Hello,
I’m planning to go to an all-inclusive resort next April. I know it’s the start of the sargassum season, but I was wondering if it really affects swimming. Do hotels clean the beaches? Is it still possible to swim?
Thanks
Hi there,
Honestly, since I work in tourism here and get a lot of feedback from travelers, I often advise against choosing an all-inclusive for a first trip to the Yucatán.
The reason is simple: many of the places that, in my opinion, make the region so special are outside the hotel zones. Cenotes, villages, Mayan sites, nature reserves, Bacalar… it quickly adds up to quite a bit of travel time if you stay at the same hotel all week and only do day trips.
As for sargassum, yes, it can definitely impact swimming. Hotels usually clean their beaches, but when there’s a big influx, it doesn’t solve everything, especially the algae in the water.
If your main goal is to stay at the hotel, enjoy the beach, and relax without really going anywhere, I’d honestly consider other destinations besides this part of Mexico.
I say this with firsthand experience: I regularly hear from people after their trip who tell me they were disappointed with Mexico. Then, when we talk, I find out they spent their whole stay at an all-inclusive in Cancún or Playa del Carmen with just a few day trips. In my view, that’s simply not the best way to experience the region.
That said, it all depends on what you’re really looking for and what you expect from this vacation. If you let me know the area or hotel you’re considering and what you like to do while traveling, I can give you more specific advice.
I’m Priscilla, a French expat living in Mexico since 2020 and founder of **(
https://www.voyagesmexique.info/)**.
Priscilla