Isla Holbox

Isla Holbox is a narrow, car-free barrier island off the northern tip of the Yucatán Peninsula in Quintana Roo, Mexico, reached by a 20-to-25-minute ferry from the mainland port of Chiquilá. It lies within the Yum Balam protected area, and its sandy streets, golf-cart taxis and pastel buildings give the town a relaxed atmosphere. The long beach along the south and east shores has shallow, warm water and wide sandbars, and the shallow lagoon waters are known for flamingos, pelicans and other birds. From June to September, boat tours go out to swim with whale sharks, the main seasonal attraction, and operators work under rules that limit the number of swimmers per animal. At night, bioluminescent plankton sometimes lights the water at the edge of the lagoon, most visible on moonless nights in summer. Other excursions include trips to Isla Pájaros, the freshwater spring of Yalahau, Isla Pasión with its sandbar and the mangrove channels at Punta Mosquito at the western tip. The town square, with its restaurants, hammock cafes and murals, is the center of evening life and serves seafood, lobster pizza and ceviche. Many visitors stay two or three nights, and day trips from Cancún or Playa del Carmen are possible but allow little time. Ferry fares are about $200 MXN each way for adults and $100 MXN for children, with departures from early morning to around 9:30 PM. The beaches are quietest in the early morning and late afternoon, and seaweed can gather on some shores at certain times of year. Cash is useful, since some small businesses and ATMs on the island can be unreliable. Visitors should use reef-safe sun protection and avoid disturbing nesting birds and turtles.