Explore Holbox

On foot, by bike or golf cart

A Walk on the Beach

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The entire north coast of Holbox Island is one long sandy beach, which comes from finely ground shells and coral. The water near the beach is very shallow everywhere and depending on the state of the tides there are always long sandbanks on which you can walk wonderfully barefoot.

On the way you can collect shells, watch small rays and puffer fish in the water, find one or the other primeval animal and see countless different birds. And in the evening, this side of the island offers the best view of Holbox’s spectacular sunsets and, appropriately, the chance to enjoy a delicious cocktail in one of the numerous beach bars.

Tip: For the walk you should definitely provide yourself with enough drinks and put on sunscreen well. Due to the reflection of the light on the surrounding water, the solar radiation here is significantly higher and should not be underestimated. Especially on days when the sky is cloudy and perhaps a strong wind is blowing, you can quickly get a sunburn without even noticing it.

The Way East to the Lagoon

If you walk from the center along the beach towards the east, you will pass the last hotels after about half an hour and enter the beginning natural area of the mangroves. From here you can continue walking for about 20 minutes until the beach is interrupted by the mouth of a lagoon, where you can’t go any further on foot.

Alternatively, at about the height of Hotel Las Nubes, the last hotel on the beach, you can cross over to the sandbank in the sea, which is easily visible at low tide. From there, the path goes much further past the mouth of the lagoon in the direction of Punta Mosquito and sometimes you can even see the beautiful, unfortunately very shy flamingos or whole colonies of pelicans from this sandbank.

Attention: This path has an end marked with a sign, because the Punta Mosquito is under nature protection and may not be entered by tourists.

The Way West to Punta Cocos

If you walk towards the west, you will reach Punta Cocos in half an hour or an hour. You can only cross the bay directly at low tide or you can take the rather awkward way through the interior of the island. There’s not much to see on the other side of the bay, though, except for a short narrow path along the coast that leads to the southernmost part of the island, from where you can spot the opposite island, Isla de la Pasión.

Through the Village of Holbox

On the other side of Holbox, in the south of the island, is the port where the ferries from and to Chiquilá dock. Here you can see colorfully painted small fishing and excursion boats and a baseball field. The island’s power plant for generating electricity is also located nearby. From here you can easily start a tour of the town, admire the beautiful murals on the walls of the houses and visit the stores, restaurants and cafes.

Just let yourself drift through the streets as you please. There is no danger of getting lost, because Holbox is quite clear. Early risers can witness the sunrise at the harbor, which is a uniquely colorful spectacle.

Explore Holbox by Bike

In many hotels and hostels you can rent a bike for a small fee. This makes it much faster to reach the places mentioned above. And if the way leads through the bush-covered interior of the island, it is much more pleasant to cycle than to walk through the heat, which is noticeable here.

During your island tour, you should definitely pass by the cemetery and take a quick look inside. It is located a bit outside on the Avenida Damero, the street that passes next to the airport runway. By the way, there is a small market on this street near the airport building where you can buy local tropical fruits, freshly squeezed juices or local snacks such as tacos or empanadas.

If your accommodation does not provide bikes itself, you can rent one at Holbox Bikes, Sea Bikes or Ama’s Bikes. Prices for a normal bike start at 35 MXN (about 2 USD or 1.60 GBP) per hour, for a whole day you pay about 200-250 MXN (about 10-12 USD or 8-10 GBP).

Note: Most bikes don’t have lights, which can get quite exciting in the dark due to the poor lighting and bad roads.

Rent a Golf Cart

Exploring Holbox Island is even more comfortable with a golf cart. These small vehicles are quite suitable for the poor sandy roads, as long as you avoid large puddles and potholes, and do not drive in loose sand. Otherwise, you can get stuck or the engine dies because it gets wet.

For a round trip on the island and a sightseeing tour through the village of Holbox, about half a day is enough, then you have seen almost everything. Driving does not require a license and the traffic rules are rather intuitive. Road signs are almost nonexistent and if they are, they serve more as a guideline. The vehicles do not go particularly fast, but caution is still advised, as they are often used by the locals and even by children. By the way, driving around directly on the beach with a golf cart is strictly forbidden and very harmful for the environment. Finally, Holbox is a well-preserved natural area and it should remain so for its wonderful fauna and flora.

To rent a golf cart, it is best to ask at your accommodation or contact one of the numerous rental companies. The prices are similar with all providers and are including gasoline about 300 MXN (15 USD or 12 GBP) for 2 hours, 1500-1800 MXN (73-88 USD or 59-71 GBP) for half a day and 2000-2300 MXN (98-112 USD or 79-90 GBP) for 24 hours.

Tip: When you pick up the golf cart, make sure it is in good condition and everything works, otherwise complain right away.

The most known rental companies of golf carts

Rentadora Golf Car El Cachorro, Calle Palomino y Calle Gerónimo de Aguilar, 77310 Holbox,
+52 984 2538707, Website: rentadoraelcachorro.com

Monkeys Golf Cart Rental, Calle Tiburón Ballena, 77310 Holbox

La Conchita, Calle Tiburón Ballena, 77310 Holbox, +52 984 2182776

Golf Cart Rental Palmeras, Paseo Kuka y Calle Esmedregal, 77310 Holbox, +52 998 1880205

FAQ

Here we have compiled answers to frequently asked questions about walks, bicycles and golf carts:

Golf carts can be booked on Holbox, usually spontaneously. In order to be sure to get one, it is recommended to book the golf cart 1-2 days in advance at the hotel or at the rental company of your choice. In the high season at Christmas, Easter and in the main holiday season from July to August it is advisable to order at least 2-3 days before the desired date.