The best seaweed-free beaches in the Caribbean: where to go in 2022 and 2023 (2023)

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Planning a couple's getaway, family vacation or honeymoon and looking for the best seaweed-free beaches in the Caribbean?

If you have read about itProblems with sargassum algae in Mexico, Florida and the Caribbean, you may be wondering which islands in the Caribbean are unaffected by seaweed and brown algae.

To help you decide where to travel, we've compiled a list of Caribbean beaches that have not been affected by seasonal Sargassum algae in the past.

We also consulted various expert sources for forecasts for Sargassum algae in 2022 and 2023.

While there's no guarantee you won't find Sargassum seaweed, these beaches should make a good place to start when planning a Caribbean beach vacation during seaweed season.

Sargassum algae in 2021 and 2022

The world's largest sargassum algal bloom, known as the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt, now stretches 8,850 kilometers from West Africa to the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, according to Science magazine.

And while there used to be an identifiable kelp season from May to December, sargassum kelp arrives earlier, stays longer, and kelp beds are larger.

This increases the likelihood of encountering unsightly brown algae on a Caribbean vacation.

SeaUniversity of South Florida'sPerspective of Sargassum blooms in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico (known as (SaWS)the sargassum algal population in the mid-Atlantic can generally be predicted in December of each year.

Parts of the Caribbean saw strong Sargassum inflows in 2018, 2019 and through much of 2022.

The Caribbean islands that have historically been hardest hit by Sargassum include certain coasts of Barbados,Tobago, Guadalupe,Dominican RepublicjMartinique.

Sargassum algae in 2022

However, it is important to note that even on islands affected by the Sargassum influx, there are often completely clear beaches on the island itself.

For example, when mainland Playa del Carmen, Mexico had a serious problem with sargassum algae in 2022, the leeward beaches of Isla Mujeres and Cozumel were free of algae.

While there are no guarantees, if you are planning a beach vacation and are looking for Caribbean islands unaffected by seaweed and Caribbean beaches without seaweed, here are some destinations to consider:

1. Grand Anse in St. Georges, Grenada – An algae-free Caribbean beach

With its organic bean-to-bar chocolate, artisanal rum plantations and mountainous hinterland with its waterfallsMuch to love about the Caribbean island of Grenadanot to mention the idyllic beaches.

Grand Anse, the island's tourism hub, regularly tops lists of the best beaches in the world for its crystal-clear waters and 2 kilometers of palm-fringed white sand.

Luckily, Grand Anse is also free of Sargassum algae. Even at the peak of kelp season, you'll rarely see anything other than a starfish or two in the water. There is a lotResorts to choose from in Grand Anse Beach, but here are some of my favorites:

Check availability and prices belowSeaside resort on the island of spices, a luxury hotel on Grand Anse Beach, on Booking.com.

Check availability and prices belowRadisson Granada Beach Resort, the best mid-range hotel in Grand Anse Beach, Grenada on Booking.com.

Check availability and prices inHotel Siesta, a budget hotel near Grand Anse beach, on Booking.com.

Disclaimer: Sargassum seaweed conditions can change rapidly due to prevailing winds, ocean currents, tides and other factors. It is impossible to predict exactly where the algae will end up. We are not responsible for decisions based on quotas, so please check with your hotel before booking.

See Also

RESOLVED: Section B each question on a new page. Answer all questions in the provided answer booklet. start = [Maximum score: 14] At Praia Grande Anse, the height of the water in meters is modeled 62,/4NO hours at 21:00 [function pcos (4 where is the numbTop 16 tourist attractions in GuadeloupeSilversands Grenada | sovereign luxury vacationGuadalupe Island - Diving with the Great White Shark - Secret Mexico

2. Morne Rouge-Strand in Grenada

This beautiful seaweed-free beach with turquoise water is also located on the island of Grenada. Morne Rouge, also known as BBC Beach, is less well known than Grand Anse Beach but is rarely infested with sargassum algae.

It is particularly popular with families as the water is very calm for swimming. Morne Rouge is a great option if you're looking for an algae-free Caribbean beach that's great for families.

Although there are severalbudget hotelsand condos for rent overlooking Morne Rouge, the nearest 4 star hotel is Mount Cinnamon Resort, a short drive or walk up the hills.

Check prices and availability belowMonte Canela Resorton Booking.com.

3. Grace Bay Beach in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands

One of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Grace Bay Beach features clear water and powder-soft sand. This long beach is protected by a coral reef, making it particularly tranquil. The seabed at Grace Bay Beach is smooth and clean.

Grace Bay in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos is definitely a destination to consider if you're looking for an algae-free Caribbean beach for a family, couple, or group vacation.

Although Turks & Caicos has a stake in the Caribbean Development Bank, it is technically located in the northern Caribbean and tropical Atlantic. However, the water is as blue as the Caribbean!

On the opposite shore, Long Bay Beach is known for getting some seaweed on its shores. More of a windswept beach with spectacular wave action, it has its own unique beauty. If you like horseback riding, Long Bay Beach is also the beach where you can go horseback ridingPonis de Provotakes riders to swim with their horses in the sea, a truly unforgettable experience.

Check in pricesDas Somerset in Grace Bayon Booking.com.

4. Palm Beach in Aruba, Dutch Caribbean

The Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba is best known for its white sand beaches, luxury resorts and refreshing trade winds. Its famous beaches such as Eagle Beach, Palm Beach and Baby Beach are not only outside the hurricane belt but also outside the sargassum kelp belt.

So if you've spent the winter imagining yourself lounging on a lounge chair and drinkingtropical cocktail in a beach barand float in idyllic Caribbean waters with no stinky brown algae to spoil the imagination, then contemplate Aruba, one of the most dependable Caribbean islands without sargassum.

Although there are several small onesBoutique hotels in ArubaHere are two of our favorite large resorts in Palm Beach.

Check prices and availability in theHoliday Inn Beach Resort & Kasino, Palm Beach and Booking.com

Check prices and availability in theBarcelona ArubaThe hotel is located on a prime stretch of beach with easy access to the beach walk, swimming and water sports.

5. Porto Mari Beach in Curaçao, Dutch Caribbean

One of the most beautiful beaches on Curacao is also one of the best seaweed-free beaches in the Caribbean. Located on the west coast of the island of Curacao,

Playa Porto Mari is a private beach, which means there is an entrance fee ($3), but along with the fee come various services. Clean bathrooms, an outdoor shower, parking, a photography pavilion, a floating dock, a restaurant/bar, beach chair rentals ($3.50) and more, this is a beach that offers the fantasy of a tropical beach complete, but with all of them amenities. conveniences

Although there are some rocks at the entrance to the water, family-friendly Porto Mari has a sandy seabed, gentle waves and no low currents as it is protected by a double reef offshore.

It is one of the best snorkeling beaches on Curacao and along with thatDutch Caribbean island of BonaireIt is also popular with divers. There is also the unique attraction of free-roaming wild boars - you might see them roaming around at the end of the day. Daaiboo Beach, a public beach with free entry, is also nearby.

Check out our postFree Activities on Curaçaoto learn more about the wild flamingos and other attractions on your way to PortoMari.

6. Bloody Bay and Long Bay Beaches in Negril, Jamaica

One of the largest islands in the Caribbean, Jamaica offers multiple coastlines and beaches to choose from. Although there have been some problems with fetid sargassum algae at Fort Clarence Beach near Kingston (and a few other areas), Negril's beaches have generally been free of sargassum algae.

Use:There is a difference between seagrass (which grows on the ocean floor) and sargassum algae, which is a mass of free-floating algae that gathers at the ocean's surface.

See prices inCouples razed to the ground in Negril, an adults-only resort on a beautiful stretch of beach in Negril, on Booking.com.

7. Southern tip of Antigua, Antigua and Barbuda

Though the luxurious St. James Club on the windward east side of Antigua in the Caribbean's Leeward Islands was forced to close for three months in 2019 due to a massive influx of sargassum, many other beaches on Antigua are often free of sargassum algae. .

Located on the southern tip of Antigua, Curtain Bluff Resort sits on two beaches in a private setting that receives very little seaweed.

The boutique resort has 72 rooms, all-inclusive gourmet restaurants, and plenty of variety, including tennis, squash, sailing, guided snorkeling, and sea kayaking.

Another of the mostbeautiful beaches in antiguathat does not receive seasonal sargassum is Dickenson Bay Beach, home of

Darkwood, Carlisle Bay and FFryes beaches are also beautiful Sargassum-free beaches.

For updates on the best seaweed-free beaches in the Caribbean, browse reviews and photos fromConditions of Sargassum Algae in Antiguaabout himObservations of Antigua Sargassum algaeFacebook Group

8. Playa Norte in Isla Mujeres and the best seaweed-free beaches in Mexico

If you fancy a visitCaribbean coast of Mexico, it is still possible to find beaches free of sargassum algae along this long stretch of coastline.

While exposed east coasts are more likely to be affected by Sargassum waves, some beaches like Playa Norte on Isla Mujeres Island, Quintana Roo are generally free of seaweed. However, much depends on the winds and ocean currents.

The beaches of Mexico's Pacific Coast are also worth considering if you're looking for seaweed-free beaches. While the water on Mexico's Pacific beaches is a darker blue and not as warm as the water on Caribbean beaches, Atlantic Pacific beaches are unaffected by Sargassum algae.

The sargassum alga is native to the Atlantic, so does not migrate to the Pacific.

Note: Red tide is a different phenomenon than sargassum algae andatBeaches can be temporarily affected by red tidal algae.

Some of the most beautiful Mexican beaches are found on the country's Pacific coast.

Among the best seaweed free beaches in Mexico worth considering for a beach vacationCarrizalillo-Strand(Puerto Escondido), Punta Mita, Mismaloya and diving (near Puerto Vallarta) andSanta Cruz Beach and San Agustin Beach(Huatulco).

Check availability and prices belowZoetry Villa Rolandi Resort & Spaon Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo on Booking.com.

2023 Forecast for Sargassum Algae in the Caribbean

October 2022:Based on offshore conditions in the central Atlantic and Caribbean, the University of South Florida reports a 40% decrease in algae abundance in August 2022 compared to September 2022.

But the amount of sargassum algae was20% higher in September 2022 than September 2021.

The large sargassum algal mat in the east mid-Atlantic means there could be a large algal bloom in 2023.

Although sargassum does not affect all beaches and islands in the Caribbean, it poses a challenge in some regions and communities.

Here are some resources to help you plan a Caribbean vacation.

Sargassum Algae Resources

Learn about Sargassum algae, their impacts and uses, and best containment and management practices in the Sargassum Resource Guide, produced by the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism.

How to Predict Sargassum Algae Free Beaches in the Caribbean?

Even at the top of theAlgenproblem in Cancun,It was possible to find seaweed-free beaches to enjoy. For example, while Sargassum was in at Playa BávaroPunta Cana, Dominican Republicother stretches of beach had no seaweed.

(Video) PLAYA DEL CARMEN SEAWEED DISASTER! 🇲🇽| How bad is the problem & where to find clean beaches 2022

While there are a number of ways to predict the likelihood that the Caribbean destination you're considering will be affected by Sargassum waves, from scrolling through satellite imagery on maps to scrolling through TripAdviser reports, there are a number of reasons why this might not work, it is so. a successful approach.

First, Global News reports that 25 percent of Canadians book their Christmas vacation more than three months in advance. So if you are planning to travel during the peak holiday season or need to book your vacation time in advance, waiting for the Sargassum prediction and booking a last minute trip may not be practical.

Second, kelp forecasts are based on a complex number of factors (historical levels, patterns, ocean temperatures and currents, and more).

It's just probabilities. Therefore, you cannot rely on them being 100% accurate.

Websites for updated Caribbean Sargassum Forecasts to 2023

Here are two resources worth checking out:

1. Check the SEAS schedule for up-to-date information on when and where Sargassum will be. Click here to accesssea ​​forecast.to see the algae forecast.
2. Check the probability of a kelp bloom in the Caribbean on the University of South Florida satelliteSargassum Surveillance System (SaWS)track algae in real time.
3. To get to know the Caribbean coast of Mexico from Cancun to Tulum, visit theSargasso Cancun Monitoring NetworkFacebook page for weekly updates on algae status.

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