Things To Do In Holbox Island, Mexico

 

If you are looking for things to do in Holbox, you got to the right place. This idyllic tiny island off the Yucatan Peninsula has no cars and no paved roads. It’s the perfect peaceful getaway from the noise and bustle of Cancun, which is only 40 miles away! If you’ve already enjoyed the Riviera Maya beaches, it’s time to have a different experience in Holbox.

This off-the-grid island can be reached by ferry in about 2.5 hours. Although it doesn’t have the amenities of a big city like Cancun, there are still plenty of things to do in Isla Holbox that will make for a relaxing (or adventurous!) few days away.

Things To Do In Holbox

Bioluminescence Tour, One Of The Top Holbox Attractions

Bioluminescence is a magical sight that is caused by phytoplankton in the ocean and can be seen at night. When the phytoplankton is moved by waves or fish, they emit an amazing bright blue light. This happens all over the world, but one of the best places to view this phenomenon is on Isla Holbox!

The most ideal time to see the bioluminescence is at night with the conditions being as dark as possible. Try to plan your trip around dates when the moon isn’t shining as bright so that the visibility is better. The summer months are usually when the conditions are ideal and the bioluminescence is most visible.

See Also: The Best Day Tours from Puerto Vallarta

The best place on the island to spot bioluminescence is at Punta Cocos and you can easily book a boat tour to this area once you are on Isla Holbox for around $20.

Swim With Whale Sharks

Whale sharks sound terrifying, but they are actually docile creatures that are harmless to humans. If you are traveling to Isla Holbox between June and September, you can book a tour to swim with these animals just off the coast of Holbox.

The tours are regulated in order to make sure that not too many people are swimming with the whale sharks at one time. This means that when booking a tour, you should make sure that it costs at least $125 or it may be an illegal tour that isn’t following the regulations.

You can also swim with whale sharks in Isla Mujeres if you are touring the Yucatan Peninsula, which is considered the best place in Mexico for this activity.

Eat Your Weight In Tacos & Ceviche

Among the things to do in Holbox, eating your weight out in tacos should be a priority! After all that adventure around Isla Holbox, you are definitely going to be searching out the best tacos on the island! There are plenty to choose from, even though the island is only 2.5 miles long.

Another incredible food that you have to try during your visit to the Yucatan is ceviche. Ceviche is a mix of raw seafood that is cured (or cooked) in citrus juice. It is usually served with chopped onions, spices, and chopped tomatoes.

You can eat ceviche on a hard tortilla or use it as a dip for tortilla chips. It has an incredibly fresh taste that perfectly fits the vibes on Isla Holbox.

Here are ceviche and taco restaurants on Isla Holbox that have tons of glowing reviews on Google:

• Restaurante Viva Zapata
• Las Panchas
• Ceviches La Chingada
• Barba Negra
• El Crustáceo Kascarudo
• Taco Queto
• Mahi Holbox

You could spend your whole vacation hopping from taqueria to taqueria and you’d probably still not be able to try them all!

Improve Your Spanish Skills

To add a bit of a challenge to your vacation, try practicing Spanish while you are on the island. The people of Mexico are some of the nicest in the world and it’s the perfect opportunity for you to brush up a bit on your Spanish!

You can use the free app Duolingo to learn a few phrases before your vacation or even while you’re chilling on the beach. The learning on Duolingo is gamified with XP points you can earn fast that motivate you to learn even when you’re not feeling like it!

Here are some basic Spanish sentences you can try out while in Isla Holbox:

• Hola, ¿cómo estás? – Hi, how are you?
• ¿Cuánto cuesta? – How much does it cost?
• Buenos días – Good Morning
• Buenas tardes – Good Afternoon
• ¿Me da dos tacos, por favor? – Can I get two tacos, please?

If you’re nervous about trying out Spanish, just remember that you will probably never see these people again so there’s nothing to be embarrassed about if you mess up!

Visit Downtown Holbox

The main square of Isla Holbox has street vendors, restaurants and even a giant stage with a beautiful mural on it. It’s the center of the action on the island where you can book most of the tours available.

It’s a very colorful area of Holbox where you can find murals painted on the walls as well as tons of colorful buildings.

See Also: Things To Do in San Cristobal de las Casas in 3 Days

Rent A Golf Cart To Get Around

Since there are no cars on Holbox Island, the best way to get around is by golf cart! The island is small enough to walk, but if you’re looking for a bit of fun then renting a golf cart is a great way to spend an afternoon.

You can even park your golf cart outside of a restaurant or cafe while you eat and then drive around the island when you’re done!

Relax On Playa Holbox

Arguably one of the top things to do on Holbox is to relax on the beach. Playa Holbox is unique from other beaches in the world in that you can walk for miles with the water only coming up to your ankles.

The shallow water makes the beach even more beautiful and you can spot the patterns in the white sand as you walk down the beach. You may even spot a few boats that are stuck in the low tide.

Visit The Holbox Letters

Right along the coast of Playa Holbox, there are plenty of Instagrammable areas that you won’t want to miss. The first is the Holbox letters or “Letras Holbox.” It is directly in front of the pier so it’s easy to spot.

 

The colorful letters spell out “Holbox” but the “L” is missing, which makes for a perfect picture opportunity. Just hop in and use your body as the “L”!

The Holbox Pier

Right behind the Holbox Letters is the pier or “Muelle.” If you are taking any tours from the island, this is where you’ll head to hop on the boat.

The pier makes for a great place to watch the sunset, which is some of the best that you’ll ever see!

See Also: 3-Day Tulum Itinerary

Explore The Island By Bike

Another way to get around the island is by bike. If you want, you can even try to bike part of the way to Punta Mosquito yourself! There is a point where you are going to have to park your bike and continue on foot though.

If you do rent a bike, be careful as the roads are dirt and not paved.

Playa Holbox Hammock Sign

Further down the Playa Holbox, you’ll find a separate set of colorful letters. They still spell “Holbox” but this time they are in the ocean and each letter is connected by a hammock.

The hotel directly in front of the letters puts out the hammocks each day, so if you plan to chill in the hammocks or take photos, you might want to visit a little later in the morning. Making sure you get that hammock shot on your Instagram is definitely one of the cool things to do in Holbox island!

Go On A Flamingo Tour

Punta Mosquito is one of the cool places to visit in Holbox. Why? This is the part of the island where you can spot bright pink flamingos.

The flamingos may not be there year-round even though they may be offering tours year-round. The best time to go looking for them is from April to October.

The area is called “Punta Mosquito” for a reason, make sure to bring repellent or go there before sunset when the mosquitoes come out.

Kayak In Mangroves

If you’re looking for a good workout and an adventure, you can try kayaking through the mangroves on Isla Holbox. These tours are usually in the morning and can take up to 2 hours.

As you pass through the mangrove swamps, you may even get the opportunity to see a crocodile basking in the sun or some flamingos chilling in the water.

The tour can be quite difficult so make sure that you are up for a tough workout!

Stay In A Gorgeous Condo With A Pool For Under $100

While in Isla Holbox, why not spend a few nights in a condo with a glistening pool to jump into once you get back from the beach?

For less than $100 per night in most cases, you can find gorgeous condos close to the beach in Holbox that would cost way more in other parts of the world. Take advantage of the affordable prices and stay in luxury accommodation.

Also, remember to choose a place that has air conditioning, as it gets quite hot on the island and you won’t want to open the windows because of the mosquitoes!

Wherever you are visiting the Yucatan Peninsula, you know that you’ll be in for an amazing adventure (and a great tan, as well) and Isla Holbox has all the best that the Peninsula has to offer. Whether you’re swimming with whale sharks or sipping margaritas on the beach, you won’t be bored on this dreamy island oasis.

The Author: Dayna Brockbank is a budget-crazy travel blogger at Happily Ever Travels. She has lived in 8 countries, has gotten lost in every single one, and somehow still has miraculously never broken a bone even after scootering around Southeast Asia for 2 years and speaks 3 languages.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: