Isla Mujeres is a tiny island with easy access to fun and sun. A short ferry ride from Cancun, Isla Mujeres brings the culture and natural beauty of the Mayan Riviera to life. Consider the boutique amenities, indoor-outdoor lifestyle, and delicious food at Coco B Villas, and a superb vacation or retreat ensues.
Only 4.3 miles in length and a half mile at its widest point, the island offers an array of activities from snorkeling, swimming with dolphins to shopping and visiting the famous park at Punta Sur where the Mayan goddess Ixchel is honored. A perfect place to visit during Women’s History Month or anytime, Coco B Villas offers a warm, yet cool coconut water welcome to Isla Mujeres.
The Indigenous Mayan population settled on the island over 1,500 years ago. Since Punta Sur, the southernmost point of the island, is the first locale in Mexico to receive the sunrise, the local peoples attributed the land to their goddess Ixchel who represented fertility, the cycles of the moon and happiness. Discovered in 1517 by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba, the explorer named this island of women, Isla Mujeres, the island of women, because he found many statues of Ixchel.
Coco B Villas is located on the Sac Bajo peninsula of Isla Mujeres on the calmer, western or leeward side of the island side which is more protected from the prevailing easterly Caribbean trade winds. Coco B hosts its own sea pier.
The four villas boast a balcony in each room to afford stunning vistas at sunrise and sunset. Upon arriving at our Casa Coco room, we headed for the swing chair hanging in our room. Bright flower paintings graced the wall and melded with the nautical décor. The inside-outside sensibility of life at Coco B is addictive.
When you meet Jeffrey and Bridget Alan, the owners of Coco B, you immediately understand how the villas resemble pages in a luxury architecture design magazine. Both Alans spent years in the Seattle commercial real estate market bringing satisfaction to clients in their work environments.
After vacationing on the Maya Riviera from Cancun to Tulum, the Alans had an epiphany when they visited Isla Mujeres.
“Discovering Isla was a game changer and life changer for us. We had searched for a place where we wanted to be, and we found it on Isla. We sold our Seattle homes to live on the island and share the lifestyle of Isla with our guests,” said co-owner Jeffrey Alan.
As naturals in the hospitality business, they opened the first villa, Encantada, ten years ago and have expanded to three more. Each room manifests unique interior design reflecting textures of the island such as macramé and shells. The curated art collection blends modern vistas to traditional forms. Custom tiles made by local artisans adorn the villas. Gorgeous vistas of the turquoise sea and Cancun awaited in the large suites. The Alans continue to live part time on Isla Mujeres and in Austin where their daughter Coco continues to study.
On to the rooftop terraces of the villas. These thatch-roofed decks are ideal for yoga or exercise classes or enjoying the Caribbean views. During our stay, we relaxed during a sound bath meditation experience with Stacey Dixon. The variation and rhythm of the sounds relaxed us to the point where my husband fell asleep. Her programs in Isla Mujeres also include yoga, and she frequently practices in the rooftop terrace space for Coco B villa guests.
With the compact number of rooms ranging from four to ten, access to an infinity pool, private beaches and rooftop decks, the villas serve groups well, albeit for family and corporate events, fitness and yoga gatherings, and culinary wellness programs. Though Coco B specializes in group rentals, there are periodic hotel-style room offers.
Each villa rental includes the services of a personal chef to prepare casual or gourmet meals with regional specialties and continental menus. Highlights of the breakfast food were the lobster Benedicts which everyone appeared to order on the first morning. My husband raved about the well-prepared avocado toast. One could forget that the chia pudding was healthy and regard it as dessert.
The first afternoon we had an informative and delectable cooking class with Lucia di Cesare, a Registered Holistic Nutritionist. Along with roasted poblano peppers stuffed with a thick and creamy, non-dairy cauliflower sauce, the steamed cauliflower “ceviche” bowls bowled everyone over. A Sauvignon Blanc from Baja, Calif. was an excellent pairing with the lunch. The next day we had a lovely island lunch featuring shrimp quinoa bowl.
After a diverse tapas buffet and cocktails, the dinner on the last evening took a Mexican-inflected turn on continental favorite surf ‘n turf. A tasty mulato chile (dried poblano) sauce topped the grilled beef filet and lobster with an orange and chamoy (pickled fruit) sauce.
The desserts of chocolate lava cake and avocado pudding were especially delicious made with Mexican chocolate.
The island boasts many restaurants such as Limón and Los Tacos De Humo. We dined downtown at Lola Valentina, a15-minute taxi ride away on Avenida Miguel Hidalgo, the main shopping and dining district.
We sipped creative cocktails and then moved on to a variety of freshly prepared shrimp or beef tacos. Guacamole, usually a standard side, excelled with the inclusion of bacon and radish.
The next day when we golf carted on our own to Avienda Hidalgo and throughout our stay, we felt safe on Isla Mujeres. The small island houses a Mexican Navy base which is at the ready to respond to any issues. The island is known as one of the safest destinations in Mexico.
Concierge services at Coco B are exceptional. The concierge can secure a kayak or share their favorite spots to snorkel and explore the island. They will lend a golf cart if available. Locals are the primary car drivers; visitors usually bike, taxi, borrow or rent golf carts. Between activities, we lounged at the Casa Coco pool.
An hour’s walk or a 10-minute golf cart ride from Coco B Villas, Punta Sur is the island’s southernmost point and top destination. We shopped at the craft shops outside the park entrance and watched iguanas slither around. Along with the unique species of iguana, the island is known for birdwatching. There is also a lower-level path to view the multi-shades of the blue-green sea.
The main path to the Mayan ruins of Ixchel worship holds colorful statues by international artists which portray the history and heroes of Isla Mujeres. Two statues honor Ixchel including one with a crescent moon, a symbol of her prowess. Since the sun rises first in Mexico at Punta Sur, the spot is popular at sunrise on Sundays for short Mayan ceremonies, yoga, or meditation groups.
Nearby Punta Sur, Garrafon Natural Reef Park offers many fun activities for an entrance fee. The entertainment center offers zip lining, kayaking, snorkeling in a section of the second largest coral wall after Australia. For other water adventures, the MUSA (Museo Subacuático de Arte) features an underwater sculpture garden with 500 life-size sculptures of people, animals and more envisioned as an artificial reef to promote plant and coral growth.
There are many private charters including catamaran tours, The Coco B concierges can offer recommendations for tours to swim with dolphins or with the harmless whale sharks. We took a private boat ride around the island and sailed by Playa Norte, the popular white-sand beach which looked tempting.
After only a few days, we felt the island paradise vibe we have only experienced on more widely known on places such as St. Thomas. Coco B Villas offers this opportunity to refresh and revitalize the mindset and much more. Daniel, one of the concierges, makes delicious chocolates which grace the bed every evening. I still dream of the morning tropical fruits and lobster Benedicts along with the creative salsas, fresh carrot dips and seafood.
With our last glimpse of Coco B, we began calling the island by its nickname “Isla” like the residents.
Photos by Deborah Grossman