Holbox Mexico: All You Need to Know Before You Visit
The best part about beach holidays is that you get the best of both worlds. However, most beach holiday destinations can get crowded during the peak holiday season. For this, you need to look for destinations that offer fewer tourists and excellent experiences.
If you are heading to Mexico, Holbox, also known as Isla Holbox, is a great place to be. However, one of the issues that come with lesser-known holiday destinations is that there is very little information about them.
Hence, you must know everything about Holbox to help you enjoy your holidays the way you prefer.
What is the basic information about Isla Holbox?
One of the first things that you need to know is that Holbox is pronounced as hole-bosh and that can help you with your communication with locals. In the Mayan language, Holbox means ‘Black Hole’ and this island is separated from the mainland by a shallow lagoon.
Located on the northern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula, Isla Holbox is a large island which is generally known for its calm vibe. However, most of the tourists come here for whale shark viewing to enjoy lobster food.
Best Time to Visit Isla Holbox
Isla Holbox is an island that has a hurricane season, so you need to know the weather conditions to make the most of your visit.
December to March are the best times to visit Isla Holbox when the weather is cool and pleasant. September and October bring plenty of rain, so it is a very low season.
How do I get to Isla Holbox?
Being an island, there are practically no cars on the island. Hence, the only way how to get to Holbox is by ferry.
If you are planning to visit Isla Holbox internationally, you can take a direct flight to Cancun and then take a bus ride to Chiquila and a ferry thereafter.
However, if you are staying in Tulum, Playa del Carmen or Valladolid you can also find buses from these locations heading to Chiquila. Similarly, you can also buy tickets in advance to get off the island and head to any of the locations.
You may like to check out Is Mexico Safe to Travel? A Comprehensive Guide to Staying Safe on Your Trip.
How to Get Around Isla Holbox?
Once you have arrived on the island you will need to look for local golf carts, which act like a taxi and can get you to your hotel or accommodation. This is the only mode of public transport on the island and therefore you will need to utilize them.
In the past few years, the tourism industry has boomed in Isla Holbox, which has led to more golf carts available. These golf cart drivers would charge you anything from 30 pesos to 130 pesos. On the other hand, you can also rent these golf carts for 1200 pesos to 1700 pesos per day.
If you are looking for more eco-friendly options you can rent a bicycle which should cost you around 250 pesos per day.
How to Stay Connected on Calls and the Internet?
Isla Holbox only has TelCel phone towers and therefore you must buy a Telcel prepaid SIM card which allows you to stay connected.
If you are not staying here for long you can skip it, if you can. Also, the Wi-Fi signal here is relatively weaker and therefore do not rely highly on hotel Wi-Fi when you are staying in Holbox.
How to Pay on Isla Holbox?
When you are making transactions on the island you must focus on paying via local currency in cash. There are not many ATMs around and therefore you may want to prepare for it when you get down at Cancun.
While some establishments do accept credit cards they will charge you three per cent extra for the service fees. It is always a good idea to book your accommodations in advance for holidays to get the best hotels and rooms.
