Isla Holbox, which in Yucatec Maya means “black hole”, is one of Mexico’s best-kept secrets, an island approximately 41.84 kilometers (26.00 miles) long and 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles) wide located north of the Yucatan Peninsula, in Quintana Roo State. It falls under the Lázaro Cárdenas Municipality and is part of the Yum Balam Biosphere Reserve.
The car-free island, which falls between the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico and separated from the mainland by the Yalahau Lagoon, was founded in 1854.
How do you get to Isla Holbox Mexico?
There are a couple of ways to get into Isla Holbox. First, take a bus or ride to a small fishing village called Chiquila. From the mainland town of Chiquila, take a 30 minutes ferry trip to Isla Holbox. The other option is to take a flight from Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, or Cancún to Isla Holbox.
Things to do in Isla Holbox, Mexico
It is one of the best travel locations in Mexico with a growing tourist industry in the form of whale shark viewing and bird watching. The island is considered a paradise for bird watching as the 10 km Yalahau Lagoon separating it from the mainland is home to flamingos, pelicans, and other exotic birds. Visitors can also swim beside the whale shark and other beautiful aquatic creatures from June to September before the hurricane seasons when the island is evacuated to avoid damages from hurricane winds.
Isla Holbox is a car-free island, a quiet and relaxing getaway spot far from the hustle and bustle of the mainland, most residents and tourists explore the depth of the island by bikes, golf carts, or moped.
Other impressive things to do in Isla Holbox include eating the famous delicious pizza, enjoying the magical sunset at the beach, a tour of three islands, and watching the incredible bioluminescence in Punta Cocos, a lagoon at the western tip of the island.
