Aruba Designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve as Sargassum Threat Remains Low for Tourists

The UNESCO International Coordinating Council for the Man and the Biosphere programme approved Aruba's designation as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve during its 38th session held in Paraguay. The reserve covers the entire island, about 19,300 hectares, and includes an exclusive economic zone of nearly 3 million hectares. Aruba’s 108,000 residents and local stakeholders—government agencies, communities, civil society, scientists and the private sector—participated in the co‑construction process that secured the designation.

In the 2026 Caribbean tourism season, the archipelago continues to grapple with large sargassum influxes. Monitoring by the University of South Florida recorded a record‑high volume of sargassum in June, with the Gulf of Mexico receiving about five million metric tonnes, roughly double the previous record. Despite widespread beach impacts, Aruba is listed among destinations with a lower historical probability of heavy sargassum accumulation, alongside Curaçao, Turks & Caicos and parts of the Colombian coast. Travelers are advised to check local beach conditions, as no Caribbean location can guarantee completely sargassum‑free shores.