Travel Writer Describes the Isle in 1960

The book "Yank in Yucatan" has advice for travelers visiting Isla Mujeres ~fifty years ago. It says...

"Isla Mujeres is a Hollywood producer's dream of the typical tropical island"~Rolfe F. Schell

"Until March of 1959, Isla Mujeres was completely cut off from the rest of the world, with the exception of a narrow dirt jungle road, and a connecting ferry. In March, Jesus Lima, owner of the Zacil Ha, one of the two hotels on the island, inaugurated the first scheduled air flights from Merida. The little single-engined monoplane now skims swiftly over the lush jungle and dusty road, arriving at Isla Mujeres about two hours after takeoff . In the many trips I have made to Mujeres, I have never really looked forward to the two hundred miles of hot road travel (from Merida to Puerto Juarez, via Valladolid), but I have never regretted the ride either. Actually, the bus is about as comfortable as the automobile ride, ... the $1.60 fare is contrasted blatantly against the $15 to $30 charged for a car and chauffeur. "

Late to mid 60's Hotel Zazil Ha.

       "Puerto Juarez is not really a port in the true sense of the word, but rather a minute fishing village of a dozen huts. There are two 'stores' where a limited selection of canned goods is available plus prepared food of a dubious nature." He says the bus arrived from Valladolid with a dead deer tied to the roof, and a cargo of contentious chickens, in addition to its passengers. He describes the white huipiles of the local women, noting that it was common for natives to take as many as five baths daily, in cold water.
     The passengers rode in a launch to the Carmita, which was anchored ~200 yards offshore. A bull was taken along, which did not go easily, nearly capsizing the launch.
     They arrived 45 minutes later at the concrete Naval pier, and he stayed at the recently opened Posada del Mar, which he described as four rooms stacked in two stories, overlooking the bay. He said all the streets were of sand and he didn't see any vehicles. To the north of town was a large coconut grove covering many acres, which was kept free of other vegetation. He describes the airport south of town:
     "A tiny strip of green turf bounded on the east by a nasty little hill and on the west by the water of the bay. Only single engine planes could come in here safely and due to the prevailing trade winds, nearly always from the north, sweeping low over the village before landing."
      He described two stores, stocked with staples and dry goods, and learned there were several more within private homes. Since there was little or no tourist trade, souvenirs were not sold. Australian pines shaded the town square, where the Church was located, and nearby was a dance hall - ice cream parlor combination. A new kindergarten overlooked the Caribbean, and to its north was a primary school, and then the ten bed hospital. Further along the Caribbean coast were a few private homes, and he walked to the northern point of the isle, "Where Zacil Ha lies". He claims this building was once called Casa de la Punta (House at the Point), until an American tourist kept referring to it as "Casa de la Puta" or whore house.
From "A Yank in Yucatan Adventures and guide through Eastern Mexico" by Rolfe F Schell, Island Press, Ft. Meyers Beach Florida, 1963. Photographs by Author

Casa de las Piedras ("the Lima House") by Bruce Roberts

Another view of the Casa de las Piedras by Bruce Roberts

The hotel "Zazil Ha", now the "Mia", was inaugurated on May 18, 1964 with 32 rooms. Despite creating his own airline and tourism agency, Sr. Lima was never able to break even, because there was not enough tourism.. After nine years of intense effort, the family was unable to meet the loan payments. In 1973 they give up the hotel to the National Financiera, forfeiting other island properties he'd put up as collateral. Don Jose Lima Gutierrez retained his home, Casa de las Piedras, and continued to live in Isla Mujeres until he passed away in 2009, at age 97. His family still lives on the isle & owns businesses and properties.

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