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There are several benefits to visiting the Mexican Caribbean during the summer months.
Smaller crowds, better deals on flights and hotels, and warm temperatures perfect for beach days are a few of these benefits, but during the summer, sargassum is often present on many of the beaches, too.
If you’re headed to the region soon, though, seeking paradise in the Mexican Caribbean, you’ll be happy to know that most beaches are currently nearly sargassum-free, according to the Sargassum Monitoring network.
What Is Sargassum?
Often referred to as seaweed, sargassum is actually a type of macroalgae.
Sargassum travels with ocean currents from the Atlantic, where massive amounts of it form what is known as the Sargasso Sea.
It washes up on the shores of beaches in the Mexican Caribbean and in some places along the east coast of the U.S., like Florida.
Why Tourists Hate It
Sargassum is really more of an annoyance for tourists than anything else.
It not only takes away from the beauty of the region’s stunning beaches but walking through it to get to the water really puts a damper on the beach experience too.
It also emits a foul odor when it begins to decay, further ruining the idyllic beach days tourists are hoping to have when visiting places like Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum.
Beaches That Currently Have No Sargassum
Some beaches in the Mexican Caribbean have no sargassum at all right now.
These beaches are known for typically having very little to no sargassum, so it’s no surprise that they are without it now.
Those beaches are Playa Centro, Playa Lancheros, and Punta Sur, all of which are beaches on the island of Isla Mujeres.
Isla Contoy, an island less than 20 miles north of Isla Mujeres, is also without sargassum right now.
How To Get To Isla Mujeres To Enjoy Its Sargassum-Free Beaches
Getting to Isla Mujeres from Cancun to enjoy its sargassum-free beaches is easy and inexpensive.
Ferries, provided by both Xcaret Sailing and Ultramar, leave from Cancun and depart from Isla Mujeres every hour for Xcaret and every half hour for Ultramar throughout the day.
The Xcaret ferry costs around $13 for a one-way trip, and the Ultramar ferry costs about $15 each way.
The trip takes about 20-30 minutes.
Beaches With Very Little Sargassum Right Now
While there are only a few beaches completely free of sargassum, there are many more with very minimal amounts of sargassum.
All of the beaches in the Cancun Hotel Zone currently only have small amounts of the annoying macroalgae.
Additionally, the coast from Cancun all the way down to Tulum, including beaches in Playa del Carmen and Cozumel, is only being affected by minimal sargassum right now as well.
Beaches Being Affected By Moderate Sargassum Levels
According to the Sargassum Monitoring Network, a few beaches in the Mexican Caribbean have a moderate amount of sargassum.
Isla Blanca in Costa Mujeres, Playa Coral in Cancun, Puerto Morelos Norte, and Playa del Carmen’s Playa El Recodo all currently have moderate sargassum coverage.
Additionally, three Cozumel beaches, Punta Molas, Playa Xhanan, and Playa El Castillo, have some sargassum.
How Long Does Sargassum Season Last
Typically sargassum season in the Mexican Caribbean lasts from April through October.
Sargassum can arrive as early as February, though, and it has the last couple of years.
The best time to visit Mexican Caribbean vacation destinations if you want to avoid sargassum is during the late fall and winter months.
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