Sargassum Collection Drops in Playa del Carmen as Season Winds Down

Sargassum seaweed piled on a Playa del Carmen beach as cleanup crews work to remove it.

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Sargassum collection on Playa del Carmen’s beaches has fallen to a maximum of 30 tons per day after crews removed more than 28,000 tons since January, prompting an official to predict the peak of the seaweed season on the Riviera Maya is coming to an end.

Irving Madrigal, director of the Federal Maritime Terrestrial Zone (Zofemat), said during a ride aboard a Mexican Navy sargassum boat that the algae’s arrival has been decreasing for several weeks. He said that lull, along with containment and cleanup efforts by all three levels of government, has helped keep the sands in better shape for residents and tourists.

Madrigal said Punta Esmeralda remains open, despite ongoing work on its access road and bathroom and shower facilities. He indicated that access structures for people with disabilities are also being updated. He asked beachgoers for patience and said the work is expected to be finished by the winter season.

With fewer sargassum landings, Zofemat believes the season is wrapping up, though monitoring and beach-cleaning efforts will continue. Officials hope the beaches will reach winter — one of Playa del Carmen’s busiest tourism periods — in good condition.

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By Ana Reyes

Ana Reyes covers environmental policy, conservation initiatives, infrastructure projects, and political developments across the Yucatán Peninsula for Riviera Maya News & Events. She reports on issues from sargassum management and reef conservation to the Maya Train, coastal development, and state and federal policy affecting Quintana Roo and the broader peninsula.Ana has covered environmental and political news since 2023, tracking key developments in Mexico's environmental regulations, coral reef protection, coastal zone management, and the intersection of tourism development with conservation efforts. Her reporting spans from Cancun's hotel zone to the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve and the culturally significant regions of the Yucatán interior.Ana is fluent in English and Spanish, and draws from a wide range of sources including government environmental agencies, conservation organizations, academic researchers, and local community leaders to provide balanced, well-sourced coverage. She is particularly focused on how environmental policy decisions affect the daily lives of residents and the long-term sustainability of the region.For story tips: ana@rivieramayanews.mx