Travel time: Year-round
Isla Holbox belongs to the tropical savanna climate zone, marked by consistent warmth and a sharp division between dry and wet periods. Positioned at the collision point of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, the island is remarkably flat—a geographic trait that allows constant coastal breezes to penetrate deep into its sandy streets.
In Holbox, the day typically starts with a soft, humid stillness. As the sun rises, the land heats more quickly than the surrounding water, sparking a reliable afternoon breeze locally known as the sea breeze. These winds usually peak between 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM, providing natural cooling when temperatures are at their highest. Even in the heat of summer, this airflow prevents the air from feeling stagnant. Nights are balmy, rarely dropping below 68°F (20°C), often accompanied by a shift in wind direction as the island releases the day's heat.
This is the most temperate time of year. Rainfall is rare, occurring on average only 3 to 5 days per month. Humidity levels are at their annual minimum, making the daytime highs of 81°F to 86°F (27°C–30°C) feel crisp and comfortable. Water clarity is at its peak during these months, though the sea can be slightly cooler (75°F/24°C).
May is often the sunniest month but also heralds the return of intense heat. Temperatures regularly climb toward 91°F (33°C). This period marks the start of the whale shark migration, as the warming waters attract plankton. Humidity begins to rise significantly, creating a "heavy" air quality that signals the approaching rains.
This season is characterized by high humidity and short, intense tropical downpours. These typically occur in the late afternoon or evening, often accompanied by spectacular lightning displays over the Gulf. October is historically the wettest month. While hurricanes are a regional risk, the more frequent challenge is the island’s lack of a traditional drainage system; heavy rain can turn the sand-only streets into shallow lakes for several days.
From November through February, the region experiences a unique atmospheric event called a Norte. These are cold fronts that push down from the north, bringing sudden drops in temperature (sometimes reaching 60°F/15°C) and powerful gusts of 25–40 knots. For locals and kiteboarders, the Norte is a defining feature of winter. If a Norte is strong, it can cause the tide to rise and flood the lower parts of the town with seawater, even without accompanying rain.
On Holbox, the weather is more than just a number. During the rainy season, the "feels like" temperature can be 5–10 degrees higher than the actual reading due to moisture saturation. In contrast, the dry season feels exponentially cooler because of the constant trade winds.
Because Holbox is essentially a sandbar, its climate is intimately tied to the sea. Locals monitor the wind almost more than the temperature; the wind determines whether the ferry crossing will be smooth, whether the bioluminescence will be visible (calmer, darker nights are best), and whether the mosquitoes will be active. On windy days, the insects are virtually non-existent, but on still, humid evenings, they emerge in force. The lack of pavement means the island's terrain keeps a literal "record" of the weather—floods from a storm in October may leave the roads damp and soft well into November.