how to get there, where to stay, the most comprehensive guide for Holbox

Feb 17

Written By Alex

about holbox

“I used to come here 10 years ago, and none of this was here. There used to be a few places to stay, couple places to eat, really low-key. Let me tell you the mosquitos were horrible, you used to be able to see literal swarms of mosquitos flying around here. It was a cool escape but the little town that developed here is a nice balance” — translation of a local Mexican explaining his past visits in Holbox

Isla Holbox is a barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico. The island is most famous for having no actual roads, only packed sand roads exist on this island. Furthermore there are no actual cars. So you’re choices for transportation are… walk, bike or rent a golf cart. Whatever fits your vibe. We opted to rent a bike from our hotel

Seems like now in Holbox is the right time to travel here, there is a good balance between sustainable growth and preservation. It isn’t out of control like its cousin Tulum.

You can find peace here but you can also find some convenience

how to get there

Fly into Cancun International Airport (Cheapest international airport in region)
Take a bus, take a taxi, or take a shared shuttle to Chiquilá
BUS | ~ $15 USD
1. Take the ADO bus to ADO Bus Terminal in Downtown Cancun
2. At the ADO Bus terminal in Cancun, you buy a connection to Chiquilá
3. Take the next bus to Chiquilá (These are second class buses) not as nice as the bus to Tulum/Bacalar/Chetumal
4. It does not drop you right off at the ferry port, you have to take a moped taxi 3 minutes to the terminal. (They work for tips — we gave our driver $50 Pesos and he was more than happy)
  - Cheapest but slowest method
  - ADO official site linked above
SHARED SHUTTLE | ~$18
1. Meet shuttle service outside of terminal.
2. Wait for them to round everyone up
3. Ride directly to Holbox
  - Much quicker than bus, and not much more expensive
  - Cheapest shared shuttle you’ll find linked above.
TAXI
- Definitely book before so you don’t have to deal with the scammers. They will make up all sorts of lies as to why they have to extort you. Good site linked.

A moped Taxi taking us to the Chiquilá Ferry Port

Where to Stay

Although Holbox is over 20 miles long, the actual city, where people live, is very small. The entire area is only a 3 x .7 mile area (4.5 x 1 Kms)

This narrows down the lists of possible places to stay. I’ll break it down in terms of your main priority.

OUR FAVORITES

PUNTA CALIZA

~ $200 a night

A block from the beach
The most aesthetically pleasing hotel you’ll find — photographers paradise
Each room has their own individual door leading to the pool
Great breakfast
Hotel is so pretty it can actually get you away from the beach

El Nido Hotel

~$125 a night

El Nido does an amazing job bringing Tulum to Holbox. From the style to the ambiance, this hotel is a getaway within itself. Set on the outskirts of town this hotel has everything you need right here. From bike rentals to meals to drinks. It’s amazing place to unwind and not worry about the little things without breaking the bank.