Holbox (pronounced hol-bosh) is a vibrant little beach town North of Cancun. Our non-stop flight from Austin to Cancun was a breeze but getting to Holbox involved a little more effort than that. Our next mode of transportation included a two-hour private shuttle ride to Chiquila, followed by a thirty-minute ferry ride and finally a 15-minute four-wheeler trip to our hotel, Las Nubes. Our shuttle service cost $80 each way for the two of us. We paid cash at the end of each trip. This fee included the ferry and four-wheeler transportation. Speaking from our own experience- make sure you get in the correct shuttle ;).
We happened to arrive right after a torrential downpour, so the streets were flooded. Luckily it cleared up for the remainder of our trip.
Las Nubes is the farthest lodging from town (by far I mean a 15-minute walk). This quiet, bohemian lodging experience is the perfect recharge. We enjoyed our spa day and the free bike rental. It is located right on the water, so we had the option of relaxing at the beach (with a bar) or the pool.
If you remember anything about Holbox, it’ll be the unique and tasteful dining experiences. For us that included, Basico for dinner, Painapol for brunch, Mr. Happy for brunch and Luuma for dinner. All were delicious with appealing presentation (which is always my favorite when travelling to foreign countries. They focus greatly on the small details).
For optimal weather, it’s best to visit Holbox December-April. However, traveling during the wetter, summer months does have its perks! Whale shark sightings are most successful June-August and bioluminescent beaches are best seen during the summer months. It is possible to view bioluminescent beaches all-year round, but it requires minimal light exposure so lining this up with a New Moon would be best. We went to Holbox in November, so our trip was a great opportunity to eat, relax and recharge. We spent a lot of time hanging around Aldea Kuka catching a tan and enjoying the bar swings. Again, the bike rental from Las Nubes was clutch.
There are several massage therapists set up along the beach. I’m so glad we decided to do this because both of our massages were phenomenal and drastically cheaper than our lodging spa. It was so relaxing to hear the waves and seagulls in the background.
The town is vibrant with local art and murals at every corner. We hope Holbox can maintain its charm and authenticity as it continues to grow. Interacting with the locals, actually getting to practice our Spanish and watching the children play soccer in the main square made it a special experience.
As far as currency- most places accepted credit card payment, but I would recommend getting pesos before arriving on the island as there was only 1 ATM available.
As the weather cleared, locals worked diligently to remove seaweed that arrived with the storm. We were finally able to witness the clear water Holbox is known for!! Highly suggest walking along the sandbar, especially during sunset.
