Isla Mujeres is the name of a small island, as well as the town on that island, a short distance off the coast of the northeast of the Yucatán Peninsula in the Caribbean Sea. In Pre-Columbian times the island was sacred to the Mayan moon goddess, Ix Chel. When the Spanish arrived here in the 16th century they named it "Isla Mujeres" meaning "Island of Women" because of the many cult images of the moon goddess here. There was a small Mayan temple on the south tip of the island, however in 1988 Hurricane Gilbert caused extensive damage to it, leaving most of the foundation and a very small portion of the temple. Since the 1970s there has been substantial development for tourism here. Ferry boats run every half hour during daylight between Isla Mujeres and Puerto Juárez or Puerto Cancún on the mainland. The island is popular with day trippers, but activity quiets down in the evening after the tour groups leave. There are numerous places to eat fresh seafood. Hotel prices vary from cheap to very expensive at the resorts on the south-west end such as Hotel Villa Rolandi. On the east is the Caribbean Sea with a strong surf and rocky coast, and on the west the skyline of Cancún is seen across the clear waters. On the north end is Isla Town with a famous beach called Playa Norte which has recovered quickly since Hurricane Wilma hit the area in 2005. Isla Mujeres is located close to one of many coral reefs, and the area is popular for its snorkeling and scuba diving. Its relative proximity to Cuba has made it one of the favorite stepping stones of Cubans trying to reach the United States in recent years.