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MND Local: Guadalajara welcomes the return of the Echoes Music Festival and World Naked Bike Ride 

By
Dawn Stoner
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Party like a local or ride a bike naked, Guadalajara is offering some unique local experiences over the next month. (Roman López/Unsplash)

Early next month, the global spotlight will shine on Guadalajara as the FIFA World Cup kicks off on the city’s west side. As we look ahead to an action-packed month here in La Perla Tapatia, there are plenty of upcoming events and ways to keep busy, even if you don’t have plans to enjoy the matches.

World Naked Bike Ride back in Guadalajara on June 13 

A man riding a bicycle in his underwear
(World Naked Bike Ride Guadalajara/Facebook)

Hundreds of people will once again take to the streets of the city during the World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR) Guadalajara, scheduled for June 13.

More than just a bike ride, the WNBR is an international movement that seeks to raise awareness about the need to respect cyclists and the vulnerability of those who travel by bike in urban settings.

According to Miguel Asa, one of the Guadalajara event’s organizers, the ride is held as a challenge to car culture and the damage it does to both the human body and our environment. 

“What we are looking for is for people on the street to question and criticize the excessive use of automobiles, to promote the use of means such as bicycles, to reflect on the way we move, because a large part of the city is built for cars, and there is little space for cyclists,” he said.

Riding naked also serves as a metaphor for the exposure and fragility that many cyclists face daily in Guadalajara’s perennially traffic-choked streets.

As in previous years, attendees can participate partially or completely naked. As the locals say, “Tápate lo que quieras, destápate lo que puedas.” (Cover up what you want, uncover what you can).

If this is your first ride, here are some recommendations:

  • Stay well-hydrated and use sunscreen
  • Carry only what you need
  • Report any disrespectful behavior or photographic abuse

When: The ride takes place on June 13
Where: Departs from Plaza José Clemente Orozco. Gathering begins at 9 a.m. The ride kicks off at 11 a.m. 
Cost: Free

Echoes Festival gets its fourth turn — in a new location

Echoes Festival stage in Guadalajara
(Concerty)

Guadalajara’s only homegrown indie music festival is returning for the fourth time next month, in what’s being branded as its World Cup edition. 

Headlining this one-day event will be Australia’s five-piece electropop band Parcels, known for their infectious, danceable beats. For a sample, check out their hit, Tieduprightnow.

Also scheduled to perform at Echoes Festival is French musician Darius (a DJ set), Guadalajara’s own Babas Tutsipop, and another special guest to be announced shortly.

This year’s event takes place at the University of Guadalajara Cultural Center in north Zapopan. For additional details check the event’s social media.

Where: Plaza Bicentenario within the Centro Cultural Universitario in north Zapopan.
When: June 19, 2026, from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Tickets: Available from Boletomovil for 1,680 pesos, excluding fees.

100 cats descend on Zapopan in new MAZ exhibit

It isn’t just the internet that’s obsessed with cats: Local artist Cecilia Rébora recently launched her “Cien Gatos” (100 Cats) exhibition at the Zapopan Museum of Art (MAZ) in Zapopan’s Centro. 

The show, created especially for children, features illustrations, prints, and pieces inspired by cats of all kinds. The exhibit is interactive, with visitors encouraged to draw their own cat on a collaborative mural inside the gallery.

The six-week exhibit runs throughout the month of May. There will also be special activities tied to the exhibition inside the museum.

Cecilia Rébora is an illustrator from Guadalajara who specializes in children’s and young adult literature. Her work draws on references from classic stories such as ”Alice in Wonderland,” ”Puss in Boots,” and “The Black Cat.”

For more information, check the museum’s social media.

When: April 25 – July 5, 2026
Where: Zapopan Art Museum (MAZ), open Tues–Sun from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the museum staying open on Thursdays until 10 p.m. Closed Mondays.
Cost: Free admission

OCESA shares plan for revamp of Guadalajara’s 3 de Marzo stadium

(Tecos FC)

One thing that has differentiated Guadalajara from Mexico City (CDMX)  in recent years has been Guadalajara’s lack of large-scale, world-class outdoor entertainment venues. This has prevented the area’s local entertainment promoter OCESA, from consistently staging high-profile shows on par with the Corona Capital festival in CDMX. 

Fortunately, this infrastructure gap is narrowing with the recent announcement that the Estadio 3 de Marzo, on the campus of the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara (UAG) in Zapopan, will be converted into a modern entertainment venue, to be known going forward as the Coliseo GNP Seguros.   

The 55-year-old stadium has previously welcomed top acts such as Shakira, Lady Gaga, and Justin Bieber, but it currently serves primarily as a sports venue for UAG’s collegiate soccer team.

New plans call for the space to be converted into a top-tier venue capable of hosting massive tours and concerts, establishing it as a “strategic hub within the global entertainment circuit,” according to OCESA.

The renovation will see a nearly 60% bump in capacity, holding up to 30,000 people. In the new layout, the stage is being incorporated into the building’s structure, freeing up space for general admission and hospitality areas, luxury boxes, and additional seating.

Backstage dressing rooms, production offices, and service spaces are also being added.

The entrance plaza is also being redesigned to improve access and crowd flow, with accessibility for the disabled (which doesn’t exist today). A new roof will also help to weatherproof the space.

Among the first artists scheduled to perform at the revamped facility are Spanish-language musical acts Alejandro Sanz, Yuridia, Auténticos Decadentes, Caligaris, and Panteón Rococó.

When the work is completed, the GNP Seguros Coliseum — coming on the heels of the recently opened 20,000-capacity Arena Guadalajara on the north side of Zapopan — should help expand the city’s live entertainment schedule.

MND Writer Dawn Stoner is reporting from Guadalajara.

‘El Cruce’ swim to Isla Mujeres attracts over 1,600 swimmers from 21 countries

By
MND Staff
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El Cruce
The El Cruce open water swimming compeition, considered one of the most important such events in the world, brought more than 1,600 swimmers to the Quintana Roo coast from more than 20 countries. (Mara Lezama)

Mexico’s world-renowned open water swimming competition known as El Cruce attracted 1,638 participants from 21 countries over the weekend, but at the end of the day, two local Quintana Roo athletes took home the honors.  

Fernando Betanzos Rodríguez and María Elena Carreto Castro were crowned men’s and women’s winners of the 10-km competition on Sunday, the main event that took swimmers through the Caribbean Sea from Playa Caracol in Cancún to Isla Mujeres.

el cruce
Patty Kohlmann, a swimmer who competed in two Olympic Games for Mexico, said El Cruce is an “emblematic swim,” a true test of endurance, strategy, and adaptation to ocean currents. (Mara Lezama)

Patty Kohlmann, a Mexican former female freestyle and medley swimmer who participated in two consecutive Summer Olympics for Mexico starting in 1984, described El Cruce (the Crossing) as a true test of endurance, strategy and adaptation to ocean currents.

“The Cruce competition is a must,” Kohlmann said about the competition on her personal Instagram account. “I believe that all open water swimmers must do it at some point because it’s an emblematic swim. It’s a swim that’s been prestigious for many years.”

She’s not alone in her opinion. El Cruce is considered by the World Open Water Swimming Association to be among the 10 most important open water swims in the world due to the physical demands of the course and the natural beauty of the turquoise waters.

Swimmers competed in 13 different categories across the competition. In addition to the 10-km swim, a Half Iron Swim (1.9 km) and an Iron Swim (3.8 km) were held on Saturday.

Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa opened the 21st edition of the competition after a Maya ceremony was held as part of the traditional event.

In addition to establishing Quintana Roo as a major sporting destination, El Cruce is a significant economic and tourism driver for the state, attracting athletes, coaches, families and visitors from around the world. 

Kohlmann said that the competition is particularly difficult because conditions can change dramatically from one day to the next, meaning that you must always be prepared for what might come. She emphasized the importance of the swimmers’ strategy and the ability to adapt their style depending on the conditions. 

She joined the 10-km competition on Sunday. “It was a spectacular swim… some difficult conditions but always fun,” Kohlmann said when asked about her latest experience. 

With reports from Reporte Indigo, El Sol de México and Quintana Roo Hoy

Spanish king to attend the Spain-Uruguay World Cup match in Guadalajara

By
MND Staff
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Akron Stadium
King Felipe VI of Spain's main destination during his upcoming royal visit to Mexico won't be a high-level government meeting room but the Guadalajara area's Akron Stadium (under the FIFA-imposed temporary pseudonym Guadalajara Stadium), where he will watch his country's men's national team take on Uruguay. (Fernando Carranza García/Cuartoscuro)

Among the spectators at the June 26 World Cup match between Spain and Uruguay in Guadalajara will be King Felipe VI of Spain, who has accepted a formal invitation to attend.

The Spanish Royal Household has confirmed that the king will attend the match as part of the agenda for his royal visit at the invitation of President Claudia Sheinbaum and FIFA President Gianni Infantino. 

King Felipe VI of Spain
King Felipe VI of Spain, who will be visiting Mexico next month, is seen here delivering the Cervantes Award for Spanish-Language Literature to Mexican writer Gonzalo Celorio in April. (UNAM/Cuartoscuro)

In March, Sheinbaum announced that she had sent an invitation to Felipe VI to attend the World Cup. The March invitation letter reportedly emphasized that the World Cup represented an opportunity to strengthen ties between the two nations through sport, culture, and bilateral cooperation. 

The invitation was sent days before the king publicly acknowledged that “there were significant abuses” and “moral and ethical controversies” during the Spanish conquest of the Americas. 

Sheinbaum described those words as “a gesture; an approach that we acknowledge,” noting that further progress is needed in historical recognition. 

Indeed, the king’s statements were the first in which Felipe VI has directly and publicly addressed the context of the Spanish Conquest and colonization after years of diplomatic tension between Mexico and Spain over that very subject. The recent tension began when former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador sent a letter to Spain demanding an apology for the wrongs committed against Indigenous people during and after the Conquest.

The letter went unanswered, leading Sheinbaum to refrain from extending an invitation to King Felipe VI to her presidential inauguration ceremony in 2024.

However, formal diplomatic relations were never severed between the two countries, a fact recognized by Sheinbaum during her Monday morning press conference

“What happened was a moment of differing perspectives, and we reaffirmed our view, and they acknowledged it,” Sheinbaum said when asked about the king’s visit. “They are now seeing and speaking differently about the period known as the Conquest.” 

Another recent boost to the trans-Atlantic relationship was Sheinbaum’s trip to Barcelona last month to participate in the Summit in Defense of Democracy, organized by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

With reports from Eje Central and EFE

10 killed in armed attack on Puebla-area ranch

By
MND Staff
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Aerial view of Tehuitzingo, Puebla
The massacre occurred on a ranch in Tehuitzingo, a municipality about 120 kilometers south of Puebla City. (@SSPGobPue/X)

Ten people including a baby girl were killed during an armed attack in the state of Puebla early Sunday, authorities said.

The massacre occurred on a ranch in Tehuitzingo, a municipality about 120 kilometers south of Puebla City.

Six of the victims were members of the same family, while four were ranch workers, Puebla Attorney General Idamis Pastor Betancourt said Monday. Two of the ranch workers were teenagers. Among the victims was a baby girl aged one month and 20 days. She wasn’t shot but rather suffocated when her mother fell on top of her after she was shot in the back, Pastor said.

The attorney general said that preliminary investigations pointed to “a family issue” related to land ownership as being the motive of the attack. Pastor said that three men related to six of the victims had been identified as the alleged perpetrators. She noted that none of them had yet been arrested, but pledged that the crime wouldn’t go unpunished.

According to media reports, one of the alleged perpetrators is a man called José Alfredo, son of the ranch owner. Along with two other armed men, he allegedly killed his father, his mother and his three siblings, one of whom was just 15.

José Alfredo reportedly escaped from a drug treatment center sometime before he allegedly killed members of his own family on a ranch called “La Marihuana.” The news magazine Proceso reported that he had been sent to the treatment center by his family “due to his addictions” and he perpetrated the attack in “revenge.”

The newspaper 24 Horas reported that José Alfredo “allegedly harbored family grudges related to addiction issues and personal disputes.”

Mass murders are common in Mexico, but are usually related to organized crime rather than family disputes.

However, multiple members of the same family have been killed in previous massacres in Mexico, including one perpetrated in México state in 2022. In 2019, three women and six children belonging to an extended Mormon family with roots in the United States were murdered in the northern state of Sonora.

With reports from El Financiero, Proceso, La Jornada and 24 Horas 

Mexico’s CNTE teachers’ union threatens national strike ahead of the World Cup

By
MND Staff
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CNTE
The CNTE marched through the capital on Friday, its usual Teachers' Day activity. This year's march may be a mere prelude to a June strike timed to disrupt the World Cup. (Rogelio Morales/Cuatoscuro)

An activist teachers’ union with a history of disruptive protests has threatened a national strike that could block access to Mexico City’s main public square just 10 days before the World Cup opening ceremony, some 15 kilometers away.

In calling for the strike over what they considered an inadequate 9% salary raise offer from the Education Ministry, the National Coordinating Committee of Education Workers (CNTE) left no doubt that the threatened action’s proximity to the World Cup opener is no coincidence.

Teachers paro in Zocalo
Teachers took over the Zócalo, Mexico City’s main public square, as recently as March 19. They are threatening to do it again with the World Cup just three weeks away. (Victoria Valtierra/Cuartoscuro)

“As has been announced, the national strike coincides with the World Cup,” one CNTE member told the press. “The eyes of the world will be on Mexico City, and we will be there, showing our discontent and fighting for justice.”

The strike announcement appears to be as much a negotiating ploy as a definite plan. 

CNTE representative Elvira Meleces Morales said what action the strike includes — and apparently whether there will be one at all — will depend on President Claudia Sheinbaum’s response to their list of demands. 

“Our actions don’t depend on this movement; they depend on the will of the federal government, because what we are seeking is to make the struggle visible,” Meleces said.

If left unsatisfied, the CNTE says it will mobilize its sections where it has a presence — mainly Oaxaca, Michoacán, Mexico City, Chiapas and Guerrero — and bring them to the capital. There, on June 1, after a mass protest march in the morning, an encampment will be set up in the Zócalo.

“If the authorities are unwilling, access to the Zócalo will be blocked,” Mereces said.

Beyond disrupting World Cup logistics, the CNTE’s aggressive posture could jeopardize the school calendar, as public schools with CNTE representation may have to suspend classes. That would create an ironic situation in which teachers themselves would accomplish what Education Minister Mario Delgado tried but failed to do: truncate the school year by more than a month.

What are teachers asking for?

According to CNTE representatives, the offered 9% (salary plus benefits) increase is too low to offset inflation.

Beyond a salary raise, the teachers demand a review of education reforms and changes to the pension system.

“These crumbs thrown to education workers are unacceptable,” representative Pedro Hernández Morales said.

Other demands include the repeal of the 2007 ISSSTE Law, which changed the federal pension scheme from pooled to individual and which President Sheinbaum previously pledged to reverse. CNTE teachers protested against this law in June last year. 

The CNTE does not represent the majority of teachers. The rival SNTE is older, with a larger membership and broader distribution.

With reports from El País and El Financiero

2 former Sinaloa officials in US custody following drug trafficking indictment

By
MND Staff
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Diptych of Gerardo Mérida and Enrique Díaz Vega
Gerardo Mérida Sánchez (R) turned himself in in Arizona; Enrique Díaz Vega (L) did so in New York. (Facebook/Cuartoscuro)

Two of the 10 current and former Sinaloa-based officials charged in a U.S. drug trafficking indictment that was unsealed last month are now in U.S. custody.

Gerardo Mérida Sánchez, a former Sinaloa security minister, and Enrique Díaz Vega, a former Sinaloa administration and finance minister, turned themselves in to U.S. authorities last week, according to the Mexican government and media reports.

Both men served in the government of Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya, who U.S. prosecutors also accuse of drug trafficking in league with the Sinaloa Cartel. Rocha has taken leave as governor, but has not been arrested.

Federal authorities say there is insufficient proof to arrest Rocha and the other defendants for the purpose of extradition to the United States. The mayor of Culiacán and a federal senator who represents the ruling Morena party are among the 10 people accused of colluding with the Sinaloa Cartel — especially the “Chapitos” faction of the criminal organization — in exchange for political support and bribes.

Rocha also represents Morena, the party founded by former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. The governor, an ally of Sheinbaum, has denied the accusations against him and declared that his innocence will be proven beyond doubt in due course.

Rocha Moya at a press event
The Justice Department of the United States claims Rocha Moya, along with former members of his administration, has allowed the Chapitos to operate with impunity in Sinaloa. (José Betanzos Zárate/Cuartoscuro)

Sheinbaum has said on repeated occasions that her government won’t provide cover for anyone who has committed a crime. However, she asserted on April 30 — the day after the indictment was unsealed — that if there is no “clear proof” against Rocha and the other defendants, the objective of the U.S. charges is “political.”

Mérida detained in Arizona 

Mérida, security minister in Sinaloa between September 2023 and December 2024, was arrested in Arizona last Monday.

Mexico’s Security Cabinet said on social media that Mérida entered Arizona from Nogales, Sonora, and was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service.

The former security minister appeared in U.S. federal court in New York on Friday, according to court records. The indictment charging him and the nine other officials was filed in the United States District Court in the Southern District of New York.

Mérida, 66, is accused of narcotics importation conspiracy; possession of machineguns and destructive devices; and conspiracy to possess machineguns and destructive devices.

According to the indictment, he “received bribes from the Chapitos” — led by sons of convicted drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán — “and, in exchange, provided the Chapitos with, among other things, advance notice of law enforcement raids on drug labs, so that the Chapitos could move their drugs and lab equipment before the raids.”

Mérida, a former commander in the Mexican Army, is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where Sinaloa Cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada is also detained.

Díaz surrenders in New York 

Díaz, the administration and finance minister in Sinaloa from November 2021 to September 2024, turned himself in to authorities in New York on Friday, according to reports.

He is accused of the same crimes as Mérida. If convicted, both Díaz and Mérida face sentences of up to life in prison.

According to the indictment, Díaz, 50, “helped the Chapitos leaders install corrupt officials to protect the Chapitos’ drug trafficking operations and served as” a liaison “between the Chapitos leaders and Rocha Moya.”

At her Monday morning press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum said she saw “no risk” in declarations that Mérida and Díaz could make to U.S. authorities.

“It was their decision to turn themselves in and there is no risk, none,” Sheinbaum said, apparently dismissing the possibility that the two former state ministers could implicate other officials and politicians affiliated with Morena and/or say things that could damage her government.

Morena senator says he is in Sinaloa after reports claimed he was arrested in San Diego 

There were reports over the weekend that federal Senator Enrique Inzunza had been arrested in San Diego by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Enrique Inzunza
Inzunza told La Jornada that he would not turn himself in to U.S. authorities. (Wikimedia Commons)

However, in a social media post on Sunday, Inzunza — who is also accused of colluding with the Chapitos — said he was in Sinaloa.

“What right-wing media outlets are publishing about contact with foreign authorities is false,” he wrote.

“… I’m in Sinaloa, my land, of which I am proud, with me and mine, good and honest people,” said Inzunza, who told the newspaper La Jornada that there was no chance he would turn himself in to U.S. authorities.

In his social media post, the senator rejected the charges against him, describing them as “mendacious” and without foundation. Inzunza asserted that his innocence will be proven in due course and expressed his willingness to attend to any requirements of Mexican authorities.

Of the 10 officials accused of drug trafficking by U.S. prosecutors, Inzunza is the only one who remains in office. He has been a senator since September 2024 and previously served as general secretary of the Sinaloa government led by Rocha.

Even though he is accused of aiding and abetting the Chapitos, Inzunza is considered a possible candidate for Morena in the 2027 gubernatorial election in Sinaloa, the El Universal newspaper reported. Edgar Barraza Castillo, president of Morena’s executive committee in Sinaloa, said last week that both Inzunza and Culiacán Mayor Juan de Dios Gámez Mendívil could participate in the process to select Morena’s candidate for the election as long as they meet the contest “requirements.”

With reports from Reuters, El País, El Universal and Reforma 

MND Local Puerto Vallarta: Sample the city’s best restaurants and get a taste of history at events in May

By
Charlotte Smith
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Image of the Puerto Vallarta skyline during daytime.
Looking for fun events in Puerto Vallarta? There's fun to be had for all interests and ages in May! Get the lowdown. (Josue Liera/Pexels)

From adrenaline-filled competition to community creativity, culinary celebration and commemorative cataloging, the Bay of Banderas is alive with a string of must-see events in the month of May. Before the month runs out, get out there and see photos documenting PV’s history, sample the region’s most popular high-end restaurants at reduced prices, build sandcastles for a good cause and more!

Restaurant Week Puerto Vallarta 2026 in full swing

A haute cuisine presentation of ceviche toppped with red onions and tortilla chips on a gray ceramic rectangular plate, on a wooden table. A glass of white white is next to the plate.
(Azafrán Restaurant Puerto Vallarta/Facebook)

Restaurant Week Puerto Vallarta 2026 has officially begun and will continue through June 10, transforming the Bay of Banderas region for more than three weeks into a showcase of culinary talent.

The annual festival features participating restaurants across Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit that offer three-course menus at fixed prices, giving area diners the opportunity to experience some of the region’s top cuisine at affordable prices.

Although traditionally called “Restaurant Week,” the event has evolved into an extended gastronomic celebration. More than 50 restaurants will participate in the 2026 edition, with dishes ranging from contemporary Mexican cuisine and fresh seafood to international fine dining experiences.

Additional information, participating restaurants, and special menus can be found at  Restaurant Week Puerto Vallarta.

When: May 15–June 10
Where: At more than 50 restaurants across Puerto Vallarta and the Riveria Nayarit
Cost: Variable, depending on the restaurant

International kitesurfing festival begins May 22 

Festival de Viento 2026 poster showing a kitesurfer in mid-air during a jump. The background is in ocean blue and the text with event details is in Spanish.
(Festival del Viento)

From May 22–24, Bucerías will become the center of international kitesurfing as the 2026 Festival del Viento (Wind Festival) takes to the shores of Banderas Bay. 

Athletes from across Mexico and around the world are expected to gather for three days of competition, entertainment and beachside celebration in one of the country’s most recognized wind sports destinations.

Freestyle events will highlight aerial tricks and technical creativity, while Big Air contests focus on height and precision. Visitors can also watch downwind races, slalom competitions, and foil regattas, where participants demonstrate speed, balance and endurance across open water.

In addition to the sporting events, the festival grounds will offer food vendors, live music, exhibitions and activities designed for families and visitors of all ages.

When: May 22–24
Where: On Bucerías’ beaches, with events centered at the Suites Costa Dorada in Nuevo Nayarit.
Cost: Free admission to competitions for spectators. Entry to all related musical events on Saturday and Sunday: 500 pesos 

Raise funds for teachers while building sandcastles at Mango’s Beach Club

Colorful poster with an image of a sandcastle on the shore of a beach with details of the Volcanes Community School of Puerto Vallarta's first annual sandcastle building competition for families.
(Volcanes Community School/Facebook)

The Volcanes Community School will host its first annual Sandcastle Competition on May 29 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Mango’s Beach Club, bringing together families, students and community members for a day of creativity and fundraising in support of the school’s teachers’ fund. 

Organizers say every contribution will directly support the educators who work to provide students with a safe, encouraging and enriching learning environment.

Throughout the event, participants will design and build imaginative sandcastles along the beach while enjoying a festive community atmosphere. In preparation, architect Chava Camberos recently spoke with the schoolchildren about structures and the importance of creating strong foundations and supports to secure their sand creations.

The event is open to the public and will include activities for all ages, encouraging residents and visitors alike to take part in a meaningful community initiative.

When: May 29, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Where: Mango’s Beach Club
Cost: Free

Puerto Vallarta celebrates its history with exhibition at City Hall

A photo of several candid amateur photos in black and white of people and events in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, history, laid out collage-style.
(Government of Puerto Vallarta/Facebook)

As part of its anniversary celebrations, Puerto Vallarta will be putting on “Puerto: Archive and Memory,” an exhibit of historical photos and ephemera dedicated to preserving and sharing the city’s historic legacy.

Scheduled for May 29 at City Hall, the gathering will showcase a valuable collection of previously unpublished photographs, antique maps, official documents and historical records that reveal how the coastal destination evolved from a small fishing community into one of Mexico’s most recognized tourist cities.

The event forms part of the commemorations marking the municipality’s 108th anniversary and the city’s 58th anniversary as an officially recognized urban center. It is part of a series of events going on that weekend on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Historians, archivists and cultural researchers will offer lectures and presentations designed to connect residents and visitors with the stories, traditions and milestones that shaped Puerto Vallarta’s identity through the decades.

For more information, visit the Puerto Vallarta Government Facebook page, or check this list of all the official anniversary events going on over the weekend.

When: May 29
Where: Puerto Vallarta City Hall
Cost: Free

Charlotte Smith is a writer and journalist based in Mexico. Her work focuses on travel, politics, and community. You can follow along with her travel stories at www.salsaandserendipity.com.

Don’t kick up a stink over this Mexican slang term — learn how to use it instead!

By
Paulina Gerez
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A woman holding her nose
It's maybe the most versatile piece of slang in Mexico, but what does farting have to do with anything? (Antonino Visalli/Unsplash)

What the heck? Or, do I mean, what fart — ¿qué pedo?

Pedo is one word in Spanish that showcases the complexity of Mexican vocabulary. While originally associated with flatulence, in Mexico, this versatile term has taken on a variety of meanings, making it a linguistic curiosity worth exploring.

Pedo in Mexico is a linguistic chameleon, adapting easily to various contexts, so let’s dive into its usage in different situations.

Difficulty or problem

In Mexico, pedo is often used colloquially to refer to a difficulty or problem. For example, someone might say, “es un pedo” when they want to express that something is a real problem or a rather difficult task to complete. You’ll also hear “me metí en un pedo,” which translates as “I’m in trouble.”

Fight or conflict

Pedo can also signify a conflict or fight. If someone mentions being in a pedo, they might be describing a heated argument or altercation. For instance, “anoche, hubo un pedo en el bar” — It went down at the bar last night. 

“Hacerla de pedo,” on the other hand, means making a stink or giving someone a hard time — “se pasó un rojo y el poli se la hizo de pedo” (he ran a red and the cop gave him a hard time about it).

Describing someone or something

Another common usage of pedo in Mexico is to describe being drunk or intoxicated. Saying “estaba bien pedo anoche” — I was really drunk last night — or “estoy medio peda” — I’m a bit tipsy — is a casual way to convey the state you’re in. On the other hand, the word peda is used to describe a party or a night out with heavy drinking, which comes from this sense of pedo “estuvo buena la peda” (the party was great/last night was great). 

You can call someone “mal pedo” to show that they’re a mean person, while a situation described with the same term is a bad one. Lost your keys? “¡Qué mal pedo!” Conversely, a good-natured person or a fortunate situation can be described as “buen pedo.” In English, you can say an exceptionally good movie or meal was “something else” — in Mexican Spanish, it’s “otro pedo.”

 

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Possibilities

If someone says, “ni pedo,” they’re expressing resignation in regards to a situation, in the same way an English speaker sighs, “oh well.” But when adding the preposition “de,” the meaning changes to “there’s no way!” — ¡Ni de pedo! —  hinting that the speaker wouldn’t do what they’re being asked even if they were drunk. 

Greetings and expressions of surprise

In some cases, pedo is used as an expression of surprise or disbelief. For example, upon hearing unexpected news, someone might exclaim, “No mames, en serio? ¡Qué pedo!” (“No way, seriously? What a surprise!”), or “qué pedo, qué pasó?” (What is going on?). In addition, it is a very common way to greet your friends just by saying “Qué pedo!”

Understanding the various uses of the word pedo will add depth to your comprehension of Mexican Spanish. It’s essential to consider the context in which the term is used to grasp its intended meaning fully, and you should always keep in mind that it is an informal word. Don’t use it with your parents, your in-laws, your teachers or any person to whom you would normally speak formally. Save it for your very close friends.

Paulina Gerez is a translator-interpreter, content creator, and founder of Crack The Code, a series of online courses focused on languages. Through her social media, she helps people see learning a language from another perspective through her fun experiences. Instagram: paulinagerezm / Tiktok: paugerez3 / YT: paulina gerez

Could the US designate the Morena party as a terrorist organization? Monday’s mañanera recapped

By
MND Staff
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10
Sheinbaum at the podium May 18, 2026
A reporter asked the president on Monday what "risk" she saw as a result of declarations that former Sinaloa Security Minister Gerardo Mérida Sánchez and former Sinaloa Finance Minister Enrique Díaz Vega — Morena party affiliates who are currently facing drug trafficking charges — could make to U.S. authorities. (Juan Carlos Ramos Mamahua/Presidencia)

Sheinbaum’s mañanera in 60 seconds

  • 🔒 Sinaloa officials in U.S. custody pose ‘no risk’: Sheinbaum said she sees zero risk from declarations that former Sinaloa Security Minister Gerardo Mérida Sánchez and former Finance Minister Enrique Díaz Vega could make to U.S. authorities. 
  • 🇺🇸 No risk of Morena being designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government: Asked about the possibility following U.S. charges against officials linked to the president’s political party, Sheinbaum flatly dismissed it, reiterating that her government makes no pacts of any kind with criminals.
  • 🔫 U.S. should focus on its own problems first: Sheinbaum said the best way Washington can help Mexico fight organized crime is by reducing domestic drug consumption and stopping the flow of weapons into Mexico.
  • 🗳️ Second judicial elections proposed for 2028: Sheinbaum said her government will ask Congress to push back the next judicial elections from 2027 to 2028 to avoid a scheduling clash with municipal, state and federal elections already set for June of next year. 

Why today’s mañanera matters

At her Monday morning press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum responded to the news that two former officials who served in the Sinaloa state government led by Governor Rubén Rocha Moya are now in U.S. custody.

In addition, she ruled out the possibility of the U.S. government designating Morena as a terrorist organization due to the alleged involvement in drug trafficking of some officials and politicians affiliated with the ruling party.

US charges Sinaloa governor, 9 state officials with drug trafficking

Sheinbaum has repeatedly defended the party that backed her at the 2024 presidential election, and on Monday declared that her government — represented in Congress by Morena — doesn’t make pacts of “any kind” with criminals. She acknowledged that U.S. President Donald Trump has asserted that cartels rule Mexico, but said he has never made the claim in the conversations she has had with him, including one last Friday.

Today’s mañanera was also significant as Sheinbaum revealed that the government wants to postpone Mexico’s second judicial elections so they don’t clash with congressional, gubernatorial and mayoral elections that will take place next year.

Sheinbaum: ‘No risk’ of US authorities designating Morena as a terrorist organization 

A reporter asked the president what “risk” she saw as a result of declarations that former Sinaloa Security Minister Gerardo Mérida Sánchez and former Sinaloa Finance Minister Enrique Díaz Vega could make to U.S. authorities.

The two men were detained in the United States last week. Mérida and Díaz, along with eight other Sinaloa-based current and former officials, including Governor Rocha Moya (currently on leave), are accused in the same of indictment of drug trafficking in league with the Sinaloa Cartel.

Sheinbaum responded that she saw “no risk” in declarations that Mérida and Díaz could make to U.S. authorities.

“None,” she added.

“It was their decision to turn themselves in and there is no risk, none,” Sheinbaum said, apparently dismissing the possibility that Mérida and Díaz could implicate other officials and politicians affiliated with Morena, the ruling party founded by former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

Asked whether there was a “risk” that the United States could designate the Morena political party as a terrorist organization due to its “alleged links” to cartels, Sheinbaum paused for a moment before responding.

“No. No risk,” she said.

In early 2025, the U.S. government designated six Mexican cartels, including the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, as foreign terrorist organizations.

U.S. officials, including acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Drug Enforcement Administration chief Terrance Cole, have recently indicated that U.S. prosecutors will press charges against more Mexican officials.

Sheinbaum: US authorities should focus on US, not Mexico 

Sheinbaum told reporters that the “best way” that U.S. authorities can help Mexico in the fight against organized crime is by working to reduce drug use in the United States and stopping the flow of guns into Mexico.

“That’s the best way,” she said. “… And combating the cartels that operate in the United States because, as I’ve said, who distributes the drugs in the United States? Who sells the drugs in the United States?”

After declaring that her government isn’t going to protect anyone who has committed a crime, Sheinbaum questioned why U.S. officials “are so interested in Mexico” — a reference to their apparent intent to press charges against more Mexican politicians.

They should attend to problems in the United States first, she said.

“What do they need to attend to first and foremost? The use [of drugs], the entry of weapons [to Mexico],” Sheinbaum reiterated.

“Why do organized crime groups [in Mexico] have high-powered weapons? Where do they come from? According to the U.S. Department of Justice itself, 75% [of the weapons used by cartels in Mexico] come from the United States,” she said.

Sheinbaum proposes postponing judicial election to 2028 

Early in her press conference, Sheinbaum said her government would submit a proposal to Congress to postpone Mexico’s second judicial elections to 2028.

She said that her new legal adviser, Luisa María Alcalde, recommended holding the judicial elections in 2028 rather than in 2027, when municipal, state and federal elections will be held. Sheinbaum said that the recommendation was due to the large number of positions that will be up for grabs at the elections in June 2027.

She said that if judicial elections were held in 2027 on the same date as municipal, state and federal elections, voters would have to cast ballots at two separate polling places.

“So we’re making a proposal to Congress … to move the [judicial] elections to 2028,” Sheinbaum said.

Mexico held its first-ever judicial elections on June 1, 2025. Those elections — at which almost 2,700 judges and magistrates, and nine Supreme Court justices were elected — were held as a result of a controversial judicial reform that was promulgated in September 2024 just before López Obrador left office.

By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)

Going to the World Cup in Mexico City? Here’s where to find amazing taquerías near the stadium

By
Lydia Carey
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0
Tacos on a red plate with a hand holding a plastic tablespoon and using it to pour green salsa on the three tacos.
Get psyched up for the big match with authentic, delicious tacos at one of these neighborhood taquerias around Estadio Azteca. (Cristian Rojas/Pexels)

Headed south of the city to watch one of the four World Cup games happening at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca? Then it’s a perfect time to get off the regular tourist track and discover delicious eats in other CDMX neighborhoods.

There are plenty of taquerías that aren’t far from Estadio Azteca, currently known as Banorte Stadium. Here are five mouthwatering options for tacos before or after a match.

Birria La Huacana — Popocatépetl Mz 894 Lt24, Sta. Úrsula Coapa, Coyoacán

A bowl of Mexican birria on a white plastic table. Beside it are a half eaten plate of vegetables, a bowl with a white napkin and tortillas inside.
(Otilio Diaz Barriga Alejandre/Google)

La Huacana is overflowing with locals on the weekends, but during the week, you will likely find a pretty mellow scene. There’s no sign out front, just an orange awning and a long entryway that lets you know you are there. The traditional lamb barbacoa is less seasoned than you might expect if you are accustomed to eating Tijuana-style birria, for example. But the broth is fragrant and filled with spice, the tortillas are handmade to order and the meat is fall-off-the-bone tender. 

No one here will speak English, so prepare to know what you want — macisa is a leaner, less fatty selection of meat, and surtido has a bit of everything in it; both options are incredible. Don’t forget to grab a French press coffee while you are there — while not the darkest brew, this is the best coffee you’ll likely ever have at a fonda in Mexico City.

Taquerías Copacabanito — Santo Tomás Manzana 633, Pedregal de Sta Úrsula

A taqueria in Mexico City near Estadio Azteca with a large sign saying "Taquerias Copacabanito." It features outdoor seating and an open kitchen with chefs
(Miriam Reyes/Google)

Set on a residential street with mechanic shops lining its sidewalks, Copacabanito is a famous chain with locations throughout the city, but it’s also a local favorite, and not a place where you’ll see other tourists. 

The al pastor has a heavy marinade that’s rich and just a touch sweet, while the tripe (intestines) is fried crispy on the outside and soft in the center. Their lengua (tongue) is buttery soft, with a trace of oregano on the palate. 

Alongside everything, they serve up a half-dozen salsas that range in heat level. The homemade tortillas, cold beers and big-screen TVs might mean you never make it to the match at all.

Brasa y Carbon — Corner of Avenida Iman and Calle Comoporis, Coyoacán

A simple melamine plate holding small bowls filled with salsa, lime slices, guacamole, and grilled onions, the typical fixings available at taquerias in Mexico City and near Estadio Azteca.
(Antonio Mendoza – Google)

A tiny place with delicious food means there’s always a line out the door and down the sidewalk — expect to wait at least a few minutes for a table. The intoxicating smell of grilling meat calls out to the crowds as they pass by, even on this loud, heavy-traffic avenue. 

Chistorra (Spanish-style sausage), ribeye, arrachera (skirt steak), sirloin, bone marrow and lots more options are cooked by a single grill master in the view of the diners, and plastic plates piled high with seasoned meat are passed along. The aguja norteña (chuck eye steak) is tender, nicely salted and holds that warm taste of char from the grill.

The campechano with chistorra and tender sirloin is a showstopper, especially with a forkful of marinated onions on top. They serve beer, sodas and water to wash them down.

El Remolkito de Sirloin — Anillo Perif. 5460, Coyoacán

A causal taco restaurant in Mexico City with pub-style tables and chairs. Two large-screen tvs are on in the background, showing sports games.
(El Remolkito de Sirloin/Facebook)

El Remolkito’s specialty is sirloin in all its versions, so don’t expect to find other meats on the menu. Right up against the multilane Periferico highway, the place is lively, crowded and fast-paced, with a dining room on both the first and second floor. 

The creamy salsa verde with avocado and the chile de árbol salsa are both fiery additions to one of their tender sirloin tacos; add in a few pickled onions, and it’s a fever dream. Do yourself a favor and order the costra de sirloin, which replaces a tortilla with a delicately thin layer of crispy Gouda cheese. It is one of the most decadent things on the menu — greasy, cheesy, perfect.

Tacos Charly — Av. San Fernando 201, Tlalpan

A hearty meat taco with cilantro and onion between two fried tortillas, on a black plate with a white speckled design.
(Michelin Guide)

The crowds at Tacos Charly have intensified since the restaurant’s inclusion in the Mexico City Michelin Guide, but this has long been a local favorite. Expect a crowd already forming a line when you arrive. It will move quickly, and you’ll have to line up twice — once to order and once to pick up. 

By far, their most famous and best taco is the suadero, a style of taco reportedly invented in Mexico City that consists of slow-cooking a tough cut of beef in a slurry of oil and seasonings until it is tender and delicious. 

The suadero doesn’t disappoint, but be sure when they ask you “Con todo?” (“With everything?” — meaning salsa, onion and cilantro) that you say “Sí, y esta salsa” and point to the salsa behind the glass divider where the taquero is. This is a special salsa they make with a little bit of the meat’s cooking juices, and it is absolutely essential to this taco.

What to know before you go

All these are local places in non-touristy spots in Mexico City — with the exception of maybe Tacos Charly in the Tlalpan neighborhood, which has become sort of famous. They will all be easier to navigate with a little Spanish taco vocabulary and the knowledge that you might be the only foreigner there. 

Have no fear: People are chill, and they want to feed you as much as you want to eat.

*If you’d like to look up directions to any of the places mentioned in this article, click here on our interactive Google map with all five places listed. 

Lydia Carey is a freelance writer and translator based in Mexico City. She has published extensively both online and in print, sharing her insights about Mexico for over a decade. She lives a double life as a local tour guide and is the author of “Mexico City Streets: La Roma.” Follow her urban adventures on Instagram and see more of her work at mexicocitystreets.com.

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