Holbox, the Caribbean island where we would all like to live.

When I was organizing my trip to Mexico I decided that one stop, whatever it cost, would be in Holbox. I knew very little about this small island north of Mexico, but the images alone were worth it. Nothing compared to reality, of course.

The month of March, with an average temperature of 25 degrees, they welcomed me in this little paradise hundreds of miles from my home. To get here we traveled to the Port of Chiquilá, north of the Yucatan Peninsula, and about two hours from Cancun airport in Private Transportation Minivan provided by Holboxtransfers.com, they are the best, super punctual, you feel safe and above all they are very friendly.

The trip was pleasant for us because the driver decided to take the highway that passes through all the villages before reaching Chiquilá. Pure vegetation and life!
The ferries to Holbox, which only take about 30 minutes, leave every two hours. Being a very small island, it measures about 1.24 miles wide by 25 miles long and almost 1,500 people live there, it has regulated visitor access, although more than they should enter, but that is another matter.
The ferry ride was quite a spectacle, not only for the views, but also because we were lucky enough to see dolphins in the wild. Were they welcoming us to the island? Maybe yes, because dolphins are rarely sighted according to what the locals told us. So the trip started with luck.

The arrival was exciting. A maelstrom of golf carts converted into taxis gathered at the ferry exits, because the circulation of other types of vehicles is not allowed on the island; the fine white sand, which is the asphalt of the entire island, the low colored houses with great murals, the sun and the vegetation were the best hosts.
Our hotel was located at the other end of the island, the last path that borders the protected reserve of Yum Balam, so with emotion we took a golf cart that took us there. Along the way we toured the center of Holbox, and there are no words to describe the emotion that this fishing village means, cheerful, welcoming, beautiful and exciting.

We walked its streets and suddenly the sea appeared. The postcards were idyllic: an immense beach with almost white turquoise water, calm as I had never seen before, the letters of Holbox on wooden sticks nailed to the shore, colored hammocks, seagulls and the cabins near the sea, simply perfect.
On the island, one of the most protected by the Mexican government, they do not allow the entry of large hotel chains or supermarkets, all commerce is local and the hotels are mostly eco-resorts. In addition, they cannot build any building that does not respect the essence of the town.

So a few kilometers from the sea stand the Holbox cabins, white, with robust wooden balconies and thatched roofs. And on the other side, the tropical forest. Suddenly I understood why as soon as I arrived there was a panel offering land and housing in Holbox. “Everyone wants to stay and live here”, I thought.

WHEN YOU ARE IN PARADISE
My first advice, if you are thinking of getting here, is to erase the word time from your mind. Does not exist. The weather here is something delicious, it has stopped and stretches until after sunset as if it had no end.
Holbox is a true paradise, that's why I ask you to take care of it. That you observe the posters in which the protected species of the island appear, some of them you will find walking along the beach or riding a bicycle. Don't bother them, they were before you.

In fact, the island has a long history as it was already inhabited by the Mayan civilization, although the presence of other civilizations dates back to 1852. It is also a true survivor, since it resurfaced after a hurricane in 1886 that destroyed everything.
Flamingos, seagulls, raccoons, all kinds of tropical fish, turtles -which lay their eggs on the beaches- and whale sharks live on the island. The latter are the "tourist attraction" par excellence of the island.
"Most sightings are in August (high season)", but they reach the Cabo Catoche and Yum Balam (“Lord Jaguar” in the Mayan language) reserves from May to September. This species is protected by NOM 059 since 2010, so it is no longer allowed to touch them.
The abuse was such that the boats approached hurting their fins, so now it is only allowed to approach 6.2 miles in boats. You can't use flash either and only authorized people can do the visits.
It is important that you keep in mind that you should not throw anything into the sea, or through the streets; and avoid plastics as much as you can. The island has limited recycling resources, so many of these containers are left stranded littering this beautiful landscape.

Holbox has 21.12 miles of virgin beaches and four designated natural spaces: Isla Pasión, a small islet 10 minutes from Holbox, Cabo Catoche, the tip of the Mexican coastline that can only be reached by boat, Yalahau, a huge eye of water considered as a fountain of youth for its mineralized waters; and Isla Pajaros, an islet covered with mangroves.

PLANS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE ISLAND
There are many activities to enjoy Holbox. Perhaps you are one of those who are satisfied with being in front of the sea, and believe me that I would give anything to simply admire it once more. So if that is your option, it will also be successful. By the way, the sun is very strong here so do not forget your protection, nor your mosquito repellent for the night.
You can start the day walking by the sea. By sea? Yes that's how it is. You can travel the entire coast of Holbox practically like Moses crossing its waters, because during the day the tide goes out and between the shore and the sea a tongue of white sand forms along which it is very pleasant to take a walk when the sun is rising.
In the town center there are many restaurants for a healthy breakfast and souvenir shops so it will not be difficult for you to get distracted. Although listen to me when I tell you that it is best to follow the motto of the island: "don't make plans".

OUR GOODBYE TO PARADISE WITHOUT REGRETS…

You always have to return to Holbox, that's for sure. But if you leave here, and since you're going to have post-vacation depression, let it be having enjoyed it to the fullest.
You cannot leave without trying the typical lobster pizza. There are several places to do it, if you want something cheap you can go to Pizzería Edelyn or in Cariocas. Also don't miss their fresh shrimp (what we know as prawns) that are present in any restaurant on the island.
A good way to say goodbye to paradise is to do it watching one of its magical sunsets. Ours was from the beach at Punta Coco.