Cold Fronts Bring Sargassum Back to Cancún

Cancún, Mexico — Although the 2025 sargassum season was considered practically over, recent cold fronts crossing the Caribbean have reactivated the arrival of the seaweed at Playa del Niño and Las Perlas, confirmed José Antonio de la Torre, director of municipal public services.

The official reported that with these latest cleanup efforts, the municipality will conclude the season with more than 16,500 tons of sargassum collected. This figure is significantly higher than the 3,000 tons recorded in 2024, an increase attributed to climatic variations and changes in marine currents.

Unseasonal Arrival Surprises Authorities

The phenomenon took authorities and tourism service providers by surprise, as September and October typically mark the end of the sargassum influx. However, the influx of polar air and northern winds, accompanied by elevated wave action, reactivated the movement of the macroalgae toward the Mexican coast at the very end of the season.

“The cleanup operation began in the early morning hours to prevent accumulations and foul odors in recreational areas and hotels,” explained De la Torre.

The sargassum arrival has been concentrated primarily between kilometers 1 and 3 of the Hotel Zone, as well as at Playa del Niño in Puerto Juárez. Municipal brigades are maintaining surveillance at other beaches to prevent the seaweed from spreading. The tasks include manual labor, light machinery, and transport trucks to the authorized site for its final disposal.

Coordination for Tourist Experience

Thanks to coordination with hoteliers, the cleanup has been conducted during hours of low visitor traffic, allowing tourists to enjoy the beaches without significant visual or sanitary disruptions.

According to municipal reports and hotel associations, 2025 saw more consistent sargassum arrivals, particularly during the months of April, June, and August, when daily collection operations were implemented.

Hotel entrepreneur José ‘Pepe’ Chapur Zahoul recently demanded that state and municipal authorities review the trust fund created in 2010 for beach recovery, as well as reinforce strategies to confront the sargassum phenomenon. This demand stems from the perception that the resources are not always allocated for their original purpose.