Things to Do on Isla Holbox and How to Get There
Northern West beach - where the boutique resorts are
Situated in the heart of the Yucatán Peninsula, there’s a hidden gem waiting to be explored if you’re up for an adventure. Most travelers glaze over this island as it’s small and a little hard to get to, but we promise that’s what makes it all the more special.
Imagine a sanctuary where the roads aren’t concrete but white sand. There aren’t any cars allowed — only ATVs. No major hotel chains dominating the beachfronts, but rather small boutique villas and Airbnbs.
This island is an oasis of culture and vibrant life, and we can’t recommend checking it out enough.
Everything You Need to Know About Holbox (Quick Overview)
How to go Isla Holbox from Cancun
Where to stay on Isla Holbox
Best beaches to hangout at all day
Best snorkeling spot on the island
Walk Punta Mosquito to see flamingos
How to go Isla Holbox from Cancun
Getting to Isla Holbox is no small task, but it’s totally worth the trek. Jesse and I landed in Cancun and used this as our starting point. When you leave the airport, you’re going to want to take the bus to the downtown station. We recommend taking the ADO bus, which you can book ahead of time online. This makes the process a lot easier when you arrive and ensures you get a seat on the bus. It was pretty busy, so we definitely recommend booking in advance.
Take an ADO bus from the airport to the downtown Cancun terminal, which takes about 40 minutes, and then transfer to a bus for Chiquilá, which is about a 2–3 hour drive. The downtown bus terminal can be very busy, but there are a lot of people who can help. In our case, since Jesse can speak Spanish, he simply asked the bus drivers where to wait.
Once you arrive in Chiquilá, the bus drops you off right next to the ferry terminal. You’ll need to buy your ferry tickets next to the bus stop before heading down to the docks. It’s about a 20-minute ferry ride (Holbox Express or 9 Hermanos) to the island. Ferries depart every 30 minutes, alternating hourly. Depending on your flight arrival time, it’s likely going to be dark by the time you get to the island, so make sure you have directions ready — navigating in the dark isn’t always the easiest.
Our ferry even had a man playing the saxophone. It was really lovely listening to him play as we crossed the ocean during sunset.
Where to stay on Isla Holbox
One of the many special things about Holbox is the lack of major resorts and hotel chains. The island is located entirely within the Yum Balam Flora and Fauna Protection Area, which is meant to protect its fragile ecosystems, including mangroves, beaches, and lagoons. Because of this, there are major restrictions on what can be developed on the island, including hotels, paved roads, and modes of transportation.
There are so many options when choosing a place to stay. Our biggest recommendation is to stay on the northern side of the island, as that’s where most of the action and the beaches are located.
Map of the Island Holbox
If you’re looking for a more secluded, quiet area, stay on the northeastern side. If you’re looking for higher energy, more resorts, and restaurants, then stay on the northwestern side.
Really, you can’t go wrong either way. The island only takes about two hours to walk end to end, making it easy to get around no matter where you stay.
Jesse and I opted to stay in the center zone using an Airbnb. This meant we were more in the town itself rather than directly on the beach. Even then, it only took about 10 minutes to walk to the shoreline. We liked this a lot, as it made it super easy to get groceries.
Best beaches to hangout at all day
Holbox is basically one giant beach. As long as you stay on the north side, it really doesn’t matter which direction you walk or how far, the beach stays largely the same. Picture-perfect white sand, turquoise blue water that you can easily wade into, and sunshine warming your skin.
You could walk out for so long before it got deep
If you’re looking to relax in a lounger or cabana for the day, head toward the west side. This is where all the boutique resorts are located, and you’ll find plenty of options to choose from. Keep in mind that you’ll have to pay to use these for the day, and the price usually isn’t included with food and drinks.
We found the sand on the island to be packed down quite hard. You’re not going to find fluffy sand here, so keep that in mind if you’re planning to sunbathe all day. If you don’t want to splurge on a cabana, we’d suggest packing small beach chairs or ocean floaties.
Best snorkeling spot on the island
While the beaches are some of the most beautiful we’ve ever seen, there isn’t much snorkeling directly off the shore. Often, you’ll need to book a tour to reach reefs farther out if you want to see more marine life.
That being said, we did find a hidden gem. I’m sharing this with the promise that you don’t walk away with an armful of conch shells. If you head down the beach to the west, you’ll eventually come across a man-made rock enclosure that was once used for fishing. Just to the left of this, the ocean floor is covered in beautiful conch shells. We couldn’t even count how many we saw while snorkeling along this area.
See that rock line in the water - that’s the spot I’m taking about!
Keep in mind that conch shells are illegal to take from Holbox (and Cancun in general). If you’re caught with one in your suitcase at the airport, you can be fined.
Walk Punta Mosquito to see flamingos
One of the coolest activities you can do on the island is walk along a sandbar all the way out to Punta Mosquito and see flamingos in their natural habitat. Don’t be fooled by the name — we can confirm there were no mosquitoes.
Starting point: Walk from the town center toward the beachfront and continue east until you reach Hotel Las Nubes, approximately 2.2 km from the main square. You can also bike there and lock it up — there are bike racks, as this is a very popular option.
The sandbar: Once you pass the last hotel, you’ll need to wade into the water to reach the sandbar. The depth depends entirely on the tide. At low tide, the water reaches your ankles, but around high tide, it can reach your waist or chest.
The final stretch: Follow the sandbar for another 1.8–2.5 km toward Punta Mosquito. The walk takes about 45–60 minutes once you’re on the sandbar.
Jesse trying to protect himself from the sun as we hiked across the sandbar
We recommend bringing lots of water and snacks. In total, this walk takes about four hours round trip. Walking on a sandbar in knee-deep water is harder than it looks!
Make sure to shuffle your feet as you walk — there are many stingrays in this area, and trust us, you don’t want to get stung.
Of course, if you’re not up for walking there or back, you can always hire a water taxi. They run all day long, ferrying groups back and forth.
We hope this helped you plan your Holbox vacation. Jesse and I had the absolute best time and would love to return someday.
As always, check out our other blogs! If you’re planning a larger Mexico trip and are looking for another hidden gem, check out our Yelapa posts How To Spend The Perfect Day In Yelapa, Mexico and Everything to Do and See in Yelapa, Mexico.
Cheers,
Liv and Jesse
