How to Get From Playa del Carmen to Holbox in 2025

Trying to figure out how to get from Playa del Carmen to Holbox? You’ve come to the right place!

As a travel blogger that has spent many years living in Playa del Carmen, I’ve traveled to Holbox Island several times and know all the best ways to get there.

Although it’s a bit of a trek, getting to Holbox from Playa del Carmen is actually quite simple if you know what to expect.

In this post, I’ll explain exactly how to get from Playa del Carmen to Holbox, and how to navigate the transportation options including buses, shuttles, and ferries.

I’ll also share tips on where to stay, top things to do, the best places to eat, and more to help you make the most of your visit to Holbox.

Ready to find out how to visit Holbox from Playa del Carmen? Let’s get started!

Getting from Playa del Carmen to Isla Holbox can seem like a daunting task but trust me it’s not as hard as it looks!

Basically you just have to travel from Playa del Carmen to Chiquila (2 hours), then take the ferry from Chiquila to Holbox Island (30 min).

The first step of the journey is to drive from Playa del Carmen to Chiquila, which is a small town on the northern coast of the Yucatan peninsula.

To get to Chiquila from Playa del Carmen, you have the following options:

• Take a colectivo
• Take the ADO bus
• Hire a private shuttle
• Rent a car and drive yourself

If you don’t have a car, the cheapest way to get to Chiquila is to take a colectivo, which is a shared van service that is very common in this part of Mexico. 

I’ve taken the Holbox colectivo before and it was very easy and safe! 

The Chiquila/Holbox colectivo picks up at the main colectivo station in downtown Playa del Carmen near the Chedraui grocery store and the main highway 307 (📍 Google Maps Location).

Once you arrive to the colectivo station, look for the signs for the Chiquila colectivo to get in the right line. There’s usually staff around that can help if you need assistance.

Once you get to Chiquila, the colectivo will drop you off at a parking lot just outside of the ferry terminal.

The cost for the Chiquila colectivo is around $350 pesos each way (~$17 USD) and the trip takes about 2 hours.

It’s best to have cash on hand (pesos are best) as credit cards are typically not accepted.

You can reserve a spot on the Chiquila colectivo via WhatsApp by sending a message to +52 984 188-6604.

It’s best to reserve in advance as the shuttle can fill up quickly.   It is first come, first serve if you do not reserve in advance. 

Below are the daily departure times for the Chiquila colectivo:

Travelista Tip: I would recommend getting there 15-20 minutes early so you can ensure you get a good seat on the shuttle. 

Another option is to take the ADO bus from Playa del Carmen to Chiquila. This is my preferred way to go because the buses are much larger and more comfortable.

While a little more expensive than a colectivo, the ADO bus is a larger charter-style bus with restrooms and TVs onboard.

The ADO bus from Playa del Carmen to Chiquila leaves from the Playa del Carmen Turistica ADO station in downtown Playa del Carmen on 5th Avenue and Avenida Juarez.

The bus will drop you off at the Chiquila ADO Station which is only about a 5 minute walk away from the ferry.

There are daily departures leaving from the Playa del Carmen Turistica ADO station leaving at the following times:

• 11:35 AM

ADO tickets can be purchased on the ADO website (Spanish only), on Busbud (English), or directly at the ADO Station.

If booking online, make sure to put “Chiquilá” as the destination and not Holbox.

If you don’t speak Spanish, I would recommend booking your tickets on Busbud. It’s a little bit more expensive but you’ll be able to reserve everything in English.

If you have a larger group or prefer more social distancing, another option is to hire a private shuttle to get to Chiquila from Playa del Carmen. 

Pricing starts around $180 USD each way depending on the size of your group and includes transport in a private air-conditioned van. 

This is the most convenient way to go because they’ll pick you up from wherever you’re staying in Playa del Carmen and take you right to the ferry.

The last option is to rent a car and drive from Playa del Carmen to Chiquila. The trip takes about 2 hours and is a fairly easy drive. 

Cars are not allowed on Holbox so you’ll need to park the car in Chiquila. There are paid parking lots right outside the ferry where you can leave your car. 

Once you arrive to Chiquila, you will then need to travel across the water to Holbox, which only takes about 30 minutes.

You can do this by taking the ferry or hiring a water taxi. Both are only about a 5 minute walk from where the buses let you off.

Taking the ferry is by far the most common way to get over to Holbox Island Mexico. 

There are two ferry companies (Holbox Express and 9 Hermanos) with alternating schedules so one leaves every half hour. 

The cost is around $300 pesos ($~15 USD) each way and there are kiosks just outside the ferry where you can purchase your tickets.

The Holbox ferries are large and comfortable with an air-conditioned downstairs seating area, and an open-air upper deck. 

If you decide to sit upstairs, you’ll want to have sunscreen handy as there is no shade! There are also restrooms and luggage storage facilities on board if needed.

Travelista Tip: If you are a Quintana Roo resident with a valid ID, you can get a discount on the Holbox ferry.

Another option for getting over to Holbox is to hire a water taxi. Once you arrive to Chiquila you will see rows of small fishing boats lined up just next to the ferry that you can hire. 

These are a good option if you drive yourself or arrive at an off hour and don’t want to wait for the next ferry.  The price is pretty reasonable and isn’t much more than taking the ferry.

Once you arrive to Holbox, you will be greeted by a line of golf carts waiting outside of the ferry that you can rent or hire to get to your hotel.   

If you don’t have much luggage, it’s also possible to walk from the ferry to the town center, which is less than 10 minutes away.

It’s important to know that none of the roads in Holbox are paved and the streets simply consist of dirt roads and sidewalks. 

Plus, there are no cars on Holbox, so the only way to get around is by golf carts or bicycles. You can easily hire a golf cart taxi or rent one on your own.

Travelista Tip: Holbox a beautiful island but be prepared to smell a lot of exhaust from the golf carts and inhale dust from the dirt roads, especially in the town center.

Even though the island is small, there is still a wide variety of Holbox hotels to meet every budget. 

Travelista Tip: If you can, I would recommend staying on the east side of the beach.  This area of the beach is nicer, more widespread, and usually has less seaweed.

Here are some of the best places to stay in Holbox:

• LUXURY: Casa Las Tortugas is one of my favorite hotels on Holbox! This boutique luxury adults-only hotel is SO CUTE with an outdoor swimming pool, an amazing beachfront restaurant, and boho-chic guestrooms. 

• MID RANGE: Villas HM Palapas del Mar is a trendy mid-range Holbox hotel with a great central location, a rooftop pool and sushi restaurant, and an incredible beachfront. You can read my full Villas HM Palapas del Mar review for all the details!

• BUDGET: Madre Holbox is a small, cute hotel located in downtown Holbox, and about a 10 minute walk from the beach. I stayed here and had a great experience!

Relax on the beach

Number one thing to do in Holbox? Nothing! This is how I usually spend most of my time in Holbox – just laying around on the beach and enjoying the beyond gorgeous views. 

I would recommend staying at a hotel directly on the beach so you can take advantage of their beach loungers and umbrellas. Otherwise, you can rent chairs from one of the Playa Holbox hotels or beach clubs. 

If you’re feeling up for a picturesque seaside walk, take a stroll along the natural sandbar to the Punta Mosquito nature reserve, where you might be lucky enough to spot some flamingos in the wild.

If you want to be more adventurous, you can swim with whale sharks in Holbox, which is one of the most popular tours on the island. 

Whale shark season in Holbox is between the months of May-September, when you can get up close and personal and snorkel alongside these gentle giants. 

I swam with whale sharks in Isla Mujeres and it was truly an unforgettable experience! 

One of the most totally unique activities on the island is going on a Holbox bioluminescence tour.

Holbox is one of the few places in the world with bioluminescent plankton, which lights up under the water at night. 

These night time bioluminescence tours typically depart around 9:00PM and allow you to kayak or swim in the glowing water under the stars.

With beaches on the west side of the island, Holbox is one of the best places in the Yucatan peninsula to watch the sunset over the ocean. 

Holbox sunsets are really incredible and shouldn’t be missed! You simply won’t find that in Playa del Carmen or on the east coast of Mexico.

Every evening, it’s a highly anticipated event that everyone prepares for. You will see crowds of people gathering at beach bars and setting up chairs to get a good view. 

Painapol Holbox is a healthy breakfast and lunch restaurant serving acai bowls, smoothies, and healthy meals. 

It’s one of my favorite restaurants in Holbox and I always eat there whenever I go to Holbox!

It’s a must-visit for a healthy breakfast, lunch, or a smoothie bowl that is just too pretty to eat.

Luuma Holbox is a trendy restaurant and cocktail bar at Casa las Tortugas featuring tapas and small plates. 

The atmosphere is very hip and the menu offers traditional Mexican dishes made with eclectic ingredients like chaya croquettes and black octopus empanadas. 

Viva Zapata is a popular dinner restaurant in Holbox with some of the best Mexican food on the island.

Featuring a restaurant and bar, the casual environment is a popular spot for a late night dinner. The menu offers traditional Mexican dishes like tacos and fajitas, as well as pasta and meat dishes.

I love the chicken fajitas which are always tasty and are served with handmade tortillas!

Follow these tips to make the most of your Holbox experience:

• Stay on the east side of the beach: If you can I would recommend staying on the east side of the beach, which is nicer, more widespread, and has less seaweed.  Near Casa las Tortugas is a prime location with a stunning beach but still close to town. 

For the return trip from Holbox to Playa del Carmen, you can basically just reverse the transportation process. 

If you’re taking the colectivo or the ADO, I would definitely recommend booking in advance as the spots fill up quickly. 

You won’t need to book your ferry tickets in advance as those tickets are usually readily available.

Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about visiting Holbox:

I hope this Holbox Playa del Carmen travel guide was helpful if you’re planning a trip to Holbox from Playa del Carmen or the Riviera Maya. 

Even though getting to Holbox from Playa del Carmen can take a while, it is so worth it and definitely worth adding to your Yucatan itinerary!

It’s honestly one of the most stunning beach destinations I’ve ever seen.  Plus, it’s laid-back vibe will leave you feeling relaxed and refreshed.

If you don’t have a car, the easiest way to get there is to take the Playa del Carmen to Chiquila colectivo, take the ADO bus, or book a private shuttle.

Just remember to book in advance because spots can fill up quickly. Enjoy your time on Holbox!

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• Best Things to Do in Holbox
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