Riviera Maya regains its color as sargassum subsides
Slowly but surely, the Riviera Maya has begun to regain the clear turquoise waters that underpin much of its tourist appeal, following several months of massive sargassum arrivals along the Quintana Roo coast. The post Riviera Maya regains its color as sargassum subsides appeared first on Mexico News Daily
The Riviera Maya is experiencing a resurgence in its famed turquoise waters after a season marked by significant sargassum seaweed arrivals along the Quintana Roo coastline. According to David Buchanan García, head of the Federal Maritime-Terrestrial Zone in Tulum, local beaches are returning to their pristine state following the removal of 5,600 tonnes of sargassum in recent months.
Despite this positive development, García emphasized that cleanup efforts will persist in preparation for potential future deposits of the macroalgae.
Arturo Quintero Díaz, head of the Municipal Public Services Department for Benito Juárez municipality in Cancún, echoed this sentiment, noting that the slowdown in sargassum influxes is consistent with the natural cycle of these seaweeds, which typically see fluctuations and a gradual decline between August and October. 2026 has been the worst year on record for sargassum in the Riviera Maya, with Quintana Roo removing 124,852 tonnes from its coasts alone, a 29,069-tonne increase from the same period in 2025, according to the Environment Ministry.
Cancún has also made significant strides, collecting 29,482 tonnes of sargassum this year, more than doubling the 16,000 tonnes collected throughout 2025. Playa Delfines, Playa del Carmen, Cancún, Puerto Morelos, Tulum, and Mahahual were among the areas requiring the most attention. Despite the promising outlook for 2026, challenges remain for the coming year.
Esteban Amaro Mauricio, head of the Quintana Roo Sargassum Monitoring Network, told La Jornada that while wash-ups are expected to be minimal in November and December, they could increase in early January, a phenomenon that began as early as January in 2026, marking the earliest arrival of sargassum since the seasonal phenomenon affected the Mexican Caribbean 12 years ago.
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