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The beaches are the main draw for tourists visiting the Mexican Caribbean vacation destination of Playa del Carmen.
And now Playa del Carmen’s beaches are going to be cleaner than ever before.
There are a couple of different reasons for this, one having to do with dealing with nature, and the other related to a recent law that was passed in Mexico.
Two Reasons For Playa Del Carmen’s Cleaner Beaches
Two important events have led to cleaner beaches in Playa del Carmen, both of which have made a significant impact. They are:
- The ban on smoking in outdoor public places that took place earlier this year.
- Major investments in keeping sargassum levels low on the beaches this year.
An in-depth explanation of each of these events will explain why they have had such an impact on the conditions of the beaches in Playa del Carmen.
@themichaeyla Secrets Maroma, has THE most beautiful beach in Playa Del Carmen! And its Sargassum FREE because, they have invested to have the beach cleaned, every 30 mins!!! 🌴 #secretsmaromabeach #secretsmaroma #secretsmaromabeachrivieracancun #sargassum #playadelcarmen ♬ Surrender – Jhené Aiko
The Outdoor Space Public Smoking Ban
A smoking ban, which is part of Mexico’s General Law for Tobacco Control, went into effect in 2021 but only banned smoking in indoor public spaces.
But since then the ban has been extended to apply to outdoor public spaces as well, including on beaches in popular tourist destinations like Playa del Carmen.
In January the extension of the ban went into effect.
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@jbaymedia #mexico #smokingban 💨 #smoke #smoking #camel #marlboro #pallmall #dunhill #parliament #winston #bansmoking #ecig #cigarrettes ♬ Smoke A Little Smoke – Eric Church
The Effects of The Smoking Ban
When the outdoor public space smoking ban first went into effect there was a significant amount of resistance from restaurant owners, hotel management, and smokers.
But Playa del Carmen officials addressed that resistance by ramping up measures to enforce the anti-smoking ban.
Those efforts have resulted in significantly fewer cigarette butts on the area’s beaches according to officials who said “Before we collected up to 15,000 cigarette butts a day, right now we have literally raised eight to ten cigarette butts.”
@olympusmons73 🏖 Calm but hot day in #playadelcarmen #mexico #beach ♬ Walk on the Beach – Lux-Inspira
Sargassum And Its Effects On Playa del Carmen’s Beaches
Sargassum is a type of seaweed that washes up on the beaches in the Mexican Caribbean, particularly during the spring and summer months.
It often arrives in huge amounts to the point where the beaches are covered with it, and although not dangerous, it does emit a foul smell as it decays and is unsightly, to say the least.
Many travelers to the area during this timeframe try to avoid the beaches while visiting because of it.
The Massive Effort To Keep Sargassum At Bay
At the beginning of the sargassum season this year officials were predicting a massive arrival of the seaweed throughout the summer.
But so far sargassum has been minimal compared to last year, and the massive effort to keep sargassum at bay seems to be working.
Sargassum barriers are keeping the sargassum that does arrive out to sea and workers are employed on the beaches to clean up the sargassum that does reach the shore.
Top Beaches In Playa Del Carmen
There is no shortage of fantastic beaches in Playa del Carmen.
The one that stands out the most due to its massive arched entryway and close proximity to Playa del Carmen’s 5th Avenue is Playa Fundadores.
Other popular beaches include Playacar Beach, Playa Mamitas, Playa Maroma, Punta Esmeralda Beach, and Coco Beach.
@latuavacanzainmessico La spiaggia del Mamita’s a Playa del Carmen senza alghe (Sargazo) 🏝️😎 • • • #mamitas #beach #sargazo #playadelcarmen #rivieramaya #caribemexicano #playa #mare #mar #mexico #latuavacanzainmessico ♬ suono originale – La tua vacanza in Messico
How To Enjoy Playa Del Carmen’s Sparkling Beaches
Whether you want to find a nice place to relax and unwind in the sunshine or you’re looking for a little more excitement, you can find it on Playa del Carmen’s beaches.
You’ll find beach clubs, water activities, and restaurants at some of the beaches and peace and quiet and locals on others.
The beach you choose depends on the experience you’re looking for, and fortunately, the beaches are cleaner than ever.
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