WHERE — Holbox, Mexico
PHOTOGRAPHY — Jessie Bush and Sam Flaherty on 35mm
Where to stay, eat, swim, explore and then eat some more on the idyllic island of Holbox.
Isla Holbox is a teeny tiny island north of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula that encapsulates pretty much everything you think of when you imagine a Mexican oasis. Small hotels that open directly onto white sand beaches, with nothing but idyllic turquoise waters stretching as far as the eye can see. Friendly locals serving up authentic home-cooked Mexican food. And then to make it feel even more like you’re on island time, Holbox doesn’t actually have any cars (or paved roads). Locals get around on quad bikes, whilst tourists explore on bicycles. Yep, it’s pretty much heaven.
HOW TO GET THERE
Like any island, getting there requires multiple modes of transport and is a bit of a shlep. Obviously a very worthwhile shelp – but you’d want to go for at least 4 full days to make the travel worth it.
After flying into Cancun you can book a driver who will pick you up from the airport and take you to the ferry at Chiquila. The drive usually takes around 3+ hours (even though Google says 2), and there are plenty of services available online that offer car-share to keep the costs down. Then once you arrive at Chiquila, you need to take the ferry across to Holbox, which takes half an hour. The important part to factor in is that the last ferry runs at 8.30pm. So if you’re flight lands any time after 4ish, you’ll need to stay the night in Cancun and head off in the morning.