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Cleanliness is one of the most important factors for tourists who head to the Mexican Caribbean for its pristine beaches and tropical waters. A new study carried out by the Universidad del Caribe found that Cancun is home to the cleanest beach in the state thanks to its low level of microplastic particles. The study further confirms Cancun’s reputation as one of the top beach destinations in Mexico.
According to the recently-published study, Playa Langosta in Cancun is the cleanest beach in the state. The paper analyzed dozens of beaches around the Caribbean and a total of 22 popular beaches in Quintana Roo to identify the cleanest locations with the lowest traces of plastic waste. Other popular Cancun beaches were also found to be cleaner compared to other Quintana Roo regions.
The study is based on more than two thousand samples of beach sand, which were carefully analyzed to determine the quantity, size, and weight of plastic residue per cubic meter of sand. Although there are many indicators of beach cleanliness, plastic is a major concern due to its environmental and health impact.
With just 83 pieces of plastic per cubic meter of sand, Playa Langosta stands out as one of the cleanest in the area. Although the study uncovered small traces of plastic in the beach’s sand, they were mostly particles that are invisible to the naked eye.
Playa Langosta is a popular top-rated beach located in the north end of Cancun’s Zona Hotelera and is a great choice for swimming in shallow waters. The beach is located nearby top resorts such as The Royal Cancun All Suites Resort or Occidental Costa Cancun.
Playa Langosta isn’t the only plastic-free beach in the state. The study also measured beaches by the total weight of plastic per cubic meter. Based on that measurement, it found Playa Delfines to have comparatively low levels of plastic, with just 315 grams per cubic meter.
Playa Delfines is located just south of the hotel zone and is another excellent pick for swimmers. This long, sandy beach offers some of the cleanest sand in the area and is especially known for its expansive views of the Caribbean sea. It has blue-flag certification, meaning it is routinely cleaned and meets high environmental standards.
Meanwhile, the study found the Xpu-Há beach in Solidaridad to be the most plastic-riddled beach in the state. With more than 1215 pieces of plastic per cubic meter, the figure is in stark contrast to Cancun’s relatively plastic-free beaches. Although a popular tourist destination, the micro-plastic residue among the beach’s sand poses an obstacle to the area’s flora and fauna.
Cleanliness Is A Top Priority For Cancun Beaches
Cancun is widely recognized for having some of the cleanest and most environmentally-friendly beaches in Mexico. The area is home to 7 beaches that have been awarded a blue flag certificate, including El Nino, Las Perlas, and Coral beach. The municipality relies on hundreds of workers to keep its beaches spotless around the clock, in addition to volunteer cleaners.
Plastic pollution has been making the headlines recently and is a major issue for the area’s plant and animal wildlife, such as turtles, who nest on its beaches. With more and more plastic being released into the world’s oceans each year, a considerable amount of plastic particles wash up along Mexico’s coastline.
Tourists, too, play a part in cleaning up popular beaches. Authorities are now asking visitors to be smart when it comes to plastic waste and to throw away or recycle single-use plastic items.
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