Bacteria Alert: Cancun Beachgoers Swim in Polluted Waters!

Beachgoers at Playa del Niño in Cancun have been unwittingly swimming in waters contaminated with fecal matter. Just yesterday, children were spotted playing near areas where waste was visibly floating. Tourists, unaware of the situation, were seen rinsing off after their swim.

This issue was observed at various points throughout the day. Despite this, the Health Department and the Federal Commission for Protection Against Health Risks (Cofepris) have deemed the bacteriological quality of the seawater as “Suitable”. This rating was given as part of their pre-vacation beach monitoring results for the state of Quintana Roo, conducted during Holy Week 2025.

The federal agency monitored 28 beaches in Quintana Roo, six of them in Cancún : Delfines, Marín, Tortugas, Langosta, Las Perlas, and del Niño. The first five are located in the hotel zone of the destination, while the last is in Puerto Juárez.

According to the Cofepris report, the 28 beaches monitored in Quintana Roo : Mahahual, Tulum, Cozumel, Riviera Maya, Isla Mujeres and Cancun, are suitable for recreational activities.

However, social media users claim that they have witnessed the presence of fecal matter on various beaches in Cancun , such as Playa Tortugas, Las Perlas, and del Niño, and are calling for the authorities to intervene.

Reactions on social networks

Miguel Ángel Hernández Martínez shared: “It was my turn; I had to leave with my children. The question is, where does it come from ?” Other users echo his question, stating that boats are dumping this waste into the sea, with no intervention from the authorities.

“They’re attacking Cancún’s main tourist attraction , its beaches . Pollution is a fact. It’s truly a shame,” shares user Alex Rodríguez.

The president of the Snorkeling for Trash association noted that fecal matter has been found in Cancún’s hotel zone, both on the adjacent beach and near the marinas, areas the federal government should monitor.

These remains were reported to have come from boats traveling in the lagoon and at sea. “When the wind blows from the north, the fecal waste and poop from these catamarans end up on the beach at Puerto Cancún. That’s when the wind blows from the north, and the bay becomes saturated with catamarans,” he commented.