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The Mexican Caribbean is every American’s favorite place when they think of a sunny vacation abroad, and looking at the blue-green tonality of the warm water, the miles of white sandy beaches and the fascinating native culture, can you really blame them?
The one big caveat?
The resort strip between Cancun and Tulum can feel a bit too busy for someespecially in peak months such as summer and winter, when millions of travelers descend on the hotel zone for their all-inclusive getaways.
However, if so some quality beach time you’re craving, the increasingly crowded Riviera Maya is far from your only option:
Welcome to peaceful Holbox
An idyllic island just off the coast of Yucatán, about 42 kilometers long and only 1.5 kilometers wide. Holbox offers limited crowdstruly untouched nature, and some of the peace and quiet that visitors can’t find in busy Cancun.
With a population of just over 1,000 residents and a limited number of hotels and guesthouses allowed to operate on the island, itself a nature reserve protected by the state of Yucatan, Holbox is a world away from the otherwise chaotic Mayan coast:
There is none of the crazy traffic––there’s no traffic at all as it’s a car-free island––the sleepy village life ensures partygoers are kept at a safe distance, and with fewer rooms available it feels less busy all year round.
In fact, Holbox is the best choice for a stress-free trip to the Mexican Caribbean this season, considering its occupancy rate below 50%and many of the beaches along the short coastline are undisturbed only a small number of hotels on the beach and (mostly informal) bars.
Thanks to the lower occupancy, prices in Holbox are much more attractive this time of year than in other, much more desirable Caribbean hotspots such as Playa Del Carmen or Tulum.
How much does a boutique hotel cost in Holbox?
Spend the night in the charming AWA Holbox Hotel Boutiquea short half-mile walk from the main settlement on the island, and situated on a peaceful stretch of coast It will only cost you $208 this season, when rates normally start from as low as $520.
Likewise, it costs $215 to book a bungalow-style stay at the youth-friendly property Nomad Holbox this summer, with its rustic architecture, incredible ocean views and a privileged location just 200 meters away from the iconic Playa Holbox and a 10-minute walk from Punta Coco.
Believe it or not, despite his greater sense of exclusivity and untouched nature, Holbox is currently one of the most budget-friendly alternatives in the Mexican Caribbean: double rooms can be found for as little as $31 per night at Campsite La Aldea Holbox.
If you don’t fancy 24-hour catering and are just looking for a place to stay, the four-star hotel Macondo Holbox Hotel is the perfect choice, with standard double rooms from $62 (was $89) and just 150 meters from the main tourist zone.
How do you get to Isla Holbox?
Now some bad news… Getting to Isla Holbox isn’t as easy as catching a flight. Although Isla Holbox has an airport, you can only use it if you come by private plane.
For most of us, the easiest way to reach Holbox is to fly into Cancun, take ground transportation to Chiquila, and then take the ferry to Holbox.
To save even more, you can take the popular ADO bus from Cancun. Buses leave for Chiqulia approximately every four hours and cost between $9 and $30. View the program and buy tickets here.
One of the most popular ferry services is the Holbox Express, which runs once an hour from 6:30 AM to 8:30 PM. Fares are approximately $16 for adults and $11 for children, and tickets can be booked here.
Even though this all sounds like a hassle, that can be an advantage!
This is part of the reason why Holbox is less crowded. The trip may be longer than an all-inclusive Cancun, but the destination is worth it!
A very safe island for tourists
Safety remains a major concern for travelers heading to Mexico, and with good reason: reports of police misconduct and gang activity are rife in certain parts of the country, and the Yucatán Peninsula is no exception.
That doesn’t mean Mexico is dangerous, but nevertheless, certain precautions must be takensuch as maintaining a high level of situational awareness in crowded areas, especially outside resorts, and safely storing valuables within the hotel.
Fortunately for tourists traveling to Holbox, Crime rates on the island are extremely low and even negligible compared to its Caribbean counterparts: gun violence is virtually non-existent, and the number of pickpockets is not as high as you might expect.
According to the US Department of Statethe state of Quintana Roo, which administers Holbox and other larger islands off the Caribbean mainland such as Isla Mujeres and Cozumel, is a Level 2 destination: this means Americans should exercise greater caution, but not refrain from visiting.
Lower levels of Sargassum
Last but certainly not least for beach bums who come here remains Holbox largely free of sargassum during most of the season: yes, you are unlikely to find huge amounts of smelly brown algae on the fine white sand compared to the coast of Cancun.
That’s because sargassum tends to bypass the island as it makes its way to the coastline of the Yucatan Peninsula.
Because it is further north than Cancun and Tulum, which directly overlook the Caribbean, the incidence is lower.
That does not mean that Holbox is sargassum free: that is certainly the case some accumulate along the coastline, especially in summer when the algae multiply faster thanks to humidity and higher water temperatures, but this is usually below acceptable levels.
Because Holbox also has a smaller coastline, cleaning efforts aren’t much of an ordeal as they would be on the Riviera Maya.
Even if landfall occurred the night before, you’ll probably wake up with one spotless beach the next morning.
Read more about Holbox here and start planning your trip.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
