Isla Contoy is an island off the northeast coast of the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico. The island is a protected nature preserve with restricted access and is a Mexican national park. It is also a Ramsar wetlands, which imposes additional environmental safeguards. Isla Contoy is a popular day trip for travelers in Cancún and Isla Mujeres, though it is best suited to the ecotraveler who understands and appreciates environmental concerns.

Beach at Isla Contoy

Understand

Isla Contoy is home to more than 150 species of tropical birds and 4 endangered species of sea turtle.

History

The island was recognized as an important natural habitat and qualified for federal protection in the early 1960s, but in 1998, it was declared a national park and opened to limited public access.

Landscape

This is a small coastal island with low-lying terrain, sandy soil, and tropical vegetation consisting mostly of coconut palm trees. The coastal dunes are covered in creeping grasses, the mangrove swamp has towering cypress trees. Rocky areas of the shoreline are scattered with small cacti, particularly nopal.

Flora and fauna

Frigate birds are the most common avian species on the island

173 bird species are known to live on Isla Contoy. Some of these are full-time residents (such as the ubiquitous frigate bird), while others are migratory species that fly over the Gulf of Mexico between the United States and Central America. You'll likely spot a few osprey nesting near the shore, and some pelicans swooping over the waves and perching on piers and pylons near the shore.

Climate

The entire Mexican Caribbean area has a constant temperature in the mid 80s (degrees F). The rainy season is summer and fall with tropical storms possible in late summer and early fall. The perfect season to visit is from December to April when it rarely rains and almost every day is sunny and warm. (Unfortunately, everyone in the world knows that so it's also when the most foreign travelers fill the tour boats).

Get in

To protect the natural environment, access to Isla Contoy is strictly limited. Only 200 people per day are permitted to visit the island and only authorized tour boats are allowed to bring visitors to the island. If you want to visit Isla Contoy you need to book a tour with one of the authorized boat operators. This is easily done in Isla Mujeres, Cancun, and Playa del Carmen. The cost of a tour is usually about M$1900 / US$95 (Jan 2023).

Tours are basically the same for all boat operators, they typically include boat transportation to the island, lunch on the beach, and a stop at the Ixchel Reef for snorkling and swimming. Some boats stop on the reef on the way over to Isla Contoy, others on the way back (they split it up so a crowd of boats is not at the reef at the same time). The tour operator will often have a van pick you up at your hotel in the morning to bring you to the docks (possibly at extra charge).

Fees and permits

The park entry fee is M$300 per person. This is not usually included in your tour boat price and is paid in cash at the island.

Get around

Walk on the island, otherwise sit back and go where the boat takes you.

See

A mostly natural, uninhabitated island set aside as a wildlife refuge.

A small nature museum explains the island's ecosystem and its role in conservation of tropical birds and sea turtles.

Do

• Walk the trails on the island and observe the birds. Clouds of frigate birds soar overhead while migratory tropical birds nest in the trees.
• Snorkle the reef when the tour boat stops
• Swim in the clear waters along the sandy beach on Isla Contoy

Buy

Boats that leave from Cancún usually stop on Isla Mujeres so their touts can rope you into souvenir shopping.

Eat

Most tours include lunch and may include food and drink on the boat.

Drink

Bring some bottled water.

Some tour boats include an open bar with beer and mescal at no charge.

Sleep

No lodging or camping is available on the island. Hotels are available in all the nearby resort destinations.

Stay safe

No sunblocks permitted on Isla Contoy

• Sunscreen protects you from harmful radiation, but it destroys fragile reef ecosystems. All sunblock products are banned from Isla Contoy. Some beach areas and tour operators permit reef-safe, biodegradable sunscreens but all products are officially banned at Isla Contoy. Do bring a hat for protection from the sun and take advantage of shady areas.
• Bug repellant is also banned on Isla Contoy, but this is not really an issue since it's a small island and prevailing winds will keep the mosquitos off.
• Dramamine might be useful if you are prone to motion sickness, you'll be on a boat on open waters.

Go next

• Cancun
• Isla Mujeres
• Playa del Carmen
• Tulum