Isla Holbox Holidays

Isla Holbox (pronounced hol-bosh) is sun-kissed, slow-paced, car free and wonderfully rustic.

Imagine a paradise island where the sea is turquoise, the sand is talcum white and the vibe is a sort of sleepy that’s almost impossible to find anymore and you have Isla Holbox. This is a destination where the journey is part of the adventure – it’s only accessible by a 25-minute ferry ride from the Yucatan Peninsula’s north coast – and the only way to explore is on foot, on two wheels or by golf cart.

By day the surrounding waters are scattered with bird life and on moonless nights the sea lapping the island’s south coast glows with bioluminescent micro-organisms. Whale sharks bask offshore from mid-May to mid-September while acrobatic kite surfers make the most of the fresh tropical breezes almost year-round. Come here for a few nights as part of your Mexico adventure and you’ll see a different side to the Yucatan coast.

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Discover Las Coloradas & Rio Lagartos

The wonderful colours of nature are on display during this full-day adventure to the northern reaches of the Yucatan peninsula. The first stop are the mangrove-lined waterways of the Ria Lagartos UNESCO Biosphere Reserve where you’ll take a wildlife-spotting boat ride. Keep an eye out for Morelet’s crocodiles, horseshoe crabs and vibrant flamingos paddling in the shallows. Later in the day, head to Las Colorades, a world of beautiful pink and orange lagoons that are used to harvest salt. The pans get their colour from the high concentration of algae and brine shrimp – the same organisms that give the flamingos their famous pink-hued feathers. There’ll be the chance to take an exfoliating and skin-enriching dip in one of the shallow salt pools before heading to a local village and one of the beautiful local beaches.

• Daily departures from Isla Holbox
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Good to know
Includes ferry and taxi service to Holbox hotel where this ezpernce Please use biodegradable sun cream and insect repellent. A US$ 5 tax for entry into the Rio Lagartos Reserve is payable as you board the transportation.

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The Birds Of Isla Holbox

Isla Holbox is famed for the myriad avian species that call this wonderfully rustic island – and its surrounding shallows – home. Hop on a boat and take a trip to the appropriately named Bird Island (Isla Pajaros), an islet off Holbox’s south coast. Try to spot ducks, pelicans, frigate birds and flamingos (April to October) as you cruise along the edge of the mangroves. Other non-feathered creatures that you may spot include iguanas and snakes, while plant species such as orchids are in abundance. You’ll have the chance to swim in the clear waters of Yalabau, a pool that’s fed by cooling spring water that was once believed to have age-defying properties. The final stop of the day is Passion Island, a castaway spot with swaying palms, hammocks, sun-kissed sands and a tower from which to spot more bird species from.

• Daily departures from Isla Holbox
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

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Get to know Isla Holbox and those important practicalities when planning your perfect holiday.

Capital
TIME DIFFERENCE

GMT -6 hours

CURRENCY

Mexican Peso

FLYING TIME TO DESTINATION

11 hours

RELIGION

No official religion but the majority of the population are Roman Catholic

LANGUAGE

Spanish

Where is Isla Holbox?
Off the north coast of the Yucatán Peninsula and separated from the mainland by six miles of shallow lagoon, Isla Holbox is a tiny island nestled between the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.

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Snorkelling and diving
The waters dance with marine life all year round, with chances to snorkel and dive with sea turtles, manta rays and a swirling cyclone of angelfish and parrotfish. Late May to mid-September whale sharks migrate to the island’s nutrient-rich waters and snorkelling with these gentle giants, many the size of a bus, is a spectacular experience. Whale sharks in Mexico are a protected species and only two people at a time are allowed to snorkel alongside them, so as not disturb their natural habitat.

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Beaches
Thanks to Isla Holbox’s dreamy off-grid location, the beaches are yogi calm and deliciously drowsy. Uninterrupted stretches of pure white sands, hammocks swinging in turquoise lagoons and flamingos hidden in nature reserves. Spanning the northern edge of the island, the main beach has a smattering of bars and places to rent kayaks and paddleboards. From the eastern tip of the beach you can walk across the sandbar to the huge sugar-white sandbank of Punta Mosquito where you’ll find more pelicans than people. For spectacular sunsets head to west-facing Punta Cocos, the furthest beach from town.

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Islands
Kayak, paddle board and revel in Robinson Crusoe-like solitude on Isla Pasión’s white sands and turquoise blue Caribbean waters. This tiny island bottles up castaway vibes and can be combined with a cruise around Isla Pajores for an utterly unique experience. Isla Pajores is a slender 200-foot-wide island and a protected biodiversity hotspot. Whilst foot traffic is forbidden, you can spot frigate birds, boat billed herons, snowy egrets and flamingos either from your boat or from the island’s thatched roof viewing points.

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Wonders of nature
A dark sky night, preferably in the new moon phase, makes the island’s southern waters glow like a sea of stars. This rare phenomenon, bioluminescence, occurs at its brightest between July and January and is caused by a chemical reaction in certain microorganisms that shimmer when they hit the water. On a full day tour to the northern reaches of the Yucatán Peninsula you’ll get to see the hot pink saltwater lakes of Las Colorades which look like somewhere unicorns would come to bathe. A natural wonder, the lakes get their rosy hue from the presence of microorganisms filled with beta-carotene and purple membrane.

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Getting around
Leave the traffic behind and relax into island life. Isla Holbox is a car-free carefree slice of paradise and at just 26 miles long and one mile wide, it’s easy to get around on foot or by hiring bicycles. Sunset bike rides are particularly magical. You can also hop in a golf cart taxi or rent your own buggy.

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Nov - Apr

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