Here & There: Isla Holbox

Many of us miss the days of hopping on a plane and going on vacation to a tropical destination. Since we’re stuck, because covid, come with me on a flash back trip to a little island in Mexico.

Have you ever even heard of Isla Holbox?

Yea, me either... until I received an invitation to celebrate a bachelorette weekend with my lovely friend that is getting married at the end of the year. Of course I hopped on over to Google for more info and realized I wasn't even pronouncing it correctly (it's pronounced Is-lah Hall-Bosh). It's an island north of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. From the pictures online, it looked like a very laid back experience, much different than places like Cancun or Cozumel. I had never been to Mexico so it was going to be a treat regardless.

Now, if you decide to visit Isla Holbox, prepare yourself for an adventure. We flew into Cancun, Mexico and then had to drive about two hours to a town called Chiquila. They do have shuttle companies that will take you so no need to rent a car. Due to the amount of people on our trip, we were able to reserve a personal shuttle which made the commute enjoyable. We did car karaoke and were able to ride comfortably. As we rode through all of the small towns, it was very interesting to see people's way of life. I'm so used to visiting cities with a lot of hustle and bustle and this was such a different experience; everything was much more simple. 

Once we finally made it to Chiquila we had to take a boat to the island. Remember, I told you to prepare yourself for an adventure. We were able to reserve our own personal boat to take us but there is a shuttle that runs regularly between the island and Chiquila. The boat ride is about 20 minutes, totaling the commute time to about 2 hours and 20 mins from Cancun to our final destination. I must admit, I wondered how our captain knew where to go because we were literally in the middle of the ocean and there was no land for miles. I'm sure if I told my parents how I was arriving to my destination before I left they would've gave me a major side eye. I couldn't tell which way was which but finally we saw civilization. We literally pulled up to our Airbnb from the water and I felt pretty bad ass (lol). The home looked exactly like the photos online and we had a warm welcome from our host.

Once we got settled into our rooms, I realized how much of a laid back place this really was. I knew it was a remote island but I underestimated exactly what that meant. We had to have a way to get around so we rented our vehicles for the weekend. Those vehicles were golf carts! Yep, no one had an actual car on the island. There weren't even any paved roads; it was all sand or dirt. I was pretty shocked to be honest. I thought we'd at least be able to call an uber. Ha! Guess again. The only way to get around was by foot, golf cart or bike. It was such a new experience. And if you thought you could get around with Google maps, guess again! We were able to navigate using Waze (surprisingly) but most times we asked locals to point us in the right direction.

So this brings me to some valuable piece of information: pack the most effortless outfits you can think of. The bride loves some good glam and of course wanted us to pack our most over the top garb... which ended up not being the best of ideas. There is no way you can walk around in heels on that island. And most restaurants and activities are outdoor or has limited air conditioning so you'd want to be wearing something that is breathable and light.

The island is small but full of culture. There is artwork on the walls and tons of local businesses. Everyone is very kind and we never felt unsafe or in danger. The food was probably the freshest I've ever tasted. I ordered a mango margarita from a small restaurant and it literally tasted liked I was drinking an actual mango; the bartender took fresh fruit and blended it right before my eyes. The decor of most places is "island chic". You won't find traditional tables and chairs but instead wooden swings that hang from the ceiling and hammocks perfect for lounging. 

We were able to have an in-home chef and it was delightful; it spoiled me for many trips to come. The food was prepared fresh in front of us and it was so good! Just thinking about it makes me want to go back.

It ended up being an extremely relaxing trip. It’s the kind of place where you’re a beach bum for most of the day. We were able to find a rooftop pool, ALMA Bar, which had drinks, a DJ and hammocks in the pool.

I’d love to go back again now that I know what to expect. It could be a great romantic vacation or a nice getaway with the girls!