Isla Mujeres is Spanish for Island of the Women, so named because of the presence of female stone idols as recorded by Hernández de Córdoba in 1517. Like Cozumel, the island had religious significance to the Mayan people. Pirates later took sanctuary on the island, when not raiding or plundering. Today their exploits add to the colorful background of this charming destination. The island combines the beauty of the Caribbean, the dense tropical jungle, and the wonderful heritage of the Mayan civilization.