Cancun, Riviera Maya, Q.R. — The entire coastal region from Cancun to Mahahual is getting ready for one of the busiest vacation periods of the year with a massive beach clean to remove sargasso.
While the current pile-ups are not as significant as in the past, volunteers from various municipalities have still been out in full force removing the seaweed that has landed along state beaches.
Virgilio Gómez, Coordinador General de Unidos por Quintana Roo, explained that Governor Carlos Joaquin has requested social participation to deal with the sargasso, adding that Unidos por Quintana Roo does that by convening organizations and groups of citizens to help conserve the cleanliness of beaches.
The organization provides drinking water and sargasso talks to volunteers, ensuring they understand the importance of removing only the seaweed and not sand, while the government provides the tools needed and a final disposal place.
Gómez says that over a two-day clean, more than 130 people showed up to clean Mahahual beaches, removing one ton of seaweed from 400 linear meters. In Puerto Morelos, dozens arrived for a clean that saw the removal of five tons of seaweed.
Similar beach cleans have been on-going with other resort areas including Isla Mujeres, Cancun and Playa del Carmen where beach cleans have seen the removal of the washed-up seaweed.
The Secretariat of Tourism of Quintana Roo is forecasting the arrival of approximately 1.2 million national and international visitors to the region for Easter-Holy Week. The primary destinations will include Cancun, Puerto Morelos, Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, Chetumal, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Holbox, Bacalar, Mahahual, Felipe Carrillo Puerto and José María Morelos.
They report the coastal region will see a 2.6 percent increase over last year.
Alicia Ricalde, head of la Administración Portuaria Integral de Quintana Roo, says that they are also anticipating between 25,000 and 26,000 ferry travelers per day over the upcoming Easter holiday season at the Cozumel and Isla Mujeres ferry terminals, where security will be increased.
Semana Santa (Holy Week) or Easter, is one of the busiest vacation periods for the coastal region, beginning April 14.
