Cancún, Quintana Roo — While large swaths of the Mexican Caribbean battle heavy sargasso seaweed landings, Cancún’s beaches remain largely unaffected, offering a respite for tourists and service providers, according to the state’s latest monitoring report released May 12.
The report shows that 30 beaches across Quintana Roo have excessive sargasso levels, primarily along the Riviera Maya, Tulum, Cozumel, and parts of the southern coast. In those areas, seaweed accumulations have disrupted recreational activities and prompted intensive cleanup efforts.
However, Cancún’s Hotel Zone is faring much better. Most of its beaches report low to moderate sargasso presence, allowing domestic and international visitors to continue enjoying water sports and sandy shores with minimal disruption.
The most critical areas are concentrated on Cozumel’s eastern coast, as well as destinations such as Xcalak, Punta Allen, Boca Paila, and various stretches of Tulum, where landings have been constant in recent days. Tourism operators and authorities maintain ongoing operations to remove the algae and reduce environmental and economic impact.
According to the state balance, in addition to the 30 red-flagged beaches, another 29 have abundant sargasso and 37 have moderate levels. Despite the challenging situation in several regions, Cancún continues to stand out as a key tourist refuge in the Mexican Caribbean during the peak sargasso season.
