Mexico is a massive country with many attractions and awe-inspiring places that are begging to be explored. Amongst them are some amazing tropical islands; the most spectacular ones are concentrated around the Yucatan peninsula. Now, this being the most visited state in Mexico means two things: a very well-established tourism industry and hordes of other fellow travellers. But then you have Isla Holbox, a tropical island paradise with fine white sand, palm trees and delicious seafood, or is it?
Let's first and foremost address the elephant in the room! Isla Holbox is no longer a secret beach paradise, and I very much doubt you'll find many such places along the Caribbean coast of Mexico. Also worth mentioning is the massive amount of smelly seaweed, which is also a common sight on the island.
But travelling in a developing country doesn't necessarily mean everything will be dreamlike. Sometimes, you'll encounter such locations, which are just like raw diamonds in need of some polishing. Now, I don't know much about precious stones, but if you keep on reading below, I'll surely help you find the best spots on the island for you to enjoy that well-deserved holiday.
1. Overview Of The Island
Isla Holbox is one of the four main islands around the Yucatan Peninsula. The Island may not be very wide, but it sure is long, approximately 40 kilometres long, to be more precise. Now, do you want to learn some 'Mexi-can'? (pun intended) - The correct way to pronounce the name of the island is Hol-bosch; even though this may sound funny, this is how it's pronounced. Lying within the Yum Balam reserve, Holbox is home to more than 150 species of bird, including roseate spoonbills, pelicans, herons, ibis and flamingos. Although tourism takes up more and more space in the economy, Holbox remains a fishermen's island. At the confluence of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, there is a lot of food for aquatic wildlife, hence the presence of whale sharks.
Most of the island is also surrounded by rich mangroves.
When you get off the boat and set foot on the island, you'll arrive at the only permanently inhabited section of this stretch of land. Cars do not circulate on the island, but motorcycles and golf carts do. Holbox town isn't big, but it doesn't feel like a small pueblo either. There is traffic (golf carts mainly), tourists, trolleys, many souvenir shops, etc. But in all due honesty, it doesn't feel overwhelming. Even if it did feel a bit too much, all you'd have to do would be leave the main road,d and you'd then find that the rest of the island still retains some of the 'take it slow' vibes it was once famous for.
2. Where To Head For Some Proper 'Dolce Far Niente'
There are many beach bars and some hotels right on the beach, however, there's also a lot of seaweed which can also become smelly once the midday sun hits. The solution is to either walk or cycle eastwards (when facing the ocean) towards Punta Mosquito. This is where the real magic happens. If you want to sip some cocktails while you dig your toes in the sand, the Cocktail Bar/Hotel/Restaurant Las Nubes is a wonderful option, although it is a tad expensive. If you're on a stricter budget and feeling more adventurous, just walk past the Las Nubes complex, and you'll soon get to a protected area. After one or two minutes of walking along a narrow dirt road (there are usually people selling cold coconuts by the entrance to the protected area, so bring some pesos), you'll get to what you probably imagined Holbox would be: shades of a deep blue in front of you, a long sand bar in the middle of the sea, white sand, and a lagoon with lots of wildlife right behind you. Welcome to the best part of Isla Holbox. Don't forget to bring some snacks and water as there are no facilities other than the above-mentioned beach bar and the lady selling coconuts, which will be quite a distance away after you reach Punta Mosquito.
3. Swimming With Whale Sharks
Whale sharks are massive animals; they can grow up to 15 metres long (45 feet) and weigh up to 15 tons. Every year off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, from mid-May to mid-September, they migrate in large numbers after a journey of over 6,000 km. These creatures are considered harmless and non-threatening to humans, and they only eat plankton.
More than 800 specimens gather to feed on the water's rich plankton, krill and fish eggs. This is an amazing and still not well-understood phenomenon since whale sharks are usually considered solitary creatures.
Seeing these fish is not a given, as they don't actually need to resurface to breathe since they're not mammals. If the plankton the whale sharks feed on is carried by currents further down, the fish follow them, out of sight of snorkellers. The best way to improve your chances of actually swimming with these animals is to make an advance reservation with a tour company. Once your captain spots a pod of whale sharks, it'll then be time to put on your fins, grab your snorkel and jump in the water. Tours usually include gear (snorkels, fins, wetsuits), lunch, and it’s possible to just show up and book with one of the many tour providers who advertise their services on the island.
4. How To Get To The Island
Isla Holbox, being an island, is obviously best reached by boat. To get to the island, you'll first have to get to the tiny village of Chiquilá, and, from there, walk to the ferry port (if you arrive by ADO bus, it's a 7-minute walk from the bus terminal to the ferry port). Once you get to the ferry terminal, just walk to the ticket office and buy a ticket for the next ferry. There are daily ferries to and from Holbox from 6 am to 9:30 pm at 30-minute intervals.
So, Is Isla Holbox Worth It?
I would say YES; it's worth it if you know where to go when on the island and if you don't set your expectations too high. If it's only swimming with whale sharks that you have in mind, then what I've mentioned previously about overcrowding, seaweed, and this not being the secret beach paradise it probably once was won't really affect you much.
Swimming With Whale Sharks
-Video by Kebabs-
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