Travel to Holbox

It seems almost impossible that in these times of high speed living and uncontrollable urbanization, one can find a pristine place to be one with nature. In the northern part of the Yucatan peninsula, passing Cancun and on the road to Chiquila, in the Yum Batam Ecological Reserve, you can find Holbox Island (pronounced "hole-bosh"), one of the most beautiful spots in Mexico.

Made up of more than 40 kilometers of virgin beaches, this old pirate refuge (and present-day fishing town) offers a tremendously huge diversity of flora and fauna. Enjoy the calm, the cenotes (sink holes), underground rivers, lagoons, mangrove, fresh air, as well as truly beautiful white sand and jade-colored oceans, with beaches covered with seashells carried by the soft waves.

The island remains in its original condition and urban development is almost nonexistent, all this thanks to the local people who have been working to preserve the natural beauty of the area. The streets are not paved and there are very few cars (most are golf carts and scooters). The typical types of transportation are boats and bicycles. This is an extremely lovely place where fishing is the main activity and lobster is an affordable delicacy, among other types of seafood deliciously cooked at the little restaurants in the village.

History

Holbox, a little piece of heaven on earth, means "black hole" in Maya. The ancient Mayans used to come here for recreation and considered the lagoon as a fountain of eternal youth. The first group of conquerors was amazed by the island, which, by this time, was abandoned by the Maya. The conquerors decided to maintain the conditions of the island as is until they too decided to abandon it as well.

It wasn't until the 19th century that buccaneers and pirates found this island paradise to their liking and established the first community to live there. In 1873, a small town was founded and is actually the only human settlement there, with about 1,500 inhabitants, the majority of which subsist on fishing. The streets are unpaved and the houses are made of wood.

How to Get There

There are many ways to arrive to the island: by ferry, private transport or by light aircraft. Holbox is located north of Cancun and of the Yucatan peninsula, following the road which leads to Chiquila, inside Yum Balam's Ecological Reserve.

Take the freeway from Cancun to Merida and then take the detour to Chiquila, where you'll be able to park your car and catch the boat that will take you to the island.