Holbox in Expedia's top 10 for 2027 with +45% in searches, but with 29.4% occupancy

Holbox ranked sixth among the 10 international destinations with the highest growth in flight and lodging searches for 2027 in Expedia's Unpack '27 report: +45% year over year. It is the only Mexican destination on the list. However, in the week of October 17 to 23, 2026, its hotel occupancy was 29.4% (preliminary figures), the lowest among the destinations reported.

What does the Expedia ranking measure?

The ranking compares searches from September 2025 to July 2026 with the prior period. First place is Lake Tahoe South, with +195%. Expedia highlights Holbox's white-sand beaches, the absence of cars, bioluminescence and whale sharks. According to Quinta Fuerza (October 28, 2026), searches and occupancy measure different things: interest in traveling is not a booking.

What is Holbox's occupancy?

The 29.4% for October 17 to 23, 2026 compares with an average of 57.7% in the Mexican Caribbean, according to preliminary figures attributed to the state Secretaría de Turismo (Tourism Secretariat) and sector organizations, picked up by Noticaribe from InZoom.mx.

Quinta Fuerza also cites occupancy of 30.1% for September 19 to 25, 2026, versus 48.5% for the Mexican Caribbean average. That figure arrives secondhand: the article attributes it to REPORTUR and the original article was not located, so it is not directly verified.

And in summer?

There were better months. On August 20, the municipal president of Lázaro Cárdenas reported occupancy near 90% at the end of the summer vacation, and an outlet reported on September 7 that hotels closed the summer at around 75%, according to local sector sources. These are not official Secretaría de Turismo data, and their methodology is not explained. Hoteliers are asking for better connectivity and promotion for the low season.