The Isla Mujeres rainbow stairs are probably one of the most Instagram-worthy locations on Isla Mujeres. Having lived near the stairs for almost 6 months, I can tell you most things you’ll need to know about them.
This includes how to get there efficiently, what activities to do after you’ve taken your pictures, and how to get back to the more touristy parts of the island. Let’s dive in!
Isla Mujeres Rainbow Stairs Location
You’re probably wondering where the rainbow stairs are located. There are a couple of rainbow stairs on Isla Mujeres, but the most famous ones are found in the middle of the island. This is the exact Google Rainbow Stairs Map location.
Rainbow Stairs: How To Get There
It’s good to know that the rainbow stairs aren’t really near any of the major tourism hot spots (Playa Norte, Punta) and/or beach clubs (Kin Ha, Green Demon).
You can get to the stairs by using any form of motorized transport or a bike. Walking is theoretically an option, but it would take roughly 40 minutes from the ferry terminal in the north to the stairs. In the midday sun, I don’t recommend that.
Let’s look at the other options:
- Golf cart/Scooter: If you’re already renting a golf cart or scooter, this works great. It’s a 10-minute drive from the northern part of the island, where the ferry arrives, to the rainbow stairs. You can park on the street where the rainbow stairs are. There’s not a lot of parking, but generally you’ll find something. Also, parking is free on the island.
- Taxi: probably your best option. When you exit the ferry terminal, the taxis are on your left-hand side (you’ll walk 60 feet/20 meters). Stand in line at the red building and get a taxi. Discuss the price beforehand. It should cost $150 pesos ($7.5 USD); sometimes they’ll charge $200 pesos ($10 USD). Do NOT pay more.
- Bus: Theoretically, there’s a bus on the right side of the ferry terminal. Walk 60 feet/20 meters to your right and wait at the bus stop sign. You’ll pay $20 pesos ($1 USD) for a one-way trip. The bus drives in a circle across the island, and you’ll need to drive 75% of the route. Get off at the rainbow stairs (it’s also a bus stop) by yelling at the bus driver. It’s not really convenient to take the bus to the rainbow stairs, and I don’t recommend it.
How To Get Back From The Rainbow Stairs?
If you have a golf cart, scooter, or bike, you can skip this subheading. However, there are some instructions for people who get here by taxi or by bus.
Taxis
If you get here by taxi, and you want to leave again in five minutes, you can pay him to wait for you. Ask the taxi driver how much that would be. I can imagine that $50-80 pesos will do the trick.
I’m saying this because, on this road, taxis can be quite hard to get if it’s the middle of the day. I used to live next to these stairs, and we often waited 20 minutes to get a free taxi. Most taxis that use this road have already picked people up from a more southern point.
If you don’t have a taxi waiting for you, it’s best to walk up the rainbow stairs and keep walking straight to the eastern side of the island. This is the location. This road is used by taxis way more often during the day. Again, many of them will already be taken, but they’ll tell other taxi drivers via the radio that people are waiting. Your chances of getting picked up just increased significantly.
After getting back to the northern part of the island, you can jump into the nightlife of Isla Mujeres or take the ferry back to Cancun.
Bus
The rainbow stairs are also a bus stop. There’s only one bus line that passes here, and it’s most active between 8 AM and 12 PM and 3 PM and 6 PM. The longest during these times that we waited for a bus was 25 minutes.
In the middle of the day, between 12 and 3 PM, the bus often doesn’t seem to pass here. It could also be that we were unlucky in the past. Since there’s no clear schedule, that’s what I’ve observed personally.
The bus that picks you up is going all the way back to the North, it passes by the ferry terminal, and all the way down to Playa Centro. You get off by yelling at the bus driver.
Are The Isla Mujeres Rainbow Stairs Worth It?
The truth is, these are stairs that are painted in the colors of the rainbow. It’s fun for an Instagram picture, but don’t expect to spend more than 5 minutes here. If you want to spend some serious time somewhere, check out this list of activities on Isla Mujeres that I have personally tested throughout the years.
I recommend visiting the rainbow stairs on your way to Punta Sur, or on your way back to the North. This will not be the highlight of your trip or the reason why you came to visit the island. Nevertheless, you can get some cool content out of it 🙂
What To Do After The Rainbow Stairs?
If you’re not already on your way to another location, there are three things that you can do that are close by.
Ruben’s
If you haven’t had breakfast already, Ruben’s is the closest spot that serves a good breakfast and lunch (it’s open until 2-3 PM). It’s a small place, and it’s not expensive. They have free refills on their coffee as well. This is the location.
Note: the location I linked isn’t an official Google Maps location. Ruben’s has two restaurants on the island (one in the north and this one). They have never registered the location in the middle of the island on Google Maps. Trust me, it does exist. They both have the same menu, so you can look at the menu from the location that’s in the north via this link.
Visit Viewpoints
There are a couple of viewpoints nearby where you can walk around and take some pictures. I see many tourists do this, and I often walk around there myself. If you’re taking pictures anyway, these are good locations to visit as well.
Locations on Google Maps are found here and here.
Walk Around The Laguna
With your back to the rainbow stairs, walk one block down. You’ll see one of the lagunas in the middle of the island. This is your starting point. If you feel like having a stroll, this is the best place to do it on the island. That’s because you won’t meet any traffic. A full loop around the laguna will take you around 30-35 minutes.
Parque Las Tortugas
If you have young kids, you can also bring them to the nearby kids’ playground. With your back to the rainbow stairs, walk one block to the middle of the island and one to the right. You can’t miss it. This is the location.
Kids’ playgrounds on the island will all be renovated in 2025. They’re surprisingly good common facilities for the island. There are also benches at the park for parents to sit on.
FAQ – Isla Mujeres Rainbow Stairs
What’s The Best Way To Get To The Isla Mujeres Rainbow Stairs?
If you are renting a golf cart or scooter, the rainbow stairs are easy to get to and will take you only a 10-minute drive. If you don’t have private transport, taking a taxi is your best option. From the ferry terminal to the rainbow stairs will cost you $150 – $200 pesos ($7.5 USD – $10 USD)
Are The Rainbow Stairs Free?
Yes, the rainbow stairs are completely free to visit as they’re just part of the public infrastructure of the island.
Who Should Visit The Rainbow Stairs on Isla Mujeres?
People who want to have nice pictures from their time on Isla Mujeres should definitely stop for 5 minutes and take pictures here. This can be best done when you’re on your way to Punta Sur, or on your way back.
