The Best Holbox Shopping Places
Discover Holbox shops, boutiques, souvenirs and supermarkets
Tips for Your Holbox Shopping Tour
Vacationing in Mexico is always a special experience because the local culture is very different from other countries in many ways. Of course, you’ll want to take home some souvenirs from this colorful and lively atmosphere. Although shopping in Holbox is limited, you will still find some good opportunities to buy some nice souvenirs. Here are the best places to buy them, the boutiques where you are sure to find what you are looking for, and the supermarkets where you can buy your daily necessities.
There are no standard opening hours on Holbox Island. The boutiques and souvenir shops in Holbox usually open in the morning between 9 am and 11 am and close in the evening around 10 pm or 11 pm. Supermarkets and pharmacies are open from 7 am until late at night. However, as everywhere in Mexico, there can always be unforeseen deviations 😉
Unique Holbox Boutiques
Most of the clothing and accessories stores are located around the main square and in the local mini shopping center Plaza El Pueblito. This is part of the Hotel El Pueblito and has a very nice courtyard where you will also find the quiet Capriccio Café and some souvenir shops. Some hotels and restaurants also have small boutiques selling selected items.
The best boutiques in Holbox
Below you will find some of the best boutiques in Holbox. A lot of the clothing and accessories offered here are unique and cannot be found anywhere else. We especially recommend Sandmade Swimwear, Diosa Maya and Le Bazaar Boutique, but there are many others worth a visit.
Sandmade Swimwear
Sandmade Swimwear is a Mexican fashion label and offers trendy beach and swimwear as well as matching accessories in its boutique in Holbox. The selection is of high quality at a fair price and the super nice and attentive sales assistants will give you professional advice on your choice. You can also find other Sandmade Swimwear stores in Playa del Carmen and Tulum. And you can get a good impression of what to expect here in their own online store.
Le Bazaar Boutique
The small boutique Le Bazaar is located in the Luuma Restaurant and offers an excellent selection of stylish clothing, jewelry, cosmetics and accessories from Latin America. Owner Chloe’s good taste is evident not only in her selection, but also in her personal service. The prices here are a bit higher, but this is in line with the high quality.
Diosa Maya
La Diosa Maya Boutique sells beautiful beachwear and bikinis made by single mothers using fabrics from Colombia, Brazil and Asia. Here you will find unique designer pieces of the highest quality.
WÁAY
Pretty dresses, blouses, accessories and even Mexican handicrafts can be found in the cute boutique WÁAY, located on the main street. The attentive saleswoman will be happy to help you choose.
XAMAN Concept Store
The XAMAN Concept Store is another store with many extraordinary pieces. Here you will find handmade clothing, Mexican handicrafts and unique souvenirs.
Mayik Boutique
Mayik Boutique is located between the main square and the beach. In addition to stylish swimwear, dresses, pants and blouses, you can also find hats and bags at good prices.
Mexico Souvenirs
Unlike the major tourist centers of Cancun and Playa del Carmen, shopping on Holbox Island is quite limited. There are comparatively few stores selling classic souvenirs, but these are often truly Mexican and not made in a low-wage country. In Holbox, for example, you can find Huichol art from Jalisco, alebrijes from Oaxaca, catrinas, fabrics, robes and wood carvings from Yucatán, and handicrafts made by the local people.
The best souvenir shops in Holbox
To give you an overview of the best souvenir shops in Holbox, we have listed our favorites. While strolling through the town, you’re sure to find some nice souvenirs to remind you of your time on the island and bring back that relaxing vacation feeling.
NOA Fine Jewelry
Beautiful pieces of jewelry can be found in NOA Fine Jewelry, named after the artist Noa Walson. She has lived in Holbox for many years and creates unique jewelry by hand in gold and silver. Small shells and starfish from the island are formed using the lost wax technique and turned into high quality rings, earrings and pendants. The range also includes many other motifs, which are produced in the goldsmith’s workshop after models found in the surrounding nature.
Papa Rana
The Papa Rana Souvenir Shop is the official logo store of Holbox and offers a wide range of souvenirs and clothing. It is located right at the port where the ferries to Holbox arrive and depart. While you will hardly notice the shop when you arrive amidst the hustle and bustle of the incoming tourists, you will have the opportunity to buy some souvenirs when you depart. However, it is worth taking the time to visit the store during a walk.
Artesania Madre Sagrada
Authentic Mexican handicrafts can be found at the Artesania Madre Sagrada store. Here you will find handmade clothing, scarves and bags from the family business in Chiapas at very fair prices. The souvenir shop’s colorful selection is a reminder of the country’s original traditions.
Mandala Art and Silver
The tiny souvenir shop Mandala Art and Silver offers handmade jewelry, pictures, bags, small decorative items and postcards.
Omen
The colorfully painted shack of the Omen store is also worth a visit. Here you will find many Mexican souvenirs and gifts at reasonable prices.
Souvenir Stands
A stroll along Avenida Pedro Joaquin Coldwell, near the beach at Hotel Mittoz, is also a great way to discover one or two unique souvenirs. Many small stands have set up shop here.
Tattoo Studios
Another type of souvenir in Holbox is a tattoo. For this reason, several tattoo studios have opened in recent years. This is also due to the fact that the tattoo artists on the island have a very good reputation for the quality of their work and cleanliness.
The two most popular tattoo studios are Dirty Ink and Moonspell Tattoo, both located near the main square. We also recommend Holbox Art Paradise and A Pura Tinta Holbox Tattoo & Piercings Shop. All studios offer good advice and a wide range of designs. Whether you are looking for a simple lettering, a small picture motif or a large, detailed work of art, you will find what you are looking for. Of course, piercings are also done in the tattoo studios.
Holbox Supermarkets for Daily Needs
Holbox has several supermarkets and mini-markets for quick purchases of beverages, food and other daily necessities. The assortment and prices vary greatly depending on the location.
The cheapest place to shop is the Abarrotes Dunosusa supermarket, which is located on the main street about halfway between the port and the main square. Although the selection is large, it is a bit disorganized and it sometimes takes a little longer to check out. You can also find drinks, fruit and food at reasonable prices at the nearby, smaller Besa mini-market.
The Oxxo supermarket (former CHAKTE super) across from Hotel Mittoz is much more touristy. Late at night, the square at the intersection of the supermarket and the popular Hot Corner bar fills with onlookers buying drinks and snacks. Due to the often large crowds at the proverbial “hot corner”, the prices are also the highest. On the other hand, the supermarket is often open until the wee hours of the morning. But don’t always count on it.
Tip: Due to a national law, alcohol is no longer sold in stores after 5 pm on Sundays. However, it’s available in bars, pubs and restaurants.
The SUPER MONKEYS grocery store, also centrally located and even air-conditioned, is mid-range in terms of price and selection. A new addition is the GOmart Holbox on the same street, a little closer to the port. Mini Súper El Oso is further away, but a good choice if your accommodation is in the north-east of Holbox Island. There are also several smaller mini-markets in Holbox where you can buy food and drink at reasonable prices. The best place to buy fresh fruit and vegetables is at a fruteria or at the market, the Mercado Municipal de Holbox.
More about activities and things to do on Holbox Island:
