Map: where Holbox is
Holbox is on the north coast of the peninsula, north-west of Cancún. Every road route ends in Chiquilá, the port across from the island.
Is Holbox in Yucatán or Quintana Roo?
Quintana Roo. Many people search for "Holbox Yucatán" because the island is on the Yucatán Peninsula, but it is not in the state of Yucatán, whose capital is Mérida. Holbox belongs to the municipality of Lázaro Cárdenas, Quintana Roo.
From Mérida it takes about 4 hours by road to Chiquilá.
What the island is like
Holbox is about 40 km long and under 2 km wide, with about 34 km of north-facing beach. About three quarters of the island is mangrove and undeveloped beach; the town sits by the pier. Visitor cars are not allowed on the island.
Holbox and the Yum Balam reserve
The Yum Balam Flora and Fauna Protection Area was decreed on 6 June 1994 and covers about 154,052 hectares of land and sea in northern Lázaro Cárdenas, Holbox island included. That is why Holbox has rules for tours, such as swimming with whale sharks, and areas set aside for birds.
Distances to Holbox from Cancún, Playa, Tulum and Mérida
Road times to the Chiquilá pier; add about 25 minutes on the ferry and the wait for the boat.
| From | Approx. time to Chiquilá | How |
|---|---|---|
| Cancún airport (CUN) | 2.5 to 3 h, about 144 km | Shuttle, private transfer or car |
| Downtown Cancún | 2 to 3 h | ADO bus or car |
| Playa del Carmen | 1.5 to 2 h on the toll road | Car or shuttle |
| Tulum | About 3 h by car | Car or ADO |
| Valladolid | About 3.5 h by ADO | ADO or car |
| Mérida | About 4 h by car | Car or bus |
Holbox airport and the nearest airports
The nearest international airport is Cancún (CUN). The ADO bus to Chiquilá leaves from downtown Cancún, not the airport; from the airport a shuttle, transfer or car works better.
Holbox has a small airstrip for light aircraft and no commercial flights. Private air taxis from Cancún take about 30 to 35 minutes and are booked ahead.
Chiquilá, the port for Holbox
Chiquilá is the only port with a ferry to Holbox. You leave the car in a lot next to the pier and cross in about 25 minutes; there is a boat about every 30 minutes from 6:00 to 21:30.
Prices and times are approximate and change with the season and weather. Check them before you travel.
