Isla Holbox, Mexico
Getting there
From Cancun, travelers take a two- to three-hour drive to the town of Chiquila. By public bus (ado.com.mx), one-way fares are about $15. By shuttle bus, fares are $40-$80 per person from V.I.P. Holbox (vipholbox.com) and Holbox Shuttle (holboxshuttle.com).
The only way to reach Holbox from Chiquila is the Chiquila-Holbox ferry, about $5 each way for a 20- to 30-minute ride.
To do
Several companies offer daylong whale-shark tours ($125-$135 per person) and half-day trips to Isla Pajaros, Isla Pasion and Yalahau Lagoon (about $30 per person). Among them: V.I.P. Holbox (vipholbox.com) and Holbox Adventure (holboxadventure.com).
Where to stay
The island is small enough that these hotels don't have street addresses.
Hotelita Casa de las Tortugas: Twenty-six rooms. Doubles $186-$421, breakfast and taxes included. Three-night minimum with full payment in advance (holboxcasalastortugas.com).
Posada Mawimbi: Nine rooms, two bungalows. Doubles $158-$248, depending on season. Continental breakfast and taxes included (mawimbi.net).
La Chaya Eco Hotel: Nine rooms, many with sea views. Doubles about $95, breakfast and taxes included (lachayaholbox.com).
Where to eat
El Chapulim: Mexican bistro and artisan beer house. Dinner entrees about $15 (Avenida Tiburon Ballenas; tinyurl.com/ycnjx9dj).
