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Latest update: 31 July 2024
Isla Holbox in Mexico: chill, relax, enjoy. Grab a juice here and a cocktail there and live from meal to meal. In between, check out some street art, drive a golf cart around the island, and (if you’re there at the right time) swim with whale sharks. And obviously, Isla Holbox offers beach days too. Get the best tips for Isla Holbox.
What to do on Isla Holbox?
The Mexican island of Isla Holbox welcomes tourists with open arms, which means it loses a bit of its Mexican vibe. But who cares with soft, white sand streets and beaches of even whiter, softer sand? Isla Holbox is invariably described as the paradise of Mexico. I visit the island twice in a year and a half and manage to find rainy days on both visits – lucky me. Your hotel room will be your only refuge in that case. Just go and explore the island in between the rain showers.
![Isla Holbox street women: women walking on the street](https://i0.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-straat-vrouwen.jpeg?ssl=1)
![Isla Holbox beach: the sandy beach on the right with the sea on the left](https://i2.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-strand.jpeg?ssl=1)
![Isla Holbox street rain: car drives through a flooded street](https://i2.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-straat-regen.jpeg?ssl=1)
Tip! There is an ATM on the island, but it is unreliable. So bring enough cash with you.
Tip 1 – The beaches of Isla Holbox
Isla Holbox has beautiful snow-white beaches: perhaps the most important attraction of the island! Well, if the wind is right. If it’s in the wrong direction, seaweed will wash up everywhere. That creates a nasty smell, and the beautiful beaches lose their charm. The seaweed-covered beaches are a lot less inviting.
Most beaches are freely accessible. Along the coast near the center, you will find many beach bars. In the evening, catch beautiful sunsets while enjoying your beer or sipping your cocktail. There’s nothing more you need—this is the postcard holiday you imagined.
![Isla Holbox beach bars: beach bars with a rainbow in the background](https://i0.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-strand-strandtentjes.jpeg?ssl=1)
![Isla Holbox beach bar beer: beach bar on a sandy beach with a can of Corona beer in the foreground](https://i2.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-beachbar-bier.jpeg?ssl=1)
![Isla Holbox Beach Sunset: Beach Sunset](https://i1.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-strand-zonsondergang.jpeg?ssl=1)
![Isla Holbox sunset: sunset on the beach](https://i1.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-zonsondergang.jpeg?ssl=1)
This sounds pretty amazing too: a horseback ride on the beaches of Holbox!
The center of Isla Holbox
There are no cars or traffic lights on Isla Holbox (you say isla holbosj); everyone moves by bicycle or golf cart. Even taxis are golf carts. After all, the distances here are short: the island is 30 kilometers long and only 500 meters wide at the narrowest point and 2 kilometers at the widest point. Most hotels are actually just within walking distance of the beach and the ‘center’. The center is small and mainly consists of restaurants and souvenir shops. A lot of pizzerias, by the way. No idea how that came about.
![Isla Holbox golf carts: golf carts parked behind each other with drivers waiting for customers](https://i0.wp.com/tripunlocked.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-golfkarretjes.jpeg?resize=770%2C578&ssl=1)
Isla Holbox may be touristy, but it is not super developed in terms of facilities. The roads are basically dirt roads full of holes. And for some houses, I doubt whether they are under construction or in disrepair. But, the residents don’t seem to care.
![Isla Holbox dirt road: dirt road with little traffic and palm trees](https://i0.wp.com/tripunlocked.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-zandweg.jpeg?resize=770%2C578&ssl=1)
Tip 2 – Swimming with whale sharks
Unfortunately, you can’t swim with whale sharks all year round, so plan your visit well if it’s on your bucket list! It’s an unforgettable experience. You can swim with whale sharks from mid-June to mid-September. The best months are July and August. These animals can grow up to 15 meters! So you do need a bit of gut, but rest assured: they are harmless. Read all about it in my blog about swimming with whale sharks.
![Isla Holbox Whale Shark: Close Up Of Whale Shark Underwater](https://i0.wp.com/tripunlocked.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/zwemmen-met-walvishaaien-Isla-Holbox.jpg?resize=770%2C578&ssl=1)
Tip 3 – Rent a golf cart for a day (or a half)
There are hardly any cars on Isla Holbox, and the ones that do exist don’t look like they are going anywhere anytime soon. Therefore, the island is often promoted as car-free. That is largely true, but then you do have the golf carts fly around you. And those are fun!!! You can rent one for about €70 per 24 hours (about 1200 pesos). I choose to rent a golf cart for four hours (700 pesos). You can see most of the island during half a day, just having a few stops. If you plan to spend some time on the beach and have a long lunch somewhere, renting the golf cart a little longer is better.
Do not forget to bring your driver’s license or passport; otherwise, you will not get the golf cart. A copy of your passport is also okay with some rental companies; for example, the one on the corner of the square accepts it.
![Isla Holbox dirt road golf cart: someone in a golf cart is driving on a dirt road surrounded by trees](https://i2.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-zandweg-golfkar.jpeg?ssl=1)
![Isla Holbox golf cart street art: a golf cart stands in front of a wall with street art](https://i1.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-golfkar-streetart.jpeg?ssl=1)
The golf carts are easy to drive, and because it is the only motorized transport on the island, the roads aren’t crowded. As soon as you get a little out of the center, you often have the road to yourself. So what can you go see? The local cemetery, lots of nature, street art, beaches, and just turn into different streets to get acquainted with the local life on the island.
![Isla Holbox street motorcycle: man on a bike rides on a road](https://i2.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-straatje-motor-1024x768.jpeg?ssl=1)
![Isla Holbox center: quad represents a house with street art](https://i1.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-centrum-1024x768.jpeg?ssl=1)
![Isla Holbox junkyard: car parts and car wreckage lie on a roadside](https://i1.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-autokerkhof.jpeg?ssl=1)
![Isla Holbox car wreck: a red car wreck is on the side of the road](https://i1.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-autowrak-1024x768.jpeg?ssl=1)
![Isla Holbox cemetery: cemetery with graves and palm trees in the background](https://i2.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-kerkhof.jpeg?ssl=1)
![Isla Holbox Punta Cocos seagulls: seagulls sit side by side on a pier](https://i1.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-Punta-Cocos-meeuwen-1024x768.jpeg?ssl=1)
![Isla Holbox golf cart dirt road: golf cart stands at a T-junction of dirt roads](https://i1.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-golfkar-zandweg-1024x768.jpeg?ssl=1)
![Isla Holbox street art whale sharks: a white wall with a black mural of two whale sharks and a girl in a bikini](https://i2.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-streetart-walvishaaien-1024x768.jpeg?ssl=1)
Tip 4 – Admire the street art
If any of your Instagram friends have ever been to Isla Holbox, chances are you recognize a lot of street art. The girl with the penetrating eyes and the hat is a favorite piece of many visitors. It’s very cool that the people of Isla Holbox preserve their street art exceptionally well. People really appreciate the works of art, and more and more bare walls are getting a bit of paint.
![Isla Holbox street art boy stairs: stairs with behind it a wall with street art on which a boy is holding a house](https://i0.wp.com/tripunlocked.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-streetart-jongetje-trap.jpeg?resize=770%2C578&ssl=1)
![Isla Holbox street art lion: a mural of a colorful lion's head](https://i0.wp.com/tripunlocked.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-streetart-leeuw.jpeg?resize=770%2C578&ssl=1)
![Isla Holbox street art in progress: an artist is working on a mural](https://i0.wp.com/tripunlocked.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-streetart-in-progress.jpeg?resize=770%2C578&ssl=1)
![Isla Holbox street art girl: a colorful mural of a girl in a red skirt](https://i0.wp.com/tripunlocked.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-streetart-meisje.jpeg?resize=770%2C578&ssl=1)
![Isla Holbox street art girl hat: a mural of a girl with a hat on](https://i0.wp.com/tripunlocked.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-streetart-meisje-hoed.jpeg?resize=770%2C578&ssl=1)
![Isla Holbox street art eyes turtle: a mural of a turtle sticking its head above the water](https://i0.wp.com/tripunlocked.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-streetart-ogen-schildpad.jpeg?resize=770%2C578&ssl=1)
![Isla Holbox street art girl flamingo: a mural of a woman with a flower in her hair and a flamingo on her head](https://i0.wp.com/tripunlocked.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-streetart-meisje-flamingo.jpeg?resize=770%2C578&ssl=1)
![Isla Holbox street art girl flower: dark-skinned girl mural](https://i0.wp.com/tripunlocked.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-streetart-meisje-bloem.jpeg?resize=770%2C578&ssl=1)
![Isla Holbox street art toucan leopard: mural with a toucan and leopard](https://i0.wp.com/tripunlocked.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-streetart-toekan-luipaard.jpeg?resize=770%2C578&ssl=1)
Tip 5 – Discover Isla Holbox by bike
Not in the mood for a golf cart? Then rent a bike and take it for a ride. I rent my bike diagonally opposite the popular Tribu hostel. You can’t cycle very far because the island is so tiny, but it does give the ultimate freedom vibe. Cycle to Punta Mosquitos, where you see many starfish and also flamingos. You will probably also cycle past the famous Holbox letters and hammocks in the water where everyone wants to take a picture.
![Isla Holbox beach bike: woman on a bike on the beach](https://i1.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-strand-fiets.jpeg?ssl=1)
![Rent Isla Holbox bicycle: several bicycles are in front of a building](https://i0.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-fiets-huren.jpeg?ssl=1)
![Isla Holbox beach hammock sea: beach with people and hammocks in the sea](https://i2.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-strand-hangmat-zee.jpeg?ssl=1)
Or cycle towards Punta Cocos to enjoy endless blue water, tranquility, and the sunset. Oh, and fresh coconuts, yes! You see me with the coconut and my mother’s finger in the photo, haha.
![Isla Holbox sea: sea with blue sky and clouds](https://i2.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-zee.jpeg?ssl=1)
![Isla Holbox beach tree: beach with a tree casting a shadow on it](https://i2.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-strand-boom.jpeg?ssl=1)
![Isla Holbox bird: bird of prey sitting on a branch](https://i1.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-vogel.jpeg?ssl=1)
![Isla Holbox beach trees: beach with some trees on it](https://i1.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-strand-bomen.jpeg?ssl=1)
![Isla Holbox Coconut Punta Cocos: a seller who prepares coconuts](https://i1.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-Kokosnoot-Punta-Cocos.jpeg?ssl=1)
![Isla Holbox drinking coconut: girl in bikini and sunglasses drinks from a coconut](https://i1.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-kokosnoot-drinken.jpeg?ssl=1)
Tip 6 – Tours from Isla Holbox
It is an island, so how could it be otherwise: a snorkeling tour is highly recommended. Weather permitting! Rainy days aren’t the best days for visibility in the water. Fortunately, I’ve already done quite a bit of snorkeling during my trip, so I can survive without a snorkeling tour. But, unfortunately, I also have to pass up the three islands tour. That is a boat trip of about three hours where you visit a cenote, Isla Pájeros for many colorful birds and Isla de la Pasión for flamingos.
Check your tour options at Viator or GetYourGuide:
Tip! Looking for fast internet? Try it at Le Jardin: fast wi-fi and tasty sandwiches. They just don’t like it when you sit with your laptop all day, so keep it to just checking something quickly.
![Isla Holbox Le Jardin: restaurant interior](https://i0.wp.com/tripunlocked.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-Le-Jardin.jpeg?resize=770%2C578&ssl=1)
Tip 7 – Good food and drinks on the island
Which restaurants to try on Isla Holbox?
Luuma (Google Maps location) is high on the list of many people, and in my experience, it is best to go there with someone. I come in for a bite to eat on my own in the evening and am kind of tucked away in a corner and ignored. I like it better at Básico (Google Maps location): the service is attentive, and they serve a fantastic breakfast. The evening meal is also really delicious. It’s just a bit more expensive than most restaurants, but sometimes you have to spoil yourself, don’t you?
![Isla Holbox Basico front: front of restaurant Basico with a parked scooter](https://i2.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-Basico-voorkant.jpeg?ssl=1)
![Isla Holbox Basico bar: bar with stools from restaurant Basico](https://i0.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-Basico-bar.jpeg?ssl=1)
Other tips for breakfast and coffee on Isla Holbox are A Mar Café, Tierra Mia, Clandestino (where they take your coffee forever and barely look at you, but the coffee is delicious), and Painapol. The latter is my favorite because of the beachy decor and the huge, healthy portions.
![Isla Holbox Clandestino front: entrance from n restaurant Clandestino](https://i2.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-Clandestino-voorkant.jpeg?ssl=1)
![Isla Holbox Tierra Mia front: entrance of restaurant Tierra Mia](https://i0.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-Tierra-Mia-voorkant.jpeg?ssl=1)
![Isla Holbox Painapol inside: tables with chairs and a hammock](https://i0.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-Painapol-binnen.jpeg?ssl=1)
![Isla Holbox Painapol smoothie bowl: close-up of a beautifully made smoothie bowl with, among other things, banana, kiwi, and granola](https://i1.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-Painapol-smoothie-bowl.jpeg?ssl=1)
Viva Zapata is nice for simple Mexican food for a hearty lunch or dinner (Google Maps location). Rosa Mexicana’s (Google Maps location) menu is also good, and they put a lot of effort into the presentation.
![Isla Holbox Viva Zapata menu: close-up van menukaart](https://i2.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-Viva-Zapata-menu-1024x768.jpeg?ssl=1)
![Isla Holbox Restaurant Viva Zapata binnen: tafels met stoelen onder een overkapping](https://i0.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-Restaurant-Viva-Zapata-binnen-1024x768.jpeg?ssl=1)
![Isla Holbox Rosa Mexicano voorkant: entree van restaurant met twee palmbomen](https://i2.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-Rosa-Mexicano-voorkant-1024x768.jpeg?ssl=1)
![Isla Holbox Rosa Mexicano gerecht: close-up van gerecht](https://i2.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-Rosa-Mexicano-gerecht-1024x768.jpeg?ssl=1)
![Restaurants op Isla Holbox](https://i2.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Restaurants-op-Isla-Holbox--1024x768.jpg?ssl=1)
ROOTS (Google Maps location) is the best pizza joint, in my opinion. You sit at wooden tables in a large garden at this spacious outdoor restaurant. There is live music almost every night, and the pizzas are big enough for two.
![Isla Holbox ROOTS live performance: performance by a band with singer](https://i0.wp.com/tripunlocked.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-ROOTS-live-optreden.jpeg?resize=770%2C578&ssl=1)
Accommodation on Isla Holbox: the best hotels and hostels
I am visiting Isla Holbox for the first time as a solo traveler and would like to stay in a fairly social hostel. Unfortunately, Tribu Hostel is fully booked months in advance, so I choose Che Hostel. A spotless hostel with plenty of activities. During my stay, however, the audience is just a bit too young, and there are a lot of Argentinians who keep a closed group. And the internet doesn’t work, which is a bit of a shame.
![Isla Holbox Che Hostel front: entrance of hostel with a large sign](https://i0.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-Che-Hostel-voorkant.jpeg?ssl=1)
![Isla Holbox Che Hostel pool: outdoor pool with umbrellas and palm trees](https://i2.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-Che-Hostel-zwembad.jpeg?ssl=1)
![Isla Holbox Che Hostel Dorm Bunk Beds: Three Bunk Beds in a Dorm](https://i2.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-Che-Hostel-slaapzaal-stapelbedden.jpeg?ssl=1)
The second time I am on Isla Holbox with my mother, we would like a good hotel room. So we choose a middle-class hotel: Hotel Margaritas. Just a simple hotel room with a simple breakfast and a small pool. I think it’s a bit expensive for what you get, but all accommodation on Isla Holbox is pricey.
![Isla Holbox Hotel Margaritas front: front of the hotel with parked bicycles](https://i2.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-Hotel-Margaritas-voorkant.jpeg?ssl=1)
![Isla Holbox Hotel Margaritas corridor: corridor of the hotel with open-air on the left side](https://i0.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-Hotel-Margaritas-gang.jpeg?ssl=1)
![Isla Holbox Hotel Margaritas pool: outdoor pool](https://i1.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-Hotel-Margaritas-zwembad.jpeg?ssl=1)
I also hear good stories about the vibe of the Mapache hostel, and Casa Blatha seems to be good too. This environmentally friendly hotel has beautiful bright rooms and colorful spaces with stunning views.
How do you get to Isla Holbox?
From the larger cities such as Mérida and Cancún, you take the bus to Chiquila. Book your bus in advance via Busbud, because it is a popular route. So make sure you have a spot. Boats to the island leave from Chiquila. From the bus station, it is a short walk to the harbor. There will most likely be a couple of guys on hand to carry your luggage for a small fee.
![Chiquila Mexico Nameplate: Building with big letters in front that spell Chiquila](https://i0.wp.com/tripunlocked.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Chiquila-Mexico-naambord.jpeg?resize=770%2C578&ssl=1)
In principle, you do not need to book a boat in advance. There are two companies that both charge 140 pesos for a one-way ticket. Just check when you arrive which one will leave first.
![Chiquila harbor: small harbor with 1 moored boat](https://i0.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Chiquila-haven.jpeg?ssl=1)
![Isla Holbox boat: railing of the boat at sea with lifebuoy](https://i1.wp.com/kimopreis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-boot.jpeg?ssl=1)
Before your return trip, you can check with your hotel or hostel what time the buses to Tulum, Cancún et cetera leave to time it well with your boat. You can book ADO buses in advance (via Busbud, for example). There are also some buses to Mérida, mainly local buses. The earliest bus leaves at 5:30 am. If you take the boat at 5 am, you’ll be on time. The buses are waiting for the first passengers in Chiquila.
By the way, make sure you have a good spot on the boat and look out over the water: there is a good chance that you will spot dolphins!
![Isla Holbox Express boat: two-story moored boat](https://i0.wp.com/tripunlocked.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Isla-Holbox-Express-boot.jpeg?resize=770%2C578&ssl=1)
More Mexico inspiration?
![blog overview Mexico](https://i0.wp.com/tripunlocked.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Mexico-blog-overview.jpg?resize=770%2C433&ssl=1)
Helpful links for your Mexico trip
- Accommodation. All-time favorite: Booking.com. Find hostels via Hostelworld.
- Activities. You book the best tours and activities with GetYourGuide and Viator. You could also try WithLocals. ‘Free’ walking tours are available at GuruWalk. And for bike tours, try Baja Bikes.
- Attractions and museums. Get a 5% discount on museums and attractions at Tiqets with the coupon code KIMOPREIS22.
- Bus. Book bus trips in Mexico with Busbud or 12Go.
- Car rental. Compare prices at Discover Cars and Rentalcars.com.
- Flights. Compare all your options! Definitely check out Skyscanner, Kiwi, and Trip
- Money. Your debit and credit cards may not get accepted everywhere. You could opt for a Revolut card as an additional card when you travel.
- Package deals. Rather go on a catered trip? You could try CheapOair or Expedia.
- SIM card. Beware of unexpectedly high calling and internet costs. Buy a local SIM card when you arrive, or arrange one online via Airalo.
- Travel guides. I love the practical travel guides from Lonely Planet, buy them at Amazon.
- Visum. Make sure you have the right documentation to travel to Mexico. iVisa can help you out.
- Yoga retreat. Or: try a yoga retreat in Mexico!
Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. If you buy something through these links, I might receive a small commission.
First published: February 2019. The article has been updated since.