Port of Chiquila
Chiquila is a small town located in the municipality of Lazaro Cardenas and is part of the state of Quintana Roo. And although this small town has a lot to offer to each of its visitors, it has become famous for its shipping port known as "Puerto de Chiquila".
From this maritime terminal, millions of travelers, tourists and locals take the ferry to Holbox. So if you want to get to Holbox from Cancun, from Playa del Carmen, from Tulum or really from any other part of the state or the Yucatan Peninsula, you will first have to get to Chiquila.
Ferry fares to Holbox
From the port of Chiquila there are two different ferry companies to cross to Holbox Island: 9 Hermanos and Holbox Express. The first departure is from 6:00 a.m. from the port of Chiquila to Holbox and the last departure of the ferry crossing to Holbox is from 11:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, the first departure from the port of Holbox to Chiqula is from 5:00 am and the last departure is from 10:30 pm.
The cost or price of the Ferry to cross to Holbox or to return from Holbox is currently 220.00 MXN per person. Therefore the cost of a round trip is 440.00 MXN. It should be noted that this is the public price for visitors, as people with Quintana Roo identification pay only 150.00 MXN one way and 150.00 MXN return trip.
What are the Ferry crossing schedules to Holbox?
As there are two companies that handle the crossing from the port of Chiquila to Holbox, and from Holbox to Chiquila, each one of them handles different types of schedules and below, we present them to you.
| Holbox - Chiquilá | Chiquilá - Holbox | ||
| Salida | Servicio | Salida | Servicio |
| 05:00 | 9 Hmnos. | 06:00 | 9 Hmnos |
| 06:00 | 9 Hmnos | 07:00 | 9 Hmnos |
| 06:30 | Hxpress | 07:30 | Hxpress |
| 07:00 | 9 Hmnos. | 08:00 | 9 Hmnos |
| 07:30 | Hxpress. | 08:30 | Hxpress |
| 08:00 | 9 Hmnos | 09:00 | 9 Hmnos |
| 08:30 | Hxpress | 09:30 | Hxpress |
| 09:00 | 9 Hmnos. | 10:00 | 9 Hmnos |
| 09:30 | Hxpress. | 10:30 | Hxpress |
| 10:00 | 9 Hmnos. | 11:00 | 9 Hmnos |
| 10:30 | Hxpress | 11:30 | Hxpress |
| 11:00 | 9 Hmnos. | 12:00 | 9 Hmnos. |
| 11:30 | Hxpress | 12:30 | Hxpress |
| 12:00 | 9 Hmnos. | 13:00 | 9 Hmnos. |
| 12:30 | Hxpress | 13:30 | Hxpress |
| 13:00 | 9 Hmnos. | 14:00 | 9 Hmnos. |
| 13:30 | Hxpress | 14:30 | Hxpress |
| 14:00 | 9 Hmnos. | 15:00 | 9 Hmnos. |
| 14:30 | Hxpress | 15:30 | Hxpress |
| 15:00 | 9 Hmnos. | 16:00 | 9 Hmnos. |
| 15:30 | Hxpress | 16:30 | Hxpress |
| 17:00 | 9 Hmnos. | 18:00 | 9 Hmnos. |
| 17:30 | Hxpress | 18:30 | Hxpress |
| 18:00 | 9 Hmnos. | 19:00 | 9 Hmnos. |
| 18:30 | Hxpress | 19:30 | Hxpress |
| 19:00 | 9 Hmnos. | 20:00 | 9 Hmnos. |
| 19:30 | Hxpress | 20:30 | Hxpress |
| 20:30 | Hxpress | 21:30 | Hxpress |
What is the distance from Chiquila to Holbox?
The distance between the Port of Chiquila and Holbox Island is 12 kilometers and the approximate transfer time by Ferry is 25 minutes to 30 minutes.
What is the distance from Cancun to Chiquila?
The distance from the city of Cancun to Chiquila is 139 km and the distance from Cancun to Holbox is 151 km. On average, the transfer time to the port of Chiquila by road is about 2 hours and 30 minutes by sea. Therefore, the whole journey takes approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes to go to Holbox from Cancun.
What is the distance from Playa del Carmen to Chiquila?
The distance between Playa del Carmen and Chiquila is 122.3 km and the distance from Playa del Carmen to Holbox is 134.3 km. On average, the transfer trip duration from Playa del Carmen to Chiquila is 1 hour and 45 minutes, and 30 minutes of travel by sea. Therefore, the full duration of a trip from Playa del Carmen to Holbox is 2 hours and 15 minutes.
What is the distance from Tulum to Chiquila?
The distance between the city of Tulum and Chiquila is 184.8 km and the distance from Tulum to Holbox is 196.8 km. On average, the transfer duration from Tulum to Chiquila is 2 hours and 30 minutes, and 30 minutes of travel by sea. Therefore, the average travel time from Tulum to Holbox Island is 3 hours.
How to get to Holbox?
As such, there is no public transportation route that takes you to Holbox or rather to the port of Chiquila from Cancun, Playa, Tulum, etc. Therefore, the options are somewhat limited and these are: Private Transportation, Bus, Collective, Car Rental.
Private Transportation
The best option to get to Holbox from Cancun is through a private transfer service. Being a private and personalized service, they will go for you and all your companions, to the Cancun airport, or to the door of your departure in Cancun.
The approximate cost of a round trip (round trip) is 435 USD. It should be noted that this price may vary depending on the place of origin, the number of passengers and the type of transportation you choose (Private transfer, group transfer, VIP transfer, Limousine transfer, etc).
Bus
Another excellent option to go to the Port of Chiquila from Cancun or Playa del Carmen, is through the bus service of ADO and Mayab. The cost of this transfer service from Cancun is 298.00 MXN per person (ADO) and 250.00 MXN (Mayab) per person.
Meanwhile, the cost of the bus from Playa del Carmen to Chiquila is 275.00 MXN per person and only the Mayab company operates the route to Holbox.
It should be noted that this type of transfers have specific departure times, therefore it is recommended to be punctual, and find the departure points of each bus on time.
Colectivos
The colectivos also operate transportation routes from Cancun to Holbox or from Playa del Carmen to Holbox and on average the price of the transfer is 250.00 MXN per person. But just like the ADO or Mayab bus service, they have specific departure times and specific boarding points. Therefore, it will be necessary to know the routes, boarding points and schedules, both outbound and return.
Rent a car
A last transportation option from Cancun to Holbox, from Playa del Carmen to Holbox or from Tulum to Holbox is the car rental service. The port of Chiquila as such has private parking lots, which cost 100.00 MXN per day, so you can travel in your own car or rent a car and leave your car in one of these parking lots.
This way, you don't have to worry about bus or colectivo service schedules or the ferry crossing, as you can travel with freedom and more time.