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With the start of the spring holiday travel season right around the corner, the news is good for travelers seeking to spend some leisure time enjoying the sand, sun, and surf at the amazing beach town of Playa del Carmen in the Mexican Caribbean.
So far, the initial prediction for the early spring travel season is that little sargassum is currently expected on the shores of Playa del Carmen to impact the travel plans of tourists.
Level 1 Sargassum Alert
The Mexican Navy Secretariat in coordination with the Oceanographic Institute of the Gulf and Caribbean Sea have declared the current sargassum level at level one – which indicates “scarce” accumulation of the annoying ocean algae.
Playa del Carmen officials have acknowledged that some sargassum has washed up on the shores of local beaches. However, it was quickly and easily removed by workers.
“Really all our beaches look beautiful and incredible so that the people who are enjoying the holidays can enjoy our beaches,” said the Secretary of Sustainable Environment and Climate Change Lourdes Várguez in a report about the levels of sargassum in Playa del Carmen.
Future Forecast
For now, arrivals of significant amounts of sargassum that would impact the vacation getaways of tourists are not expected for the near future.
The arrival of sargassum on the shores of Playa del Carmen and the Mexican Caribbean is now projected for later in March.
Satellite images of the Caribbean Sea, where sargassum collects and grows before heading towards the beaches of Playa del Carmen and the Mexican Caribbean, are currently showing a low presence of sargassum.
Another report will be issued towards the end of February about the growth before it lands on the shore of Playa del Carmen to impact the travel plans of visitors.
Red Algae on the Shores
While there have been low levels of sargassum on the shores of Playa del Carmen so far this year, there have been some red algae that has appeared in its place.
Around Playa del Carmen, a couple of the popular local beaches have seen some red algae wash up on the beaches.
“The only two beaches that were affected was El Recodo, which is the one that received the most red algae or a little sargassum. However, in Punta Esmeralda, it was more sea foam with a little sargassum,” Várguez added.
The red algae levels so far have been controlled and local municipal workers have easily removed it from the tourist beaches in the region.
While unsightly, it is not expected to have a significant impact on the visitor experience in Playa del Carmen during the spring holiday travel season.
Red algae are often mistaken for sargassum as to tourists it appears very similar.
What Travelers Need to Know
So far, it’s a good start to the beach season in Playa del Carmen and the Mexican Caribbean as little to no sargassum has washed up on local beaches in the area.
Tourists dislike the annoying algae, especially if it is in the water or not removed quickly from the shores. However, so far the levels have been easily controlled by beach workers.
The current forecasts, especially in the area where sargassum grows, look promising for the upcoming spring holiday travel season. However, tourists will want to keep an eye out for the next forecast in a couple of weeks.
Tourists looking to spend their upcoming spring holiday vacation getaway in the gorgeous town of Playa del Carmen will find the sun, sand, and surf just as amazing as the actual beach resort destination.
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