Isla Holbox (pronounced ol-bosh) is a small island just north of Chiquila, in the Yucutan Penninsula of Mexico. It is an absolute dream of a place, with perfect white sand beaches that are classic of Yucutan. It’s a tropical paradise, with chilled-out vibes – the perfect place to come to relax if you’ve been go-go-go on your backpacking trip. This blog post will break down everything you need to know about how to visit to Holbox on a budget.
When I read up about Holbox, it said there were no cars and everyone got around by foot, bike or golf cart, however when we were there there were quite a few cars and a LOT of construction going on. It feels like Holbox is only a few years away from becoming a bit less of a secret and a bit less tranquil, so now is DEFINITELY the time to check it out.
Because Holbox is an island, everything is a little bit more expensive, however, it is definitely still possible to visit without breaking the bank. In other blog posts that I have read, they warned of there only being one ATM on the whole island with a huge fee, however, this has changed and there is a CIBanco a 5-minute walk from the ferry that only charges 58 pesos (€2.50).
TRAVEL TIPS TO NOTE SINCE COVID
Mexico is far less strict in terms of regulations than Europe, and you don’t need to be vaccinated or have a test to enter the country. Traveling around, masks are essential, as well as for entering shops and lots of indoor spaces. In Holbox everything is pretty much outside, so it can be easy to forget there is even a pandemic going on while you’re on the island.
Getting To Holbox
The nearest airport to Holbox is Cancun. If you are coming just for a trip to Holbox, compare the cheapest flight prices on KIWI.COM.
GETTING TO HOLBOX BY BUS
For the first part of your journey to Holbox, you’ll need to get a bus to Chiquila. Chiquila is a 2-2.5 hour bus journey north of Cancun. I recommend booking this bus through ADO. The bus from Cancun costs around 320 pesos (€14). I recommend booking it online as they can sell out.
GETTING TO HOLBOX BY FERRY
When we arrived on our bus, someone came on to sell us ferry tickets. This was handy because we had it sorted before we got off the bus, and meant we could pay by card without a fee, as the place to buy tickets at the port (along with everywhere else that takes card on the island) charges a 5% fee. When we got off the bus, we had to bring our receipt from the bus to a stand where they exchanged it for tickets. The ferry tickets cost 400 pesos (€17) return, and they give you both tickets at the stand so make sure you don’t lose them or you’ll have to buy another when you leave.
RENTING A CAR
While you can’t bring your car to Holbox, there’s a fairly cheap parking facility right beside the ferry port.
Compare the best deals for car rental at Rentacar.com.
Where to Stay in Holbox
When booking hotels or hostels I always recommend using Booking.com. Booking.com has no deposits, or cancellation fees (up to 24 hours) so you have so much flexibility, which is essential when backpacking.
HOSTELS IN HOLBOX
Because it’s an island, things are a little pricier than normal, and hostels are included in that inflation. However, if you are on a budget, then your only option in Holbox is to stay in a hostel.
FOR SOCIAL/EVENTS: Tribu €€ (the most highly recommended – it was booked out when we tried to go so try to book in advance!) Book Here.
FOR CHILL: Barco Verde € (A great cheap, relaxed hostel. The staff are really nice, and the most amazing cat lives there.) Book Here
Getting Around in Holbox
WALK AROUND HOLBOX
You can walk anywhere you need to in Holbox, so to be honest if you’re on a budget there’s no need to pay for any transport at all!
RENT A BIKE IN HOLBOX
Renting a bike will set you back about 400 pesos (€18) for the day.
RENT A GOLF CART IN HOLBOX
This is more for the novelty of riding a golf cart on a tropical island than a necessity. I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re on a budget as it will cost you anywhere between 700 pesos for 3 hours to 2300 pesos for 24 hours (€30- €100.)
Where to Eat in Holbox
Holbox was home to some of the best meals I have ever eaten in my life, in particular the only really good brunch spot we tried in Mexico. Everywhere we went was vegetarian-friendly.
PAINAPOL: The most amazing brunch spot. There’s usually a queue but it’s worth the wait. The food is amazing and reasonably priced, with avocado toast ranging from 60-115 pesos (€2-5) depending on how many toppings you add.
BARBA NEGRA: Delicious tacos with great vegan options. Tacos were 3 of 90 pesos (€3.80). Barba Negra was located in a food court where you could also get sushi, Italian food, and burgers!
TACOQUETO: I had to get the burrito here as they didn’t do veggie tacos but it was phenomenal. It cost 120 pesos (€5). My friends who eat meat said the tacos al pastor here were the most amazing they ate in Mexico. Get here early, because a queue builds up after 6pm.
Where to Drink in Holbox
TRIBU HOSTEL: There are lots of bars and places to drink in Holbox, but if you’re looking to meet new people I’d recommend going to Tribu Hostel. They do events every night like live music and open mics, and there’s a young backpacker crowd.
THE HOT CORNER: When everywhere else closes everybody heads to the street outside The Hot Corner to dance which is really cool. This is also another great spot for live music earlier on in the night.
Things to Do in Holbox
BEACHES IN HOLBOX
The beach in Holbox is as incredible as all of the rest of the beaches in this part of Mexico. Put down your towel and spend the day sunbathing and reading a book. The atmosphere on the beach is a lot more chill than in the likes of Tulum (check out my post on Tulum here).
GET A MASSAGE IN HOLBOX
The massages in Holbox are way cheaper than in Tulum or Cancun. If you have a friend or a partner, most places on the beach offer 2 for 600 pesos (€30).
WALK RESCUE DOGS IN HOLBOX
Refugio Holbox Animal Sanctuary lets you volunteer to take their adorable dogs out on a walk. Make sure you go either really early or else after 5pm as they won’t let you take the dogs out when it’s too hot. However, they will still let you play with the dogs during the day!
LOOK AT STREET ART IN HOLBOX
There are loads of amazing murals in Holbox scattered around the place. If you’re looking for something to do I’d recommend exploring them.
SWIM WITH WHALE SHARKS IN HOLBOX
This wasn’t in our budget so we didn’t get to do it, however, if you have about 2300pesos (€100) to spare, then swimming with whale sharks would be a once in a lifetime activity, and it’s something I’d love to go back and do one day when I have more money!
