The island, located northwest of Cancun where the Gulf meets the Caribbean, is a fishing village with miles of open beach.
After exploring the sandy streets by rented golf cart (the best way to see the island), you get the sense the island is slowly transforming itself into a tourist destination. Real estate signs mark open spaces, a sprinkling of hotels and beachfront houses are being built, and at CasaSandra, a large inn on the north beach of Holbox, a video crew shot promotional footage coming soon to a travel agency near you.
CasaSandra, owned by Sandra Perez Lozano, the former wife of Cuban composer Pablo Milanes and an artist in her own right, originally built this beachfront hotel as a haven for artists, which is immediately apparent from CasaSandra’s bohemian ambiance and art-lined walls. Some paintings are Sandra's own.
White linens tied from each pole of the two-story inn billow in the constant sea breeze. And as the sun sets, the hotel takes on a romantic glow, candles and torches leading the way to the entrance.
To reach CasaSandra you must drive or be driven two hours through Mayan villages to the small town of Chiquila, where you can take a public ferry or private boat launch across to the island (approximately 20 minutes). Be advised that the drive from Cancun or Merida through Mayan villages to get to CasaSandra can be a little slow.
Private flights from Cancun International Airport can also be arranged through the hotel.
