Seaweed season is generally between May and October. Based on the large size of the sargassum mat currently in the Atlantic, experts forecast that Tulum could have a major seaweed problem in 2023, depending on ocean and wind currents.
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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.
But now, in the spring and summer, the Yucatán coastline between Cancún and Tulum is clogged with mountains of seaweed, fouling the beach with a sulfurous scent of decay and making the water nearly unswimmable.
? April – October are the hottest months on the Yucatán Peninsula. November – January are the coolest months. Tulum's high season coincides with the cooler period. ? The worst months for seaweed washing up in Tulum and the rest of the Caribbean Coast are considered to be June, July and August.
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.
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.
Sargassum season in the Mexican Caribbean typically runs from May through October, with July and August generally being the worst months for its arrival.
Tulum is known as a beach vacation destination, with stunning white sand beaches and warm, clear Caribbean waters. There are miles of beaches to enjoy when sargassum is not present, which is typically between October through early spring.
November and early December are great times to visit Tulum since the weather is pleasant (temperatures range from the low 70s to low 80s) and the crowds are thinner than they are in late winter and early spring.
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.
While the seaweed shows up from the Gulf of Mexico around June each year, it always piles up the most between July and August. If you're looking to schedule your trip to Key West when it's least likely to be consumed with seaweed, you'll want to make plans to arrive between October and May.
While Tulum experiences occasional seaweed issues, during the months of November to April the water should be a dream to swim in. Can you go to any beach in Tulum? Yes, all beaches in Tulum are public and you can visit all of them.
Playa del Carmen, the north beach in Tulum, and Akumal all have lifeguards for the beaches but they are limited. Swim close to shore and it you are not a big swimmer, wear a life vest. Waves will not get to big, this is a not a surfers paradise so swimming can be done every day!
Tulum beaches are as pristine as Cancun but quieter and more relaxing. If your idea of a vacation is relaxing quietly on the beach, then Tulum will be your better option! The water is typically calmer, too, making it friendly for swimmers.
Seaweed season is generally between May and October. Based on the large size of the sargassum mat currently in the Atlantic, experts forecast that Tulum could have a major seaweed problem in 2023, depending on ocean and wind currents.
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.
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.