Holbox

The coastal area in the north of Quintana Roo state are part of the “Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna Silvestre y Acuática Yum Balam” reserve.

Once called Polbox and Holbox de Palomino, which in Maya means “black hole” or “dark sinkhole,” many of the Island’s inhabitants today call it “Isla Tranquila” (Quiet Island) or “Isla de Tiburones” (Shark Island). Holbox was populated by Mayan peoples who set up surveillance posts overlooking the ocean. The town of Ekab, which was abandoned due to continuous pirate raids, still holds remains of the colonial settlement, such as its old convent.

In 1517, Francisco Hernández de Córdoba and his crew landed close to Holbox, and were invited by the Mayas to visit their houses. It was a trap, but the Spanish only heard “cones cotoche,” so they called the place Cabo Catoche.

Currently, the Island is one of the region’s most interesting tourist destinations because of its ecotourism activities, idyllic scenery, and the chance to see the largest fish in the world–whale sharks feed in nearby waters between May and September.