Getting Lost in the Paradise Island of Holbox
Why would anyone ever want to leave Cancun to go anywhere else? Simple… For a more intimate experience with nature and locals.
Having experienced three amazing days in the beauty of Cancun, we were looking forward to another fun adventure in a less populated area. We choose to visit Holbox Island for its more calm vibe and less impact by tourism. Here, the streets are not paved, and people transport themselves in golf carts.
We drove two hours from Cancun to the village of Chiquila, where we safely parked our rental vehicle and took a 25-minute ferry to the island. Our apartment host waited for us in a golf car at the harbor and transported us through the unpaved and muddy roads of the island to our three-day house.
We rented a beautiful beachfront palapa house. It really was a unique experience having beach access from the yard. The yard itself had enormous palm trees with lots of shade, a hammock, two lounge chairs, and an outdoor table.
Before entering the palapa house, there was a transitioning covered area with a table and chairs. Inside the house, we had a comfortable bed, a ceiling fan, an air conditioning system, and a small kitchen with a refrigerator.
The beauty of being so close to the beach in such a quiet area is hearing the waves from the bed. The biggest concern here was having a coconut drop on our heads while enjoying a delicious margarita in the hammock! Which is a good thing because it is very unlikely.
The Beach
The beach was nice and warm. Stepping on the sand felt very comfortable due to the soft ground. The ocean waves were mostly calm, which gave the sensation that we were swimming in an infinite swimming pool. However, the water was not very clear and occasionally had many palm tree leaves floating around. It, nonetheless, was a fantastic beach to swim in.
Bioluminescence Tour
We took a midnight tour to see this unusual phenomenon. Honestly, we were starting to regret booking the tour since we were very tired from the day and had to wake up at 11:30 p.m. to meet with the guide. But it ended up being worth it; even though, it was not like we had seen on the internet before.
We met with the tour guide at the predetermined location and transported us to Punta Coco with other tourists in a RZR vehicle. The road was very muddy and we had to cross many water puddles. We were given mosquito repellent since this area attracts mosquitoes.
When we arrived, we had to keep all of our electronics off to allow our eyes to adapt to the dark environment. We then talked through a few puddles of water to arrive at the beach.
At the beach, multiple small groups of people enjoyed the bioluminescence effect in the water. People were splashing water at each other to see the luminescence effect on their bodies. Others were admiring the stars in the sky.
Paulina and I sat down on the shore to play with the water. We moved our hands fast under the water to activate the illuminating particles. While we enjoyed seeing this unusual occurrence, the effect was not as bright as we thought it would be. The tour guide told us that the illuminating effect might not have been as good because of external factors for that particular night, such as the moon’s brightness.
Our Favorite Breakfast Place Painapol
While we had a kitchen to cook breakfast for ourselves, we tried a wonderful breakfast restaurant named Painapol. The food did not disappoint as they offered great tasting, high-quality ingredient, healthy dishes.
The restaurant’s interior was artistically and casually decorated, with soft sand on the ground that created a relaxing and beach-like ambiance. The friendly greetings, casual attire, and barefoot walking of the employees further contributed to this inviting atmosphere.
Snacking
I bought a delicious mango smeared in chamoy sauce, chili powder, and lime juice. Paulina was not a big fan of this delicacy, but I loved it. However, she loved marquesitas, which is something like a rolled crepe with cheese, syrup, and nuts inside. Our marquesitas had cajeta and pecans inside but they can be ordered with different toppings.
Final Thoughts
Holbox is an amazing place to spend time out of the more populated beaches in the Riviera Maya. Here, you can expect to experience a calmer and relaxing vibe. Even though the island has been impacted by tourism, it does not appear to have taken away its intimate small island charm.
