The Ultimate Playa del Carmen to Holbox Travel Guide (2023)

Holbox is a tiny island located on the northern tip of Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, making it a must-visit destination on any Yucatan itinerary.

To get to Holbox, you must take a ferry or water taxi from the town of Chiquila, which is located about 2 hours away from both Playa del Carmen and Cancun.

Travel times from nearby destinations are as follows:

• Playa del Carmen to Holbox: 2.5 hours
• Cancun to Holbox: 2.5 hours
• Tulum to Holbox: 3 hours
• Valladolid to Holbox: 2.5 hours
• Merida to Holbox: 4 hours

The correct pronunciation is “Hole-Bosh”, which means “black hole” in the Mayan language. 

You’ll want to get the pronunciation right because you might get some funny looks if you go around saying “HOLE-BOX” 😂

Holbox is pretty much an unspoiled tropical island paradise.  While tourism has definitely grown in recent years, the island is still relatively underdeveloped with no cars and only dirt roads. 

This makes it a beautiful place to vacation, but also means there is less infrastructure and more limited access to resources like healthcare, reliable internet, and cell service. 

Holbox is approximately 1 mile wide and 26 miles long but only the west side of the island is developed.  There are a few main streets that center around the town square.

This is where you’ll find the majority of restaurants and shops, while the hotels are located on or near the beaches.

The downtown area is completely walkable but you will want to take a golf cart taxi if you are staying further away.

Holbox is a pretty popular destination for a side trip from Playa del Carmen, Cancun, or Tulum.

I would recommend staying for at least 2 nights.  It takes a good half day to get there so you’ll want to make sure you have enough time to experience the island. 

If you really want a relaxing getaway, you can definitely stay longer or combine it with a trip to nearby El Cuyo. 

It’s a pretty small island though so you might get a little bored if you stay longer than a week. 

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! 

There are a just few different ways to get there depending on your budget, car situation, and the size of your group. 

When traveling to Holbox, you will first need to drive to Chiquila, which is a small town on the northern coast of the peninsula. 

Once you arrive to Chiquila Mexico, you will then take a quick 25 minute ferry over to Holbox.  To get to Chiquila from Playa del Carmen, you have the following options:

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. 

This is personally what I used to get to Holbox and it was very easy.  The cost for the Holbox colectivo is around $250 pesos each way (~$12 USD) and the trip takes about 2 hours.

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 (behind the McDonald’s).

It’s best to reserve in advance as the shuttle can fill up quickly.  You can reserve via Whataspp by sending a message to +52 984-104-6409 or +52 984 188-6604. 

Below are the daily pickup times for the Chiqula colectivo:

I would recommend getting there 15-20 minutes early so you can ensure you get a good seat on the shuttle.  It is first come, first serve if you do not reserve in advance. 

Another option is to take the ADO bus from Playa del Carmen to Chiquila.

Tickets can be purchased on the ADO website (Spanish only) or on Busbud (English).

The price is around $352 pesos each way (~$18 USD) and the trip takes about 2 hours and 10 minutes.

While a little more expensive than a colectivo, the ADO bus is a larger charter-style bus and much more comfortable.

There are daily departures leaving from the Playa del Carmen Turistica ADO station on 5th Avenue leaving at the following times:

• 9:30 AM
• 10:20 AM
• 11:40 AM
• 1:40 PM
• 3:40 PM

👉 Book ADO tickets to Chiquila on Busbud by clicking here!

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

Pricing starts around $180 USD each way depending on the size of your group. 

👉 Book a private shuttle from Playa del Carmen to Holbox by clicking here!

Another 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. 

Once you arrive to Chiquila, there are paid parking lots right outside the ferry where you can leave your car. 

👉 For a hassle-free experience, book your car through my favorite rental service Discover Cars by clicking here!

Once you arrive to Chiquila, you will then need to travel across the water to Holbox, which is just less than 30 minutes travel time. 

You can do this by taking the ferry or hiring a water taxi.

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 $220 pesos ($~11 USD) each way.  

If you take the colectivo from Playa del Carmen, the time you arrive will align with the next departing ferry to Holbox so you shouldn’t have to wait long.  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.

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.

Holbox is a remote island that is still relatively underdeveloped so none of the roads are paved and the streets simply consist of dirt roads and sidewalks. 

There are no cars on Holbox, so the only way to get around is by golf carts or bicycles. 

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.

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. 

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.

Below are a few Holbox hotel recommendations:

There are a ton of fun things to do in Holbox whether you want to be adventurous or simply take it easy.

Here are just a few of the top things you can do on the island: 

Number one thing to do in Holbox? Nothing! This is how I spent 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! 

👉 Book a Holbox whale sharks tour by clicking here! 

One of the most totally unique activities in Holbox is going on a tour to see the bioluminescence, which is a phenomenon caused by the phytoplankton lighting up under the water. 

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

👉 Book the best Holbox bioluminescence tour online by clicking here!

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 loved it so much I went multiple times during my stay! 

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 de 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 ordered the chicken fajitas which were tasty and best of all were 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 de las Tortugas is a prime location with a stunning beach but still close to town. 

For the return trip 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!

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.