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 ISLA HOLBOX
Isla Holbox is pronounced i-la holebosh - "x" in Mayan is pronounced "sh".
A well kept secret not known to many Mexicans outside of the Yucatan - Isla Holbox was settled by pirates who intermarried with local Mayans living in the area.
The descendants of the original 8 families still reside there today. Sort of like Pitcairn Island.
Isla Holbox has 1600 +/- residents. It is a true island 7 miles north of the top tip of the Yucatan Peninsula about 40 miles NW of Cancun. It's approximately 7 miles long & 1 mile wide.
Its northern shore [facing the placid waters of the warm Gulf of Mexico] has become a secret hideout for Europeans, Canadians & Americans alike. Its like stepping back in time to the 50's or 60's.
 Airport
Transfers from Cancun Airport to Isla Holbox [VIP Private].
 ISLA HOLBOX HOTELS
For current Isla Holbox hotel and resort information including rates, availability and secure on-line reservations please see:  Isla Holbox Hotels
Transfer from Cancun airport is not available.
THERE ARE NO CARS
All transportation on the island is by golfcarts, motorbikes, bicycles, & of course walking!
The 1600 locals who make Holbox their home are mainly fishermen who ply their trade every morning before sunrise. The days catch includes Lobster $12lb for fresh Caught Tails, Grouper $2lb, Baracuda, Yellowtail, Red Snapper, Speckled Trout, Conch, Octopus, and many more "Fruits of la Mer". FRESH EVERY DAY!
A growing number of Americans & Europeans have discovered Holbox and make it their year-round or part-time home. Small boutique hotels that reflect the islands tropical nature have been built in the past 3 years to accommodate a growing tourist sector. However, there are NO HIGH-RISE HOTELS here like Cancun.
Local Restaurants feature fresh seafood prepared in a variety of ways. New restaurants are opening, the latest being "Viva Zapata" a great 2 story Palapa featuring an Italian trained chef Guimer, who's fabulous offerings will amaze you both in the quality of preparation, appearance and taste!
You might also want to try Chef Miquel's LOBSTER PIZZA [the restaurant is named after his daughter Edelyn] $13 & loaded with chunks of garlicky lobster!
There are local markets selling chicken, pork, beef, fresh fruits & vegetables, a bakery, lots of cerveza, & more. The local Internet Cafe is a meeting place for travelers keeping in touch as well as the local young joveneses [Teenagers] chatting, playing games etc all in the internet age. All for $2 an hour!!!!
Chat, do e-mail, surf the web, heck we know of one American who runs an International AutoParts business on the web who sips Pina Coladas, does Ebay auctions... all from his beachfront home!
BIG TIME "Game Fishing" is close at hand where the local skippers who know "Where The Action" is will take you to Cabo Catoche just a short distance from Isla Holbox. This is where the currents from the Gulf Of Mexico & Caribbean actually meet, bringing with them.... PHENOMENAL FISHING!
The favorite pastime on Isla Holbox is "RELAXATION". Explore the 7 mile long Gulf of Mexico beach with its white sands & crystal clear turquoise greenish warm waters. The Gulf of Mexico gently rolls in quite unlike the dangerous Caribbean with its undertows & sometimes monster waves.
Windsurfing is becoming a big thing on Isla Holbox as the favorable winds propel you through the water with grace & ease. Read a good book, write your novel. Some days the biggest decision you'll need to make is - "What's For Dinner" !!!
Isla Holbox's primary means of transportation is the GOLF CART [there are no courses on the island]!
There are numerous "Rentadoras" [Rental Agencies] who will cheaply rent you a GolfCar by the day or by the hour. You may bring your own car via the twice daily ferry service that brings everything to the island. Food, beer, refreshments, building materials etc, along with the delivery trucks.
Local Taxi's on Holbox.......4-6-8 passenger golfcars of course..... will take you anywhere you want to go. Rent a Motor Scooter, walk, commune with nature.
A recent article in the May 2004 issue of "Islands Magazine" was the first article in a major travel magazine about Isla Holbox. The article tells the inside story on Isla Holbox & its secrets. To quote the author, "The people of Holbox are about as content as any people on planet earth" !! This says it all!
THINGS TO KNOW
There is NO bank on Isla Holbox and NO ATMs. Even exchanging money can be a hassle and sometimes not possible.
Bring Mexican Pesos or U.S.D., nothing else works.
Many businesses do not accept credit cards or travelers checks, cash only.
It is cheaper to bring your own food if you plan to cook.
You can eat the fish you catch!
You can of course buy water on the island.
The island residents are prepared for tropical storms and all precautions have been taken to ensure total safety for ALL island residents and visitors. In the advent of a natural weather occurrence you would be evacuated or if you stayed you would be taken care of, even if you were on the island alone. We stayed on the island for Hurricane Ivan so we know this as FACT!
There is now cell phone service on the island.
The people there are very laid back.
Isla Holbox is the jump-off point for tours to see the Whale Shark, the worlds biggest fish!
THINGS TO DO
A lot of people go to Holbox to either fish, eat fish or do nothing. Some people get restless and for these people there are of course the beautiful nature walks you can take on the island. This does not cost you a penny unless you want to get a golf cart.
SWIM WITH WHALE SHARKS
Free Swim with the oceans LARGEST Fish.....The WHALE SHARK. These harmless peaceful creatures visit Holbox Island every May-September. Tours operated by licensed Government guides. See Holbox Whale Shark Tours for more information.
A must place to visit when you are on the island is Yalahau Spring. Yalahau in the local Mayan dialect translates to eye of the water. Here you will find a crystal clear spring often referred to as the fountain of life.
The spring has a rich history since it was a valuable commodity during times of drought that are believed to have occurred throughout Mayan history. It is quite conceivable that the island was chosen by buccaneers as a safe haven primarily for the spring. It was traditionally used by the Mayans.
An island close by, renown for it's birds, is Isla Pajaros a.k.a. Bird Island.
Isla Pajaros is a small island located in the Lagoon Yalahau. It is a common location for birders to visit to add pictures for their collections. There can be seen, depending on the time of the year, Flamingos, White Ibises, Spoon Bills, Cranes and a host of multi colored species.
Isla Pajaros is approximately a 30 minute boat ride from Holbox.
GETTING TO ISLA HOLBOX
The village you need to get to on the mainland to take the ferry across to Isla Holox is Chiquila.
Chiquila is at the far northern side of the peninsula approximately 3 hours drive from Cancun.
You can take a bus or drive there. You can leave your car at a private, protected $2 a day parking lot in Chiquila.
GETTING TO CHIQUILA
DRIVING FROM CANCUN
Go west from Cancun on the free highway until you hit the town of El Ideal. Watch for the signs for Isla Holbox then turn North to Chiquila.
Follow the signs [Isla Holbox] in El Ideal for the road to to Chiquila.
*NEW* SHORTCUT driving instructions to Chiquila from Cancun Airport.
DRIVING FROM MAYAN RIVIERA
You can drive through the jungle if you wish taking the route to Coba first then heading north. We only recommend this route to the adventurer. We have gotten lost numerous times taking this route ourselves and found it faster to simply take Hwy 307 up towards Cancun then turn West onto Hwy 180.
You can of course take the jungle route. Just make sure you enter with a full tank of gas and leave in the morning [plan your drive for daylight].
*NEW* SHORTCUT driving instructions to Chiquila from Playa del Carmen.
DRIVING FROM MERIDA / VALLADOLID
Drive East on Hwy 180 past Valladolid until you reach El Ideal. Follow the signs [Isla Holbox] in El Ideal for the road to Chiquila.
*NEW* SHORTCUT driving instructions to Chiquila from Merida.
TAKING THE BUS FROM CANCUN
There are daily departures [8 am, 12:30 pm, and 1:30 pm] from Cancun to Chiquila from the main bus terminal in Cancun City.
TAKING THE BUS FROM MERIDA
The only bus we know that travels to Chiquila from Merida is a late nighter departing from Merida main bus terminal at 11 pm.
You could also take a bus to Valladolid then find a ride to El Ideal or Chiquila if you had to.
For more information on Mexican bus services see: Mexican Bus
GETTING TO ISLA HOLBOX FROM CHIQUILA
There are a number of ways to get across to the island. Most common is the Hermanos Ferry Service. There are also water taxi services that will escort you across whenever you wish to go. The crossing time is approximately 25-30 minutes and the water is generally not too rough.
The ferry service costs 40 pesos one way while a water taxi can cost you 200 pesos for the boat [max 7 people].
Chiquila to Isla Holbox
6 am 8 am 10 am 12 am 2 pm 4 pm 5 pm
Last ferry crossing 7 pm
Isla Holbox to Chiquila
5 am 7 am 9 am 11 am 1 pm 3 pm 4 pm
Last ferry crossing 6 pm
THE “NEW HOLBOX" UPDATE
New... exciting information continues to emerge from the new “Peninsula Maya” Aka “Isla Holbox”.
The New Development has reached planning stages and here is the latest as of September 1, 2007
The 35Km long Planned Development of the “Peninsula Maya” will be Planned & Further developed by “EDSA” since 1960 a World leader in community planning & development. With worldwide offices, and headquartered in Ft Lauderdale Florida, EDSA is the right firm to master plan this fantastic upcoming resort complex. Their strict attention to detail assures the NEW HOLBOX will be done right.
The master plan encompasses a total of 10,000 habitacion units, or a combination of hotel rooms, condominiums, apartments, & individual luxury residences. This plan shows (2) 5 Star Resorts which confirm our earlier information that the Palace resort Group (Moon-Sun-Cancun & XPU-HA Palaces) & the Iberostar Resort Holdings Group from Spain are the (2) 5 star properties identified on the Master Plan.
In addition, (2) championship 18 hole golf courses are on board, as is a new 2000’ runway & new air terminal. Add in a 200 Slip Marina, and we’re talking “World Class” facilities - all just a stones throw from Cancun & the Riviera Maya Wonderland.
MORE: There will also be the new Village of Holbox with brand new central shopping & entertainment district featuring shops, restaurants and nightlife for all age groups.
There will also be a new passenger & cargo ferry terminal. This new terminal will be serviced from the Port of Chiquila. (That’s why the Governor is spending $7 Million US$ on upgrading & improving the road from Cancun, & probably why speculators are on the move in Chiquila trying to get control of certain lands there.
ALL of this new development is being done in a planned sustainable growth pattern with green belts & common areas, nature preserves & parks. NO HIGH RISES! Nothing over 3 stories tall! Couple this with planned ECO style outdoor nature preserve camps at either end of this master planned 35 Km long glimmering white sand Gulf Of Mexico beach. We’re talking something, bigger, wider, & deeper than Cancun's hotel zone in total area!
Factor in the azure blue-green safe protected waters of the Gulf without dangerous & deadly undertows, and you’ve got an unbeatable combination of recreation & investment potential.
Speaking of investment potential there is a very exciting investment vehicle available for a few select investors to get in on the ground floor of the Peninsula Maya Development. Roddrigo Sidney who was recently named Director of Tourism & Development for the USA & Canada for Holbox Island, advises TravelYucatan.com that he has secured the rights to an exciting investment opportunity encompassing a 100 Meter (300’) Beachfront Parcel x 450 Meters Deep (1350’ almost ¼ mile) Total almost 4.5 Hectares... smack dab in the center of this new development. This is newly government titled land, not Ejido paperwork. His plan is quite unique and should be of interest to some of our readers. To find out more contact Rodrigo at bmwrodd@earthlink.net or by phone 305-396-6987 or 305-407-8221
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