It wasn’t always this bad.
Sargassum’s significant growth over the years has really put a damper on Caribbean beach vacations.
If the beach lover doesn’t know where and when to go to best avoid it, the stinky seaweed just might ruin their trip.
Earlier this summer, ABC News reported that nearly 38 million metric tons of sargassum had been observed in the Caribbean, which, sadly, set a new record. It was a 58% increase from the previous record of about 22 million metric tons set in June 2022.
So yes, some years are better than others. But overall, it’s still a problem for the Caribbean.
The Mexican Caribbean seems to be hit the hardest, but destinations like Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Barbados, and parts of the Bahamas can get hit heavy too. Sargassum even makes its way up to some Florida beaches.
Sargassum releases hydrogen sulfide gas when it rots, making a horrific smell. It can also irritate your eyes, nose, throat, and is known to contain jellyfish or sea lice.
The Great Atlantic Sargassum belt, a “new phenomenon” according to ABC News, first occurred back in 2011, prompting research to begin studying the large mass. It doesn’t seem like this “phenomenon” is going to magically disappear anytime soon either.
The sargassum season is so broad, ranging from March to October. However, the worst stretch is the thick of the summer season between May and August – but it can still be an issue past these months.
I’ve traveled to the Caribbean a few times this year, most recently as of last week. Breathtaking scenery surrounds…but the sargassum problem remained.
While the stinky seaweed grows and grows, so to do the Caribbean tourism numbers.
We know this stuff isn’t truly stopping people from traveling to this gorgeous region.
Hotels employ numerous workers who spend practically all day cleaning the stinky seaweed up. But do you really want to see tractors going up and down the beach all morning as you try to relax on vacation?
Some places are better than others at cleaning, and some areas of the beaches are often hit harder than other areas, which makes the cleaning process almost too much.
This is why travelers must work with a trusted travel advisor who frequently travels to the Caribbean and understands this issue. They know which resorts have the best beaches.
Barriers can be deployed offshore to collect sargassum mats before they reach beaches, however this isn’t a perfect fix. Humans can fight to stop it, but Mother Nature is a fickle beast – she does what she wants.
The experts say limiting agricultural runoff and improving wastewater treatment are key to helping improve the overall situation and limit the future growth of sargassum.
This would require massive collaboration…
Maybe the problem won’t be so bad in the coming years. Maybe 2026 won’t see a new record amount of sargassum like 2025.
A guy can dream, right?
Let me know your thoughts about sargassum in the Caribbean and follow me on social media: @EricBowman_
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
