Riviera Maya sargassum & beach forecast
Mexico · 89 beaches and resorts
Veabird grades 89 beaches and resorts in Riviera Maya, Mexico, every six hours on seaweed, water, waves, weather and crowds, including 5 area pages covering a whole stretch of beach. The most are in Playa del Carmen, Puerto Morelos and Punta Maroma. On a typical beach here, sargassum risk is moderate or higher from March to October, peaks in June and July and is lowest in January and December. It varies by beach: Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancún has the highest typical risk and Wyndham Alltra Riviera Maya the lowest. Across the region, average highs run from about 84°F in January and December to 93°F in August, and the sea from about 79°F to 86°F. Rain is most likely in September and least likely in April.
This week, beach by beach
Playa del Carmen
- Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen Resort seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonDTueD-WedD+
- Grand Velas Riviera Maya seaweed peak: very highSatFSunD-MonDTueDWedF
- Hotel Riu Playacar seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonDTueD-WedD+
- Hotel Villa Del Mar seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonDTueD-WedD+
- Iberostar Quetzal (Playacar) seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonDTueD-WedD+
- Iberostar Waves Quetzal seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonDTueD-WedD+
- Magic Blue seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonD+TueD-WedD+
- Mahekal Beach Resort seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonDTueD-WedD+
- Ocean Riviera Paradise seaweed peak: very highSatFSunD-MonD-TueDWedF
- Palmaïa, The House of AïA seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonDTueD-WedD+
- Paradisus Playa del Carmen seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonDTueD-WedD+
- Paradisus Playa del Carmen La Esmeralda seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonD+TueDWedD+
- Paradisus Playa del Carmen La Perla seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonDTueD-WedD+
- Playa del Carmen Resorts seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonDTueD-WedD+
- Playa Maya seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonDTueD-WedD+
- Playacar Palace seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonDTueD-WedD+
- Princess Hotels and Resorts seaweed peak: very highSatFSunD-MonD-TueDWedF
- Riu Palace Mexico (Playacar) seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonDTueD-WedD+
- Riviera Caribe Maya seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonD+TueD-WedD+
- The Reef Coco Beach seaweed peak: highSatFSunD-MonC-TueDWedD+
- The Royal Haciendas seaweed peak: very highSatFSunD-MonD-TueDWedF
- Viceroy Riviera Maya, a Luxury Villa Resort seaweed peak: very highSatFSunD-MonD-TueDWedF
- Wyndham Alltra Riviera Maya seaweed peak: highSatFSunDMonC-TueD+WedC-
Puerto Morelos
- Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancún seaweed peak: very highSatFSunD-MonD+TueDWedD-
- Desire Riviera Maya Pearl Resort & Spa seaweed peak: very highSatFSunD-MonD+TueDWedD-
- Desire Riviera Maya Resort & Spa seaweed peak: very highSatFSunD-MonD+TueDWedD-
- Dreams Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa seaweed peak: very highSatFSunD-MonD+TueDWedD-
- Dreams Sapphire Resort & Spa seaweed peak: very highSatFSunD-MonD+TueDWedD-
- Excellence Riviera Cancún seaweed peak: very highSatFSunD-MonD+TueDWedD-
- Iberostar Selection Riviera Cancún seaweed peak: very highSatFSunD-MonD+TueDWedD-
- Marina El Cid Resort seaweed peak: very highSatFSunD+MonCTueC-WedD
- Now Jade Resort seaweed peak: very highSatFSunD+MonCTueC-WedD
- Palmar Beach Riviera Maya seaweed peak: very highSatFSunD-MonD+TueDWedD-
- Puerto Morelos Beach Resorts seaweed peak: very highSatFSunD-MonC-TueD+WedD-
- Secrets Riviera Cancun Resort seaweed peak: very highSatFSunDMonC-TueD+WedD
- Sensira Resort & Spa Riviera Maya seaweed peak: very highSatFSunD-MonD+TueDWedD-
- Villa Arrecifes seaweed peak: very highSatFSunD-MonD+TueDWedD-
Punta Maroma
- BlueBay Grand Esmeralda seaweed peak: very highSatFSunD-MonD-TueD-WedF
- El Dorado Casitas Royale seaweed peak: very highSatFSunDMonC-TueD+WedD-
- El Dorado Maroma seaweed peak: very highSatFSunD-MonD-TueD-WedF
- Hotel El Dorado Royale seaweed peak: very highSatFSunD+MonCTueC-WedD-
- Iberostar Playa Paraiso Resort seaweed peak: very highSatFSunDMonD+TueD+WedD-
- Maroma Resort and Spa by Orient-Express seaweed peak: very highSatFSunD-MonD-TueD-WedF
- Maroma, A Belmond Hotel seaweed peak: very highSatFSunD-MonD-TueD-WedF
- Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts seaweed peak: very highSatFSunD-MonC-TueD+WedD-
- Ocean by H10 Hotels seaweed peak: very highSatFSunD-MonD-TueD-WedF
- Palafitos Overwater Bungalows seaweed peak: very highSatFSunD-MonD-TueDWedF
- Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera seaweed peak: very highSatFSunD-MonD-TueD-WedF
- Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancún seaweed peak: very highSatFSunD-MonD-TueDWedF
- St. Regis Kanai Resort seaweed peak: very highSatFSunD-MonD-TueDWedF
- Villa Cobá seaweed peak: very highSatFSunD-MonD-TueD-WedF
Tulum
- Azulik Tulum seaweed peak: very highSatFSunDMonD-TueD-WedD-
- Dreams Tulum Resort & Spa seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonFTueFWedF
- Esperanza Playa seaweed peak: very highSatFSunDMonDTueD-WedD
- Grand Slam Fly Fishing Lodge seaweed peak: very highSatFSunD-MonFTueDWedD
- Hip Hotel Tulum seaweed peak: very highSatFSunD-MonDTueDWedC-
- Hotel Shibari Tulum seaweed peak: very highSatFSunDMonD-TueD-WedD
- Mukan Resort seaweed peak: very highSatFSunD-MonDTueDWedD
- Papaya Playa Project seaweed peak: very highSatFSunDMonD-TueD-WedD
- Pavoreal bravo club seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonFTueFWedF
- Pico Beach seaweed peak: very highSatFSunDMonD-TueD-WedD
- Tulum Beach Hotels seaweed peak: very highSatFSunDMonD-TueD-WedD-
- Yaan Welness Spa seaweed peak: very highSatFSunD-MonDTueDWedC-
Akumal
- Akumal Bay Beach & Wellness Resort seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonFTueFWedD
- Akumal Bay Beach Hotels seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonFTueFWedD
- Aquatech Villas de Rosa Resort seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonFTueFWedD
- Bahia Principe Explore Akumal seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonD-TueD-WedD
- Bahia Principe Explore Tulum seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonFTueFWedD
- Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya Resort & Spa seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonFTueFWedD
- Hilton Tulum Riviera Maya All-Inclusive Resort seaweed peak: very highSatFSunD-MonD-TueD-WedC-
- Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonFTueFWedD
- Villa Gauguin seaweed peak: very highSatFSunD-MonD-TueD-WedD+
- Villas Flamingo seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonFTueFWedD
Puerto Aventuras
- Aventura Cove Palace seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonDTueD-WedD
- Aventura Spa Palace seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonDTueD-WedD
- Barceló Maya Palace seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonD+TueD-WedD
- Catalonia Riviera Maya Resort and Spa seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonDTueD-WedD
- Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonDTueD-WedD
- Paamul Resort seaweed peak: very highSatFSunD-MonD+TueDWedD+
- Puerto Aventuras Beach Resorts seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonDTueD-WedD
Xpu-Há
- Barceló Maya Beach seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonDTueD-WedD
- Barceló Maya Grand Resort seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonDTueD-WedD
- Catalonia Royal Tulum (Xpu-Há) seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonFTueD-WedF
- El Dorado Seaside Palms seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonD-TueD-WedD-
- El Dorado Seaside Suites seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonD-TueD-WedF
- Grand Palladium Riviera Resort & Spa seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonFTueFWedD
Xcaret
- Hotel Xcaret Arte Lobby seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonDTueD-WedD+
- Hotel Xcaret México seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonDTueD-WedD+
- Occidental at Xcaret Destination seaweed peak: very highSatFSunFMonDTueD-WedD+
Grades for the next few days from Veabird's beach forecast, updated Oct 3, 18:00 UTC. Higher is better: A+ to F.
Weather, water & seaweed by month
| Month | Avg high | Sea | Chance of rain | Sargassum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 84°F | 79°F | 22% | Low |
| Feb | 85°F | 79°F | 16% | Low |
| Mar | 87°F | 81°F | 12% | Moderate |
| Apr | 89°F | 81°F | 10% | High |
| May | 91°F | 82°F | 22% | Very high |
| Jun | 92°F | 84°F | 40% | Very high |
| Jul | 92°F | 84°F | 33% | Very high |
| Aug | 93°F | 86°F | 35% | Very high |
| Sep | 92°F | 86°F | 47% | High |
| Oct | 89°F | 84°F | 45% | Moderate |
| Nov | 87°F | 82°F | 32% | Low |
| Dec | 84°F | 81°F | 26% | Low |
Regional monthly averages from Veabird's climate table for Riviera Maya; resort pages add their own spot's numbers where available. Sargassum is the typical-year risk on the median beach here.
Seaweed cleanup & barriers
- Offshore barriers
- Floating barriers along portions of Playa del Carmen, Puerto Morelos, Tulum; coverage varies by season.
- Public cleanup
- SEMAR vessels, municipal and hotel crews; heaviest-hit region on this list.
- Resort crews
- Resorts employ dedicated sargassum crews, some with private barriers.
- Typical clearing time
- same-day, but can be overwhelmed at peak
Safety notes
US State Dept: Quintana Roo, Level 2 (exercise increased caution)
- Sargassum peaks May–Aug; decomposing mats release hydrogen sulfide (avoid heavy piles).
- Cenote/snorkel operators vary in safety standards.
Things to do in Riviera Maya
- Tulum ruins
- Xcaret & Xel-Há parks
- Cenotes (Dos Ojos, Gran Cenote)
- Cozumel reefs
- Sian Ka'an Biosphere