If you are ready for a break or just want to “chill” somewhere different, may I recommend Isla Holbox? A two-hour drive from Akumal will put you at Chiquila where you can catch a ride on a ferry. There are two ferry companies. One leaves on the hour and the other on the half-hour. A one-way ticket is 200 pesos.
The island requires a special permit for a car or truck so they are quite rare. Everyone walks, bicycles, or rides around in golf carts. There is a line of golf cart taxis waiting at the pier where the ferries dock. They can take you and your bags to your hotel for a small fee (50-70 pesos).
Hotels on Holbox are modest. Ours, Villas Paraiso del Mar, provided a large clean room with a huge shower, a minifridge, a balcony with hammock and chairs, free use of bicycles for a day, a small pool, numerous palapas, a wonderful breakfast buffet, and complementary fruit and bottle of sparkling wine. The cost was $2200 mx per night. Wifi was good, although that was what we were trying to escape!
Holbox is a place to RELAX. Unless you are there for a whale shark or birding tour, the powder sand beach is the primary draw. It goes for miles. The northwest side of the island is where everyone goes to enjoy the calm water with the gentlest slope of beach, and to people watch. I recommend renting a beach chair or bed and enjoy! Most have beachside beverage service available.
Restaurants range from beach bars with snack food to fine dining (outside on the beach in shorts and flipflops). We had fabulous sushi, pizza to die for, and wonderful seafood, all at reasonable prices.
Activities are limited. There are horseback riding, bioluminescence tours, birding boat-tours, kayaks and bicycles to rent. Shopping is very limited. One of our favorite activities was hanging out to watch the sun go down. The place was that “chill”. Judging from the number of people on the beach doing the same thing, I think a lot of people were there to do just that.
So if you’re looking for a romantic getaway or an escape from the relative fast pace of the Riviera Maya, consider Holbox.
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