taxi journey sees us to the port and minutes later we're on a fast ferryboat across to Isla Mujeres ( Ladies Island ) where we'll spend the last 4 nights before heading home.

The island is a very touristy place, the most touristy place we've been on our whole trip, but much less glitzy than Cancun just 18 minutes by boat across the water. The streets are lined with souvenir shops and inviting restaurants and the beaches on the east are clean with pure white sand next to the azure sea. The other side of the island, just a few hundred metres away is equally blue and the shores are rocky and bashed by big waves coming in from the open sea.
Despite the amount of tourist activity, our hotel is very quiet and our room is one of the very few we've had with a fridge so we stock up with fresh fruit.. the mangos here are delicious.

On one of our more active days, we hire a scooter and stop off at various points around the coast. One of these stops is at a turtle hatchery which breeds and releases endangered leatherback turtle back to the wild. Another stop is at an old "Hacienda" worth a visit so it said in the guide book. This is a tiny semi-ruinous neglected building with a door and a window and a few faded photographs. The gardens haven't recovered from the last hurricane and we are both left wondering why we have come here. Even the fat iguanas look surprised to have visitors. The only negative tourist visit we've had and ironically in the most to touristy place. That must say something! That apart, the beaches are stunning and the bars and restaurants all very inviting so Isla Mujeres is a good choice of location for the last few days and just an hour by ferry/taxi/bus to Cancun Airport.