It ain’t easy! Driving a golf cart on Isla Mujeres

A spectacular day on Isla Mujeres.      

It sounds easy: tour around Isla Mujeres on a golf cart. Just point the front end, stomp the gas pedal, and off you go.

Caritos de golf aren’t fast and are relatively easy to steer, depending on the overall condition of the vehicle. Uneven pavement, unmarked pot holes, or the numerous speed bumps, called topes, can jostle a poorly maintained vehicle around.

Richard and Lawrie, our island vehicle

A typical golf cart is very basic. It comes equipped with four wheels, a steering wheel, seats front and back, and a one-cylinder, seven-horsepower gas engine. 

They don’t have turn signals, brake lights, windshield wipers, and of course, no seatbelts, airbags, or baby seats. In the slightly upgraded models, a horn is included, and if you are lucky, it might actually work. 

Your arms are the turn signals. (Although it seems drivers born after 1980 were never taught how to use hand signals.)

Accident in front of our house

When driving on Isla, indicate your movements, lane changes, and direction changes clearly, or you will find yourself being driven in a cop car to the police station. There you will pay for the damages to the vehicle that you hit, damages to the vehicle that you were driving, the other person’s medical bills, your medical bills, and several vague traffic ‘fines’ that can mount up to several hundred dollars.

Busy streets on Isla Mujeres

The whole process of straightening out your accident can burn up several hours of your vacation time.  We know from personal experience after helping other folks deal with the situation. 

And please, don’t think about leaving the island without paying for the damages. You are a long way from home, and Mexican jails won’t win any TripAdvisor Awards for Excellence. 

(Prisoners must make their own arrangements for food to be brought to them.)

Move over. We're coming through! 

But the most important accessory on a carito de golf is the rearview mirror.  Make sure your rental vehicle has one, and check it frequently. Motos, motorcycles, and scooters will pass on either side of you. 

Drive as far to the right-hand side of the lane as you safely can because other vehicles will pass on corners, hills, or wherever there is a little bit of space. 

For a taxi driver, time is money. If you are hogging the lane, the taxi drivers will become impatient and pass you, expecting you to move over and make room for their vehicle to squeeze by.

Vacationers. Let's go to Isla and rent a golf cart!

When families are on vacation, watch out for young children steering a golf cart. 

It’s illegal, but for some reason folks think that the streets on Isla are quiet little country lanes with a few golf carts puttering along, and that it’s a cute idea to teach a youngster how to aim a vehicle on a busy road. 

Look again, folks. There are ambulances, fire trucks, police vehicles, propane trucks, or tractor-trailer units, over a thousand rental golf carts, plus hundreds of taxis, motorcycles, and bicycles, all vying for limited road space. 

There is no 'slow season' on Isla anymore. 

Another challenge of driving on Isla is the abundance of drivers posing for ‘selfies,’ weaving back and forth in the lane as they try for the perfect shot of themselves and friends. 

Add a few cervezas and margaritas, and later in the afternoon, we hear the ambulances whizzing past our house, responding to yet another accident involving golf carts and motos, or golf carts and taxis, or golf carts and pedestrians.

Watch out for unmarked hazards.

One of our island-born friends recently lamented, “They think they are in Disneyland when they come to Isla.” 

Enjoy your visit to the island, and don’t become one of the accident statistics. 

It’s not the way to finish up your vacation in paradise.

Hasta Luego,

Lynda, Lawrie, Sparky, & Max

~
Isla Mujeres Mystery series

Day-tripping around Isla Mujeres, Mexico

North Beach, Playa Norte, 

“Golf cart amiga? Carito de golf amigo?” the commission salesman asks as you exit the passenger ferry boats. “Take a tour of the island?”

You stop, chat, negotiate a price, and follow him to the rental company's office. What now? 

 The island is only seven kilometres long and less than a kilometre wide. (For our metric-challenged friends, that is 4.5 miles long and half a mile wide.) You could zip around the entire island in less than an hour and be back at the rental place before lunch. What fun is there in that?

Indio's Cart Rentals new colours

Let's take a tour of Isla in one of these jazzy, fun vehicles. Most of the dozen or so rental companies are located in the general vicinity of where the passenger ferries unload. A few that come to mind are Captain Azul, Cardena's, Caribe, Ciros, Coco's, Easy, el Sol, Fiesta, Gomar, Indios, Isla Mujeres, Islander, Joaquin, Luxury, and Prisma. The cost can vary, but is usually around 600 pesos per day, $50.00 US more or less.

Fun rentals from Ciro's

The golf carts come with a few basic instructions: forward, reverse, and it is illegal to let an underage child drive. Then off you go. 

What they forget to mention is that you do not have brake lights, turn signals, or windshield wipers. What you have is a low-power motor, four wheels and a steering wheel plus seating. Basic! 

Because golf carts are slow, be courteous and stay as far to the right as possible. Passing is a national sport in Mexico: passing on hills, passing on blind corners, and passing four across on a two-lane road. Golf carts are not made for passing – you are the tortoise in this race, not the hare. Relax, enjoy, and watch out for the other drivers. And yes, you can be fined for drinking while driving.

The Mia Reef at North Beach

Let's get started. The congested downtown area of Isla consists of one-way streets, streets that are not clearly marked. If you make the wrong choice, your first clue would be the frantic signals of other drivers, waving their arms: Stop! Not this way.  

Driving on the seawall or malecon is strictly prohibited. Hidalgo Avenue, where most of the restaurants are located, is a pedestrian-only street. Poke around downtown and get your bearings, then head north in the direction of the big hotel, the Mia Reef.

North Beach is, as the name suggests, at the northern tip of the island, with white sandy beaches made famous by the Corona commercials and TripAdvisor's surveys rating it one of the Top Ten Best Beaches in the World. 

North Beach is glorious on a sunny day, with numerous places to rent a beach lounger and be served good food and cold drinks. But hey, you have wheels, it's time to see the rest of the island.

North-western side of Isla Mujeres

To keep your bearings, always keep the ocean on the passenger's side of the vehicle. This trick will take you completely around the island and back to the beginning. As you drive south along Rueda Medina, there are several great places along this stretch to enjoy good food and live music later in the afternoon: Jax Grill, Velasquez, Mininos, Ballyhoo, Brisas Grill, and Picus. This is one of our favourite areas to settle in for sunset drinks and snacks. But for now, carry on – you can always walk back to this area after you have returned the golf cart.

Entrance to Barlito's at Marina Paraiso

Drive straight ahead at the intersection by the car ferry, keep going on Rueda Medina until you start to see the various bars and restaurants: Bahia Tortuga, Soggy Peso Bar & Grill, Barlito's @ Marina Paraiso. 

 

Any one of them has icy cold beverages and good food. This might be a good time for a quick stop for refreshments, but don't take too long; you still have the rest of the island to explore.

Back on the road again: turn right and continue on your adventure. Eventually, you'll pass the big orange grocery store – Chedraui. Follow the main stream of traffic, veering slightly to the right as you drive under the overhead warning lights for the pedestrian crosswalks and traffic congestion. If you notice a line-up of impatient drivers behind you, let them pass, or you might be startled by drivers overtaking you with little or no visibility on Devil's Corner. 

Remember what we said about passing being a national sport in Mexico?

The Joint at Punta Sur

Great colours at Punta Sur

At the roundabout across from the Isla Mujeres Palace Hotel, you have a choice: you can make a sharp right and visit Dolphin Discovery to swim with the dolphins for the balance of the day or keep driving south to see the rest of Isla Mujeres. 

 

Heading south, the next refreshment stop is at The Joint, a relaxing, shady spot hidden in a jungle of trees and flowers.

Then, a few feet further along, you will see a perfect “Ah!” location. It is a wide spot on the right side of the road where the gorgeous blues of the Caribbean are displayed for your visual enjoyment. 

It's a perfect location to stop for a photograph and a homemade ice cream cone purchased from the mobile vendor.

Yummy treats!

A little further on, at the extreme southern tip of the island, Punta Sur, is a small collection of stores and the stunning views from the Ancantilado restaurant. For a small entrance fee, you can wander the park, and depending on the time of year, you might see giant sea turtles mating in the surf.

Whew! You are halfway around the island now. 

 

Don't forget to use the baños before leaving this area! The perimeter road on the eastern side of the island is primarily private residences, not restaurants and bars.

Don't get distracted by the view!

When leaving Punta Sur, turn right, keeping the ocean on the passenger's side. On the eastern coastline are many beautiful homes. This road will lead you down a slight hill, past the smelly but unfortunately necessary garbage dump, the newer cemetery, and the settlement of Guadalupana. 

The beautiful ocean vistas have been known to distract drivers, leading to collisions with motorcycles, other golf carts and assorted vehicles. Be careful! Drivers doing U-turns in this area have been seriously injured and have injured other people.

Famous sign at Villa la Bella

Passing by the various neighbourhoods, you will eventually see a sign at Villa la Bella: “Beer so Cold it Will Make Your Teeth Hurt!” You might want to put that claim to the taste test, as this is pretty much the last stop for refreshments before heading back to Centro and returning your golf cart.

Remain on the perimeter road, passing the Colegio de Bachilleres (high school) and the airport for the Naval base. At the corner of the airport, if you turn left, then take the next right, driving in front of the Naval base, you will be back in the area where you first disembarked from the passenger ferries. Or if you drive straight ahead, behind the Naval base, you will arrive at the Palacio Municipal (City Hall), where a few more golf cart rental companies have their offices.

Friends Edie and Gary with their '57 Chevy cart

Well done! You made it – time for a sunset celebration. Don't forget to collect your identification at the golf cart office. 

Hasta luego
Lynda, Lawrie, Sparky, and Thomas the Cat

Murder. Mayhem. Revenge. Romance.

Isla Mujeres Mystery Series

Death in the Vineyards Mysteries

The Adventures of Thomas and Sparky

I get around, 'round, 'round: Isla Mujeres, Mexico!

Need island transportation?  Take your pick!

If it runs!  Drive it!

We have, per capita, ten times more taxis on Isla Mujeres than the entire City of Vancouver, BC, based on my somewhat reasonably accurate math of approximately 15,000 people on Isla sharing 180 taxis as opposed to 600,000 people in Vancouver sharing about 750 taxis. 

Hailing a taxi on Isla is not normally a problem, unless you happen to be looking for a cab the day after New Year's Eve, or the Sunday morning after the annual Carnaval dance. At that point, taxis are few and far between as most of the drivers have been up all night either partying with friends or driving the inebriated celebrants home.  The cab fares are posted at the Centro taxi stand; however, if you are one of the local full-time residents, the cost is usually less.

 

Is it a car?  Is it a truck?

There is also a bus that circumnavigates most of the island about once an hour, or two buses that pass by every thirty minutes, that is if they both happen to be functioning at the same time. This week I have only noticed the bus pass by our house once. The cost is posted on the entrance door. It is four pesos, or about thirty-five cents. It's a very inexpensive way to get around if you are not in a rush, or feel like a sight-seeing ride through the colonias (neighbourhoods).

Jeep Wrangler look-alike golf cart

The unofficial modes of transportation are a lot more fun. There are golf carts galore that typically cost about forty-five dollars a day, or cheaper for a weekly rate. And yes, this is a tropical island, and yes, you are on holiday, but letting an underage or unlicensed child drive a golf cart is a disaster waiting to happen.  There are speeding ambulances, fire trucks, and police vehicles, dangerous propane trucks, or large tractor-trailer units, plus hundreds of taxis, golf carts, motorcycles and bicycles all vying for limited road space.  You are unnecessarily risking not only your own safety but also the safety and livelihood of the other drivers.

 

One of the many uses for a moto!

As for golf cart choices, there are the standard four-passenger or the larger six-passenger carts; most are painted a plain vanilla beige, while some of the newer ones have been decorated with bright tropical flowers or military camouflage. If you are really lucky, you might be able to latch onto one of the incredibly popular '57 Chevy or Jeep Wrangler look-a-likes from Ciro's Golf Carts located on Guerrero Avenue.  

And there is the wild and woolly assortment of personal cars, trucks, motorcycles, and bicycles that serve as transportation for the balance of the population. There are a few vehicles that are new and beautiful, a larger number that are five to six years old and starting to rust.  Then there are the ones that defy all logic, remaining on the road as the windshield falls out, the fenders and doors warp, and the frame twists.  As long as the motor can still create enough power to turn the wheels, the vehicle is used. 

Great exercise program!

But the mode of transportation that fascinates me the most is bicycles. We frequently see people ride two-up, with one rider balanced over the back wheel, standing on two short metal pegs. That takes talent! This could be the start of a new fitness craze, with a complete body workout focusing on the core muscles, legs, and butt.

But the cheapest and easiest method of transportation is walking!  It's good for you, gets you where you want to go, no cost, no waiting, no traffic jams, and a great excuse to stop for an icy cold beer along the way. 

Hasta pronto, Lynda and Lawrie

Isla Mujeres Mystery Series

Or

Death in the Vineyards Mysteries

The Adventures of Thomas and Sparky