Holbox to Cozumel: a 6-day island-hopping itinerary

At a glance

Best for	Island lovers comfortable with ferry-and-transfer logistics
Pace	Moderate — three connector/transit days out of six
Getting around	Ferries, ADO buses, shared vans; no rental car
Islands	Holbox, Isla Mujeres, Cozumel
Rough budget	Mid-range — ferries and boat tours are the main costs
Book ahead	Ferry and bus times the day before each hop
Best time	Mid-May–September for whale sharks off Holbox; December–April for calmer seas overall

Three very different islands in six days: sandy, car-free Holbox in the north; tiny Isla Mujeres off Cancún; and big, diving-focused Cozumel down the coast. It is moderate rather than easy because of the ferry-and-transfer logistics — none of these islands connect directly to each other, so every hop routes through a mainland port. This plan uses ferries, ADO buses and shared vans, no rental car. Book ferry and bus times the day before; schedules thin out in the evening.

Day 1 — Cancún to Holbox

The longest transit day; start early.

Morning

From Cancún, take an ADO bus or booked shuttle to Chiquilá, the Holbox ferry port (about 2.5–3 h; ADO around 250–350 MXN / 15–21 USD). Cars stay in Chiquilá lots — Holbox is sand-street and car-free anyway.

Afternoon

Ferry Chiquilá to Holbox (about 25 min; roughly 220 MXN / 13 USD each way, two operators run roughly every 30 min until evening). On arrival, golf-cart taxis ferry you and bags to your hotel (50–100 MXN).

Evening

Holbox runs on island time. Walk the sand main street, eat fresh ceviche or a lobster pizza (a local thing), 150–350 MXN per plate, and catch the sunset on the west beach.

Day 2 — Holbox slow day

Morning

Rent a bike (150–250 MXN/day) or walk the long shallow sandbars. Punta Mosquito and Punta Coco are the quiet ends; in summer, bioluminescence sometimes appears at night.

Afternoon

Optional boat tour through the mangroves and to Isla Pasión (around 600–1,000 MXN / 35–60 USD). Whale-shark tours run roughly mid-May to mid-September only — if you’re here in season, this is the day for it; see the whale shark tour guide for boat operators and what to expect in the water.

Evening

Sunset, seafood, early night. Holbox has no big nightlife and that’s the point.

Day 3 — Holbox back to Cancún, then Isla Mujeres

A connector day; expect to be moving.

Morning

Ferry back to Chiquilá and ADO/shuttle to Cancún (allow 3.5–4 h door to door). This is unavoidable — there is no island-to-island route.

Afternoon

From Cancún, taxi to Puerto Juárez and take the Ultramar ferry to Isla Mujeres (about 20 min; roughly 300 MXN / 18 USD round trip). Check into a small hotel near the town center. Rent a golf cart (900–1,200 MXN/day) for tomorrow.

Evening

Dinner in the Isla Mujeres town center and a stroll along Playa Norte at dusk.

Day 4 — Isla Mujeres full day

Morning

Golf-cart loop of the whole island: Playa Norte first (calm, white sand, best early before day-trippers arrive on the 10–11 am ferries), then south to Punta Sur.

Afternoon

Snorkel over the reef or visit the offshore MUSA underwater sculpture museum — see the MUSA underwater museum guide for tour operators — by boat/snorkel tour (around 600–900 MXN / 35–55 USD). Long seafood lunch, ideally near Playa Norte, the island’s best stretch of sand.

Evening

Sunset at Punta Sur or the west side, then dinner in town.

Day 5 — Isla Mujeres to Cozumel

The trickiest hop: two ferries and a bus, so leave early.

Morning

Ferry Isla Mujeres back to Puerto Juárez, then transfer down the coast to Playa del Carmen (ADO/shuttle, about 1–1.25 h from Cancún). From Playa del Carmen, take the Cozumel ferry (about 45 min; roughly 400 MXN / 24 USD each way, departures roughly hourly). Plan the whole chain for the morning so you arrive by early afternoon.

Afternoon

Check in around San Miguel, Cozumel’s town. Rent a scooter or hire a taxi for tomorrow; the island is bigger than the others and a car-free day means short taxi hops.

Evening

Waterfront dinner in San Miguel; the malecón is pleasant at sunset.

Day 6 — Cozumel diving or reef, then out

Morning

Cozumel is one of the world’s top reef destinations. A two-tank dive runs roughly 80–130 USD; a guided snorkel trip 30–55 USD. Even non-divers should get in the water here — the reef is the whole reason to come.

Afternoon

If you’re flying out of Cancún the same evening, this is tight: Cozumel ferry to Playa del Carmen, then transfer to Cancún airport (allow 3–3.5 h total). Better to overnight once more or fly out of Cozumel’s small airport if your route allows.

Ferry-and-logistics notes

• No two of these islands connect directly; every hop passes through a mainland port.
• Holbox ferries (Chiquilá), Isla Mujeres ferries (Puerto Juárez/Ultramar), and Cozumel ferries (Playa del Carmen) are three separate routes — don’t mix up the ports.
• Last ferries are typically early evening; missing one can strand you on the mainland.
• Keep some pesos in cash for golf-cart taxis and small ferry-town vendors.