November has brought the news we have been waiting for all year. The sargassum season has wound down across the Riviera Maya, and here at Playa del Secreto the sea is clear and the beach is free of seaweed.

Good news at a glance

• Lowest alert level: in early October the Mexican Navy reported a very low sargassum level for Quintana Roo, with the alert at green and about 3,920 tonnes detected at sea.
• Beaches regaining their color: since mid-September, local authorities and the press have described clearer, turquoise water along the coast, from Tulum to Cancún.
• Very little seaweed expected: the head of Quintana Roo’s Sargassum Monitoring Network expects minimal wash-ups in November and December.
• A huge cleanup effort paid off: between April and August, Quintana Roo removed nearly 125,000 tonnes of sargassum from its shores, with municipal teams and the Navy working daily to keep beaches open.
• The clear-water season has begun: November to March is traditionally the best window for calm, clear water on the Riviera Maya.

What this means for your stay

This is the perfect moment for swimming, paddleboarding and long beach days. The water is also ideal for snorkeling: see our guide to the Puerto Morelos reef, or plan a day among the cenotes near Playa del Secreto. December to March is high season, so book early. Our things-to-do guide has plenty of ideas.

A friendly heads-up

Sargassum follows a natural cycle. The monitoring network says arrivals could begin again as early as January, so it is always worth checking conditions before you travel. We will keep sharing updates here in the Journal, as we did in our earlier seaweed update.

Sources: Mexico News Daily (September 14, 2026) and Por Esto (October 8, 2026).