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Original poster

Mexico and swimming

19 replies

Christmassss · 22/12/2023 13:29

I’ve booked a trip to Mexico and have been reading the reviews of the hotel and quite a few posters have mentioned not being able to swim in the sea due to seaweed. The hotel is in Riveria Maya.
Has anyone got recent experience of this area? We are going for a week and my ideal week would be every other day out on an excursion and the other day sea swimming, kayaking, chilling etc.
Also do you have any recommendations for Mexican hotels (not on the Pacific side) where it is possible to swim in the sea as I have the opportunity to change my hotel if I want to?
Thanks.

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NorthCliffs · 22/12/2023 13:31

I'd be more worried about the sharks / crocodiles tbh.

sidsgranny · 22/12/2023 13:33

We've been to the Riviera Maya 5 times and never had a problem with seaweed. I recommend the Grand Palladium Kantenah of Luxury Bahia Principe. However, I would say going for a week will be tough - the jetlag when you get back is a killer!

Original poster
Christmassss · 22/12/2023 13:36

Thanks for the recommendation, I’ll check that hotel out. I have done lots of similar holidays for a week and am usually fine after a couple of days. I take a sleeping tablet and fly Premium economy so it’s not too bad.
I can’t change the flights now as the holiday is soon but may switch hotels.

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randomstress · 22/12/2023 13:37

Seaweed can be an issue in some hotels on the coast, often hotels clear the beaches daily.
I love swimming in the sea in the Rivera Maya, we stay at the Fairmont it doesn't have the biggest swimming area but it is perfectly safe and cleaned daily.

endlessleypeckish · 22/12/2023 13:46

We were just in RM in August and see was fine, the sargassum wasn't bad and they guys work really hard removing it.
Our beach also had nets to stop the majority being in the "swimming" area.

Go enjoy and don't worry

I'm so jel!

PS. Do try and visit a cenote! Amazing. I recommend Cenote Azul, but go early for 10am before the crowds hit.

CormorantStrikesBack · 22/12/2023 13:57

I stayed at the Xcaret Occidental, they have a small hotel beach which is in a sort of cove and they had a net across when I was there for the seaweed. So that was fine. Playa del Carmen beach seemed bad, Tulum seemed ok but it can change from week to week where is affected. The hotel was the best I’ve ever stayed in

Wtafis · 22/12/2023 13:58

It’s seasonal so check the time of year.

where we were you had to walk a few feet past the seaweed then the swimming was glorious

Original poster
Christmassss · 22/12/2023 14:02

Thank you everyone, I’ll do a bit more seaweed research.

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WhatsTheEffingPoint · 22/12/2023 14:18

Currently in Riviera Maya now and our beach hasn't had much seaweed but the water has been a bit rough so not really good for swimming.

Original poster
Christmassss · 22/12/2023 14:22

Currently in Riviera Maya now and our beach hasn't had much seaweed but the water has been a bit rough so not really good for swimming.
Thanks for the update, I’m going in early February.

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dyspraxicme · 22/12/2023 14:28

I went in to Riveria Maya in May this year. They can't predict exactly where the seaweed goes, and its affecting all the carribean/florida/mexico etc at the moment so I doubt changing your hotel will do anything! Our hotel was good at keeping it clear from the swimming area, and we did a turtle swimming excursion in Akumal and it wasn't too bad then either. You could join a fb group for your hotel and see what other people have said about if the hotel is good at clearing it up or not. Mexico has some lovely cenotes and lagoons which you can swim and snorkel in, and get to by collectivo (public transport) for very cheap.

Original poster
Christmassss · 22/12/2023 14:31

Joining the Facebook group is a great idea.

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Gloschick · 22/12/2023 15:02

We were there a few years ago. The seaweed does affect the beauty of the beaches but the hotels try and clear as much as they can. As pp says, Akumal is fine for swimming. For sea swimming I found Cozumel the best, so might be worth taking the boat across there.

angelinaballerinaa · 23/12/2023 13:00

@sidsgranny I'm currently looking at the grand palladium kentenah for a trip in May. Did you use any of their kids clubs whilst there? Will it be a good choice for a toddler and a teenager?

@dyspraxicme can I ask you what the weather was like during your trip? I'm looking at a trip in May and undecided whether it will be rainy or not?

sidsgranny · 23/12/2023 13:28

We didn't use the kids clubs but the mascot was called (not sure if still is) Pido which made people chuckle! The kids pool is lovely - lots of little slides which I'm sure a toddler would love. It's a lovely resort, certainly our favourite.

Thatswhy11 · 23/12/2023 17:32

It's pot luck with seaweed. I remember reading lots of reviews about similar but it was in Dominican Republic. We must of been lucky because the beach was beautiful or it had been cleared up the majority of it.

chipsandpeas · 23/12/2023 17:34

most good hotels will clear the seaweed from the beach, and its fine swimming in the sea, i was in the riveria maya in august when its at its worst febuary it shouldnt be that much of an issue

Emma8888 · 26/12/2023 08:40

Look at the area north of Cancun - Playa Mujeres and Costa Mujeres. They get very little seaweed because they are sheltered by Isla Mujeres. Short ride from the airport, just the other direction from Riviera Maya. The sargassum in RM can be truly awful so I personally would switch.

Original poster
Christmassss · 26/12/2023 10:53

Look at the area north of Cancun - Playa Mujeres and Costa Mujeres. They get very little seaweed

Thank you, this is just the information I was after.

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