An Impromptu Visit to Isla Holbox, Mexico
Holbox was a place that I didn’t know existed until 2 days before I arrived. During my time in Mexico I had plans to explore the very popular and in my opinion overrated, Tulum. After the 2nd day in Tulum I decided that it was not my type of place. Although it was beautiful, I found it to be overpriced and extremely crowded. Luckily thanks to Pinterest and Google maps I stumbled across the island of Holbox. After about 2 hours of research I cut my time in Tulum short and re routed my trip.
Located north of the Yucatán Peninsula between the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, Isla Holbox is part of the Yum Balam Nature Reserve. If you want to hang out with friendly locals and chill on the beach with flamingos, this is the place for you. Far from the crowds of Cancún, the tiny island is dotted with dirt roads, laid-back beach bars, and incredible natural beauty. Here's my ultimate Isla Holbox travel guide!
Things to Know:
Holbox is pronounced “Hole-Bosh”
Holbox is off the north coast of the Mexican mainland. You must either fly or take a ferry.
Most places take cash so make sure you have enough of it. There is only one ATM on the entire island so its better to have the cash you’ll need.
US dollars and Mexican Pesos are accepted.
Credit Cards are accepted at most places as well including American Express.
The sun is more harsh here an there isn’t much shade, so have your sun hats, sunscreen and shades ready.
Getting Here:
You can get to Holbox by flying from Cancun which is the more expensive option. The more budget friendly option (the one I took) is to take the ferry from Chiquila. Chiqula is accessible by car from Tulum or Cancun and the drive is just under 3 hours. There are also buses that go to Chiquila from Cancun and Playa Del Carmen. If you choose to drive, you will have to park your car in one of the parking lots for 100 pesos ($5USD) per day. From the parking lot you can walk to the ferry which is one or two blocks.
There are 2 ferry companies that go from Chiquila to Holbox: Holbox Express and Nine Brothers. The cost for the ferry is $9USD each way and the ride is about 25 minutes long. The ferry typically leaves once every 30 minutes. Once the ferry docks, there will be golf cart taxis to take you to your hotel and they cost around $5-$10USD.
Being Here:
Holbox is an underdeveloped, or what I like to call an “untouched” island. None of the streets are paved so there are no cars on the island. You will see only golf cart taxis, bikes and a few work trucks. I mostly got around by taxi and walking but there is an option to rent your own golf cart to drive through the island. Just be sure to wear comfortable shoes for support on the rocky grounds. Your flip flips won’t cut it here unless you’re at the beach.
Things to Do:
I found Holbox to be very relaxing and it was the prefect place to unplug. But there are also a few activities to do while you’re here:.
Bioiluminescent: This natural phenomenon can only be seen on a clear night in the water on the beach. The plankton that floats on the surface of the ocean emit a bright blue light when agitated by the wave movements or nearby swimming fish. in the water lights up creating a sea of different colors. Unfortunately I didn’t have a clear sky at night so I was not able to experience this. You can book a tour to take you to see it or you can go on your own but you’ll have to find the perfect spot in the water to find the plankton.
Cenote’s: Of course you can’t go to Mexico without visiting a cenote. A cenote is a natural water hole resulting from the collapse of limestone groundwater underneath. Cenote’s are all over Mexico and there is one that is a 30 minute boat ride from Holbox. The Yalahau cenote can be accessed on a tour of Holbox that you can book anywhere in town. It’s usually one of three stops on the tour and you’ll spend about 40 minutes swimming in fresh water.
Wander the Town: Because the island is so small, you can easily walk around town and checkout some cool street art as well as some affordable restaurants like Rosa Mexicano. I came here for a big breakfast and only paid $8USD.
Hang Out at a Beach Bar: If you walk along the beach, you will find quite a few beach bars. My personal favorite was the one at Hotel Zomay. I walked along the beach from my hotel and found this cute place with great margaritas and the swings were a perfect touch.
Where to Stay: Holbox has hotels for all budgets. I stayed at Mystique which was a 4 star hotel starting at $150 USD per night. Mystique was a 7 minute cab ride from the ferry. Most of the hotels on the island have a rustic feel making it that much authentic. But there are quite a few properties on the island that offer a bit of luxury.
Other options are Las Nubes (luxury), Hotel Mawimbi and Tribu Hostel if you’re on a budget.
Las Nubes Beach Club: If you want a taste of luxury combine with sustainability, make a stop at Las Nubes. It’s a luxury hotel with overwater bungalows that also has a nice beach club open to the public. I took a taxi to the far end of the beach to get to the property and had lunch. Prices will vary if you want a day bed.
Although I spent a short time in Holbox, I enjoyed my time there more than I did in Tulum and would highly recommend a visit if you have the time. If you’re looking to skip the crowds of Cancun, hang out at laid back beach bars and experience incredible natural beauty, make your way to Holbox!
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