How To Get From Merida To Isla Holbox: 2024 Guide

Travelling from Mérida to Isla Holbox? Whether you want to catch a bus, drive, take a taxi or even a flight, this guide will help plan your route.

So, you’re planning an amazing Mexican adventure, visiting a number of destinations over a few weeks? Well, it’s time to figure out the logistics.

How beautiful is Mérida? This quintessential Yucatan city is filled with colourful colonial architecture and great restaurants. With its rich cultural heritage, there’s absolutely loads to do in the region, from discovering ancient ruins to enjoying the vibrant markets.

In contrast, Isla Holbox is a paradise island with shallow turquoise water, white sandy beaches and the most magical golden sunsets you’ve ever seen. Activities here include boat tours, swimming with whale sharks, and relaxing at beach clubs.

Being so different from one another, the two destinations make a great dual trip. The only problem? Well, they’re a little way from one another!

In this guide I’ll run through the options if you’re looking to travel from Mérida to Isla Holbox. You’ve got plenty of options to choose from, including buses, cars or private taxis. Whatever route you choose, you’ll need to get yourself to Chiquila ferry terminal in order to catch the Holbox ferry.

Ready to plan your trip? Let’s go!

If you’re looking for other recommendations for your time on the island, don’t miss my comprehensive Isla Holbox travel guide and my tips on where to eat, best hotels and beach clubs. Or, if you’re planning a route from Cancun or somewhere else in Mexico, read this guide.

How To Get From Merida To Isla Holbox

How to get from Mérida to Isla Holbox by bus and ferry

Are you travelling on a budget? The cheapest way to get from Mérida to Isla Holbox is by bus and ferry. Mexico’s main bus operator ADO operates buses from Mérida’s main bus terminal to Chiquila every morning.

When I last checked, there was only one bus a day, departing Mérida Historic Center at 6.15am or the Mérida Terminal Paseo at 6.45am. This journey takes just under seven hours, arriving at 1pm in Chiquilá. At the time of writing, the cost was 600 MXN per person.

I’ve been impressed with the ADO buses in Mexico. The service has always been reliable and they’re very comfortable. They’re what I’d call a coach – one level, air-conditioned, cushioned seats. As always with public transport, keep essential items such as money and passports with you.   

It’s best to check the ADO website for up-to-date schedules. You can also book your bus tickets online.

From the town of Chiquilá, you can catch the ferry to Isla Holbox.

The ferry to Holbox takes 15 minutes. We travelled on the Holbox Express on the way there, and caught the 9 Hermanos ferry when we left. Tickets for the Holbox ferry cost $300 MXN per person for adults and $200 MXN for children. It’s free for kids aged 0-2 years.

The first ferry runs at 5am and the final one departs at 8.30pm. They run every 30 minutes. You can check the times and more info here.

Once you arrive at the ferry terminal in Holbox, you can either walk to your accommodation, or hop in a golf cart taxi to take you to your hotel.

How to get from Mérida to Isla Holbox by car and ferry

If you’ve hired a car for your trip, then it’s a straightforward drive from Mérida to Chiquilá.

The journey is around 300km in total, and will take between 3.5 – 4 hours. From Merida, you’ll travel along the 180D highway towards Cancún. This is the equivalent of a motorway. It’s a good road with several lanes, and it moves quickly. For the last part of the journey, you’ll take a left turn onto highway 5 towards Chiquilá.

Once you reach Chiquilá, you’ll need to find somewhere to leave your car, as these aren’t permitted on the island. There are lots of parking areas near the ferry terminal, where you pay individuals to look after your car. We were initially a bit confused by this, but it worked out fine! Think of them as private car park attendants! I wouldn’t leave any valuables in your car or anything on show.

Once you’ve walked to the ferry terminal, you can board the next ferry to Isla Holbox (as described above).

How to get from Mérida to Isla Holbox by private taxi

If you haven’t got your own vehicle and don’t want to leave Merida at 6am on a bus, the only other option is to book private transport. You’ll find taxi drivers and shuttle drivers in Merida offering this long-distance service. As mentioned, the journey by car usually takes between 3.5 – 4 hours.

It’s hard to know exact costs, as it’ll be based on how many people are in the vehicle, and whether you book a taxi or a minibus. When I checked, I saw quotes starting from 3,000 MXN ($150 USD). Be prepared to haggle!

How to get from Mérida to Isla Holbox by plane

Did you know you can fly from Mérida to Holbox directly? Well, that is if money is no object! This isn’t a regular flight route, so you’ll need to arrange everything yourself.

A flight from Mérida to Holbox is a lovely scenic way to arrive and cuts the journey time considerably, to around 45 minutes. You’ll land directly on the island at the Aeródromo de Holbox. This is moments from all the action, so you are cutting out the ferry and any waiting around.

It’s expensive though! I found quotes on this website for 4,000 USD for up to 5 people.

Other Tips For Travelling From Mérida to Isla Holbox

Having done this route several times, here are a few quick tips for you:

• We had issues when businesses on Isla Holbox wouldn’t accept credit cards and the island’s ATMs had either run out of cash or were broken! I’d suggest withdrawing cash in Merida for peace of mind!
• Check bus times and ferry times for your journeys. I’d recommend booking bus tickets in advance too, as you’ll get a better price. You don’t really need to book ferry tickets in advance – they hold a lot of people. This is especially true if you’re unsure of what time you’ll arrive at the terminal.
• Remember that the ferries finish at 8.30pm at night and don’t start until 6am.
• Pack light if possible. Last time we visited we had a suitcase each, which was fine on a golf cart. I was glad we didn’t have lots more luggage though! 

I hope this guide helps with your travel planning. Have a brilliant time on Isla Holbox. It’s one of my favourite places in the world. A beautiful island with a bohemian charm.

If you’re looking for more help to plan your time on Isla Holbox, please take a read of the guides below.