Entering Isla Holbox’s sun-baked coastline is like joining a private club you wish you’d known about years ago. This tiny island, measuring just 26 miles long and a mile broad, is situated where the Caribbean Sea’s turquoise waters meet the Gulf of Mexico’s green waters, off the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. Sandy streets, Caribbean-themed structures, and the splutter of golf carts, which are one of the island’s primary sources of transportation, set the scene for a location unlike many others in Mexico.
Isla Holbox is no longer the idyllic, rural island getaway it once was. The appeal of its Instagrammable yoga shalas, palapa-thatched bungalows, and hammock groves worked well, and today there are far more visitors and upscale hotels than in the past. Even so, this sunny island is a nice respite from Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum’s mainland throng where automobiles are prohibited and bare feet are favoured.
How to Reach Isla Holbox
The effort needed to reach Isla Holbox is part of its appeal. The distance from Cancun aids in filtering out the noise and maintaining a tranquil ambience.
Although there is a small airport on Isla Holbox for private aircraft, most passengers arrive in Cancun first. To get to the port city of Chiquila, the final mainland stop before Isla Holbox, from Cancun, you may either drive there or board the ADO bus.
Renting a car will require you to leave it at Chiquila as Isla Holbox is a car-free island. Parking costs may be negotiated in a few of the smaller lots. Taxis are another option but be prepared to pay high prices to get to the boat station. The most practical and economical choice is ADO.
One of the biggest bus companies in southern Mexico is called ADO. Their buses are secure and cosy with roomy, reclining seats and air conditioning. They depart towards the port town of Chiquila from locations all around the Cancun area, including the downtown terminal, airport, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum. Tickets may be purchased at the ticket window at different bus terminals, online, or through the ADO app. To give you an idea, the trip takes approximately two hours and costs around 344 pesos (about $20) one way from Cancun to Chiquila.
The next step is to board the ferry that transports people to Isla Holbox from Chiquila every hour. The trip is a short 15-minute skip in a nice (and air-conditioned) catamaran over the tranquil strait. Tickets cost around 220 pesos ($13).
The best hotels to Stay in Isla Holbox
On Isla Holbox, lodging options range from eco-lodges to upscale beachside hotels. And despite the island’s growing notoriety, a bohemian spirit infuses everything.
Ser Cassandra is recommended by the luxury travel agency Journey Mexico to its customers for the greatest overall experience, meals, and service. This boutique hotel’s emphasis on art is aimed to give visitors the impression that they are staying in a beachside gallery with spectacular ocean views. Tile floors, pristine white linens, and exposed beams on the ceiling characterise the rustic-chic style of the rooms.
Nomade Holbox provides 30 apartments made with eco-friendly materials for a romantic retreat. This hotel will seem similar to those who remember Tulum in its earlier days since it offers luxurious glamping tents, beachside suites, and tree huts in the jungle to enable visitors to get in touch with nature. Every view of the hotel looks like a flawless image from a carefully manicured Instagram feed.
Even if you’re not staying, Zach Rabinor, CEO and creator of Journey Mexico, stated, “It’s worth stopping by for a day pass, lunch or dinner.” The building is absolutely impressive, the setting is excellent, and the wellness programme is exceptional.
Nomade Holbox is one of the top restaurants on the island, according to Rabinor. Advice: Get the Chilly Queen drink, which features sour orange, strawberry, basil, Ojo de Tigre mezcal, and Ancho Reyes liqueur.
To find Punta Caliza, venture outside of the city. The tiny turquoise pool is surrounded by suites with A-frame palapa roofs, giving the impression of being in a hidden aquatic hamlet. The interior has tile floors, decorative wooden details and clean, white linens, giving the rooms a homely bungalow feel.
The Robinson Crusoe-inspired Las Nubes is maybe the furthest away from civilization. The fact that this hotel is the last on the island before the beach is engulfed by mangrove vegetation gives it an “edge-of-the-earth” atmosphere. Around a tiny, turquoise pool, a group of bungalows with thatched roofs are positioned. Due to its spacious, light interiors and terraces with beach views, the Master Suites are the lodgings to reserve here. To enjoy the stunning turquoise seas, make your way out to the sandbar. Although the island’s atmosphere has changed over the years, this location shows that there are still some quiet areas to be found.
The Best Activities to Do in Isla Holbox
It’s understandable why Isla Holbox was a haven for backpackers for so long. Buildings with thatched roofs and bright colours like neon green, pink, turquoise and canary yellow border the sandy streets. Golf carts, ATVs, and beach cruiser motorcycles are used by both tourists and locals to move around as open-air cantinas erupt with rhythmic island music.
For visitors trying to disconnect from the outside world, the island’s bustling Centro sector may feel overwhelming. But you can get a little bit of quiet if you travel to the beaches that are farthest from the city.
Top Places to Eat on Isla Holbox
The Centro area of Isla Holbox is where the majority of the island’s eateries and bars are found. Despite being the most crowded area of the island, it also has the greatest choice of restaurants.
On Isla Holbox, the tastiest foods come directly from the ocean, as would be anticipated. The seafood on Isla Holbox is superb, whether you’re eating sea bass sashimi at Ser Esencia or cutting up slices of wood-fired lobster pizza at rustic-bohemian Roots.
As you munch into flavorful, plump and juicy meat-and-vegetable tacos at Barba Negra or sink your toes into the sand while nibbling on ceviche in a swing seat at the seaside bar and restaurant Raices, the flavours don’t stop there. Particularly known on the island for its fresh fish and prawn tacos, Las Panchas is a local favourite. Additionally, regulars like Milpa, a family-run restaurant famed for its exquisite tasting menus that are worthy of a Michelin-starred dining room but are served in a fairly casual atmosphere.
