CityBuddy
Cueva de los Tiburones
Best time to visit
Go early between 8:00 and 10:00 AM when the sharks are most active and tour groups haven't arrived yet. Weekdays are significantly less crowded than weekends.
Budget tips
Entry costs about 120 pesos per person (roughly $6 USD), cash only. Skip pricey tour packages and take a golf cart or taxi from Isla Mujeres center instead.
Recommended for
Adventure travelers, Wildlife enthusiasts, Snorkelers and swimmers, Photography lovers
Plan your visit
1-2 hours
About
Quick facts: Home to dozens of nurse sharks that swim in crystal-clear shallow waters, this natural inlet connects directly to the Caribbean Sea through underground channels. The sharks here are non-aggressive bottom-dwellers that grow up to 14 feet long, yet they spend most of their day resting peacefully in the warm, sandy shallows.
Highlights: Unlike anywhere else in the Caribbean, you can stand waist-deep in turquoise water while nurse sharks glide between your legs without any cages or barriers between you. The inlet's unique geography creates a natural nursery where these sharks return year after year, some recognizable by their distinct markings and scars.
Insider tips
- Wear water shoes with good grip, the rocky seabed can be slippery and sharp on bare feet.
- Bring a GoPro or waterproof phone case, the shallows offer incredible underwater photo opportunities in the morning light.
- Avoid wearing shiny jewelry or bright colored swimsuits, these can attract unwanted curiosity from the sharks.
- Park your golf cart at the main lot and walk the last 200 meters, the road gets extremely sandy and bumpy near the entrance.
Practical info
Where to Stay in Isla Mujeres
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