Island Lázaro Cárdenas, Quintana Roo Municipality of Lázaro Cárdenas Holbox and Yum Balam
Mangrove islet in the Yalahau lagoon off Holbox, a protected bird refuge watched from a boardwalk; flamingos April to October.
Reached by boat from Holbox: 30 min each way. How to get there ↓
Near here
See everything nearby ↓
Plan your visit to Isla Pájaros
Where to stay near Isla Pájaros
Compare hotels, posadas and guest houses in Isla Pájaros.
Tours to Isla Pájaros
Day trips and guided outings from Isla Mujeres often include Isla Pájaros; with a local guide you can get there without a car.
Boat Tour of Three Islands in Holbox with Transportation
★ 4.5 (217) · From US$39
How to get to Isla Pájaros
- Reached by boat from Holbox: 30 min each way.
- From Playa del Carmen: about 1 h 55 min by road (~124 km)
Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.
Popular tours to Isla Pájaros
Tours, prices and ratings from Viator, checked weekly. We may earn a commission if you book.
About Isla Pájaros
Isla Pájaros, also called Isla de los Pájaros or Isla Morena, is a small mangrove islet in the Yalahau lagoon on the inner side of Holbox, about 1 km off the island and roughly 6 km east of the town centre. Mangroves and cacti cover it, and it lies within the Yum Balam Flora and Fauna Protection Area.
The islet is a refuge for more than 150 bird species, some resident all year and others arriving with the seasons. Frigatebirds, pelicans, white ibises, reddish egrets, storks, roseate spoonbills and double-crested cormorants nest or roost here, and between April and October thousands of flamingos gather in the surrounding shallows to feed. When the reserve was created in 1994 the lagoon already held large nesting colonies of cormorants, brown pelicans and frigatebirds.
Because it is a breeding ground, nobody is allowed to walk on the island. Boats tie up at a wooden walkway that leads to two viewing points, from where the colonies can be watched without disturbing them, and many tours also linger offshore at sunset as birds return to roost. The only way to get there is by boat, usually on the Three Islands tour from Holbox, which adds Isla de la Pasión and the Yalahau spring. There is little shade on the water, so a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent and water are worth bringing.
How to get to Isla Pájaros
Drive from Playa del Carmen to Holbox: 1 h 55 min, 124 km
Take the ferry from Chiquilá to Holbox (20 to 25 minutes), then a boat tour from the Holbox pier; the islet is about 30 minutes away across the lagoon. It is usually part of the Three Islands tour with Isla de la Pasión and Yalahau, though some boats go to Isla Pájaros alone.
Reached by boat from Holbox: 30 min each way.
Directions to Isla Pájaros on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.
From the nearest cities to Isla Pájaros
- Playa del Carmen · 124 km by road, 1 h 55 min to Holbox, then 30 min by boat
- Tizimín · 124 km by road, 2 h 5 min to Holbox, then 30 min by boat
- Cancún · 146 km by road, 2 h 15 min to Holbox, then 30 min by boat
Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic or stops. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.
Before you go to Isla Pájaros: hours, prices and tips
- Best season
- Thousands of flamingos gather around the islet to feed between April and October. México Desconocido · checked Oct 2026
- Guide or tour
- Reachable only by boat; choose certified operators who follow SEMARNAT guidelines. Tours: Viator GetYourGuide México Desconocido · checked Oct 2026
- What to bring
- Cap or hat, sunscreen, insect repellent and water. México Desconocido · checked Oct 2026
- Rules
- Protected area: walking on the island is not allowed; birds are watched from the walkway and its two viewpoints. México Desconocido · checked Oct 2026
Hours and prices change, especially around holidays. Each fact links to where we checked it.
Visiting Isla Pájaros: what to see and do
Watch the bird colonies from the two viewpoints on the wooden walkway
See flamingos feeding in the shallows between April and October
Spot frigatebirds, pelicans, ibises and roseate spoonbills
Stay for sunset, when the birds come back to roost
Plan your trip
Places to stay in Isla Pájaros
Compare hotels, posadas, and rentals in and around Isla Pájaros.
Tours & activities
Day trips and guided outings from Isla Mujeres often include Isla Pájaros; with a local guide you can get there without a car.
Rental cars
Pick up a car at CUN (Cancún), 26 km from Isla Mujeres as the crow flies; Isla Pájaros is 69 km beyond the pueblo.
Flights
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Cancún (CUN), 26 km from Isla Mujeres, the base for Isla Pájaros.
Mobile data
Signal can drop away from Isla Mujeres: download a map of the way to Isla Pájaros before you set out, or carry an eSIM with data.
Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.
Photos
When to go to Isla Pájaros warm
Isla Pájaros shares the climate of Isla Mujeres, 69 km away. The best months to visit are February, March, April, and July.
See the month-by-month climate of Isla Mujeres
Weather in Isla Pájaros now and the next 7 days
Live forecast from Open-Meteo. Chance of rain is the day's highest.
The closest Pueblo Mágico: Isla Mujeres
Isla Mujeres is the Pueblo Mágico closest to Isla Pájaros, with places to stay, food, and more to see.
Closest to Isla Pájaros
-
Holbox · Island · 4 km away
-
Punta Mosquito · Beach · 4 km away
-
Chiquilá · Village · 10 km away
-
Yalahau · Cenote · 11 km away
-
El Cuyo · Village · 37 km away
Near Isla Pájaros
Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.
Lists with Isla Pájaros
Islands in Quintana Roo · 4Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.