Traveling to Holbox: a complete travel guide

Feet on the sand, no cars around & a hammock by the beach. If this is the type of vacation you are looking for, then Holbox is the right destination for you. Visiting Holbox was one of the biggest highlights of our 10-day road trip through Quintana Roo and we cannot recommend it highly enough. In this article, we have put together a complete guide to help you organize your trip to Isla Holbox with our personal tips and opinions.

Is Holbox worth visiting?

If you are looking for mega resorts or all-inclusive trips when you barely leave your hotel, this is not the trip for you. Even though there are a few options of high-end accommodations in the island, you will be missing out on the best part of Holbox which is the simplicity, the cool and laid-back vibe of the village.

In Isla Holbox, there are no cars allowed, no paved streets. You don’t even have to pack that fancy new shoes – flip flops will be your best friend in here since the streets are all made of sand. All transportation is either done by foot (we walked A LOT), by bike or golf carts.

Being an island, it goes without saying that the biggest attraction is the sea. The beaches are almost wave-less, the type that you can walk for meters and still be only knee-deep in the water. The water is Caribbean-clear, warm and lit up by night by zillions of planktons. The attractions involve boat tours, seeing flamingos, swimming with shark whales, and, of course, chilling on hammocks by the beach with a margarita in hand.

So, to answer to the question: is Holbox worth it? For us, it is a big fat “hell yeah”! If the description I gave does not resonate with you, then there are still plenty of other things to do in Quintana Roo that might suit your style a bit better.

How to get to Holbox?

Since cars are not allowed on the island, to get to Holbox you will have to get a ferry from Chiquilá. If you are coming from Cancun, you will have around 150km to Chiquilá, which should take around 2h. Departing from the airport or the city center, there are multiple transfer services from Cancun to Chiquilá. If you have rented a car for this Mexican trip, then you will have to park it next to the port. If you still need to rent a car, check the price with Discover Cars, our trusted affiliate.

Tip about parking in Chiquilá: The price for parking is almost the same everywhere, around 100MXN per day. On the road that leads towards the port, you will see tons of parking options and people offering free spots – don’t pay attention. Our suggestion is for you to drive to the port and look from there backward because you will have to carry your own luggage, so it doesn’t make sense to park far away when the places right next to the entrance cost the same.

Ferry from Chiquilá to Isla Holbox

There are two main ferry companies: 9 Hermanos and Holbox Express. They have interspersed working hours, meaning that 9 Hermanos leaves every full hour and Holbox Express at every hour and a half. The ferry ride takes only 20min to get to Holbox. It is a nice and pleasant ride, not shaky at all.

There is no need to book a spot ahead. Depending on the time you make it to the port, simply get a ticket to the next ferry. The price is the same with either ferry company – 150 MXN per person. Payment is done by cash (9 Hermanos accepts credit card in one of the cashiers but they charge you 5% extra for that).

Where to stay in Holbox?

To paint the general picture, I can say that the simplest accommodations are located around the main square, right in the center. If you stay around this area, you can do everything on foot, no need to get a bike or a cart for going out to eat or shopping. Most of the restaurants, tour operator stores, markets & etc are located in this area.

Pro tip: If you do not want to get a cart or pay for transportation as soon as you arrive, then we suggest going to the island with backpacks or duffel bags. Rolling luggage around sandy streets is not pleasant at all.

We rented a little apartment only two blocks away from the main square and loved it. It was quite easy to reach from the port, quiet at night, and very accessible for daily activities. Unfortunately, the apartment is no longer available for rent. We will list below some other accommodation alternatives.

The hotels and properties located further away from the square are more exclusive and luxurious. For those ones, you will definitely need a golf cart to move around during the day – but most of them provide guests with bicycles or transportation.

Here are a few accommodation options if you are looking for a place to stay on Holbox Island:

• Hotel La Palapa: This is an adult-only beachfront accommodation option, with a great location and good prices for all the structures and amenities included. Get a room with a balcony to wake up with ocean views.
• Soho Boutique Holbox: Conceptual hotel option with unique decoration and a spa facility. This hotel is located a bit far away from the center, in the direction of Punta Coco.
• Hotelito Villas Holbox: This is a budget-friendly option with an impeccable location. It couldn’t be more central, located only one block away from the beach and also one block away from the main square. The hotel is simple but very well rated.
• Casa La Tortuga: This is a dream accommodation for travelers that have a passion for unique hotels. If I ever go back to Holbox, this place is high on my bucket list.

When to visit Isla Holbox?

Holbox has a hot and humid weather that lasts basically all year long. Between November and February, the region is under the influence of the “nortes”, which are strong storms coming from the north. During this season, the temperature is not so high, but the weather may be very unstable. We visited Holbox in December and had a pleasant stay with max 27°C during the day.

Rainy season is between May and October, during which it is normal to rain for one or two hours a day, but have the sun shining during the remaining hours. As a matter of fact, the weather changes incredibly fast in this region.

Hurricane season is between June and November, with August/September being the most active months. If you are traveling to Holbox to swim with shark whales, then you need to be there between June and September.

How long do you need to visit Holbox?

We stayed in Holbox for two full days and loved it. It is important to mention that the weather was amazing on both days, which means we could enjoy to the fullest and do everything that was on our list. However, if you really want to take your time, relax by the beach and still do all the tours, we recommend staying 3-4 days in Holbox.

What to do in Holbox?

To help you decide what to do once you are in Holbox, we have prepared a dedicated post about what to do in Holbox. Find out our list of 10 best things to do in Holbox here!

You can also check some activities on Get Your Guide:

General tips to know before traveling to Holbox:

• Bring cash with you. The majority of places only accept payment in cash. There is only one ATM on the island, located in the center, for which there is frequently a line.
• To rent a golf cart, you don’t need a driver’s license. However, most companies will ask you to leave a document as a guarantee.
• I loved to see that most of the restaurants and bars did not serve any single-use plastic. In the markets, there were also no plastic bags for sale. Do you part and make sure you don’t leave any trash behind when exploring!
• Don’t save on sunscreen and mosquito repellent.

Have a nice trip!

Fe & Edo