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Most travelers, when preparing to visit a vacation destination, do a lot of research before their trip.
Research on hotels, activities, restaurants, security, historical and cultural attractions, and weather are all things that travelers look into before choosing a destination.
In the Mexican Caribbean, travelers who know about sargassum also monitor the arrival of the seaweed before their vacations.
Cancun is making this easier by installing webcams that allow tourists to check sargassum levels before visiting.
So what is sargassum and what do these cameras mean for tourists?
Sargassum In Cancun
Sargassum is a type of seaweed that isn’t just present in Cancun, but Cancun is often widely affected by it.
It travels along ocean currents all the way from the Atlantic, often washing up on the shores of Florida’s beaches along the way as well.
While sargassum doesn’t cause any health risks, it is smelly, unsightly, and annoying to beachgoers who visit the destination to enjoy the Mexican Caribbean’s otherwise crystal-clear aqua-blue water.
How The New Webcams Can Help Tourists Avoid Sargassum
With the new webcams that will be installed, tourists won’t have to rely on reports of sargassum on Cancun’s beaches anymore.
Instead, they will be able to see the levels of sargassum on the beaches for themselves.
While this might not be that beneficial if you already have your trip booked, it’s great for travelers preparing to book a last-minute trip.
Where The Cameras Will Be Located
A total of 11 new webcams will be installed at various points in Cancun.
They will be located on beaches and at popular tourist sites frequently visited by Cancun tourists.
Two of the locations where the cameras will be placed are at the popular Playa Delfines beach, located in the Hotel Zone, and the Malecon Tajamar, overlooking the Nichupte Lagoon.
More Benefits Of The New Webcams For Tourists
In addition to being able to monitor sargassum in Cancun, the webcams serve another purpose for travelers planning a Cancun vacation.
The cameras will allow tourists to view beaches and other attractions in real-time.
The project is part of a digital promotional campaign to draw even more tourists to the ever-popular destination.
Additional Webcams Where Tourists Can Get A Glimpse Of Cancun
There are already several webcams located throughout Cancun.
These cameras are located at private businesses and hotels in the destination.
Currently, 13 other live webcams in Cancun can be viewed online.
You can view these webcams here.
How Officials Deal With Sargassum In The Mexican Caribbean
The sargassum on the beaches of Cancun and other Mexican Caribbean destinations is not there because of the lack of efforts to prevent it.
Officials take several steps each year to both block it from washing up on the beaches as much as possible and to get rid of it once it arrives.
Sargassum barriers, naval ships that collect it out to sea, and removal by locals and workers are all methods that are used to keep it to a minimum as much as possible.
Best Time To Visit Cancun To Avoid Sargassum
If sargassum is something that you think will bother you when visiting Cancun, there are certain times of the year that you can visit that make it less likely to be present.
Typically, the sargassum season starts in the spring and lasts through the summer.
If you visit outside of these times, and take your trip during the fall and winter months, it’s very likely that you won’t see sargassum, and you can utilize these new cameras to see if it’s present before your arrival.
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