Cancun expecting sargassum arrival this week

This week, the Mexican Caribbean will see an increase in sargassum, with some areas of the sun-drenched region already reporting notable seaweed sightings.

A sizable sargassum patch that has been drifting from Africa toward the Mexican Caribbean coast is expected to wash up on nearby beaches soon.

The northern parts of the region are anticipated to be among the most affected, according to recent information from the Quintana Roo Sargassum Monitoring Network, though southern locations are also anticipating rising seaweed levels.

With the first wave of the impending sargassum patch reaching the coastline last Saturday, authorities in a number of popular tourist destinations, including Puerto Morelos, have already activated enhanced cleaning protocols.

This week, there will likely be a significant increase in sargassum levels in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and the wider Riviera Maya, similar to what happened in early 2023 when the season started much earlier than usual.

Despite the unsettling forecast, authorities in the well-known tourist area have increased the number of cleaners and equipment deployed to clear sargassum from public beaches.

However, because sargassum is such a strong natural force, visitors should be ready to make alternate plans in case their preferred beach is covered in seaweed.

Playa del Carmen and Tulum, two popular tourist destinations, have put in several kilometers of barriers to keep the macroalgae from getting to the shoreline, making them particularly well-prepared for sudden increases in sargassum levels.

Sargassum can be found on beaches in the hotel zone as well as in Costa Mujeres in Cancun, by far the most popular beach destination this summer.

The seaweed monitoring network for the state predicts that Marln, Ballenas, Delfines, and Punta Nizuc will likely have significant amounts of seaweed.