Isla Holbox holidays

Laidback vibes, sandy streets, colourful murals and cotton candy-pink flamingos sum up holidays to Isla Holbox.

Island time

Isla Holbox is the place for beach bums, nature lovers and crowd escapers. It’s far from the buzzy vibes of Tulum and Cancun, and island time is most definitely a thing here. There are no cars on the island, but that’s not a problem as it’s only the length of a marathon from top to bottom. Golf carts, bikes and foot are the main modes of transport here. Stroll around the town centre’s swirling sandy streets and eye up the buildings splattered in bright colours. Or, head to the north coast to dip your toes in the shallow waters that lap against the flamingo-roamed, white sandy beaches.

Swinging sea hammocks

Relaxation is the name of the game here. There are plenty of beaches dotted along the coast – they all have sand as soft as clay and some come with brightly coloured sea hammocks. Playa Holbox is one of the liveliest, thanks to its by-the-town location. If you’re an adventure lover, kitesurfing and swimming with whale sharks are just two of the things you can get up to here. The beach fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down, either. After dark, head to the north of the island for a chance to see the water light up like a blue glow stick as the microscopic phytoplankton crash against the waves.

Beachside biking

One of the best ways to see what the island has to offer is on two wheels – it’s pretty cheap to hire a bike for a day, too. You can start by cycling through the colourful streets of Holbox town, taking in the vibrant murals as you go, before setting off for a lap around the island. The main road, which circles the island, is quite flat and you’ll zoom past plenty of beaches for refreshing dips along the way. It’s worth stopping off at Playa Punta Coco, as between May and September you may be lucky enough to spot the island’s iconic bubble gum-pink flamingos.