by Donald Wood
Last updated: 11:25 AM ET, Sun August 16, 2026
Travelers heading to Mexico’s Caribbean coast may see some
improvement in one of the region’s biggest ongoing problems, but the sargassum
season is far from over.
According to Mexico News
Daily, sargassum has begun to recede from beaches across Quintana Roo after
peaking in June and July. Quintana Roo Sargassum Monitoring Network director
Esteban Amaro Mauricio said the decline should become more noticeable in
September and October.
International travelers heading to popular destinations such
as Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum should continue checking local beach
conditions before visiting, as some areas remain heavily affected.
Tulum and Mahahual are still dealing with significant
accumulations, while Playa del Carmen has recently seen less sargassum. Puerto
Morelos, meanwhile, had been relatively clear before experiencing a significant
influx this week.
According to Reuters, around 110,000 tons of sargassum have been
collected across Quintana Roo so far this year, with Amaro projecting the total
could reach about 150,000 tons. That would be well above the estimated 94,000
tons collected last year.
Recent monitoring showed dozens of beaches under red alerts
for excessive sargassum, particularly in southern Quintana Roo. The amount
reaching individual beaches can change rapidly based on ocean currents, wind
and weather conditions.
Amaro expects sargassum arrivals to become minimal during
November and December, although the algae could return as early as January
2027. That would be an unusually early start compared with previous years, when
the season more commonly began in April or May.
Mexican officials are also stepping up efforts to keep the stinky
seaweed from reaching the shoreline. The federal government announced a major
investment in July to strengthen collection in open water and along
beaches, while expanding efforts to process and reuse the material.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
