TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums Cancun - Isla Mujeres - Mexico Tulum beaches - how bad is the seaweed?

I've googled and read differing and conflicting reports on the beach situation in Tulum. Clearly there are worse periods than others, and some of the videos make the beaches appear almost unusable and unswimmable. We're still considering a trip down in mid-to-late November.

Looking for any first-hand accounts from those that have 'been there, done that.' We've been to Tulum and other islands in the Caribbean during the rise of the sargassum seaweed crisis. We've experienced it when it's pretty bad (piles on the beach and in the water) and when it's been spotty and more of a day-to-day thing. We've seen how there are sections that are worse than others.

Basically, wanting to know if that is still the case or if it has indeed gotten worse as some videos and reports seem to indicate.

This sargassum event - which began in 2011 and has hugely impacted the Atlantic from Africa and into the entire Caribbean - is indeed unprecedented, at least in our experience and from expert reports on the topic. What was once a smaller inconvenience for a few weeks in the summer has become the monster it is today. And not just along the RM, but everywhere.

The sargassum has not been an issue in many areas the last few months, we’ve seen the beautiful, clear water colors and clean beaches. But if you research this you will find the actual situation throughout the Atlantic and Caribbean has not improved and is worsening. We’re starting to learn of the most probable causes, and about the heavy metals being found in samples tested which raises safety concerns about where the piles are being buried or moved to.

So to respond to your question of whether the sargassum is spotty or is getting worse, yes and yes. Just depends on where you are and when, and there is no way of knowing how a particular area will be in mid-November. I would however consider trip insurance simply because you are there at the tail end of a very busy hurricane season...

If you love the area, look for a resort or a rental that has a reef near it to help protect the beach.-- I was just in Akumal, and saw that there's floats across Akumal Bay to keep the seaweed back. I asked the waiter at Lol Ha about it, and he said it was new.-- He didn't know but thought that was placed there by the resort next to the restaurant.

Thanks! Appreciate the first-hand reports. Of course, no way of knowing for sure what things will be like in late November, but I always think the more info, the better.

Yes it’s nice to get a good feel for the current situation. We’re also heading down mid-Nov and will be curious to see if “our” beaches are still pristine. Our neighbors have been enjoying clean water and beaches and we are jealous!

larrysvacationwebcams.com shows how the beaches are in areas of Mexico and other places. The beaches look better than they did earlier this year but...you never know.

See for yourselves,

https://www.viajefest.com/sargazo-e...SG_MEILMWKNeh0c8Qpn1g8hXHsZBfVB5EmniR9GU

Photos from neighbors and visitors in the Playa area are looking very nice right now, we’ll be down at the same time...

Just returned from a short visit and the beaches from Cancun to Puerto Aventuras were gorgeous and free of sargassum so enjoy!

Just a quick update - the beaches and water are as beautiful as ever and free of sargassum. Spring months may be different, but currently we're enjoying gorgeous beaches!