Let me ask you a question. Have you ever traveled somewhere that not only have you never been to, but also a place that you've never heard of? And, I'm not talking about some remote town or neighborhood, but an island. Well, that just happened to us. Jesse and Laura suggested we spend some time together on a place called Holbox Island. Right, I know you've never heard of it. They explained that they had been there once before and loved the experience. That's all we needed to hear. As it turns out, Holbox Island is a slim sliver of an island off the northern coast of the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico. It's within the same universe as Cancun, but that's about all the similarity you'll find.
When this place was first mentioned to us I thought this doesn't sound at all like something from the Spanish language but it's in Mexico?! Well, apparently Holbox (properly pronounced Holbosh) is of Mayan descent and it means "black hole" in the Mayan dialect thought to be a reference to the dark lagoon that once surrounded it. It was a place pirates like Jean Lafitte hung around in during the 16th and 17th centuries, but I have to say we didn't run into any of them during our time there and I'm fairly certain you won't either should you travel there. Getting there requires a little patience and perseverance. From Cancun, it's a two hour car ride through the wilderness, then a twenty minute ferry ride and then a super charged golf cart ride to the hotel. You see, there are no cars on Holbox. Just dirt roads with potholes and bumps worthy of an amusement park ride. And, lots of golf carts. And, the hotels here are not high rises. Oh no, they're all like tree houses made with dark wood surrounded by a vast array of trees and other vegetation. Our place was Villas Caracol, the perfect place you'd want to stay in.
Once you arrive, you just embrace the notion that you're in the middle of nowhere. You take a deep breath not only because you are in paradise but also because notwithstanding its remoteness there is WiFi. Time to hit the beach! And, what a beach it is. Long and very walkable and it comes with a sandbar out in the ocean at low tide that you can stroll on for the longest stretches. This was truly the perfect playground for Charlie and Oliver, seven year olds who can find endless things to keep them busy in this element whether it's swimming, building sand castles, digging holes or looking for "treasures" like shells and other gifts of nature.
And then there is the food and drinks! It was impossible to have a bad meal or a bad pina colada or mango margarita. And, having those cocktails in preparation for the amazing sunsets (or, for that matter, at any other time of day) established just the right tone for a near meditative experience.
The only bad moments were when Charlie got a bee sting on his foot and I got one in my neck. Of course, while I can't think of any excuse the bee would have for stinging a seven year old, I'm thinking the bee was messaging me saying "dude, wake up and take a moment to take a deep breath and feel gratitude for being in this amazing place and sharing the experience with family!"
So, yes, I am recommending this unknown place as your next adventure. Put it on your bucket list! Just remember that when you get there please raise your pina colada glass and toast me as you gaze at that hypnotic sunset. Thank you! :)
