Sargassum at Playa María la Gorda (Guanahacabibes): the day's situation
Clear
Pristine
Playa María la Gorda hides at the very end of Cuba, on the Guanahacabibes peninsula, facing the Bay of Corrientes. Divers know the place best and travel far for its waters; the beach itself serves as base camp for this remote corner of the island.
Because the spot is so isolated, it pays to arrive informed: this page gives María la Gorda a score running from 0 to 5, rebuilt at first light from fresh satellite imagery, together with the southern Cuba sector map. It tells you whether the sand and the water entry are clear or cluttered.
Playa María la Gorda on the sargassum map
What to know about this beach
Cuba's southern coast ends here: the Guanahacabibes peninsula closes the island off to the west, and the beach opens due west onto the Bay of Corrientes. Sargassum that has tracked the whole southern shoreline, drawn toward the sunset by wind and current, finishes its Cuban run in these waters before drifting on out to sea.
With its back to the trade winds and tucked deep in a bay, María la Gorda enjoys a genuine sheltering effect: most of the flow passes offshore of the headland without turning in. When a mass does round the cape and the wind swings west, however, the bay can trap it and hold it along the shore for days.
Frequently asked questions
Does sargassum spoil the diving at María la Gorda?
Rarely below the surface: the rafts float, so the nuisance is mostly at the shoreline and the water entry. The rating published each morning on this page shows whether the bay is cluttered before you plan the day.
Does the Bay of Corrientes really shelter the beach?
Most of the time, yes: facing west in the lee of the peninsula, the beach watches the bulk of the flow pass offshore. The shelter flips when the wind turns westerly, because whatever enters the bay can linger there.
Which season should I avoid at María la Gorda?
As along the rest of Cuba's southern coast, arrivals concentrate between spring and the end of summer. The remainder of the year is calmer, without being a guarantee: an isolated episode can still occur at any point.
Is it worth checking conditions before making the trip?
Strongly advised: the beach sits at the far tip of the Guanahacabibes peninsula, a long way from any big town. A look at this page on the morning you leave spares you hours of driving toward a weed-covered shore.