Discover Mexico's bounty island, Isla Holbox! Its pearly white beaches, azure sea, cosy restaurants and vibrant street art make this the perfect place to start or end your trip. On Isla Holbox, you can completely unwind. You can snorkel with whale sharks, spot flamingos, enjoy Mexican food and drink cocktails at one of the many beach bars. Put Isla Holbox on your bucket list soon, because this Mexican destination is not to be missed!
General information on Mexico
Are you working on a travel plan for Mexico? Then check out our tips for the best travel period, daily budget and transport to and in Mexico. You can find all information about Mexico here.
Travel guide Isla Holbox, Mexico
How to get to the island of Isla Holbox
Parking in Chiquilá
Round trips on the island of Isla Holbox
What to do on Isla Holbox? 7x great tips!
1. Walk to the sandbanks of Isla Holbox
2. Get away from it all at one of the beach clubs!
3. Explore Isla Holbox by bike
4. Discover cool street art
5. Three islands tour
6. Snorkelling with whale sharks, turtles and manta rays
7. Watch sunset at Playa Punta Cocos
The best restaurants on Isla Holbox
Our favourites addresses on Isla Holbox
How to get to the island of Isla Holbox
Isla Holbox can only be reached by boat. Any 30 minutes a boat leaves, between 05:00 and 20:30, from Chiquilá to the island. A ticket will cost you €10.50 (220 pesos) p.p. (one-way). The ferry will take you to Isla Holbox in about 20 minutes and from here you can easily walk to your hotel or take a buggy / golf cart taxi.
But how do you get to the boat? There are several options to choose from!
Parking in Chiquilá
If you are travelling with a hire car, you can park it in a paid car park in Chiquilá. Isla Holbox is in fact completely car-free. Along the road towards the port of Chiquilá, you will see signs with Parking standing. You have plenty of choice, so you are sure to find a parking space. We recommend you drive as far as possible, saves you several metres walking in the heat.
For a parking space, you pay about 100 MXN (€4) per 24hr or 50 MXN (€2) per 12hr. Keep your parking ticket safe, because you pay afterwards. You understand that without parking tickets, you're in for a nasty discussion. So make sure you also take a photo of it as soon as you receive it.
Cancun airport - Isla Holbox
Travel time by car: 2.5 hours + 20 minutes on the ferry
Day price car: from €40 per day via Sunnycars
Travel time by bus: 3 hours + 20 minutes on the ferry
Bus ticket price: from 21,- p.p via bookaway or the ADO app.
????Tip: Picking up your car can take a very long time. We arrived at 15:00 and did not leave until 17:30 (and were lucky). So we just made it to the last boat but this was hugely stressful. In other words; book a hotel in Cancun if you arrive late or make sure you book a plane ticket with early arrival times.
Also read: Rental car Mexico (online soon) for more tips!
Round trips on the island of Isla Holbox
We mentioned it above; Isla Holbox is completely car-free. This means you cannot take your hire car to the island or rent a car there. In addition, you cannot rent a scooter either. Do you have mobility problems, a large family or just don't feel like walking through the heat? Then you can rent a golf cart for a whole day for 1,000 pesos (€53).
Personally, we don't recommend this as you can walk across the island just fine. Still want to get from A to B a bit faster but don't want to rent a golf cart? Then opt for a bicycle from 200 pesos (10.60) per day.
What to do on Isla Holbox? 7 great tips!
Isla Holbox is a small island but you certainly won't get bored easily! Besides the beautiful beaches, the island has much more to offer. Read below to find out what you can do!
????Tip: We advise you to get some cash before you visit Isla Holbox! Being a small island, it also has only one official ATM. You can find it in the central square above the police station. Unfortunately, this ATM does not work more often than not, so having enough cash is not a luxury!
1. Walk to the sandbanks of Isla Holbox
The sandbank at Punta Mosquito is perhaps the most famous spot on the island. During low tide, the water is so low that a sandbank forms here. You can reach this piece of paradise by walking through the sea to the sandbank through a thin layer of clear blue water. If you are lucky, you can also spot flamingos here.
For those immediately google maps to it; it is indeed quite a long walk to Punta Mosquito. Fortunately, the sandbar starts early and you don't have to walk to the end at all. In fact, it is equally beautiful everywhere! We do recommend that you do this early in the morning, bring plenty of water and wear a hat or cap.
2. Do nothing for a while at one of the beach clubs!
Those who think of Isla Holbox think of white beaches with clear blue sea. If you walk from the centre to Punta Mosquito, you will already come across several. Some are basic with chilly hammocks and others are super luxurious with beautiful sitting areas and fine beds. Whatever your budget, you will definitely find an option here that best suits your budget.
Can't sit still for long either? Recognisable! Take these three cool games with you when you go chill out for the day!
3. Explore Isla Holbox by bike
We actually did everything on foot but we can understand that not everyone is keen on that. For the centre of Isla Holbox, you definitely don't need a bike as it is incredibly small. However, if you want to see a bit more of the island or have a stretch of beach to yourself, then the bike is an ideal mode of transport!
4. Discover cool street art
Upon arrival on Isla Holbox, you will immediately be cheerful! After all, there is an awful lot of cool street art to be found! Discover the colourful streets with bright colours and cool drawings. All street art is spread throughout the centre of Isla Holbox.
5. Three islands tour
The ‘three islands tour’ is offered in many places on the island. It is a super fun way to see more of the island. After all, the island is only inhabited by people for about 10%!
During the 3 islands tour, you will visit the Cenote Yalahau and two islands where you will have the chance to spot various birds. Think pelicans, flamingos and other bird species. Along the way, you have the chance to encounter dolphins but 100% guarantee you never have! The tour takes about 3 hours and gives you a good view of the area and lets you see the island from a different side. You pay around €25 per person. For more information or to book a tour in advance, check out the website of Getyourguide!
6. Snorkelling with whale sharks, turtles and manta rays
Of course, there are not just birds and Isla Holbox is one of the few places on earth where you can go among mid-June and mid-September 95% chance of seeing whale sharks. So if this is on your bucket list, just book a tour. A whale shark can grow up to about 12 metres long and is not dangerous. Besides, you are also likely to encounter turtles and manta rays during this tour. Unfortunately, we were on Isla Holbox in December so we were unable to swim with whale sharks.
7. Watch sunset at Playa Punta Cocos
Sunsets really never get boring! On Isla Holbox, Playa Punta Cocos is the best spot and you can watch the sun sink into the sea while enjoying a drink. We do recommend you bring mosquito spray though, after the sun goes down there are a huge number of mosquitoes!
The best restaurants on Isla Holbox
Despite the small size of the island, you have plenty of choice when it comes to great restaurants with delicious food! These are our favourites:
Painapol: Have breakfast at Painapol! Here you can choose from smoothie bowls, avocado toast, pancakes and much more. You may have to wait a while for a free table because this place is very popular. If you are not really a breakfast person and a cup of coffee with a small snack is enough then Clandestino Café the place for you! This small but fine coffee shop has, in our opinion, the best coffee on the island.
In addition, we love food markets and you could often find us at the Holbox Foodie Market. You can order food from various stalls here and then sit down at one of the tables. Not our favourite restaurants but you can get a delicious burrito at Taco Quento Many backpackers go here because they have different Mexican dishes. In terms of drinks, you don't have much choice namely cola, fanta, water or one of the lemonades. There is often a queue in the evening, but don't let this put you off. The flow is pretty smooth.
If we're talking about Mexican food then you should stop here for a while. One of our favourite joints on Isla Holbox is Antojitos Kanasin. You will find mostly locals here as it is just outside the busy part of city centre. We recommend trying different tacos here and the empanadas! In terms of drinks, you don't have much choice here either. In addition, keep in mind that not all the staff speak English well.
Prefer a slightly more European menu? Then go to Roots for a good pizza, cosy atmosphere and live music or to Oliver's For a tasty cocktail and burger!
Our favourites addresses on Isla Holbox
Isla Holbox is a tropical island and very popular! This along with the island's size make hotel prices relatively durty. However, there are some really cool options that are definitely worth your money or ideal for those on a smaller budget!
The first address is Mapache Hostel. This hostel is a must for budget travellers because for €30 you have a bed in a dormitory or for €40 a tent for 2 people. The atmosphere is laidback and you're on the beach within minutes! One advantage is that breakfast is included! The second address is Frequency. This hotel is within walking distance of the beach just off the busy streets. You'll stay in tastefully decorated igloos. Book in time, as there are only four of these fantastic cottages that can be booked from €90 a night. Want a real topper? Then check out Hotel El Pueblito. This hotel has a lovely pool and is just a few minutes' walk from the beach. The rooms are very nice and some very luxurious with a hammock, great bed and nice shower.
We recommend booking via booking.com as it often allows you to cancel free of charge up to 24 hours in advance. In addition, you only pay on location itself. This way, you don't run the risk of full accommodation. We recommend booking in time on Isla Holbox as this paradise island is becoming increasingly popular.
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