Holbox is a car-free island off the northern tip of the Yucatán Peninsula, inside the Yum Balam nature reserve. It has sandy streets, a laid-back village, long shallow beaches, flamingos, and whale sharks offshore in summer. Holbox is reached by ferry from Chiquilá, a mainland village about 155 km from Cancun Airport.
At a glance
- From Cancun Airport: about 155 km to the Chiquilá pier, 2.5 to 3 hours; private transfer from 286 USD per vehicle.
- Ferry: 20–25 minutes, about every 30 minutes from 6 am to around 9:30 pm; tickets at the pier.
- No cars: walk, cycle or take a golf-cart taxi; cars stay in paid lots in Chiquilá.
- Whale sharks: tours run roughly from June to September.
How to get to Holbox from Cancun Airport
The route goes west on the 180D toll highway, then north through Kantunilkín to Chiquilá – about 155 km, 2.5 to 3 hours. From the pier, passenger ferries cross to Holbox in 20–25 minutes. Two companies, 9 Hermanos and Holbox Express, run passenger ferries from Chiquilá about every 30 minutes from 6 am to around 9:30 pm; the crossing takes 20–25 minutes and tickets are sold at the pier (about 220–330 MXN one way in 2026). A private transfer to the pier costs from 286 USD one way or 515 USD round trip per vehicle for up to 8 people. Details: Cancun Airport to Holbox.
Book your transfer to the Holbox ferry
Areas of Holbox
- Downtown: the village around the main square and Avenida Benito Juárez, the street from the ferry pier to the beach, with restaurants, hostels and small hotels.
- Playa Norte and the east beach: beachfront boutique hotels along Paseo Kuká, quieter, towards Punta Mosquito and the sandbars.
- Punta Cocos and the west beach: the beach road west of town, known for sunsets and, on some nights, bioluminescence.
- Chiquilá: the mainland ferry village, with a few small hotels for late arrivals and early departures.
When to visit
November to April is dry and pleasant. June to September is whale-shark season, hot and humid with afternoon rain; hurricane season runs from June to November. Sargassum can reach the beaches in some months, and mosquitoes are common at dusk all year.
Things to do on Holbox
- Swimming with whale sharks: boat tours from about June to September, with licensed operators only.
- Punta Mosquito and the sandbars: walk through shallow water at low tide east of Playa Norte.
- Flamingos and birdlife: boat trips to the lagoon and Isla Pájaros.
- Punta Cocos: sunset on the west beach and, on dark nights, bioluminescent plankton.
- Street art and the village: murals all over town and the Holbox letters on the beach.
- Kayaking and kitesurfing: mangrove kayak tours and steady winter winds for kiting.
Where to stay
Stay downtown for restaurants and budget options, on Playa Norte for beachfront boutique hotels, or near Punta Cocos for quiet and sunsets. If you arrive late, a night in Chiquilá avoids missing the last ferry. See all Holbox hotels.
Getting around
- On foot: the village is small and the streets are sand.
- Golf-cart taxis: wait at the ferry pier and take you to any hotel.
- Bicycles and golf carts: for rent all over town.
- No cars: visitors leave cars in paid lots in Chiquilá, about 150–250 MXN per day.
Good to know
- Holbox is in a protected area: single-use plastics brought by visitors are banned.
- The local municipality charges an environmental fee to overnight visitors, and foreign visitors also pay the Quintana Roo VISITAX.
- Bring some cash: not every place takes cards, and the island has few ATMs.