What happened to the beaches in Cancun?

After the big storms hit, the bad ideas were laid bare: Much of Cancun's glittering hotel strip is now without a beach. Hotels built too tall, too heavy and too close to the shore, as well as beaches stripped of native vegetation to make them more tourist-friendly, have contributed to the massive erosion.



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What time of year is seaweed bad in Cancun? The amount of sargassum seaweed in Cancun varies by season and even daily. Generally the worst months for seaweed are July and August.

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Cancun offers a few Blue Flag rated beaches. These are safe public beaches for swimming and also offer disabled friendly access to the water.

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The amount of sargassum seaweed in Cancun varies by season and even daily. Generally the worst months for seaweed are July and August.

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Like many other travelers, you've probably already heard about the seaweed or sargassum problem along the Quintana Roo coastline. Get to know more about Playa Mujeres: A Sargassum-Free Haven in Cancun, and prepare to enjoy a spectacular Caribbean getaway!

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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.

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3. Be cautious at night if you're traveling alone – Cancún isn't the most dangerous place at night, but in some places, it's not as well lit as it should be. Don't walk around alone late at night if you can avoid it.

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Right now the State Department website warns that ” Violent crime – such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery – is widespread and common in Mexico.” However, when you read further it states, “Exercise Normal Precautions When Traveling To the Yucatan State.

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Playa Porto Mari on Curacao, Dutch Caribbean One of the most beautiful beaches in Curacao also happens to be one of the best Caribbean beaches without sargassum. Located on the west coast of the island of Curacao, Playa Porto Mari is a private beach which means there is an entrance fee.

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The best time to visit Cancún is from December to April during the peak season. Even though the crowds are heavier, you'll experience near-perfect weather and find some of the cheapest flight and room rates for a winter getaway at the beach.

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2023 To Be A Record Year For Sargassum In Cancun And The Mexican Caribbean. If you are planning a trip to Cancun or the Mexican Caribbean over the next few months, this news may not be the most welcome.

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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.

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The popular tourist destination of Cancun has had cleaning teams, and even the navy, chipping in to remove the influx of sargassum – they've already disposed of around a huge 1,168 tons of sargassum in Cancun in 2023 so far.

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Worst Time to Visit Cancun
  • If you're seeking perfect weather, the worst time to visit Cancun is in September and October. ...
  • If you're seeking cheap prices, the worst time to visit Cancun is December to April. ...
  • If you're seeking smaller crowds, the worst time to visit Cancun is mid-March to April.


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Avoid visiting during Christmas, New Year's, and especially Spring Break as these are the most hectic travel periods for Cancun. If possible, avoid Mexico's hurricane season, which stretches from late-July to late-October.

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In Mexico, sargassum seaweed season is generally between May and October each year. If you travel to the Caribbean coast of Mexico outside of that time period you can generally avoid large mats of seaweed on the beaches. Cancun to Tulum seaweed map in March 2022. Credit: Red de Monitoreo del Sargazo de Quintana Roo.

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Cancun's Current Safety Situation According to the US State Departments, the Yucatan Peninsula is the safest region in Mexico for Americans in 2023. However, the State Department does have a travel advisory of “exercise increased caution” in the state of Quintana Roo.

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