Crystal clear, turquoise sea, a wide sky in azure blue. The warm breeze travels through the green leaves of dense vegetation. Snow-white, fine sand to dig your feet in. Cozy hammocks swing at posts standing in shallow water. Does that sound good? Then you are probably someone who could feel very comfortable on Holbox island.

The idyllic island paradise is located in Mexico off the Yucatan Peninsula. Exactly where the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico meet. Only a few years ago Holbox Island was completely unknown to tourism. That has definitely changed, and today the island is known to most travelers in Mexico. However, the inhabitants of Holbox have taken care to preserve the rustic naturalness of their island. And fortunately, they have done quite well so far.

Island Holbox in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo has remained quite untouched by the mass tourism of the Riviera Maya, although it is not far from Cancun. The island is 42 km / 26 mi long and only 2 km / 1,2 mi wide, and it actually consists only of sand. There are also no paved roads on the island. Sandy paths take you everywhere.

Holbox has a very unique flora and fauna and is part of the Yum-Balam Biosphere Reserve. This place is especially known for the whale sharks, the largest fish on our planet. Every year between May and September, they come into the clear waters off the island to mate. Holbox is also home to countless bird species, rays and manatees.

On the northern side of the island there is a 34 km / 21 mi long, untouched sandy beach. On the south side there is the Yalahao Lagoon, which separates the island from the mainland. The island was already settled by the Maya, who gave it the name Holbox: the name means “black hole” in the Mayan language. The reason for this is the water of the lagoon, which gets its dark color from the mangroves that grow there. The lagoon is populated by flamingos, pelicans and many other seabirds and exotic animals. In the 16th century, the lagoon served as a hiding place for the famous pirate Francisco de Molas during 40 years.

The only village on the island is also called Holbox. It is a rather small fishing village, only a few blocks in size, where about 2000 people live. You can watch the fishermen working on their nets, and in the evening the kitchens of the island prepare the fresh catch of the day. The ambience is very relaxed and rustic.

There are some small supermarkets Holbox island, and recently also a bank branch has opened. For such a small island you will find an astonishing number of good restaurants and small tavernas, pretty boutique hotels and cozy hostels.

Most people on the island spend their days on the beach. It is only in the afternoons that life returns to the small town. In the evening, the sunset over the sea is the unofficial meeting point for everyone before continuing on to a delicious dinner and refreshing drinks in the small bars of the island. Of course, the clear starry sky over the Caribbean Sea is particularly spectacular in fine weather.

Despite the rainy season it can sometimes get quite crowded even in summer, because this season coincides with the summer holidays in the USA and Europe. The cheapest off-season is probably September. Then you can also find the best prices.

If a visit to the whale sharks is fixed on your agenda, then you have to travel to Holbox Island in the period between May and September. Because only at this time of the year do these gentle giants enter the waters of the island. For the observation of bioluminescence in the sea, the period from June to October is the most favorable. But not at full moon.

You can also arrive by taxi. But if you prefer to have it cheaper or more convenient, the best solution would probably be a shuttle service. A very nice service with pick-up from the airport is offered by eTransfer.

Another good solution would be a rental car. City Car Rental, for example, would be a highly recommended provider. At the port of Chiquilá there is a parking lot where you can leave the car under supervision. The parking fee costs only a few dollars per day, and on the island of Holbox you can hardly do much with the car. There are almost no cars there.

The ferry from Chiquilá to Holbox Island departs every two hours, the journey takes about 20 minutes. The ferry is usually a modern catamaran equipped with comfortable seats, sanitary facilities and air conditioning. And at the pier of Holbox Island there will be eager helpers waiting for you who will gladly take you to your hotel.

You will be looking for cars in vain on Holbox Island. The sandy roads of the island would not be very suitable for them either. If you want to ride a vehicle in Holbox, take a Golf Cart. You’ll see them on the island at every corner. You can even rent one yourself. Prices start at around 35 USD for three hours and go up to 89 USD for 24 hours.

Many people also like to take a bike on island Holbox. Since the island is flat and not very large, this is not a problem at all. Bicycles are also rented and easy to get. Half a day costs about 14 USD, a whole day 20 USD. You can even ask the bike rental to bring the bike to your hotel.

Since Holbox has only one village that is only a few blocks in size, people there also like to walk. A walk along the sandy paths in the fresh sea air is healthy and gives you time to unwind a bit.

Not so long ago, the island of Holbox was rather unknown to tourists. At that time there were only a few small, cheap and very simple hostels. As an idyllic natural paradise, the island nowadays has resounded throughout the land. And therefore, it is only natural that a lot has happened in the hotel scene as well.

But you won’t find huge resorts with hundreds of rooms and all-inclusive offers here. It is not allowed to build higher buildings in Holbox. Instead, the island offers extremely chic boutique hotels, which are often beautifully decorated and lovingly managed by their owners.

There are rumors that there were so many lobsters in Holbox Island some time ago that it was difficult to walk the sandy streets without stepping on one of them. This no longer happens today. But the island’s lobster pizza is widely known for being so delicious.

For such a small island, Holbox offers an amazing variety of restaurants. You don’t have to miss the first-class fine dining here either. But one thing would be good – you should like fresh fish and seafood.

Holbox is an island, and even a small one. Fans of the big party scene are probably better off in Cancun or in Playa del Carmen. But that doesn’t mean you have to go to sleep with the chickens in Holbox. Some really nice locations will provide your entertainment, and several restaurants have evening events with life music.

Some restaurants are so cool and stylish that you’d rather expect them in a big city, not on a small sandy island. And the great cocktails taste a little better in front of the dreamlike panorama of Holbox!

Isla Holbox is a little paradise. The perfect place to relax in a hammock with a cool drink in your hand. Or to slow down, as they say. But even if you want to experience a bit more during your holiday, the island has got you covered. Because there are some incredible things to do in Holbox.

Whale sharks are the largest fish in the world. They are about 13 m long, but there are also bigger ones. And they are absolute loners. Except for the mating time.

When whale sharks want to fall in love, they gather in large groups to find the right partner. In only two places in this world. One of them is the waters around Holbox island in Mexico.

The mating season of whale sharks falls in the months between May and September. This is also the time when these gentle giants can be seen in the crystal-clear waters around the island.

There are guided tours where you can swim or snorkel with whale sharks. This is certainly a unique experience. However, the tours are limited to 15 excursions per day for nature conservation reasons. If you’re interested, it’s probably worth booking a tour online in advance.

If you want to limit contact with other people as much as possible, you can also experience the whale sharks as part of a private tour.

On Holbox island, the sun sets in the west. Just like anywhere else. But it also goes down over the sea. With incredible splendor and in all colors you can imagine.

The sunset by the sea has therefore become something of an unofficial meeting point for the people on the island. It is best to watch it from the western side of the beach at Holbox village or from the pier at Punta Coco at the western end of the island.

Kitesurfing is a very popular sport on Isla Holbox. The island is also ideal for beginners due to the favorable wind conditions and the shallow water especially during the winter months. On site there are several surf schools that will gladly introduce you to the secrets of this wonderful adventure.

Advanced kite-surfers will also find the best surfing conditions due to the many times stronger wind from the north with wind speeds of more than 25 knots. So, what are you waiting for?

Isla Holbox is perfectly flat and easy to explore by bike. And bicycles are rented at every corner.

A great destination for a bike ride is Punta Mosquito. At low tide you can reach the beach there via a sandbank. Sometimes you can watch pink flamingos at Punta Mosquito.

In the early afternoon, however, the tide is rising and the sandbank for the ride back disappears into the water. You still get through, but crocodiles also live in the lagoon. Therefore, be careful.

You can also easily get to Punta Coco in the west of Holbox by bike. If the weather is good, you should definitely watch the sunset there.

Art is inseparable from everyday life on Isla Holbox. If you stroll through the village, you will see the great street art that adorns the walls of many shops and restaurants. There are also some extravagant boutiques, for example at Luuma.

Holbox has set itself the goal of taking first place in Mexico in terms of street art. For this purpose, international artists were even invited to the island as part of a festival. You can explore the street art of Holbox yourself or get to know it as part of a guided tour.

The international art festival in Holbox island takes place every year in April („International Public Arts Festival”). During this event, artists from all over the world flock to the small island and fill the sandy streets with live – and with their artwork.

Isla Holbox is not only beautiful during the day in the light of the sun. It also holds another secret. The nights.

In addition to a wide sky full of stars, there is also this mysterious glow from the sea. Bioluminescence caused by phytoplankton. The sea then glows magically blue. It looks like an enchanted world. As if the stars had fallen into the water. And when something moves in the water, it glows all the more.

The bioluminescence in Holbox is best seen in the period from June to September. This is also the time when the whale sharks come to the island. Sure, they feed on this plankton.

You can watch the bioluminescence especially well during moonless nights, preferably in quiet places like Punta Coco. If you don’t want to look for the phenomenon yourself, you can also take a guided tour. The local guides also know exactly where and especially at what time of the night the bioluminescence is best observed.

One of the greatest natural wonders on Holbox Island is the incredible diversity of the bird life. Flamingos (from April to October), ospreys, herons, whistles, frigate birds, cormorants and many more. It’s best to watch these animals as you paddle through the quiet waters of the mangrove swamps on a kayak.

With a bit of luck, you can also see crocodiles sunbathing. Or wild boas. All of them are animals that probably don’t cross your way every day at home. Here on the island, you can observe them in freedom and be close to them in their natural habitat. A local guide will show you the best places and make sure that nothing happens to you.

If you don’t want to row in a kayak, you can also discover the secrets of Island Holbox with a paddleboard. They are available for rent and you can explore the lagoon and the mangroves. You will not believe all the wildlife you can see there. You can even do yoga on the paddleboard.

Holbox Island is a largely untouched spot of earth and known for its intact nature. However, this also means that the infrastructure on the island does not necessarily correspond to the high level of development of the Riviera Maya. Especially when it comes to electricity and Wi-Fi.

But this is unlikely to be a problem. Because the island will enchant you with its rustic charm and beautiful surroundings and let you forget everyday life for a while.