Escape the crowds and looming tourist hotels and get a taste of true tropical living! Holbox Island is one of Mexico’s best-kept secrets, giving adventurous travelers the chance to layout on white-sand beaches, listen to the crashing waves, and soak up the sun without hoards of tourists! Located to the north of the Yucatán Penninsula, this nature reserve has everything from secluded lagoons, dense jungles, and waters teeming with life!
One of the obvious appeals of traveling to Holbox is the fact that you will not find that tacky tourist atmosphere that has ruined so many other breathtaking beaches. Since the island is not so touristy, however, you will not find a whole lot of hostels to choose from. How then can you find that perfect hostel out of the handful available?
We made finding the best hostels in Holbox as easy as snapping your fingers with this one-stop guide! Within just a few minutes you will be able to see what backpackers hostel on the island best fits how you like to travel!
You will be sunbathing and diving off the Mexican coast before you know it. Your Holbox adventure begins here!
Quick Answer: The Best Hostels in Holbox
- Overall Best Hostel in Holbox – Che Holbox Hostel
- Best Hostel for Solo Travelers in Holbox – Mapache Hostel
- Best Hostel for Couples in Holbox – Balam Eco Camping
- Best Party Hostel in Holbox – Tribu Hostel
The Best Hostels in Holbox
In just a few clicks you will be experiencing all the beauty of Holbox Island for yourself! But before you can take a dip in the sea you will need to find that perfect hostel for you. With each stay a little different from the next, keep your eyes open for that hostel that best fits how you like to travel!
Best Overall Hostel in Holbox – Che Holbox Hostel
- $
- Bar
- Cafe
- Breakfast Included
Che Holbox Hostel truly sets the standard for all other hostels on the island! Not only will you be getting some of the cheapest dorm beds and private rooms in all of Holbox, but you will also be getting an experience unlike any other! Che Holbox Hostel’s youthful and tropical design will be the first thing that will make you fall in love with the hostel, and that is just the beginning! This lively backpacker’s stay also hosts many nightly events with everything from karaoke to beer pong! Top it all off with an onsite bar and cafe, and you will have everything you need to feel right at home in Holbox!
Best Hostel for Solo Travelers in Holbox – Mapache Hostel
- $
- Cafe
- Tours
- Breakfast Included
Been traveling through Central America for a while and are looking for a place to call home for a few days? Mapache Hostel will have you staying in one of the most relaxing hostels in all of Holbox, making it the perfect place to kick back and chat with other backpackers. With its tropical design and outdoor terraces, this is one of the best places to hang out and swap stories with the other travelers. Mapache will also have you exploring the rest of the island with their own tours. What will really have you clicking that book button is the delicious free breakfast served every morning!
Best Hostel for Couples in Holbox – Balam Eco Camping
- $
- Garden
- Shared Kitchen
- Bike Rentals
Are you ready to turn the romance back on after weeks of being separated in dorm beds? Balam Eco Camping is a tropical island resort hooking up backpackers with some of the cheapest stays in Holbox! While you may not find any dorm beds, you will find everything from budget tents to bungalows perfect for getting some much-needed alone time! Balam Eco Camping also has its very own lounge and garden which are great places for hanging out and chatting with other backpackers. Top things off with the beach being a short walk away and bike rentals available, there is no better place to call home on Isla Holbox!
Best Party Hostel in Holbox – Tribu Hostel
- $
- Bar
- Shared Kitchen
- Lounge
While in Mexico many of you will be wanting to find a great place to lean against the bar and crack open a few beers. On Holbox Island, the best place to grab a few drinks is actually at Tribu Hostel! All you party animals will rejoice once you see the sandy terraces, inviting hammocks and a lively bar at this backpackers hostel! When you aren’t partying you will find that the beach is just a few steps away from your dorm room, meaning you won’t have to walk too far to find a place to brush off that hangover! The colorful atmosphere and laid-back vibes will have you never wanting to leave this backpackers paradise!
Best Cheap Hostel in Holbox – Be Holbox
- $
- Bar
- Rooftop Terrace
- Bike Rentals
No matter if you are looking to save money or are just looking for one of the best hostels in Holbox, Be Holbox tops the list of the best places to stay on the entire island! For starters, Be Holbox has made a name for itself as being the cheapest backpackers hostel on the island. But this youth hostel is so much more than just a budget dorm room. Be Holbox is also home to a bar and a rooftop terrace perfect for cracking open a few beers and hanging out with other backpackers! With their bike rentals, you will explore Holbox in style!
Be Holbox is one of our favourites in Holbox but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.
We’ve tested countless backpacks over the years, but there’s one that has always been the best and remains the best buy for adventurers: the broke backpacker-approved Osprey Aether and Ariel series.
Want more deetz on why these packs are so damn perfect? Then read our comprehensive review for the inside scoop!
View on Osprey View on REIBest Hostel for Digital Nomads in Holbox – Hotel Mittoz
- $
- Cafe
- Lounge
- Swimming Pool
If you are a digital nomad, you will be wanting to find a hostel where you can call home for a few days to catch up on some writing and editing. There is no better place to put some finishing touches on that article or video in Holbox than Hotel Mittoz! Although it may be called a hotel Mittoz has the heart of a backpackers hostel. With its cheap dorm rooms and spacious lounges, you will have tons of room to spread out into work and hang out with the other travelers. When you are not busy at work on your laptop, be sure to take some time to take a dip in the swimming pool or walk over to the beach which is just a few steps away from your bed!
Hotel Mittoz is one of our favourites in Holbox but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.
Stash your cash safely with this money belt. It will keep your valuables safely concealed, no matter where you go.
It looks exactly like a normal belt except for a SECRET interior pocket perfectly designed to hide a wad of cash, a passport photocopy or anything else you may wish to hide. Never get caught with your pants down again! (Unless you want to…)
Hide Yo’ Money!More of the Best Hostels in Holbox
Hostel Le Isla Holbox
- $
- Cafe
- Bar
- Lounge
You best not come to this hostel unless you are wanting to party! Putting you right off of one of the liveliest streets in all of Holbox, Hostel La Isla Holbox will have you staying right in front of some of the best bars in town playing music till early in the morning! Now, this does not mean you can not also have a relaxing stay at this backpackers hostel. With its lounge and cozy rooms, you will never be wanting to check out. Top it off with a cafe serving up delicious meals every day, you will have everything you need to feel at home on Holbox Island!
Hostel Le Isla Holbox is one of our favourites in Holbox but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.
What to Pack for your Holbox Hostel
Pants, socks, underwear, soap?! Take it from us, packing for a hostel stay is not always quite as straight forward as it seems. Working out what to bring and what to leave at home is an art we have perfected over many years.
Ear Plugs
Snoring dorm-mates can ruin your nights rest and seriously damage the hostel experience. This is why I always travel with a pack of decent ear plugs.
Hanging Laundry Bag
Trust us, this is an absolute game changer. Super compact, a hanging mesh laundry bag stops your dirty clothes from stinking, you don’t know how much you need one of these… so just get it, thank us later.
Sea To Summit Micro Towel
Hostel towels are scummy and take forever to dry. Microfibre towels dry quickly, are compact, lightweight, and can be used as a blanket or yoga mat if need be.
Monopoly Deal
Forget about Poker! Monopoly Deal is the single best travel card game that we have ever played. Works with 2-5 players and guarantees happy days.
Grayl Geopress Water Bottle
Always travel with a water bottle! They save you money and reduce your plastic footprint on our planet. The Grayl Geopress acts as a purifier AND temperature regulator. Boom!
Check out our definitive Hostel Packing list for our top packing tips!
Why you should travel to Holbox
With everything from lazy beachside bungalows to trendy backpackers hostels, you will find that there are way more places to stay in Holbox than what meets the eye! Little do many travelers know, the hostel you choose to stay in will set the tone for your entire trip on the island!
If you are still torn between two or three great hostels, let us help point you in the right direction. For that one stay that will have you experiencing island living to the fullest, be sure to check into Che Holbox Hostel, our pick for the best hostel in Holbox!
FAQ about Hostels in Holbox
Here are some questions backpackers ask about hostels in Holbox.
Travel Safety Tips for Holbox
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!
Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.
Over to you
The white sand beaches and tranquil blue waters of Holbox island are calling your name! You will be diving to the depths of the ocean in search of whale sharks and exploring the jungles of Mexico before you know it! With everything from life-changing adventures to lazy beach days, no two days spent in Holbox will ever be the same! With an insane nightlife and secret beaches, there are limitless ways you can experience the fun and wonder of Mexico’s best-kept secret!
We know all of you are probably dying to head straight to the beach, but actually the backpacker’s hostel you choose to call home will determine if you will be spending your days quietly laying out by the sea or partying till the break of dawn! Depending on how you like to travel, you will want to find that youth hostel best for you!
If you have ever traveled to Holbox Island we would love to hear about your trip! Let us know in the comments below if there are any great backpacker’s hostels we may have missed!
And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!
