Isla Contoy Where the Caribbean Forgets It Has Visitors

Isla Contoy Where the Caribbean Forgets It Has Visitors

Isla Contoy is a uninhabited island 30 kilometers north of Isla Mujeres, protected as a national park since 1961, and limited to 200 visitors per day. The boat ride from Cancun takes about two hours, and when you arrive at the white sand beach backed by mangroves and coconut palms, the silence is the first thing you notice — the particular quiet of a place where the birds outnumber the humans by a thousand to one.

The snorkeling at the Ixlache reef en route to the island is Caribbean at its best — brain coral, sea fans, and parrotfish in water so clear the bottom looks close enough to touch from the boat. On the island, frigate birds nest in the mangroves in colonies so dense the trees look decorated, and the beach is yours for a few hours of swimming in water the color of a swimming pool that nobody chlorinated.

Practical notes: Book through an authorized operator — only a handful have permits. Tours run daily, weather permitting, and include lunch on the island. Bring reef-safe sunscreen and a snorkel mask. The quota means you should book at least a day ahead.