Sargassum at Cupecoy Beach, western tip of Sint Maarten
Clear
All clear
Cupecoy Beach sits at the western tip of Sint Maarten, close to the boundary with the French side. Sand collects in pockets at the foot of low sandstone cliffs, separated by rock. This page covers sargassum at Cupecoy Beach: what the shore looked like this morning, a rating from 0 to 5, and a map of the island's south coast.
The reading is renewed every morning, so the choice of beach happens before you take the steps down rather than after. The rating frames the day, the map places Cupecoy against nearby bays, and the notes below explain what its western position changes for seaweed.
Cupecoy Beach on the sargassum map
What to know about this beach
Facing due west on an island where sargassum rides in on easterly trade winds puts Cupecoy in the most sheltered position on the Dutch side. Rafts drift onto the Atlantic-facing shores first, wrap around the island, and reach this tip well thinned out. You are at the end of the journey here, not on the front line.
Shape matters as much as bearing. The sand sits in coves partitioned by ledges of sandstone, and what washes into one pocket is slow to leave it: a modest amount of weed can look more obvious than it would on an open beach, while the cove next door stays clear. The daily score covers the sector, so on site it pays to look at two or three access points.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Cupecoy see less sargassum than other beaches?
It opens due west, with its back to the trade winds that drive rafts onto the eastern shores. Weed only reaches this tip after wrapping around Sint Maarten, by which point volumes are much lower.
How can I tell whether Cupecoy is clear this morning?
Check the FanGass map on this page. It is refreshed each morning and gives the sector a rating from 0 to 5, from open sand to a marked landing, before you set out.
Are all the coves at Cupecoy in the same state?
Not always. Rock ledges divide the beach, so one pocket can hold weed while the next stays clean. The rating describes the sector, so walk to a neighbouring access point before giving up on the day.
Which months deserve closer attention here?
May through September, when Caribbean arrivals peak. Even on this sheltered western tip, a large regional episode can leave lines of weed along the high-water mark for a few days at a time.