Your Ultimate Guide to Holbox, Mexico

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Holbox, Mexico, is a tiny island off of the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, just a couple of hours north of Cancun. If you are looking for a hidden gem in Mexico - Holbox is for you! What makes Holbox so special? Holbox is an incredible mix of nature, adventure, and Bohemian-Mexican style.

With Mexico’s coast growing more and more saturated with tourists and high-rise hotels, it has become increasingly difficult to find a place in today’s world that feels untouched. Learn more about this hidden gem, how to get there, things to do, and how to get around.

Don’t have a lot of time? Here’s a quick mini guide to Holbox to help plan your epic adventure!

Where to Stay

• Nomade Holbox - lux

• Hotel Villas Margaritas - kid-friendly

When to Visit

• December to April: Is dry season with warm temperatures and minimal rain.

• May to September: Is whale shark season and a great time to see the stunning bioluminescence.

• October to November: Is shoulder season with fewer crowds and lower prices, but prepared for a bit of rain.

Things to Do

• Lounge on beautiful beaches

• See bioluminescence

• Swim with whale sharks

How to Get to Holbox

Getting to Holbox can feel like a bit of a trek, but let me make it easy for you.

The easiest airport to fly into is Cancun (CUN) International. From here, you will need to drive two hours from Cancun to Chiquila. Chiquila is a small town located directly across the waterway from Holbox.

Because Holbox is an island, you will need to take a ferry from Chiquila to get to Holbox. There are a couple of transportation options from Cancun:

1. Rent a car

2. Take a bus

3. Take a shuttle

Renting a Car

If you rent a car from Cancun, you WILL have to park your car at Chiquila. There are private lots available in Chiquila that typically range from $5 - $10 USD per day.

Holbox is known as the island with no cars.

Literally, there are ZERO cars on Isla Holbox. Instead, you will find golf carts. Golf carts are the main source of transport to take you from the ferry port to your hotel and all around the island. So renting a car, is not entirely necessary unless you want the freedom or flexibility to get around the Yucatan Peninsula.

Taking a Bus

One of the lowest-cost ways to get to Holbox is by taking a chartered bus. ADO is a local bus operator that has about five bus routes from Cancun to Chiquila for around $17 per way. The buses are large charter buses that fit about 42 passengers on average.

Taking a Shuttle

A private shuttle from Cancun offers a convenient and private experience to get to Holbox. But with convenience comes a price! This option typically runs about $150 per person (2023 prices). You may be able to find cheaper options, so I would say, do your research here!

The shuttle service I used was Happy Shuttle Service, and I can definitely recommend it for the convenience.

What to do in Holbox

One thing I will mention is that Holbox is located on the Nature Reserve of Yum Balam. As part of a Nature Reserve, you will find that the Reserve is protected from overdevelopment - which is why you will not find high-rise hotels, no cars on the island, and TONS activities centered around nature activities. So let’s dive in!

See Bioluminescence Beaches

There are a handful of places around the world where you can see bioluminescence, and Holbox is one of them! Bioluminescence is created by a large gathering of plankton near shorelines that illuminate light when disturbed, like when waves crash onto the beach.

The best times to see the bioluminescence are June to August.

Some of the best places to see the bioluminescence are on the southern beaches of Holbox. Similar to the transportation, you can either book a private tour or trek on your own.

Typically, if weather conditions are not great, tour operators are willing to cancel and refund the booking cost. So be sure to ask about this upfront.

Swim with Whale Sharks

Holbox is renowned for its Whale Shark presence, with one of the largest migrations that occurs in the world. Whale shark season aligns with Bioluminescence Season as Whale Sharks feed and follow the plankton migration. So you can find Whale Sharks during the summer months from mid-May to mid-September.

You may be wondering - is it safe to swim with Whale Sharks? Swimming amongst whale sharks is generally considered safe as these large mammals are considered gentle.

And if you are concerned about swimming with whale sharks ethically, my advice would be:

• Select Reputable Operators:

  • Look for operators that value animal welfare and prioritize environmental sustainability.

• Avoid touching the whale sharks:

  • These beautiful mammals are in their natural habitat and are best left undisturbed.

• Travel in a small group:

  • Large tour sizes can create stressful environments with excess noise and movement.

Explore all of the Beautiful Beaches

One thing you can expect to find on a beautiful, tropical island are plenty of beaches.

I will say a few disclaimers here:

• The quality of the water depends highly on the weather conditions.

• Compared to the turquoise waters of Cancun, the waters in Holbox are on the Northern shore of Mexico, near the Gulf of Mexico. The waters in the gulf tend to be on the greener side.

• Storms can bring more seaweed.

But if you are looking for the BEST beaches on the island, here is a shortlist.

1. Playa Punta Cocos (this one was my favorite)

2. Punta Mosquito

3. Playa Holbox

Lounge at a Beach Club

One thing Holbox is known for is its Boho-Mexican style. You will find plenty of earthy beach clubs with plenty of Macramé decor. Truthfully, beach clubs in Holbox are not as ‘upscale’ or lux as what you may find in Mykonos, Greece, but are certainly worth having a space to lounge, drink, and relax.

• Mandarina Seaside Restaurant - Mandarina is one of the best (in my opinion) beach clubs Holbox has to offer. The food was great, the lounge chairs were relaxing, and the decor is perfect.

• Club de Playa Punta Caliza - This is another beach club we lounged at - it is VERY low-key and simple, but I appreciated the local vibe.

• Fuego Beach Club Holbox - I did not make it to this beach club, BUT it is rated 4.5 starts on Google and is near some of the beautiful beaches on the South side of the island.

Explore the Town Square

Holbox is a tiny island - only 26 miles long and 1.5 miles wide with the majority of shops and restaurants located around the town square. Within the town square, you can find a mix of murals, boutique stores, a street market, a mix of low-key and upscale restaurants, and plenty of golf-cart taxis on standby to take you around the island.

Pro tip: Bring plenty of cash with you to Holbox for taxi rides. I mentioned before, but there are no cars on Holbox, and while the island is not wide, it is long. Depending on where your hotel is, you may find yourself racking up taxi rides.

The rest of the town accepts cards for the MOST part so you can shop to your heart’s will in the town center.

Dine at the most Aesthetic Restaurants

One thing that Holbox is known for is nailing the Boho-aesthetic style. As Holbox is situated on the ocean, you can expect the FRESHEST seafood and beautifully curated menus that explore the vibrant flavors of Mexican cuisine. Below is a list of some of my favorite restaurants:

• Luuma - is hand down one of the most well-known restaurants on the island. I would recommend making a reservation in advance if you are traveling during high season.

• Painapol - I LOVED coming here for breakfast and came nearly every morning. The food is fresh, light and served beautifully.

• Mr. Happy - another perfect breakfast spot, easy for simple meals in a retro/boho-style cafe.

• Basico Holbox - the macrame decor will have you swooning the moment you step inside.

My Honest Thoughts on Holbox

As a seasoned traveler to Mexico - I ENJOYED getting to explore Holbox island. After years of visiting the Yucatan Peninsula, I have repeatedly gone to Cancun, Isla Mujeres, Tulum, and Playa del Carmen - so I was more than ready to trek off the beaten path.

• The Beaches -

  • I would say I expected the water in Holbox to be as pristine and blue as what I’ve come to love in Cancun, but unfortunately, that is not the case. Holbox is situated on the northern Peninsula and in the Gulf of Mexio waters (compared to Carribean waters).

• The Currency Exchange -

  • Each day on the island, we would wake up to a new exchange rate that did not match online rates. At one point, we asked local staff at a restaurant and were told ‘the island sets the rate’. Which was so very different than anything I have experienced before.

• The Weather -

  • As you will find for most of all southern Mexico, the weather is hot, sunny and humid. Which is perfect for a tropical-loving girl like myself.

  • One thing I did NOT expect were the abundant mosquitos!

  • Right before our arrival, there was a big storm in the area. So on our arrival, we found that the roads were flooded throughout the island.

  • Looking through other bloggers’ sites - I found that flooding roads on Holbox are quite common. Unfortunately, the stagnant waters led to a plethora of mosquitos that were so uncomfortable to deal with (despite our best bug spray efforts).

I hope this was helpful and you are ready to plan the ultimate Holbox vacation! Adios!

Don’t forget to pin this post for future planning!