About PlayaHolbox

What this site is

PlayaHolbox is an independent, non-affiliated travel guide and business directory for Isla Holbox, a small island in the Yum Balam Biosphere Reserve in Quintana Roo, Mexico. The site exists because every other “Holbox guide” on the first page of Google is either an aggregator with no first-hand knowledge, a Tulum/Cancún site that treats Holbox as an afterthought, or a thin WordPress site stuffed with affiliate links. We’re trying to be the opposite: real data about real businesses, live island conditions, and long-form editorial that answers the actual questions travelers ask.

What we show

• 956 verified Holbox businesses — hotels, restaurants, tour operators, ATMs, pharmacies, laundries, ferries, and more — each with address, hours, contact info, and (where available) real Google Places photos and ratings.
• 10 long-form guides — getting here, when to visit, whale shark season, bioluminescence, golf cart rental, 3-islands, Yalahau, and more. Each guide links to the verified businesses that service that need.
• Live island data — current ferry status, weather conditions, bioluminescence rating tonight (and 14-night forecast), whale shark season band, sargassum status.
• Interactive map with every verified business plotted at its actual GPS coordinates.

What we don’t do

• No pay-to-play rankings. Rankings on hub pages are driven by (has-photo, Google rating, Google review count) — owners can’t pay to climb. If we ever add sponsored placement, it will be visually and algorithmically separate from editorial rankings.
• No booking fees. We don’t take payments or sell tours. Every listing links directly to the operator; you pay them whatever they quote.
• No fake content. Every FAQ, review, and photo is either from a real source (Google Places, OpenStreetMap, our own first-hand knowledge) or a verified business owner.

Who runs it

PlayaHolbox is independently owned and operated. Contact us at info@playaholbox.com or via the contact form.

How we fund it

The site is funded through optional sponsored placements (clearly marked as such when they appear) and affiliate commissions on hotel/activity bookings when a user chooses to book through a linked platform. Affiliate revenue never affects editorial rankings or inclusion. If you buy a golf cart rental on the island after reading our guide, we don’t get a cent — we just hope you had a good trip.

Business owners

If you own a business on Holbox, you can claim your listing free of charge, upload real photos, correct your hours, and add a WhatsApp number. See our methodology for how listings are collected, verified, and refreshed.