Mango to the cafe — Geocache of the Week

Traditional Cache
GC2WDJR
by beautiful_sandwich
Difficulty:
2
Terrain:
1
Location:
Quintana Roo, Mexico
N 21° 14.117 W 086° 43.902

With June already here, the Northern Hemisphere is gearing up for summer, and that means two things: vacation and geocaching. In this edition of Geocache of the Week, we are starting the season with a visit to Isla Mujeres off the coast of Cancún, Mexico and taking you to Mango to the cafe (GC2WDJR) — the only Traditional Cache on the island! The beach, delicious Caribbean food, AND scoring a find? Count us in!

Isla Mujeres (Island of Women) is a tranquil island where the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico meet, just 8 miles (12.9 km) off the Yucatán Peninsula. Now a beloved tourist destination, Isla Mujeres was once a sacred refuge dedicated to the Maya goddess IxChel. This sanctuary dates back 1,500 years to the Maya province of Ekab, where the temple for IxChel was also used as a lighthouse for Maya seafarers. It is said that only the goddess and her court of women inhabited the island, which is how it got its name. The island is also home to many wildlife and boasts some of the most magnificent sunrises and sunsets.

Image by Geo-Knot.

With such a rich history, it’s no wonder 6 million people visited Isla Mujeres just last year. The sandy beaches and crystal clear waters call all of us in need of a relaxing day at the beach. This is a perfect place to find a cache. Off to Mexico we go!

Mango outlook leveled
Image by J Grouchy.

After you arrive in Cancún and take a taxi to Punta Sam, you can see the island just across the way. Ferries run all day from Punta Sam, and the 30-minute boat ride is a welcome breath of fresh air after your long journey. Once you dock, it is time to explore the island! The best way to do so is with a golf cart rental. Vroom vroom!

Image by Les Explorateurs USA.

Once you navigate to the right side of the island, it is time to visit Mango Cafe. Make sure to plan your expedition during cafe hours before you start the hunt. After some candid conversation, you locate the cache. Score!

Image by EasternGirls.

The tupperware cache is full of swag and trackables. With so much to explore, it is reasonable to spend some time discovering trackables and reading the lovely notes from the cachers before you. After you sign the log book in triumph, it is time to refuel on some delicious Caribbean food. Fish tacos and tostones, anyone?


Continue to explore some of the most amazing geocaches around the world. Check out all of the Geocaches of the Week on the Geocaching blog. If you would like to nominate a Geocache of the Week, fill out this form.

Ale is a Community Coordinator at Geocaching HQ. A multikulti musician, creative, and veggie hippie, you can find her frolicking in flowery meadows with her pups.