9 Reasons to Spend Your Next Mexican Vacation on Isla Holbox

This paradise is not yet an American household name, but whale sharks have been hip to Holbox for decades, returning annually from May to mid-September to feast on plankton-plentiful waters off its coast. The average shark is 31 feet long and weighs nine tons, but these gentle giants pose no threat to humans bobbing alongside them. In fact, we can do more harm to the World Wildlife Fund-classified vulnerable species, so it's important to choose an ethical operator like V.I.P. Holbox Experience. The half-day tour includes equipment, swimming with — which is more like desperately trying to keep up with — the surprisingly fast colossal creatures and the giant manta rays they pal around with, a separate snorkel, and a lunch of ceviche made with fish purchased during the trip while anchored in yet another picturesque part the archipelago.