What to do in Holbox - Complete Guide

What to do in Holbox: Complete guide 

If you are looking for a paradisiacal destination in Mexico to disconnect and immerse yourself in nature and beauty, Holbox is the ideal place. Holbox is located north of the Yucatán Peninsula and has become popular among travelers worldwide due to its beautiful white sand beaches and turquoise blue sea.

However, Holbox has more to offer than a relaxing day at the beach. You can find activities such as swimming with impressive whale sharks, flamingo watching, exploring the mangroves by kayak, and savoring the exquisite gastronomy and seafood of the area, among others. In this guide on what to do in Holbox, you will find everything you need to enjoy an unforgettable vacation in this hidden gem of Yucatan.

 

Where is Holbox located

Holbox is located in the southeast of Mexico, in the Yucatán Peninsula. Still, as you know, this is a small island, so to get there, you must first take a ferry from Chiquilá. If you rent a car, you can leave it in the parking lots available (with cost) inside Chiquilá. If, on the other hand, you travel by private transportation with a driver, you don't have to worry about it.

To go to Holbox from Cancun or Playa del Carmen, you must first get to Chiquilá.

 

How to get to Holbox by ferry

To get to the island of Holbox, you will have to take a ferry (a must). You can take either company that operates ferries from Chiquilá to Holbox, as both have prices starting at 220 pesos per person. Ferries from Chiquilá to Holbox leave every 30 minutes, so if you arrive and the ferry is already full, you won't have to wait long to get on the next one. The ferry ride to Holbox is approximately 22 minutes.

If you are in Valladolid, Cancun, or Playa del Carmen, you need to take a taxi, shared shuttle, or private transfer to get to Chiquilá, and from Chiquilá, take the ferry to Holbox.

 

 

Things to do in Holbox

Sunset in Holbox

 

Holbox has a relaxed atmosphere and a temperate climate perfect for hundreds of activities for all travelers. Here are some of the things to do in and around Holbox.

Get to know the beautiful beaches: Holbox is home to beautiful beaches of soft white sand and crystal clear waters. Take a relaxing day at the beach while enjoying a cold coconut in a hammock or deck chair, and let yourself be carried away by the sound of the ocean waves. If you love swimming, Holbox's beaches are ideal; they have calm waters, and you can even enjoy them with children.

Beach in Holbox

Take a Kayak Tour: One of the favorite activities of thousands of travelers who visit Holbox is the kayak or boat tours, allowing you to admire the mangrove and get close to beautiful birds such as flamingos. Paddle among the great diversity of flora and fauna and enjoy the serenity of nature like never before.

Kayak Tours

Practice snorkeling: The waters of Holbox are among the most diverse in marine life and coral reefs. It is advisable to rent or buy snorkeling equipment to explore the beautiful reefs and colorful tropical fish. Without a doubt, snorkeling is one of the activities you can't miss in this beautiful paradise of waters rich in marine life.

Snorkeling in Holbox | Reef Watching

Swim with Whale Sharks: One of Holbox's most popular activities is swimming with whale sharks. You can interact with these huge aquatic beings and even take pictures with them to show off on your social networks. Lose the fear of the unknown and book a whale shark swim tour in Holbox.

Swim with Whale Shark in Holbox

Tour the island by bike: Holbox is a small island with flat terrain, allowing you to bike wherever you want. Besides being an excellent way to stay in shape during your vacation, you will get to know the city's beautiful locations at your own pace on two wheels. You can rent a bike at Bikes Holbox and Bikeland Holbox. Some hotels also include bike rentals. Rentals are by the day or hour, and prices range from 80 to 120 pesos MXN.

Bike rentals in Holbox

Visit Isla Pajaros: Isla Pájaros is a protected nature reserve in Holbox, which you can reach by boat in less than 30 minutes. Although the island has an endless number of bird species, it is only 60 meters long and wide! So your visit will be quick. You should know that Isla Pájaros has no restaurants or commercial stores, so you should be prepared with enough water.

Isla Pájaros, 10 min from Holbox

Visit Isla Pasión: Isla Pasión is known for its beautiful views. It is ideal for a couple's stroll on the beautiful pristine beaches. This island is located less than 15 minutes from Holbox. One of the travelers' favorite activities is taking a catamaran that will take them from Holbox to Isla Pasión. This will allow them to enjoy a comfortable and friendly tour while preparing to arrive at a paradise on Earth.

Flamingo at Isla Pasión, Holbox

Get to know the gastronomic offer: Holbox offers a huge variety of local eateries, restaurants, and food stalls, where you can enjoy fresh dishes such as seafood prepared in ceviche, fried fish, grilled fish, and even fried shrimp on skewers! Another popular option is Lobster pizzas.

Discover Punta Mosquito: Punta Mosquito is one of the most popular beaches in Holbox, which stands out for its beauty and tranquility. You can tour Punta Mosquito by bike or walking. One of the favorite activities of all those who visit Punta Mosquito is to take pictures at sunset or swim in the calm waters of the site. One of the wonders of this beach at the tip of Holbox is that you will find dunes in the middle of the sea, allowing you to walk in the middle of the ocean, enjoying the tranquility of the sea around you. You will also find places to rest and relax for long periods.

Golf cart in Punta Mosquito

Rest in the Hammocks of Holbox: One of the most popular attractions in Holbox is undoubtedly to visit and relax in one of the many hammocks in and out of the sea, from there you can identify thousands of photos on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook of your favorite influencers who have visited this beautiful island.

These are just some of the many activities you can do in Holbox. Buying excessive packages is unnecessary to get to know this wonderful place. You can enjoy simple tours and bike rentals or visit the public sites of the island, which by themselves will steal your attention.

Hammock at sea

Holbox Excursions

You can book one or three-day trips in Holbox if you prefer to travel with tour agencies. Usually, these trips depart from Cancun or Playa del Carmen, where most resorts are located.

Some Cancun to Holbox tours offer snacks or full meals, as these tours are usually quite long.

The best excursions in Holbox are:

1. Whale shark watching and swimming
2. Tours to the nearby islands
3. The Bioluminescence natural show

Bioluminescence Excursion in Holbox

Best time to visit Holbox

Holbox, being a Caribbean island, has a warm tropical climate most of the year; however, here we tell you about the best dates to travel to Holbox and why:

• November to February: These dates are usually the most requested, as they are high season and vacation season in most of the continent. In addition, the temperature during these dates never exceeds 30 degrees, so you can visit Holbox without having to endure excessive temperatures. However, we recommend you use sunscreen SPF+50.
• March to June: This is the ideal season to visit Holbox. In addition to having a better chance of seeing the whale shark, you can witness the phenomenon of bioluminescence on the beaches of Holbox. The weather during this season is the warmest of the year, so you should take precautions.
• July to October: In this season, you will also be able to see whale sharks and bioluminescence; however, it is not the most advisable season, as it is the season most prone to hurricanes, storms, and torrential rains.

Punta Coco Holbox

Hammocks at Punta Coco Holbox

To get to Punta Coco, walk about 2.5 km or take a golf cart for rent by time. You will find hundreds of spots for photos and videos on the way. When you arrive, you will find beautiful starfish. It is forbidden to touch them, as you could damage their habitat and well-being. On this beach, the earlier you go, the fewer people there will be so you will feel much more connected with nature.

When you arrive at Punta Coco, you can relax and enjoy the beautiful view from the pier.

Star-fish at the bottom of the sea

Where to stay in Holbox

Holbox Streets

Holbox offers an incredible range of accommodations, from boutique hotels, resorts, eco-lodges, hostels, lodges, houses, and villas for rent. In this list, we leave you with the best in each category, so you can find the one that best suits your budget and needs.

Hotels and Resorts: Holbox has beautiful all-inclusive luxury hotels and resorts of all categories. Some of the best in this category are Hotel Villas Flamingos, Hotel las nubes, CasaSandra Boutique, Mystique Blue Holbox, and Palapas del Sol. Here you will find outstanding facilities, delicious food, swimming pools, and access to the beach.

Cabins and Bungalows: Bungalows are ideal for those who love rustic environments and closeness to nature. Some of the most popular choices of bungalows and cabanas in Holbox are Cabañas de Ida y Vuelta Camping, Cabañas Los Arcos, and Villas Delfines. Although the cabins and bungalows do not have the same amenities as the luxury resorts, they can offer you an incredible experience in the middle of nature.

Hostels and Inns: In Holbox, you can find an incredible variety of Hostels and Posadas, which are ideal for those travelers who don't mind sharing their rooms and are open to the experience of meeting people from anywhere. Hostel & Cabanas, Ida y Vuelta Mezcal, Tribu Hostel, and Posada del Sol are some of the most popular hostels and inns.

It is recommended that you make your lodging reservations in advance. This is due to the high demand throughout the year, which will significantly affect the availability and prices of lodging. Explore the different types of lodging online and read travelers' recommendations about each. This will help you to broaden your travel outlook and find the style of accommodation that best suits you.

 

Where to Eat in Holbox

Restaurant in Holbox with ocean view

When visiting Holbox, you will notice that in every corner you will find more than 3 places to eat, cafes, seafood or typical dishes, of which the most popular and best rated are: Mariscos Internacional, Casa Asadores Martin, El Crustaceo Kascarudo Holbox, Las Planchas, Los pelones Holbox, Casa Alebrije, Roots, El Taco Queto, Pizzeria Edelyn, Viva Zapata, and El Hornito Argentino.

Other places that do not appear on this list but that we do not hesitate to recommend are the local food stands, where you will find everything from tacos al pastor, prepared corn, shrimp pizzas, seafood, empanadas, and even delicious desserts such as Neapolitan flan, pan dulce, among others.

 

Where to eat Lobster Pizza in Holbox

If you are looking to try the highly recommended lobster pizza. In that case, the ideal place is Roots, where you can find wood-fired pizza with incredible flavors, prices, and sizes. Another option is Crustaceo Kascarudo.

Lobster Pizza

Gourmet Food Restaurants in Holbox

For those looking for gourmet dining, the best-rated restaurants are Luuma (contemporary Mexican), Piedrasanta Holbox (Caribbean Mexican), Ser Esencia Restaurant (seafood), Maruva Beach Club (international), and Magma restaurant (Italian, Mexican, and Asian).

 

Budget Restaurants in Holbox

If you are looking for cheap restaurants to eat in Holbox, the best options are Arte Sano (vegan), Taco Queto, Alma Bar (bar), Barba Negra (seafood), La Pinsa (Italian), Las Panchas (Mexican, Caribbean, Latin).

TacoQueto Restaurant in Holbox

Coffee shops in Holbox

For many people drinking coffee is a good choice wherever you are, and Holbox is no exception to enjoying a good coffee with a tropical atmosphere. Some of Holbox's best recommendations for coffee shops are Clandestino Café, El Cafecito, A Mar Café, Tierra Mía Juice & Coffee, and Mr. Happy Holbox.

Clandestino Coffee in Holbox

We hope this guide to visit Holbox in 2023 will be helpful for your next trip. Also, check out other activities in Riviera Maya and read our Top 5 Best things to do in Isla Mujeres.