Tulum hotels weigh seasonal closures amid sargassum surge

Hotels along Tulum’s Caribbean coast are evaluating whether to operate only during months when the sargassum algae is absent. President of the Consejo Hotelero del Caribe Mexicano and the Asociación de Hoteles de Tulum, David Ortiz Mena, says the algae season now begins in January and can extend to December, stretching a period that previously ended in August‑September. The prolonged bloom has driven cleaning costs that can be three times higher than a hotel’s electricity bill, sharply reducing occupancy and squeezing profitability, especially amid an unfavorable exchange rate.

Ortiz Mena notes that Quintana Roo received five times more sargassum in 2025 than its worst historical record, and the sector has traditionally shouldered the expense of daily beach clean‑ups. He points to a federal response that will add Navy‑operated sargassum‑catching vessels, permanent barriers, and a dedicated funding program, but argues that the most effective solution is to intercept the algae at sea—an effort beyond the capacity of individual hotels. Seasonal closures would also affect ancillary businesses such as restaurants, drivers, and tour operators that depend on hotel guests.