The 7 Best Things to do on Isla Holbox, Mexico

Isla Holbox is a stunning island paradise in Mexico. It’s best known for its endless white sand beaches, crystal clear waters, and laid-back Caribbean vibe. Read on to find out the 7 best things to do on Isla Holbox as a solo traveler!

Isla Holbox: not just a beach destination

One of the reasons I traveled to Mexico is my love of tropical beaches and beautiful coastlines. And I have to say: I haven’t been disappointed! From the soft white sands of the Riviera Maya to the rugged shores of the Pacific Coast, this country is home to some seriously stunning beaches.

Some of my favorites can be found on Isla Holbox. This tiny, tropical island is located just north of the Yucatán Peninsula, in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo.

Isla Holbox (pronounced ‘ole-bosh’) lies only 3 hours away from touristy Cancún, but it’s a different world entirely. Here, you won’t find any massive all inclusive resorts, crowded chain restaurants, or expensive nightclubs. Instead, the island is home to a small, sleepy town and pristine white sand beaches that stretch as far as the eye can see.

And even better: you’ll have them all to yourself!

I guess it’s no surprise most people come to Holbox to lounge in the sun, but there’s so much more you can do here than just relax. Even if you’re not a beach lover like me, the island offers enough activities to keep you occupied for at least a couple of days.

Trust me – whether you’re interested in outdoor activities, wildlife spotting, or spending most of your time sipping cocktails in the shade of a palapa, there’s something for everyone in this stunning island paradise.

Here are the best things to do on Isla Holbox!

1. Chill out in Holbox Town

Isla Holbox is a small island with a long and narrow shape. Most of the island is uninhabited, but on the far western corner you’ll find a tiny town, also (conveniently) called Holbox. Originally a fishing village, it’s a charming little place, home to brightly painted houses, open-air restaurants and wide, sandy streets.

Of all the towns and cities I visited in Mexico, Holbox is definitely one of my favorites!

I love the town’s laid-back Caribbean vibe, and the fact that it’s so small you can easily walk everywhere. The streets are mostly car-free – people either use bicycles or golf carts to get around – and no one ever seems to be in a hurry. You’ll find gorgeous white sand beaches just steps from your accommodation, and plenty of cool beach bars serving cold beers and cocktails.

Holbox town is also home to lots of amazing restaurants. You don’t have to search long to find some delicious Mexican food, like shrimp tacos, empanadas and ceviche!

Bonus tip #1

Be sure to bring enough cash to Holbox. The town only has two ATM’s, which are often out of cash, and most places on the island don’t accept cards. So it’s best to carry enough cash to cover your entire stay.

2. Admire the colorful street art

Holbox Town is a lovely place to chill out for as couple of days. But what really sets Holbox apart from other small towns is the colorful street art you’ll find everywhere!

When you walk around town, you’ll notice many of the buildings in Holbox are covered in beautiful, detailed murals. There’s a reason for this: in 2014, Mexico’s International Public Art Festival was held here, and more than 40 artists were invited to paint their vision of the island on the town’s buildings.

The results are nothing short of amazing!

Bonus tip #2

The best way to see the street art in Holbox is by taking a walk around town. Don’t hire a bicycle or golf cart, but head out into the town’s sandy streets on foot, and just wander around. You’ll find murals on almost every street!

3. Explore the island by bicycle

If you’re looking for more active things to do on Isla Holbox, consider renting a bicycle for a couple of hours. It’s a great way to get out of Holbox Town and explore some of the island’s beautiful white sand beaches and idyllic coastlines.

I rented a bicycle twice during my stay on Holbox. The first time, I cycled to Playa Punta Cocos on the southwestern tip of the island, located about 15 minutes from town. It’s a stunning beach with calm, shallow waters. The perfect spot to cool off after riding a bicycle in the Caribbean heat!

Playa Punta Cocos is very easy to find. Just follow the wide dirt road leading out of town and straight towards the western shore. Another option is to take the scenic route along the northern coastline. It will take a little bit longer, but the views will be worth it!

The second time I rented a bicycle, I decided to follow the road leading east out of town. It took me about 15 minutes to reach a long stretch of beach running along the northern coast.

And when I arrived, my mouth fell open in awe. It was one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever seen: an endless expanse of soft, white sand, bordered by greenery on one side, and clear turquoise waters on the other.

And I was the only one there!

The water is only ankle-deep, so swimming wasn’t an option here. But I have to say, this beach is worth visiting for the incredible views alone.

Bonus tip #3

If you’re heading to this part of the island and plan to stay for a while, be sure to bring some water (and snacks if you’re like me and get hangry easily). You won’t find any bars or restaurants on this beach.

4. Walk along the sandbank to Punta Mosquito

Another cool thing to on Isla Holbox is walk along the sandbank located north of the island. The sandbank starts in Holbox Town and ends at a point called Punta Mosquito on the northern coast. When the tide is low, you can follow it all the way to Punta Mosquito, where you’ll be able to spot flamingoes – if you’re lucky, that is!

It takes about 1 hour to get to Punta Mosquito by walking along the sandbank. Keep in mind the water rises during high tide. So if you visit at the wrong time of day, you’ll have to wade through water to get back to town! The best time to visit the sandbank is in the early morning, when the tide is low.

Bonus tip #4

There’s a reason why this place is called Punta Mosquito. You guessed it: there’s a lot of mosquitos here. So be sure to bring plenty of mosquito spray or citronella to keep those pesky bugs at bay!

5. Take a kayaking tour of the mangroves

Besides beautiful beaches, Holbox Island is also home to dense mangroves that are teeming with wildlife. One of more adventurous things to do on Isla Holbox is kayak down the narrow river that winds through these mangroves.

I have to warn you, though: it can be a pretty tough workout!

I booked my kayaking tour at Tribu Hostel. This particular tour costs 800 pesos per person and takes 3 to 4 hours, including a short boat ride to the mangroves. I decided to take the morning tour which starts at 9 am, but there’s another one in the afternoon if you prefer to sleep in instead.

The kayaking itself took about 2 hours. The wind was very strong that day, so the kayaking was tougher than I expected. But it was definitely worth the pain and effort! During the tour, we were surrounded by gorgeous scenery, and I loved how quiet it was on the river.

And best of all: we got to see all sorts of animals in their natural habitat! We spotted flamingoes, stingrays, lots of different types of birds, and even a small crocodile.

Bonus tip #5

If you’re interested in nature and wildlife, but don’t feel like kayaking in the heat (which I can imagine), take a look at some of the other tours Holbox has to offer. Besides kayaking tours, the island also offers whale shark tours, bioluminescence tours, and boat tours that take you to nearby islands to see a variety of birds (the Three Island Tour).

Keep in mind whale shark season lasts from mid-May until mid-September. So if you’d like to see whale sharks be sure to visit during that time!

6. Enjoy the low-key nightlife in Holbox Town

Nightlife on Isla Holbox is low-key and casual. It mainly centers around a couple of chilled out bars in town. That said, I went out for drinks with a group of other travelers on my second night in Holbox, and we ended up having a lot of fun!

We started our night at Tribu Hostel, a popular backpacker hostel with a cool bar. Because it’s a typical backpacker bar, it’s really easy to meet people there and strike up a conversation with someone. At the beginning of the night, I knew 4 other travelers. After an hour or 2, our little group had grown to more than 10 people!

After drinking a couple of beers at Tribu, we moved on to The Hot Corner in the center of town. The Hot Corner is a Caribbean-style, open-air bar with an easy-going atmosphere. They serve different kinds of cocktails and often play host to live bands and DJ’s, attracting a lively crowd. When we arrived, the place was so busy, people had spilled out into the streets!

We stayed at the Hot Corner until midnight, then headed to a beach bar called Cariocas on the east side of town. It was empty at first, but quickly filled up with people.

Cariocas is one of several open-air bars you’ll find along the beach. They usually stay open until 3 am. I danced on the beach until about 2.30 am, then called it a night and walked back to my hotel (which was just three blocks away!).

I would definitely recommend checking out the nightlife in Holbox. It doesn’t attract a huge party crowd like Cancún or Tulum, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The nightlife here is low-key and chill, just like the town itself.

Bonus tip #6

Besides bars, Holbox is also home to several beach clubs that are open during the day. So even if you’re not a night owl – or don’t want to wait until evening to start ordering cocktails – you’ll still be able to sip cocktails on the beach!

7. Watch the magical sunset

Of all the things to do on Isla Holbox, watching the sunset should definitely be on your list!

Holbox is famous for its magical sunsets, and every evening travelers flock to its beaches and beachfront restaurants to watch the sky turn a vibrant red. Unlike most other popular beach destinations on the Yucatán Peninsula, which are located on the eastern coast, the town of Holbox faces west. This means you’ll get a clear view of the sun as it sets on the western horizon.

So if you’re visiting Holbox, make sure to head to the beach at the end of your day! Grab a cold drink, find a good spot, and get ready to watch the sun as it sets over the Gulf of Mexico in a wash of gold and red.

¡Salud!

Bonus tip #7

The best places to watch the sunset on Isla Holbox are Playa Punta Cocos, located on the westside of the island, and the pier in Holbox Town. But honestly, any beach or restaurant facing the west will do!

How to get to Isla Holbox

Isla Holbox is a tiny island located in the Caribbean Sea, just north of the Yucatán Peninsula. To get there from Cancún, you’ll first need to take the ADO bus to the port at Chiquila. This takes about 3 hours.

Another option is to rent a car and drive there yourself. The port has several parking areas where you can safely leave your car for a couple of days.

From Chiquila, you can take a direct ferry to Holbox Island, which takes about 20 minutes. The ferry leaves every half hour, with the last one leaving at 9.30 pm.

Once you’re on the island, you can either walk to your accommodation (trust me, it won’t be far!) or simply hop on one of the many golf cart taxis.

Where to stay in Holbox Town

Tribu Hostel

Many travelers recommend staying at Tribu Hostel. It’s one of the most affordable places in Holbox Town, and very popular with backpackers. Unfortunately, it was already full when I tried to book a bed, so I had to look elsewhere!

If you’d like to stay here, I’d recommend booking at least a week in advance to make sure they have beds available.

Hotel Beach Inn

I ended up staying at the Hotel Beach Inn instead. This charming little hotel is located at the edge of town and has both private rooms and mixed dorms. I stayed in one of the dorms, which was very spacious, clean and quiet, with a beautiful ensuite bathroom. The beds were really comfortable, too!

I also loved their small, shaded patio, where you can have breakfast in the morning, relax with a book, or work on your laptop for a couple of hours.

One thing to know if you’re traveling solo: the Hotel Beach Inn isn’t a very social place, so it might be difficult to meet people here. Thankfully, I was already traveling with a group of backpackers I met in Cancún, so it wasn’t an issue for me.

And you can always head to the bar at Tribu Hostel to socialize and meet other (solo) travelers!

My favorite restaurants on Isla Holbox

Despite its small size, Holbox Town is full of amazing restaurants. These are my personal favorites:

Taco Queto: one of the best budget-friendly restaurants in Holbox. Taco Queto is located in the center of town and offers cheap but delicious Mexican food, including several vegetarian options. Order the veggie burrito – you won’t be sorry!

Painapol: if you’re looking for breakfast or lunch, Painapol is the place to go. They offer salads, fruit bowls, avocado toast and lots of other healthy options in a beautiful outdoor setting.

La Conquista Empanadas: located directly opposite the Hot Corner, this tiny restaurant specializes in empanadas – actually, it’s the only thing on their menu! They have more than a dozen different types of empanadas, including lobster and shrimp. The prices are very affordable, too.

What are your favorite things to do on Isla Holbox?

This post was originally posted in 2018 and has been updated and edited for accuracy and SEO.