Trash and Late-Night Drinking Plague Cancun’s Playa Gaviotas, Morning Swimmers Say

Cancun, Quintana Roo — Beer cans, snack wrappers and other trash were found scattered across Playa Gaviotas early Monday morning, drawing complaints from regular visitors who say the popular beach has become a hub for weekend night drinking fueled by a lack of overnight surveillance.

Swimmers who arrive daily before 6 a.m. report that groups of people are still consuming alcohol at dawn, leaving debris behind. The problem is most acute on weekends, when nearby nightclubs close and some workers linger on the sand drinking.

The affected area stretches from the public access next to Plaza Forum to the breakwaters of Punta Cancun, where metal cans, food packaging and other waste are routinely abandoned by overnight beachgoers.

Alejandro, a regular morning swimmer, said the problem is evident from the pedestrian entrance near the shopping center, where in addition to trash, the smell of urine is noticeable. Around 6 a.m., he said, it is still common to see people drinking and playing loud music, which he said creates a sense of insecurity for those doing sports or recreation.

The accumulation of waste also mars the image of the tourist zone, especially for guests at nearby hotels who come to the beach early to watch the sunrise and instead find litter and lingering drinkers.

Crews from the Public Services Department begin cleaning the beach around 6 a.m., removing the debris before most visitors arrive. However, lifeguards are only on duty from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., leaving the beach unsupervised overnight and in the early morning.

Frequent beach users said increased nighttime patrols would help prevent trash buildup and public drinking, improving conditions for both residents and tourists who visit Playa Gaviotas early in the day.