La Playa beach & sargassum forecast
Orient Bay, St. Martin · Leeward Islands (Anguilla to Antigua), Antigua & Barbuda · 18.088, -63.022
Seaweed, water and beach grades update every 6 hours; live conditions load below.
Also listed as La Playa Orient Bay.
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One email when the seaweed clears or the beach grades A, at most once a week per beach. We only ask for your email address, and every email has a one-click unsubscribe.
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Questions about La Playa
Does Orient Bay get sargassum (seaweed)?
Yes, in season. At La Playa the typical-year risk is moderate or higher from May to August and peaks in July (high). How much lands varies a lot by year, wind and currents.
What are the worst and best months for seaweed at La Playa?
Worst: July, when heavy seaweed is most likely. Best: September through April, when the risk is usually low.
How warm is the water at La Playa?
About 86°F in October. The sea is warmest in September and October (about 86°F) and coolest in February (about 80°F).
When is the best time to visit La Playa?
For warm water, low seaweed and dry weather, aim for December through March. January is usually the quietest of those, with about 11 rainy days and a sea near 81°F; seaweed risk is very low.
Does La Playa have a sargassum barrier or beach cleanup?
Veabird doesn't track barriers hotel by hotel; this is what the Leeward Islands area does. Offshore barriers in Leeward Islands: few booms (some in St. Martin/St. Barths lagoons). Resort crews: Luxury resorts rake daily. Typical clearing time: Same-day at resorts; windward bays can stay fouled for weeks in peak years.
When is hurricane season in Leeward Islands?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs June through November and peaks around September. Veabird rates the storm risk in Leeward Islands as moderate compared with the other beaches it covers; flexible bookings and travel insurance help in the peak months.
What guests say about La Playa Orient Bay
Guests like Great location · Friendly staff
Watch for Cleanliness issues · Breakfast quality
- Cleanliness
7.9 - Service
10.0 - Location
10.0 - Room Quality
10.0 - Amenities
10.0 - Value for Money
10.0 - Food and Beverage
8.9 - Overall Experience
10.0
Read all 346 reviews · Compare on Expedia
Scores and reviews come from guests who stayed, through LiteAPI (Nuitée). The likes, watch-fors and category scores are an AI summary of those reviews. Partner links: Veabird may earn a commission.
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Sargassum season at La Playa
Sargassum risk at La Playa typically peaks around July (high: moderate or heavier seaweed on the beach in an estimated 45% of weeks). Months most likely to see heavy seaweed: July. Lowest-risk months: January, February, March, April, September, October, November and December. Actual landings vary a lot by year, wind and currents; check the live conditions above.
Estimated share of weeks in each month with moderate or heavier seaweed on the beach. Veabird takes the landing season measured on Martinique's shores (Madininair's hydrogen-sulfide sensors beside stranding sites, 2018–2026) and scales it by how often NOAA AOML satellites see notable seaweed within about 20 km of this stretch of coast: 21% of weeks here on average, against 14% off Martinique, so the full season applies. The satellite share (2016–2024, the top fifth of all coast-weeks, adjusted for this beach's exposure of 89%) measures seaweed offshore, not on the sand: off the Riviera Maya it reads high even in winter, when little lands. Very low under 10%, Low 10–24%, Moderate 25–44%, High 45–69%, Very high 70%+. Beach faces 48°; onshore winds from that direction push seaweed ashore. The satellite record as open data.
Weather, water & seaweed by month at La Playa
Average highs run from about 79°F in February and March to 85°F in September. The sea is warmest in September and October (about 86°F) and coolest in February (about 80°F). June is usually the driest, with about 9 rainy days; October is the wettest, with about 17 rainy days. Seaweed risk is usually lowest in December and highest in July.
| Month | Avg high | Sea | Rainy days | Sargassum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 80°F | 81°F | 11 | Very low |
| Feb | 79°F | 80°F | 10 | Low |
| Mar | 79°F | 81°F | 10 | Low |
| Apr | 80°F | 81°F | 12 | Low |
| May | 82°F | 83°F | 10 | Moderate |
| Jun | 83°F | 83°F | 9 | Moderate |
| Jul | 84°F | 84°F | 13 | High |
| Aug | 84°F | 85°F | 14 | Moderate |
| Sep | 85°F | 86°F | 16 | Low |
| Oct | 84°F | 86°F | 17 | Very low |
| Nov | 82°F | 84°F | 16 | Very low |
| Dec | 81°F | 82°F | 11 | Very low |
Monthly averages from 6 years of ERA5 reanalysis (Open-Meteo) for this area's 0.5° grid cell; rainy days have at least 1 mm (0.04 in). Sargassum is the typical-year estimate described above. Any given year can differ.
Cleanup & barriers
- Offshore barriers
- Few booms (some in St. Martin/St. Barths lagoons)
- Public cleanup
- Collectivité crews on French side; hotels elsewhere; Orient Bay and Grand Cul-de-Sac frequently inundated
- Resort crews
- Luxury resorts rake daily
- Typical clearing time
- Same-day at resorts; windward bays can stay fouled for weeks in peak years
Safety notes
US State Dept: Antigua & Barbuda, St. Kitts & Nevis, Anguilla Level 1; Sint Maarten Level 1; St. Martin (France) Level 2 per France (verify)
- Petty and vehicle crime in Philipsburg/Marigot; watch valuables
- Drive left on English islands, right on French side
- High hurricane exposure (Irma 2017, Luis 1995)
Check official advisories and local flags before swimming. Decomposing sargassum releases hydrogen sulfide; avoid heavy piles.
Things to do near Orient Bay, St. Martin
- Nelson's Dockyard, Antigua
- Shoal Bay East, Anguilla
- Maho Beach plane-spotting, SXM
- Gustavia shopping, St. Barths
- Brimstone Hill Fortress, St. Kitts
- Barbuda Frigate Bird Sanctuary
Fly in for the best beach days
Suggested dates fall in December, typically the lowest-seaweed month ahead for La Playa. Change them to match the live forecast above.
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Nearest airports
- Princess Juliana Intl (Sint Maarten) (SXM), ~11 km
- L'Espérance (Grand Case) (SFG), ~3 km
Nearby resorts
- Blue Bay Beach Orient Bay, St. Martin · 0 km
- Esméralda Resort Orient Bay, St. Martin · 0 km
- Orient Bay Beach Resorts Orient Bay, St. Martin · 1 km
- Club Orient Orient Bay, St. Martin · 1 km
- Secrets St Martin Hotels & Resorts Grand Case, St. Martin · 3 km
- Anse Marcel Beach Resort Grand Case, St. Martin · 3 km
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