Holbox beaches: distances and taxi from the pier
The town sits in the middle of the island and the beaches run out on both sides. We measure the street distance from the pier on the map the app uses; the fare is the island tariff, per ride and not per person.
| Beach | Distance | On foot | By bike | Taxi | Total in Holbox Go |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Town beach (from the main square) | 0.7 km | 10 min | 5 min | MXN 100 | MXN 120 |
| Beach east of the centre (hotel strip) | 2.1 km | 30 min | 10 min | MXN 300 | MXN 320 |
| Punta Cocos (west) | 3 km | 40 min | 15 min | MXN 500 | MXN 520 |
| Punta Mosquito (east, as far as the road goes) | 4 km | 55 min | 20 min | MXN 700 | MXN 720 |
Punta Mosquito: the sandbar and the flamingos
Punta Mosquito is the eastern point of the island, past the Las Nubes area. The road reaches about 4 km from the pier: 55 min on foot, 20 min by bike or MXN 700 by taxi. From there you keep walking on the sand and, at low tide, through the water to the sandbar.
It is an area of dunes and mangroves inside the Yum Balam Flora and Fauna Protection Area, where resident and migratory birds feed, rest and nest. Flamingos are mostly seen from March to October, but they are wild and not always there.
- Check the tide table: cross the sandbar only at low tide and come back before it rises.
- Go early or leave time to walk back in daylight; there are lots of mosquitoes at sunset.
- Bring water, a hat and sandals that can get wet.
- Respect the yellow buoys and signs that mark the area set aside for birds.
Punta Cocos: sunset and bioluminescence
Punta Cocos is to the west, about 3 km from the pier: 40 min on foot, 15 min by bike or MXN 500 by taxi, 10 to 20 minutes by cart. It is the classic place to watch the sun set over the sea.
The water is shallow and deepens very gradually, good for families. On dark nights the Punta Cocos lagoon is one of the spots to see bioluminescence; go with a guide at night, because it is easy to get lost or end up in the mangroves.
Holbox town beach (Playa Holbox centro)
The town beach starts by the pier, where the Holbox letters are, and runs along the hotels in the centre. The water is shallow and warm, good for wading far out, and there are hammocks over the sea.
Restaurants are a few steps away and you can order food to the beach: you mark your spot on the map.
Punta Cocos vs Punta Mosquito
They sit at opposite ends of town and feel different. If you only have time for one, choose by the time of day and the tide.
| Punta Cocos | Punta Mosquito | |
|---|---|---|
| Side of the island | West | East, past the Las Nubes area |
| From the pier | 3 km, taxi MXN 500 | 4 km to the end of the road, taxi MXN 700 |
| Best for | Sunset and bioluminescence on dark nights | Walking the sandbar and birdwatching |
| Tide | Shallow water that deepens very gradually | Cross the sandbar only at low tide |
| Mosquitoes | At sunset | Lots, especially at sunset |
What to bring to the beach in Holbox
- Biodegradable sunscreen, a hat and a rash guard: the sun is strong in shallow water.
- Repellent for sunset.
- Water and a snack if you go to the points.
- Cash in pesos for the taxi and small businesses.
- A bag to take your rubbish back.
Is there sargassum on Holbox beaches?
Much less than on the Caribbean coast: Holbox beaches face north and west, and the island gets very little of the sargassum that reaches other Quintana Roo beaches. In summer there can be some light sargassum and seagrass; in June 2026 the island was still free of it.
How to look after the beaches and the birds
Punta Mosquito, Punta Coco and Isla Pasión are sand areas where CONANP has managed tourism since 2018. These rules help the birds keep coming back.
- Follow the signs and do not cross the yellow buoys around the area set aside for wildlife.
- Watch flamingos from afar and quietly; never walk towards them for a photo.
- Do not bring dogs to bird areas: even if they do not attack, they scare birds away from where they feed and rest.
- Watch where you step or ride: some birds nest on the sand.
- Do not leave rubbish; it is hard to get it off the island.
Prices and times are approximate and change with the season and weather. Check them before you travel.
