Real-Time Sargassum Monitoring
for the Mexican Caribbean
We built HowIsTheSargassum.com because travelers and locals in Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Cozumel, Akumal, Isla Mujeres and across Quintana Roo needed one honest, up-to-date answer to the question everyone asks before heading to the beach.
Why We Built This
Sargassum seaweed has become one of the defining realities of Caribbean travel. Every year from roughly April through October, enormous mats of brown algae drift in from the Atlantic and wash up on the beaches of Quintana Roo — from the Cancún Hotel Zone south to Tulum and beyond.
Travelers spending thousands of dollars on a Caribbean vacation deserve to know what the beach actually looks like before they commit to a full beach day — not when they arrive to find it covered in seaweed.
Locals and hotel operators need the same information to plan cleanups, manage guest expectations, and make daily decisions. HowIsTheSargassum.com gives everyone that information — clearly, accurately, and for free.
How Our Monitoring Works
Satellite Data
The University of South Florida Optical Oceanography Laboratory (USF) tracks sargassum concentrations across the Atlantic and Caribbean using NASA-derived satellite imagery.
Seasonal Modeling
Historical accumulation patterns for each specific beach are layered over satellite data — we know Tulum peaks earlier than Cancún North, and factor that in.
Beach Conditions
Results are mapped to our 9 monitored beaches, updated hourly, displayed with a clear status: Clear, Light, Moderate, or Heavy.
⚠️ Accuracy Note
Sargassum changes in 24–48 hours based on wind and currents. Our data provides the best available estimate but verify with local sources on the day of your visit.
The 9 Beaches We Monitor
Covering the full Quintana Roo Caribbean coast — from Isla Mujeres in the north to Tulum in the south.
Who We Are
HowIsTheSargassum.com is operated by the team at SunSol SEO — a digital marketing agency specializing in hotel and tourism businesses across the Mexican Caribbean, with clients across Cancún, the Riviera Maya, and Cozumel.
Working hands-on with hotels, tour operators, and beach clubs across Quintana Roo, we saw firsthand how sargassum affected guest satisfaction and booking decisions — and how few reliable, honest free resources existed. Most information online was either outdated, vague, or written by people who had never been to the Riviera Maya during a heavy event.
This site launched in 2024 with a single goal: give travelers and locals the same information that hotel managers use to brief their staff each morning. We source conditions from University of South Florida (USF) Optical Oceanography Laboratory satellite data, layer in 9+ years of beach-specific seasonal patterns, and update every hour. Every piece of content is written or reviewed by someone who has personally been to these beaches — many times, in all conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HowIsTheSargassum.com free?
How often is data updated?
How accurate are the conditions?
Do you cover beaches outside Quintana Roo?
Can hotels or tour operators use your data?
How do I report inaccurate conditions?
Check Today's Conditions
Live sargassum levels for all 9 Quintana Roo beaches — updated hourly.