Sargassum
We just returned from seven days at a beautiful resort in San Pedro. The resort was absolutely stunning, the food was delicious, and the staff were so kind and attentive. We could not have asked for a better experience at the resort.
That said, the damper on the whole trip was the awful noxious smell of the rotting sargassum. It was mild the first day, but on day three (when the heat was higher and the wind up) it was unbearable. It really did impact our trip, as we opted out of outdoor activities and stayed indoors more than we wanted to. Even then, we could still smell it when the AC was on. My spouse and I both had headaches and nausea.
I feel badly for the resorts because they are trying to stay on top of this, but they can only do so much. I read a weather news piece that said 2026 is going to be the worst year yet for sargassum across the whole Caribbean due to climate change. I hope someone can find a way to deal with this for many reasons.
San Pedro is a beautiful place, and I am so grateful we got to experience the culture and meet so many wonderful people. However, we won’t be going back again for a while due to the smell.