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2021
21
March
Are there any areas in Mexico with swimmable oceans free of seaweed?
21
March
Question:
Humans say...
Cathy
Zihuatanejo
Caralee
The marival in nueveo Vallarta had an amazing stretch of ocean. My kids played more in the ocean than the pool that vacation!
Patricia
Huatulco! https://www.explorehuatulco.com/Where-Is-Huatulco
EXPLOREHUATULCO.COM
Where is Huatulco?
See
Cathy
Patricia we were very surprised at Huatulco. Many people had recommended it but it turns out they’d never actually been anywhere in the area of Huatulco other than their resort. It’s made up of the town of Santa Cruz and 9 bays, some of them with huge all inclusive resorts, some stunning undeveloped beaches only accessible by boat. We stayed at a small private hotel in town, eating in local restaurants and took a boat trip to several beaches. The resorts are quite separate.
Patricia
Cathy we spent some time in La Crucecita while down there. Great little town with restaurants and many places to sample Mezcal.
Kelly
Cathy we’ve been many times as my parents used to have a house there. Isn’t it amazing?! I love that it is so much less touristy than other places I’ve been.
Jean
Cathy, that is exactly how we have always done the Huatulco area. Our little hotel was about a km walk to Santa Cruz or up to La Crucecita. Perfect location to walk to and from all the wonderful restaurants!
Vicki
Patricia I agree
Amanda
Charlene
Charlene
Anywhere in Mexico really!
Amanda
Charlene should we look at Huatulco?
Cathy
Amanda harder to get there though.
Charlene
Amanda would love non stop flights if possible...not sure there are any for Huatulco.
Laurie
Charlene there are non stop flights to huatulco
Patricia
Amanda we had direct flights from Calgary to Huatulco. All inclusive on sunwing (a few years ago). As far as I know up to 2019, they still flew direct. Best weather I found in Mexico-pretty much hot and dry
Sharon
Amanda It’s HOT there!
Like, Really Hot!
A Wonderful place!
Christin
Charlene ummm not Cabo. You’ll be swept away in no time
Cori
We have booked Cancun for Oct.
Amanda
Corinna Marie yea we have places we have our eye on. Just wondering the seaweed situation
Cori
Amanda I here not great but the place we are going has a cove. Worst case I drink at the pool. Lol
Amanda
Corinna Marie absolutely lol
Cathy
Amanda the seaweed around Cancun area varies year to year depending on ocean currents etc. The Pacific side of Mexico doesn’t have a seaweed problem. Nuevo Vallarta has good resort deals too and travel to P.V. is easy. The beach at N.V. is great. Our favourite so far anywhere in Mexico is Zihuatanejo but we booked a small private hotel, not an all-inclusive. We bought groceries because we had a kitchen but ate out at all the wonderful restaurants around the area. Other than P.V. and cancun all inclusive packages, many places require flights through Mexico City hub, and then connecting flights.
Amanda
Cathy yea I think it is hard to predict!
Charlene
Cathy I did find a resort in Nuevo Vallarta that seems nice. The beach did look good, you're right!
Beth
Small island off coast of Cancun was great - Isla Mujeres. Just a water taxi ride away.
Kim
Beth you’re not supposed to tell anyone about our little secret!
Heather
Zihua, playa la ropa
See
Darrell Turner
Cozmel
Boriana
Akumal is awesome
Marilyn
PV is lovely ….no weeds
Jason
Marilyn agreed. and warmer than the Riveria side IMHO
Amanda
Thanks for all of this info! So appreciated!
Fred
Banderas bay by Nuevo Vallarta or Bucerias is excellent.
Jackie
Los Cabos
See
Marilyn
Jackie lovely there however
The ocean was not friendly at all where we were
Jackie
Marilyn Medano Beach, Santa Maria Bay, Chilano Bay and Cerritos and a couple of places near La Paz are good for swimming, snorkeling, surfing, etc. Can be dangerous near San Jose and on the Pacific side if you are not in sheltered areas. Too much under current and rip tides.
Brenda
We loved Bucerias & Puerto Vallarta! A shorter flight to get to PV & then a short bus or taxi ride to Bucerias! We’ve stayed at the Royal Decameron Complex twice in Bucerias & loved it!
Laurie
Michelle Campbell is an expert on Mexico and full of info. Please DM her
Leandra
Bucerias, Lo de Marcos, Rincon de Guayabitos, or Chacala are all great beach towns north of PV.
Terra
We stayed in Ixtapa and enjoyed swimming in the ocean there
Marie
I’m a huge fan of swimming in the ocean. I love Isla Mujeres and Cancun. However right now I’ve heard the seaweed is bad. But that could clear up within a month but it could take longer.
Avoid Puerto Escondido I almost died like 30 seconds after I got in the water
Edith
Marie Isla Mujeres doesnt usually suffer too much with sargasso as compared with Playa del Carmen, Puerto Morales and Akumal/Tulum.
Cathy
Marie undertow? I know they have crazy surf there!
Janice
Check out Loreto Bay, Baja BCS - gorgeous beach, swimming, kayaking, paddle boards, tours - hotel, golf course, historical sites -
https://www.terrain.org/unsprawl/21/
TERRAIN.ORG
The Villages of Loreto Bay, Baja California Sur, Mexico : UnSprawl Case Study : Terrain.org
Amanda
We love the river is side... fukin/akumul to be exact... but we are wanting to try the cancun strip next time
Sheila
Generally if you stay on the pacific side you will have more consistent weather and longer/cleaner beaches with waves. You will find excellent beach towns all the way down that coast - all the suggestions above.
Amanda
Sheila looks like we’re going with Dreams Huatulco on that side
Diana
Secrets Huatulco is great too!
April
I am currently in a small town Puerto Angel, about 1/2 hour from huatulco and it has awesome beaches. It’s a charming town. Also, puerto Escondido has wonderful beaches.
Amanda
April we booked Huatalco!
Margo
April any sand fleas in Huatalco?
April
Margo I am unsure. I just got here yesterday.
Duane
Margo very hot
Amanda
Duane have you been recently by chance? Wondering about the PCR testing situation there…
Jennifer
April love Puerto Angel !
Melissa
Ixtapa
A.I. says...
Swimmable Oceans in Mexico: Beyond the Seaweed
You're right to be curious about swimmable ocean areas in Mexico. The sargassum seaweed situation has indeed been a challenge in recent years, particularly in the Caribbean, including Cancun. While it's not always predictable, and the severity varies by season and location, it's definitely something to consider when planning a beach vacation. Sucking it up and enjoying the pool is an option, but thankfully not the only one!
Understanding the Seaweed Situation
The sargassum influx isn't constant. It tends to be worse during certain times of the year (typically spring and summer), and some areas are more affected than others. While Cancun and the Riviera Maya have been hit hard, there are other Mexican coastlines with clearer waters.
Alternative Destinations:
If pristine, swimmable ocean is your top priority, consider these alternatives:
- Mexican Pacific Coast: The Pacific side generally experiences less sargassum.
- Puerto Vallarta: Offers beautiful beaches and clear waters, especially during the winter months.
- Riviera Nayarit (north of Puerto Vallarta): Known for its luxurious resorts and calm, swimmable bays.
- Huatulco: A series of bays with generally calm waters and less seaweed impact.
- Baja California Sur:
- Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo: While prone to rougher waters at times, these areas are less affected by sargassum. The Sea of Cortez tends to be calmer and clearer than the open Pacific.
- La Paz: Situated on the sheltered Bay of La Paz, offering calm waters ideal for swimming and snorkeling.
- Isla Mujeres (near Cancun): While close to Cancun, Isla Mujeres often has clearer waters, particularly on the north side (Playa Norte). It's a short ferry ride from Cancun and offers a more laid-back island vibe.
- Cozumel (near Playa del Carmen): Another island option, Cozumel is known for its world-class diving and snorkeling. The west side of the island generally has calmer waters and less seaweed.
Tips for Planning Your Trip:
- Travel during the off-season (fall and winter): Sargassum is generally less prevalent during these months.
- Check sargassum reports before you go: Several websites and apps provide real-time updates on sargassum levels in different areas.
- Be flexible with your itinerary: If one area is heavily affected, be prepared to explore other beaches or activities.
- Contact your hotel: Many hotels make efforts to clean their beaches daily, so inquire about their sargassum removal practices.
Don't give up on your Mexican beach dream just yet! With a little research and flexibility, you can find beautiful, swimmable oceans in Mexico.
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Amanda
Out of curiousity, what areas of Mexico have swimmable oceans? It seems there is either seaweed or rough waters. We are looking at Cancun but I recall two years ago there was a seaweed pandemic
. I have read this is still the case. Any suggestions or do we just suck it up and enjoy the pools? Thanks!