Travel Time and Climate

This is often cited as the ideal time to travel, and for good reason. During this time, the sky is mostly clear and it rains only a little now and then, on average about three to five days a month. Due to the low amount of precipitation, the humidity is lower, which makes the warm temperatures more pleasant.

The months of December and January are the “coolest of the year” after which it gets progressively warmer until summer. However, one should keep in mind that at Christmas and Easter many tourists from the U.S., Europe and of course from Mexico itself spend their vacations here. Then it becomes not only crowded and noisy, but also noticeably more expensive. The prices for accommodations are strongly dependent on the respective season, which can lead to the fact that an overnight stay at Easter is twice as expensive as for example in February.

Rainy Season from June to October

Around June the rainy season begins, which results in hot temperatures and high humidity. It becomes increasingly humid and there are more and more short but heavy rain showers, sometimes thunderstorms. Usually these go away in the afternoon, towards the evening or during the night, and the rest of the day it is beautiful again. This can cause some surprise on Holbox, because after heavy rains the streets are often under water for days. There is no drainage or rainwater drainage here. The streets consist -like the whole island- only of sand, so you have to wait patiently until after a few days everything has seeped away again.

Hurricane Season

With the onset of the rainy season, hurricane season also begins and lasts until approximately November. These tropical cyclones originate in the Atlantic Ocean, then often move towards the coast of Central America and often turn north or northeast between the 20th and 25th degrees of latitude. However, such a hurricane sometimes moves differently, and this can be quite dangerous. If it hits land on its way, it weakens rapidly after some time because it gets its energy from the evaporation of warm ocean water. The likelihood of a hurricane passing over Holbox Island is relatively low, but still present.

Incidentally, the last hurricane warning was in October 2020 when Hurricane Delta passed over the Yucatán Peninsula. Fortunately, it weakened before reaching the Mexican coast, so not much happened except for a few fallen trees and power poles. The island was evacuated for one to two days as a precautionary measure. When everything was over, there were problems with the internet and water supply for a few days.

This may sound a bit dramatic, but the people in this region are used to such situations and the early warning systems work very well. Usually, forecasts of a hurricane’s path and strength are accurate enough several days in advance to initiate safety measures in time, if necessary. If you want to get more detailed information about the current hurricane situation, you can do so at Tropical Storm Risk.

Holbox flooding after storm and rain

Although the weather in Holbox is usually fantastic, there can be periods of bad weather for a few days. If you are only visiting the island for a few days, this can really spoil your stay. Outdoor activities are not possible and walking around town is not much fun.

While rain and thunderstorms are common during the rainy season, about once a month during the dry season, a cold front moves from the north into the Caribbean. This phenomenon is called “El Norte” in Yucatán and usually lasts 2-3 days. The cold air from the north meets the warm, humid climate of the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in storms and rains that, depending on their intensity, can have unpleasant consequences for the island.

It was not until February 2024 that a particularly violent storm with an unfavorable tide hit the island after days of unusually heavy rainfall. This resulted in almost complete flooding of Holbox on February 5, 2024, damaging many beach clubs and several hotels near the beach. Almost all streets were flooded by half a meter or more at times, causing power outages and problems with water supply and internet. Even the ferries from Chiquilá to Holbox and back were suspended for a day. A relaxing day at the beach was out of the question.

While horrific reports of the Holbox flood continued to circulate on social media for days and weeks afterward, the actual impact of the event was far less tragic. Aside from the fact that such situations happen from time to time and that the islanders are used to dealing with them, the flooding only lasted two days. The weather in Holbox improved on the third day, allowing repairs to progress quickly. Damage to the mostly wooden beach bars and clubs was repaired within a few days and many of the still flooded streets were drained with pumps and hoses. The Holbox Carnival, scheduled for February 9th, was able to take place as usual and was once again a great success.

No matter what time of year you travel to the Caribbean, you should always expect a few days of bad weather. The island of Holbox is very flat and mostly sand, there are no paved roads and no drainage. Depending on the amount of rainfall, it may take a few days for the island to return to its usual splendor. Short-term flooding of Holbox, like the recent one in February, can occur every few years, but is very unusual and rare.

Tip: There are always mosquitoes on Isla Holbox. More in the rainy season, less in the dry season. A repellent suitable for the tropics, e.g. from Sawyer, should definitely be in your luggage.

Our Tip for the Best Travel Time to Holbox

The best time to travel to Isla Holbox depends on your personal preferences and possibilities. Basically, it is possible to travel to the island all year round and each season has its own charms and special features.

If you are bound to the vacation season for work or family reasons, a vacation at Christmas, Easter or early summer is recommended. However, you have to expect that due to the higher rush of tourists, the prices for flights and accommodations are significantly higher. For Christmas, this is true for about three weeks from the week before Christmas Eve until after the Three Kings holiday. The same applies on Holbox for Easter, because here in March/April – depending on the location of the holidays – for two weeks with particularly much hype and higher prices are to be expected. The summer vacations from the beginning of July to the end of August also fall into this price category.

If you can choose your travel time individually, then the months of March and April before or after Easter offer the best climatic conditions to enjoy a quiet and relaxing vacation.

If you would like to swim with whale sharks, you should come at the end of May or better at the beginning of June until middle of September. Then the harmless sea giants are around to feed on the plankton. You can find out more about whale shark tours on the Holbox activities page.

If you like it a bit cooler and quieter, apart from the Christmas season, December, January and February are good months to visit.

How long should you stay in Holbox?

Most visitors stay in Holbox between 1 and 3 days. In 3 days you get a good overview of the island. It’s enough time to explore the village, relax on the beach, go on an excursion, eat in the best restaurants and take part in Holbox’s nightlife. Less than 2 nights are not recommended due to the long journey. For those who wish to stay longer, there are many other things to do such as sightseeing, tours, sports and shopping. There are plenty of cafes, restaurants, bars and attractions to keep you entertained even if you stay for a week or more.

Time Difference and Daylight Saving Time

In Mexico, due to the size of the country, there are 4 time zones between the east and the west. The twice-yearly time change from summer to winter time and back also exists in Mexico, but not in all states and not on the same day. While the clocks in the most US states and territories are set forward by 1 hour on the second Sunday in March, in most of Mexico it takes place on the first Sunday in April. In autumn, the clocks are set back by 1 hour on the last Sunday in October, different from the U.S., where it happens on the first Sunday in November.

Note: In the state of Quintana Roo, which includes Isla Holbox, daylight saving time was abolished in 2015, so time changes no longer occur there. This can cause some confusion, especially when booking flights, if the flight dates fall exactly in the time when the changeover takes place in the U.S.: Mid-March and early November. If in doubt, you can check the current time at timeanddate.

FAQ

Here you will find answers to frequently asked questions about the best time to travel to Isla Holbox, climate and weather: