Small sleepy island, dusty, non-paved roads, white beaches with crystal blue water. A couple of hotels and restaurants along the coastline but still free beach access everywhere. Golf carts and scooters run around as the main transportation mode. Even the taxis are golf carts. Every now and then a starfish or stingray is to be found at the beach. Two lively streets and one main intersection that awakes at night next to an active basketball court and baseball field. Holbox still has its own special charm but is also growing constantly. The small island between Rio Lagartos and Cancun, located in the Gulf of México promises great beach time, some activities at night but also just a quiet laid back vibe. The island is easy to reach via frequent ferries from Chiquilá and you may either head for one of the hostels around, like again Che hostel, or get your cabaña as we did, e.g. in La Aldea.
When arrived, we explored the beach and town at first, wandering from our cabaña to the beach and eastwards, passing the tip around El Chiringuito Bar Zomay, where usually many people spent the late afternoon watching the sunset while having a drink and chattering or just sitting at the stones. Recommended by our host in Cozumel, we went to Queto which is a restaurant that looks more like a food court, having put two food trailers underneath a roof and placing a couple of desks in front. Apart from most of the island which is quite expensive even for Yucatán level, this place is well priced and always really busy, resulting in usually waiting some minutes in line in front of the place.
This is where we met Dain again to go for dinner together and I got Alambre which is a plate of chopped beef and chicken with different vegetables but mainly bell peppers, served with tortillas and by your choice with cheese or without.
For a relaxed end of the day, we went to Pura Vida located on the first floor of a shop, offering live music, pool tables, a small balcony in the back, and at this time a 2x1 Spritz happy hour.
The next day we started by getting on one of the golf cart taxis and driving to Hotel Las Nubes which is the last hotel on the beach street, from where we walked into the water until we reached the sandbank which is located at the north shore of the island probably 50 meters away from the beach. After crossing the waist-deep water you'll reach the sandbank which you can walk on. The walk east to the edge of the natural reserve takes around one hour during which the water will most of the time only cover your ankles but maximum half the way to your knee. So, in general, you can bring shoes, but you'll only carry them around. Best to bring nothing but sun cover/screen and water because it might be hot. While walking up and down the sandbank you might be able to see some single starfish at the edges of the bank, but also if getting lucky stingrays. Reaching the border to the reserve, you'll find some place outside the water where you may lay down and rest for a while, before heading back. Some people cross the fence to the reserve and keep on walking, but this is officially prohibited and when we've been there a guy with a boat was patrolling threatening everyone with calling the police when passing.
After heading back, we searched a shadowed spot at the beach which was kinda hard, before we stayed for the afternoon there. Because of loud noises and people telling me that a local baseball game was going on, I left to check it out and ended up chilling for two hours in the stadium. In there four different teams were around either actively playing or warming up and probably two to three hundred locals were either sitting on their own chairs around tables with their families, chattering at the stands, or having beers behind and next to it. I took my place at the stands and enjoyed the game while also watching the locals around. While seeing them eating interesting, nonrecognizable food or fruits I asked what it was and everyone was happily inviting me to give it a try, ending mostly in a couple of faces watching me and my reaction when critically putting something in my mouth. One thing was a plastic cup filled with a curry-colored sauce with undetectable pieces in it which the guy just grabbed into with his bare hand to fish some fingertips full of sauce and 'whatever it is' out. After asking he explained to me that this was a sort of Caracol (sea snail) stew. The salsa consisting of mango and chile peppers was quite tasty, but the consistency of snails was never my thing yet. Still interesting to try and probably one of the most local things I ever ate. All the dishes sold came out of pots that some mamas were selling from plastic tables around, most likely cooked in their own homes. Another interesting thing I tried was a small green fruit which they brought in shopping bags full of dozens of them. They called it Grosella and it was definitely tasty, evenly sweet and sour, but I, unfortunately, have no idea where to buy that, since I never saw it again afterwards.
The next day I had to leave back to Valladolid for my x-ray before heading to the airport for the next chapter: Costa Rica.
Other Recommendations:
Playa Punta Cocos: Another beach that is a bit less crowded than the others and offers also the possibility to see starfish
Bioluminescencia: Small lagoon to visit at night and dip in to see flourascating algae
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