We spent 3 nights at this chilled-out island that’s nestled within the Yum Balam Nature Reserve off the coast of the Yucatan. Holbox Island (pronounced Hol-Bosh) is home to perfect white-sand beaches and super clear turquoise waters. Cars aren’t allowed here because the streets are made of sand (literally), so you’ll need to walk everywhere, or you could hire a golf cart or bike (like we did).
We didn’t just like Holbox – we loved it!
Yup, with its laid-back vibe, colorful street art, and tasty local eats, Holbox Island remains one of our favorite places in Mexico. I say, visit this sleepy island quickly before it becomes overrun with tourists.
How did we get to Isla Holbox?
Isla Holbox is a long, thin island (it’s 26 miles long but only 1 mile wide) on the Northern coast of the famed Yucatan Peninsula. It’s over two hours from Cancun, and the closest mainland town is Chiquilá (it’s from here you get the ferry to the island).
There are two ferry companies that operate this route – and one runs on the hour and the other on the half hour. So, it’s safe to say there are regular ferries going back & forth to Isla Holbox daily.
We took an ADO bus from Cancun to Chiquilá (this took around 1.5 hours) and from there we hopped on a ferry to Holbox, which takes about 45 minutes. Our total journey time was around 3 hours. From what I remember, the ferry cost us $300 MXN each way.
Alternatively, you could book a private transfer as far as Chiquilá from any othe towns in Yucatan – this is pricey at around $135 per taxi (that will fit up to 4 people).
Where to stay on Isla Holbox:
We booked 4 nights at Holbox Dream Beach Front Hotel, and it was a bit of a splurge, but still reasonably priced considering it’s right on the beach (we paid around $70 USD per night). It’s a 4-star hotel with a pool that looks onto the ocean, and as I said, it is just steps away from the beach!
If you’re on a budget, Tribu Hostel is an excellent choice. This colorful, social hostel is just 50 meters from the beach and offers rooms for around $50 USD per night.
Is Isla Holbox worth visiting?
Oh, 1000% yes – Isla Holbox is worth visiting!
This sleepy, quiet island likely won’t remain this way for long (I really hope it never changes), but I just know its popularity is about to surge. Isla Holbox is our favorite island in Mexico – we loved that there are no cars here, hell, no shoes are necessary as the streets are made of sand. The beaches boast soft white sand and turquoise water, and all the buildings are painted in bright colors. It’s charming, colorful, and unlike any place I’ve visited before.
How many days do you need in Isla Holbox?
Even though the island is small, it sure packs a punch in terms of things to see and do. So, I’d recommend spending a minimum of 3 nights on Isla Holbox. We spent 5 nights here and it was the perfect amount of time for us, as it meant we could tick off all the tours we wanted to do (swimming with whale sharks and the bioluminiscence tour) and have a few relaxing beach days.
How much money do you need a day in Holbox?
We probably spent around $150 USD each per day here, which included our hotel, two meals out per day (breakfast was included at our hotel), and a tour per day.
If you’re on a budget, you could get away with spending $50 per day – that is, if you stay in a hostel (we liked the look of Tribu Hostel) and eat street food/ cook in most of the time.
When should I visit Isla Holbox?
Hmmm, it depends on what you want to get from your island experience. The best and most popular time to visit is between December and March – we visited in February and the weather was warm (hanging around 25 Celsius / 77 Fahrenheit) and it wasn’t humid. But it was busier than we expected – not Cancun busy, but we found the restaurants in town to be busy and the main beach, too. We were glad we had booked all our tours in advance.
From March to May, it gets hotter and more humid, but it’s not quite the rainy season yet. The wet season here starts from mid-May and continues into November. During these months, you may experience tropical storms, and there will be more rainfall (although the rain typically doesn’t last long). There will be more seaweed on the beaches at this time, too.
If you’re keen to see the whale sharks, remember the season here runs from May to September.
What we did in Isla Holbox:
Swimming with whale sharks
Swimming with whale sharks is my top thing to do if you’re visiting the island between May and September. Imagine swimming with these huge creatures (they’re the largest fish in the world) on this full-day snorkeling with whale sharks tour that departs from near the Holbox sign. It costs from $200 USD per person but is a truly bucket-list-worthy experience.
Checked out the bioluminescence
You can see bioluminescent waters at night here on Holbox, a magical phenomenon that makes the ocean glow. The best place to see this wonder is at Punta Cocos on the western tip of the island.
Kayaking through the mangroves
Go kayaking through the mangroves on Holbox on this half-day small group tour. It’s a great way to see this unique ecosystem, and you’ll likely see crocodiles, flamingos, rays, and pelicans as you paddle along. It costs from $53 USD per person.
Rented a bike to explore the island
The best way to see the island is to rent a bike; there are a few bike rental stores in the town, or you may be able to hire a bike from your hotel (that’s what we did).
We spent a full day on our second day cycling most of the island now, we didn’t see it all – as I said, it’s 26 miles long. But, we did find some hidden gem beaches like Punta Cocos.
Now, I will add that it can be tough cycling the mostly sandy paths on the island, so if you prefer, you can also rent a golf buggy to explore the island – again, there are a few stores in town that you can rent these from. And you don’t need prior experience (they’re pretty easy to drive, anyway!)
Discovered hidden beaches
Although we did spend an afternoon checking out the cool beach bars along Playa Holbox (the main beach) on the day we rented our bikes, we were keen for some crowd-free sunbathing, so we set off in search of the beaches in Yum Balam Nature Reserve. The receptionist at our hotel told us the beaches over here were crowd-free and had more of a rustic/wild feel. And she was right.
We also came across Punta Cocos on our bike ride, and I think this may be my favorite beach on the island. It’s the furthest beach from town (pretty much on the opposite side of the island) and it’s home to one quirky beach bar – Holbox Magico -its bright pink hammocks are what caught my eye.
Wandered the town
Holbox town is small (tiny even), instead of pavements it’s a sandy street and there aren’t any cars to watch out for – just golf carts. You can walk around here barefoot! Really, it’s my kinda town.
We came here most mornings for a wander and to grab a coffee from Complemento. Then, we’d stroll over past the various street art murals and walk back to town for some lunch – we tried Rosa Mexicana (we ate here twice) and Capitán Capitán Beach Club and both were awesome.
Went birdwatching
And if you’re into wildlife, especially birdwatching, you’re in luck – Holbox is packed with cool bird species like flamingos, frigates, and pelicans.
There’s even Isla Pájaros (aka Bird Island), which is home to over 35 different species of birds.
Checked out a Cenote
Cenotes (a natural sinkhole that ancient Maya saw as a gateway to the underworld) are unique to the Yucatan Peninsula. We visited a few in Bacalar and Tulum, and there’s one a 30-minute boat ride from the island called Yalahau Cenote, that’s well worth checking out.
Really, the only way to get there is on a guided tour, and this half-day tour (it’s around 3.5 hours long) visits the cenote as well as Isla Pajaros, which I mentioned above. It’s priced at $250 USD per group (up to 4 people allowed).
My top tips for visiting Isla Holbox:
- Bring enough cash – there are only a few ATMs on the island and they can often be out of service, so bring enough cash (MXN) with you. Many places do accept credit/debit cards on the island, but again they can be down at times – be it due to internet or technical issues.
- Pack eco-friendly sunscreen and insect repellent to protect the island’s delicate ecosystem.
- WiFi is available throughout this island, but it can be slow.
Thanks for Reading!
I really hope you enjoyed reading about my favorite things to do in Isla Hobox. It honestly is one of my favorite spots in Mexico, I just love its lowkeyness, and I can’t wait to return soon!
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Last Updated on October 23, 2025 by snaphappytravel