Holbox Closes Summer With 75% Hotel Occupancy, September Drop Expected

Holbox, Quintana Roo — Holbox Island closed out the summer holiday season with hotel occupancy at 75%, though tourism leaders expect that figure to fall to around 35% in September.

The result came despite a shortage of airline seats, higher fuel costs, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and negative perceptions caused by sargassum seaweed on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, a problem that does not affect Holbox.

Christian Stenta, president of the Holbox Hotel Association, said misinformation about the region is keeping visitors away.

“Many people believe Holbox and Isla Mujeres face the same problems as the rest of the coast,” he said.

Sargassum does not reach Holbox’s beaches, but the overall perception of the destination has led to unwarranted cancellations, he added.

The association, which represents 50 hotels, projects September occupancy between 35% and 40%. Hotels plan to use the slower period to give staff time off before the high season begins in November.

Bookings for the year-end holidays are already strong, with rooms sold out from December 27 through January 3, 2027.

Hotel leaders say they will keep their workforce ready for the expected rebound from November through May, dismissing any catastrophic outlook for September. The dip in visitors is typical for Caribbean destinations at this time of year, they said.