What Hotels Are Doing About Sargassum in 2026

Published 2026-05-10

The cleaning crew arms race

High-end resorts in sargassum-prone areas now employ full-time beach cleaning teams during peak season. Some deploy barriers, floating booms anchored offshore, to intercept seaweed before it reaches the beach. A handful of larger properties have invested in purpose-built sargassum collection boats.

The results vary. A well-maintained beach with active clearing can look perfectly clean even during a heavy sargassum event. But clearing operations typically run early morning, meaning by midday the beach can look very different.

What to ask before you book

• Does the hotel have an offshore boom or barrier system? • How often is the beach cleared during sargassum season? • Does the resort share daily beach condition updates?

Some hotels now post daily beach condition photos on their social media, which is a good sign that they're transparent about the situation. Others bury sargassum-related questions in their FAQ with vague reassurances.

The honest answer

No hotel can fully control sargassum. The best ones are honest about that while putting serious resources into mitigation. Read recent reviews from guests who stayed during sargassum season (April to August), not just the off-season reviews. And check current satellite data for the area before you commit to a non-refundable booking.