Best Caribbean Beaches Without Seaweed: Where to Go in 2023

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Planning a couples getaway, family vacation or honeymoon and looking for the best Caribbean beaches without seaweed?

If you’ve been reading about  sargassum seaweed problems in Mexico, Florida and the Caribbean, you might be wondering which Caribbean islands are not affected by seaweed and brown algae. 

It’s especially important to think about in 2023. A recent report by the University of South Florida states that due to a record-breaking amount of sargassum in the Atlantic, there could be a major seaweed bloom in 2023 in the Caribbean Sea.  

In order to help you decide where to travel, we’ve created a list of Caribbean beaches not affected by seasonal sargassum seaweed in the past. 

We also consulted several expert resources for information and forecasts on sargassum seaweed in 2022 and 2023. 

While there’s never a guarantee you won’t find sargassum seaweed, these beaches should be a good starting point for planning a Caribbean beach vacation in seaweed season.  

Facts about Sargassum Seaweed in 2021 and 2022 

The world’s largest sargassum seaweed bloom — known as the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt — now stretches 8850-kilometres  long from West Africa to the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, says Science magazine.

And while there used to be an identifiable seaweed season of May to December, sargassum seaweed is arriving earlier, staying longer and the mats of seaweed are larger in size.

This increases the likelihood of encountering the unpleasant brown algae on your Caribbean vacation. 

According to the University of South Florida‘s Outlook of Sargassum blooms in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico (known as (SaWS), the level of sargassum seaweed in the central Atlantic can generally be predicted in December of each year. 

Parts of the Caribbean experienced heavy influxes of sargassum in 2018, 2019 and for much of 2022. 

 The Caribbean islands most affected by sargassum seaweed in the past include certain coastlines on Barbados, Tobago, Guadeloupe, Dominican Republic and Martinique. 

Sargassum Seaweed in 2022 and 2023

However, it’s important to note that even on islands affected by an influx of sargassum algae there are often beaches that are totally clear on the same island.    

For example, in 2022, when mainland of Playa del Carmen, Mexico had a severe sargassum seaweed problem, the leeward beaches of Isla Mujeres and Cozumel were free of seaweed.  And in Barbados, Carlisle Bay often has no issues with sargassum.  

While there’s no guarantee, if you’re planning a beach vacation and looking for Caribbean islands not affected by seaweed and Caribbean beaches without seaweed, here are some destinations to consider:

1.  Grand Anse  in St. Georges, Grenada: A Caribbean Beach Without Seaweed

With its organic bean-to-bar chocolate, artisanal rum plantations and mountainous interior dotted with waterfalls, there’s lots to love about the Caribbean island of Grenada  without even considering its idyllic  beaches.

The hub for tourism on the island,  Grand Anse regularly tops the list of the world’s best beaches due to its crystal clear waters and its 2 kilometre long stretch of white sand dotted with palm trees.  

Grand Anse is also blessedly free of sargassum seaweed. Even at the height of seaweed season, you’ll rarely see anything except a star fish or two in the water. There are lots of resorts to choose from on Grand Anse Beach, but here are a few of my favourites:  

Check availability and prices at Spice Island Beach Resort, a luxury hotel on Grand Anse Beach, on Booking.com. 

Check availability and prices at Radisson Grenada Beach Resort, the best mid-range hotel on Grand Anse Beach, Grenada on Booking.com.   

Check availability and prices at the Siesta Hotel, a budget hotel near Grand Anse Beach, on Booking.com.  

Disclaimer: Sargassum seaweed conditions can change quickly due to prevailing winds, ocean currents, tides and other factors. It’s impossible to predict with any accuracy where seaweed will land. We take no responsibility for decisions made based on probabilities so please verify with your hotel before booking. 

2. Morne Rouge Beach on Grenada 

This beautiful seaweed-free beach with turquoise blue waters is also on the island of Grenada. Morne Rouge also known as BBC Beach is less well known than Grand Anse Beach but is also rarely affected by sargassum seaweed.

It’s especially popular with families as the waters are very calm for swimming. Morne Rouge is a great option if you’re looking for a Caribbean beach without seaweed that’s family-friendly.

While there are several budget hotels and condos for rent overlooking Morne Rouge, the closest 4-star hotel is Mount Cinnamon Resort, a short drive or hilly walk away. 

Check rates and availability at Mount Cinnamon Resort on Booking.com.

3. Grace Bay Beach in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos

Another of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Grace Bay Beach features clear waters and powder soft sand. This long beach is protected by a barrier reef so is especially calm. The ocean bottom at Grace Bay Beach is smooth and clean.

Grace Bay in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos is definitely a destination to consider if you’re looking for Caribbean beach without seaweed for a family, couples or group vacation.  

Although the Turks & Caicos participates in the Caribbean Development Bank, it’s technically situated north of the Caribbean and in the tropical Atlantic. However, the waters are as blue as the Caribbean! 

On the opposite coast, Long Bay Beach is known to receive some seaweed on its shores.  It’s more of a windswept beach with dramatic wave action and has its own unique beauty. If you love horseback-riding, Long Bay Beach also happens to be the beach where Provo Ponies takes riders to swim with their horses in the ocean – a truly unforgettable experience. 

Check prices at The Somerset on Grace Bay on Booking.com. 

4. Palm Beach on Aruba, Dutch Caribbean  

The Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba is best known for its white sand beaches, luxury resorts and cooling trade winds. In addition to being located outside the hurricane belt, its famous beaches such as Eagle Beach, Palm Beach and Baby Beach also have the good fortune of being outside the sargassum seaweed belt.

So, if you’ve been spending the winter imagining yourself kicking back on a lounger, sipping a tropical cocktail at a beach bar and floating in idyllic  Caribbean waters without any brown smelly seaweed to spoil the fantasy, then consider Aruba, one of the most reliable Caribbean islands without sargassum.

While there are several small, boutique-sized hotels in Aruba, here are two of our favourite large resorts on Palm Beach and Eagle Beach.  

Check prices and availability on the Holiday Inn Beach Resort & Casino, Palm Beach on Booking.com

Check prices and availability on the Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort set on a prime stretch of beach with easy access to swimming and water sports.

5. Playa Porto Mari on Curacao, Dutch Caribbean 

One of the most beautiful beaches in Curacao also happens to be one of the best best Caribbean beaches without seaweed.  Located on the west coast of the island of Curacao, Playa Porto Mari is a private beach which means there is an entrance fee (check the Porto Mari website for hour and prices) but along with the fee comes several amenities.

Clean washrooms, an outdoor shower, parking, a lookout for photo ops, a floating dock, a restaurant/bar,  lounge chairs for rent  and more, this is a beach that delivers the full  tropical beach fantasy but with all the conveniences. 

Although there are some rocks at the entry to the water, family-friendly Porto Mari has a sandy ocean bottom, gentle waves and no under currents as it’s protected by a double off-shore reef.

It’s one of the best beaches for snorkeling in Curacao and, along with the Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire, is also popular among scuba divers. There’s also the unique attraction of wild pigs that roam freely – you might spot them ambling by at the end of the day. Playa Daaiboo, a public beach with free admission, is also nearby. 

Check out our post on Free Things to Do in Curacao to learn about the wild flamingoes and other attractions on your way to PortoMari. 

6. Bloody Bay and Long Bay Beaches in Negril,  Jamaica 

One of the largest Caribbean islands, Jamaica offers several coastlines and beaches to choose from. Although there have been some issues with foul smelling sargassum seaweed in Fort Clarence Beach near Kingston (and a few other areas), the beaches in Negril have generally been free of sargassum seaweed. 

Note: There is a difference between seagrass (which grows on the ocean bottom) and Sargassum seaweed, a free-floating mass of seaweed that accumulates on the ocean’s surface.

Check prices on Couples Swept Away Negril, an adults-only resort set on a beautiful stretch of beach in Negril, on Booking.com. 

7.  Southern Tip of Antigua, Antigua & Barbuda

Although the luxurious St. James Club in the eastern windward side of Antigua in the Caribbean’s Leeward Islands had to shut down for three months in 2019 due to a massive influx of sargassum, many other beaches in Antigua often have no sargassum seaweed. 

Located on the southern tip of Antigua, Curtain Bluff Resort is set on two beaches in a private setting that receives very little seaweed.

The boutique resort features 72 rooms,  all-inclusive gourmet dining as well as plenty of diversions including tennis, squash, sailing, guided snorkelling and sea kayaking. 

Antigua Beach Update March 2023

Dickenson Bay, Jolly Beach and other beautiful beaches in Antigua on the west coast of Antigua have historically not received an influx of sargassum.

But due to wind currents and other factors, considerable sargassum and sea grass has been reported on some stretches of Dickenson Beach,  Jolly Beach and others as well as in the water as of March 2023.

This includes Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa. Beach conditions in Antigua change quickly so check before you travel.  

It’s worth looking into Darkwood, Carlisle Bay and FFryes beaches as they are popular beaches without sargassum in the past.

For updates on the best Caribbean beaches without seaweed  browse the reports and photos of sargassum seaweed conditions in Antigua on the Antigua Sargassum Seaweed Observations Facebook group.    

8. Playa Norte on Isla Mujeres and Best Beaches Without Seaweed in Mexico 

If you have your heart set on visiting Mexico’s Caribbean coast, it’s still possible to find beaches with no sargassum seaweed along this vast coastline.

While exposed eastern shores are most likely to get hit by surges of sargassum, some beaches such as Playa Norte on the island of Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo are  generally seaweed-free. However, much depends on winds and ocean currents.

It’s also worth considering the beaches on Mexico’s Pacific Coast if you’re looking for beaches without seaweed. While the water along Mexico’s Pacific beaches is darker blue and not as warm as the water along its Caribbean beaches, Pacific beaches aren’t affected by sargassum seaweed in the Atlantic.

Sargassum seaweed originates in the Atlantic so it doesn’t migrate to the Pacific.

 Note: Red tide is a different phenomenon than sargasso seaweed and all beaches can temporarily be affected by red tide algae.  

Some of the prettiest Mexican beaches are located on the the country’s Pacific Coast.

Top beaches in Mexico without seaweed worth considering for a beach vacation include Carrizalillo Beach (Puerto Escondido), Punta Mita, Mismaloya and Bucerias (near Puerto Vallarta) and Santa Cruz beach and San Agustin beach (Huatulco). 

Check availability and prices on Zoetry Villa Rolandi Resort & Spa on Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo on Booking.com.

9. Little Bay Beach, St. Maarten

This little dual nation island (one side is Dutch, and the other side is French,) has 37 lovely beaches dotted around its 34 square miles. It occasionally has problems with sargassum, but mostly on the east coast.

If you’re looking for a beach without seaweed in St. Maarten, Little Bay Beach, on the southern side and minutes from the capital of Philipsburg is a good bet. It’s rarely affected by sargassum seaweed as it’s on its own peninsula and protected by rocky outcroppings on either side.

Though it is the main beach of the sprawling all-inclusive Divi Little Bay Beach Resort, all beaches on this island are open to the public so non-guests are welcome, and there is a stand-alone operator renting chairs and umbrellas.

You can also purchase a Day Pass to enjoy the resort’s stellar water circuit and all the food and beverage offerings.

Insider’s Tip: There is excellent snorkeling right off the Divi pier, and you can rent equipment on site from Aqua Mania Adventures. You are sure to spot scads of tropical fish on their house reef, and if you’re lucky you might even see spotted rays and sea turtles! 

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