Express Travel HolboxHow to get to Holbox from Cancún
Your trip to the island begins in Chiquilá. Here you will find how to organize the transfer, take the ferry, and combine your route with the Tren Maya.
Guide content
Cancún, Chiquilá and then Holbox
To get to Holbox from Cancún, the usual route combines a land transfer to Chiquilá and a ferry to the island. Chiquilá is the departure port: getting to the dock is still part of the journey.
With Express Travel Holbox you can book your spot on our Cancún–Chiquilá schedules and continue on your own by ferry. Our route sheet indicates approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes of land travel; add the boarding time, waiting for the boat, and the transfer to your accommodation.
Our schedules between Cancún and Chiquilá
Choose the departure that fits your itinerary. Also book the return to organize your ferry departure from Holbox in advance.
Cancún → Chiquilá
$300 MXN per person and trip.
Chiquilá → Cancún
$300 MXN per person and trip.
Before you leave: confirm the exact pick-up point in Cancún with our team via WhatsApp. Review your ticket and the stop information. Schedules are expressed in local time; Cancún, Chiquilá, and Holbox use the same time zone.
Schedules and fares checked on October 3, 2026. Availability and current conditions are shown when choosing your date. Also check our schedule calendar.
What option suits you from Cancún?
The best route depends on where you start, how many people are traveling, and how much margin you have. If you are in Cancún and looking for a scheduled departure, our schedules allow you to organize the leg to Chiquilá before leaving.
If you land at the airport or stay in the hotel zone, also calculate how to get to the boarding point. A schedule from Cancún does not imply pickup at your airport terminal or hotel.
| Option | It may suit you if… | What you need to organize |
|---|---|---|
| Express Travel run | You are looking for a scheduled transfer from Cancún for $300 MXN. | Book date and departure, confirm the stop, and buy the ferry separately. |
| Private transfer | You are traveling in a group, with luggage, or want to check pickup at the airport or hotel. | Quote location, schedule, number of passengers, and inclusions with Express Travel. |
| Bus | You prefer to travel from a terminal and adapt your plan to their departures. | Check ADO for your date; distinguish between the airport, downtown Cancún, and the Chiquilá destination. |
| Rented car | You will make several stops around the peninsula before or after Holbox. | Route, fuel, possible tolls, and parking in Chiquilá during your stay. |
| Maya Train and land connection | You want to include the train journey or are coming from another destination on the peninsula. | Train to Nuevo Xcán, confirmed transport to Chiquilá, and ferry. Add up all connections. |
How to combine the Maya Train with Holbox
The Maya Train allows you to visit destinations on the peninsula and use Nuevo Xcán as a connection point to Holbox. The route must consider four steps; the train arrives at the station and access to the island continues by road and boat.
- Arrive at Cancún Airport station.
Check the transfer from your terminal, hotel, or starting point. The station and your flight terminal are different places. - Look for a service with a stop in Nuevo Xcán.
Check date, schedule, and fare on the official schedules of the Maya Train and its official ticket portal. - Confirm Nuevo Xcán–Chiquilá before buying.
Request information about available transport for your arrival. Do not assume an immediate connection upon getting off the train. - Cross by ferry to Holbox.
Calculate wait time, boarding, and the final transfer to the hotel.
The intermodal service of the Maya Train varies by station; confirm its schedules directly with the operator. Its boarding conditions indicate to arrive 60 minutes early for regular tickets and 90 minutes for long-distance. Also check their frequently asked questions.
The ferry from Chiquilá to Holbox
In Chiquilá, you will find the services of Holbox Express and 9 Hermanos. Our ferry guide estimates a crossing of 25 to 30 minutes, depending on the operator and navigation conditions. To that time, you must add ticket purchase, wait, and boarding.
Check departures on our ferry schedule to Holbox and verify the day's operation with the ferry company. The Express Travel transfer arrives at Chiquilá; the ferry is a separate service.
If you take a run at the end of the afternoon, check the complete connection before booking. Weather can affect maritime operations, and the road arrival time may also vary.
Is your trip continuing to Playa del Carmen or Valladolid?
We also connect these destinations with Chiquilá. You can combine Holbox with your tour of the Riviera Maya or Valladolid and book each leg on our website.
Playa del Carmen ⇄ Chiquilá
$300 MXN per person and leg.
Playa del Carmen → Chiquilá: 09:30 and 17:00.
Chiquilá → Playa del Carmen: 06:30 and 13:30.
Valladolid ⇄ Chiquilá
Valladolid → Chiquilá: $280 MXN; departures 07:00, 09:45, 14:00 and 16:45.
Chiquilá → Valladolid: $300 MXN; departures 07:30, 11:40, 14:00 and 18:00.
Prices per person and leg. Valladolid is one hour behind Quintana Roo; each departure corresponds to the local time of the origin.
Tips shared by travelers on this route
In traveler accounts, similar doubts arise: how to connect the airport and terminal, how long to wait for the ferry, and how to organize the return. These recommendations help prepare your itinerary; each experience depends on the date and the service used.
Plan all connections
In a arrival story at the end of the day, a traveler recounts that the rain extended their transfer. Add the time to the pickup point, the wait for the ferry, and the journey to the hotel. If you arrive late by plane, consider sleeping in Cancún and continuing in the morning.
Confirm point and schedule
A traveler recounts confusion between airport terminals while looking for their transport. Airport, hotel zone, and downtown involve different transfers. Check the exact boarding location before leaving.
Prepare luggage and documents
In route experiences in Holbox, streets with mud and puddles are mentioned. Keep tickets without relying on the signal, protect valuables, and choose easy-to-move luggage. Bring water and check how to pay for small expenses.
The linked accounts are personal experiences from 2023 and 2025. The schedules and prices in this guide are contrasted with providers; the comments serve as practical guidance.
Choose your next route
Start with land transportation and check how it fits with the ferry. From our sheets, you can choose a date, consult places, and continue to purchase.
If you arrive at the airport or need a specific pick-up, check the private service. For our scheduled departures, use the departure links.
Cancún–Chiquilá: $300 MXN. Departures at 07:30, 11:30, 13:30, and 17:30.
Check availability and buyThe purchase and confirmation are made on our website. The ferry is reserved separately.
Frequently asked questions to get to Holbox
How much does it cost to go from Cancún to Holbox?
Our Cancún–Chiquilá run costs $300 MXN per person and per trip. Add the ferry and, if needed, the transfer to the boarding point or from the Holbox dock to your accommodation. Check the final price when choosing your date.
How long does it take to get there?
The Express Travel sheet indicates around 2 hours and 10 minutes from Cancún to Chiquilá. Our ferry guide estimates 25 to 30 minutes of navigation. Add waiting, boarding, and additional transfers; do not take that sum as a guaranteed hour of arrival.
Does the Maya Train go to Holbox?
The railway connection uses Nuevo Xcán. From the station, you need land transportation to Chiquilá and then the ferry to Holbox. Confirm that transfer before purchasing the train.
Is the ferry included in the transfer?
The fares for runs we show correspond to the land transfer. Buy the ferry separately. If you request a private service, check the inclusions of your quote.
Can I leave from Cancún airport?
You can check for a private transfer from your location. To use a run from Cancún, first confirm the pickup point and how to get from your terminal; do not assume that the scheduled departure picks up at the airport.
How do I buy my return?
Go to the Chiquilá–Cancún tab and choose date and departure. Arrange a ferry from Holbox that allows you to arrive with enough time for boarding. If you have a flight afterward, also consider the transfer from your arrival in Cancún to the airport terminal.
Sources and review date
Information reviewed on October 3, 2026. Fares, locations, and operations may vary; confirm your date with each provider.
- Express Travel: schedules, stops, ferry guide, and purchase sheets linked in the article.
- Maya Train: Nuevo Xcán as access to Holbox, official schedules and connections and intermodal.
- Holbox Express Ferry, 9 Hermanos, ADO and Mexican Caribbean: Holbox.
- Traveler experiences linked in the tips section; they do not represent guarantees of times or conditions.