Casa Vainilla Holbox Island
9.1 out of 10 from 97 reviewsHolbox Island
Full kitchen · 40–45 m² · Sleeps 2
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Aparthotels & serviced apartments in Holbox Island
8 stays · 4 aparthotels and 4 serviced apartments
Holbox is a small, low-lying island off the north coast of Quintana Roo, and aparthotels and serviced apartments on Holbox Island suit visitors who want a kitchen and a little more space for a week by the Gulf. Cooking your own meals can be a welcome change on an island where Wikipedia reported roughly 50 restaurants and 75 hotels as of 2020, and an apartment with a living area works well for families and for small groups sharing a stay.
8 stays
Where to stay in Holbox Island
Holbox village
- first-time visitors
- restaurants
- no car needed
Wikipedia says the island has no paved roads and virtually no cars, with most residents and visitors using golf carts or mopeds; Wikivoyage adds that most people walk, cycle or use a golf cart. The village is where the restaurants and hotels are concentrated, and the Quintana Roo tourism board highlights the island's food scene, including seafood and Yucatecan cuisine.
Stays in or near Holbox village
- Casa Vainilla Holbox Island · about 800 m away
- Holbox Deluxe Wellness Apartments · about 900 m away
- Ensueno Holbox & Beach Club · about 1.2 km away
- Aparthotel Onda Maya - Adults Only · about 300 m away
Punta Coco
- sandbars
- nature
- bioluminescence
Wikipedia describes bioluminescence in the lagoon, observable at Punta Cocos, and Wikivoyage says it can be seen on new-moon nights when the sky is dark. The Quintana Roo tourism board mentions the sandbars and flamingos that visitors associate with Holbox. It is a place for a day or evening out rather than a base.
Stays in or near Punta Coco
- Ensueno Holbox & Beach Club · about 800 m away
- Holbox Deluxe Wellness Apartments · about 1.1 km away
Chiquilá ferry port
- arrivals
- overnight before a ferry
- mainland connections
Chiquilá is on the mainland and is where the Holbox ferries depart. Wikivoyage says the ferries take about 25 to 30 minutes and, at the time of writing, ran from 6:00 to 21:30 every half hour. Wikipedia describes the island as separated from the mainland by a shallow lagoon. Staying there only makes sense if you need an early or late crossing.
Getting around Holbox Island
Most visitors travel by road to Chiquilá and cross by ferry. Wikivoyage says three bus routes daily link Cancún with Chiquilá on ADO buses, taking roughly 2.5 to 3.5 hours; check the operator's current timetable. Wikipedia mentions a small airstrip used by Cessna aircraft.
On Holbox itself, Wikivoyage says there are very few cars and that people walk, cycle or use golf carts. Wikipedia adds that buildings may not be higher than 40 feet and that there are no paved roads.
Living in Holbox Island for longer
Holbox is small, so longer stays are about slowing down. Wikipedia reported about 50 restaurants and 75 hotels on the island as of 2020, and Wikivoyage mentions a population of roughly 2,000. Wikipedia also says the island has no postal service and no banks, so plan how you will handle cash and parcels before arriving and check the current position locally.
An apartment with a kitchen is most useful if you shop in the village and plan some meals around what is available there. Check with your host on laundry and internet before booking a long stay.
When to visit Holbox Island
Wikivoyage says whale shark tours operate daily from late May through September, with a peak in July and August, while Wikipedia gives June to September for whale shark viewing and April through December for flamingos. Holbox lies within the Yum Balam reserve, which Wikipedia describes as a migration route for whale sharks.
Check the tour operators' schedules and local guidance each year, since sightings and seasons vary.
Wikivoyage places the island 61 km north-west of Cancún, where the Caribbean Sea meets the Gulf of Mexico, and says very few cars run on the island. Wikipedia says the island is part of the Yum Balam protected area. Holbox is in Mexico; most arrivals pass through Cancún.
Long-stay tips for Holbox Island
Of the 8 properties here, 2 include some form of housekeeping. If you are staying more than a few nights, compare the facts box on each property page first.
6 properties list a full kitchen and 2 only a kitchenette, so check the room type if you plan to cook more than simple meals.
Where room sizes are published, the median apartment here is 40 m².
Moving for work? Our guide to serviced apartments for relocation explains what to look for.
Other cities in Mexico
Travelling further? See aparthotels in Mexico City, Tulum, Playa del Carmen, Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, Cancún, Isla Mujeres and Mérida.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Holbox Island?
Travel to Chiquilá on the mainland, then take the ferry. Wikivoyage says the crossing takes 25 to 30 minutes and that ADO buses run from Cancún to Chiquilá.
Are there cars on Holbox?
Very few. Wikivoyage says most people walk, cycle or use golf carts, and Wikipedia describes an island with virtually no cars and no paved roads.
When is whale shark season on Holbox?
Wikivoyage gives late May through September, peaking in July and August. Wikipedia gives June to September.
What is the best area to stay on Holbox?
The village has the restaurants and most places to stay, and it is walkable. Punta Coco is a spot to visit for sandbars and, on dark nights, bioluminescence.
How many aparthotels are there in Holbox Island?
We currently list 8 aparthotel and serviced apartment properties in Holbox Island.
Do aparthotels in Holbox Island have kitchens?
8 of the 8 properties we list have a kitchen or kitchenette in at least one apartment type.
Sources
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