Isla Holbox: The Unspoiled Mexican Island you Need to Visit!

Isla Holbox is a gorgeous little island in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula that’s just 40 miles away Cancun, yet feels a million miles away. A far cry from its mainland cousins, you won’t find high-rise hotels, American restaurants or even cars here. Nope, this little island has resisted commercialisation and still managed to keep its Carribbean charms: cute pastel coloured houses line the streets, locals fish from the side of the beach and golf buggies are the main mode of transporation. The island has even been dubbed as one of Mexico’s last secret beach towns. You might be thinking that, because of this there are hardly any things to do in Isla Holbox, but I’m here to prove you otherwise!

We spent 3 days in Isla Holbox at the beginning of our Mexico trip and had some of our most memorable travel moments to date there. So, without further ado, these were some of our favourite things to do in Isla Holbox.

My Pick of the Best Things to do in Isla Holbox

Swimming with Whale Sharks

Let’s start with the biggy. Most people visit Isla Holbox for their chance to get up close to whale sharks, the largest fish in the sea. This is something that I’ve always wanted to do and, luckily, we were there in the middle of Isla Holbox’s whale shark season, which lasts from mid-May to mid-September. We took a tour with a reputable whale shark company called VIP Holbox who’re known to be the most ethical on the island. You can check out my review of them here.

Check out Street Art

One of my favourite things to do in Isla Holbox was just wander around and check out the street art and little independent shops and restaurants. I really didn’t expect to see such cool murals on a Carribbean Island, of all places! But, in Holbox, you’ll find stunning street art brightening up every street. Get your camera and get exploring!

Eat Lobster Pizza

Weirdly enough, lobster pizza has become syonymous with Isla Holbox. Tell most Mexicans that you’ve visited Isla Holbox and they’ll mention the infamous dish! We had ours at Pizzeria Cariocas and, weirdly enough, lobster does make a pretty decent pizza topping- who’d have known! The most popular lobster pizza joint in the city is Pizzeria Edelyn which is packed out with tourists every night. We chose Cariocas instead simply because they had a wine special on- typical!

Swinging in a Hammock in the Sea

Another one of the most quintessential things to do in Isla Holbox is swing in one of the sea hammocks!  Actually, this iconic part of the island is probably more famous (or, at least more Insta-Famous) than the lobster pizza and whale sharks put together!

In my opinion, though, this is one of those “Instagram vs Reality” kind of things. Maybe it was just because it was drizzly while we were there, but I found the sensation of lying in a hammock with a soggy bum and dry body a wee bit weird- but that’s just me!

Catch a Sunset

This should be a given on any Carribbean Island but, luckily, Isla Holbox’s main stretch of beach is Northwest facing, meaning you can easily nab a great seat for the show.

Where to Eat and Drink on Isla Holbox

Zomay’s Bar

If you’re looking for the perfect spot to catch sunset on Isla Holbox, Zomay’s Bar would be the place! This is a bit of a hub for travellers, just a short walk away from the main hotel zone.

Basico Cocina de Playa

A great spot for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner and everything in between. We got pulled in purely by the cool design and creative menu but our brunches did stand up to the test! The coffee, not so much, though!

The Hot Corner

Every night, this place is buzzing with live music and dancing. Plus, the drinks selection is nae bad, either. Make mine a michelada!

Bar Arena

If you’re looking for the best rooftop bar in Isla Holbox, this is a great pick. Whether you go by day and enjoy their swimming pool, or simply chill with a cocktail while overlooking the plaza by night, I’m sure you’ll love this spot.

Taco Queto

We missed this place but apparently, it’s the place to go for tacos and burritos!

Rincon Mexicano

Budget eats on Isla Holbox aren’t exactly prelavent but there are a few places. Our favourite spot was Rincon Mexicano which we went to everyday and demolished some shrimp quesadillas and guacamole. (When by la mar!) This place doesn’t look like much, with its plastic chairs and shabby decor- actually, I didn’t even realise it had a name until I checked Google maps. But, seriously, you won’t regret trying those shrimp quesadillas.

Et, Voila

A Mexican-French fusion restaurant with quirky decor and a brunch menu that can’t be beaten on price!

Lobster Pizza

I could be terribly wrong, but I’d assume that lobster pizza is the same everywhere. Just look outside restaurants for a sign and see which place has the best atmosphere (and drinks deals- haha).

Where to Stay in Isla Holbox

Tribu Hostel is, by far, the most popular hostel in Isla Holbox- we tried to get reservations but, at the time they only used Skype and were showing as full on Hostelworld (which they weren’t!), so we missed out. Now, you can book a room or dorm bed on Booking.com. It’s a pretty cool hostel with beach chairs, hammocks and cool activities happening every day.

I must admit, though, that we weren’t too fussed about missing out. We managed to nab a great deal at Casa del Viento, a mid-range boutique hotel across the road- we even had a hammock in our room! Check it out here.

For something a bit more fancy, Hotel Casa Las Tortugas looks amazing!

Want to wing it? We were too scared to try and find accommodation on Isla Holbox without booking since, ya know, it’s an island in a part of Mexico that’s notorious for being expensive. Turns out, we were being silly. There were loads of cheap little guesthouses with vacant signs on the doors!

Getting to Isla Holbox

To get to Isla Holbox, you should first make your way to Chiquila and then take a ferry. The ferry costs 100 MXN (£4/$5.50) per person each way.

Buses to Chiquila leave from a variety of places including Cancun, Valladolid and Chetumal. On the way back, though, there are actually shared taxis that can take you to Cancun airport for the same price (or even less) than an ADO bus. If you want to be flexible on time, this is a good option but, otherwise, I’d stick with the bus. In my experience, you have a lot less legroom and a larger chance of unreliable Air Con in a shared taxi!

Check out the ADO timetable here!

Feeling flash? You can charter a plane back to Cancun!

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I hope this post has given you more travel inspiration about all the best things to do in Isla Holbox! As always, if there’s anything that I’ve missed, leave me a comment and let me know!

Disclaimer: We were guests of VIP Holbox. However, as always, all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.