Contoy Island
How is Isla Contoy (Contoy Island), the last virgin paradise in the Mexican Caribbean. How to get there and what to do in Contoy Island.
About Contoy Island. Location.
Contoy Island is located north of Isla Mujeres, about 30 km away.
It is an island declared a National Park and protected by the Mexican government.
It is called "the last virgin island" that remains in the area, and as you can imagine, the island maintains its ecosystem practically intact.
It is inhabited by different species of the area, both flora and fauna.
With respect to flora, there are almost 100 species of different plants.
And with respect to animal species, the island is a bird sanctuary: different migratory and local birds live on the island.
In addition, there are 14 species of reptiles, as well as marine species such as turtles, manta rays, whale sharks, lobsters, octopuses, and hundreds of other species.
How to get to Isla Contoy?
To get to Isla Contoy, the only option is by sea.
You can take a ferry or rent a boat, but you need to obtain a visitor's permit at the offices of the Secretary of the Environment, since it is a protected area.
In addition, the daily quota to visit the island is 200 people.
Therefore, the best way to visit Isla Contoy is to book a tour or excursion, since they have authorization to visit.
What to do in Contoy Island?
To visit Contoy island is to do ecotourism since the place preserves its virgin nature almost intact.
Before going down to the island, you have to put sunscreen and insect repellent, both have to be biodegradable.
On Contoy Island you can do the following activities:
Contact with nature:
Enjoy flora and fauna of the island, birds, sea turtles and other species of the area.
Contoy Island beach:
Enjoy the virgin beach, with fine white sand and crystal clear waters.
Snorkeling:
The tour includes snorkeling, where you can explore the coral reef, and a variety of species under the sea, such as tropical fish and starfish.
Contoy Island Tour
Most tour operators do the Isla Contoy tour together with Isla Mujeres, so you can plan better, so you can visit both islands in one day.
Here you can see the itinerary of the tour: Cancun Islands Tour (Isla Mujeres & Contoy).