Isla Mujeres: a legendary island.   

This island is known as a paradise among Mexicans and international travelers, but not many know the history of this beautiful Caribbean Island, all the mysticism that its beaches and cliffs hide.   

In this blog, we will tell you a little about the history of one of the most sought-after places in Quintana Roo so that when you visit it you see it with other eyes.  

Mayan culture  

The name by which this island was recognized at the time of the heyday of the Mayan culture is not known to date, it is known that by the sixteenth century, while this island belonged to the Ekab region in the Yucatan peninsula before it was divided was used as a ceremonial center or sanctuary of the goddess Ixchel.   

The goddess Ixchel was credited with femininity, textiles, the moon and more. When the modern settlers came to the island to settle officially, they found statuettes that alluded to this goddess, being all female figures decided to name her Isla Mujeres. 

A story of pirates    

A renowned Spanish pirate who reached the shores of this island in the 19th century was Fermín Mundaca, a slave merchant. It is said that when his ship reached the coast, he took charge of burning the boat and killing the crew so that no one would know its location since it is said that he had committed something unforgivable that he would never reveal.   

On the island he would fall in love with “La Trigueña” a young local who would never reciprocate him and this would lead him to madness making him dig his grave, but his body would never rest there, only his memory and the phrase ” Como tú eres, yo fui ” to one side and the other “a como soy luego serás “, that translates to “As you are, I was” and “as I am you will be”. 

These mystical places can be visited today. At the southern end of the island, you can find remains of Mayan structures in the local park, and in the municipal cemetery you can still find the tomb of this Spanish pirate.   

When you stay at Hotel Beló you cannot miss visiting these places where the Mayan culture and the history of the conquerors.