Villas HM Palapas del Mar
Villas HM Palapas del Mar is a 52-villa, four-star HM Hotels property on Holbox Island, and it earns its place through location and setting rather than scale. Holbox sits off the northern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula inside the Yum-Balam reserve, with a shallow, flat, startlingly turquoise sea, and the hotel faces Playa Holbox just a ten-minute walk from the island's small town centre. The two pools are oriented for sea views, the Sky Terrace adds an infinity pool and a sunset bar, and the staff get the kind of warm, attentive reviews that keep guests coming back.
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +Right on Playa Holbox and only a ten-minute walk from the centre of Holbox town, so you get pale turquoise shallows out front and the island's restaurants and golf-cart rental stands within easy reach
- +Both of the resort's two pools are placed for open sea views, and the Sky Terrace adds an infinity pool, a cocktail bar and the property's sunset spot
- +The Sushi Bar on the Sky Terrace runs 4pm to 11pm with sushi and maki made by a dedicated itamae, plus cocktails and live DJs, which is a genuinely unexpected option for a 52-villa island hotel
- +Flexible meal plans: you can book breakfast only, half board, Todo Incluido or a Todo Incluido Premium tier, so a longer stay can mix resort meals with Holbox's seafood spots in town
- +Some villas come with private plunge pools, including Junior Suites with a private pool right on the beach, a big step up from a standard room for couples
- +Car-free, golf-cart-paced Holbox suits the resort's low-key rhythm, and the island is one of the world's top places to swim with whale sharks from roughly June through September
- +The front desk books the island's best nature trips: Isla Pajaros for pelicans and flamingos, Isla Pasion, Cabo Catoche, the Three Islands tour, deep-sea fishing with cave snorkelling, and two-hour horseback rides around Punta Coco
- +Staff get consistent praise in traveler forums for warmth and attentiveness, from welcome drinks to help arranging island activities, private dinners and seafood grills
Cons
- −Holbox is a small island without the infrastructure of Cancun or the Riviera Maya, and with one main restaurant, a pool bar and the Sushi Bar, anyone expecting several a la carte restaurants and nightly shows will find the offering minimal
- −Sargassum seaweed washes onto Holbox's beaches seasonally, typically worst from July through October, and the resort cannot fully insulate its beach from it
- −There is no swim-up bar: the Bar Piscina sits beside the main pool and restaurant, not in the water, so don't book expecting in-pool bar stools
- −The resort publishes no prices for its all-inclusive plans, and nothing official says whether the Sushi Bar or premium spirits are covered by the standard Todo Incluido, so ask before you book which tier includes what
- −Getting there takes time: a 2-plus hour drive or bus from Cancun to Chiquila, then a ferry of roughly 25 to 35 minutes, so door to door from Cancun airport often exceeds three hours
- −No spa and no gym; massages are an in-room service at extra charge, and transfers, laundry and private tours are all paid extras
- −Holbox is not a diving destination; the resort sells snorkelling, fishing, bird watching and whale shark trips, not dives, so serious divers are better served in Cozumel
The practical experience is deliberately small. Dining centres on one restaurant with themed Mexican buffets and international dishes at lunch and dinner, a breakfast buffet from 7:00 to 10:30 with homemade pastries, fresh juices, cold cuts, cheeses and hot dishes, and snacks such as burgers, ceviche, nachos, quesadillas and fajitas. The Sushi Bar on the Sky Terrace (4pm to 11pm, with cocktails and live DJs) is the surprise. The resort sells four meal plans, from breakfast only and half board to Todo Incluido and a Todo Incluido Premium tier, and it publishes no prices for them, so check what your tier covers. The bar is a pool bar beside the main pool rather than a swim-up bar, some villas have private plunge pools, Wi-Fi is free, and massages are a paid in-room service since there is no spa.
This is a resort for travelers who choose Holbox on purpose: people who want whale sharks, flamingos, bioluminescence and a car-free island pace more than nightlife, casinos and mega-resort amenities. Its beach position and pool design put it above many midrange Holbox stays, and an all-inclusive tier takes the sting out of Holbox's pricey restaurant scene on a longer trip. The resort can book whale shark swims, Isla Pajaros, Cabo Catoche, the Three Islands tour, deep-sea fishing and horseback rides, plus longer day trips to Chichen Itza, Rio Lagartos and Ek Balam. The 3-hour journey from Cancun airport is the main hurdle; guests who treat the ferry as part of the trip tend to arrive in the right frame of mind.
Common Questions
How do I actually get to Holbox Island from Cancun, and how long does it take?
What is the whale shark experience like from Holbox, and when should I visit?
What does the all-inclusive plan at Villas HM Palapas del Mar include?
Does Villas HM Palapas del Mar have a swim-up bar?
Is the beach in front of the resort good for swimming?
What else can I do on Holbox beyond the resort?
Restaurants (2)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Mexican | Restaurante |
| Japanese & sushi | Sushi Bar |
From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown.
Amenities
Style & Rooms
Atmosphere
Room upgrades
Google Reviews★ 4.3 · 1,342 reviews
“We had a fantastic stay at Villas HM Palapas del Mar and were extremely satisfied with our experience. The beach is absolutely beautiful – wide, relaxed, and perfect for enjoying the sea and sunsets. Breakfast was very good, with a nice selection an...”
“A beautiful hotel and delicious food. Many thanks to Louis, who works at the beach beds. He is an excellent service employee, even though he does everything on his own. He keeps smiling and remains friendly. Also many thanks to all the staff at Tamas...”
“We had a great stay. Our room was nice and the whole hotel had a tropical touch. The breakfast was also really good and offered a good choice. The food and drinks that we ordered at the pool also had a good quality. I also liked that the waiters are...”
