How to Get from Chiquilá to Holbox
Reviewed by Jean Nájera, Transportation Industry Expert
From Chiquilá to Holbox, the passenger ferry is the way across: US$15 to US$16 per person online, or 330 pesos at the pier, for a 20 to 25 minute crossing with a boat about every 30 minutes until 21:30.
Reverse route: Holbox → Chiquilá
Holbox Express leaves on the half hour and 9 Hermanos on the hour, so the two companies between them give you two boats an hour.
The detail everyone misses: combo bus-and-ferry tickets from Cancun or Playa del Carmen already include this crossing. Check your ticket before you queue at the booth and pay a second time.
At a glance
- Distance: about 10 km across the Yalahau lagoon
- Crossing time: about 20 to 25 minutes on the water
- Price: US$15 to US$16 online, or 330 pesos per adult at the pier
- Departures: about every 30 minutes, from around 6:00 to 21:30
- No cars: Holbox is car-free, so drivers park in Chiquilá for about 150 to 250 pesos a day
- Missed the last boat? Plan to sleep in Chiquilá, as late crossings are rare
Chiquilá to Holbox transport options
Compare fares and crossing times, then select an option for departure and booking details.
| Transport | Estimated fare | Travel time |
|---|---|---|
| Holbox Express ferryEvery hour on the half hour | Estimated fareUS$15per person online | Travel timeAbout 20 to 25 min |
| 9 Hermanos ferryEvery hour on the hour | Estimated fareUS$16or 330 pesos at the pier | Travel timeAbout 20 to 25 min |
| Small boat (lancha)Leaves when full | Estimated fareAbout 200 pesosper person, pay cash | Travel timeAbout 15 to 20 min |
Fares and crossing times are estimates. Confirm current prices and departures before traveling, especially when the wind picks up.
1. Holbox Express ferry, the one I’d book
Holbox Express leaves Chiquilá every hour on the half hour.
GuateGo lists boats from 7:30 to the last one at 21:30 for US$15 per person, and Bookaway shows an earlier 6:30 departure for US$16.
On the water it takes about 20 to 25 minutes. GuateGo blocks out 40 minutes, which covers boarding and unloading at both piers.
Holbox Express timetable from Chiquilá
| Morning | Afternoon | Evening |
|---|---|---|
| 6:30* | 12:30 | 17:30 |
| 7:30 | 13:30 | 18:30 |
| 8:30 | 14:30 | 19:30 |
| 9:30 | 15:30 | 20:30 |
| 10:30 | 16:30 | 21:30 (last) |
| 11:30 |
*The 6:30 boat appears on Bookaway but not on GuateGo. Times can shift in bad weather and on holidays, so check on the day.
My verdict: book this one online if you are arriving on a bus or shuttle with a fixed time.
A confirmed seat saves queuing at the booth in high season.
Want a confirmed seat?
2. 9 Hermanos ferry, on the hour
9 Hermanos fills the gaps, leaving Chiquilá every hour on the hour. Bookaway lists it at US$16 per person with a 20 minute crossing.
At the pier booth, both companies charge 330 pesos per adult tourist, with a reduced fare for children under 120 cm.
Quintana Roo residents with ID pay about 220 to 230 pesos.
My verdict: the easy fallback if you just missed a Holbox Express boat. Walk to the other booth and you rarely wait long.
Prefer 9 Hermanos?
3. Small boat (lancha), when you do not want to wait
Local boatmen at the Chiquilá pier run small open boats across the lagoon. They charge about 200 pesos per person and leave as soon as they have enough passengers.
The ride is quicker and more exposed than the ferry, so expect spray and keep bags in a dry sack.
These boats rarely run after the last ferry.
My verdict: handy at busy times when the ferry queue is long. Agree the price and pay in cash before you board.
Step by step: Chiquilá pier to your Holbox hotel
- Get to the Chiquilá pier. Buses and shuttles from Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Mérida stop right by the dock.
- Park if you drove. Fenced, attended lots a short walk from the pier charge about 150 to 250 pesos per 24 hours.
- Show or buy your ticket. The Holbox Express and 9 Hermanos booths face the pier. Cash in pesos is quickest, and cards often carry a fee.
- Pick your seat. The lower deck is covered and the upper deck is open, with the best views and the most sun.
- Land at the Holbox pier. The ferry docks on the lagoon side of town, a few blocks south of the main square.
- Take a golf-cart taxi or walk. The streets are sand, so rolling suitcases are hard work. A golf-cart taxi to a hotel in town costs about 100 to 150 pesos.
What it costs for 1, 2 or 4 people
| Option | 1 person | 2 people | 4 people |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holbox Express online | US$15 | US$30 | US$60 |
| Ferry at the pier | 330 pesos | 660 pesos | 1,320 pesos |
| Small boat (lancha) | About 200 pesos | About 400 pesos | About 800 pesos |
| Parking in Chiquilá, per day | About 150 to 250 pesos per car |
The ferry is priced per person, so groups pay the same rate as solo travelers. Children under 120 cm pay a reduced fare at the booth.
Which option should you choose?
- Arriving on a timed bus or shuttle: the Holbox Express ferry, booked online.
- Just missed a boat: walk to the other company’s booth, or take a lancha.
- Traveling with kids or lots of luggage: the ferry, on the covered lower deck.
- Arriving after about 21:00: sleep in Chiquilá and cross in the morning.
Getting to Chiquilá
Chiquilá is a small port at the end of the road, about two to three hours by road from Cancun.
If you are still planning the drive or bus, start with the right guide:
- Cancun Airport to Holbox, for flights landing at CUN
- Cancun to Holbox, from downtown or the Hotel Zone
- Playa del Carmen to Chiquilá and Playa del Carmen to Holbox
- Mérida to Holbox, Valladolid to Holbox and Tulum to Holbox
Arriving in Holbox
The ferries dock at the Holbox pier on the lagoon side of the island. From there it is a few blocks north to the main square and then on to the beach.
There are no cars on Holbox, and the streets are sand. Golf-cart taxis wait at the pier, and most hotels in and around town are a short ride away.
Bring cash from the mainland. Holbox has only a few ATMs and they can run out, especially on busy weekends.
Holbox: things to do and where to stay
Holbox is a car-free island of sand streets, painted walls and shallow turquoise water on the edge of a protected nature reserve.
Days here are slow: sandbar walks toward Punta Mosquito, flamingo spotting, sunset at Punta Cocos and, on moonless nights, glowing bioluminescence in the water.
Whale shark trips run in the summer season.
Which area to stay in
- Centro: next to the pier and the main square, with the restaurants and bars. Walkable from the ferry.
- Central beachfront: calm, shallow water a few blocks from town. The best all-round base.
- East toward Punta Mosquito: quieter beaches and boutique hotels, a golf-cart ride from the pier.
- Lagoon side and inland streets: better-value guesthouses for longer stays.
Best luxury hotels on Holbox
- Hotel Villas Flamingos: beachfront villas and one of the island’s best-known high-end stays.
- Mystique Holbox by Royalton: a beachfront resort with a pool, a spa and its own beach club, about a five-minute walk from the village center.
- Casa Las Tortugas: a laid-back beach hotel with a spa and three restaurants, close to town.
- Mawimbi: a small, colorful boutique hotel on a white-sand beach, with free kayaks for guests.
Holbox has no big all-inclusive resorts. Luxury here means small boutique and eco hotels, so book early for December to April.
Practical tips for the crossing
Watch the weather. The port can close in strong wind or storms, which suspends even daytime boats. Check before you set off for Chiquilá.
Pack light or bring a backpack. There are no luggage trolleys at the piers, and sand streets are tough on wheels.
Be careful on public Wi-Fi. Hotel and café networks on the island are open to everyone. A VPN such as ExpressVPN keeps your bookings and banking private.
Book ahead in high season. Ferries and hotels fill up from December to April and over Easter.
Heading back? The boats run the other way from about 5:00. See our Holbox to Chiquilá guide for the return times.
Tours on Holbox
Whale shark swims, bioluminescence night tours and boat trips to Isla Pasión and the Punta Mosquito sandbars are the island favorites.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the ferry from Chiquilá to Holbox?
US$15 to US$16 per person when booked online, or 330 pesos per adult at the pier. Children under 120 cm pay a reduced fare.
How long is the ferry from Chiquilá to Holbox?
About 20 to 25 minutes on the water, plus a few minutes to board.
What time is the first and last ferry from Chiquilá to Holbox?
The first boats leave at around 6:00 to 6:30 and the last Holbox Express ferry leaves Chiquilá at 21:30.
Do I need to book the Holbox ferry in advance?
Not usually, as boats leave about every 30 minutes. Booking Holbox Express online on GuateGo or Bookaway is worth it in high season or if you arrive on a timed bus.
Where do I park in Chiquilá?
In one of the fenced, attended private lots a short walk from the pier, for about 150 to 250 pesos per day.
Can I take my car to Holbox?
No. Holbox is car-free for visitors, so leave your car in Chiquilá and cross as a foot passenger.
What if I miss the last ferry to Holbox?
Late crossings after the last ferry are rare, so plan to stay overnight in Chiquilá and take the first boat in the morning.
How do I get from the Holbox pier to my hotel?
Walk if you are staying in the center, or take a golf-cart taxi from the pier. A ride to a hotel in town costs about 100 to 150 pesos.
Onward routes from Holbox
Prices last verified: November 2026. Sources: ferry fares and departures from GuateGo’s and Bookaway’s live listings; pier fares, parking and boat details from operator price lists and local travel guides.
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