Best Holbox Beach Mexico

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To discover the best Holbox beach is easy.  On the island of Holbox, beaches are the main attraction. The Holbox beaches are just extraordinary and idyllic. Holbox Island is also car free so you will find yourself in a peaceful paradise.

Holbox beaches are a natural beauty.  The water is shallow and crystalline.  In addition, Holbox beaches are not crowded with tourists.  We highly recommend you visit the relatively unknown island of Holbox as soon as possible before tourism increases.

If you want a hassle free transfer from Cancun to Holbox, you can use this professional company. They offer you the best private shuttle from Cancun airport to Holbox Island.

Apart from enjoying the best Holbox beach, there are plenty of other different activities you can do in Holbox.  To find out more, read our article about What to Do in Holbox Island.

If you want detailed information about how to get to Holbox Island, read our full guide about How to Get to Holbox.

We have selected the Best Hotel in Holbox Island for all budgets, read our article about Best Hotel in Holbox Island

Holbox Beach – Essential Information

1. Playa Holbox

📍 Map Here

The first beach (Playa Holbox) is easy to find because it is located to the right (east) of the town centre.  Owing to its proximity to the small town centre, Playa Holbox is the busiest Holbox beach but still has beautiful white coralline sand and crystal-clear water.  This Holbox beach certainly has the wow factor when you see it for the first time!

This Holbox beach is very conveniently located.  You can enjoy the sea during the day and the hotels and restaurants are close by.  It is also easy to find food and drinks.  On the little pier, you will see some stunning street art.  Holbox is famous for its street art and you will discover plenty during your stay.

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2. Playa Punta Cocos, Holbox

📍 Map Here

Playa Punta Cocos is a Holbox beach which is found 2.5 km west from Holbox Square. This Holbox beach isn’t too crowded and you can enjoy relaxing hammocks in the sea.  This is also a great spot to see flamingos, witness Holbox’s rare bioluminescence display and watch the incredible Holbox sunsets!

How to Get to Playa Punta Cocos, Holbox

There are 3 possibilities to get to Playa Punta Cocos on Holbox Island:

• Walk – You can walk to Playa Punta Cocos but do not forget to take water and a hat because it can be extremely hot. We recommend this collapsible water bottle.  It is leakproof and comes in a range of colors.  If you are heading out to see the sunset, you will also need to bring a torch for the way back as it gets dark very quickly.  We use this torch from Amazon as it is reliable and good value for money.
• Cycle – You can rent a bicycle.  This is what we did using the free bicycles from our hotel because we booked with Booking.com.  The more you book with Booking.com, the more free offers you receive.
• Golf Car – The last option is to rent a golf car and drive it to the beach.  This is a fun thing to do on Holbox and an easy way to get around the island.

Before you reach the Holbox beach Playa Punta Cocos, there is a great roadside bar where you cool down with a drink and enjoy the swing chairs.  If you know the name of this bar, please leave it in the comments below so that our community can find it.

As mentioned before, the Holbox beach Playa Punta Cocos is also a great place to admire the fabulous Holbox sunsets and to see flamingos nearby.

📍 Map of flamingo area here.

Another great thing to do on the Holbox beach of Playa Punta Cocos is to witness the incredible Bioluminescence which occurs here at certain times of the year.  To find out more about the best times and how to see this amazing display of colour, check out our post about Holbox Bioluminescence.

3. Punta Mosquito – Mosquito Beach, Holbox

Punta Mosquito is a Holbox beach found on the opposite side of the island, to the east of Playa Punta Cocos.  This beach is named after the mosquitoes which appear in this area at certain times of the year.  So, make sure you do not forget your biodegradable repellent.  We have travelled a lot and find this one very efficient.

How to get to Punta Mosquito (Holbox Mosquito beach)?

• Bicycle or Golf Cart – You can rent a bicycle or a golf cart to travel some of the way to Punta Mosquito.  However, you need to leave them just after the last hotel (Hotel Las Nubes) and after that you need to walk.
• Walk – Walking is the best way to reach Punta Mosquito.  After the last hotel, you can walk in the sea to reach the long sand bank.  Then, just continue walking along the sand bank as far as you can go.  It is a long walk but worth it!
• Private Guided Tour – The third possibility to enjoy Mosquito Beach is to take the Three Islands Tour (see below)

If you are lucky, you may also see flamingos in this area.  Please remember that flamingos are wild animals and should be left in peace.

How to Prepare for the Walk to Mosquito Beach

It is a long walk to Mosquito Beach, so make sure you are in a good physical condition before you set off.

Here are some essential items to take with you:

Water Bottle – There are no refreshment stands along the way.  Holbox is a very underdeveloped location which makes it a haven for nature.  It is essential to take a water bottle with you.  This leak proof water bottle is a perfect choice.

Biodegradable Insect Repellent – To protect you from insects, please choose a biodegradable insect repellent.  This is really important as Holbox Island is part of the Biosphere Reserve and Protected Wildlife Area of Yum Balam.  During our stay on Holbox Island, we used this insect repellent out of respect for environment.

Biodegradable Sunscreen – The waters around Holbox are rich in sea life and the island is part of the Biosphere Reserve and Protected Wildlife Area of Yum Balam.  To protect and respect local species, it is important to use biodegradable sunscreen and insect repellent to conserve the area.  During our stay on Holbox Island, we used this sunscreen.

Hat & Sunglasses – The sun is extremely harsh and unforgiving in this part of the world, so do not forget a hat which gives you adequate protection and sunglasses which will protect your eyes.  The walk on the sandbank is in full sun with no opportunities for shade.

Towel & Food – To enjoy the clear waters of Holbox Island, remember to bring a towel.  In addition, you may wish to bring some snacks with you as there is nowhere to buy food and drinks.  If you stop to eat and drink during your walk, do not forget to take all your rubbish with you as there are no bins!  You can transport all of your items in a comfortable waterproof backpack like this one.

Buy the Hydroner Waterproof Bag on Amazon

Waterproof Camera – Make sure you take a waterproof camera with you for your memories of this extraordinary place.  We used a GoPro which is an amazing piece of kit which is waterproof and highly portable.  You can buy it here on Amazon.  If you want to record amazing images from the sky, a drone would be perfect but check out the latest local restrictions before you use it.  To get an idea of prices, check out this range of drones on Amazon.

Explore the Mangroves in Holbox Island

Whilst you are staying on Holbox Island, you can rent a kayak and explore the mangroves in small groups.  This is a memorable experience to enjoy in addition to relaxing on a Holbox beach.  You will experience hidden mangroves, admire spectacular scenery and maybe spot some crocodiles!

4. Three Islands Tour (Tres Islas)

To visit the three islands around Holbox, you can book a boat cruise at one of the local stands on Holbox Island.

On this guided boat tour, the first stop is the Holbox beach known as Punta Mosquito.  You will stay on the boat and receive an informative explanation about this area of Holbox Island.

The second stop is on the mainland east of Chiquila.  Here, you will get off at Yalahau where you will have time to explore the nearby cenote which is the main attraction.  You will have time to swim here, buy food and drink and relax.

The third stop is Isla Pajaros which is also known as Bird Island.  As its name suggests, this island is full of birds!  A visit to this bird sanctuary will provide you with plenty of opportunities to see many different species of birds in their natural habitat.

The last stop is Isla de la Pasion (Passion Island).  You will have time to explore this last island at your leisure.  Isla de la Passion is a small island and a true tropical paradise which feels far from modern civilisation. You will feel alone like Robinson Crusoe!