Last Updated
Last year, one of the most visited beaches in Playa Del Carmen, Playa El Recodo, was closed for the foreseeable future due to the ongoing battle with sargassum, which has been causing issues along the coastlines of the Mexican Caribbean all year.
Now thanks to Lili Campos, and the municipal government, the beach is now reopening to the public after immense efforts to clear the sands of the smelly seaweed and return it to its former glory after being deemed inaccessible at the start of the current administration.
Catalina Collado, the general coordinator of the maintenance, cleaning and conservation of beaches has highlighted that access to the coastline area on 4th, 8th, and 10th North Streets is now also available to tourists after being previously closed off indefinitely.
Local authorities of major touristic areas have been improving and developing their offerings to visitors this year after the Mexican Caribbean has seen record-breaking numbers this summer vacation period in hotel occupancies, beach capacities and historical site bookings.
To prevent overcrowding in popular areas, archaeological sites have been reopened, and major clean-up task forces have been assigned to help clear beaches of the sargassum plaguing their stunning white sands.
With the reopening of El Recodo, a team of over 200 people have been working tirelessly as early as 6am in the morning, dedicated to the cleaning and conservation of the beaches.
Lili Campos is fast creating a name for herself as a popular political figure, demanding that the sustainability of Quintana Roo’s trending tourist areas be an absolute priority to prevent the erosion of its natural beauty.
Top 5 Travel Insurance Plans For 2023 Starting At $10 Per Week
Easily Earn Points For Free Travel
The government’s next step is recovering the coastal dunes on the central beach, as well as the popular Punta Esmeralda, with the aim of improving the image for visitors who travel from all over to see the infamous coastlines on the Yucatan Peninsula; ideally without sargassum covering its sands.
So what do you need to know about the seaweed conditions in Playa Del Carmen currently?
Though beaches like El Recodo and Punta Esmeralda have reopened and cleared the sargassum from most of its sands, it’s still unclear what causes the natural phenomenon and when it will return.
Playa Del Carmen experiences periodic influxes of seaweed, and local authorities are doing everything in their power to stay ahead and keep tourists’ beach experiences worthwhile.
A main issue regarding the phenomenon is forecasting just when the sargassum will arrive on the beaches of Playa Del Carmen and where exactly it will be, only being able to go off previous years’ records as a general indicator.
Various organizations have begun providing updates and forecasts for tourists, such as Quintana Roo Sargassum Monitoring Network, as well as a smartphone app that can track the movement of the seaweed, enabling tourists to plan ahead.
Typically the months of May to November are when arrivals of sargassum seem to be the most prevalent, so if you are thinking of traveling for winter high season, which is typically the drier months of December through to April, there will be less seaweed affecting beaches along the coastlines.
Though El Recodo and Punta Esmeralda are now accessible to tourists sargassum-free, there are also many other hidden gems that should not be missed if your beach plans are thwarted.
Many stunning locations reside fairly close to Playa Del Carmen, such as Cozumel and Akumal, which are well known for being just as popular amongst both national and international visitors.
The stunning, natural cenotes, which are located all throughout Quintana Roo are a perfect alternative for freshwater swimming and bathing if you find yourself at a loss for outdoor activities similar to the beach.
Remember, Sargassum is a natural event that seems to be reoccurring, meaning it is playing a crucial role in marine biodiversity and ecosystems.
Though this might feel slightly frustrating as tourists search for the beach paradise of their dreams, rest assured that governments continue to do everything in their power to make sure it does not affect anyone’s experience.
With Punta Esmeralda and El Recoda as prime examples of this, tourists are guaranteed not to be left disappointed with the offerings in this number one destination.
Plan Your Next Cancun Vacation:
Traveler Alert: Don’t Forget Travel Insurance For Your Next Trip!
Choose From Thousands of Cancun and Riviera Maya Hotels, Resorts and Hostels with Free Cancellation On Most Properties
↓ Join the community ↓
The Cancun Sun Community FB group has all the latest travel news, conversations and tourism Q&A’s for the Mexican Caribbean
Subscribe to our Latest Posts
Enter your email address to subscribe to The Cancun Sun’s latest breaking news affecting travelers, straight to your inbox.
Linda
Monday 21st of August 2023
It's getting too expensive for most middle class to go there.With cost I f living increases most our friends, no longer go.