Seaweed is not garbage or pollution, but the large amounts that reach the Caribbean coast, and are projected to continue arriving this and the next few years, represent an economic and environmental problem for countries such as the Dominican Republic that are affected by their invasion.
The avalanche of these algae, which according to scientific studies are pushed to the Caribbean coast due to climate change, causes complaints among tourists who visit Dominican destinations attracted by the supply of sun and beaches, but also pollute the waters, and can affect both humans and marine ecosystems.
Contents
- 1 Topic summary
- 2 Is There Too Much Seaweed in Punta Cana?
- 3 Do all beaches in Punta Cana have seaweed?
- 4 Seaweed-free beaches in Punta Cana
- 5 Seaweed barrier in Punta Cana and Bavaro
- 6 Which months are the most likely to produce seaweed in Punta Cana?
- 7 Which months are there no seaweed in Punta Cana?
- 8 Where does all the seaweed in Punta Cana come from?
- 9 Hotels in Punta Cana with reduced seaweed problems
- 10 Punta Cana hotels where seaweed hardly arrives (practically none)
- 11 Is your trip ruined if you go to a hotel in Punta Cana and there is seaweed on the beach?
- 12 Do all the beaches in the Dominican Republic have seaweed?
- 13 Can you have direct contact with seaweed, is it dangerous?
- 14 Facing the problem of Seaweed in Punta Cana
- 15 Possible alternative solutions to face the seaweed problem in the Dominican Republic
- 16 Transforming seaweed into disposable plates
- 17 Seaweed will not be a problem for beaches in the Dominican Republic
- 18 Punta Cana live webcam
- 19 Another option to see the beaches of Punta Cana in real-time
Topic summary
This topic is a long research work, it has a lot of information about seaweed both in Punta Cana and in the whole Dominican Republic.
If you need more accurate and concise information, here is a summary of the topic:
- The months with the highest incidence of seaweed in Punta Cana are March, April, May, June, and July these months are considered to be the hottest in the country.
- The month of July is the highest peak of seaweed accumulation in Punta Cana.
- In September, the amount of seaweed in Punta Cana starts to decrease.
- From September to February, are the months with less incidence of seaweed in Punta Cana, it could be found in some beaches, but in very few quantities.
- Most hotels clean the beach every day.
- The seaweed situation may vary from one day to another in a hotel.
In the Dominican Republic, there are many other beaches where the seaweed never arrives or arrives in a very reduced form, which is practically not noticeable.
La Caleta Beach Dominican Republic
La Caleta Beach Dominican Republic
Is There Too Much Seaweed in Punta Cana?
The amount of seaweed accumulated on the beaches of Punta Cana can vary day by day and month after month, the hotels have adapted to the task of cleaning the beach every day.
From the end of May to July have been those with the highest negative incidence, in February there has been a decrease in accumulation, The hotels have adapted to the task of cleaning the beach every day, and some resort has installed a net to catch the seaweed.
Some areas are more affected than others but it is impossible to predict and can change quickly, It cannot be said that the problem of seaweed is seasonal, but there is a notable increase in relation to past years.
You can follow the social networks of the hotels to see updated photos of the beaches before making your trip, don’t let it affect your trip. At the end of this topic, you will find some live webcams of the beaches in Punta Cana, so you can verify in real-time the status of some beaches.
Do all beaches in Punta Cana have seaweed?
Generally, when there is a lot of seaweed, it touches almost all the beaches and hotels in the area of Punta Cana, some beaches are less affected, in the summer months when the waters are warmer there is usually more concentration of seaweed.
The concentration of seaweed is not uniform throughout the coast of Punta Cana, there are beaches that are less affected, and others where the seaweed hardly reaches.
There are sections of beach that can be more affected than others, the only constant is that all the hotels have a staff dedicated to cleaning the coast during the days of an abundance of seaweed.
Seaweed-free beaches in Punta Cana
There are beaches in Punta Cana that are free of seaweed, such as Macao Beach, because of its geographical location, and you can reach them by vehicle (car or motorcycle), through a buggy tour, or the Safari tour.
Other beaches in Punta Cana where the seaweed does not reach are in Uvero Alto, or already arriving at Miches, such as Playa Esmeralda, but these are much more remote to reach while on vacation in a resort.
Seaweed barrier in Punta Cana and Bavaro
Of 31 kilometers of beach area in the hotels of Bávaro, there is a barrier of 12.7 kilometers, equivalent to a coverage of 40%. To be more specific, it indicates that 95% of the area of Punta Cana-Cap Cana is protected with anti-seize barriers, in Cabeza de Toro 48%, Bavaro 17% and Uvero Alto 0%.
There are zones In Bavaro where these are not effective if breakwaters are not installed before because the coral reef is devastated and this causes the waters to run harder.
Where there are no barriers, hoteliers collect seaweed mechanically, which can impact the environment by taking sand in the process.
Anti-seize barriers are the option that the country must continue to apply, although in other places they have not been as successful and the seaweed kept are not visually attractive.
Which months are the most likely to produce seaweed in Punta Cana?
Because seaweed has been found to reproduce more in hot weather, the months where they are most likely to be found on some beaches coincide with the hottest months of the year, although the climate in Punta Cana is relatively warm all year round.
The months from April to October are the hottest months of the year, with August and September being the hottest, but the highest peak of seaweed concentration in Punta Cana is the month of July.
Above 20º C seaweed tend to reproduce more. In addition to this increase in seawater temperatures, many industries release fertilizers into the sea, which are a source of extra food for the algae and cause them to increase in size and extension at an alarming rate.
Changes in wind patterns and sea currents are also being altered and, if you add them to a greater quantity of algae, there is a massive dragging and accumulation on the shores, leading to a serious environmental problem.
Which months are there no seaweed in Punta Cana?
According to some information I gathered from some locals and visitors, as well as from workers in the hotel zone of Punta Cana since mid-September the incidence of seaweed usually decreases, and especially in the month of December, there is usually no seaweed on the beaches.
October to May is the months with the lowest incidence of seaweed in Punta Cana hotels.
This information coincides with the fact that the months from September to January are the season with less hot weather in the Dominican Republic.
In addition, according to NASA satellite photographs, the extension of seaweed that travels towards the Caribbean coasts year after year occurs in the first months of the year.
Where does all the seaweed in Punta Cana come from?
This is not the first time this phenomenon has occurred in the Caribbean or in the Dominican Republic. A similar seaweed bloom occurred in 2011, and also in 2014.
Although specialists studying the phenomenon do not have answers for everything, they have been able to determine that the seaweed does NOT come from the Sargasso Sea (northwest Atlantic), as initially thought.
The likely origin is further south, in one or more areas of the equatorial Atlantic (between Africa and South America), where current patterns are known to have varied.
This is probably due to higher sea surface temperatures, as well as a decrease in winds. All of this is being linked to the phenomenon of global climate change.
Apparently, the bloom of these algae has been favored by an abundance of nutrients deposited by a large amount of dust from the Sahara that has been reaching the Dominican Republic lately.
Hotels in Punta Cana with reduced seaweed problems
Seaweed does not reach all the beaches of Punta Cana equally, in fact, there are beaches that do not even have any, and this means that depending on the hotel where you stay, your vacation will be affected or not by the seaweed.
Be sure not to stay in the Cabeza de Toro area, in some hotels in Arena Gorda and Playa Bávaro, and in Cap Cana.
In these hotels very little water arrives, and they also clean it, you will not find the water 100% clean during a season of heavy seaweed, but it will not be a big problem.
Barceló Bavaro Beach
Barceló Palace Deluxe
Bavaro Princess
Caribe Club Princess and Tropical Princess
Iberostar Grand
Iberostar Punta Cana
Iberostar Bavaro
Iberostar Dominican
Riu Bambú
Riu Naiboa
Riu Palace Bavaro
Riu Palace Macao
Riu Palace Punta Cana
Riu Republica
Riu Taino
Royalton
Secrets Royal
Vik Arena Blanca
Sirenis
Punta Cana hotels where seaweed hardly arrives (practically none)
If you come to Punta Cana during the seaweed season and want to avoid it, stay at one of these hotels:
Breathless Punta Cana
Chic Punta Cana
Colony Bay
Dreams Punta Cana
Excellence Punta Cana
Excellence El Carmen
Nickelodeon
Now Onyx
Ocean El Faro
Sensatory
Sivory
Zoetry
Dreams Macao
Is your trip ruined if you go to a hotel in Punta Cana and there is seaweed on the beach?
The experience of visiting a hotel in Punta Cana will not be ruined because you find seaweed on the beach, there are so many things to do and enjoy inside the hotel.
You can enjoy the sea in different ways, the hotel’s internal activities, excursions, restaurants, shopping for gifts, ect, there are many recreational activities to enjoy your vacation days.
Do all the beaches in the Dominican Republic have seaweed?
Although seaweed accumulation is a phenomenon that has no predictable pattern, there are parts of the country where seaweed accumulation on beaches is infrequent.
This is my perception, as I frequently visit the beaches in the northern part of the country, and I have never actually seen seaweed accumulating on the shores.
An example of this is the beaches of Bayahibe, which are located less than an hour from Punta Cana, and are always free of seaweed.
Bayahibe is also located in the east of the country, just like Punta Cana, but with the difference that Bayahibe is located further south.
The beaches of Puerto Plata, which are located much further north than Punta Cana, are also always free of seaweed.
Public beaches in the northern part of the Dominican Republic, are kept quite clean of seaweed.
This reinforces the concept of seaweed coming from the southeast.
Can you have direct contact with seaweed, is it dangerous?
Although seaweed is generally harmless (the seaweed itself is non-toxic), seaweed collects epiphytes (small plants and animals that attach to and grow on the leaves of seaweed) as it floats in the ocean and many of these can cause a slight stinging sensation to people with very sensitive skin.
Seaweed does not irritate the skin, it is an alga that does not have something urticant, it is a biological fact. But this seaweed may have some tiny animals called hydrozoans that can cause an itching sensation.
For people with very sensitive skin, medical experts and biologists advise against direct contact, as it can cause various skin problems such as dermatitis.
Facing the problem of Seaweed in Punta Cana
Faced with the challenge of facing its massive arrival, barriers in the region have been installed and tests have been carried out to recycle the sargassum for multiple purposes such as fertilizers, chemical compounds, biofuels or biogas, including clothing and footwear.
However, more studies and public-private initiatives are needed to overcome the uncertain availability of sargassum and the properties of this seaweed whose impact on the country has motivated meetings between hotel entrepreneurs and President Danilo Medina in the National Palace.
A hotel in the tourist area of Punta Cana, temporarily lost its Blue Flag category and Red Flag was placed due to the amount of seaweed on the beach. They always clean the beach, but they had a disproportionate avalanche of their ability to respond and the seaweed accumulated.
The Blue Flag is an international recognition granted by the Foundation for Environmental Education to facilities that have demanding environmental quality standards. The Red category is placed when these criteria are not met and the visitor makes use of the beach at his own risk.
Possible alternative solutions to face the seaweed problem in the Dominican Republic
Since 2015, the Ministry of Environment called for proposals on the use of sargassum. Otto Cordero, in charge of Integrated Ecosystem Management of that institution, shows that several projects arrived. 80% propose using algae as fertilizer; Another is to convert it into biogas.
Faced with the proposals to fertilize with sargassum, scientific warnings are placed on the salinization of the soils, because of the number of metals and salts it contains. Just in 2015, the Laboratory of the General Directorate of Customs conducted a prospective study on the chemical composition of sargassum that arrives in the country.
They sampled the two known varieties: Sargassum natans and Sargassum fluitans on the beaches of Boca Chica, Guayacanes and Barahona.
They found that both varieties contain “slightly elevated levels of Hg (mercury), which could limit the use of biomass.” They also found the content of Ascanio, yttrium and 14 lanthanides, known as rare earth, at higher levels than in the oceans. “Every year we do onsite evaluations to verify the Blue Flag beaches.
In one of the visits we made to a beach in Cabeza de Toro it was observed that there was a large accumulation of sargassum and, although we did not take it into account for certification, because it is not garbage, there was a strong stench that felt from the entrance, ”says Daniela Cifontes, one of the Blue Flag technicians in the country.
Another proposed use for sargassum is to convert it into activated carbon that is used in the water filtration industry. A study led by Intec researcher Yolanda León, resulted in high-quality activated carbon.
In the Dominican Republic, there is a research project of the Algeanova company that has already reached an agreement with the biotechnology company Grogenics, from Canada.
They have designed formula for a compound that will be 60% algae and 40% tree pruning to produce fertilizer. Algeanova made the first test of sargassum transformation on June 5 and publicized it on their social networks.
Transforming seaweed into disposable plates
Algeanova is a company based in the Dominican Republic that provides the services of maritime cleaning and placement of barriers, to transform these algae, Algeanova has more than one project.
For about three years, they thought of turning sargassum into disposable containers, they have the machinery to produce about 2,000 dishes a day.
Seaweed will not be a problem for beaches in the Dominican Republic
Tourism is one of the main economic sources of the Dominican Republic, therefore efforts are being made to optimize and promote high-level tourism in the country.
It is very good news to know that the President of the Dominican Republic, together with public organizations, has created the “fund for the mitigation of seaweed”.
Already 2.8 million dollars have been allocated for the construction of seaweed barriers and another 1.5 million dollars for the regeneration of the beaches.
This plan will initially cover 35 beaches, in the most important tourist areas of the country.
Punta Cana live webcam
Most resorts and hotels in Punta Cana have live cameras overlooking the beach, here I will be sharing live cameras. Some videos are updated every 20 seconds, I will be bringing the live cameras I find, if any of the links do not work I would appreciate it if you would let me know by message.
Hard Rock Punta Cana live web cam.
Palladium TRS Turquesa live web cam
Another option to see the beaches of Punta Cana in real-time
I recently discovered another very cool option to see the beaches and surroundings of Punta Cana in real view and in high definition.
Well, the real-time view is not exactly real-time, because that option is only available for military use, but the satellite views are refreshed every 48 or 72 hours, and they are so sharp that you can see the shores of the beaches clearly.
Here is the link to the website where you can see the beaches of Punta Cana in satellite view.
Satellite view of Punta Cana beaches
FAQs
Why is there so much seaweed in Punta Cana right now? ›
It is a type found in tropical areas. This seaweed is usually far offshore, but ocean currents bring it to the Dominican coast. Many scientists are speculating that this is due to climate change and rising ocean temperature.
Where in Dominican Republic can you go without seaweed? ›Beaches around Cabarete and La Romana are the best beaches without seaweed during the seaweed season in the Dominican Republic.
What would happen if seaweed was removed? ›Even though it sometimes disrupts our surfing, swimming, or beach activities, seaweed is a very valuable resource for wildlife. When seaweed is removed, the beach atmosphere changes, leaving many animals and plants without a place to live and eat.
Are the beaches clean in Punta Cana? ›The Dominican Republic is known for its unpolluted and clean beaches. Many of its beaches have awarded Blue Flag status which means they've been recognized by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). Punta Cana is home to several (and a growing number of) Blue Flag beaches.
How do you avoid seaweed in Punta Cana? ›So, the best way to ensure a sargassum-free vacation in Punta Cana is to either stay on one of Punta Cana's seaweed-free beaches, such as Bayahibe or Macao beach or to do some research and stay in hotels that are successfully tackling this issue.
Where to avoid seaweed in Punta Cana? ›Scape Park is a great choice to avoid the seaweed in Punta Cana.
Where is the clearest water in Punta Cana? ›1. Bavaro Beach, the best beach in Punta Cana. Considered one of the best beaches in the world, this is the most famous in Punta Cana. There are plenty of reasons: white like flour sand, thousands of coconut trees, and crystal clear turquoise waters that dazzle.
Which Caribbean island has least sargassum? ›On Providenciales, the popular beaches of Grace Bay, Leeward, the Bight Beach, Taylor Bay, Sapodilla Bay, and Malcolm's Road, and the beautiful boat cruise destinations of Half Moon Bay, Water Cay, Pine Cay, and Fort George Cay are typically free of sargassum.
How can I avoid getting sick in Dominican Republic? ›Tourists should be aware that there is a risk of contracting sicknesses from unsanitary food. The best way to ensure a great vacation is not to overindulge. Wash your hands before eating and avoid food from street vendors and dairy products that have not been pasteurized.
How can we prevent seaweed? ›The most commonly used boom for seaweed control is a product known as the Floating Debris Boom. Made with a robust and flexible material, this seaweed control barrier floats along the surface of the water to effectively contain seaweed and prevent the spread of material to a new location.
How can we protect seaweed? ›
Maintain the genetic diversity in wild stocks by conserving wild populations through encouraging no-take zones, preventing the introduction of non-indigenous species and encouraging the development of indigenous strains/ varieties for commercial cultivation.
How do you get rid of seaweed on the beach? ›The SURF RAKE is the only sand cleaner that easily removes wet, heavy seaweed and mounds of sargassum. Beach cleanup can be a struggle when sargassum weed is continually deposited on the beach.
Can I brush my teeth with the water in Punta Cana? ›Brushing teeth with tap water in the Dominican Republic is not recommended unless the water quality is guaranteed to be filtered or treated. In most cases, using boiled, filtered, or bottled water is a safer option for traveling.
Can you flush toilet paper in Punta Cana? ›Water: As in most developing countries, the tap water is not potable. Please refrain from using it to drink or brush your teeth. We will provide bottled water. Do not flush toilet paper down the toilet, remember to place toilet paper in trash.
Which beaches have no sargassum? ›- Punta Mosquito.
- Holbox Downtown.
- Punta Cocos.
- Costa Mujeres.
- Playa Mujeres.
- Isla Mujeres North.
- Beach Playa del Niño.
- Puerto Juárez.
Bayahibe Beach
Furthermore, it is a perfect beach for swimming and also the best option in and around Punta Cana for a beach without seaweed. Last but not least, Bayahibe also features crystal-clear water and a turquoise ocean, hence it features perfect photo opportunities.
Sargassum, a big problem on the Punta Cana beaches.
Thousands of tons of sargassum accumulate on the paradisiacal beaches of Punta Cana and keep tourists away. The inconveniences caused by sargassum on beaches are numerous, some of them: Brown water beaches: The crystalline waters become brown waters.
The one most relevant to Punta Cana is the vaccine for hepatitis A, a liver disease that is typically passed via contaminated food or water. (Note: The CDC recommends a hepatitis A vaccine for all travel to the Caribbean and Mexico.)
How long do rain showers last in Punta Cana? ›The rainy season in Punta Cana distinguishes itself by a couple of daily, heavy showers, which lasts usually between 10 and 20 minutes, often in the morning, in the afternoon and at night. Between those showers, you will have a lot of sunshine and can enjoy the Caribbean heat.
Where is the clearest water in the Dominican Republic? ›Bahía de las Águilas
It's one of the most spectacular settings in the Dominican Republic. This is beauty in its purest state: 5 miles of white sand dotted with giant boulders and cliffs with the clearest water you can imagine.
Which Caribbean island has least seaweed? ›
Isla Mujeres: Caribbean beaches without sargassum
Just in front of Villa del Palmar Cancun is Isla Mujeres, one of the most paradisiacal destinations in the entire Caribbean and that hasn't been hit by the sargassum algae. This island is an excellent option to make a day trip from Cancun.
Beaches in Punta Cana offer true tropical paradises with sand and surf that extends forever, tropical environs, clean seashores, palm trees, and all the relaxation you need. Here, you can relax on powder-soft white sands, swim and surf in crystal clear turquoise water, and escape from the stress of your daily life.
Does Punta Cana have turquoise water? ›Where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Caribbean Sea is Punta Cana, a true paradise on Earth.
Which is the most unspoilt Caribbean island? ›- Culebra, Puerto Rico. ...
- Nevis. ...
- Montserrat. ...
- Saba. ...
- Tobago. Beach at the Coco Reef Tobago/Oyster. ...
- Anguilla. Beach at the Zemi Beach House, Hotel & Spa/Oyster. ...
- Bequia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. ...
- Terre-de-Haut, Guadeloupe. Terre-de-Haut, Guadeloupe; Jean-Sébastien Roy/Flickr.
All of Mexico is not impacted by sargassum. The Pacific Coast is sargassum-free, and in parts of Mexico's Caribbean Coast, the impact varies. For example, the resorts of Cozumel and Isla Mujeres have shown small to virtually no signs of sargassum this year.
Can you swim in the ocean with sargassum? ›Sargassum in the water. Sargassum presents risks to human health as well. In the water, it's harmless to humans, but the trouble begins once it lands on the beach and starts to decompose.
How do you prevent travelers diarrhea in the Dominican Republic? ›- Choose food and drinks carefully. Eat only foods that are cooked and served hot. Avoid food that has been sitting on a buffet. ...
- Wash your hands. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after using the bathroom and before eating.
Travelers to Dominican Republic are reminded to take malaria prevention measures. CDC recommends antimalarial medication for travelers going to the Dominican Republic, outside of Santiago and Santo Domingo cities.
What can humans do to reduce the amount of sargassum? ›Sargassum in shallow waters can be removed “using reinforced fishing nets – either toed by light boats or by hand in very shallow waters. On Isla Bonita, Belize, volunteers devised a unique method of using a seine net to harvest the floating sargassum out of the water” (Hinds et al, 2016).
How do you stop sargassum? ›Exclusion booms or barriers are moored in selected locations to keep the Sargassum seaweed off the beach where it will move with the wind and current either back to sea or down the coast.
What kills seaweed? ›
Copper Sulfate Algaecide
Made with a high concentration of copper sulfate pentahydrate, Crystal Blue's algaecide is particularly effective against thick, slimy mats of surface algae. Like other copper-based herbicides, it works by damaging plant cells, preventing photosynthesis, and thus killing the plant.
Removing the seaweed hurts the whole food web, from microscopic bacteria and humble marine isopods to the shorebirds and small mammals that feed on them. But the tide continuously brings seaweed to shore; surely communities that rely on it have time to recover.
Can seaweed be preserved? ›To dry seaweed, simply arrange it on anything from trays to cookie sheets to screens. You can also dry large kelp by hanging them over railings or on laundry lines. Place them in a warm room, in the sun, or in a warm oven. These dried seaweeds can later be re-submersed in salt water to be studied.
How can seaweed stop global warming? ›Here's how it's supposed to work. Seaweed has been removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere for at least 500 million years. Recent studies suggest that wild seaweed continues to do humanity a solid by sequestering 173 million metric tons annually.
What eats washed up seaweed? ›Spiller found that washed-up seaweed is in fact a resource "subsidy" that's consumed by flies and small amphipods such as beach fleas, which in turn are eaten by lizards and predatory arthropods like spiders.
What breaks down seaweed? ›Marine bacteria play a critical role in the carbon cycle by breaking down seaweed. A little over a decade ago, researchers found the genes that enable ocean bacteria to degrade the complex carbohydrate known as porphyran, found in cold-water seaweed, in a microbiome sample from a Japanese adult.
Is sargassum a problem in Punta Cana? ›The beaches of Punta Cana are a favorite destination for tourists, but unfortunately also for sargassum, a type of seaweed very common in this area of the Caribbean.
Why is there so much seaweed in Bavaro Beach? ›Brown algae known as sargassum started to reach the Caribbean coasts in 2011 and has since accumulated on the beaches and grown out of control. Experts attribute several factors, including climate change, to the daily increase in the number of floating algae found along the shores.
Why is there an increase in sargassum? ›Nitrogen is found in human and animal waste and in fertilizers. The results suggest that sewage and farm runoff that's flowing into rivers throughout the Americas and then on to the ocean is feeding offshore sargassum growth.
Can you swim when there is sargassum? ›Certain animals, especially dogs, are also sensitive to the inhalation of hydrogen sulfide. He further cautions to avoid swimming in Sargassum infested waters as it can lead to skin irritation.
What should I worry about in Punta Cana? ›
- Always be aware of your surroundings.
- Travel with a group.
- Never walk alone.
- Stay away from secluded areas at night.
Isla Mujeres: Caribbean beaches without sargassum
Just in front of Villa del Palmar Cancun is Isla Mujeres, one of the most paradisiacal destinations in the entire Caribbean and that hasn't been hit by the sargassum algae. This island is an excellent option to make a day trip from Cancun.
- Punta Mosquito.
- Holbox Downtown.
- Punta Cocos.
- Costa Mujeres.
- Playa Mujeres.
- Isla Mujeres North.
- Beach Playa del Niño.
- Puerto Juárez.
Bavaro Beach, the best beach in Punta Cana
There are plenty of reasons: white like flour sand, thousands of coconut trees, and crystal clear turquoise waters that dazzle.
And Punta Cana in particular has been known to face severe tropical storms, with October being the rainiest month.