Retire Early Lifestyle
Retirement; like your parents, but way cooler

In 1991 Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired at the age of 38. Now, into their 4th decade of this financially independent lifestyle, they invite you to take advantage of their wisdom and experience.

 Isla Holbox Sandbars

Mosquito Point

Yucatan, Mexico

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli

Currency Exchange

One day while we were chatting with Diana, our server at A Mar Cafe, she mentions that we absolutely MUST go see the sandbars on Mosquito Coast.

"Now is a good time to see them. Go at a low tide so you can fully view and enjoy."

Our curiosity was piqued and the next day we found ourselves in a taxi rolling along the 3 kilometers to get there.

Akaisha in the back of the taxi

Taxis are lined up at the Main Plaza and they go off a printed rate sheet. No one gets out of line and takes a fare or they will suffer the ire of the other drivers.

We tried to negotiate the 150Pesos (about $7.50USD) fee to go such a short distance, but the taxi driver wouldn't budge.

In normal circumstances, this would have been a 30-50Peso (about $1.50-$2.50USD) charge.

This is an upper-priced international island destination, and Mexican vendors have mentioned to us that they cannot believe tourists will pay the prices the island charges.

They work here for the money.

You can't blame them.

Bumpy hard-packed sand road

So we hop into the back of the open-air taxi and bump along these hard-packed sand roads that wind their way around the island.

We figured we'd take a taxi there and walk back.

White sand beach and shade palapas

All up and down the coast are these shade palapas and lounge chairs attached to restaurants or bars.

One doesn't exactly "rent" the lounge chair and palapa, but there is a minimum spending requirement to use one.

Apparently, these vary from place to place, but one bar said their price was 300Pesos (about $15USD) per person.

An open stretch of beach

The sky is so blue and the sand, so white.

The ride didn't take long and we were able to have views of the coast, hotels and restaurants along the way to the Mosquito Point.

One entrance to the sandbars

At one point the taxi takes us to fenced-off area that looked a little unkempt.

There was an entrance to the sea through this shaded jungle trail, and that's the one we originally took.

Part of Isla Holbox is protected by the Yum Balam Preserve, and this is one such area.

Shaded trail

This trail wasn't long and it wound around until we got to another opening which led to the natural shoals.

Sea grass, the sea and the sandbars

I mentioned before about the sea grass here. While it is piled up quite a bit at this location, in general it wasn't a nuisance.

In Belize we would have to swim or wade past long stretches of the sea grass alive in the sea, in order to find a suitable swimming spot. Here, we didn't encounter much grass in the ocean, but somehow it found its way to the shore.

Silly me!

We plowed through those mounds of sea grass and looked up and down the sandbar for a better place to enter.

We left and found an easier entrance as you see here.

But, silly me! What was I thinking?

This experienced traveler didn't wear her bathing suit so I had to trek my way through thigh high water to get to the bar.

Of course it was absolutely NO big deal... but I was hoping the water wouldn't go up over my bum, showing the world my underwear.

Sheesh.

A hotel and shade palapas

We did make it through the little water path and arrived on the sandbank.

This part of the island is very upscale and the hotels are beautiful.

You are further from the main roads, restaurants and activities, but perhaps that privacy and quiet suits you more than being in town.

The sandbar

I am a person who loves wide open vistas and that feeling of being disencumbered.

There is NOTHING in the way here, just room to dream, dance, run, look at the cloud art or swim.

The water is crystal clear and warm and the colors are gorgeous - truly a paradise.

Could we be any happier?

I mean, really.

Here we are with ear - to - ear grins.

Another photo of the sand banks

Depending on the tide, these shoals can be covered in deeper water and getting out to them requires a little more "swimming."

But as you can see here, we timed it pretty well.

Further down in front of us is an easier entrance to these banks, and this is where we walked to get back on the road.

This location is really popular and people were enjoying themselves just walking up and back or sitting in the shallow waters.

There are a lot of styles of natural beauty, and this is simply breathtaking.

Looking back to where we entered

On the left side of this photo is the wide open sea and to the right is the island itself.

We are looking back to where we entered to walk on the bank.

As you can see, there are lots of people enjoying themselves here.

More beauty

The sky is so blue, the water is so turquoise and the sand is so white.

You just have to breathe it in.

Beyond words.

Walking back off the bar and to the island

This was obviously the most shallow entrance and exit to use.

We would definitely recommend this outing on the island as a must-see.

Wear your bathing suit, bring sun block and your sun hat and perhaps leave your gear at the hotel.

For more stories and photos about Holbox CLICK HERE

For more stories and photos about the Yucatan, CLICK HERE

For more stories and photos about Mexico CLICK HERE

Retire Early Lifestyle appeals to a different kind of person – the person who prizes their independence, values their time, and who doesn’t want to mindlessly follow the crowd.

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