The season begins between April and May and ends until August. During this time, the algae appear on the Mexican Caribbean beaches. Its presence has affected tourism in Holbox or Cozumel and much of the Coast of Quintana Roo. However, there are tourist destinations on Mexico’s Caribbean Coast where visitors can enjoy beautiful beaches without worrying about sargassum.
Sargassum is a harmless yellow alga, but it can be highly harmful to people, flora, and fauna in large quantities. For this reason, we list some beach alternatives that are free of sargassum or have a low concentration on their coasts. We also give options outside the Caribbean to avoid altogether.
Beaches without sargassum
- Playa Chiquilá: Just an hour and a half from Playa del Carmen is the small and picturesque pier of Chiquilá.
- Isla Contoy: Here, one can enjoy deserted beaches and clear blue waters, as the only inhabitants are biologists studying the local fauna. This exuberant paradise is a national park and is a significant nesting area for birds and sea turtles.
- Isla Mujeres Playa Centro: Blue Flag certified.
- Isla Mujeres Punta Sur: quieter than Playa Centro, one can find restaurants with delicious food.
Beaches with very low sargassum
- Punta Mosquito
- Holbox Downtown
- Punta Cocos
- Costa Mujeres
- Playa Mujeres
- Isla Mujeres North
- Beach Playa del Niño
- Puerto Juárez
- Cancún Playa Las Perlas
- Playa Langosta
- Cancún Playa Tortugas
- Cancún Caracol Beach
- Punta Cancun
- Cancun Gaviota Azul
- Beach Cancun Chac – Mool
- Cancun Marlin
- Beach Cancun Ballenas
- Beach Cancun Delfines Beach
- Cancun Punta Nizuc
- Passion Island
- Cozumel North
- San Juan Beach
- Cozumel Pier
- Chankanaab
- Beach Mia
- San Francisco
- Beach Palancar
- El Cielo
- Punta Sur
- Beach Mamitas
- Playacar ZH
Oaxaca
Other options to visit to avoid sargassum altogether are some of the coasts of Oaxaca:
- Mazunte: A beach next to a magical town, with warm waters and moderate waves ideal for swimming or simply sunbathing and seeing the sunset.
- Bahías de Huatulco: An extension of nine beaches – Conejos, Chahué, Santa Cruz, Tangolunda, Cacaluta, Órgano, and Maguey make a paradisiacal place with panoramic views of rivers, valleys, and mountains.
- Bahía San Agustín: Here, tourists can find two beaches of soft white sand, with moderate waves and not crowed. It has nearby hotels, or if we are an adventurer, a camp is another option.
Let’s escape to Holbox.
On the north side of the Yucatan Peninsula, Holbox escapes the worst of the sargassum. Here we can enjoy its quiet beaches with unique white sand. Holbox is known for its beautiful beaches and bioluminescence and its relaxed atmosphere and warm waters, perfect for swimming and snorkeling. From June to September, we can even swim with whale sharks. The island is ideal for a stopover for several days or even weeks.
Mexico offers a wide variety of beautiful beaches from which to choose. Just remember to always take precautions before entering a beach in case of any natural phenomenon that may be occurring. In addition, there are several options to venture outside the typical tourist areas and find places that are not so crowded to enjoy the scenery with tranquility.
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If you are interested in this post, you may be interested in the following ones:
Oaxaca Tour among Forests, Handicrafts, and Beaches
Mazunte’s beaches (welcome to the shores of the world)
Trip to Oaxaca: Enjoy the beautiful beaches of the Coast