27 UNMISSABLE Things to Do in Holbox Island Mexico on Your Trip
Looking for things to do in Isla Holbox?
You’ve landed on the right travel guide because I live in Mexico, not far from Isla Holbox, actually.
In this article, I’m going to tell you about all the best things to do in Holbox Island Mexico.
🗣 How do you pronounce Holbox? If you’re wondering about the Holbox pronunciation, let’s clear that up now! It’s pronounced hole-bosh, and not hole-box.
Though it’s located in the Caribbean, there’s much more to Holbox than beaches.
Besides all the unmissable things to do in Isla Holbox, this article also contains a Holbox Travel Guide that answers all your FAQs, like how to get to Holbox Mexico, where to stay in Holbox, and more.
It’s at the end of the article, so don’t miss it after you discover what to do in Holbox Island.
How to Get to Holbox Island Mexico
Before you get to the best things to do in Holbox Mexico, you’ll need to know how to get to Isla Holbox Mexico.
I have a whole guide on the subject, Cancun to Holbox: Your Best Transport Options, that will help you.
Don’t feel like reading the guide? No worries — you can do what I do and just book your private shuttle with Cancun Airport Transportation.
This is the easiest, safest and most stress-free way to get to Holbox from Cancun, on your own private shuttle.
✈️ You can also fly from Cancun to Holbox Island!
There’s a small airport on Isla Holbox, and you can book this flight to Holbox from Cancun on a private plane to arrive in style.
The flight costs $1,000 USD for up to five people, and takes just 30 minutes, versus four hours by car and ferry.
Now that you know how to travel to Holbox Island, let’s get to the 27 unmissable things to see once you arrive.
After you see the list of the best things to do in Holbox Island Mexico, don’t miss the Isla Holbox Travel Guide at the end of the article which answers all your Holbox FAQs.
25 Best Things to Do in Holbox Island Mexico
1. Swim & Snorkel with the Whale Sharks in Holbox
Summer isn’t considered the best time to visit Holbox, but if that’s when you’re going you can take a tour to swim with the Holbox whale sharks.
The whale shark season in Holbox is from about June 15 to September 17, when you can snorkel next to the largest fish in the sea. Holbox Travel Tips: Book your tour early, as they do tend to sell out.
🐳 Whale Shark Info
Whale sharks are sharks, but they aren’t aggressive to humans. They average 40-feet-long (12 m), and to swim with them in the wild is a true Mexico bucket list experience that you can only do in a few places, like Isla de Holbox México.
⭐️ Best Holbox Whale Shark Tours
Best Things to Do in Holbox Island
2. Kayak through the Holbox Mangroves
Join Axel, a Holbox local, on a kayak trip through the mangroves that surround this beautiful island.
He offers morning tours and evening tours, so if you want to sleep in, no worries! There’s so much to see on these tours, including flamingos and other birds, manta rays and even crocodiles.
Best Things to Do in Holbox Island
3. Eat Your Way Around on a Taco Tour
No one knows their town like a local, and on this tour, Holbox local, Lorena, will take you to eat the best tacos in Holbox Island Mexico 🌮
You’ll visit four taco spots on the island, getting to know the town through food and drinks. Note: The tour includes four tacos and four drinks.
🗣 Don’t miss this guide to the best Holbox restaurants, so you know you’re eating at all the can’t miss places.
Best Things to Do in Holbox Island
4. Take the Three Islands Tour (Most Popular Holbox Tour)
If you can only take one Holbox Island tour, the Three Islands Tour is the best way to get to know this part of Mexico.
On the tour, you’ll visit Isla Pájaros (Birds Island), Isla Pasión (Passion Island), and Punta Mosquito, a long white sand beach famous for its giant sandbanks (or sandbars) in the sea.
🦩 Holbox Flamingos at Isla Pajaros
Did you know the Yucatan Peninsula is one of the best places for birdwatching in the world?!
The Holbox Bird Island is home to hundreds of species of birds, including flamingos.
From early-April to late-October, you may see thousands of flamingos near Bird Island in Isla Holbox Mexico.
Best Things to Do in Holbox Island
4. Admire the Holbox Street Art & Murals
Looking for free things to do in Holbox Mexico? Spend some time just roaming around Downtown, admiring the street art and murals in Holbox Island.
Some of the most popular spots in this vibrant town include the mural of the young girl, Frida Kahlo mural and colorful Restaurante Colibri.
Besides these, there is street art all over town for you to discover. Though the murals may change, as street art does, Holbox Island street art is here to stay.
In 2014, the International Public Art Festival (IPAF) came to town, and ever since, local artists and visitors have kept the mural tradition alive.
Best Things to Do in Holbox Island
5. Take the Cabo Catoche Holbox Tour
The Holbox Cabo Catoche tour is the best tour you can do in Holbox because it’s the most complete tour. While it does cost more than the Three Islands Tour, you also get to see and so much more.
I did this tour, and recommend it to anyone visiting Holbox Island Mexico.
You’ll start your Cabo Catoche tour with a boat ride through the Caribbean Sea, and you may see dolphins along the way 🐬
The boat make its first stop at a natural area with shallow water and mangroves, home to flamingos and many other species of birds.
🦩 Holbox Travel Tips: I took the Cabo Catoche Tour in December, and we saw quite a few of the famous flamingos in Holbox. The best time to see them is during Flamingo Season in Holbox, from about April to October, but we saw some in December, so you never know.
From there, you’ll venture further out in the Caribbean Sea for some fishing. After working up a sweat catching fish, you’ll boat to Cuevones Reef for snorkeling.
This healthy coral reef is teeming with marine life, like tropical fish, colorful coral and even nurse sharks (they are harmless).
The final stop on the tour is Cabo Catoche, which means Catoche Cay. Located 27 miles (43 km) east of Holbox, this is a beautiful, virgin beach area.
There will be a fresh ceviche lunch waiting for you, and hammocks to lay in after you eat, or you can also go swimming or stroll the beach.
Best Things to Do in Holbox Island
6. Lay in the Holbox Hammocks
🏖️ Hammocks in Punta Cocos
There are two places to use the hammocks in Isla Holbox, Playa Punta Cocos and Playa Holbox.
The hammocks at Punta Cocos are usually more relaxed and tranquil, because this beach is just more relaxed overall.
🏖️ Hammocks on Playa Holbox
Playa Holbox is the main beach in Holbox. There are about five hammocks in the water here, and also one of the signs with the Holbox letters.
As the main beach, you can expect larger crowds at Playa Holbox Beach than at Punta Cocos Beach.
Best Things to Do in Holbox Island
7. See the Bioluminescence at Punta Coco
Right off the bat: I only recommend this during the New Moon, when we can’t see the moon in the sky, otherwise you likely won’t see the bioluminescence.
I have been a few times, and you either see nothing, or you see one of the coolest natural phenomenons ever.
If you’re visiting during the New Moon (check here to see), then make sure to take the Holbox Bioluminescence Kayaking Tour with Alex.
You’ll explore the island by kayak under the stars above you, as you see the twinkling bioluminescent effect mirrored in the water below you.
Best Things to Do in Holbox Island
8. Volunteer at the Holbox Animal Shelter
One of the coolest things to do in Holbox is volunteer at Refugio Holbox Animal Rescue, a local nonprofit organization working to save animals on Holbox.
They accept monetary donations, but you can also help for a few hours by taking a dog out for a walk, or a ride on your golf cart.
Best Things to Do in Holbox Island
9. Relax on the Best Holbox Beaches
There are really only three beaches in Holbox — Playa Holbox, Playa Punta Cocos and Playa Punta Mosquito. The inhabited parts of Holbox is only about five miles (8 km) from end to end, so it’s usually easy to see them all.
Below is a rundown on all the best beaches in Holbox Island Mexico.
🤔 How big is Holbox Island Mexico? The entire island is 26-miles-long (42 km), but it’s largely uninhabited. The inhabited area is only about five miles (8 km), and houses the island’s 2,000 full time residents.
🏝️ Playa Holbox (East side of the island)
Playa Holbox is the main beach on the island, where you’ll find the most restaurants and bars, and all the best resorts in Holbox Island.
It is also the most crowded beach, but definitely the place to see and be seen, and enjoy all the Holbox amenities and ocean hammocks.
🏝️ Playa Punta Cocos (west side of the island)
A much more laid back beach than Playa Holbox, head to Punta Cocos Beach for some relaxation. There are locals renting beach chairs here, and you can get food service, as well we lay around in the famous Holbox water hammocks.
🏝️ Playa Punta mosquito
Punta Mosquito is a totally virgin beach that’s not easy to access — and if you try, make sure to have this eco-friendly mosquito spray (the beach’s name is no joke 🦟)
Most people actually skip the beach for the giant sandbars you can walk on right in the sea in front of the beach.
Best Things to Do in Holbox Island
10. Do a Photoshoot with a Local Photographer
Holbox Island is one of the most Instagram worthy places in Mexico. The best way to capture all the Instagrammable moments?
With photos by Paulina, a creative director in the social media industry who creates content with IG influencers, TikTokers, YouTubers — and you!
Best Things to Do in Holbox Island
11. Swim in the Holbox Cenote (Yalahau Cenote)
Axel, a Holbox local, hosts several tours of the island, including a tour to see the only cenote in Holbox Island — Cenote Yalahau at Yum Balum Nature Reserve.
You’ll also visit Isla Pájaros (Birds Island), Isla Pasión (Passion Island), and swim in the cenote that’s inside a nature preserve.
Beside the Caribbean Sea, Yalahau Cenote is the best place to swim and snorkel in Holbox. It is a beautiful freshwater cenote (sinkhole) surrounded by trees in a jungle setting.
You can only get here on a boat tour, but the trek is well worth it.
Best Things to Do in Holbox Island
12. Go Kitesurfing in Holbox Island
KukulKite is the best kite-surfing and kiteboarding school in Holbox.
They offer classes for all levels, in the ideal environment to learn how to kiteboard — Holbox Island. You’ll be up and surfing the sky in no time, in a sport that’s surprisingly easier than it looks.
According to KukulKite Holbox, “Kiteboarding is a sport practiced by people of all ages and does not require much physical strength.
It is like riding a bicycle; it takes a little practice to learn, but it is something that is then done naturally.”
Best Things to Do in Holbox Island
13. Snap a Photo at the Holbox Sign
You’ll find colorful signs spelling out the name of the town you’re in all over Mexico — from Mexico City to Cabo San Lucas and Tulum.
In Holbox, the sign (📍 located here) is purposefully missing the letter L, so it’s up to you to fill that in when you take the photo, using your body to make the L.
14. Eat the Famous Holbox Lobster Pizza
It might surprise you that the best thing to eat on Holbox Island isn’t tacos!
The island is famous for the lobster pizza, using lobsters caught fresh fresh right off the coast of Holbox Island.
There are several places to try this delicious pizza, but for the best one, head to Roots Pizza Holbox.
Best Things to Do in Holbox Island
15. Take Yoga Classes in Holbox
Join Laura for beachfront yoga classes in Holbox Island, surrounded by palm trees and chirping birds, and the sound of waves gently crashing.
These are one-hour Vinyasa flow yoga classes, with a sequence designed to connect the mind, body, and breath.
Note: All levels welcome and yoga mats, blocks, straps and cushions are provided by the instructor.
Remember to bring your reusable water bottle and a bathing suit so you can swim after class
🧘♀️ Looking for private yoga lessons in Holbox? Contact Laura here to arrange those.
Best Things to Do in Holbox Island
16. Learn to Dance Salsa on Isla Holbox
On Holbox Island, you can eat salsa, and you can dance Salsa 💃🕺🏼
For the latter, join Hilda of Salsa Lovers Worldwide to learn this fun dance from a pro.
There’s no partner needed, and all levels welcome, at the best place to dance Salsa in Holbox Island.
Best Things to Do in Holbox Island
17. Watch the Sunset on the Holbox Pier
Holbox Island has some pretty epic sunsets on most evenings.
You can watch it away from the crowds at Punta Cocos Beach, or on the Holbox Pier near downtown, where locals and visitors alike congregate to enjoy watching the sun melt into the Caribbean Sea.
18. Get Street Tacos at Night in Downtown Holbox
When the sun sets, head downtown for the best street food and cheap eats in Holbox.
There are street carts and stall surrounding the main park with the bandshell (📍 here), and sample get everything from tacos and tortas (sandwiches), to marquesitas (sweet crepes).
Best Things to Do in Holbox Island
19. Walk the Giant Sandbars at Punta Mosquito
Located on the northern tip of Isla Holbox, you’ll find Punta Mosquito beach. The sandbars (or, sandbanks) here seem to go on for miles, and allow you to walk through the crystal-clear blue waters of the Caribbean Sea.
Punta Mosquito is a virgin beach, and to preserve it, you’re not even allowed to drive to the beach or even bike there.
If you want to go to the beach, pack water, snacks, sunscreen and eco-friendly bug spray because there’s absolutely nothing around.
For this reason, most people only walk the sandbanks and don’t visit this beach. To get there, head to the northern edge of Playa Holbox, near the Hotel las Nubes de Holbox, and walk north through the sea.
Remember to bring your water bottle, waterproof fanny pack, sunscreen and a hat.
Best Things to Do in Holbox Island
20. Cleanse Your Energy in Holbox
Rated 5 Stars! Matías is a Holbox local who performs sound healing therapy.
If you’ve never tried it — it’s one of the most relaxing things ever, and the different frequencies of the crystal bowls and Tibetan bowls he uses will leave you feeling more refreshed and radiant than when you arrived.
Best Things to Do in Holbox Island
21. Rent a Bike in Holbox (or Golf Cart)
There are no cars allowed on Holbox Island, so the only ways to get around are walking, biking and by golf cart.
Renting a bike or renting a golf cart in Holbox offer a fun way to explore the island.
You will find several places to rent bikes and golf carts in Downtown Holbox Island.
🚕💨 Holbox Travel Tips: The taxis in Holbox Island are golf carts or 4X4s, and they are all over. You should have no trouble getting one all day and most of the night.
Bike rentals are reasonably priced at about $15 USD per day. Golf carts are a bit pricey, averaging about $20 USD per hour, or $200 USD for the day.
They are a fun way to get around, and with a three hour rental, you can explore the whole island.
Best Things to Do in Holbox Island
22. Have a Drink at a Rooftop Bar
Looking for more Holbox hammocks time? Head to the pool at ALMA Bar at Hotel Villas Tiburón — the best rooftop bar in Holbox Island.
They have two hammocks there for you to enjoy, plus a food and drinks menu, DJs on weekends, and amazing views of the beach below.
23. Shop & Eat at Mercado Municipal
As Holbox has become more popular, prices have gone up. If you’re visiting Holbox on a budget, don’t miss the Mercado Municipal de Holbox, where the locals eat and shop.
If you forgot anything, like a towel or sunglasses, head to the market. For $1 Holbox tacos, head to the market.
Best Things to Do in Holbox Island
24. Eat at the Best Restaurants in Holbox
If you love tacos and fresh seafood (🤔 wait, who doesn’t?!), then you’re going to love eating your way through Isla Holbox.
Below, you’ll find a list of the best places to eat in Holbox — like El Chapulim in downtown, which has no menu because they make daily dishes with what’s freshest.
🌮 Prefer a local show you her picks for best Holbox restaurants? Join Lorena on this Holbox Taco Tour, one of the highest rated tours, with a near-perfect 5 Star rating.
- Best food, ambiance & cocktails: Big Fish — and they also have rope swing seating!
- Best tacos in Holbox (restaurant): Barba Negra
- Best tacos in Holbox (street tacos): Barbacoa Tacos Holbox (📍here)
- Best Holbox seafood restaurant: Las Panchas and Restaurante Viva Zapata
- Best Holbox restaurant to splurge: Luuma, Ser Esencia and Piedrasanta Holbox
- Best cafe in Holbox: Clandestino Coffee Shop
- Best pizza in Holbox: Roots Pizzas a la Leña y Mezcaleria (try the lobster pizza)
- Best vegan restaurant in Holbox: Arte Sano Vegan
Best Things to Do in Holbox Island
25. Spend the Day at Coquitos Beach Club
If you’re not staying at one of the best Holbox resorts on the beach, you can always spend the day at a beach club in Holbox to enjoy some resort-style amenities.
Coquitos Beach Club is a visitor favorite for their yummy tacos, creative cocktails and picturesque bohemian ambiance.
There are also some other great Holbox beach clubs to check out, like the Beach Club at Posada Mawimbi Hotel (my personal favorite), Las Nubes Beach Club (day pass required), Arena Lounge Bar, Fresco Bar & Grill, and Raices Beach Club & Marina.
26. Enjoy Live Music at The Hot Corner
Looking for things to do in Holbox at night? For the best Holbox nightlife, head to The Hot Corner, a place beloved by both locals and visitors alike.
They have live music or a DJ every night of the week, and a fun-casual environment right on the beach.
Best Things to Do in Holbox Island
27. Take a Cooking Class in Holbox
Most people don’t know this, but traditional Mexican food is very regional — and it’s not all tacos and burritos.
Get to know Mexican cuisine better at a three-hour Holbox cooking class, where everyday of the week, you can learn to cook food from a different state in Mexico.
All ingredients are included and you’ll learn to cook and eat at least three dishes in each class.
The classes are: Monday – Mexico City cuisine; Tuesday – Puebla cuisine; Fridays – Guadalajara and Jalisco cuisine; Saturdays – Oaxaca cuisine; Sundays – Yucatan cuisine.
Holbox Island Mexico: Travel Guide & FAQ
Where is Isla Holbox located?
The Island of Holbox is located in Quintana Roo State — home to many of the top Mexico travel destinations like Cancun, Tulum, Playa del Carmen, and Lake Bacalar, AKA “the Maldives of Mexico.”
Quintana Roo is one of the three states in the Yucatan Peninsula, located in southeastern Mexico.
This is where you’ll find and all the best Mayan Ruins in Yucatan, like Chichen Itza, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Isla Holbox is located on the Caribbean Sea, and is one of the so-called Mexican Caribbean islands.
Some of these other islands include Cozumel, Isla Mujeres and Isla Contoy, a Mexico national park.
🗺 ISLA HOLBOX MAP
Is Holbox safe to travel to?
For the most part: Yes!
Aside from sunburns, very rare instances of petty crime, hurricanes and drinking too much (don’t forget your Anti-Hangover Meds), Holbox Island is safe for tourists.
In fact, all of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is considered safe for visitors.
🤔 What does Holbox mean? In the Maya language, holbox translates to black hole. It was likely named after the dark blue water found in some of the cenotes in Holbox.
The island only has a population of about 2,000 inhabitants, so this is an everyone knows everyone kind of town.
Most places are closed by 11pm, but if you’re out late by yourself, just remain aware of your surroundings, as no place on Earth is ever 100% safe.
Best Things to Do in Holbox Island
What’s the best way to get to Isla Holbox Mexico?
For a deep dive into this topic, check out my Cancun to Holbox Travel Guide, but the cliff’s notes version is below.
Basically, you need to get to the pueblo (small town) of Chiquilá, Mexico, then take the ferry to Holbox. The only other way is with a direct Cancun to Holbox flight.
step #1: Fly to Cancun Airport
You’ll need to fly into Cancun International Airport (code: CUN). This is the closest Holbox airport that’s open to commercial flights. There is a small airport in Holbox called Aeródromo de Holbox (code: HOL), but it’s only open to private planes.
✈️ Want to take a flight to Holbox Island? You can fly from Cancun Airport to Holbox Airport by booking this flight on a private plane to arrive in style.
The flight costs $1,000 USD for up to five people, and takes just 30 minutes — versus four hours by car and ferry.
step #2: Cancun to Chiquila Mexico
From Cancun, you can book a private shuttle with Cancun Airport Transportation which I recommended as the most convenient way to get to Holbox.
You can also rent a car in Cancun and drive to Chiquila, take a shared shuttle or take the ADO bus.
🚙💨 Note: There’s no cars allowed in Holbox, so you must leave your rental in a paid parking lot near the ferry dock in Chiquila. The lots are secure, and cost about $100 pesos ($5 USD) per day.
step #3: Chiquila to Holbox Ferry
There are two ferry companies that go to Holbox — 9 Hermanos and Holbox Express.
Both have boats running from about 5am to 8:30pm, with departures every 30-40 minutes.
As schedules can change, check the Holbox ferry schedule before finalizing your Holbox travel plans.
You can buy your ferry ticket for the ticket window located right at the Puerto de Chiquilá (Chiquila Port), which is 📍located here.
Tickets are $220 pesos ($11 USD) for adults, and $160 pesos ($8 USD) for kids. The Chiquila ferry to Holbox ride takes about 20-30 minutes.
If you need more info on the Cancun Holbox trip, check out Cancun to Holbox Mexico: How to Get to Holbox Island, which is a much more in-depth guide.
Best Things to Do in Holbox Island
What are the places to stay in Holbox Island?
Holbox pretty much consists of these three areas: Playa Holbox, Playa Punta Cocos and Centro de Holbox Isla Mexico, or downtown.
🏝️ Playa Holbox Beach
Located on the northern end of the island (near Punta Mosquito), most of the best Holbox resorts are near Playa Holbox, and this area is popular with couples and families.
🏝️ Playa Punta Cocos
Located on the southern end of the island, Punta Cocos Beach is very quiet, perfect for a romantic getaway, or ideal booking a house in Holbox.
🏝️ Downtown Holbox
Located in-between the two, Downtown is where all the action is, with hostels and hotels in Holbox at all price ranges.
Best Things to Do in Holbox Island
What are the best hotels in Holbox?
Below you’ll are my picks for the best places to stay in Holbox Island, separated by type and price.
If you want the full list of hotels in Holbox Island, head here.
- Best All Inclusive Resorts in Holbox ($$$$): Villas HM Palapas del Mar and Villas HM Paraiso del Mar Holbox All Inclusive
- Best Luxury Hotel in Holbox ($$$$): Las Nubes de Holbox
- Best Boutique Hotel in Holbox ($$$): Casa las Tortugas Holbox
- Most Instagram Worthy Holbox Hotel ($$$): Posada Mawimbi Hotel
- Best Holbox House Rental ($$$): Casa Nino Holbox Villa
- Best Cheap Hotel in Holbox ($$): Alcobas del Mar
- Best Hostels in Holbox ($): Che Holbox Hostel & Bar and Tribu Hostel
Best Things to Do in Holbox Island
What’s the best time to visit Holbox Island?
The Yucatan Peninsula, where Holbox is located, has a tropical climate.
This means it’s hot year-round, but the summers can also be rainy, really humid and buggy — so don’t forget your Bullfrog anti-bug eco-sunscreen.
Summer is also Hurricane Season (it runs June 1-November 30), and located right on the Caribbean Sea, Holbox is susceptible to bad storms.
If you can, plan to visit in the dry season, from November to May, which is the best time to go to Holbox Island Mexico.
🐳 Whale shark season in Holbox
The one upside to visiting Holbox in summer is that you can take a tour to swim with the whale sharks in Holbox.
The Holbox whale shark season runs from about May 15 to September 17, when you can observe and snorkel alongside the largest fish in the sea.
Final Thoughts on Traveling to Holbox Island Mexico
Is Holbox worth visiting?
It’s a bit of a trek to get to, but Holbox Island is worth visiting for those who love venturing off the beaten path and want to see one of the best Mexico hidden gems.
Holbox is perfect if you want a quieter trip, surrounded by beautiful nature and gorgeous beaches.
If you want a similar feel to Holbox Island, but a much shorter commute from Cancun, consider Puerto Morelos, Akumal, Bacalar Lake, Puerto Aventuras and Playa Maroma Beach, home to the best Mexico overwater bungalows in the Caribbean.