Yacht Stranded on Isla Mujeres Beach After New Year’s Eve

Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo — A yacht ran aground on the sandy shore of Playa Norte due to alleged negligence by the vessel’s captain during its arrival on the afternoon of Wednesday, December 31. By the afternoon of January 1, a source from the Isla Mujeres Port Authority reported that preparations were underway to rescue the vessel, which originated from Cancún.

No official data was provided regarding the progress of the rescue operation. A Port Authority official stated that the rescue was being prepared but offered no details. Amid various accounts, it was reported that the captain operating the 55-foot vessel lacked proper documentation and had rented it along with a woman to welcome the year 2026 at Playa Norte.

“We saw a person still under the effects of the New Year’s celebration at noon; they didn’t seem very concerned about the boat running aground,” said a witness who requested anonymity. The witness considered that the boat’s captain did not take sufficient precaution to anchor at a distance from the sandy area.

When consulting individuals who have participated in rescuing and towing boats involved in incidents around Bahía de Mujeres, one of them stated that the rescue cost is approximately $20,000, but the captain only offered the ridiculous sum of $200.

“He doesn’t seem aware of the problem he got himself into. As more hours pass, the boat sinks further and its rescue becomes more complicated if 48 hours elapse,” said José, referring to the person responsible for this issue. José is a crew member on one of the vessels that participated in the rescue and towing of a yacht that ran aground among the rocks of the cliffs in the southern part of Garrafón Park on November 20, 2023.

The name and registration of this boat were not provided by port authorities. A video provided by a crew member of a vessel docked there also did not clearly show this information.

The grounding occurred at the mouth of Carlos Lazo Street, between the Búhos and Na-balam restaurants. There is no fear that the vessel’s hull will break, as the area contains no rocks, only pure sand.

A temporary sandbank had formed in the area due to northerly winds over the past three months. Witnesses said the water depth where the vessel settled is less than one meter.