Isla Holbox | |
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Island community | |
 Isla Holbox in June, 2008 | |
 Interactive map of Isla Holbox | |
  Isla Holbox Location of Isla Holbox Show map of Quintana Roo Isla Holbox Isla Holbox (Mexico) Show map of Mexico Isla Holbox Isla Holbox (Gulf of Mexico) Show map of Gulf of Mexico | |
| Coordinates:21°32′16″N87°13′12″W / 21.53778°N 87.22000°W /21.53778; -87.22000 | |
| Country |  Mexico |
| State | Quintana Roo |
| Municipality | Lázaro Cárdenas |
| Town Founded[1] | 1854 |
| Area | |
| • Land | 55.948 km2 (21.602 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1 m (3.3 ft) |
| Population (2005)[3] | |
• Total | 1,198 |
| Demonym | Holboxeños[1] |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central Standard Time) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (Central Daylight Time) |
| Postal code | 77310 |
| Area code | 984 |
Holbox (Spanish pronunciation:[xolˈβoʃ], "black hole" inYucatec Maya) is an island in theMexican state ofQuintana Roo, located on the north coast of theYucatán Peninsula . It is approximately 41.84 kilometres (26.00 miles) long and 1.5 kilometres (0.9 miles) wide, and it is separated from the mainland by 10 km of shallowlagoon that is home toflamingos,pelicans and other rich birdlife. Holbox Island is part of theMunicipality of Lázaro Cárdenas and also part of theYum Balam Biosphere Reserve.
The island's main industry isfishing. However, the island is developing a growing tourist industry in the form ofwhale shark viewing.Lobster is the main product of this fishing and many of the dishes made on the island center around lobster or other seafood.
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The island is accessed by ferry from the mainland town ofChiquilá,[4] and has virtually no cars, with transport by most residents and tourists bygolf cart ormoped. A few charter airlines fly to Holbox fromCancún andPlaya del Carmen; there is a smallairstrip calledHolbox Aerodrome that can accommodate five-seater and 13-seaterCessna aircraft.
Vehicle entry is not allowed at Holbox in order to protect the environment and to prevent the streets from accumulating sand.
Holbox has several alternatives to enjoy nature, but the one that attracts most visitors is the experience of swimming with the impressivewhale shark from June to September, an opportunity found in very few parts of the world. Duringhurricane season, the island is often evacuated as it can get directly damaged by hurricane winds.
The first written mentions of the island were in 1852 from a document sent by DonBartolomé Magaña to the Governor ofYucatán. The adjacent mainland was frequently attacked by theMaya therefore people sought refuge on this island. The government wanted to keep people from living on this island but the citizens refused to leave their homes. Hurricanes in 1886 completely destroyed the island, but the island was rebuilt afterward.[5]
Electricity reached the island in 1987.[6] The island was registered ecological reserve (Yum Balam Biosphere Reserve) in 1994.[7]
Starting in the 2000s, a real estate boom changed the island's economy, mainly led by the charm of the remote island. In 2020,El País reported 20 ongoing litigation to dismantle the island's protected status.[7][8]
Holbox has one of the safest beaches for learning how tokiteboard. Conditions are ideal for beginners, as the beach has shallow waters, no big obstacles on the wide and long beach, many days of wind during the winter months, and a nearby school with professional instructors. Advanced riders can find also very good conditions when the north or south winds reach 25 knots or more. The climate is subhumid warm, creating a stable and consistent temperature year-round.
75% of the island is made of wild mangroves and empty beaches.[6]
At the western tip of the island, there is a lagoon called Punta Cocos, wherebioluminescence can be observed on dark nights.[6]
Whale sharks season is from June to September.[6][9] Flamingo season is from April to December.[9]
Holbox is a car-free island. People drive around in golf carts. There are no paved roads on the island. The island's many sandy pathways are not recognized and thus indexed on Google Maps.[6]
Buildings may not be higher than 40 feet.[6][9]
There is no postal service and are no banks on the island. Around 50 restaurants are located on the island (2020),[6] and around 75 hotels.[9]
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 State ofQuintana Roo | |||||||||||
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