Isla Mujeres

History

There are two versions about the origin of the name "Isla Mujeres":

One of them says that during the 15th century, the island was a sanctuary dedicated to Ixchel, the Mayan goddess of fertility, love, reason, medicine and the moon. According to this version, the Spaniards gave their present name to the island when they found on it a temple with Mayan goddess statues. The temple was located at the South point of the island and was also use as the lighthouse.

The second legend maintains that the island served like refuge for the pirates who during their excursions kidnapped women. One of them, Fermín Mundaca, builds on the island a property in which he lived with the woman he was in love with. The ashes of that construction are a memory of those times.