Holbox: Everything You Need to Know Before You Visit

Truth be told, I did not want to write about Holbox. Why? Because it is, hands down, one of my favorite places to visit. It is my little secret that I didn’t want anyone to know. Is that bad? Yes. Of course, it is. Everyone should have the opportunity to visit Holbox. So here it is. I want to share everything I know about Holbox. I will have a series of blogs that will be a useful resource. Trust me, this a must for your bucket list.

In this blog, I will talk about EVERYTHING I know and will be useful to you before you go to Holbox. This information will save you money and time, and it will allow you to enjoy your time in Holbox.

Holbox: Everything You Need to Know Before You Visit

Before You Go Holbox

When to Go

Deciding on when to go to Holbox is a big question that depends on your budget and what you want to do. I have been to Holbox in both peak times and the rainy season. The peak season, like every other tourist destination, is hectic. Hotels and airfare are more expensive, but there is a reason why it’s the busy season. I have also visited Holbox during the rainy season, and let me tell you, it only rained once, and it rained for about 30 minutes. I prefer the rainy season because the weather is cooler and there are fewer tourists.

Deciding when to go will depend on you. I can tell you first hand that both the peak season and the rainy season are ideal times to go. The big question that you have to ask yourself is when can you go and how much do you want to spend. Holbox is an already expensive place to visit and in the peak season, it is more expensive. If you want to save money and have cooler weather, I would recommend the rainy season. Like I mentioned it only rained once while I was there and it rained for about 30 minutes.

Book Hotel Early

When you do research, you will quickly find that hotels are not cheap. On the contrary, they can be expensive. Make sure you book your hotel stay early. This will help ensure that you get the price and that you get the best hotel in your budget.

TIP: The island is small, so if you want to save money, don’t stay at a hotel directly on the beach. It will take you about 5 minutes to walk to the beach from anywhere you are staying. There are plenty of places to lay out and enjoy the views.

Make Reservations

If there is something that you want to do, make reservations. There are trendy restaurants like Basico that get filled up, and it’s impossible to get in without a reservation. Make your reservation and save yourself the disappointment.

If there are any tours or activities that you want to do, make sure you also make reservations. Peak season activities get filled up quickly.

What to Do in Holbox

Holbox is a destination for pure relaxation. You can live in your bikini the entire time. If laying out at the beach is all you want to do, then the is perfectly fine. However, there are many other things to do. Here is the list:

Find Murals

There are so many murals all over the island. Take a couple of hours and go find them. You will be amazed a the beautiful murals that are painted all around the island.

Check Out Different Beaches

There are several beaches that you can go to and check out. My favorite part about the island is that you can walk along the shore to get to the beaches. Once you find your favorite beach, layout sip and a margarita and enjoy the view.

Bioluminescence Tour

This is a must-do! I looked up how many locations there are in the world to see bioluminescence, and not one of the blogs I read mentioned Holbox. Go. It was one of my favorite activities I did while in Holbox. It is one of the low-key spots to go on a bioluminescence tour.

There are several different options for the tour. You can go kayaking, on a boat tour, or a golf cart. The boat tour will take you deeper into the ocean and I’m sure it is very beautiful. However, I can tell you from personal experience, I went on the golf cart tour and it was fast and easy and the views were breathtaking. It was a private tour and we were able to swim in the water for 45 minutes.

TIP: If you want to go without a guide, you can walk to the spot yourself if you would like. You can walk along the shoreline to Punta Coco and there you are. You can also rent a golf cart and drive there. Make sure you take all of your belongings to ensure nothing goes missing.

Rent a Golf Cart

Rent a golf cart for a couple of hours and cruise around the island. Get to know the entire island and check out all the places you would otherwise not see while walking.

Rent a Bike

Grab a bike and cruise through the island. You can go everywhere and enjoy all the nooks and crannies of the island.

Swim with Sharks

The season to swim with whale sharks is from May-September. You can book your tour with any tour company in Holbox.

Eat. Eat. Eat.

There are so many excellent restaurants in Holbox. So many. You can enjoy lobster pizza, caracol al carbon, ceviche, steak, marquesitas, chilaquiles, and so much more! What I love about the food in Holbox is that you can either go the route of fine dining or eat delicious tacos on the street. Either way, you will find that the food is delicious in Holbox.

Watch a Sunset

This has been one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen. Find yourself a nice place on the beach, or even better in the water and enjoy the beautiful sunset.

Go Fishing and Eat Ceviche

You can go on a tour where you go fishing and then eat the fish you catch estilo Ceviche.

Drink Mezcal

I am a tequila lover. Hello, my family is from Jalisco, so that is an obvious love. However, I have come to love mezcal. In Holbox, you will find craft cocktails with Mezcal everywhere. There was not one drink I did not enjoy. Try Mezcal, I have a feeling you will love it.

Walk Around the Town

The town is super cute, filled with restaurants, shops, bars, and locals hanging around. It’s fun to walk around and get to know the town.

How to Get to Holbox

This is one of the most important questions asked. Holbox is a small island close to Cancun, but to actually get to Holbox requires a little more planning. There are several different options to get to Holbox. You can either rent a car, take a shuttle, or catch a short flight. How you get there will depend on your budget and time. Unless you are catching a flight, you will drive to Chiquila. Once you get to Chiquila you will go on a 30 minute Ferry Ride to Holbox. From there, you will catch a golf cart cab ride to your hotel. Below is all the information in more detail.

Rent a Car

Unless you are flying to Holbox, which you can, for $500-$700, you will be going to Chiquila and catching a Ferry to Holbox. You can rent a car in Cancun or Playa and drive to Chiquila. If you are driving, you will park your car in a parking lot in Chiquila. There are so many parking lots, and they are all safe. You want to park as close to the ferry as possible to avoid a long walk. They will charge you 100 pesos per day. Parking your car here is very common and very safe. Make sure you save your ticket because they will charge you when you pick up your car.

Fly From Cancun

You can catch a short flight from Cancun to Holbox. You will land in a tiny airport close to Playa Coco. AeroSaab offers the option for a private plane for up to 5 people and it will cost from $500-700.

Take a Shuttle

This is such an affordable and effortless way to get to Chiquila. You can now catch Holbox Shuttle from Cancun. The shuttle will pick you up at the airport and take you directly to Chiquila.

Catch a Ferry

Once you park your car, you will have to walk over to purchase your ferry ticket. There two ferry companies to choose from, and they leave every 30 minutes. One company, 9 Hermanos, departs on the top of every hour. Holbox Express departs every half an hour. The ferry ride is about a 25-30 minute ride.

TIP: You can buy your tickets there, no need to buy in advance. The price is 200 Pesos per person each way and the shuttles leave every 30 minutes.

Arriving in Holbox

Once you get off the ferry, you can walk over and get in line to get a golf cart cab ride to your hotel. The rates vary depending on the time of year you go and how busy the taxis are. Completely worth it. Plus, it is so much fun to catch a golf cart cab ride.

My Holbox Travel Tips

Here are my tops tips that will help you while you are in Holbox. These are things you don’t really think about, but are really helpful.

Take Cash

Take cash. Let me repeat myself. Take Cash! I cannot stress this enough. Yes, most restaurants and hotels will take your card, and you will have no problem. However, you will need cash for cabs, street vendors, tips, and any other necessity. The ATM fees on the island are incredibly high. The closer you are to the hotels, the higher the fees. They charge you a % of what you withdraw. Avoid this by taking enough cash and when you can pay with your card.

Cell Service is Very Limited

Very very limited. You should plan a no service vacation while in Holbox. Enjoy your time in paradise with no distractions.

Don't Expect Wi-Fi

Ok, so it’s not terrible, but it’s bad. Hotels and restaurants will have Wi-Fi, but the connection will either be slow or inconsistent.

Learn Some Spanish

Yes, Holbox has become a tourist attraction; however, be prepared to speak Spanish. Many locals don’t speak English, or their English is limited. Learn some Spanish words and be ready to adapt.

Download and Save Information Before Arriving

Since the Wi-Fi service is minimal, you want to be sure to get all your hotel info downloaded before you arrive.

It's a Laid Back Vibe

Being laid back is the island vibe. 100%. Don’t expect to come here and get all glammed up and hit the town. Expect to get glammed up and wear a cute outfit with flats. Everyone wears flats or walks around barefoot. Everything about this island chill mode. Enjoy it.

Plan to Stay 3-4 Days...at Least

If you want to enjoy Holbox for what it is, then you need to plan for 3-4 days…at least. Why? Because you will want to enjoy the beautiful beaches, restaurants, nightlife, and tours. You need to give yourself the time to be able to enjoy everything without feeling overwhelmed.

Like I said, estoy super enamorada de Holbox, and I want to be able to give you all the information I know to help you plan your vacation. What tips do you have to share?