Cancún, Mexico. The Por La Libre Cancun to Isla Mujeres race is one of the world’s top swims. The two-race event, organized by Rafa Hernández, is held between Cancún Island to the magnificent Isla Mujeres in Quintana Roo in southern Mexico.
The inter-island ocean course is held in crystal-clear water waters that can occasionally become rough and tidal, but the swimmers are in for a unique treat at the end of the race where they swim over an underwater museum (museo subacuático).
With outstanding tropical beauty, the race fills up quickly…for good reason. To stand on one island and look over gorgeous tropical waters to the finish on another island is, at once, alluring and unnerving. But once the gun goes off and the field hits the water, challenge is mixed in with awe and wonder at the beauty of the marine environment.
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.