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Does Brazil Get Sargassum?
Northeast Brazil · Brazil
Yes — minimal in season
Brazil's northeast resort coast (Porto de Galinhas, Maragogi, Praia do Forte) rarely sees sargassum. Strandings cluster on the far north coast in Pará and Maranhão.
Sargassum in Brazil by month
Jan
None
Feb
None
Mar
Light
Apr
Light
May
Light
Jun
Light
Jul
None
Aug
None
Sep
None
Oct
None
Nov
None
Dec
None
NoneLight
Worst months
March through June on the far north coast (Pará, Maranhão), where strandings have occurred; the northeast resort coast has no regular season
Clearest water
Year-round for sargassum. For overall beach conditions, September through March is the drier, sunnier half of the year on most of the northeast coast; April through July is the rainy season around Recife, Maceió and Salvador.
What to know before you book
- •The 2026 review of Brazilian strandings found Pará accounted for 18 of 40 press reports and 8 of 11 scientific records, nearly all at Atalaia beach in Salinópolis. None of the northeast resort states were singled out.
- •Floating sargassum first reached Brazil in 2014-2015, turning up at Fernando de Noronha, Rocas Atoll, the São Pedro e São Paulo archipelago and the Maranhão and Pará coast. A May 2021 Maranhão event covered about 4 km and roughly 200 tonnes. Ceará's resort coast sits between those zones and the main northeast hubs, but no stranding reports there turned up.
- •The real algae problem has been red tide. In early 2024 a toxic microalgae bloom off Alagoas and Pernambuco sent more than 400 people for medical care. Pay attention to local health advisories if you see discoloured water, especially in the calm reef pools around Porto de Galinhas and Maragogi.
Last checked · Sources: Brasilturis, Sep 2026 (study of sargassum strandings on the Brazilian coast), Agência FAPESP, May 2017 (origin of the seaweed that reached Brazil), Diário do Nordeste, Feb 2024 (red tide in Alagoas and Pernambuco)
All-inclusive resorts in Brazil
Japaratinga Lounge Resort
Family · $$$
Salinas Maragogi All Inclusive Resort
Family · $$
Salinas Maceió All Inclusive Resort
Family · $$
Club Med Trancoso
Family · $$$$
Summerville All Inclusive Resort
Family · $$
Iberostar Selection Praia do Forte
Family · $$$
Brisa Grand Premium - All Inclusive
Family · $$
Ocean Palace Beach Resort & Bungalows
Family · $$
Iberostar Waves Bahia
Family · $$
Costão do Santinho Resort
Family · $$
Ocaporã Hotel All Inclusive
Family · $$
The Westin Porto de Galinhas, an All-Inclusive Resort
Family · $$
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