Looking for the best way to get from Cancun to Holbox? We got you covered.
Located in Mexico’s famous Yucatan Peninsula, Isla Holbox is a place that travelers from all over the world travel to and to be honest, I don’t blame them.
With its white sandy shores, turquoise blue waters, Holbox is one of Mexico’s best beaches. The Adventure in You team has both traveled and lived in Mexico and Isla Holbox was a place that they often frequented.
If you’re looking for the best way to get from Cancun to Holbox, check out these tips!
Quick Answer: How to Get from Cancun to Holbox
- Best Option: Hands down, the best option would be to book a private driver. This is the easiest and best option! Here is the company we use.
- Cheapest Option: Ado bus or shared shuttle from Cancun to Chiquila the jump-off point for ferries and water taxis to Holbox island.
- Independent Option: Rent a car
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Where is Holbox Island?
Isla Holbox is a small and thin island just north of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula in the Gulf of Mexico. The distance from Cancun to Holbox is about 60.9 km or about 37.8 miles.
Holbox is one of the most sought after destinations in Mexico and is frequently visited by travelers who land in Cancun. Located in the Quintana Roo state, it is right next to other hot spots like Bacalar, Tulum, Isla Mujeres, and more.
Below, I will outline the best ways to get here from both Cancun downtown and Cancun International Airport.
Quick Answer: Best Way to Get from Cancun to Holbox
Since both Cancun and Holbox are lively when it comes to travel and vacation hot spots, it’s no surprise that there are several ways to get there from one to another. While you most likely will get there by ferry, there are some other ways to make it to the island.
Please note that all of these transportation options will take you to the small pueblo of Chiquila where you can catch the ferry. I will share the ferry schedule further down this article to help you plan your trip accordingly.
- Private Shuttle: A private shuttle will take you from Cancun to the ferry for Holbox.This is by far the best way to get to Holbox as it is basically hassle free! This is our main suggestion and is the service we’ve personally used multiple times.
- Rent a Car: If you prefer taking matters into your own hands and would rather drive yourself to the destination, there are plenty of options to rent a car from Cancun. Click the link above to get a quote for car rentals in Cancun.
- Shared Shuttle: This is the cheaper option compared to the private version, you can book this in advance to bring you to Chiquila.
- Flying: Since you are traveling to an island, they do offer the opportunity to go from airport to airport by flying on a private plane. This is obviously a more expensive option but is great for those who want to make the entire trip special!
- Bus: Buses depart from the ADO Bus Station in Cancun multiple times throughout the day that can transfer.
Once you arrive in Chiquila, the ferry ride to Holbox island only takes 20+ minutes. The boat runs daily from 6:00 am to 9:30 pm every half an hour. There are two main ferry companies that make the trip from Chiquila to Holbox and vice versa.
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Easiest Way from Cancun to Holbox
In order to get from Cancun to Holbox, there are many options to get to the ferry that brings you to the island. The easiest way to travel would be whatever you feel fits your schedule and plans best.
We’ve broken down the best options for you when traveling, and you can decide what the easiest way would be.
1. Private Shuttle Cancun to Holbox
Mexico offers private shuttle opportunities to make your travels most comfortable for you and your needs. Cancun Airport Transportations offers private services for up to 8 passengers.
This particular shuttle service includes luxury services and limousine services (if you feel like riding in style). Plan ahead and book your round-trip or one-way ride for future purposes so you don’t need to worry about last-minute travel.
As mentioned, this is our main suggestion as it really is the easiest and most hassle free way to get to Isla Holbox. The ride from Cancun Airport to Chiquila port takes around 2 hours. For a vehicle that fits 8 passengers, the private shuttle starts at $225 which when you divide by 8, comes out to $28 per person.
When you book a private shuttle, you don’t have to wait around for other people and can instantly leave at your convenience.
Check out the button below for more details on the private shuttle service.
2. Rent a Car from Cancun to Holbox
Sometimes, you may just feel better about traveling at your own pace, making renting a car a great option.
Discover Cars helps you compare prices from multiple companies and gives you the best options for your needs. This international car website helps you book a car after you decide on your best choice.
It is important to keep in mind that Holbox is a no car zone which means that you will have to leave your rental car in one of the paid parking lots next to the Chiquila Port Dock. It is a very safe area, as there are lots of security guards to look after the cars. Just remember to not leave anything valuable in the car.
We’ve personally rented a car and driven it to Chiquila and left it in the car park before. The entire process is very easy and straightforward. Prices for the Chiquila dock parking lots can vary, but typically cost about $100-200 MXN pesos per day ($5-10USD)
3. Cancun to Holbox Shared Shuttle
This air-conditioned minivan will take you on a nonstop journey to Chiquila to get to your ferry from the Cancun airport.
A shared shuttle is an affordable way to get to Chiquila ferry port and during this, you’ll only share a ride with a maximum of 15 travelers. If you’re choosing roundtrip, you also get a choice of departure times that will ensure you can get back to the airport to catch your flight.
Please do note that the shared shuttle only leaves once the van is full so you might have to do a bit of waiting which is why the private shuttle is worth the extra $$.
4. Flying to Isla Holbox
Another option is to arrive in Holbox from Cancun in style by taking a private flight. This opportunity allows you to get onto the island by booking your own personal flight with no added stress.
The experienced pilots fly a plane (with a bathroom on it, might we add) while you sip on complimentary bottled water to ensure you arrive happy and comfortable. If you’re looking for a unique experience, this is the way to go! Plus, you get to bypass the ferry and land straight on Holbox Island.
5. Bus from Cancun to Isla Holbox (ADO)
Last but not the least, you can also take the public bus to get to Holbox.
The bus is a cost-efficient way to get to the ferry however, it isn’t as straightforward as you will have to get to the ADO bus station in central Cancun.
From here, you can make your way to Chiquila to grab the ferry to Holbox. It takes about 2 hours to travel, plus the time to get from Cancun Airport to the bus station downtown.
Holbox Ferry Schedule: Chiquila to Holbox
You completed step one of your journey; you rented a car, booked a shuttle, or rode the bus to get from Cancun to Chiquila and are ready to take the next steps. It’s time to board the ferry and get yourselves to Isla Holbox.
It seems like a simple procedure, but there’s lots of information that you should know in order to ensure your ride is smooth sailing and doesn’t stress you out on your vacation!
For now, here’s what you should know:
Holbox Ferry Times
The Holbox ferry schedule from Chiquila to Holbox runs every 30 minutes, starting with the first ferry at 5 AM and the last one ending at 8:30 PM.
The ferry ride back from Holbox to Chiquila starts at 5 AM with the last ferry being at 8 PM. The entire ride is about 25 minutes long, depending on the wind.
Prices
When it comes to purchasing tickets to get from Chiquila to Holbox, we recommend purchasing them in advance online. This is to make sure that you can get on your preferred ferry time.
However, with that being said, many people also just buy them when you get to Chiquila port. If there are no more tickets available, you can just wait for the next one, 30 minutes later. Please note that during busy holidays like Christmas and New Year, we definitely recommend that you purchase your tickets in advance.
Click the buttons below to check ferry prices from Chiquila to Cancun.
As for prices, for starters, those ranging from infants to two years old can ride free. Let’s start with the local prices so you can compare. If you are a daily commuter, such as a student, teacher, and laborer from Lázaro Cárdenas, it costs 30 pesos ($1.54 USD). A local minor would also be 30 pesos. A local adult with a municpal Lázaro Cárdenas ID costs 80 pesos ($4.12 USD).
If you’re a resident of Quintana Roo, children pay 100 pesos ($5.15 USD) and adults would cost 180 pesos ($9.27 USD), with a valid ID.
Now, onto the tourist prices. Tourists both adults and children over 120 cm tall (about 4 ft) will cost 220 pesos ($11.33 USD). Tourist Minors who are up to 120 cm tall will cost 160 pesos (8.24 USD).
FAQ on How to Get from Cancun to Holbox
Since there is no direct shuttle to Isla Holbox, the shuttle will take you to the ferry port in Chiquila. With that being said, if you’re taking the shuttle from Cancun airport to Chiquila, it will be about an hour and 48 minutes to 2 hours.
The ferry is a passenger-only ride, meaning cars are not allowed on. You will have to leave your car in one of the parking lots in Chiquila. Holbox has no cars which means you can enjoy this little island paradise without any pollution.
Taking a taxi from Cancun to the Holbox ferry stop is also known as a private transfer, which can cost anywhere from 4,623 MXN ($230) for 4 passengers max. However, you might want to take a private shuttle which can hold larger groups as well.
Since Isla Holbox is an island, the only two ways you can get there is by ferry or private flight. Therefore, you cannot drive from Cancun to Holbox. You can only drive to the ferry departure in Chiquila.
Distance-wise, Cancun to Holbox is about 60.9 km or about 37.8 miles. However, depending on how you travel, traveling times will vary.
If you’re arriving in Cancun, Mexico, and are looking to head over to Isla Holbox, a beautiful island, you’re going to need to plan on how to get over there.
While there are many ways to transfer over to the ferry, you want to find an option that meets your needs and can fit into your schedule.
Whatever way you choose from Cancun to Holbox, you’ll be sure to transfer over stress-free, making sure your vacation remains peaceful and magical.
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