Isla Holbox

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Voila une petite merveille qui gagne a etre connue, mais heureusement qui ne l'ai pas trop encore. Bien sur il y a plusieurs hotels, mais ceux-ci se fondent bien dans le paysage, et la plage reste globalement vide, ce qui permet de bien profiter du sable blanc, de l'eau couleur emeraude, des palmiers, des pelicans et de la douceur de vivre! Dans le village, toutes les rues sont en sable et les seuls vehicules sont des voiturettes de golf. Petit village de pecheurs a la base, le tourisme se developpe mais sans atteindre les exces de Cancun, Isla Mujeres ou Cozumel plus au sud, et ca, c'est bien!

La encore, petit hotel assez mythique: petites cabanes avec hamacs (encore mais on s'en lasse pas!), avec moustiquaires cette fois (quelle luxe!), avec cabane cuisine et cabane douche super belles et super propres, sable blanc sur le sol nickel, et tout ca tenu par une Italienne des plus sympathiques!
Forcement, vous pouvez comprendre que je suis bien decu de devoir quitter ce lieu de reve pour rejoindre Cancun demain.

Pour les habitants de l'ile, la douceur du climat est tres agreable pendant une grande partie de l'annee, mais le climat peut parfois se degrader terriblement: l'ouragan Wilma en octobre 2005, ca vous dit quelque chose? On en avait finalement pas beaucoup parle car il n'avait finalement pas fait de gros degats aux US. Par contre ici ils l'ont bien senti passe : 2m d'eau ont recouvert l'ile pendant une semaine, des degats enormes dont 4 hotels sur la plage detruits, et plusieurs mois pour tout remettre sur pied, et les degats se voient encore parfois. Bref, c'est pas le paradis tous les jours non plus...

D'ailleurs, apres avoir ecrit ces lignes, je me suis rendu compte que nous etait tombe sur le coin du nez un orage tropical comme on les aime: eclairs et pluies diluviennes! Du coup le retour a l'hotel a ete assez mouille disons. Heureusement comme les rues sont toutes en sable, c'est pas trop degueu quand il pleut, et ca permet de marcher pieds nus sans problemes. Enfin bon, c'etait marrant, mais du coup temps un peu pourri le lendemain, qui s'est bien sur vraiment eclairci sur l'ile alors que je me dirigeais vers Cancun, ou le temps a mis plus de temps a s'ameliorer!

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Photos

La plage de ouf 2
Vous avez vu la couleur de l'eau? c'est pas beau ca?

Le hamac, il y a que ca de vrai!
En fait, c'est plutot confortable, qd on sait quelle position adopter (ce qui est pas evident au debut je vous cache pas)

Wilma, les consequences 1
Voila un des hotels qui a ete salement detruit...

Comments

[dorval]

peux tu m indiquer comment aller sur cette ile et le cout approximatif ..enfin tout

[Sylvia Lemoine]

Holbox
In the Travel section, of the New-York Times, I read an encouraging editorial on Holbox, a Mexican island off the Yucatan Peninsula. I followed their recommendation and planed my winter vacation in Holbox. Subsequent to my experience, I truthfully think that this letter should be published to avoid a serious incident and maybe death to anyone who would – like me – follow their advise. My very first night on this island has been a nightmare. At 11.30 pm. I was brutally awaken by the loudest and most distressing music I ever heard. A techno-rap group called “Flash Gordon” played without interruption till 5 am. The next morning, with scores of other tourists, I decided to leave this “paradise”. It was then that I heard – from the hotel owners - disturbing tales of corruption, deceit and death. I decided to stay a few more days to investigate this “ecological paradise”. My findings reported here are only the tip of the iceberg. Health. In Holbox, not only you risk to lose your sleep but also your life. Here are three tragedies that happened these last few months. In Hotel Tortugas, a tourist died of a minor heart attack; in the park, a 23 years old girl died of an asthma attack, a young man bled to death after a knife wound,. The reason: the simplest medical necessities like a defibrillator, oxygen or blood do not exist in Holbox. The only doctor – not always available though - is an inexperienced young girl, just out of Med School. Drugs. From marihuana to cocaine, from amphetamines to crack, from ecstasy to heroine, drugs are readily available. I asked a perfect stranger in the street if it was possible to buy drugs. Without hesitation he offered to take me to three different sources. The law. This true story will tell you what you – as a tourist - should expect from the police. An Italian tourist called Enzio rented a two stories house. One day he heard noises on the ground floor. Wanting to check, he found a thief in the act of stealing. The police was called and instead of arresting the thief, they handcuffed the tourist and dragged him to jail where he was kept for two full days before he could talk to a lawyer. The thief, a drug addict teenager known for breaking into houses is still free and active, bequest of the local corrupt authorities. Corruption. In spite of numerous complains, disregarding the well being of the tourists - lifeline of this island - the mayor keeps giving permission for all sorts of (frequently) illegal activities to take place, motivated only by lucrative kick-backs. This corruption is putting in danger the very physical existence of this island. Holbox lives from its beaches yet, apart from a small section in the center of the village, most of the most beautiful beaches on the west side as well of those on the east side are disappearing or have already disappeared through criminal neglect. The solution to reverse this tragedy is available but the mayor preferred to use the money to buy for himself BMWs and a Harley Davidson. Business: Here is another true story to enlighten anyone who would like to invest in Holbox. A few years ago, Lucio, an Italian businessman build the “Faro Viejo”, the first decent hotel on the island. He hired a married couple to manage the hotel. To motivate them, he gave them a generous 30% of the shares. As a result he lost his hotel, and in spite of years and tens of thousands of dollars in law suits, he is not even allowed to come near his own hotel without risking jail. Once more, compliment of the mayor. I might also tell you the story of this young Canadian couple from Vancouver who bought a land for 18.000 $. Nobody told them that their land - crammed with mangroves - is protected by the environmental agency SEMARNAP and that nobody can build there.. This is only a few stories about Holbox, there are many, many others. Before venturing in there, your readers should know some of them. Sylvia Lemoine Le Peq France 78110

[MexBelGua2006]

Holbox
Et bien, comme quoi les apparences peuvent etre trompeuses! Je dois dire que mon experience est Holbox etait tres bonne, mais je ne suis reste que 2 jours. Je n'ai pas pu verifie les infos que Sylvia nous donne, mais voyageur avise, dans le doute abstiens toi!

[Marco Avila]

answer to Sylvia
I have just found this blog and Sylvia´s comments and i am shocked.How can people speak about a place they have just been for a week or so so badly without really making sure what they are saying is true.Most of it are lies , it is true about the loud music sometimes and the lack of some medical care although it is not as bad as she says.People are not dying around in the streets and falling like flies everyday as she says.The Italian guy was sent to jail because he beat up so badly the burglar that he was sent to hospital and was himself sent to jail after 3 days.I don´t know about the drugs as i never asked anyone about it .I have been coming and going to this island for the last 7 years and to me it is like a lost paradise , of course there are a lot of things to be improved but people there don´t want to be as perfect and know everything as Sylvia. The couple in the faro viejo hotel were never given generously 30 % of the shares ,where on earth have you seen that ?They bought them and bought another 22 % legally to Lucio who first agreed and then made a fuss because he wanted them back.The law is the law in Mexico , Italia or China and and people should be franker and think it twice before defaming other people. She makes Holbox sound like Babylonia , the mayor is not that corrupt otherwise he would be in jail .It is so easy to use a computer and writing such nonsense,come to Holbox and see how beautiful and relaxing it is , i guarantee you will love it.This is an ecological reserve and people should make sure they know the rules before buying any land. Please Sylvia stay in your house and keep looking at your half empty glass of water , mine is always half full,we are very happy here.

[Adam]

Sylvia, are you serious?
Yes, Sylvia's glass is definatley half empty!!! I have been to this hidden paradise 4 times and I love it more each time I come. There are problems everywhere if you look for them, like Sylvia did. But on Holbox, there are beautiful people, great food, and a relaxed lifestyle. I love it here, and would encourage anyone (except Sylvia) to come and visit. :)

[LuseeEdwards]

We're Planning to Travel to Holbox in July
I'm really hoping that Sylvia is exaggerating the dangers and corruption on Holbox as my family and I plan to travel there this July to swim with the Whale Sharks. I'm not as concerned with the medical access she mentioned but I'm VERY concerned about drug violence since we are hearing more and more things in the news about drug violence in Mexico. We will be flying into Cancun and will probably take a bus to get to the ferry. Is this a safe route for tourists? Again, I'm REALLY REALLY REALLY hoping that Sylvia's description of what she experienced/heard/read is atypical. We'll be taking a 9 year old and a 13 year old boys. Looking forward to hearing other people's experiences on Holbox.