When we first arrived at the Isla Mujeres Ferry Dock, 20 years ago, we looked like deer in the proverbial headlights. We didn’t know which direction our hotel was in, where we could get a bite of lunch or where we could sit with our luggage until check in. In our case, we walked straight ahead but I caught La Lomita out of the corner of my eye. I recognized it from the paper map I had pre-ordered from Map Chick Laura. So we stopped for lunch and the rest as they say is history.

Times have changed: Mapchick Laura is digital, we walk a little slower but our suitcases now have wheels! We have discovered that we can achieve all of our needs by turning right as soon as we leave the ferry terminal! Marina Bartalome is a handful of steps south, their food offerings are delicious, the restaurant is spacious to accommodate all of our luggage and if we need to cool off (which is inevitable) we can dip our feet in their pool!

On the evening we visited recently we were sat at a long table and gave the newbies with us the best view of the sea. We started with cocktails. The gorgeous Purple Spritz was made of cava de oro tequila, and castel de rives cava, a Spanish sparkling wine. Its vibrant blue colour comes from the butterfly tea, an herbal tea made from Clitoria ternatea flowers. The addition of lime juice and sparkling water made it refreshing with the tea providing its unique floral flavour. The Caribbean Punch mocktail was a delicious mix of pineapple and cranberry juices with passion fruit pulp and ginger syrup. It looked like a tequila sunrise!

The owner who has become very dear to Sister Sue and I suggested that we try a number of menu items. The passion tostada was piled high with moist cubes of fresh tuna marinated in passion fruit, mango, and macha sauce, an infused oil of chillies, garlic and salt. In the mix was red onion, avocado and chipotle mayo. The flavourful marinate soaked into the crisp tostada and extra tortilla chips were served to scoop up every morsel.

The seafood stack was a thing of beauty.  Octopus, conch and fresh tuna in a cilantro sauce, was arranged with cucumber, mango, red onion, avocado, and radish. It looked like a flower and was a pleasing to the mouth as it was to the eye.

Zarandeado shrimp are whole shrimp marinated in spicy mayo, butter, and lime. Served upon a grilled romaine lettuce heart. It was recommended we eat it shell on, avoiding only the too hard tail. In the shell you could really taste the char of the charcoal and the spice blend coming together.

Pulpo Tatemado Bartalomé is an award winning char grilled octopus created by Chef Eduardo Estrella Narvaez from Yucatan península. Winner of la parrillada del Valle, grilling competition in 2022 hosted in Valle de Guadalupe. And it’s easy to see why. Marinated in a red spice blend, this Mayan octopus is seasonal product that is cooked over charcoal. It was served with mashed potatoes and corn on the cob.

On a previous visit, the owner’s husband arrived with the day’s catch and it was whisked right off to the kitchen. It’s important to note that Marina Bartolomé, respects seafood fishing bans and traceability, and always choosing the most environmentally sustainable options for marine ecosystems and species.

So when you arrive on the ferry for your 20th time or your very first time, turn right my friend, turn right.

Kath’s quote: “Seafood is the soul of the ocean.”-Author Unknown

Love never fails.

If you have ever dreamed of a going to a tropical island for a month or so, and just having a carry on bag, I have found you the place. Typically my summer clothes do not take a whole lot of suitcase room but it is all the “extras” that mean I have to schlep a full suitcase, a backpack and a beach bag as my “personal” item (in airport language).

Hotel las Palmas in Isla Mujeres has every other thing you can imagine needing on vacay: a variety of board games, a baby stroller, sunscreen, bug spray, umbrellas, beach chairs, floatie devices, fins, facemasks, snorkels, beach towels, coffee mugs and water bottles.

In addition to every bestseller book you have ever wanted to read. And did I mention a resident cat and 2 dogs!

The open area kitchen has a toaster, blender, coffee perk, French presses, stock pots,

every size of pot and frying pans,

oodles of plates & cutlery, full fridge (in addition to every guestroom being equipped with one),

a full stove (including an oven!), prep island,

oils, spices, AND the kitchen sink.

One of my years visiting the island I read posts from a gentleman staying at the hotel offering opportunities to join them at a communal table for spaghetti, paella, chili, etc. You made a contribution to the ingredients and washed your own dishes.

The morning I was up a bit too early, I wandered upstairs to see if the coffee was on. They were actually a number of people also up at 5:30 am as it was an eclipse event. While I gazed at the moon, a beautiful woman (another guest) came around to offer me a cranberry cocktail and then later bites of a banana Nutella crepe. I was touched. The birds were going wild. Even the roosters were up early.

My little room (called a Travelers Room) had an enormous shower, a night light, tons of hangers, a third pillow, grocery bags, reading lights, the afore mentioned fridge and my own ac unit. Every other space I desired was in the plant filled common areas.

As I feel asleep in the comfy bed, I heard music that I thought was coming from a nightclub. I found out later that one of my fellow hotel guests had pulled out his guitar and was singing for a group that were under the night sky. I understand they did so again the following night. But Kate, the owner advised me, you never know when an impromptu serenade will take place.

If you are a solo traveler, at the Hotel Las Palmas you will be greeted with many “Buenos Dias” in the morning, tips on where to buy the most beautiful beach dresses or the best buy on Kahlua and vanilla. You will be asked where you went for dinner and if you would like to assemble with other guests for a night cap. In other words, you will make instant friends.

But if you prefer to be with people but not always be a part of a group conversation, that’s fine too. When fellow guests saw me typing away on my lap top, they smiled at me and strolled by, leaving me to concentrate. If you are couple looking for some private time, the rooms are cooled by AC and ceiling fans. Many suites have couches and easy chairs for morning coffee or a glass of wine.

There are more easy chairs and couches scattered over three floors, so you are sure to find a comfy spot to chill out in either the sun or shade.

If you happen to be on the island for a rain interval, you can use it as the excuse to pursue the 100s of novel titles curated by one of the staff. There are 4 floors of communal space are bright and whimsically painted

with a dipping pool,

Adirondacks,

hammock chair, loungers,

a conventional bed (for afternoon naps in the sun) and a hanging bed on the very roof top.

My stay was short but other guests find the rates so affordable that they stay for weeks. I was smitten and am already considering a longer stay in 2027.

Kath’s quote: “Where we love is home – home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts”. — Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. 

Love never fails.

In the town of Apan, in the state of Hidalgo, Mexico there is a restaurant called Don Bigotes. Established in 2023, it is owned by the family of Yuliana. She, along with friend Angelica of Merida, have lived on Isla Mujeres for many years, working in other people’s restaurants. All the while dreaming of one day opening their own version of the family restaurant.

August 2, 2025 the dream came to fruition.

If you were to visit the two restaurants, located 20 hours away from each other by ferry and car, you would find a very similar menu, with the addition of Caribbean seafood dishes on the Isla Mujeres version. Even the trademark walls, filled with patrons chalk messages, are a nod to the original. Making Don Bigotes Isla Mujeres the continuation of a family legacy.

The restaurant is colourful and casual, making the diner instantly feel at home. A bonus, there is air conditioning the further in you venture in, so you can select where you sit according to your temperature desire.

On to the tried and true dishes. We started with the Caribbean Guacamole. Such an interesting combination of avocado, with pico de gallo and grilled pineapple. A sweet and salty twist on a classic it was the perfect way to wake up our taste buds.

For an appetizer we had the crispy tuna carnitas tostada. Generous chunks of lightly coated tuna, atop a crunchy tostada. slathered with guacamole and topped with pico de gallo and pickled red onion. This dish was busting with flavour.

Our friend had the Grandpa Toño’s taco. Named in honour of Yuli’s grandfather. Tempura coated fish with coleslaw and xcatic sauce, a creamy sauce featuring pale green chili peppers.

While our shrimp tacos were similar in all ways but the sauce, ours being a chipotle mayonnaise. All the tacos were super satisfying.

A few of us tried their popular salads. Our friend opting for the grilled chicken and mango salad. Served with cranberries, croutons and a honey mustard dressing. She thoroughly enjoyed it.

We had a sampling of the grilled pineapple salad with little balls of creamy goat’s cheese and praline nuts in a honey mustard dressing. A good salad is not easy on the island and these were phenomenal.

For our main we shared the filete de pescado. The fish that day is known in Mexico as “pescado dorado” but you may know it as “Mahi Mahi”.  It’s a beautiful meaty white fish that was served with xcatic risotto and perfectly cooked fresh vegetables. You get to choose the preparation; grilled, garlic butter, or in a white wine sauce. We choose the later on our waiter Nahuel’s recommendation.

At this point we were stuffed and our “to go” box had a large piece of fish, two large shrimp and plenty of tempura tuna to be eaten for lunch the following day. But the team wanted us the complete our evening with a sweet treat. The restaurant brings in  a selection of desserts as well as offering Chef Diego’s creme brulee. Our waiter was partial to the chocolate cake, so we went at it with multiple forks and we were certainly glad we did. The deep dark chocolate icing on a rich chocolate cake with creamy filling was the ending we didn’t know we needed.

It was lovely to see the open kitchen and meet Chef Diego and his helpers Emma and Marcos. The staff are friendly and attentive.  Don Bigotes is sure to be another Isla “go to” restaurants providing consistent excellence with more than a few surprises.

Daily happy hour specials 3:00 – 6:00 are posted on blackboard inside wall of restaurant, featuring great prices on margaritas, beers with wings and fries, or beers with nachos.  A great place for a snack and a cold one on the stroll back from the beach.

PS Kath piping in: Their mojitos are epic with the twist of a lovely dark rum.

Kath’s quote: “The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination, and brings eternal joy to the soul.” — Robert Wyland

Love never fails.

Four years ago, when a good friend who managed a house in the Punta Sur area of Isla Mujeres Mexico asked Glay and Gaby if they wanted to prepare breakfast for her guests, they jumped at the chance. “Back then we sold breakfasts in a small place in the Colonias, because it was a new and different challenge, we accepted. That was the beginning of many more breakfast, lunch and dinner services”. And thus Glay and Gaby Food and Drink Private Service was born. 

Originally from Caracas, Venezuela, these two have lived on Isla for seven and a half years. Glay worked in the food business for more than twenty years. Gaby has worked in the industry for five years, discovered her passion for cooking one day when the chef didn’t show up for work and she had to take over. Since then she has dedicated herself to learning and developing her culinary skills. 

Kathryne and I really wanted to meet these ladies and they wanted us to sample their food. Typically they would be preparing and serving food on site in someone’s home or accommodations on the island, but it was just two of us and our tiny apartment kitchen is far from suitable for a caterer. So instead they prepared food on their premises and delivered it to us.

They brought us their favourite: chicken fajitas. Stir fried with green, red, yellow peppers and purple onion, the chicken is seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic powder, herbs, Worcestershire sauce, a little of the popular Mexican Maggy juice, and homemade garlic oil. It was tender and savoury. The rice that was cooked in tomato broth was flavourful and fluffy. Besides the chicken I thought the refried beans were the highlight of the dish. Cooked in butter I could eat them by the spoonful. Their freshly made  guacamole was simply salt and pepper, fresh lime juice, and a touch of garlic oil, allowing the flavour of the avocado to shine through. Every component was delicious on its own and complemented each other perfectly when brought together in a tender flour tortilla. 

They cook for everyone like they would for their own family and friends. The freshest local ingredients, striving to provide quality as well as quantity in every dish. One look at their Facebook page and you’ll see their beautifully presented abundant taco bars, delectable breakfast buffets, and snack delivery. They customize menus for all types of celebrations, providing catering and excellent mixology for birthdays, weddings, or just a group of travellers who want a nice meal without going to a restaurant. You can even learn a few things along side them in the kitchen or take part in one of their Tequila Mescal tastings. 

Being that I recently retired from running my own similar business in Winnipeg, Canada, I can appreciate the attention to detail and love that they pour into providing an excellent experience to their clients. 

The ladies are very thankful to everyone who has supported their business. In appreciation, they now find ways of giving back to the people of the island through their philanthropy. 

Kath’s quote: “The people who give you their food give you their heart.” -Cesario (Cesar) Estrada Chavez

Love never fails.

By guest blogger Kathy. I visited El Patio on Hidalgo Street with friends Kathryne and Karen from Winnipeg.  What a fun vibe.  Indoor but outdoor, it had a terrace feel with a large tree in the middle.   We know it is real tree as we had leaves drop onto our table.  The space has a large bar on the main floor and a lovely second floor.  We sat on the second floor.  El Patio has music upstairs and bands with dancing downstairs.  The night that we were there, the upstairs music was fabulous.

We started with the Mediterranean Platter – it was presented on a lovely sectional plate and included falafel, labneh and hummus. The hummus was nothing like I had ever tasted before and I have had Hummus in many different countries.  We asked Lynne the owner……..what it was made of – it the answer was that it was made with fresh green chickpeas. It was a different texture and flavour, but very good. 

We accompanied our appetizer with a pina colada, a glass of wine and frozen mojito.  Our friend Kathryne said one that it is one of the best mojitos on the island.  She like it so much, it was gone in minutes!

For entrees, we had the coconut shrimp with baked potato and a Greek salad. The meal was substantial and satisfying.

We also tasted Arrachero steak with black beans and a baked potato. The steak was marinated and tender and was prepared medium rare.

El Patio is very popular for Happy Hours which run 1- 3 Monday to Saturday and 4 – 6pm daily and if you want to listen to live music and dance, El Patio is the place to be.

Kath’s quote: “Love is a lot like dancing. You surrender to the music”. –Pierce Bronson

Love never fails.