If Sargassum Is Natural, Why Contain It? Given the geographic position of Half Moon Bay, this beloved corner of Akumal has been one of the most devastated areas since sargassum blooms have reached record levels over the past 8 years.
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Playa Norte, Isla Mujeres, MexicoPlaya Norte is a dazzling beach in the Caribbean without sargassum seaweed. This beach is a perfect white sand haven for vacationers to take a break from their busy lives.
While exposed eastern shores are most likely to get hit by surges of sargassum, some beaches in Mexico have no sargassum. This includes Playa Norte on Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo and Cozumel's western shore. They're generally seaweed-free. However, much depends on winds and ocean currents.
Due to distance, speed of travel and currents, Cancun and Playa del Carmen beaches are expected to remain relatively free of the seaweed. The upcoming 2023 summer vacation holiday season for Cancun and Riviera Maya are forecast to be sargassum-free according to Esteban Jesús Amaro Mauricio.
Generally the worst months for seaweed are July and August. Does Tulum have a seaweed problem? Tulum, Mexico has a history of receiving influxes of sargassum seaweed during seaweed season.
From October to May to avoid seaweedIf you want to dip into sargassum-free beaches, the best season is from October to May. Fun Fact: Some resorts like Seadust Cancun have made efforts to keep the seaweed from arriving at the shore by implementing a marine-life-friendly barrier.
The Riviera Maya, a popular resort region south of Cancun, is typically one of the hardest-hit areas in the Mexican Caribbean when it comes to sargassum. Ocean currents and certain geographical features cause massive amounts of the macroalgae to wash up on its shores each year.
Cancun and Riviera Maya are experiencing one of their most intrusive sargassum seaweed seasons ever. The dense, foul-smelling algae is a common site along shorelines, and Cancun and surrounding areas are seeing an influx at an alarming rate. Sargassum is not your average beach shrubbery; it can be dangerous.
Isla Mujeres has a dedicated team of workers on the beach that keep the beaches clean and free of sargassum. These workers tend to patrol the beaches every day, removing any seaweed that appears. The small size of the island also allows the beach workers to focus their efforts on a smaller number of pristine beaches.
Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Akumal BeachIf you want to swim with turtles, reef fish, rays, and hundreds of other fish, it's the best place along the coast. And one of the best places in the world to go snorkeling.
2023 is shaping up to be a banner year for sargassum, a type of brown macroalgae now starting to wash up on beaches across the Caribbean. The thick dead tangled heaps of seaweed stink like rotten eggs and could cost many millions in holiday revenues this summer.
Since 2011, 2023 still ranks in the top half of the worst sargassum seaweed seasons. With the latest data, USF researchers say in June, sargassum will likely decrease in the Gulf of Mexico, meaning beachgoers may not have such a smelly experience. The USF lab forecasts the decrease to continue through August.
Additionally, beaches on Florida's east coast, including Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and the Miami Beach area, are also seeing mounds of sargassum wash ashore. According to a report from AccuWeather, it is also impacting the southern regions of Hispaniola as well as areas of Jamaica and Puerto Rico.
The beaches are already covered with the seaweed, making it difficult for tourists to enjoy the main attraction they seek out when visiting the region. For this reason, many Tulum tourists are skipping the beach due to the sargassum.
While much depends on wind and ocean currents, the forecast is that Sargassum seaweed will be minimal on Mexico's Caribbean Coast in summer 2023. However it's still wise to keep a watch on seaweed conditions as landings of sargassum can still occur.
Puerto Vallarta is the best alternative to the sargassum invasion of the Caribbean. The invasion of sargassum to the Caribbean coast of Mexico is motivating travelers to search for other destinations in Mexico. In the Pacific, such as Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit, you will find the perfect alternative.