Playa del Carmen Seaweed Survival Guide (2023)

Wondering what the seaweed is like in Playa del Carmen? You’ve come to the right guide!

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but as a travel blogger that lives in Playa del Carmen, the seaweed has become an unfortunate reality almost all year round.

But that doesn’t mean that you can’t still have an incredible vacation in Playa del Carmen, and there are still plenty of days where the beaches are absolutely beautiful and seaweed-free.

In this post, I’m sharing the insider scoop on the Playa del Carmen seaweed situation so you know what to expect when visiting.

Plus, I’m sharing my best tips and resources for checking the seaweed conditions, and revealing the best beaches in the region that are almost always seaweed free.

Ready to find out the truth about the Playa del Carmen seaweed situation? Let’s get started!

What to Know About the Playa del Carmen Seaweed

Here is what you should know about the sargassum in Playa del Carmen:

What’s the seaweed like in Playa del Carmen?

Technically the seaweed that has arrived on Mexico’s Caribbean coast is called sargassum (“sargazo” in Spanish), which is a type of brown algae that floats in huge masses and washes up on the shore.

Unfortunately in recent years, the once pristine beaches in Playa del Carmen have become inundated with sargassum, which ebbs and flows with the weather conditions.

I’ll be honest, the seaweed situation in Playa del Carmen can be bad at some times during the year. I won’t sugarcoat it, the seaweed can be REALLY BAD and extremely off-putting.

At its worst, there can be massive piles of brown sargassum on the beaches with an overpowering rotten eggs smell that makes you want to hold your breath.

And the worst part about it is that it can be totally unpredictable. See below the two pictures are of the same beach 😳

Which beaches in Playa del Carmen have seaweed?

The sargassum can show up on almost any of the beaches in Cancun, Tulum, Playa del Carmen, and the Riviera Maya.

Some of the popular beaches have more natural inlets that shield them a little better from having much sargassum (like Playa Xpu-Ha for instance) but it’s never a guarantee.

In downtown Playa del Carmen sargassum tends to be the worst in between the Cozumel ferry and the Constituyentes ferry.

Where does the Playa del Carmen seaweed come from?

Sargassum is a natural phenomenon that has been around for centuries, but the exact cause of its enormous rise in recent years is still not clear.

Scientists speculate that it is due to an increase in nutrient sources polluting the ocean, which fuels the sargassum and helps it to bloom into a “sargasso sea”.

It’s also believed to be affected by rising water temperature from climate change, global warming, and shifting weather patterns.

When is seaweed season in Playa del Carmen?

The seaweed season in Playa del Carmen is usually during the summer months from April–August.

During these months, the seaweed conditions are typically worse, however it can still show up at any time of year.

But while the Playa del Carmen sargassum season can be pretty unpredictable, one silver lining is that the seaweed conditions can literally change overnight.

Honestly I have seen instances where there has been brown murky water at the beach one day, and the next day the water will be completely clear.

The drastic change can actually be quite shocking!

I wouldn’t bet on that happening every day but it’s important to know that things can change for the better and it really just depends on the weather patterns and sea conditions.

Are Playa del Carmen beaches swimmable when there’s seaweed?

When the Riviera Maya seaweed levels are really high, the water and beaches will be full of brown sargassum making them pretty unswimmable.

However, at lower levels, the seaweed just ends up on the beach which can be manually cleared away and the water can still be pretty turquoise and clear.

There are typically clean up crews working every morning on Playa del Carmen’s beaches to clear away the seaweed.

How do they deal with the seaweed in Playa del Carmen?

Most hotels in Playa del Carmen will have a crew that clears the seaweed away from the beaches every morning.

Depending on the amount of seaweed, this often involves a lot of heavy machinery using a bulldozer, dump trucks, rakes, and shovels to clear it away.

The hotels and beach clubs in Playa del Carmen will do their best to clear the seaweed that’s washed up on the beach but if it remains in the water, there’s not really much they can do to get rid of it.

Aside from the resorts’ efforts, the Mexican government and local authorities have also tried many tactics to rectify the current situation with the seaweed as it has the potential to have a major impact on tourism in the state of Quintana Roo.

Basically they tried to do anything they could to prevent losing tourism dollars from visitors deterred by the state of the beaches of Mexico.

This included everything from installing floating seaweed barriers to sending in the Mexican navy.

But alas, nothing really helped and the levels have since just kind of ebbed and flowed with the seasons.

Should You Rebook Your Trip to Playa del Carmen?

As disappointing as it can be, I strongly believe the seaweed conditions shouldn’t discourage you from visiting Playa del Carmen or the Mayan Riviera.

The seaweed ebbs and flows and there are just so many amazing things to do in Riviera Maya that you CAN AND WILL still have an unforgettable vacation experience in Mexico.

Plus, there are many still beaches in Playa del Carmen without seaweed that are worth visiting for a day trip or an overnight stay.

But do your research on where you’re planning to stay and if it’s really a deal-breaker for you, then at least you can make an informed decision.

Playa del Carmen Seaweed Resources

Since the sargazo has arrived in Playa del Carmen, a lot of great online resources have popped up to share information.

These are a few of the best online resources I’ve found to check for up-to-date Playa del Carmen beach conditions.

Facebook Groups

Join these Facebook groups for the best updates:

Seaweed Updates Riviera Maya

One great resource for checking out seaweed conditions is the Sargasso Seaweed Updates Riviera Maya Facebook group.

This group is solely dedicated to sharing information about seaweed conditions in Riviera Maya.

It’s a good place to find current seaweed conditions in Playa del Carmen as members will frequently post photos of what it looks like at specific beaches and resorts on a particular date.

Red Sargazo

Another popular Facebook group is called Red de Monitoreo del Sargazo de Quintana Roo.

This group is in Spanish but they post really handy Playa del Carmen seaweed maps showing the seaweed levels with color-coded ratings for each beach like excessive, abundant, moderate, very low, and without seaweed.

These infographics are posted almost daily and pinned to the top of their feed for easy access.

And you don’t really need to know Spanish to interpret the Rivera Maya sargassum seaweed map.

Resort Specific Facebook Groups

Another thing you can do to check the seaweed in Riviera Maya is join a Facebook group that is dedicated to the specific hotel or resort you are planning to stay at.

Many resorts have Facebook groups that are used as an online forum for hotel guests, which is a good way to gauge conditions from actual guests on the ground.

Playa del Carmen Seaweed Webcams

Where to Go to Avoid the Seaweed in Playa del Carmen

The good news is that there are beaches in Riviera Maya where there is little to no seaweed.

These are great places to go for a day trip or even an overnight stay if you want to escape the seaweed and experience some really stunning beaches on Mexico’s Caribbean coast.

Now it’s never a guarantee that these beaches will be 100% seaweed-free but these are typically the best beaches in Riviera Maya without seaweed:

Cozumel

If you want to escape the Playa del Carmen sargazo, the closest place to go is Cozumel, which makes for a great day trip from Playa del Carmen.

Located about 45 minutes by ferry from downtown Playa del Carmen, Cozumel is a tropical island known for its beautiful Caribbean beaches and incredible coral reefs for snorkeling and scuba diving.

The beaches on the west side of the island usually have much less seaweed because they are blocked by the other side of the island.

My favorite beach on Cozumel is Playa Palancar, which is about a 30 minute drive from the ferry terminal.

It’s a super gorgeous beach with lots of amenities and a fun place to just spend the day chilling out at a beach club.

There are also tons of other fun things to do in Cozumel, like snorkeling with starfish at El Cielo, renting a jeep to explore the island, or going shopping in the quaint downtown San Miguel de Cozumel.

Isla Mujeres

Another place in Riviera Maya known for its seaweed-free beaches is Isla Mujeres, which is a tiny island just 15 minutes off the coast of Cancun.

At about 1.5 hours away from Playa del Carmen, taking a day trip to Isla Mujeres is a bit of a trek but definitely worth it!

Or if you want to stay longer, you can book at overnight stay at one of the beautiful Isla Mujeres hotels.

The absolute best beach on the island is Playa Norte, which is considered to be one of the best beaches in the world!

Another fun option for visiting the island is booking an Isla Mujeres catamaran sail, where you’ll get to set sail on the most unbelievably turquoise water.

Holbox

Located on the northern tip of Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, Holbox (pronounced “Hole-bosch”) is a stunning tropical island and one of Mexico’s most underrated beach destinations.

Because of its northern location, Isla Holbox delivers unbelievable beaches and tranquil turquoise waters for a seaweed-free escape.

Playa del Carmen to Holbox is about a 2.5 hour journey so it’s best for an overnight stay.

And once you check-in to one of the stunning hotels in Holbox, you probably won’t want to leave!

While in Holbox, you can simply chill out on the beach, go swimming with whale sharks, or even book a night time bioluminescence tour.

Isla Contoy

Located just a few miles off the coast of Cancun, Isla Contoy is an uninhabited tropical island that will leave you with a jaw-dropping first impression!

I’ve seen a lot of pretty beaches while living in Playa del Carmen and Isla Contoy is simply the best I’ve ever seen!

With its untouched white-sand beaches, crystal clear waters, and tropical palm trees, you won’t believe your eyes! AND it pretty much never has any seaweed!

Isla Contoy is a protected island that only allows 200 visitors per day so the only way to get there is by booking an Isla Contoy tour.

👉 If you want to see Isla Contoy with your own eyes, I recommend booking an Isla Contoy tour with this tour company!

Top Seaweed Free Activities

If you you’re not up for traveling to one of the nearby islands, there are still many amazing seaweed-free tours and activities that can be enjoyed right in Playa del Carmen and the surrounding Riviera Maya.

These are my top recommendations for seaweed free activities in Playa del Carmen:

1. Visit a freshwater cenote

The Yucatan peninsula is known for its incredible cenotes, which are freshwater swimming holes where you can swim, snorkel, or just hang out in a beautiful natural setting.

There are literally thousands of different cenotes in the region, unlike anywhere else in the world.

These are my favorite Playa del Carmen cenotes to visit, which are all perfect places to cool off and escape the seaweed.

2. Chill out at a rooftop pool

When the seaweed gets bad, the pool is pretty much gonna be your new best friend!

Luckily there are some pretty incredible rooftop pools in Playa del Carmen, where you won’t have to bother with any seaweed, sand, saltwater, or obnoxious beach vendors.

Plus, you’ll have all day access to comfortable lounge chairs, an umbrella for shade, and poolside food and beverage service. Not to mention some killer ocean views!

My favorite Playa del Carmen rooftop pool is Alessia Day Club at the Thompson Hotel (pictured above), which offers day passes and cabana rentals.

3. Explore ancient Mayan Ruins

For a more cultural experience, I would definitely recommend visiting the Tulum Ruins, which are located less than an hour south of Playa del Carmen.

The Tulum Ruins are the closest Mayan ruins to Playa del Carmen and the only beachfront Mayan Ruins in the state of Quintana Roo.

And for larger and grander ruins, head to the archaeological site of Chichen Itza, which is about 2.5 hours away from Playa del Carmen and makes for a fun day trip.

4. Go on a snorkeling or scuba diving tour

When the seaweed levels are high, it’s usually the worst closest to the beach and the rest of the ocean is more likely to be clear.

This makes Playa del Carmen snorkeling tours and even scuba diving still a viable option for those who want to do water activities.

Some of the best snorkeling I’ve done in Riviera Maya has been at El Cielo in Cozumel, which is a popular excursion for snorkeling with starfish and other marine life.

Another impressive spot for snorkeling in the Mexican Caribbean is at the coral reefs in Puerto Morelos.

Here are my top picks for snorkeling tours in Playa del Carmen:

• Tulum Ruins, Reef Snorkeling, Cenote and Caves
• El Cielo Snorkeling Tour in Cozumel
• Half-day Sea Turtle and Cenote Snorkeling Tour

5. Visit an adventure park

Playa del Carmen Seaweed Survival Tips

• Don’t stress about it: Stressing about the conditions won’t do anything to improve the seaweed problem on the beaches of Playa del Carmen. I’ve seen a lot a people post in the Facebook groups anxiously asking what it will be like for their trip 3-6 months from now. It’s completely unpredictable so it won’t do any good to stress about it ahead of time.

• Always have a plan B: It’s best to always have a backup plan for any of your planned activities in case the seaweed conditions are less than ideal. Keep some of the seaweed free activities I mentioned in mind as alternatives.

Playa del Carmen Seaweed: FAQs

Conclusion: Playa del Carmen Seaweed Guide

I hope this seaweed survival guide was helpful in explaining what the seaweed situation is really like in Playa del Carmen!

As I said, I think it’s important to know the facts but I definitely wouldn’t let it discourage you from visiting.

There are still many incredible seaweed-free beaches and fun seaweed-free activities to enjoy in Playa del Carmen and the surrounding Riviera Maya region.

Plus, Mexico is such a hospitable place with a vibrant culture, incredible cuisine, and unforgettable activities that you are sure to have an amazing time!

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