Isla Holbox, Mexico Travel Guide : Things to Do, Beaches & Tips
Isla Holbox, Mexico is a small island in Quintana Roo, famous for its sandy streets, shallow water, beautiful beaches and natural surroundings. In this guide, you’ll discover the best things to do in Holbox, where to stay, what to eat and travel tips to plan your visit.
If you are into travel stories, though, read our diary at the end of this post.
First Impressions:
Same country, different world compared to the Pacific coast.
The island itself is basically a large piece of sand reaching a couple of meters out of the water. It feels deep inside nature, but we expected a laid-back place without cars.
Instead, we found a touristy little town with hotels with pools and many, many ATVs and golf carts.
The prices felt touristy as well.
Nevertheless, Holbox is a beautiful and worth-visiting place.
Where is Isla Holbox, Mexico?
Isla Holbox is located in Quintana Roo, on the northern side of the Yucatán Peninsula.
It is separated from the mainland by the Yalahau Lagoon and connected to the mainland by ferry from Chiquilá.
If you are coming from Cancún, the usual route is to travel to Chiquilá and then take the ferry across to Holbox.
The island is part of the Yum Balam protected area, which covers a large part of the region and helps preserve its natural environment.
One of the first things you notice when you arrive is that the roads around the town are sandy.
There are no normal cars like you would find in a typical town, and most people move around by walking, bicycle or golf cart.
Why visit Isla Holbox?
Holbox is a place for people who like beaches, nature and a slower pace of travel.
The most memorable thing for us was not a particular restaurant or hotel but the possibility of simply walking out into the sea.
The water around the sandbanks is so shallow that you can walk for a long time through ankle-, knee- and sometimes waist-deep water.
The island also offers kayaking and kite surfing, while at night you can look for bioluminescent plankton.
During the appropriate season, whale-shark tours are another major attraction. Current Mexican Caribbean tourism information places the season broadly from May to September.
At the same time, Holbox is more developed and touristy than we expected.
So if you are looking for a completely isolated island with almost no tourism, this probably isn’t it.
If you want a comfortable island destination with nature, beaches and plenty of activities, it is a much better match.
Best 10 things to do on Isla Holbox:
1. Walk the Mosquito Sand Bank
This is the activity we would put at the top of the list.
You simply walk into the sea.
The water can be ankle-deep, then knee-deep and eventually waist-deep, while you continue towards a little stretch of sand in the middle of the water.
The whole experience is unusual and beautiful.
For us, walking to the Mosquito Sand Bank and back took around 2–3 hours.
2. Continue towards Punta Mosquito
If you still have energy after the sandbank, you can continue towards Punta Mosquito.
It takes approximately another hour to walk there.
We didn’t make it all the way, but our host gave us useful information about the route and told us that it is supposed to be even more beautiful.
Punta Mosquito is also known for its natural surroundings, shallow water and birdlife.
Our advice is to ask a local about the current route and access conditions rather than simply heading off without information.
3. Visit Punta Cocos
Punta Cocos is another quieter area of Holbox.
It is particularly interesting around sunset and after dark, when conditions can be suitable for seeing bioluminescence.
The beach is known for its shallow, calm water and more peaceful atmosphere.
4. See the bioluminescent plankton
At night, tiny organisms in the water can produce a glowing effect when the water is disturbed.
It sounds almost too good to be true.
We wanted to experience it, but unfortunately the conditions during our stay weren’t good.
There were waves and moonlight, while the best conditions are generally dark and calm.
So this is one of those activities where nature decides whether you get the spectacular experience or not.
5. Go whale-shark watching
Whale sharks are one of Holbox’s best-known attractions.
The animals gather in the waters around the island seasonally, and boat tours give visitors the opportunity to see them.
The Mexican Caribbean tourism board currently places the main season from around May to September.
We didn’t do the tour ourselves, but if seeing whale sharks is high on your list, you should plan your trip around the season.
6. Go kayaking
Kayaking is another way to experience Holbox’s natural surroundings.
It is a good option if you want to spend time on the water without joining a larger boat excursion.
7. Try kite surfing
Holbox also has conditions suitable for kite surfing.
If you already practice the sport, it can be an interesting way to experience the island from the water.
If you are a beginner, check local conditions and instructors before going out.
8. Explore Holbox on foot
We did practically everything on foot.
And honestly, walking is one of the nicest ways to experience Holbox.
The sandy roads, small town and beach are all part of the experience.
You can also use golf-cart taxis or rent your own vehicle, but we preferred walking.
9. Watch the sunset
One of the simplest things to do in Holbox is also one of the nicest.
Find a place on the beach and watch the sun go down.
We spent our first afternoon walking along the beach and enjoying exactly that.
10. Just chill on the beach
Holbox doesn’t need to be a checklist destination.
You can simply spend the day on the beach, walk around town, eat something good and relax.
We even saw a wedding and a wedding proposal during our stay, which probably tells you something about the island’s romantic side.
Where to stay on Isla Holbox?
Depending on how much you want to walk, the location of your accommodation matters.
In the centre
The centre is convenient because restaurants, shops and the main park are nearby.
However, if you are planning to walk everywhere, we would look specifically at the right side of the centre and the main park.
From there, you can reach the centre and beach easily and are also better positioned for walking towards Punta Mosquito.
The downside is that you are further from Punta Cocos.
Near Punta Cocos
If your priority is Punta Cocos, bioluminescence and a quieter location, staying towards that side makes more sense.
The trade-off is that you will be further from the centre.
Near the beach
Beach accommodation is naturally convenient if you want easy access to the sea.
But as with most destinations, the closer you are to the beach or centre, the more expensive accommodation can become.
Further out
Some accommodation options are further from the centre and surrounded by more nature.
That can sound appealing, but remember that the roads are sandy and transportation can become less convenient.
If you plan to walk, check the exact location carefully before booking.
– Accommodation Prices in Isla Holbox:
Holbox is not the cheapest Mexican beach destination.
Our own impression was that prices were quite touristy, so it is worth comparing several options before booking.
On a budget:
Hostels and basic rooms are available.
They are the best option if you don’t need a pool, beach location or lots of facilities.
Mid range:
This is probably the category with the largest choice.
You can find small hotels and private rooms within walking distance of the centre and beach.
Location is more important than you might think, especially if you don’t want to pay for a golf-cart taxi every time you go somewhere.
Luxury:
There are plenty of more upscale hotels in Holbox, including properties with pools and beach access.
This is one of the things that surprised us about the island.
We expected something much more basic and remote, but there are actually many comfortable and stylish hotels.
Eat and drink on Isla Holbox:
We tried and liked:
- Bilu – breakfast
- Taco Queto – burrito
- Mantarraya
- Artesano – our last dinner
We also had the following places on our recommended list:
- Taquerias El Poblano
- Barracuda
- Painapol
Holbox is now also particularly associated with seafood and lobster pizza, so there is plenty of choice if you want to explore beyond the places we tried.
Our advice is to mix some local/simple places with the more tourist-oriented restaurants.
Transportation and how to get to Isla Holbox:
We came from Cancún.
After spending a night there, we took the bus to Chiquilá and then the ferry to Holbox.
The ferry from Chiquilá is the main connection to the island.
Holbox Express currently lists departures approximately every hour, with adult tickets at MXN 330. The company notes that schedules and prices can change without notice, so check before your trip.
Getting around the island:
We did everything on foot.
There are plenty of golf-cart and buggy taxis, though.
You can also rent:
- A golf cart
- A scooter
- A bicycle
One thing we noticed is that rentals are often offered by the hour and can be quite pricey.
And don’t forget that the roads are sandy.
That makes the island charming, but it also means that walking or cycling can feel different from doing the same thing on a normal paved road.
Travel Tips for Isla Holbox:
- If you like walking, choose your accommodation carefully.
- Staying on the right side of the centre/main park makes it easier to reach Punta Mosquito.
- Staying towards Punta Cocos is more convenient if that area is your priority.
- All the roads are sandy, so comfortable shoes are useful.
- You don’t necessarily need to rent a vehicle — we did everything on foot.
- Golf-cart taxis and buggy taxis are widely available.
- Rentals can be expensive when charged by the hour.
- Ask a local about the route towards Punta Mosquito.
- If you want to see bioluminescence, check the moon and sea conditions.
–Final Thoughts – Is Isla Holbox Worth Visiting?
Holbox was a little different from what we expected.
We imagined a laid-back island without cars, with very little development and lots of nature.
What we found was a small touristy town with hotels with pools, lots of ATVs and golf carts and prices that also felt touristy.
But once we accepted that this wasn’t the completely remote island we had imagined, we really enjoyed it.
Save this Isla Holbox Travel Guide for later!
As one picture equals a thousand words, visit our Instagram for more images from Isla Holbox.
Our Diary:
Day 1 – Travel
After spending a night in Cancun, we took the bus and then the ferry to Holbox.
It felt like a completely different world compared to the Pacific coast.
The island itself is basically a large piece of sand reaching a couple of meters out of the water.
It felt deep inside nature.
But our first impression was also that it was much more touristy than we had expected.
We had imagined a laid-back place without cars.
Instead, there was a small town with hotels with pools and many, many ATVs.
The prices were touristy as well.
Nevertheless, it was beautiful.
We spent most of the first day walking on the beach and enjoying the sunset.
For dinner, we went to Taco Queto and had a nice burrito.
Day 2 – Exploring the famous sand bank
After breakfast at Bilu, we headed out towards the Mosquito Sand Bank.
This was the main adventure of our second day.
You walk in the sea, where the water can be ankle-deep, then knee-deep and eventually waist-deep.
And somehow, after all that walking through the sea, you end up on a little beach in the middle of the water.
It is a very unique experience if you haven’t done something similar before.
It took us around two to three hours to go to the Mosquito beach and back.
If you want to continue towards Punta Mosquito, it takes approximately another hour.
We didn’t go all the way there.
It is supposed to be even more beautiful, but we decided we had already had enough walking for the day.
Our host was very friendly and gave us a lot of information about how to get there, so if you want to do the same, we recommend asking a local about the route.
We had also considered another activity: seeing the bioluminescent plankton at Punta Cocos.
Unfortunately, the conditions weren’t good.
There were waves and moonlight, while you really want calm water and as little moon as possible to see the phenomenon properly.
So we decided not to do it.
Our last dinner on Holbox was at Artesano.
During our time on the island, we also happened to see a wedding and a wedding proposal.
Not a bad place for either!
And then it was time to move on.
Next stop… Valladolid
