8 Most Underrated Islands in Mexico

Isla Holbox

While not quite the local secret it used to be, Holbox is far more off the typical tourist trail than other destinations along Mexico’s Caribbean coast. Flecked off the coast of Quintana Roo, the skinny ribbon of an island is free of cars, fringed with sugary beaches, dotted with mangrove forests, and wreathed with electric-blue water.

The vibe on Holbox is about as laid-back as it gets, with a toes-in-the-sand feel and a focus on yoga, wellness, and fresh food. Its only town center has a small grid of sandy streets, pastel-splashed shops, and restaurants. Speaking of restaurants, the island has its own Ruta del Sabor, a foodie route highlighting 10 of the best eateries on the island. For such a small island — 26 miles long and one mile wide — it also has an impressive selection of hotels that cover a range of budgets.

How to Get to Isla Holbox: Take an ADO bus or drive to the small town of Chiquilá and hop on the 15-minute ferry across the channel to Isla Holbox. If you drive, you’ll have to leave your car in Chiquilá at one of the guarded parking lots.

Espiritu Santo

Over on the opposite side of the country, tossed off the coast of Baja California Sur in the wildlife-rich Sea of Cortez, Espiritu Santo is one of Mexico’s most striking islands. The rust-colored, mountainous island is made up of spiny ridges that cascade out into the blue-green water, creating quiet, protected coves with white-sand beaches.

You won’t find any roads or villages on Espiritu Santo. The island is completely uninhabited and has been a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site since 2005 and a national park since 2007. The only way to visit is to go through a licensed tour operator. But for those seeking an abundance of wildlife, a stark contrast of desert-meets-sea landscape, and a scarcity of people, Espiritu Santo delivers in spades. It’s also one of the best places in Mexico for outdoor adventures, including kayaking, scuba diving, hiking, and stand-up paddleboarding.

How to Get to Espiritu Santo: Visitors can only access Espiritu Santo through a boat tour. The easiest gateway is La Paz, which is just about an hour by boat from the island. It’s also worth noting Espiritu Santo is an undeveloped island, so most visitors stay in La Paz.

Mexcaltitán

A high risk of flooding may not be what you’re looking for in a vacation destination, but for the human-made island of Mexcaltitán, this is exactly what makes it charming. Sail 75 miles north of San Blas in Nayarit and encounter the crisscrossing canals of Mexcaltitán, which have earned it the nickname “Mexico’s Venice.” With raised sidewalks on either side of the deep canals, the car-free island is known for being navigated by boat when the floodwaters get too high — which is often.

Because Mexcaltitán is so far removed, visitors here can expect a unique preservation of customs and culture, from the local seafood to the classic terra-cotta-tiled roofs. The island is small enough to explore on foot in one day, but it provides a fascinating glimpse into a place that is far less frequented than most other destinations in Mexico.

Hotel options are limited on the island, but most visitors stay at Hotel Ruta Azteca. More accommodations, like Hotel Garza Canela, can be found in San Blas.

How to Get to Mexcaltitán: San Blas, Nayarit, is the gateway to Mexcaltitán. From here, it’s a 30- to 45-minute boat ride to the island.

Isla Mujeres

Isla Mujeres has long been the laid-back, low-key escape from the buzzy energy of Cancun’s Hotel Zone, which sits just across the calm Caribbean waters. Despite its convenient, easily accessible location, the five-mile-long island is a tranquil, local-loved spot.

Isla Mujeres is famous for its sun-bleached beaches, open-air restaurants, and toes-in-the-sand beach bars. The north end has the most action and attractions, as well as the island’s most famous beach, Playa Norte. The southern tip, meanwhile, is much more tranquil, with dramatic views of both the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. Both ends of the island, however, offer luxury and budget-friendly resorts. The new Impression Isla Mujeres by Secrets, which opened in 2023, has already caused quite a stir and is quickly climbing the ranks as the best resort on the island.

How to Get to Isla Mujeres: Regular ferries depart from Cancun.

Janitzio

If you’re looking for an excellent Mexican destination to celebrate the Day of the Dead, look no further than Isla de Janitzio. The most significant of five islands in Michoacán’s Lake Pátzcuaro, Isla de Janitzio is famous for its ghostly spirits and, legend has it, buried treasure.

The hilly mound of an island rises out of the calm waters of the lake. At its highest point looms the statue of Mexican Independence hero José Mari̇a Morelos, who quietly overlooks the red-tiled roofs and maze of cobblestone streets.

Visitors to the island can shop for souvenirs, snack on the local charalitos (deep-fried and salted fish), or snap photos of the artfully choreographed “butterfly fishermen,” but what most people come to Janitzio for is its iconic Day of the Dead festivities.

Widely considered the best place in Mexico to celebrate Day of the Dead, Janitzio comes alive with the whispers of ghostly spirits, the flicker of thousands of candles, and the orange glow of marigolds that festoon altars across the island. According to legend, every Nov. 1, ghosts from the lake are awakened by the church bells and rise from the water’s surface to walk among the living.

Of course, no Day of the Dead celebrations would be complete without food and music, and Janitzio delivers on both. Keep an ear out for the traditional pirekua music, central to the indigenous Purépecha people native to this part of Mexico.

How to Get to Janitzio: Visitors arrive in Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, and take a boat from the pier over to the island.

Islas Marietas

Just a few miles off the coast of Puerto Vallarta, the Islas Marietas are one of the area’s most famous landmarks — and most protected natural habitats. The rocky, uninhabited islands are known for their abundance of marine and bird life, as well as a secret beach. Today, the islands are part of the Islas Marietas National Park. No one is permitted to set foot on the islands themselves, but visitors can boat around them, dive near them, and swim through a tunnel at low tide to explore its legendary Hidden Beach via licensed tour operators.

As for where to stay, Islas Marietas does not have any hotels; it’s most convenient to stay in Puerto Vallarta or any of the beach towns along the Riviera Nayarit.

How to Get to Islas Marietas: Take a day trip by boat with a variety of tour operators that depart from Puerto Vallarta, Nuevo Nayarit, and La Cruz de Huanacaxtle.

Isla Contoy

Speaking of national parks in Mexico, the Caribbean coast has its own dreamy, protected island that seems to have sprung from the pages of a fantasy novel. Isla Contoy will have you thinking you’ve stumbled upon the shores of a Maldivian paradise, or a remote island in the Andaman Sea, rather than just a stone’s throw from the heart of Cancun. The island is protected, meaning there’s no development, but travelers can visit as part of a day trip through licensed tour operators, either from Cancun or Isla Mujeres. 

The island is beautiful, with the softest white sand, thick groves of palm trees, more than 150 species of tropical birds, and four types of sea turtles. The untouched paradise is also part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, so you can expect world-class diving. The island has a limit of 200 visitors per day, which helps to maintain its Robinson Crusoe vibe.

Much like Islas Marietas, Isla Contoy does not have any hotels. It is recommended to stay in Cancun or Playa del Carmen.

How to Get to Isla Contoy: Isla Contoy is accessible through a licensed boat tour operator. Many tours offer pickups in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, or Riviera Maya. 

Islas Marías

One of the newest destinations to touch Mexico’s tourist map, Islas Marías is an archipelago that was formerly a prison, now turned UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The string of islands are scattered far off the coast of Nayarit, some 62 miles out to sea. The largest is Isla María Madre, which is where the bones of the Islas Marías Federal Prison stand. 

Save for the main town of Puerto Balleto, visitors cannot explore the island on their own. Instead, licensed tour guides accompany groups either on foot or by bus to hit the various hiking trails (including one to a towering Christ the Redeemer statue), beaches, and, of course, ruins of the prison.

Visitors to Islas Marías must book a two-night, three-day package. Reserve a simple lodging house or a two-bedroom apartment. Either way, you will be able to select your accommodations when you purchase your tickets.

How to Get to Islas Marías: Islas Marías is accessed via ferry, which departs from San Blas or Mazatlan. Ferries leave once a week from the mainland on Fridays and return on Sundays.