Isla Holbox - A hidden gem of the Yucatan Peninsula
Last year I came across an article for Isla Holbox and I knew it had to be the destination for my 30th bday party. It had everything that I was looking for - warm weather, clear water, colorful murals and amazing food. But what made Isla Holbox even more special was the fact it was a walkable, car-free island that has bioluminescence and cenotes nearby!
If you love Bali, more specifically Canggu, you are going to LOVE Isla Holbox. Canggu is one of our favorite places and the whole island gave us Canggu (but in Mexico) vibes. I would recommend visiting for 5 days giving yourself 3 full days for exploring and two half days to travel there and back. Here are all of our tips for trip to Isla Holbox.
Getting there
We recommend flying into Cancun airport in the morning which will allow you to be ready to leave the airport by lunchtime. Taxi prices at the airport are ridiculous so make sure to schedule a taxi to bring you to the Isla Holbox ferry before you arrive. We scheduled a taxi with Cancun Airport Transfers and it was about $65pp round trip. That price depends on how many people you have in the van with you. It is about a 2 hour ride from airport to ferry terminal (Chiquilá) so make sure you pee before hand and pack snacks.
There are two ferry companies (Holbox Express, 9 Brothers Ferry) that can take you to the island. So no matter what, a ferry leaves each side of the island every 30 minutes. It is easy to get your ticket once you are there so don’t worry about booking ahead. We recommend getting a one way ticket because depending on timing you might travel back to the mainland with the other ferry company.
The Island
Isla Holbox doesn’t have any cars - only golf carts to take you around the island. The roads aren’t paved and are BUMPY! When it rains the roads turn into muddy puddles so be aware. It was dry for us but I would just recommend wearing shoes you don’t mind getting sloppy.
The island has a few ATMS but try to get out Pesos before you arrive. They take USD but you will end up paying more so best to just get out Pesos.
The taxis charge you by distance. Our hotel was on the furthest end of the island and it cost us about $200 pesos or $10 USD for a ride anywhere.
You can rent bikes or a golf cart of your own if you want to cut down on costs of a taxi. If I were to go back I would rent bikes. Most days we would walk into town and then took a taxi back to the hotel. It was about a 30 min walk from our hotel into the town center.
We stayed at Casa HX. It was a small boutique hotel with great rooms, free breakfast, a nice pool and roof top bar. I would highly recommend staying there - we had a fabulous time!
Where to eat
Bah Bah - Smoothie bowls, grain bowls, vegan friendly
Painapol - Brunch spot, Smoothie bowls and toasts
Ser Cassandra - Fancier restaurant inside of the hotel. This spot is a MUST and you should order the shrimp pasta.
Barba negra - Tasty taco counter inside of a food market
Mandarina - Inside Hotel Casa Las Tortugas. We loved the dish - sweet potato three ways.
What to do
Cenote Yalahau - You’ll need to take a boat ride to get to this Cenote that is back on the main land of Mexico. At first I thought it was a bit out of the way since we are on the island for a reason - but I am so glad we went! Beautiful cenote and the area around it is gorgeous.
Rosa’s cooking class - A fun way to learn about local foods and recipes
Bioluminescence - Bioluminescene is best seen when there is no moon in the sky. We went about 5 days after the new moon and it was still visible. I think you will most likely always be able to see some sparkle in the water but when it is pitch black you will be able to see more of it. I recommend going on your own to the beach and walking around in the water - there is no need for a tour guide.
Walk dogs at the sanctuary - Make sure to go in the morning or early evening because during the peak of the day the sun is too hot and the dogs will not want to walk.
Kayaking - We took a kayak tour through an Airbnb guide and it was AWFUL. The guide was not helpful and the water had such a current that it was pretty hard to complete the tour. Do your research because I think it would be a fun activity with the right tour guide. I would recommend going in the morning because the water seems more calm at that hour.
Wind Surfing - None of us wind surf but the area is known for it. It would be cool to give it a go!
Explore downtown + murals - Tons of colorful murals and small shops to explore downtown. There are small markets in the streets for souvenirs and at night time you can find carts with churros and other street snacks.
Hire a Photographer - I love having my photo taken so it was important for me to have photos for my 30th birthday. We asked our hotel for a photographer and he was great! Hiram spent 2 hrs with us and we got to chose 40 photos. It was $200-$250 USD.
