While Holbox is located near Cancun, northwest about 1.5 hours by bus and short boat ride, you are miles and miles away from the Disnesy-esque, package tour group, aseptic Mexico so popular with underage fraternity boys and middle America. Holbox Island is just 26 miles long, separated from the mainland coast of Mexico by a shallow lagoon which gives sanctuary to thousands of flamingos, pelicans and other exotic birds and creatures.

The streets of Holbox Island are made of white sand, common of Caribbean islands, and there are very few cars. Your primary mode of transportation is golf carts or scooters. Holbox is considered a virgin tourist destination because very few outsiders visit the island. The majority of tourists appeared to be Mexican nationals visiting out of the way spots in their own country. In spite of Holbox’ natural beauty, inaccessibility has left it unspoiled by mass tourism- just like the Upgrade Me For Free travel staff likes it!

According to the loud English tourist from the hotel, Holbox is known for 3 things. The water which is amazing shades of green and blue and will vary in different times of the day and with different sun conditions, the mosquitoes which were kept at bay with the “deep woods” variety of repellent and Lobster pizza from Edelin Pizzaria. That being said, the most incredible attraction in Holbox from June to August are the whale sharks. Whale sharks are the worlds largest shark and fish reaching up to 40 feet long and 15 tons. The whale sharks are as docile as cows, allowing you to snorkel along side them in the open water. They come near Holbox Island to spend the summer season. The gathering is due to nutrient rich waters from the deep Caribbean meeting the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico and creating a plentiful buffet for these plankton eating creatures.

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