Backpacking Mexico – Isla Holbox Day 1-4.

The start of a series of my guide to backpacking Central & South America. This blog post will summarise my experience and there will be second which is more of a guide/itinerary

Mexico was never actually a place I had wanted to visit. I only heard of the fantastic all-inclusive resorts and that isn’t my style of travel (no offence to those that love it – I can see the appeal). I would just rather be exploring the country for all it can offer instead of staying within a complex. Nonetheless, my friend wanted to start the trip with me and her number 1 destination was always Mexico so I booked a flight and planned for roughly two weeks in the Yucatan. Long story short, my friend didn’t end up coming with me but as mentioned in The ‘f**k it’ approach & how I got to Mexico blog, I went anyway and oh my gosh Mexico has a lot to offer.

I was asked numerous times before I left if I was nervous and being fully honest, up until my flight actually landed in Mexico City I really wasn’t. Even quitting a job I loved, travelling to London for the flight alone knowing is was going to be gone for 6 month’s I was running on the excitement. This soon changed though when I realised I was actually in Mexico alone with no plan and everyone spoke Spanish. After about 4 hours travel on shuttle busses and a boat, I finally approved in Isla Holbox, a beautiful car free island north of the Yucatan. I walked with my backpack across the island in about 34 degree heat and had to leave everyone I had travelled with. Once I got to my hostel room I sat there and thought ‘what am I doing, there is no way I can do this alone for 6 months’. I had honestly never felt more alone and lost in my life. Afterall, how do you actually travel with complete freedom after years or structured work and socail life?

Anyway, this is where I learned my first lesson. You are in control of your decisions and mood so I could ether sit there and feel sorry for myself of change it. So I picked myself up, chatted to some people in my room then went to find some tacos, a cocktail and sit on the beach. In the evening, I was feeling more confident in myself actually surviving but was still lonely. So in the middle of the hostel communal area I stood up and shouted an open invite to everyone to join me on the beach for a beer and to watch the sunset. I thought I may just get one or two if I was lucky, however, pretty much everyone put down their phones/books and joined me. We spent the entire time together in different groups kayaking, eating, visiting flamingos, sunset beers and lagoons. It was the best first week!

I ended up meeting a girl from Manchester on that beach night and we spent 5 weeks together across Mexico, Guatemala and Nicaragua on and off. It was also her first day on the island and we just clicked instantly. You are never fully alone when you travel solo unless you chose to be – I had moments along the trip where I wanted to do my own thing and that is fine too.

We worked our way down the coast by hopping on and off the ADO busses which is a really good travel network and spent as long I wanted in each town/city. Some days I still freaked out questioning my capibility to last but with the amazing comapnt and beautiful sights (and endless Mexican street food), I got through and it was aamzing. From Chichen Itza to cenotes and Myan ruins, cycling through towns, visiting lake Bacalar, my two weeks in Mexico was incredible.

Despite the ups and owns, the only thing I would do differently would be to visit more of Mexico. From speaking to other travelers, some of the other towns and cities have so much to offer. the Yucatan gets so much coverage due to Cancun and the beautiful coast but there is SO much more to see. Please comment if you want some recommendations!

Other blog posts below!