Isla Holbox, situated in the Yum Balam ecological reserve at the northern tip of Quintana Roo, is a little paradise bathed in the combined waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. Although tourism has taken off recently, the island is still a peaceful place, with its fishing village and wooden houses, sandy roads, colonies of pink flamingos and grey pelicans, and vast, white sandy beaches. It's true that the water is not quite as clear as in Cancún, but the relaxed atmosphere is hard to resist.