Just off Cancun’s Caribbean coastline, you will find one of the most stunning hidden gems: Holbox Island. This unspoiled haven enchants visitors with its natural beauty and the pristine waters of Yalahau Lagoon, which hosts an abundance of marine life and fauna as well as a small fishing village. Nature lovers, divers and peace-seekers alike will revel at the charms of one of the few natural paradises that remain on earth within easy reach of the shore.
Holbox Island is, perhaps, best know for the scores of harmless whale sharks that choose to inhabit the shallow waters that surround the island from around May till late September. It is one of the top locations for enjoying a whale shark tour where it is possible to swim alongside these majestic creatures with snorkel gear and an expert guide. Indeed, Holbox is an ideal location for divers and snorkelers in search of manta rays, dolphins, sea turtles, and other colorful marine life that populate the coral reefs.
Land-lovers can indulge in the awesome natural beauty of the island that is just 42 kilometers long with endless white sandy beaches, over 150 different bird species and an extensive variety of reptiles. You can expect to see a number of stunning birds such as pink flamingos, herons, white and brown pelicans, reddish egrets, cormorants and more. You might also catch site of a flying mammal of the human variety as Holbox is a popular site for kite-surfers who enjoy the island’s offshore winds.
Holbox makes a pleasant day trip from Villa del Palmar Cancun and can be reached by air or ferry. Ask the tour guide at the resort to recommend a Holbox tour or rent a car and make the journey by your own steam.
