- Real prices · updated September 30, 2026
Tours · Holbox
Holbox Tour from Cancun 2026: Prices, the Island, Bioluminescence and Whale Sharks
- From
- MX$1,410per person
- Duration
- 12 to 14 hhotel to hotel
- How
- road + ferryto Chiquila and on to the island
- Paid there
- depends on the toursite taxes; each tour page shows how much
From MX$1,410 per person, with the road trip and the ferry. Which one fits you?
Holbox is a car-free island in northern Quintana Roo: sand streets, golf carts and shallow turquoise water. From Cancun you drive about 2.5 hours to Chiquila and take a ferry of about 25 minutes. A day tour from Cancun starts at MX$1,410 per person.
1 · Prices
How much is a Holbox tour?
What each way to go costs, per person, and what's paid separately.
| Tour | Per person | What's included | Paid separately |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Classic Holbox | MX$1,130 adult and child | transportation, guide, box lunch, crossing, Punta Mosquito and lunch | taxes, MX$364 per person |
| 2Budget Holbox | MX$1,650 | transportation, guide and ferry; free time | tax, MX$100 per person |
| 3Holbox with a cenote | MX$2,100 · child MX$2,000 | Yalahau cenote, Isla Pasion, Punta Mosquito, lunch and 2 h of free time | tax, MX$100 |
| 4Holbox with ferry and golf cart | MX$2,250 | ferry, 2 h of shared golf cart (4 people) or bike, lunch and one drink | tax, MX$100 |
| 5Holbox tour | MX$2,350 foreign visitor · MX$2,150 Mexican national | ||
| 6Holbox transportation only | MX$1,465 | van and ferry, with a guide; free time | site taxes |
| 7Private, your way | Get a quote on WhatsApp | on your schedule | see private |
Public prices per person. "Transportation only" costs more than the classic tour: it's marked until Producción Masiva confirms it.
Classic, with a cenote or with a golf cart: the difference in one table
| Tour | Classic | With cenote | Ferry and golf cart | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | MX$1,130 | MX$2,100 | MX$2,250 | MX$1,650 |
| Days | Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays | Every day | Every day | Every day |
| Ferry included | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Golf cart | no | no | yes | no |
| Cenote | no | yes | no | no |
| Lunch | yes | Box lunch | Box lunch | no |
| Drinks | no | no | One drink: soda, beer or flavored water | no |
| Free time | yes | Two hours of free time in Holbox | 2 h by golf cart | Free time on the island |
| Paid there | taxes, MX$364 | tax, MX$100 | tax, MX$100 | tax, MX$100 |
2 · Choose
Which Holbox tour is right for you?
Three one-tap questions.
Your best fit: Holbox with a cenote. The island and a cenote on the same day. From MX$2,100.
This could also work: Holbox with a cenote.
Your best fit: con-cenote. . From MX$2,100.
This could also work: con-cenote.
Your best fit: Budget Holbox. The island at the best price. From MX$1,650.
This could also work: Budget Holbox.
Your best fit: bioluminiscencia. . From .
This could also work: bioluminiscencia.
Your best fit: Whale sharks. June to September; our tours leave from the Cancun side. MX$2,850.
This could also work: Whale sharks.
Your best fit: Private tour, your way. With 6 or more, it costs about the same per person; on your schedule. Get a quote on WhatsApp.
This could also work: Private tour, your way.
We don't have a bioluminescence tour yet: you need to stay overnight in Holbox. See the Bioluminescence section.
What we recommend for what you're after:
- If you want to swim in a cenote: Holbox with a cenote
- If you're looking for the cheapest option: con-cenote · Budget Holbox
- If you want to see the bioluminescence: con-cenote
- If you want to swim with whale sharks: Whale sharks
- If 6 or more are going: Private tour, your way
- If you want it private: Private tour, your way
- Anything else: con-cenote
The most popular Holbox tours
-
Holbox with a cenote
Price: adult MX$2,100 · child MX$2,000 Paid there: site taxes.
See details
- Includes
- Round-trip transportation · Bilingual guide · Box lunch · Round-trip boat crossing Chiquilá – Holbox · Yalahau cenote with life jacket · Isla Pasión · Punta Mosquito · Lunch with a choice of: fish fillet grilled, with garlic, breaded, a la diabla or with butter, or breaded chicken cutlet · Two hours of free time in Holbox
- Ages
- Children 4 to 10 pay the child rate; ages 3 and under get in free. Some activities have a minimum height; the tour page says so.
- Days
- Every day
- Pickup time
- Full day, approximately 13 hours · Pickup between 5:30 and 8:00 a.m., depending on how far your hotel is; the exact time is confirmed when you book
-
Holbox with ferry and golf cart
Price: MX$2,250 per person, adult or child Paid there: site taxes.
See details
- The idea
- you get around the island on your own.
- Includes
- Round-trip transportation · Bilingual guide · Box lunch · Same-day round-trip ferry tickets · Two hours of a shared golf cart for four people, or an individual bicycle · Lunch with a choice of: fish fillet breaded, a la diabla or with garlic, or breaded chicken fillet · One drink: soda, beer or flavored water
- Ages
- Children 4 to 10 pay the child rate; ages 3 and under get in free. Some activities have a minimum height; the tour page says so.
- Days
- Every day
- Pickup time
- Full day, approximately 11 hours · Pickup between 5:30 and 8:00 a.m., depending on how far your hotel is; the exact time is confirmed when you book
-
Budget Holbox
Price: MX$1,650 per person, adult or child Paid there: site taxes.
See details
- Includes
- Round-trip ground transportation from your hotel · Bilingual guide who gives you directions about the island · Same-day round-trip ferry to Holbox · Free time on the island
- Ages
- Children 4 to 10 pay the child rate; ages 3 and under get in free. Some activities have a minimum height; the tour page says so.
- Days
- Every day
- Pickup time
- Full day, approximately 11 hours · Pickup between 5:30 and 8:00 a.m., depending on how far your hotel is; the exact time is confirmed when you book
How to choose your Holbox tour without surprises
In Cancun you'll see very cheap Holbox deals on the street and downtown. Some are good and some aren't. The difference is almost never the price: it's what they don't tell you.
5 questions before you pay
- What year is the vehicle, and does it have air conditioning? That's hours on the road to Chiquila.
- Does it include travel insurance?
- Is the guide certified? Ask whether they have a guide license.
- Does it include the ferry and the golf cart, or are they paid there? The round-trip ferry runs around MX$440 per adult.
- How many shopping stops are there? Some deals lower the price by adding sales stops.
Why Cancun100
- 1
We're wholesalers
Because of our volume, our prices come very close to the cheapest ones, but with everything included in writing.
- 2
Full price up front
What you see is what you pay.
- 3
Help before, during and after
On WhatsApp, in your language.
All Holbox tours
-
Budget Holbox
budget
Leaves from: Cancun · Puerto Morelos +3
From MX$1,650
Book -
Holbox with a cenote
cenote
Leaves from: Cancun · Puerto Morelos +3
From MX$2,100
Book -
Holbox with ferry and golf cart
ferry and golf cart
Leaves from: Cancun · Puerto Morelos +3
From MX$2,250
Book -
Whale sharks from a marina
June to September
Leaves from: Costa Mujeres · Isla Mujeres
From MX$2,850
Book -
Whale sharks from Cancun
June to September
Leaves from: Cancun
From MX$3,050
Book -
Whale sharks from Puerto Morelos or Playa
June to September
Leaves from: Puerto Morelos · Playa del Carmen
From MX$3,200
Book -
Whale sharks from Riviera Maya or Tulum
June to September
Leaves from: Riviera Maya · Tulum
From MX$3,400
Book -
Classic Holbox
Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays
Leaves from: Cancun · Playa del Carmen +2
From MX$1,410
Book
No tour with that filter from your starting point.
3 · Calculate
Work out your real price
The tour and how many are going. "You pay there" adds the tour's fee when there is one.
The fees paid there vary by tour; the calculator adds them for you.
- You pay online
- MX$6,200
- You pay there
- MX$0
- Total for the day
- MX$6,200
You pay online MX$6,200. You pay there MX$0. Total for the day: MX$6,200.
This tour has taxes paid on site; the tour page shows how much.
Book4 · Discover
Things to do in Holbox
Holbox is part of the Yum Balam Flora and Fauna Protection Area. It's a long, narrow island with shallow, warm water, famous for its sunsets, its birds and for being the gateway to whale sharks in summer.
The must-sees
- 1
Town beach and Punta Cocos
Sunset, and on dark nights, bioluminescence.
- 2
Punta Mosquito
A walkable sandbar; flamingos show up mostly from April to October, though they aren't always there.
- 3
Isla Pajaros
Birdwatching from lookout platforms, by boat.
- 4
Yalahau cenote (Ojo de Agua)
On the mainland, across from the island, by boat.
- 5
Cabo Catoche
The point where the Gulf meets the Caribbean, by boat.
- 6
Downtown
Murals, the plaza and the famous lobster pizza.
Bioluminescence in Holbox: when and how to see it
Bioluminescence is the blue glow plankton gives off when it moves in the water. In Holbox you can see it on moonless nights, away from the town lights, especially from May to October.
Tips
- go on a dark night (close to the new moon);
- no flash and no flashlight;
- don't wear sunscreen in the water;
- never collect the plankton.
Bioluminescence tour
We don't have a bioluminescence tour yet: you need to stay overnight in Holbox.
Heads-up: from Cancun, on a day tour, you're back before dark. To see it you need to stay overnight in Holbox.
Whale sharks: June to September
The whale shark, the largest fish in the world, comes every summer to the waters between Holbox, Isla Mujeres and Cancun to feed. The official season runs from June to September, at its best in July and August.
Rules of the reserve
- 2 swimmers plus 1 guide go in the water at a time;
- no touching the shark;
- life jacket required;
- no chemical sunscreen.
Reserve wristband: a tax paid on site; each tour page shows how much.
June to September season
Our whale shark tours leave from the Cancun side, not from Holbox
- From a marina MX$2,850
- From Cancun MX$3,050
- From Puerto Morelos or Playa MX$3,200
- From Riviera Maya or Tulum MX$3,400
All at the same price for adults and children.
Map of Holbox
How to get there, what's on the island and where the whale sharks are. Tap a point to find it in the list.
See the 10 spots
-
Cancun
the road to Chiquila starts here, about 2 h 30 min
-
Chiquila
the ferry port and parking for your car
-
Holbox pier
where the ferry arrives, about 25 minutes from Chiquila
-
Downtown
murals, the plaza and the lobster pizza
-
Punta Cocos
sunsets and, on dark nights, bioluminescence
-
Punta Mosquito
walkable sandbar; flamingos mostly from April to October
-
Isla Pajaros
birds from lookout platforms
-
Yalahau cenote
the Ojo de Agua, on the mainland across from the island
-
Cabo Catoche
where the Gulf meets the Caribbean
-
Whale shark area
June to September; our tours leave from the Cancun side
- No spot with that filter.
5 · Plan
How to get to Holbox from Cancun
-
1 Cancun → Chiquila
road · about 2 h 30 min
About 150 km, 2 h 30 min by road. There's also an ADO bus from Cancun.
-
2 Chiquila → Holbox
ferry · about 25 min
A ferry of about 25 min with frequent departures. The fare varies by ferry line and season; on our tours the crossing is included.
-
3 No cars on the island
on foot, by bike or by golf cart
You get around on foot or with a rented golf cart or bike.
For information only
With your own car
It stays in a paid parking lot in Chiquila. Cars aren't allowed on the island.
The honest math: on your own you pay for transport to Chiquila, the ferry, a golf cart and food, and the day goes by in transfers. The tour takes care of everything in one day.
Schedules and pickup
See times by starting point
| Starting point | Pickup time | Approximate return |
|---|---|---|
| Cancun or Costa Mujeres | Suaste, 5:30 to 8:00 a.m. depending on your hotel; Cancun Bay, the time is in your confirmation | from 7:30 p.m. |
| Playa del Carmen or Riviera Maya | Suaste, 5:30 to 8:00 a.m. depending on your hotel; Cancun Bay, the time is in your confirmation | from 7:30 p.m. |
| Holbox or Chiquila | Our tours pick you up at your hotel |
What to bring, best time to go and tips
What to bring
- swimsuit
- biodegradable sunscreen
- insect repellent (Holbox has mosquitoes at sunset)
- cash (not everywhere takes cards)
- hat
- ID
Best time to go
- November to April, for dry weather
- June to September, for whale sharks
- bioluminescence, on moonless nights, especially from May to October
Tips
- a light backpack for the ferry
- in the rainy season, the sand streets flood
- respect the birds on Isla Pajaros from the lookout platforms
Private Holbox tour: with 6 or more, it costs about the same
On a private tour you pay for the van, the driver and the guide, not for each seat. With 6 to 10 people, the cost per person can come very close to a shared tour, and the day is yours.
Shared or private?
Shared
MX$8,460
MX$1,410 per person
6 people × MX$1,410
Estimated private
per person
The van to Chiquila depends on group size and date: we'll quote it for you, without making up a price.
The private tour adds the ferry per person; lunch is quoted separately.
Plan my private tour
We send your proposal by WhatsApp in under 5 minutes during business hours (9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Cancun time). You don't pay anything until you confirm.
6 · Questions
Holbox tour FAQ
How do you get to Holbox from Cancun?
By road to Chiquila (about 2.5 h) and a ferry to the island (about 25 min).
How much is the Holbox ferry?
It varies by ferry line and season; on our tours the crossing is included.
How much is a Holbox tour from Cancun?
From MX$1,410 per person.
Can you drive on Holbox?
No. Cars stay in Chiquila; on the island you walk, bike or rent a golf cart.
When can you see bioluminescence?
On moonless nights away from town lights, especially from May to October. You need to stay overnight.
When is whale shark season?
The official season runs from June to September; the best months are July and August.
Can I swim with whale sharks from Cancun?
Yes. Our whale shark tours leave from the Cancun side, from MX$2,850.
What is Punta Mosquito?
A walkable sandbar east of town where flamingos are sometimes seen.
Are there cenotes near Holbox?
Yes, Yalahau cenote, on the mainland across from the island.
Is Holbox good for kids?
Yes: calm, shallow water. The day trip from Cancun is long.
Is a private tour worth it?
With 6 or more people it can cost about the same per person. Use the calculator.
Can I stay overnight?
Yes, it's the best way to experience it. We'll arrange your transfer and hotel on WhatsApp.
Is there sargassum in Holbox?
Holbox is on the Gulf side and gets almost no sargassum; a little may arrive in spring and summer, depending on the year.
Can I cancel?
You can change the date or the activity and keep 100% of what you paid as credit. If you cancel, the 20% deposit is not refundable; if you paid in full, we refund your payment minus 20% for administrative costs.
Holbox is a car-free island in northern Quintana Roo, about 2.5 hours from Cancun to Chiquila plus a 25-minute ferry. A day tour from Cancun starts at MX$1,410. From June to September it's the gateway to whale sharks, and on dark nights its sea glows with bioluminescence. For groups of 6 or more, a private tour can cost about the same per person. Cancun100 is a registered agency, RNT 042300561BC73.
Updated September 30, 2026 · Cancun100 · RNT 042300561BC73
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