Sargassum Hits Southern Quintana Roo Hardest as 25 Beaches Report Excessive Levels

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Sargassum is once again piling up along Quintana Roo’s Caribbean coast, with 25 beaches reporting excessive levels of seaweed and another 37 showing abundant accumulations, according to the latest update of the sargassum traffic-light map published by the state’s Environment and Ecology Department (SEMA).

The report divides the monitored coastline into two regions: the northern zone, with 100 beaches, and the southern zone, with 40. Across both, the maps mark 25 points in red, 37 in yellow for abundant presence, 28 at a moderate level, 45 with low presence and five free of sargassum.

Northern Zone: Mostly Light, but Some Heavy Spots

The northern zone accounts for 18 beaches at excessive levels, seven with abundant presence, 28 at a moderate level, 44 with low presence and three with no sargassum. Although points with low or moderate accumulations dominate, the map identifies several coastal stretches with heavy concentrations of the algae.

Among the sites flagged at excessive levels are beaches in Tulum and elsewhere along the Riviera Maya corridor, including Playa Xhanan, El Castillo, Mezcalitos, Chemuyil and Chen Río. In parts of Cancún and Puerto Morelos, conditions range from moderate to low.

Southern Zone: Seven in Red, 30 in Yellow

In the southern zone, seven beaches are marked red and 30 yellow, while one registers low presence and two are free of sargassum. None of the 40 monitored points in the region was classified at a moderate level, meaning most show abundant or excessive accumulations.

The map places Río Huach, Casa del Sol, Playa Sonrisa, Xcalak, Canal de Zaragoza and Bacalar Chico among the points at excessive levels. Several stretches of Mahahual and the surrounding coast appear in yellow, indicating an abundant presence of the algae.

The comparison between the two regions shows the problem is proportionally more widespread in the south: 37 of its 40 monitored points are classified at abundant or excessive levels. In the north, despite having more registered beaches, 44 show low sargassum presence.

Weather Conditions

Reported weather conditions include temperatures of between 24 and 31 degrees Celsius. The northern zone is expected to see waves of up to two meters and winds of 25 to 35 kilometers per hour, while the south is forecast to have 1.8-meter waves and winds of 30 to 40 kilometers per hour.