Author: Jennifer Dyer @solymargoddess

Let me let you in on a little secret, I can’t gate keep any longer from you. Listen closely, whether you’re looking for a backpackers hostel haven, yoga retreat on the playa, fun in the sun with your family, luxury honeymoon romance or even a little mixture of all of these accommodation styles, Isla Holbox has all of these and more. 

From living in Tulum, Mexico the last four years, and experiencing the influx of tourists attending electronic music festivals, prices on the rise and seasonal rushes, if you are looking for a more layedback, natural aesthetic, Holbox is the Island for you. Rustic yet Chic, Holbox is a lot more quiet and low key compared to the more popular towns of the Riviera Maya like, Playa del Carmon, Cancun or Tulum. Holbox is what I call a sleeping Tulum, having a lot of the beautiful characteristics Tulum once had before it was internationally discovered. Holbox is my personal escape, when I need to get away. A special bird watchers paradise, with a profound amount of seabirds, like herons, pelicans, flamingos, egrets to name a few. 

My own little Lo-fi Mexican Escape, sometimes being referred to as the Maldives of Mexico because of Holbox’s pristine blue waters, endless pink flamingos, laid back aesthetics and mañana mentality! That everything will get done when it gets done.

Only being a 3 hour car ride from Tulum to the port of Chiquila, and a quick 45 minutes ferry ride over to the Island from Chiquila. In addition, you could easily fly into Cancun International Airport, and hire a private driver, or take the ADO Bus to Chiquila Port which takes only 2 hours! Very convenient, safe and easy to get to. From there you buy a ticket at the ticket center from Holbox Express Ferry. Easy enough, they have a departure every hour, on the hour, starting from 6:30am and ending around 9:30pm. Adults are 220 peso, which is around 13 USD per way and children 180 peso, or 11 USD per way. You can buy the ticket online in advance or at the box office at the port. This is your first step to getting to the beautiful Island of Holbox! I’ve seen dolphins in the harbor upon entering Holbox, so make sure to keep an eye out while on the ferry to spot these magical creatures!

The next step upon entering the Island is knowing there are no cars! That’s right, only golf carts and ATVs, which really slows down the pace of the Island. You can either rent a golf cart, ATV or simply taxi to the places you want to go on the Island. This all depends on how much you want to rely upon your own means of transportation. Let me assure you though, it’s a small island, and when I go I just taxi if I need to get somewhere! Another easy option would be renting a bike or walking, jogging!

Isla Holbox is a beautiful, enjoyable Island all year long! Summer months of July and August are especially magical because of the incredible Whale Shark Season and increase chance of seeing the Bioluminescence, also the winter months are absolutely lovely, bringing less rain and more sunny days!

Whale sharks, also known as the gentle giants of the sea, are the largest sharks in the world. They have hundreds of tiny teeth, but they don’t use them to hunt. Whale sharks are filter feeders, meaning they have to swim forward to swallow their prey, which included crab, krill, jellyfish, small fish and fish larvae. They can process more than 6,500 liters of water per hour through their gills, to filter out their food. Another interesting fact from WWF.org is, “that less than 10% of whale sharks born survive to adulthood, but those that do may live to 150!”. https://www.wwf.org.uk/learn/fascinating-facts/whale-sharks Lastly, they are very slow swimmers and migrate long ways! Early June to mid September being their Season here in the Riviera Maya, then they slowly make their way back to many places like Belize, Honduras, and South Africa. 

When picking a tour company, it’s important to check that they are ethical and environmentally sustainable. We want to only work with companies that have these beautiful creatures best interests in mind,  wanting to help conserve and protect the natural environment. The most accredited whale shark tour on Holbox being, Holbox Whale Shark Tours. I had my first whale shark experience last August and it was life changing. To see these gentle giants in their natural environment in the open sea is simply remarkable and captivating. 

Bioluminescence is another beautiful natural wonder of the Isla Holbox. The only way you can see the bioluminescence is at night, and there are many tours that offer nighttime kayaking, boating and walking tours. But in my opinion, if you rent an abnb close to Punta Cocos, you can explore in the night and walk to the beach on your own time with not having to worry about the logistics of a tour! The island is very very safe, so that should put your mind at ease. Punta Cocos, is on the West side of the Island, for reference. Bioluminescence is a light production of phytoplankton. Interestingly enough the reason it’s best to see this bioluminescence June through September is because of the higher availability of phytoplankton. One of the whale sharks most readily available food source is phytoplankton. From the NOAA, National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration website, “Phytoplankton, also known as microalgae, are similar to terrestrial plants in that they contain chlorophyll and require sunlight in order to live and grow. Most phytoplankton are buoyant and float in the upper part of the ocean, where sunlight penetrates the water. Phytoplankton also require inorganic nutrients such as nitrates, phosphates, and sulfur which they convert into proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.” https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/phyto.html When you are on a guided tour or an individual tour, the sea will glow with bioluminescence when it is disturbed by motion. For example, a wave breaking on shore or you yourself splashing the water at nighttime. This is an activity fit for anymore, and can turn your night into a once in a lifetime experience!

Different Accommodations Styles on Holbox

Hostels, Abnb, Hotels, Yoga Retreats 

Hostels 

If you are nomad, backpacker, go with the flow kind of traveler on a budget opt for a hostel! There are a couple cute ones on the Island, but I recommend checking out @tribuhostel on Instagram. I recently made marketing content for their restaurant and fell in love with the set up! It was like a tree house, with so cool electric energy. Being right downtown, you have many amenities within a block! Tribu has many different fitness classes they offer, and a pool to relax in! On the first level there are dorms, which they have separate men and women or coed. Then on second and third level they have their restaurant @magma.holbox and bar @tribubar_ both beyond fabulous. Tribu is a great place to hang and meet new people from all over the world! A night stay is around 500 peso or 30 USD. 

Abnb

I personally love to travel Abnb, and this is what my husband and I opt for when we are on a mini family trip with us and our two doggies, Zsa Zsa our Toy Yorkie and Rico our Pocket Chihuahua. We like the connivence of privacy, more space to relax, and the different options we can pick from. We love to cook fresh caught seafood in the evening, so a kitchen is very important to us. We love having a fire pit for the evenings, and a pool for the daytime. I would recommend staying on the West side of the island if you’re looking for more of a relaxed residential feel, this is a 25 minute walk from the hustle and bustle of downtown and a 30 minute walk from Punta Cocos! The best Abnbs on Holbox can range from 80 USD to 500+USD per night. The one my husband and I usually stay at is around 200 USD a night to give you a reference point.

Hotels 

There are some really beautiful hotels on the island if you are looking for that special place to relax, decompress in luxury and simply enjoy being pampered. I would recommend, if you are celebrating something special stay at @nomadeholbox. Their ocean suites are breathtaking, open up your windows in the night and fall asleep to the crashing waves. Being directly on the sandy beach, which is unique to the island of holbox. Nomade has a weekly wellness schedule of Pilates, yoga flows like Ashtanga, breath work sessions, sound healing and even aqua floating sessions. The cuisine at Nomade is exceptional, their produce and cooking supplies are collected from regenerative farms in the Yucatán and sustainably sourced from the sea. Directly from the Nomade website, “Guests can taste farm fresh ingredients grown from Mestiza de Indias, like purple sweet potato and African okra at our restaurants, where food is honored as the ultimate resource from nature.” https://nomadeholbox.com/gastronomy

Yoga retreats 

The best company for yoga wellness retreats on the Island of Holbox is through @yogaholbox. They offer sailing and yoga sessions, daily yoga classes, floating therapy sessions and full immersive yoga retreats! Enjoy a beautiful experience with breath work and sound journey healing, Pilates, cacao circles and of coarse yoga, all at Yoga Holbox! Such an authentic way to dive deeper into your spirituality, submerged in a new culture and on one of Mexicos most breathtaking serene islands. 

Top 5 Restaurant Picks

@vivazapata_holbox the most delicious authentic mexican cuisine on the island! Homemade tortilla chips and chicken fajitas are to die for! Cool snappy atmosphere, a perfect Mexican Cantina! Only being 2 blocks from the ocean!

@spiritrestaurante the most delicious fresh ceviche I have ever had! Plus, lovely rooftop pool and daybeds. A great place to come for a relaxing day overlooking the ocean.  The sunset here is one of Holbox’s well kept secrets! 

@kuholbox for more high end dining, similar to what Nomade has to offer! Fabulous sharing plates and hand crafted cocktails. Located directly on the sea, immerse your senses in fine dining, and unwind as you embrace the oceans beauty. 

@mrhappyholbox for your breakfast and brunch dining experience! Delicious pancakes and waffles, fresh fruit assortments and juices! A cool retro style, yet boho chic, perfect place to enjoy a morning cup of coffee and cuisine to charge up for your day ventures. 

@luumaholbox another delicious restaurant with creative, inspiring handmade cocktails, and crafted sharing plates. Lovely place for an evening out on the town, only being 1 block from the beach. Modern boho style bar and laid back ambiance. 

Holbox is such a chic little island I have fallen absolutely in love with. Its slow pace, natural charm, and timeless feel is captivating. A place to free your inner self, and slow down from your reality. Holbox has everything to offer you. From adventure, to relaxation, it’s a place of pure natural magic. 

If you have any questions about the island or about mexico in general send me a DM on my Main Social Media page on Instagram! I love hearing your input, and will surly return your message! The beauty of Holbox is dear to my heart, and being a local here in Tulum, I can help answer whatever questions you may have, or connect you with whatever source you may need! @solymargoddess 

Love and light to all of you,

Jennifer Dyer