The Island of Holbox

Holbox Island

There is no no written history about this beautiful bare-foot island. It is in the voice of the elders that we find the legend of the island's first inhabitants. Long time ago, around 1800, the ships of the Spanish Armada came to recharge fresh water from Yalahau, a beautiful crystalline water-eye also known as the fountain of youth, that today offers its beauty as a tourist destination. Far from large cities, several European emigrants settled on the island, where forgotten by history, founded the town that we know today as Holbox. The meaning of Holbox is lost in the legend of the infamous pirate Francisco Molas and the navigational charts of Spain army as well as fantastic stories of the ancient Mayas, from whom the word Holbox meant "Black Hole".

The islanders descendants of pirates, mestizos of several races. Fishermen by trade have kept their simple lifestyle unaffected by technology or the ambitions of a greedy modern world, which is why the island has retained its special simple atmosphere that invite visitors to stroll bare-foot along the white sand roads and relax in the bohemian ambiance.

Holbox is a paradise amongst mangroves and white sandy beaches; it is a perfect refuge for temptations of the soul, far from the contamination of the main land. Thanks to this continual purity and isolation, a large variety of birds and other species had chosen the island as a refuge and breeding ground. All of this enriches the natural wonder and beauty of the environment offering us a completely different experience full of life.

Holbox is about 27 miles long island, with tourist attractions based on its natural surroundings its beaches, birds, deep sea and fly fishing, and the famous whale shark, who in summer comes to feed in the nearby waters. This unique experience is highlighted by kayak rides through he mangroves, diving ancient shipwrecks, not to mention a pleasant stay in the island's quaint inns and small hotels.

Unforgettable, Holbox will leave a mark that will make you want to come back again and again. We will always be waiting fro you.

Rent a yacht to do a trip to Holbox Island , complete tour is 8hrs long from Cancun and a cost of 1200 usd by a boat of 6 people 

Whale Shark in the Riviera Maya

Dive with the whale shark at the Riviera Maya

To think of a fish that can be 18 meters long sounds a little prehistorical, even more when we are told that it is herbivorous and it lives in these days distributed among the warm waters of the world. It's fascinating to think that the same water where swimmers enjoy summer, this gigantic animal lives.

This creature is really a fish but people include the name whale because his enormous size.

Whale sharks are essential animals in the ocean. According to experts, to catch these animals could produce terrible disasters in the ocean's balance. This is why every place this creature visits, ecotourism program that protect it and inform to the people about the characteristics and situation that this huge animal is facing are developed.

Whale shark turn out to be great tourist attraction that let divers get close enough to touch them, and is an awesome unique experience the takes them even to cross the word only to touch their rough skin.

The local community of Holbox Island developed conduct codes that let you enjoy this fascinating experience at the same time you preserve this natural wonder.

Reserve a tour to swim with whale sharks on season April to November 

or Rent a boat to do a trip along islands and sea this sharks or dolphins

Swim with whale sharks at north of Cancun

Whale shark swiming at Isla Holbox  2hrs north of Cancun

Whale-Shark Expedition (May to September) - a boat trip along the virgin cost of Holbox Island to meet the majestic and friendly Whale-Sharks (more than 10 meters long). A worldwide unique experience.  Reserve a whaleshark  tour here

Here you can find boats to rent and go to Isla Holbox and Isla Contoy

He found that the Whale Sharks tend to aggregate every year around Holbox and the Campeche bank. They are still not sure why, but they do know that the main reason is the nutrient rich water that comes into the basin at this time of year. This is now a protected park but the problem is that now they know that the Whale Sharks go way out of this range and they need more protection. The Mexican government has been very strict thus far but will need to do more soon. Holbox has changed from a sleepy fishy village, (island), to an Ecotourism
Island. The fisherman have turned into guides and have done a  great job of
setting rules and guidelines that the tourist that come to see the Whales sharks must follow

The team has made many observations with two types of tagging, photographs, sightings, etc. With the satellite tags, they get information once the tag pops off the Whale Shark which is usually in about one month

Holbox will need to make sure that they only allow a certain amount of tourists and boats out in the park waters at one time. They are worried that too many boats will affect the Whale Sharks in general. Hurricane Wilma did put quite a damper on this island but the tourism and people have brought it back. The Mexican government and the Whale Shark team are very concerned that boats may come from as far away as Cancun. Once the Whale Sharks leave Holbox, some go towards Texas, some towards the western gulf, some down past Cozumel, some towards Cuba, but they don't know where all of them go. They don't know at what age exactly they are mature enough for mating. They don't know where the pupping grounds are or when and where they mate. There are a few fisherman stories about the Whale Sharks thrashing around, like fighting and then the water turns white. Hopefully this will be documented and then they will know that the Whale Sharks come to Holbox for something beside food. It's usually also timed around the snapper spawn

Each year many Whale Sharks visit isla de Holbox, from 500 - 1500, May - Sept.
Whale Sharks come when the water is nutrient rich. 
Whale Sharks can eat up to 9 pounds per hour in the right conditions
Whale Sharks tend to aggregate every year at and around Holbox, both Mature males and female and Immature males and females.
Whale Sharks feed in 3 different ways, Active Ram filter feeding, Vertical feeding when the waters are nutrient rich, and Passive feeding, when they just have their mouths open and maybe get something.
Whale Sharks are very fast growing animals
Whale Sharks closest relative, the Nurse shark
Whale Shark numbers in the Caribbean are increasing.
Whale Sharks can travel up to 35 miles in one day
Whale Sharks can go as deep as 3000' which they don't know why but right now they think it has something to do with cooling off. After a full day of feeding at the surface in the hot sun, they rest and glide down and then come up in a short time. So this shows that Whale Sharks can go into very cold water, 38, but they don't stay long.
The brain of a Whale Shark can fit into the palm of your hand so they think this shows that the Whale Shark does not think as much as other sharks.
Whale Shark migration may start in Holbox, but they do not know where they all go. Somehow they find their way back to Holbox. Do they stay in and around the Caribbean or do they go all the way over to Africa and back. No one  knows this information yet.
Whale Sharks can have up to 300 pups, but they don't know where, or when.