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Holbox Island
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Holbox
Island menu:
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Holbox Island is
located on the north side of the Yucatan
Peninsula, Holbox touches both the Gulf of Mexico
and the Caribbean Sea, the island is 34 km long,
bordered by Cabo Catoche on the east and separated
from the mainland by Yalahau Lagoon to the south. |
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Most of the
island's shore is white sandy beach where you can
find all types of shells washed up by northern
flowing currents. There are no rocks in the
island, which is made entirely of sand and shells.
The shallow water ringing Holbox is a light
emerald green, where you can walk quite far in the
shallows. It is a place where the observation of
marine life, birding, diving and fishing are
enjoyed in near perfect isolation. Holbox is a
small fishermen village, but offers the basic
amenities necessary for a relaxing island. Watch
the amazing pink flamingos fly over the water,
visit Isla Pajaros (Island of the Birds) to see
over 155 species of birds, swim in the Yalahau
spring or snorkel through waters filled by a
mixture of Gulf and Caribbean marine life. |
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Holbox means "black
hole" in Mayan, so named because the lagoon on the
south side of Holbox has very dark water.
According to historian Johaan Stephenson, the
first Europeans arrived to permanently settle the
island in 1856. Spaniards traveled to Holbox to
harvest hardwood trees, and some stayed on to
found a small village. This village was destroyed
by a powerful hurricane which killed 100 people,
and the survivors moved the town to the highest
point of the island where Holbox Village is now
located. |
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This island has
fewer than 2500 residents, they are a simple,
direct people and their lifestyle has changed
little from one generation to the next. Attuned to
the sea and to each other, there is no crime and
no mass tourism. Although the island is small,
visitors will find everything they need for a
relaxed vacation. |
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