Holbox, MX A Paradise Worth Protecting

BY: ERIN CEBULA

Just north of Mexico's Yucatan peninsula in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico is a safe and slender island called Holbox. The name translates to “black hole” in Maya, and after experiencing four glorious days here, I am confident that this off-thebeaten-path paradise has the power to pull even the most jaded traveler in.

Isla Holbox began attracting tourists over a decade ago and determined locals (about 3000 of them) have been staving off big box development and mega-resorts ever since. Lucky for us, this determined group had seen some great success. Many of the hotelitos here are still family run and built using local materials. None of the structures on the island can be over 40 feet high and stinky, polluting cars are not welcome. Instead, residents and visitors navigate the 42-km-long island by golf cart, cruiser bike or flip flop. Google Maps doesn’t recognize many of Holbox’s sandy streets and pathways, so get ready to get lost in the best possible sense.

Yet even with all its bohemian sensibilities, the island somehow manages to deliver the lively Mexican resort vibes we all love. There are more than 50 unique restaurants and bars serving everything from lobster pizza to pulpo tacos, and a colorful, art filled Zocalo. Holbox is also home to a handful of design driven boutique hotels – like the wonderful oasis dreamed up by Cuban artist and collector Sandra Pérez Lozano. Casa Sandra is widely known for its artsy interiors and whimsical take on local cuisine. In fact, the food it so beautiful, you may just have to snap it for ‘the gram’. I mean, just look at this masterful creation from Chef Roberto Solis. Deliciosa!

There’s also the eco-chic, Holbox staple known as Las Nubes. Las Nubes, or ‘clouds’ in English, was home base during my island adventure and – corny jokes aside – it was truly heavenly. It features 28 charming, TV-free rooms, a fantastic restaurant and beach bar and a team committed to protecting the island’s stunning natural environment. Owner Barbara Hernandez has been a champion of Holbox conservation for years and she makes sure that sustainability is evident in everything Las Nubes does. And the location – tucked away at the very end of the beach surrounded by acres of pristine jungle - cannot be beat.

As you are probably beginning to realize, nature really is the stand out star of Isla Holbox. It’s part of Yum Balam, Mexico’s largest ecological reserve and nearly 75 percent of it is a jungle of wild mangroves and empty beaches. Cotton candy-colored flamingos and other busy migratory birds wade and play on the sandbars and in its protected lagoons. From early June to mid September, magnificent whale sharks pop by to snack in the phytoplankton-rich waters. Along the northwestern shore near the terribly named Mosquito Beach, sea turtles nest and manta rays and dolphins frolic.

And all you have to do to reconnect to your inner nature, is relax in one of the many colorful hammocks strung around the island and soak it all in.

For the best weather, I recommend December to April, but if it’s whale sharks you’re after, be sure to visit sometime between early June and mid September .

HOW TO GET THERE:

Cancun to Holbox is the most common route. You can either rent a car, book a private transfer or take a bus to Chiquila and take the scenic 15 minute ferry or arrange a private flight.

WHAT TO BRING:

Your reusable water bottle and coffee mug. Holbox has banned single use plastics and we all need to do our part to protect their paradise.