My friend M and I wanted to have a relaxing vacation at the beach somewhere and we chose Isla Holbox, in the Yucatan’s north coast in Mexico. While it was not entirely disappointing, it was also not what we expected. Our assumption was that given the fact that you have to fly to Cancun, then drive for 2 hrs to catch a 30-minute ferry to this remote island, that it would be pretty chill, not a lot of tourists and not very built-out. We were wrong! People staying in Cancun come in big numbers to Isla Holbox for the day and they were a bit of a party crowd. Also, the island is a bit more built-out than I expected with some thoughtless buildings built too close to the ocean, damaged by the waters/hurricanes and then abandoned. But it was not all bad. Nature more than makes up for the man-made stuff. It wowed us with its gorgeous turquoise waters, white sandy beaches and abundant wildlife.
Here were the highlights:
EAT Luuma [by far our favorite spot. Amazing vibe!! Good food, tapas style, and great cocktails] Mandarina Restaurant at Casa Las Tortugas [beautiful setting right on the beach, serving great salads, juices and tons of other food options. Don’t miss going upstairs on their terrace where sushi is served] Ser Casasandra [good spot for a more upscale dinner in a very charming restaurant] Painapol [fun little place in the downtown area for breakfast – great smoothies]
STAY Ser Casasandra [not where we stayed but my favorite hotel and where I would stay if I was ever to go back. Beautifully designed & right on the beach] Hotel Punta Caliza [it had just opened when we were there and looks very laid back and charming] Casa las Tortugas [more centrally located while still beachside with a great bar, restaurant and lounge area]
TO DO The morning hours at the island were my favorite. The beach is almost deserted, the knee high waters next to the shore with the sandbank protruding a few feet away over the very calm warm water is paradise. You can walk, as we did every morning, for a couple of hours alternating between the sandbank and the water (go in the direction of Villa Flamingos). We saw manta rays, pelicans, storks, etc along the way. Unfortunately this was not the time of year for flamingos. There are boat tours for swimming with whale sharks, but again, not the right time of year, so we stayed put.
Note that you get around the island on foot or by bicycle. No cars are allowed aside from golf carts.
