Tulum Beaches Return to Turquoise as Sargassum Season Ends

The arrival of sargassum in Tulum has subsided significantly, with cleanup crews continuing to remove over 6,500 tons of the algae in 2026. Despite the record-breaking haul, conditions remain uneven across different beaches.

David Buchanan, who directs Zofemat in Tulum, noted that the deployment is on the instructions of Mayor Diego Castañón Trejo, and that the season was atypical with a high influx of algae when the state delivered new equipment in June.

While Tulum's season started early, with algae arriving in January, the municipality's possible total for the year was initially projected at 10,000 tons. By mid-June, it had reached 2,458 tons, marking a significant increase from the same period in 2025.

However, cleanup crews worked with caution, avoiding heavy machinery to prevent sand erosion. The state government provided new equipment, including tractors with mechanical sweepers, three dump trucks, and four motorcycles with trailers.

The containment barriers installed by the Secretaría de Marina and Conanp also played a role in reducing the impact of the algae on Tulum's beaches.

Although the scale of the year has been exceeded, the uneven conditions across different beaches and from morning to afternoon highlight the ongoing efforts to maintain a healthy and attractive coastal environment for residents and visitors.

As the sargassum season continues, residents and visitors should continue to be aware of changing conditions and adapt their activities accordingly.