Tired of cars? Golf carts are the main motorized vehicles on the island
Credit: www.hmhotels.com
When was the last time you’ve been to a place where cars are not allowed? Yes, Isla Holbox is one of those places, so be ready to either walk or rent a golf cart. But while it’s almost a full marathon long (26 miles, 42 km), it’s just below one mile wide (1.5 km). It is indeed a unique place, and no surprises, Holbox all-inclusive attracts tourists throughout the year. Even though there are only two all-inclusive hotels in Isla Holbox, both of them belong to the same hotel group. Another thing, you might get a bit disappointed with what these two all-inclusive Holbox hotels have to offer, but hey, you are going to a unique place, so at least enjoy it.
Two main things to do on the island are birdwatching (April to December for flamingos) and whale shark swimming (June to September). In case you like lobsters and other delicious seafood, Holbox is the place for it!
I made an overview of all the all-inclusive Holbox resorts, but since it doesn’t have that many, I also added an honourable mention of the hotel you might consider while staying here.
1. Villas HM Palapas del Mar 4*
HM Hotels is a Spanish hotel group that at the moment has several locations across Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Spain. I already mentioned their hotels a couple of times in the previous posts, but in general, they have pretty alright options, and they open all-inclusive resorts where no one else wants to operate.
Overview of the resort
Villas HM Palapas del Mar is a small 4-star Isla Holbox all-inclusive resort that offers 52 comfortable villas to its guests. It’s pretty small, so don’t expect it to have a great selection of entertainment and activities, as you’d get at a large resort. This type of all-inclusive is a more relaxed and chill kind. A place where you enjoy one too many cocktails on the beach, good food, and no worries for the rest of your stay.
Prices for a stay differ depending on whether you want a regular all-inclusive or an all-inclusive plus, as well as whether you need a private pool and a sea view. And the season, of course. But be ready to pay around $180-280 per person per night.
N.B. HM Hotels have great benefits and offers to their club members, so before booking your stay, check the official site. They might have a better price.
With only 52 villas, this hotel feels cozy and welcoming
Credit: www.hmhotels.com
Accommodation
All the rooms at the resort are labeled as junior suites, but they have some distinctions in size and amenities. The smallest room is 30 m2 (323 ft2) and can shelter up to two guests, while the biggest one is 45m2 (484 ft2) with a maximum capacity of four people.
You can opt for a regular junior suite, located on the second floor of the villas, which features a private terrace. The superior junior suite accommodates up to four guests. And the other room options include a private pool, ocean front, a private pool on the beach, and a superior junior suite on the beach. Reminds me a bit of all-inclusive El Salvador accommodation options.
In all honesty, the biggest difference between the cheapest and the most expensive room is location and size. One thing I really like in every room is that they have both air conditioning and a ceiling fan. The latter one gives the option of having open doors and windows, so you can have that nice, fresh ocean breeze. As a city dweller, I appreciate every second of being as close to nature as possible, but still having a more convenient option.
What To Do
Not much. Yes, I mean it. Just relax on the beach and don’t expect much from a hotel of such size. With a bit over 100 guests capacity, one can’t expect an extensive entertainment program and a million options for entertainment. With all that said, there are things to do. But first, I almost forgot to explain the difference between the two all-inclusive options.
Life on the island
Credit: www.hmhotels.com
The standard option includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, Mexican alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and the use of a bicycle. Premium all-inclusive adds to your experience a bottle of sparkling wine and a fruit basket on arrival. A pillow menu, where you can choose a pillow that you want to use during your stay. Premium drinks and two special dinners for stays of 5 nights or longer. Aaaaand, a small souvenir from the shop.
Since the island itself is located within Yum Balam, which is a Mexican Flora and Fauna Protection Area, the best thing to do would be to enjoy the surrounding nature. Bird watching on the Isla de los Pajaros (Bird Island) is a must-do activity; flamingos are cool! Isla de la Pasión (Passion Island) is a great and easy hike alongside the shore. Fishing and whale shark watching, eating out and shopping, swimming, sleeping, and relaxing. As much as I’d like to mention more activities on the island, it’s just really not much to do here.
Food
There are two restaurants at the resort: the main one, which merges into the pool bar, and a Japanese sushi restaurant, Tamashi Sky Bar. The latter one is only open from 4 to 11 and will cost you extra. The main restaurant offers a traditional breakfast, as well as a thematic Mexican buffet lunch and dinner. In case you get hungry in between meals, you can always grab a hot dog, burger, nachos, fajitas, and other tasty foods.
The main restaurant
Credit: www.hmhotels.com
For vegans and vegetarians, not far from the resort, there’s a dedicated restaurant called Arte Sano Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurant. Overall, unless you are looking to get a bang for the buck, try to explore the island. There are plenty of small and cozy eateries around, for example, La Barracuda, Brasas Grill and Wine, and Santos Fuegos Holbox.
Verdict
Small and cozy place for a simple relaxation far from busy resorts. Enjoy the sun. When you check the next resort, you will see that both all-inclusive Holbox hotels share the owners and, as a result, concepts. For better or for worse, it’s for you to decide.
2. Villas HM Paraíso del Mar 4*
Just next to the previous hotel is another Isla Holbox all-inclusive resort, and believe it or not, it belongs to the same hotel group, too. While it has many similarities, it’s a bit more budget-friendly, with a night in a double room costing $150-250 per person, depending on the season and availability. Bad news, it’s the second and the last Holbox Island all-inclusive option.
So, what is the best option if you really want to stick to all-inclusive on this charming Mexican island? In my humble opinion, Paraíso is that perfect option: you are still getting all the all-inclusive perks like unlimited food and drinks, but it doesn’t cost you so much that you decide to spend every single minute at the resort to get the most out of the money spent. Honestly, if you are paying around $150 per night, you can still check out a few high-end restaurants on the island, go to a nightclub, or enjoy a nearby excursion.
Accommodation
Every room in the hotel is equipped with basic vacation necessities like AC, Wi-Fi, and toiletries, but also has a refrigerator, safe, and a TV. The rooms are suitable for up to 3-4 people, which is a perfect size for a family. You can choose between a Junior, a Superior Junior, and a Master suite. The latter one is located on the beach, has a sea view, and is equipped with a jacuzzi. The first two are 45m2 (484 ft2), and the Master suite is 80m2 (860 ft2). For a not-yet-very-popular all-inclusive island, it has pretty decent accommodation options. I’d say a bit better than what Guam’s all-inclusive vacation packages have to offer.
Be ready to live in cool houses
Credit: www.hmhotels.com
What To Do
Activities are pretty much the same as at the previous resort: swim, eat, relax, repeat. The key difference is that the resort also offers temazcal, a kind of ancient steam sauna. It’s a whole ritual, and it supposedly makes your skin better and improves general well-being. Or in other words, it’s a fun thing to do in a foreign country on vacation. Go for it! 🙂
Chilling by the pool is the best activity in Holbox
Credit: www.hmhotels.com
By the way, there are a few small local tour operators that show you the island and its nature. You don’t necessarily need their services to explore Holbox, but getting a kayak and checking Bioluminiscencia at sunset has to be on your to-do list. That’s one of those bioluminescent beaches, which glows at night, and will add a little special touch to your experience.
Food
The resort has one restaurant, Paraíso, which serves a Mexican and international buffet, and three bars. It’s worth noting that you can always go for a breakfast-only, half-board (breakfast and dinner), all-inclusive, or all-inclusive premium. All depends on how you want to enjoy your vacation and how much time you plan on staying at the resort.
All-inclusive premium includes:
- sparkling wine and fruit in your suite on arrival;
- hand-made gift from the souvenir shop;
- special seafood dinner on the beach when booking for min 3 nights, and a dinner in the Japanese restaurant Tamashi when booking 5 or more nights (the restaurant at the other HM resort in Holbox);
- pillow menu;
- better alcohol.
Buffet at the resort
Credit: www.hmhotels.com
Wedding
Good news, everyone, HM offers wedding packages to make your special day a little more special. You can choose between 4 ceremony options:
- Mayan wedding. With a shaman, who will be doing the ceremony in the Mayan language. You will also drink an ancient Mayan beverage, Balché, and the whole ceremony will last about 30 minutes. It’s more of a fun and cool thing to do and not an officially recognised ceremony.
- Mystical wedding. A bit more modern native ceremony, which also includes a shaman, and you will be covered in a blanket, which will be tied with 7 slats. You can bring your own blanket if you want to keep it after the ceremony.
- Symbolic, which will include flowers, candles, and fruit, and you will be making an offering to the sea.
- Catholic in the church, which is done on Saturdays only, and has a one-month waiting time. Moreover, you’d need to confirm with the priest in advance and pay around $115 to the church for the service. HM can help with the decorations and stuff for an additional pay.
There are 10 menus to choose from for the guests to eat, which will cost around $60-$90 per person, excluding tax and service fee. And there are three drink options: standard open bar, superior bar, and bring your own drinks. The first two will cost $50-$65 per guest, while for the latter one, you still have to pay $28 per bottle. Plus tax and fees. Open bars are priced for 4 hours, but it’s possible to make it longer for an additional cost.
Verdict
Villas HM Paraíso del Mar is an alright option to have a Holbox, Mexico, all-inclusive experience. But, as always, don’t expect much from small islands that don’t want to attract too many tourists. Enjoy it as is, or look at all-inclusive resorts in Nicaragua in case you want something fancier or simpler. Nicaragua for sure has both, with one of the most luxurious all-inclusive experiences I’ve ever come across.
Honorable mention: Hotel Villas Caracol Holbox
This 4-star hotel is not all-inclusive, but it looked pretty nice to be mentioned in case you decide to visit the island, but don’t think it’s worth staying at HM. It only has 15 luxurious rooms, and the stay includes breakfast at the Las Hamacas Beach Club restaurant. With around $200 per night per person, it’s on the expensive side, but it does have almost perfect reviews and ratings across multiple booking platforms.
Hotel Villas Caracol Holbox
Credit: www.villascaracol.com
tl;dr Currently, there are only two all-inclusive resorts in Holbox, Mexico. They are not great, but they are not terrible. Small resorts with a main focus on food, drinks, and relaxing on the beach. Do travel to Holbox to see its nature and experience an island life without cars. Don’t go there if you want an extensive entertainment program 24/7.
