We have visited many beaches during our adventures around, but one of our favorites so far has been Isla Holbox. Let me say it again - grain of sand for grain of sand, we would put Holbox up against any of the
other beaches we visited during our year in Mexico.

Holbo”sh” as it’s pronounced is one of the most geographically unique places in Mexico. This car-free island is located on the very north tip of the Yucatan Peninsula and separated from the mainland by a Nature Reserve that is home to flamingos, pelicans, sea turtles and whale sharks. You won’t find much cell signal or wifi and it’s not unusual to lose power out here.

The beach slowly turns in to a sandbar that seems almost endless and you can wade to your heart’s content with the water coming no higher than your waist.

Don’t miss the above video where we take you by car driving from the cancun area, cross the ferry, walk the beach, take you on a villa tour, grab some food, enjoy the sunset and even witness the bioluminescent plankton that come out at night.

Isla Holbox Travel Tips

Isla Holbox is the vacation that everyone pictures in their mind when they think of white sand, beach drinks, and getting on Mexican time. The beach area itself is very wide without that feeling that its owned by beach front restaurants and the water stays shallow far out into the ocean. When it’s time to go swimming you can go 50 ft out into the water and still only be knee deep!

best time to visit

When we visited in August of 2019 there was still a noticeable lack of annoying vendors trying to sell you bracelets and other souvenir crap. Although Isla Holbox is near Cancun, it is much less touristy than any beach you’ll find right in Cancun/Tulum area. Just be sure to stay clear of early spring or you’ll be up to your ears in Spring Breaker - unless that’s your thing of course.

How to get there

While still technically connected to mainland Mexico by a strip of land, the main area of Holbox is only accessible by ferry. I mean- you could try to drive out there but there aren’t roads and there’s lots of bugs. Good luck!

The ferry runs out of Chiquilá every half hour. It costs about 200 Pesos (about $8 USD) and is a 30 minute trip.

Know Before You Go

Bring pesos with you

Bring your Pesos with you. While there are ATMs on the island, lots of places only take cash and the lines can get long for the ATM. Then again, you’re on island time so maybe you don’t mind waiting.

beware of slow internet

When we visited Holbox in 2019, the internet was nothing spectacular. Let’s just say Holbox isn’t going to be ranking high on TOP DIGITAL NOMAD lists anytime soon. The data through Telcel was abysmal and a lot of places in town had Wifi that was spotty and not worth connecting to.

noisy city center

The center of town can get noisy with everyone driving around golf carts and four wheelers without mufflers. We were really happy we booked further out of town. If you’re into the hustle and bustle of the city center, just bring some ear plugs.

What to Do in Holbox

Snorkel with whale sharks

Whale sharks tours out of Holbox are a thing, but the boat ride takes almost three hours. If this is the only spot you’re visiting, then you should go ahead and book a tour. They’re definitely worth going on. If Isla Mujeres is on your destination list, then we recommend going to see the whale sharks there. It’s easier to go to the whale shark hotspot from there. Check out our Ultimate Isla Mujeres Travel Guide for more info on that.

Bioluminescence Tours in Holbox

Bioluminescence is a phenomenon where the water off the shore is illuminated by micro-organisms that light up when they hit the waves. It can only be seen at night but sometimes it’s so bright that you can even see fish in the water!

You can easily skip the paid bioluminescence tours and just head to the North side of the island yourself. Just rent a bike or take a taxi. No need to pay for a tour to go out and see it if you’re on a budget.

Our best advice for doing this on your own is to wait until about an hour after sunset when the sunlight was completely gone to be able to see the lights. All of a sudden it was like the waves were “turned on”.

If you’re not a budget, book away with any of the tour providers! There is just an education component etc that we just weren’t interested in. We just wanted to splash in the water and see it get pretty.

Where to Stay in Holbox

If you’re staying in Cancun, Isla Holbox is roughly a 2 hour commute. We recommend just staying in Cancun at the various resorts, Airbnbs, or Agodas.

We do have a couple recommendations if you’re planning to stay in Isla Holbox, though.

Hotel/Resorts

Marvin Suites is a great budget-friendly option.

For a bit more luxury, check out Villas HM Palapas del Mar.

Rental homes/apartments

For a rental within a budget, check out Casa Sirenas for an eccentric stay!

La Casa de Juan is a beautiful bungalow right on the beach and is a big place if you’re traveling in a group.

Insider Tip

the nature is real

The mosquitoes are Michigan summer level terrible. If any of you are from the Midwest of the States, you know what we’re talking about. Be prepared with bug spray and maybe even a net.

Make sure you don’t step on any horseshoe crabs when you’re walking out to the sandbars!