Tulum Seeks Platinum Beach Certification for Conchita and Del Pueblo

Tulum, Quintana Roo — Tulum is seeking Platinum Beach certification for Conchita and Del Pueblo beaches, a first for both, according to David Buchanan García, head of the Federal Maritime Terrestrial Zone (Zofemat) in Tulum.

Buchanan said both beaches completed an audit two weeks ago as part of the certification process, and initial feedback from the evaluator was positive.

“This is the first time in history that these two beaches are being certified, so we are very happy. We got a good rating; we don’t have the official result yet, as the process takes time, but we’ll hear back in October,” he said.

The award ceremony could take place in Los Cabos in October, Buchanan noted, but he cautioned that certification won’t be official until the written results arrive.

Sargasso, the seaweed that has affected Caribbean coastlines, will not hurt the beaches’ evaluation because it is a natural phenomenon, the official said.

Auditors examine waste management, dune and vegetation protection, safety conditions, and lifeguard readiness.

“What we want is a safe, clean beach — no glass, bottle caps, or cigarette butts,” Buchanan said. “We also verify that lifeguards are trained and have the medications and knowledge to respond to accidents.”

Buchanan credited Zofemat’s ongoing work in beach maintenance and conservation for the strong evaluation. The agency runs two programs: one focuses on cleaning and sargasso collection, and the other is dedicated to certification.

The certification program includes collecting general trash, marine litter, microplastics, glass, cigarette butts, and other small debris, as well as actions to protect dunes and vegetation.

“That constant work is what led to a very good audit and positive comments about what they came to check,” he said.

He called on residents and tourists to help preserve the beaches and to remove any waste they generate. There are sorting stations, he said, but it is essential that visitors take their trash when they leave.

“We’re not against people coming and bringing a cooler or their belongings, but we invite them to pick up their trash when they leave, because that trash didn’t arrive on its own,” he said.

Zofemat workers also collect marine litter that washes ashore with the sargasso, Buchanan said, but conservation ultimately requires visitors’ participation.

Tulum currently has four certified beaches: Pescadores, Maya, Santa Fe, and Aventuras. Conchita and Del Pueblo hope to join them, with results expected in October.