Have you ever visited Garrafón Park in Isla Mujeres? This Natural Park is located in Quintana Roo, Mexico. Its greatest treasure is what its calm and beautiful waters hide since it is recognized for being a Reef Park, where you can do many activities such as snorkeling, zip lines, kayaking, and temazcal, among other activities such as excursions in the area that will make you enjoy this dream place.

But before telling you about the magnificent experience that you can have in this reef park, we will talk a little about Isla Mujeres.

What Is Special About Isla Mujeres?

It is the typical question asked by someone who has not visited this paradise because if they had, they would not even consider it.

Isla Mujeres is considered one of the 121 magical towns in all of Mexico. And why is it a Magic Town? It is called this way because the legends and symbols of the place continue to be preserved for generations, which is why these towns are steeped in history and are of great tourist interest for those who seek to immerse themselves in the roots of Mexican culture and thus discover Mexico from its origins.

In this way, Isla Mujeres is a beautiful town for all those who want to do cultural tourism. But it is not easy to get the title of Magic Town since it was not achieved until 2015 along with Tulum; in the state, only one Pueblo Mágico (Bacalar) had achieved it nine years ago.

The qualities that it has that make it so special and deserving of being a Magical Town are:

• The respect that processes ecosystems, as well as their care.
• The incredible cliffs of Punta Sur.
• The beautiful sunrises and sunsets that it offers us.
• The hospitality and friendliness of the locals.
• The archaeological remains of the Goddess Ixchel. That she was the Mayan Goddess of fertility.
• Garrafón Park, a reef park. Banderas Reef is one of the closest and has enormous coral and marine life.

Some Historical Data That You Should Know Before Visiting Isla Mujeres

The history of this island goes back to the years 564 and 1516 A.C. It was a sanctuary where offerings were offered to the Goddess Ixchel. When the Mayan civilization disappeared, it was an island where pirates, smugglers, and enslaved people traded.

In 1517, the Spanish arrived and found figures of women, a temple, and many gold objects. During this time and until the 19th century, the locals were engaged in agriculture and fishing, living in harmony with nature.

Starting in the 19th century, the island became a tourist destination and began to grow, building the first hotel in 1964. The island attracted many tourists for its great cultural appeal and for the territory where the reef park is currently located.

If you want to know more about Isla Mujeres, one of the most interesting cultural facts is the worship they render to the Goddess Ixchel, the Mayan Goddess of fertility, to whom they dedicated a temple. We can still find its remains in the area. Did you know that the name Isla Mujeres is related to the temple of the Goddess Ixchel?

The Goddess Ixchel is a female figure revered as the Goddess of the moon and to whom the figure of fertility and motherhood is associated. Every year the women of all the towns embarked in canoes to worship her figure so that she would give her blessings. During these trips, the girls who visited the island as a ritual to go from girl to woman made figures of women as a tribute to the Goddess, thus making them fertile. When the Spanish found all these figures of women, they named the island after her. Interesting right?

Parque Garrafón, The Reef Park In Isla Mujeres

In addition to the activities that can be carried out in the Garrafón Park complex, this reef park also offers excursions, such as the Aluxes trail, which consists of a walk towards the Punta Sur Cliff. During the route, you will tell the legends about the Aluxes, mysterious beings from Isla Mujeres.

If you are visiting Garrafon Park, you cannot miss the snorkeling, temazcal and swimming activity in the most beautiful reef park in the area, the coral reef in Quintana Roo, which is the largest and is home to many marine faunas (turtles, whale shark, Caribbean manatee, etc.), it is also used as a feeding, shelter, and reproduction center.

If this data seems interesting to you, think no more and visit the best reef park in Isla Mujeres.