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Top 5 Reasons To Visit Holbox Island, Mexico

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Holbox is an island north of the Yucatan Peninsula that is part of the Yum Balam Nature Reserve. In recent years it has gained a lot of popularity, becoming one of the best-hidden gems in Mexico. Here are five reasons why you should visit Holbox and valuable tips that will help you enjoy its beautiful tourist attractions on your next vacation.

Explore the Town on a Bike

A fun way to getting to know the island is by bike. You can rent it by the hour or for the whole day. Explore the Island without risk of getting lost in its beautiful streets surrounded by vegetation or by the white sands of its beaches at low tide. It is the best way to move around Holbox along the unpaved roads.

Another alternative is renting a golf cart if you want a more comfortable way to explore the island. Holbox is famous for its sunsets, so try not to miss it while you’re there. After enjoying the epic sunsets of the island, take a stroll through downtown, around the main square, to find the local street vendors and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere; this is guaranteed.

Go on a Three Islands Tour

This is a must-do in your trip to Holbox. In this highly recommended tour, where you’ll be able to explore the surrounding areas, you will go to Passion Island, Bird Island, and Yalahu on the mainland, where you can swim in a cenote. On your boat trip, you will surely spot dolphins that will follow you throughout the journey.

Visit uninhabited beaches with lush vegetation, and gaze upon more than thirty bird species in their natural habitat. This is an incredible trip and a way to get great views of the island from the sea. Many tour operators around town can take you to this paradise. It is a fantastic way to spend your morning and enjoy the magnificent nature in this part of the world.

See Bioluminescence in Holbox

Bioluminescence is a beautiful natural phenomenon in which small organisms in the sea produce light through chemical processes, with which beaches are spotted with tiny glowing lights.  The best time of the year to observe this natural spectacle is in June, July, August, and September. Ideally, the night you visit the beach is not a full moon. The darker the sand, the better. The tour picks you up in a golf cart and takes you to the best beaches to enjoy this beautiful phenomenon and lasts around 3-hours. This is a top-rated tour and a unique experience that you cannot miss.

Watch Flamingos at Punta Cocos

Located only one mile west of town, Punta Cocos is a public beach with nothing but palms and flamingos. Those beautiful pink creatures love to hang out just off the bay at a very close distance. Because of the shallow water, you can easily walk very close to them. Flamingos love to be admired and photographed but at a fair distance; therefore, try not to get too close in order to respect their environment. You can reach this beach by renting a bike. Because the weather will be hot, you will enjoy the breeze and get some respite from the heat by riding your bike.

Visit the Yum Balam Reserve

Yum Balam is a wildlife protection area established at the request of local communities in 1994. It is a place of crystal clear waters where in addition to plentiful whale sharks and dolphins, there are large areas of tropical forests where flora and fauna thrive. In Yum Balam, you will find mysterious pre-Hispanic ruins, and you can go hiking, fishing, diving, swimming with dolphins, kayaking, zip line, cycling, and even visit a butterfly farm. If you like, you can enjoy an excursion through the Lagoon Conil or Yalahau, where countless species of birds that nest in the swamps and mangroves live.

Holbox is one of the most beautiful beach destinations in the Yucatan peninsula. This island will become your favorite place if you love beach life and bohemian culture that still preserves its charm and authenticity. Now you know what to do in Holbox to enjoy to the fullest this hidden paradise in Mexico.

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