Sargassum at Playa Maroma (Punta Maroma): today's conditions
Heavy
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Playa Maroma curves north of Punta Maroma, within the municipality of Playa del Carmen, on the stretch of Caribbean coast between the town of Puerto Morelos and Playa del Carmen itself. It is a long, low, palm-backed bay set apart from the busier urban seafronts of the Riviera Maya.
This page covers sargassum at Playa Maroma before you make the trip: what is being seen along this piece of coast today, a 0 to 5 rating to read the day at a glance, and a map that places the bay among its neighbouring beaches. It is updated every morning.
Playa Maroma (Punta Maroma) on the sargassum map
What to know about this beach
Maroma's northeast aspect sets it apart from most Riviera Maya beaches, which face due east. The prevailing trades blow from the east or east-southeast, so they meet this shoreline at an angle rather than head on. Drifting rafts carried by that flow tend to slide along the coast instead of piling straight into it, which often reduces what lands here without ruling it out.
The headland cuts both ways. It screens the bay from the south, yet it also creates a corner where longshore drift can pack floating weed together, so the sand near the point and the middle of the bay do not always look alike. In winter, when a northerly blows down over the Yucatán, that same northeast opening faces the weather directly.
Frequently asked questions
Is Playa Maroma less exposed than nearby beaches?
Its northeast opening takes the easterly trades at an angle, while most beaches on this coast take them head on. Landings are often lighter here, but the bay is far from immune.
How do I check the bay before driving out?
Read the day's 0 to 5 rating published here each morning, together with the map of this stretch of coast, which also shows neighbouring beaches if you need a backup plan.
Why does one end of the beach differ from the other?
Longshore drift gathers floating weed against the corner formed by Punta Maroma, so the sand close to the point can carry noticeably more than the middle of the curve on the same day.
Do winter north winds change things?
They do. A northerly turns the bay's usual shelter into direct exposure. Such spells are short, but they can bring in within hours what the northeast angle normally keeps away.
Nearby beaches
← All Cancún & Riviera Maya beaches
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