HOLBOX Island


HOW TO GET FROM CANCUN?

Driving from Cancun to Holbox Island
To drive from Cancun to Chiquila take the 180 towards Valladolid for 55km, passing Leona Vicario. When you reach Valladolid Nuevo take the right deviation (just after the speed bump at 262km) and follow the road until you meet the QROO5, turn right onto the QROO5 following the signs to Holbox/Chiquila along this road that boasts lush foliage either side. Once you arrive in Chiquila there are a number of secure parking lots where you can leave your car at a low daily rate (roughly $50 pesos).

By Bus from Cancun Airport
Take the ADO bus that runs to downtown Cancun from Terminals 2 and 3 every thirty minutes between the hours of 8.20am and 12.30am (00.30). The journey takes roughly 25 minutes and costs $66 pesos. Buses to Chiquila leave from the downtown Cancun ADO bus station three times daily. The Mayab buses leave at 7.50am and 9.40am and the Oriente bus leaves at 12.50pm. The journey takes 3 hours and 15 minutes with stops along the way and there are no toilets onboard. The journey costs $118 pesos.Many flights arrive in Cancun too late to make these connections so you might have to spend one night downtown at a hotel close to the bus station. We don’t recommend staying in the hotel zone as the cost to get there and back by taxi will be rather high.

By Bus from Cancun City
Buses then leave from the downtown Cancun ADO bus station to Chiquila three times daily. The Mayab buses leave at 7.50am and 9.40am and the Oriente bus leaves at 12.50pm. The journey takes 3 hours and 15 minutes with stops along the way and there are no toilets onboard. The journey costs $118 pesos.

Car
If you leave Tulum, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel or surroundings take the road to Merida (freeway) in the deviation before the Cancun airport so that it does not pass through the entire city of Cancun and drive to the town of Nuevo Xcan, you will see a sign that says Holbox, of return to right hand and drive until the town of Chiquilá. Leave the car in any parking lot, they are safe places; Take a ferry to cross the island or pay for a speed boat service.

By bus
Bus terminal in Cancún (ADO). The buses have daily departures and will take you directly to the port of Chiquilá, take a ferry to cross to the island or pay for the service of a speedboat.

Car
It takes less than 3.5 hours driving from Merida. Take the highway towards Motul Yucatan, then take the highway towards Tizmin. Your point of reference should be direction to a town called Colonia. Go straight to Kantunilkin. Once you get there, take the highway to Chiquila, it will take you around 25 minutes to get there. In between before you get to Chiquila, you will pass Solferino town. It means you are about to arrive to Chiquila, where boats cross every hour to Holbox Island.

Bus
Terminal de autobuses CAME en la calle 70 entre 69 x 71 Colonia Centro en Autobuses de Oriente. Go to bus terminal in Merida called CAME, located in Street 70, between 69 x 71, Colonia Centro, at the bus station Autobuses de Oriente.

By Ferry
It takes 25 minutes approx. to cross to the island.

Ferry times from Chiquila to Holbox:
06:00 - 08:00 - 10:00 - 11:00 - 12:00 - 14:00 - 16:00 - 17:00 - 19:00 - 21:30

Ferry times from Holbox to Chiquila:
05:00 - 07:00 - 09:00 - 10:00 - 11:00 - 12:00 - 13:00 - 15:00 - 16:00 - 18:00

During holiday seasons, ferries are crossing every hour.

By Boat
Small private boats are offered to cross to the island, the price runs starting from $30.00 USD (total) for 8 persons. These private small boats are available all day long, up to the sunset 365 days a week.


WHALE SHARK TOUR

In Holbox you can hire various tourist tours among which is the famous "whale shark swim", which is a boat ride in which the visitor can see, and sometimes, swim or snorkel with the whale shark, which visits the island every year, from the end of May, until the first days of September.



The whale shark is also known as "Domino" and is the largest fish in the world with a length of 5 to 15 meters long and weighs about 10 tons. It is a harmless creature that seeks the tropical.


Nowadays whale shark visits are regulated by Mexican authorities in order to protect the species and prolong their stay in Mexican waters, which is why it is forbidden to use diving equipment to see them and only snorkeling is allowed. You can enjoy swimming with them, take pictures but please do not touch them.


There is also the Tour of the 3 islands, which visits the water hole called Yalahau, which was an ancient Mayan site whose waters are said to be medicinal, also 2 islets: the Island of Passion and the Island of the Birds or Isla Morena, a small sanctuary where the birds of the region make their nests. Other tours are the search for dolphins, flamingos, crocodiles and turtles.