Celebrating a Queen: Private Catamaran to Isla Mujeres for my Mom's Big Day
Birthday & Retirement Queen
Mediocre was not an option for celebrating my mom’s retirement and birthday — we were going big (and not going home). So we gathered the entire family, packed our bags and hopped on a plane to Mexico for a celebratory vacation of a lifetime!
Soft white sand, glistening turquoise waters, bright green guacamole — Cancun felt like a Spanish lullaby. Mexico couldn’t get any better, but we wanted to spice up my mom’s celebrations by planning a special surprise that would sweep her off her feet. And as the favorite child/ travel buddy of my mom’s (sorry little brothers), I instantly thought of a surprise I know she’d love — a private catamaran!
Experiencias Cancun catamarans
After reaching out to several companies, I chose Experiencias Cancun to curate my mom’s special day. From planning to execution, everything was seamless. Elena, the event coordinator, was so easy to work with — she kept me in the loop about small and big details, and even helped order birthday balloons for the boat.
Karisma Catamaran
What I loved most about Experiencias Cancun was their plethora of boats to choose from. We wanted a spacious catamaran that also provided shade and indoor space (in case anyone got sea sick or wanted to escape from the sun).
For ample space for our family of 11, we chose the Karisma Catamaran. You can charter the catamaran for 4 or 7 hours at whatever block of time you prefer. Since we wanted to take advantage of the day and add sunset sailing to the itinerary, we chose the 7 hour tour.
Private Dock at Playa Tortugas in Cancun
The Karisma Catamaran includes:
Outdoor Lounge Area
Indoor Lounge Area
Bathroom
Bluetooth Speaker
Snorkeling Equipment
Bilingual Guides
Open Bar
Optional:
+ Round Trip Resort Transport
+ Balloon Decoration
+ Snacks & Premium Open Bar
+ Photos
The Big Surprise
“We’re taking the ferry to Isla Mujeres” — thankfully, my mom never questioned our little, white lie. She had no idea that the catamaran she quickly glanced at would be hers for the day.
The meeting point was at the port in Playa Tortugas, conveniently located on Cancun’s Hotel Zone and easily accessible by bus or taxi. Once we arrived at the port, the staff enthusiastically went along with my mom’s surprise. They distributed our faux ferry tickets and escorted us to the “ferry line”.
Once we turned the corner to our private entrance, with big smiles and open arms we all shouted, “SURPRISE!”. My mom was shocked and beaming with excitement — she couldn’t believe that the catamaran was all hers for the day!
On Board the Karisma Catamaran
Salud!
First line of business, celebratory drinks. The crew members took our drink orders and we toasted to the birthday/ retirement celebrant to kick off our day at sea.
Once we got settled on the catamaran, our guide Jai gave us a fun introduction to the entire team. The crew members were friendly and energetic— always dancing and ready to take our drink orders, yet gave us space to be wild, young and free.
Sailing Along the
Caribbean Sea
Snorkeling Adventures
Wow! We felt so VIP on our private catamaran. Basking in the sun, sipping margaritas, and dancing to our favorite tunes, this day quickly became our family's favorite moment of our Cancun vacation.
The itinerary on board the Karisma Catamaran was the perfect mix of relaxation, fun, and adventure Stops included a nearby reef for snorkeling, downtown Isla Mujeres, swimming in Playa Norte, then dancing/ drinking on the catamaran till sunset. We never wanted this day to end!
Sailing Itinerary:
+ Snorkeling
+ Isla Mujeres
+ Playa Norte
+ Sunset Sailing
Happy family, happy sailing!
Whether you’re celebrating a big occasion or seeking a memorable experience with loved ones in Cancun — I highly recommend chartering a private catamaran to Isla Mujeres with Experiencias Cancun. It’s 100% worth the splurge for a private boat rather than join large group tours to Isla Mujeres. Not only was this an incredible gift for my mom, but it was also so much fun for the entire family (from Gen Z cousins to Baby Boomer aunts).
For more information check out Experiencias Cancun’s fleet of private boats in Mexico on their website.
