Discovering Paradise Island: Isla Contoy

Written by Lydia Jones.

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Who can resist a remote tropical island?

Contoy is an uninhabited nature reserve, accessible from Cancún and Isla Mujeres (a 40-minute boat ride from each). I don't like to use the word paradise as it is so commercialized these days, but there is truly no other word that can describe the tranquillity of the place and the turquoise sea. The photos don't do it justice.

You come here to relax, snorkel, swim and observe nature. There are 150 bird species, including the Magnificent Frigate, Brown Pelican and Double-Crested Cormorant, plus sea turtle nests.

And then there are hermit crabs. They are rather peculiar and it is fun observing them. Their bodies and soft abdomens lack a hard protective shell so they are extremely vulnerable to predators. They just borrow empty snail shells or other hollow objects. When they find one that fits, they tuck themselves inside it and carry it with them everywhere they go. When they outgrow their shell, they have to go 'shopping' again and find a new one. Sometimes they help each other and form a line, from largest to smallest. I find that truly amazing! And are they really hermits? They tend to be quite social animals that enjoy living in groups. However, since they often retreat completely into their borrowed shells for protection, some people think they act like hermits.

The day trip to Isla Contoy follows a pattern. First, it's a day trip because you can't stay overnight. Second, because the island is a nature reserve, the number of visitors is limited to 200 a day (you have to reserve the trip ahead of time). Another reason why this place is a paradise is because there are no shops. Just imagine! No shopping! No roads, for that matter; just sandy tracks. No noise, apart from the cry of seabirds and the sound of the sea. There's rather good food, though, grilled chicken and very fresh fish cooked by the boat captain and his crew, served from barbecues on the beach on long sociable tables with hermit crabs scuttering around on the sand beneath your feet. Worth looking above you as well; there's an osprey nest on the palapa roof. A charming little museum under the watchtower illustrates the abundance of protected wildlife. The museum is in a semi-open building that serves as lodging for the research biologists who at times stay here for the night.

The trip includes a snorkelling session on the coral reef on the way to the island and you can swim at the island's two shallow beaches, around the pier. The boat guide will offer you a little walk across the island to a delightful palm-fringed bay and to the lake with saltwater crocodiles, the world’s largest living reptiles. There is also a chance to observe hawksbill turtles, green turtles and loggerhead turtles, which nest on the shores during the summer. Manta rays feed close to the shore; they come here because the waters are rich in nutrients. There's also a 65-foot watchtower where you can gaze out over the bluest of blue seas. A great photo op!

You will not go straight back to Cancún, as the trip is combined with Isla Mujeres where you will have time to walk the pedestrian street Avenida Hidalgo or swim in the North Beach bay. Whichever option you choose, you will find this island busy and bustling, after the calm silence of Isla Contoy. But Contoy will stay with you; dreams of paradise!