SOL TRAVEL SECTION

Chuanmin Hu, distinguished university professor of optical oceanography at the University of South Florida (USF), said the warning signs appeared unusually early.

“The primary reason [for the large amount of sargassum] is that this year, the western Caribbean, including the Mexican coast, started high: about 1 million metric tons of sargassum in January, about 10 times the typical amount for that month.”

The situation has gotten so tricky that multiple hoteliers and tourism organizations didn’t respond to repeated requests for interviews.

Even so, Mexico is faring better than some other regions, according to a USF report published on June 30 that documented 33.6 million metric tons across the monitored Atlantic basin and described June levels in the Caribbean Sea as record high. But the worst “beachings” — when sargassum washes ashore — have been in Florida and the lesser Antilles rather than in Mexico, according to How Is The Sargassum, an independent sargassum monitoring site that covers 10 beaches on Mexico’s Caribbean coast.

That comparison is little comfort for companies and organizations that rely on travelers booking beach vacations in Mexico.

“During the summer months, many of my clients choose a different destination because one of the main reasons they’re going to Mexico is to enjoy those beautiful beaches,” said Cristina Cunha, owner of Luxe Voyage Travel, a member of Envoyage in Orlando, Florida. “If they can’t swim or spend time by the water, it changes the vacation they had in mind.”

The extended timeframe of the sargassum presence has added to the problem, according to Beverly Hartong, an independent contractor with Destinations & Beyond Travel, an Inspire Travel Group affiliate in Ravenna, Ohio.

“The sargassum issue used to be a summertime issue, and it waned in the fall and was nonexistent in the winter and early spring,” she said. “Now it has become more year round.”

The greater presence of — and awareness about — sargassum makes education especially important, according to Zachary Rabinor, founder and CEO of Journey Mexico, which maintains a sargassum update page on its website.

“Sargassum has impacted travel to Mexico’s Caribbean coast, with travelers wary of the situation and potential negative impact on their experience,” he said. “As always, our intention is to be the best real-time, on-the-ground, transparent source of information on the options available to our guests.”

Rabinor also notes growing interest in Mexico’s Pacific coast, which is unaffected by sargassum.

Stephanie Ellis, manager of WorldVia Academy at WorldVia Travel Network, describes a similar approach to keeping travelers informed.

“Sargassum is simply part of the conversation now,” she said. “For seasoned travelers, it is a known factor, and our job is to minimize its impact on their vacation through smart planning. For clients who have never heard of it, the education falls squarely on us.”

Timothy McBride, head of Nuba Insider Mexico, Nuba’s DMC in Mexico, sees a positive side to the current challenges.

“Clients are definitely asking more questions — and more sophisticated questions — about the situation,” he said. “In many ways, this awareness has helped to avoid surprises when clients do arrive, as was the case a few years ago. Generally, they understand that sargassum is seasonal and that it affects different parts of the coast very differently. With clear, up-to-date information, most concerns can be addressed quickly and bookings continue as planned.”

Managing the Situation

The tourism and hospitality industry sectors’ response to the sargassum crisis is broad, and includes the use of offshore barriers, boats, manual crews and tractors.

“In many ways, the sargassum season has encouraged our destination to become more proactive in how we address this natural phenomenon,” said Alejandro Lopez, corporate director of operations at Lomas Hospitality, the hotel management division of the Mexican tourism company Grupo Lomas. “It’s a challenge that our destination, along with many coastal regions around the world, continues to face. The difference lies in how we respond.”

Lomas Hospitality uses a privately funded offshore barrier at Maroma Beach, as well as ongoing maintenance and collection.

“Hotels are investing in preventive solutions, and the focus has shifted from simply reacting to sargassum to managing it responsibly,” said Mayra Garcia, the company’s director of strategic planning.

Mayakoba, meanwhile, has been using its Flexprin Beach Guard barrier since 2019 to redirect seaweed toward recovery areas, and collected material is processed for reuse in sectors including agriculture, textiles and pharmaceuticals. Elsewhere, entrepreneurs are experimenting with biofertilizers and construction blocks made from sargassum (one man, Omar Vazquez Sanchez, has been dubbed “Senor Sargazo” for his creation of “sargablocks” used to construct homes).

Shifting Conditions

Since sargassum conditions can vary widely by location and can change dramatically within hours, staying on top of the situation can be especially challenging.

“Sargassum can clear off a beach in a matter of hours and pile back up the next morning, and the beach 20 minutes down the coast can look fine,” Wright said. “Sargassum is very location specific. Tulum takes the worst of it because it faces straight into the Atlantic current and has no protection. Isla Mujeres and the west side of Cozumel barely see it, and it’s the same season, since the island itself blocks the incoming mats. Just north of Cancun is Costa Mujeres, which is protected by Isla Mujeres, so you’ll see very little sargassum on those beaches.”

Websites such as How Is The Sargassum provide frequently updated information, but up-to-the-minute information doesn’t necessarily help with booking travel in advance, notes Ellis.

“Here is the honest truth of it: There are daily reports, but clients are booked long before today’s status has any bearing on their travel date,” she said.

Her strategy, therefore, is to rely on local expertise and select hotels that are proactive about managing sargassum.

“I only offer properties with barriers or genuinely excellent cleanup operations, because the ones without change a vacation in an unpleasant way. Knowing the properties and setting expectations honestly is the single most valuable thing we do here.”

Katie Brown, an advisor at Travelmation in Marietta, Georgia, relies on firsthand knowledge to better guide her clients.

“I travel to Mexico frequently,” she said. “This past summer alone I spent nearly a month there, visiting multiple regions to experience conditions firsthand. If I’m going to sell a destination, I want to know what’s realistic and current for my clients, not based on outdated information.”

Adrienne Aragon, founder of Osaviva Travel in Calgary, Alberta, agrees about the value of expertise.

“For advisors, it’s all about knowing the areas you’re selling, and thinking a bit outside the box,” she said. “For clients who prioritize clear water this time of year, I lean toward Isla Mujeres, Cozumel or naturally protected bays. For clients who want beach space to relax and play, we recommend properties with wide beaches, like La Zebra in Tulum. Even on days where water is affected, there are spacious beaches to enjoy. We’re upfront with our clients that swimmability varies day to day, and we always consider a backup plan. Cenotes and boat excursions to the reef for snorkeling are a great way to include water activities when sargassum is impacting a client’s trip.”

The good news, according to Hu, is that better days are ahead.

“In the coming months — July and August — it’s likely at the same level as in the past two months for the Mexican Caribbean coast,” he said. “Sargassum typically decreases to minimal levels by late October or early November. So, the situations will be much improved by then.”

Even with current challenges, advisors and tour operators interviewed for this story repeatedly said demand has not disappeared.

“We’ve found that many clients choose to continue with their plans to visit the region, taking advantage of offers, promotions and packages offering great value and less people,” Rabinor said. “In fact, there are some incredible offers right now for this summer.”