Sargassum Returns to Puerto Morelos Beaches

A recent wave of sargassum has impacted the shores of Puerto Morelos, with several key areas experiencing significant amounts of the seaweed. The latest reports show that many of our local beaches are dealing with levels ranging from moderate to excessive.

According to Quintana Roo’s Secretariat of Ecology and Environment (SEMA) Sargassum Traffic Light Map, updated October 13, 2026, Puerto Morelos was among the more affected areas in the state’s northern coastal zone.

State of Local Beaches

In Puerto Morelos, the beaches most affected include Puerto Morelos Centro, Puerto Morelos Norte, Punta Caracol, and Bahía Petempich, all of which have reported excessive levels of sargassum.

Other nearby beaches have reported less severe conditions, although levels vary by location and can change with wind, currents, and daily cleanup. Punta Brava, for example, was recently described as having minimal sargassum.

This reflects a broader pattern in Quintana Roo’s northern coastal zone: of 100 monitored points, 53 were classified as having moderate, abundant, or excessive sargassum, including 18 classified as excessive.

A Regional Issue

While Puerto Morelos is currently facing a heavy influx, the situation varies throughout the Riviera Maya. In Tulum, several popular beaches are also listed as having excessive sargassum.

Cancun is a mixed bag. Some of its southern beaches have excessive seaweed, while many of its northern beaches have low levels.

Cozumel's east coast is seeing a large amount of sargassum, but its west coast, where the ferry from Playa del Carmen arrives, is mostly clear. A few places, like Isla Contoy and the ferry dock in Holbox, have no sargassum at all.

What to Expect

Sargassum commonly increases during the warmer months and often declines in October, although significant arrivals can continue late in the season depending on winds, currents, and local conditions. This year has been particularly active, with a large amount of sargassum in the Atlantic.

Local authorities and cleanup crews are working to manage the seaweed. Puerto Morelos’s offshore reef can calm nearshore waves, but it does not prevent sargassum from reaching the beach. Local conditions therefore vary considerably by day and location.

Forecast winds and rising waves may affect daily beach conditions, with reported winds of about 11–19 km/h and gusts of up to roughly 30 km/h later in the week.