While researching things to do on our trip to Isla Mujeres, one resource mentioned La Hacienda Mundaca as being a zoo. I’d never been to a Mexican zoo, so I wondered what it was like. The guide also mentioned it was a beautiful park. That sounded nice – I like parks. And it used to belong to a pirate, along with most of the island. Everyone loves pirates, even more than they love Raymond, so I wanted to see the pirate’s house.
When the reviewer wrote about the wondrous Hacienda, decades ago perhaps it was beautiful and exciting, a jewel of Isla Mujeres that travelers from across the world should see and enjoy. (I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt.)
Let me give you the updated version – it’s the third-world version of Belle Isle, the “Jewel of Detroit.” (Yes, Detroit does claim to have a jewel, and yes, it’s what you’d expect.) La Hacienda is an overgrown backyard marginally more appealing than a weed-choked parking lot.
Is that too harsh? Perhaps so, but the descriptions made it sound like a fascinating place to visit, and the reality was far from it.
Let me put it another way – you would better spend your time somewhere else – anywhere else – on Isla Mujeres than to spend the 40 pesos for admission into La Hacienda Mundaca.
When the site described La Hacienda as a zoo, I interpreted that as present tense, but maybe something was lost in translation. Let me clarify – at one point, La Hacienda Mundaca was a zoo, but the only wildlife you are likely to see now are iguanas. And iguanas are fascinating for five minutes – we don’t have iguanas in Michigan – but iguanas does not a zoo make.
Iguanas at La Hacienda Mundaca
One animal the “zoo” had was the rare invisible panther, and that’s nothing to sneeze at.
Hacienda Mundaca, Isla Mujeres
I had never seen an invisible panther before. And, technically, I still haven’t “seen” one.
Panther cage, Hacienda Mundaca
I did like the stone carving surrounding the garden. Authentically piratey or not, the designs were cool. And the garden was semi-peaceful, just a few locals drinking beer. They had the right idea. Had the garden area been expanded, the trip to La Hacienda would not have felt like such a waste of time.
The gardens of La Hacienda Mundaca
Just a few stones are all that’s left of whatever grand mansion the pirate had.
Hacienda Mundaca, Isla Mujeres
The muck pen wasn’t too appealing. With work, this could be a beautiful little pond. As is, it’s just another unattractive “attraction”.
Mud pit at La Hacienda Mundaca
Oh, and let’s not forget about the other animals at the zoo: dogs. But they’re Mexican dogs, so they are semi-exotic.
Los perros
Enough ranting about the “zoo”. La Hacienda also boasted the reconstruction of a Mayan hut, complete with plaster figures of Mayans doing Mayan things.
Mayan hut
And there was a Spanish-style building with antique photographs of island scenes. Mildly interesting. And you can climb to the top to get a view of the “zoo”.
Hacienda Mundaca, Isla Mujeres
My goal is for you not to go to Hacienda Mundaca. There are far more interesting things to do, like eat, drink, and being merry. If you’re really, really bored, and you’re spending a week or more on the island, or you have to use the bathroom (they have some), okay. But if you were like Andrea and I, with only a few days to spare, the hour or so we spent there would have been much better spent doing other things.
Apparently, the estate is being restored. That is a long way off, trust me. I wish them luck, though. La Hacienda has potential, especially with its interesting history. But for now, best stick to the sunny beaches, comfortable B&Bs, and wonderful island restaurants.