Due to the strong east-to-west flowing winds, the monitoring network is anticipating that this mass of 5,000 km2 (3,100 mi2) will hit the waters of the Mexican Caribbean in the coming weeks. They expect that the mass will arrive in waves hitting mainly in the Southern Zone of the State, in about two weeks.

Join or FB Seaweed Reporting Groups:

• Mexico Sargassum Seaweed Updates (Cancun, PDC, Tulum, etc.)
• Dominican Republic Sargassum Seaweed Reports (Punta Cana, Cabarete, etc.)
• Sargassum Seaweed in Caribbean | Monitoring and Daily Updates
• Sargassum Seaweed Florida: Daily Updates and Photo Reports

This comes after approximately 135 tons were expected to wash ashore on the tranquil waters of the Mexican Caribbean in mid-April. In total, this year there is expected to be between 200 and 300 thousand tons of sargassum washing on the coasts of the Mexican Caribbean according to the Sargassum Monitoring Network.

The rotting, stinking algae is composed of gas-filled structures that keep the brown seaweed buoyant and make its way to all Caribbean islands, the Gulf of Mexico, and Southeast Florida. When washing ashore, not only does it stink, but it is not advised to swim next to it as it can cause the skin to turn red and into an itchy rash.

While it is harmful to humans, the seaweed helps with shoreline stability and is home to many marine species and the algae helps with erosion and provides beach plants with nutrients.

Along with the Mexican Caribbean, the massive amounts of sargassum have impacted other destinations in the Caribbean region, such as the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and even the Florida Peninsula.

In the Dominican Republic, hoteliers and local authorities are cleaning beaches every morning and installing ocean barriers as sargassum peaks between May and August on the country’s shores.

The post Seaweed Alert: 5,000 Square Kilometers Of Sargassum Heading To Mexican Caribbean appeared first on Traveling Lifestyle.

From dips in the crystal clear waters to journeys through the dense jungles and multiple yoga retreats, the city is one of the most Instagrammable and mystic cities in Mexico.

Whether you are looking to relax, recharge or journey beyond this summer, here are five resorts to stay at in Tulum.

Casa Malca

Casa Malca is a chic 71-room hotel in Tulum, which blends refined luxury and artistic splendor.and offers three restaurants on property. Boasting a world-renowned multi-million dollar art collection meticulously curated by the visionary Lio Malca, the hotel is a haven with a rich cultural tapestry and lavish accommodations. The mansion once owned by Pablo Escobar offers guests a swimming pool which looks to the ocean through a tunnel to paradise, as well as an underground swimming pool and a stunning rooftop with 360-degree views.

With suites ranging up to 650 sq. ft.with floor-to-ceiling windows, they offer views of the beach or jungle. Alongside a 6,651-ft private beach, guests can book a massage or enjoy specials like the Sobada Maya and Swedish massage. This summer, book directly with Casa Malca and save 20% on rates from May to September.

Hilton Tulum Riviera Maya

Overlooking white-sand beaches and Caribbean coastline of the Riviera Maya, Hilton Tulum Riviera Maya All-Inclusive Resort is the brand’s largest resort in the Caribbean and Latin America. The resort is the brand’s first all-inclusive offering in Tulum and joins the campus of Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya to offer 735 stylish rooms, including 59 suites, 13 all-inclusive dining experiences, eight resort pools along with a fitness center with a yoga studio and spin room.

This summer, families can experience the ultimate getaway with their Family Fun Break Package, offered February 28th, 2024 to December 31st, 2024 as kids will be able to stay for free during this period. Families will enjoy a three-night stay in one of the resort’s Ocean View rooms with complimentary round-trip airport transportation This package provides access to the Family Zone, 13 All-Inclusive bars and restaurants, daily activities and a dedicated entertainment program.

Casa Chablé

Set on an idyllic strip of land between a white sand beach and tropical jungle, Casa Chablé is the first luxury eco-resort in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Just 22 miles south of picturesque Tulum, this property is the third location from Chablé Hotels, Mexico’s leading luxury hospitality and wellness brand. Offering just five standalone beachfront bungalows and a main villa housing five guest rooms, the intimate retreat offers true barefoot luxury on 12 acres of tropical jungle nestled along white-sand beaches.

Along with their thatched-roof gourmet restaurant serving fresh daily catch, an oceanfront wellness cabana, gym, Casa Principal swimming pool and private beach dotted with canopy daybeds and hammocks, guests can enjoy a multitude of wildlife encounters and water activities just off the resort’s shores.

The property recently announced its Summer Getaway promotion (starting at $430/night) with not-to-miss preferred rates for an unforgettable escape in the biosphere. Stay 3 or more nights at Casa Chablé this summer and receive up to a 33% discount on the best available rate, daily breakfast for two, a welcome amenity and $150 resort credit per stay/per room. Guests who book this package also have access to Casa Chablé’s kayaks, paddle board and beach bikes to explore the biosphere by land and sea.

Amansala

Amansala is an all-inclusive yoga and wellness resort in Tulum named in Sanskrit after Tulum’s peaceful, crystal-clear waters. Aman (peace) and Sala (waters) perfectly encapsulate this eco-chic boutique hotel, where they offer all-inclusive mind-body-spirit tune-up retreats as well as rooms where you can just lounge by the pool or beach and create your itinerary. The village-like setting consists of two properties, Grande and Chica, each made up of a variety of types of rooms as well as three yoga shalas and two restaurants serving delicious fresh food from the nearby waters and local purveyors.

This summer, send the family to camp at Amansala with their Family Summer Camp package ($1,350/night for up to four people, meals and activities included).

Reconnect with each other and nature, create remarkable memories by kayaking in cenotes, taking Spanish classes, going on guided turtle walks, star gazing, and just spending quality time with those that you love.

If fitness is your focus, work on your bikini body this summer, with their signature Bikini Bootcamp program. A typical day would start with a beach walk followed by yoga, a delicious healthy breakfast, fitness or sculpting classes, time to relax on the beach, lunch, an afternoon massage followed by a restorative yoga class, and a delicious dinner around a communal table. Prices start at $465 a night per person, with sessions starting June 5-11, July 1-7, and August 30-September 6.

Mi Amor Hotel

Mi Amor Hotel is nestled upon a small rocky outcrop overlooking the Caribbean Sea, Mi Amor Hotel is a romantic hotel perfect for couples to relax and reconnect. Designed using iconic colors and textures reminiscent of the “Acapulco Heyday” era of the 1950’s, the Art Deco, Acapulco Heyday-inspired playground features uniquely-designed accommodations. Offering seven different room categories, whether oceanfront or in our palmed jungle, all are close enough for guests to be serenaded by the sea.

Hideaway inside one of their private striped cabanas perched among the lush gardens while listening to the waves or swing from hammock chairs over the infinity pool enjoying the sounds of the sea. Take in a couples spa treatment or a cocktail class before dining at Hinostroza which features brunch every day and an intimate dinner menu highlighting Mexico´s abundance of seafood. Plan a romantic private four-course private dinner overlooking the Caribbean Sea all in the seductive color red to bring a little passion to the evening or book The Perfect Date and see the nearby ruins and explore cenotes with a private guide.

The post TOP 5 Tulum Resorts With Summer 2024 Deals appeared first on Traveling Lifestyle.

“Some hotels have up to 300 employees ready to collect sargassum, depending on the resort’s size, because there are some with very large beach fronts. However, if sargacero vessels are put in operation, collection will be much easier. They have worked,” said Jesús Almaguer Salazar, President of the Hotel Association of Cancun, Puerto Morelos and Isla Mujeres.

Resorts managers have also spoken to authorities regarding the ocean barriers to prevent the seaweed from washing ashore.

“We have been talking for months with the Naval Region Admiral, and thanks to that, anti-sargassum barriers are being placed from Puerto Morelos to Mahahual… These barriers significantly reduce the arrival to the beach,” Almaguer stated.

Some of the most popular beaches in Quintana Roo are installing up to 8,600 meters of anti-sargassum barriers. This reinforces the labor of 22 small boats, an ocean vessel, four beach sweepers, 11 algae collectors, and eight amphibious bands to control sargassum in 2024, according to REPORTUR.mx.

For its part, the Secretary of Navy (Semar) has 22 smaller vessels ready to support the “Natans” ship operations, according to El Heraldo.

Hoteliers are also lobbying for the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) to rethink the type of population the state houses so the national government allocates more funds for the particular issues this region has, sargassum, for instance. 

Meanwhile, due to low temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean, sargassum season in Quintana Roo started several weeks later than usual.

So far, the most affected beaches include Playa del Carmen, Sian Ka’an, Cozumel, Tulum, and some coasts between Cancun and Puerto Morelos.

But it doesn’t mean these beaches are dirty all day long. Authorities work unstoppably to clean them as soon as possible. 

For the time being, tourism projections have been positive and hoteliers expect figures to continue growing during the rest of the year.

“We had a very good (Easter) season. That serves as a base for the rest of the year. It is very important to have passed Holy Week without serious incidents,. We all know that it is complicated because there is a lot of land tourism. But we are very happy. We are having good results and we hope to continue like this,” Almaguer stated.

The post Mexico’s Beach Resorts Increase Staff To Fight Sargassum Ahead Of Summer 2024 appeared first on Traveling Lifestyle.

On May 3, Tulum International Airport Felipe Carrillo Puerto (TQO) will receive its first passengers from Toronto, and on May 4, from Montreal.

“New route alert! Beginning May 3, 2024, you’ll be able to fly direct to Tulum from Toronto on Fridays and Sundays, and from May 4, 2024, direct from Montreal on Saturdays.” Air Canada said in a press release.

This is part of Air Canada’s diversification strategy for popular destinations, according to Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President, Revenue and Network Planning at Air Canada.

For his part, Miguel Torruco Marqués, Mexico’s Secretary of Tourism, celebrated the start of the new two routes. 

“Without connectivity, there is no tourism, and the [Toronto and Montreal] new routes to the new Tulum International Airport, which is ready to receive five million passengers, will boost the arrival of tourists from our second most important source market for international tourists.”

By summer 2024, Air Canada will be operating 520 daily flights to 120 destinations in Canada, the US, and the Caribbean, accounting for 66,000 seats, which represents an increase of 5 percent from 2023. 

Air Canada is the latest carrier flying to Tulum non-stop. On March 31, the destination welcomed its first-ever United Airlines flight from Boston, and some days later, another from Chicago. 

As of today, United transports passengers to Tulum from eight American cities.

Other airlines offering non-stop flights to Tulum include Delta, which started operations to this town on March 28 from Atlanta, and American Airlines which offers flights to Tulum from Dallas and Charlotte.

Representing Central America, Copa Airlines has been operating a Panama-Tulum route since February.

On June 13, JetBlue will fly to Tulum from New York (JFK). For its part, Spirit Airlines has announced the start of operations to Tulum from Fort Lauderdale and Orlando in the next few months.

Iberojet in Europe also plans to offer flights to Tulum from Spain and France later this year.

The post Another Major International Airline To Start Flights To Tulum On May 2 appeared first on Traveling Lifestyle.

A few days ago, over 120 tons of sargassum impacted Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Cozumel beaches. Over the next few weeks, Playa del Carmen will receive up to 300 tones per day.

Northeastern winds on the Caribbean Sea produced by a cold front from a few days ago had kept sargassum at bay. 

However, an anticyclone plus new southeastern winds combined with higher temperatures will inevitably attract more sargassum, according to the Oceanographic Institute of the Gulf and Caribbean Sea.

“We know from experience that higher temperatures are correlated to the quantities of sargassum that will arrive. So, we are prepared to increase the collection, because from today the arrival will definitely begin to intensify,” said María de Lourdes Várguez Ocampo, Secretary of Sustainable Environment and Climate Change of Solidaridad.

The amount of seaweed washing ashore depends on multiple human factors as well as unpredictable weather conditions in the Atlantic Ocean.

This time around, sargassum volumes have seen a reduction. In the first two months of the year, Tulum, Playa del Carmen, Tancah, Cobá and Pole beaches collected 800 tons less than in the same timeframe in 2023. 

But the government won’t let its guard down. The Mexican Navy, along with State and private organizations, have geared up to combat sargassum months before the season began.

Cleaning heavy machinery and special vessels have been purchased to help the army of staffers who collect the seaweed right on the beach.

But that’s not all. Since April 1, the Navy has also been installing 8,600 meters of barriers to collect seaweed in the sea before it washes up on Cancun, Tulum, Playa del Carmen, and other Caribbean beaches, said Admiral Rafael Ojeda.

“Regarding Operation Sargasso, it began on April 1. We have four sweepers, 22 small vessels, 11 sargaceras, a sargacero ocean vessel, eight compacting band machines, and barriers,” said Admiral Ojeda.

Although beachgoers can find sargassum all year long, the arrival season as such, typically goes from April to August.

This seaweed is no longer a merely aesthetic issue. According to studies, its unusual overproduction is wreaking havoc on the Mexican coral barrier and destroying vital nurseries for the conservation of marine species. 

While sargassum can mess up with your Instagram pictures, rest assured that Mexican authorities are working non-stop to provide you with the best beach experience possible while you take in the sun, gastronomy, and culture of this incredible destination.

The post Officials Raised Sargassum Alert For Cancun And The Rest Of The Mexican Caribbean appeared first on Traveling Lifestyle.

Since the beginning of April, the Secretary of the Navy has been tasked to install 8,600 meters of ocean barriers to catch sargassum in Cancun, Tulum, Playa del Carmen, and other hotspots before it washes ashore, as informed by Navy Secretary Admiral Rafael Ojeda Durán.

This is only another tool that adds to the arsenal of technological equipment Quintana Roo State uses every day to help keep beaches suitable for local and international tourism.

“Regarding Operation Sargasso, it began on April 1. We have four sweepers, 22 small vessels, 11 sargaceras, a sargacero ocean vessel, eight compacting band machines, and barriers,” said Admiral Ojeda.

“Sargaceras” or “sargacero” vessels are ships equipped with special technology systems capable of suctioning sargassum and sometimes even packing it without negatively impacting marine life in the process. 

Authorities have also announced the works won’t end with the placement of ocean barriers, but also with the cleaning, collection and transport of the material to Technological Institute Felipe Carrillo Puerto, as well as other institutions to transform it into biodiesel.

Since the day the sargassum season kicked off in 2024, over 950 tons have been collected. Playa del Carmen expects to be receiving around 300 tons of sargassum per day over the next few weeks, as satellite reports show there’s a mass moving towards the Yucatan peninsula.

Although the Navy works hard to collect as much sargassum as they possibly can, the reality is that visitors will find beaches covered with it from April to August.

That’s why it’s so important to keep yourself updated about the changing conditions of beaches because they are not entirely clean or dirty every day. It depends on multiple factors.

The bright side is that this year has the potential to see less sargassum due to favorable weather conditions in the Atlantic Ocean.

Join our Mexico sargassum monitoring FB group to receive and share information about the sargassum situation across the Mexican Caribbean.

The post Mexican Navy Installs 8,600 Meters Of Barriers To Fight Sargassum In The Caribbean appeared first on Traveling Lifestyle.

Popular beaches like Tulum, Xcacel, Playa del Carmen and Cozumel will be impacted with modern levels of sargassum, with the bulk of the sargassum expected after Monday, April 15. As such, The Secretary of the Navy’s Gulf and Caribbean Oceanography Institute escalated matters to a category two alert for sargassum.

This is typical for the region as sargassum season in Mexico begins in April and stretches until August, but visitors still should be wary. Although the Navy led efforts collecting the algae at sea and installed 8,650 meters of protective barriers to prevent massive beaching, sargassum will still land on the shores. 

Affecting beach aesthetics along with usability, the tourism sector is on high alert as to best clean the beaches to protect visitors and locals alike. Community efforts along with governmental efforts across the region are in place to clean the beaches.

One bit of good news though is that beaches are seeing much less sargassum than in 2023, primarily due to low temperatures in the ocean preventing the algae from reproducing uncontrollably.

By mid-March, 800 tons less of sargassum was collected than the same period in 2023, meaning that beaches across the Mexican Caribbean beaches are cleaner than they were in previous years.

A reminder for those who haven’t come across sargassum before, when sargassum decomposes, the hydrogen sulfide gas produced makes it smell like rotten eggs. More harmful than the smell, it can cause the skin to turn red and into an itchy rash. 

The naturally occurring brown seaweed is composed of gas-filled structures which keep the brown seaweed buoyant. And it is the strong currents and winds which wash the sargassum to shores. 

The post Tulum Braces For A Huge Seaweed Arrival This Week appeared first on Traveling Lifestyle.

The seaweed situation in Mexico had been very positive in the first 3 months of 2024. Various reports showed notably less sargassum than in the previous seaweed seasons but that changed on April 6. Travelers in the Mexican Caribbean and our journalists in the area started uploading photos to our Facebook seaweed reporting group of what seems to be a major increase in sargassum arrival on popular beaches like Playa del Carmen, Playacar, Tulum, etc.

Video recorded by our journalist on April 6 showcases the first arrival on Coco beach in Playa del Carmen which was absolutely clean the day before.

On April 8, a seasoned traveler Brendan H., lamented how much beaches in Mexico have changed in the last 20 years: “My wife and I have been vacationing in Playa for over 20 years. Sargassum ruined it. So sad!”

“Last time I was there [Playacar], the beach was loaded with it [sargassum], the hotel had a tractor to clear it driving back and forth all day, it didn’t help much. Climate change in action,” said a beachgoer named Simon R., on April 9.

Other beaches like Isla Mujeres, which historically have been protected from sargassum for its privileged geographical position, have also started to receive some amounts of the smelly seaweed: “Actually. [I] was there today on the south side. Was not good. Cloudy, seaweed and ugly,” said Patty Drinkwater on April 8.

Other tourists have caught cleaning personnel on camera acutely operating heavy machinery to get rid of the algae invading some beaches of Playa del Carmen, but it seems just impossible to get it all out of the water.

Video recorded by our journalist on April 9:

Why is the seaweed season only starting now?

Authorities, beachgoers, and local vendors have been reporting a significant reduction in sargassum arrival throughout the beginning year.

According to Bartolo Canché, an aquatic tour seller, by the end of January 2023, Tulum was covered with sargasum. This year instead, the first sargassum blobs started to arrive at the end of March.

Sargassum collected on Tulum, Cobá, Playa del Carmen, Tancah, and Pole beaches between January and February 2024, was 800 tones less than in the same timeframe in 2023.

So far, mild temperatures in the ocean have kept sargassum at bay. But summer is around the corner and the inevitable will happen and the Mexican Caribbean will start seeing more sargassum in weeks and months.

What’s causing sargassum seaweed?

Martín Meléndez, Professor at the Technological Institute of Santo Domingo (INTEC), explains that the rise in water temperatures, global warming and an excess of nutrients discharged into oceans by the agricultural industry are causing sargassum to grow uncontrollably and head to Caribbean beaches “without the help of cyclones.” 

That’s why, he says, we are seeing sargassum throughout the year and not only during summer when high temperatures favor its reproduction.  

Sargassum originates at the north end of the Amazon River and the coasts of West Africa, from Sierra Leone to Ghana. Then, thermohaline currents (caused by temperature and salt) bring it to the Caribbean.

Regardless, this time around, the forecast is not as obscure as it was in previous years.

Diego Reina Anduze, Director of “The 7 Natural Wonders of America,” stated that the fight against sargassum requires synergy among governments, scientists, local communities, and the private tourism industry. 

The post Mexican Caribbean Is Seeing The Biggest Seaweed Arrival Of 2024 Season appeared first on Traveling Lifestyle.

In fact, data provided by the Secretary of Tourism show that over 12 million Americans spent their holidays in Mexico last year.

There’s a popular belief that the tequila’s country is a cheap destination for Americans due to the strong dollar. But according to tourists’ perceptions visiting Cabo has started to feel more like visiting Los Angeles.

According to a recent analysis carried out by TripAdvisor, Los Cabos (or Cabo) has ranked as the most expensive destination in Mexico in 2024.

When visiting this peninsula, be prepared to fork out no less than $425 to $550 per day (no airfare included), according to the travel platform Hopper. 

The Ministry of Tourism (SECTUR) determined that air transportation costs to Mexico have increased 32,33% over 2023.

Other tourist services that have experienced a significant rise include hotels, 6,19%; tours, 7,74%; dining, 7,45% and roadway tolls, 7,74%.

Anyway, Cabo has always drawn Americans to its coasts thanks to its world-class resorts, high-end spas, cutting-edge golf courses, and international restaurants. Let’s dive into how to reduce costs when planning a getaway to Cabo.

Travel Costs to Cabo

First and foremost, living in Cabo is not the same as traveling to Cabo. Thus, statistics on the local cost of living may not really help you plan a reasonable budget.

On average, you can find flights starting at $447, which is still reasonable. But it’ll be a little bit more difficult to find hotels for less than $475 per night.   

How to Reduce Costs on a Cabo Getaway

Due to a myriad of political and economic factors the Mexican peso has been strengthing over the last few years, which means our dollars have been losing their value at the same time. 

As of today, the local currency has appreciated around 20% against the American dollar. So, carefully planning your budget is now more relevant than ever.

As airfares and hotel rooms are the two tourist categories that have seen the major increase, always book your flights and accommodations no less than two months in advance.

Opt for summer rather than winter travel. It may be warmer and rainier than usual but it’s more affordable.   

Counterintuitively, booking all-inclusive resorts may help you save money on food and entertainment.

Needless to say, vacation rentals such as Airbnb can be more convenient than luxury resorts and even hotels. 

Regardless of the current travel costs, Mexican authorities state that visiting the destination is still a good deal for overseas travelers.

The post This Is The Most Expensive Destination In Mexico, And It’s Not Tulum Or Cancun appeared first on Traveling Lifestyle.

Due to the serious nature posed by the sale of drugs in tourist destinations in the State, the council joined forces to inform their guests of the risks when buying and consuming drugs in Mexican territory.

The Tulum Hotel Association was the first to adopt this measure as they gave each guest a document to sign explaining the risks. 

Toni Chaves, President of the Mexican Caribbean Hotel Council, stated these measures came to action to not only keep tourists safe but to educate tourists about the laws of the country and the trouble they could face for drug purchasing and consumption. The Mexican Caribbean Hotel Council worked together with the state government, security and tourism authorities to enact these measures. 

The recommendation is that hotels are to present a document to travelers upon check-in so they are aware of the risks, as most tourists are ignorant to what may occur. Whilst the hotels are not obliged to follow, it is a recommendation that the council is hoping that all hotels will follow. 

Along with notifying tourists, other joint activities between the private sector and security authorities have banded together to combat drug dealing. There has been a larger presence of surveillance of police and federal forces on the beaches along with checkpoints throughout the state. 

According to data from the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System, authorities received the report of 441 cases for the crime of drug dealing during January and February of this year. This is a big drop from the 2,202 cases reported during the same year in 2023. 

The post Hoteliers Of The Mexican Caribbean Join Forces Against Drug Dealing appeared first on Traveling Lifestyle.