Isla Holbox

Isla Holbox is one of several islands on the Yucatán Peninsula! Compared to Cozumel and Isla Mujeres, it is a lot smaller and you won't see any cars there, only golf carts. The dirt roads immediately make you feel like you're on an island. Are you flying to Cancún? Then Isla Holbox is an ideal stop to start your trip relaxed. If you also fly back via Cancún, you can also choose to visit this beautiful island last. 

How to get to Isla Holbox

From the port town of Chiquilá take the ferry to Isla Holbox. The ferry leaves every 30 minutes (from about 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.). No need to book tickets in advance! Once you arrive in Chiquilá you can buy tickets near the boarding point, after which you will arrive on Isla Holbox after a trip of +/- 20 minutes. Because the island is small you can easily walk to your hotel, or take a cab (golf cart).

 

Traveling with a rental car? You can park your car in a paid, also guarded, parking lot in Chiquilá for 100 Mexican Pesos per 24 hours. This works out to about €5.00 per day (May 2022). When you have almost reached the port you will see several people along the road already waving that you can park your car with them. Make sure they do not charge an above average price.

 

Are you traveling from Cancún? Then it is about a 2-hour drive to Chiquilá. From Valladolid you can get there in about 2 hours and 15 minutes. 

Things to do at Isla Holbox?

The island is not very big, so you do not need to spend many days to have seen the entire island. It is and always will be a wonderful place to relax, so choose how many days you want to spend on the island.

Rent a golf cart

The golf cart is the most common means of transportation on the small island. All the more fun to rent one yourself and explore the island in its entirety. After all, you'll be on the other side of the island in no time. 

Explore Isla Holbox's street art

Isla Holbox is rich in street art. If you walk around the center you will automatically come across several beautiful murals. Fun to add to your photo collection from your trip through Mexico!

Activities

Should you be a bird lover you can book the 3 Islands tour to visit:

  • Cenote Yalahau
  • Isla Pajaros
  • Passion Island

Here you can spot the various species of birds, such as flamingos (with a little luck) and pelicans, among others. I did not do the tour myself because I heard that the islands themselves are not extremely beautiful and I am not such a bird lover.

 

Another tour you can do on the island (as well as some other places along the coast in southern Mexico) is swimming with whale sharks. 

Let's go to the beach!

Punta Cocos

Whether you begin or end your trip (or you go somewhere in the middle), a little relaxation comes with the territory. Spending an afternoon on the beach isn't so wrong. The beach clubs and beds point themselves as you walk to the beaches, but you can also just lay your towel under a palm tree.

 

Because of its convenient location in relation to the ocean, there is virtually no seaweed on Isla Holbox's beaches. When I was there in May 2022 there was a little washed up on the beach. One of the beautiful beaches is Punta Mosquito, where you can walk through the sea to the sandbar for a nice walk.

 

Punta Cocos, located at the west end of the island is a nice beach to watch the sunset. You will see the stars extra well from this spot! Be prepared for mosquitoes, though, so put a bottle of anti-mosquito spray in your backpack.

 

Bonus tip: with a little bit of luck, you will have a private beach at Casa Blanca.

The sandbank in the sea at Punta Mosquito

Restaurant tip: Eat Isla Holbox's signature dish!

According to many, the lobster pizza is the island's signature dish. There are only a few restaurants that serve this pizza (€€€), of these, Roots is the most popular/most famous. You will pay more than you would pay on average for a pizza, but it is definitely a must try. 

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