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Farmers occupy Ciudad Juárez customs facility, halting border trade in protest of water law

By
MND Staff
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Some 1,500 U.S.-bound tractor-trailers were left stranded due to the blockades.
Some 1,500 U.S.-bound tractor-trailers were left stranded due to the blockades. (Manuel Sánchez/Cuartoscuro)

As part of a nationwide protest against low purchase prices for crops and proposed changes to the National Water Law, farmers in the northern border state of Chihuahua broke into the customs office at the Córdova-Las Americas International Bridge in Ciudad Juárez on Monday.

Disgruntled farmers also blocked access to border crossings between Ciudad Juárez and El Paso, Texas, preventing large quantities of goods from reaching the United States, the main destination for Mexican exports.

The actions were part of the megabloqueo, or mega-blockade, in which truckers and farmers shut down highways in more than half of Mexico’s 32 federal entities on Monday. Some other border crossings to the U.S. were also blocked.

While farmers want greater support from the federal government and are not happy with proposed changes to the National Water Law, truckers want greater action to combat insecurity and extortion on the nation’s highways, on which trucks are frequently targeted in robberies.

Farmers’ forced entry into the customs office at the Córdova-Las Americas International Bridge occurred at around 9 a.m. Monday. They were led by Eraclio Rodríguez, a leader of the National Front for the Rescue of the Countryside (FNRCM).

“You’re not going to arrest us, it’s a protest. We’re not criminals, you have no reason to have the damn doors closed,” Rodríguez told security personnel in an encounter captured on film.

“Here we are and we’re not going to leave until the employees vacate,” said another FNRCM leader.

The newspaper La Jornada reported that the farmers “forced the workers to vacate” the customs office.

“We’re not going to allow customs procedures to be carried out in order to slow down trade between Mexico and the United States a little,” Rodríguez told La Jornada.

The blockades of the Córdova-Las Americas International Bridge and the Ysleta–Zaragoza International Bridge between Ciudad Juárez and El Paso, as well as the nearby Santa Teresa Port of Entry between San Jerónimo, Chihuahua, and Santa Teresa, New Mexico, continued into the night on Monday. In the case of the Córdova-Las Americas International Bridge, the blockade and protest continued on Tuesday afternoon, according to the Reforma newspaper, which reported that the occupation of the customs office had surpassed 24 hours.

Some 1,500 U.S.-bound tractor-trailers were left stranded due to the blockades, La Jornada reported. Private light vehicles were allowed to pass through the roadblocks and pedestrians were able to cross into the U.S. as well, according to media reports.

On Tuesday morning, the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport reported that trucks were still being prevented from passing blockades on four highways in Chihuahua, including that between the state capital, Chihuahua city, and Ciudad Juárez.

Farmers from municipalities in southern Chihuahua also blocked the railroad that runs between Mexico City and Ciudad Juárez.

‘Total rejection of the new water law’

In an interview with La Jornada, Rodríguez, the FNRCM leader, complained that corn buyers, including large corn flour and tortilla companies, aren’t complying with agreed per-kilogram prices. He also said that farmers maintain their demand for a federal government guaranteed purchase price of 7,200 pesos (US $390) per tonne of corn.

Farmers protesting the new water law claim that the wording of the legislation does not allow agricultural water concessions to be transferred or inherited, saying “we will no longer be able to do what our fathers and grandfathers did.” (Manuel Sánchez/Cuartoscuro)

Rodríguez added that farmers are opposed to the government’s proposed National Water Law modifications, which he described as having a “punitive spirit.”

Gerardo Fierro, one of the farmers protesting at the Córdova-Las Americas International Bridge on Monday, told the EFE news agency that approval of the water law reforms would leave farmers without the right to extract water from wells.

“The government says that the water belongs to the people, and that’s why we’re defending it,” he said.

“… We don’t want [the government] to monopolize water and to do whatever they want with [water] permits,” Fierro said.

Fidel Mendoza Hernández, a farmer and representative of a Plant Health Local Board in Chihuahua, told EFE that the new water law “would strangle” the Mexican countryside.

“They would make us criminals when they cancel our water well titles. We will no longer be able to do what our fathers and grandfathers did,” he said.

Ricardo Monreal, the Morena party’s leader in the lower house of Congress, said Monday that the proposed new water law, as it is currently worded, will be modified to allow agricultural water concessions to be transferred or inherited in their current form.

However, in Ciudad Juárez on Monday, farmers made their view clear by hanging a banner on the Ysleta–Zaragoza International Bridge that read: “Total rejection of the new water law.”

Farmers also complained about high prices for diesel in Mexico.

“In the United States, a farmer buys diesel for 14 or 13 pesos [per liter]. We’re buying [a liter] at 24 pesos. We can’t compete,” said Fierro.

Mendoza complained that farmers don’t receive any assistance to help cover the costs of buying diesel and other essential inputs. “It’s now very difficult to produce in Mexico,” he said.

Farmers in Ciudad Juárez called for “real” negotiations with the federal government, discussions in which their views and demands are genuinely listened to and taken into account.

Rodríguez said that the government needs to recognize the FNRCM as an “interlocutor” in the negotiations before the organization will engage in dialogue with the federal Interior Ministry.

Government reports highway blockades in 17 states

The federal Interior Ministry (Segob) said in a statement that truckers and farmers blocked highways in 17 of Mexico’s 32 states on Monday, causing a range of impacts on citizens as they sought to go about their everyday activities.

“In total, 29 blockades were reported, 17 of which occurred on federal highways and the rest on state highways. Of these, 17 were full closures and the rest partial,” Segob said, adding that protests were also held at three toll booths and one customs office — that in Ciudad Juárez.

Blockades were still in place in highways in various states on Tuesday, including Guanajuato, Michoacán, Jalisco, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, Sinaloa, Sonora, Durango, Tamaulipas and Chihuahua, according to the newspaper Reforma.

Segob asserted that there was no reason for the blockades to take place, saying that the federal government is “always” ready to listen to “social demands.”

“During the past weeks, more than 200 meetings have been held between federal authorities and farmers to address concerns and make progress on agreements,” the Interior Ministry said.

“In addition, for months there have been working tables with the National Guard and the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transport [aimed at] guaranteeing the safety of highway operators, as well as the protection of their routes and goods. For that reason, only one transport group protested, while the rest of the organizations, which are in talks, distanced themselves from the mobilizations,” Segob said.

The ANTAC truckers’ group was one of the main organizers of the megabloqueo.

Interior minister claims that protesting agricultural leaders belong to opposition parties

At a press conference on Monday, federal Interior Minister Rosa Icela Rodríguez asserted that “apart from being leaders of the countryside,” protesters from groups such as the FNRCM and Movimiento Agrícola Campesino farmers’ group “belong to political parties.”

“They belong to the PRI, they belong to the PAN and they belong to the PRD,” she said, referring to Mexican opposition parties.

“It’s not that I say it, they have a political history,” Rodríguez said.

Rosa Icela Rodríguez
Federal Interior Minister Rosa Icela Rodríguez said that protesters from groups such as the FNRCM and Movimiento Agrícola Campesino “belong to the PRI, they belong to the PAN and they belong to the PRD.” (Rosa Icela Rodríguez/X)

The federal government also accused opposition parties of involvement in the so-called “Generation Z” protests that took place in cities across Mexico on Nov. 15.

The national president of the National Action Party (PAN) said it was “ridiculous” to link his party to the protests on Monday.

“If thousands of truckers [and farmers] are willing to close highways, it’s not for pleasure, it’s out of desperation,” Jorge Romero said.

Institutional Revolutionary Party politicians also rejected the claim that PRI members were involved in organizing the megabloqueo.

In a statement, the PRI’s leader in the lower house of Congress, Rubén Moreira, said that Mexico today is hearing “two chimes that cannot be ignored: that of the truckers who demand safe routes and that of farmers who defend their right to water and complain about the neglect of the government.”

“They’re not isolated protests. They’re alerts from the real country that sustains our daily life, because when the road becomes a territory of risk and when water is administered without justice, what’s at stake is not a sector, but rather the very productive life of the country,” Moreira said.

With reports from La Jornada, Reforma, EFE, Noroeste, El Heraldo de Chihuahua and DW

25N: Government plans 16 days of actions to prevent violence against women

By
MND Staff
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President and administration members
With Minister of Women Citlalli Hernández at her side, President Sheinbaum stands with women cabinet members as she announces her “16 Days of Activism Against Violence Toward Women.” (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)

Starting Tuesday, Nov. 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the focus of Mexican society for the next half month will be on raising awareness about gender-based violence, as the Sheinbaum administration launches “16 Days of Activism Against Violence Toward Women.”

“We are providing a toolkit, outreach materials and a broad national program of activities at all three levels of government,” Deputy Minister for Women Ingrid Gómez said Tuesday during the president’s morning press conference. “The focus of these 16 days … is on dissemination, consciousness-raising and sensitization.”

The daily actions from now through Dec. 10 will range from courses for public servants and the public, to film screenings, rights booklets and outreach to women with disabilities, among many others.

Minister for Women Citlalli Hernández, also speaking at the president’s mañanera, called for transformative action to combat sexism and violence against women. “To generate a cultural shift and combat sexism, we call on men to join us in the goal of ensuring that women and men have the same rights and live a full life free from violence,” Hernández said.

The impetus for the 16-day program is the worsening security situation for women in Mexico. 

The rate of female victims of common crimes in Mexico has risen by 7.5% in 2025, with 100,989 women filing reports in the first nine months of the year, compared to 93,899 during the same period in 2024, according to data from the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System. 

The percentage of women compared to men who have been victims of a crime also increased, from 31.2% of all victims in January to 39.5% in September. 

While the number of femicides has fallen by 17.7% this year, from 624 to 513, the prevalence of femicides in certain cities has increased. As of September, the city of Culiacán in Sinaloa, where cartel-related violence has surged, reported the highest rate of femicides, with 3.96 per 100,000 women. 

What are the planned activities?

The 16 days of activism start Tuesday alongside a number of protest marches calling for greater action, followed by:

  • Nov. 26: Mass distribution of a rights booklet. 
  • Nov. 27: Digital platforms to sign an agreement to guarantee protection for women experiencing violence.
  • Nov. 28: Film screenings on violence prevention.
  • Nov. 29: Walks with women to identify risks and promote safe routes.
  • Nov. 30: Community murals with teenagers and young adults.
  • Dec. 1: Conference on violence prevention at universities.
  • Dec. 2: Community outreach with women with disabilities.
  • Dec. 3: National meeting: Building networks between the government and organized women.
  • Dec. 4: Training for educational staff and signing of an agreement with social media platforms to combat digital violence.
  • Dec. 5: National meeting of justice centers.
  • Dec. 6: Peacebuilding workshops with Mexico’s women weavers.
  • Dec. 7: Runs and walks for women’s wellbeing.
  • Dec. 8: Talks on sexual abuse and a panel on access to digital justice.
  • Dec. 9: Reflection sessions with men for a just and violence-free reality.
  • Dec. 10: Specialized panel on data and statistics for monitoring safe digital spaces.

“We aim to be present on the ground, where women spend their lives,” emphasized Gómez.

With reports from Milenio, Infobae, El Economista and El Financiero

Mazatlán airport to receive 1.2B pesos as TAR expands service with 5 new routes

By
MND Staff
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two women walking down a plane vestibule
The new routes, which TAR Mexico will begin operating on Dec. 1, connect the sunny port of Mazatlán with Aguascalientes and Torreón (direct) and Los Mochis, Hermosillo and Chihuahua (with layovers). (OMA Aeropuertos)

Mazatlán International Airport (MZT) in the state of Sinaloa will receive an investment of more than 1.2 billion pesos between 2026 and 2030 to carry out major improvements and expansions.

According to Abelardo Muñoz, the head of traffic development for the regional airport administrator Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte (OMA), the improvements will add to the airport’s recent renovations in a move to boost the economic, social and tourism development of the coastal destination.  

Renovations at the airport will support Sinaloa’s plans to strengthen air connectivity, as the state government recently announced new domestic routes and increased frequencies. 

The new routes, which TAR Mexico will begin operating on Dec. 1, connect the sunny port of Mazatlán with Aguascalientes and Torreón (direct) and Los Mochis, Hermosillo and Chihuahua (with layovers).   

“Air connectivity is a strategic priority to continue boosting the tourism and economic development of Mazatlán and the entire state,” the state’s Tourism Minister Mireya Sosa Osuna said.

TAR Mexico also announced it will increase the weekly frequencies of existing routes Mazatlán-La Paz and Mazatlán-Querétaro by 50% and 25%, respectively.

Muñoz noted that the two new direct routes to Aguascalientes and Torreón will join nine existing domestic routes from MZT, in addition to three regular international routes and ten seasonal routes — eight to Canada and two to the United States — that have restarted operations ahead of the 2025-2026 winter season. 

With these routes, TAR will become the second most important operator in Mazatlán in terms of the number of routes served, Muñoz said.  

These developments come on the heels of the news that Mazatlán was excluded from the most recent travel advisory issued by the U.S., even though the rest of Sinaloa maintains the highest security alert category. According to the U.S. State Department, tourists are safe to visit Mazatlán, Los Mochis and Topolobampo. 

Canada has also removed the city of Mazatlán from its list of travel advisories in Mexico. 

The state government said this decision responds to improved security conditions and ongoing operations in the city, which have allowed major tourism events to take place without serious incidents.

With reports from El Economista, Bien Informado, Debate and Infobae

‘A salad unfit for this year’s Thanksgiving table’: CBP incercepts US $10M of meth in lettuce shipment

By
MND Staff
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lettuce wrapped up in plastic
When agents conducted a physical inspection, they discovered the hidden packages of meth concealed within the lettuce. (CBP/X)

U.S. officials at the Texas-Mexico border intercepted a shipment of lettuce containing 500 packages of methamphetamine last week. 

The more than 1,150 pounds of confiscated drugs have an estimated street value of more than US $10 million, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

In a news release, the CBP said officers at the Pharr International Bridge in South Texas, across from Reynosa, Tamaulipas, encountered a commercial vehicle entering the United States from Mexico on Friday.

Upon being selected for a secondary inspection via non-intrusive imaging equipment, irregularities were observed. When agents conducted a physical inspection, they discovered the hidden packages of meth concealed within the lettuce.

“Within a shipment of salad greens, our frontline officers discovered contraband that does not belong on any holiday table,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez. “As this seizure aptly illustrates, our officers’ use of tools and technology was instrumental in this massive takedown of hard narcotics.”

The CBP seized the narcotics and the vehicle before turning the case over to Homeland Security Investigations. No other details with regard to the truck or the driver were provided.

The Produce News — a publishing company that has covered the fresh produce industry worldwide since 1897 — had some fun with the incident, headlining its article thusly:

“Lettuce point out this meth smuggler has the right to Romaine silent.”

Authorities at the U.S.-Mexico border frequently discover illegal drugs concealed within crates of fruits and vegetables.

On Aug. 24, 2024, CBP officers at the Port of Otay near San Diego confiscated two tonnes of crystal meth hidden in packages designed to look like watermelons. The street value of these drugs was estimated at US $5 million.

Two weeks earlier at the same facility, officers intercepted 629 pounds of meth concealed within a shipment of celery after directing the driver toward a secondary inspection. The estimated value of these drugs was US $755,000.

More recently, a tractor-trailer carrying green squash was detained during a traffic stop in Houston, where Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officials discovered over 900 pounds of meth hidden stuffed into the walls of the produce boxes.

With reports from The Guardian, Fox News and The Austin American-Statesman

Investing from scratch: When your dream is building property in Mexico 

By
Ian Ostroff
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A team of architects and engineers reviews blueprints on a stack of concrete blocks at a home building construction site in Mexico.
Boots on the ground: Your build in Mexico has a much better chance of success if you — or at least a representative you trust — is doing regular site visits and communicating with the architect or the developer. (Zisla)

According to the US State Department, the number of Americans living in Mexico jumped to 70% between 2019 and 2022. There are now 1.6 million American permanent residents in the country as of 2022, a number that’s increasing every year.

While many buy an existing home in their preferred location, a few bold types think even bigger, deciding to buy land in Mexico to build a home or condo building, often with the idea of renting it for some passive income in the months they spend back home each year. Mexico also presents great real estate opportunities for the entrepreneur who wants to build a property to then sell or rent out, rather than make Mexico their home. 

Local farmers in a rural area in Mexico wearing cowboy hats sit on benches under a thatched-roof shelter during an ejido assembly, illustrating the community governance process often required when buying land in Mexico to build a home in rural areas.
In your home country, a farmer deciding to sell their land parcel may be an individual decision, but in Mexico, an individual’s land may be part of an ejido, communally owned land that by law cannot be sold without formal agreement by the other ejido members. Always know the legal status of any land you’re buying. (Government of Mexico)

Do your due diligence

Whichever of the two is your preferred scenario, the basic advice is the same: Know the lay of the land and do your research. It’s easy to dream about buying land in Mexico and bringing to life a real estate project from scratch — renting out the condos in your building and reaping the fruits of your labor through passive income — but to find out how feasible this dream might be, Mexico News Daily spoke to some seasoned developers, who shared the realities of this grand endeavor. 

“Do your due diligence and have realistic goals,” says Ian Gengos, a Canadian realtor living in Mexico who works with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Baja Real Estate. “It’s important to do proper feasibility studies. Your company’s title and ownership of the land has to be clear. You have to know if you can sell the properties within the project you want to develop — and, also, if it’s even possible. I’ve seen people buy land and then have this vision that just can’t be realized because what they want to do is not able to be done where they want to do it.”

There are several permits and concessions you may need to fulfill your project’s needs. It’s also critical to work with architects and engineers who know the land you’re building on and who are comfortable meeting expectations with what you’ve set out to accomplish. 

As we’ve covered in the past, there are certain realities unique to Mexico: The acquisition cost of property in Mexico is higher than in the United States, for example. And it’s not unusual to pay up to 10% more for a property when you consider the added notary fee, appraisal costs and other expenses. 

The dangers of long-distance buying

Aerial view of the Cancun Hotel Zone and turquoise Caribbean coastline, highlighting the Restricted Zone where foreigners must use a bank trust when buying land in Mexico to build a home or acquiring beachfront property.
If you’re going to be building a property in Mexico to sell or rent out, location is especially important to consider. Is the beach easy to get to? Are there things to do nearby? Are stores and restaurants being built in the area? (Gerson Repreza/Unsplash)

There’s a lot to be said about having the right approach for your building goal.

“It depends on the purpose you have to buy property in Mexico. Is it [purely] for an investment or to have a place to live for you and your family?” said Ilan Vainer Cohen of Laiva Group in San José del Cabo. “In my experience, Americans and Canadian entrepreneurs who come to Mexico want to do both. 

“But as a developer, you should think about what makes a project appealing: If there is a new highway, a new mall, or new properties being constructed near your project, that’ll add value to your investment since people will want to live there or stay frequently during vacation periods.”

Between the internet and write-ups like this, it is possible to go through the process alone. You can research where in Mexico you’d like to live, save money for a down payment and talk to the developer. If you ask Gengos, however, you’d be setting yourself up to fail.  

“Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who pretend to be real estate professionals,” he said. “They’ll tell clients to wire funds to the developer or directly to a seller’s account without any recourse if things go wrong. They just want to sell somebody something without doing the work to protect the buyer against bad sellers and bad titles. Online, it’s hard to tell who is legit. But when you’re in Mexico, it’s easier to verify since you’re on the ground.” 

“It’s always best to work with a licensed professional who knows the area well and can help you navigate challenges,” Gengos says. “They’ll explain processes and guide you to the right property. For example, they’ll help you understand what a fideicomiso is and how to set up an escrow account. Even if you’re the best researcher, you can still run into trouble.” 

A backhoe clears mud and debris from around homes and businesses in downtown Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, after Tropical Storm Lidia.
Another factor to take into account when investing in Mexico that isn’t as often talked about: the climate. Is where you’re buying prone to destructive weather? How will you deal with a tropical storm or hurricane causing damage to your property? (Agencia Perspectiva/Cuartoscuro)

Also, says Gengos, it’s better to work with independent real estate advisors as opposed to a realtor who works for the developer. Gengos also stressed the importance of working with an agent who represents you exclusively as a buyer, to assure your interests are protected and prioritized. 

The value — and danger — of going the presale route

Knowing the pros and cons about buying land and building on your own versus buying a presale home versus buying a pre-existing construction is something that an experienced independent real estate advisor should be able to explain. Ilan Vainer Cohen, a Mexican resident who has spent most of his career in real estate development, says that getting the timing right can be a tough call. 

“I’ve had clients who wanted to buy a [presale] condo too early and some too late. Say you find a property in development for US $300,000. If you were to put a down payment, you’d be buying the vision of what your condo might be. [But] it’s a double-edged sword because you can’t foresee any problems that may occur in construction: Maybe the developer will fall behind schedule, and you’ll have to wait longer to move in. It’s the risk you take when you go that route.”

“But if you wait until [the property is]  finished to buy, the price may be US $450,000 because of all the effort that went into getting your dream home to market. The more [work] a developer [does] on a building, the more expensive the units will be at the end.”

For reasons like these, it’s also important to check the developer’s track record and reputation in the local community. If its history dictates a solid resume of quality buildings completed on time, it’s a safer investment. If not, you’ll save yourself the headache by moving on to another development project that’s more worth your time. 

An architect in a red blazer reviews detailed floor plans with a male and female client, illustrating the design and planning phase for building a home in Mexico.
A presale, known in Mexico as a preventa, can be a money saver, but research your rights under Mexican law — as well as your developer’s track record. (Ivan S./Pexels)

This is another reason why having a local real estate professional on your team is worth the investment. 

Of course, all this information only scratches the surface of knowing how to invest in the Mexican real estate market. But if there’s one solid takeaway, Mexico has its own unique way of doing things much like the United States, Canada, or anywhere else in the world. It’s important to do your homework. Another good piece of advice is to connect with other foreigners who have built here. Their experiences can tell you a lot, often in plain language that’s easier to understand, about what to expect from the process — and what to watch out for.

Have you built a home from scratch or bought a presale (preventa) in Mexico? Do you have any advice for foreign buyers? Let us know in the comments below.

Ian Ostroff is an indie author, journalist, and copywriter from Montreal, Canada. You can find his work in various outlets, including Map Happy and The Suburban. When he’s not writing, you can find Ian at the gym, a café, or anywhere within Mexico visiting family and friends.

What’s on in the Riviera Maya in December

By
MND Plus
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Transcend this astral plane, as the Riviera Maya has no shortage of spirituality throughout the holiday season. (Rave Jungle)

Wine Fests and World Salsa Championships start this December with some decadence and devilishly good dance moves. Add in some fun in the sun with Bluegrass festivals and Frisbee beach tournaments and it’s a great time in the Riviera Maya. If you prefer something a little calmer, then paint your own Christmas presents, or get in touch with your ancestors with an oracle reading. 

Euroson Latino World Salsa Championship

Promo - Euroson Latino 2024

I’m tempted to head to Cancún for this one. Dancers from 36 Latin American nations compete in what is hailed as the biggest world championship on the planet. This is must see event for any lover of music or dance. Chock full of workshops with industry-leading instructors, renowned orchestras, popular performers and after-parties to dance the night away, it’s three days of fun and sensational salsa to end year with a bang. 

Date: 1-6 December
Location: Hotel Grand Oasis Cancún
Cost: 1,600 pesos single or 4,200 pesos for a full pass

Gemini Full Moon

Count me in for this one! I’ve always been a little curious about different cultures’ ties to celestial bodies and I think this would be a beautiful and interesting experience for any astronomer. An intimate oceanfront gathering that includes moon gazing, inner connection, and a guided meditation. It also includes insights into astrology and cultural ties to the moon, creating a soulful evening of shared wisdom. And who doesn’t love a beach picnic? Drink and appetizers served.

Date: 4 December, 6 – 9 p.m.
Location: Oceanfront Hotel Panamera, Tulum
Cost: 535 pesos

Wine Fest 10th Anniversary

Wine Fest

An immersive journey through the five senses. With five hours of toasting and tasting, enjoy this unique experience that combines wine, gastronomy, and entertainment in the sophisticated surroundings of The Fives, Playa del Carmen. Tickets range from 1,490 to 1,790 pesos, with group and presale deals. The dress code is white-casual and attendance is limited, so book now to make sure you don’t miss out!

Date: 6 December, 6 -11 p.m.
Location: The Fives Plaza, Playa del Carmen
Cost: 1,490 pesos

Bacalar Fiesta Cosmica

I love Bacalar and this would be a perfect evening concert after dinner along the waterfront for anyone in town. The event features a fusion of three unique music projects — lengualerta, cuervocuervomusic, and galactika_deep_roots — paired with psychedelic visuals by @carlos_vj_infante. Described as the most eclectic tour of the year in the Yucatán Peninsula, the celebration combines live music and immersive visual art for a distinctive night. Come and get in touch with nature on the shores of Mexico’s most beautiful lagoon. 

Date: 6 December, 8 p.m. – midnight.
Location: Maiz Azul, Avenida 3, Bacalar.
Cost: 200 pesos

Strings and Sol

I’ll admit, this looks amazing. Enjoy a quick listen and get a sneak peak of the fun and frivolity of Strings & Sol here. It’s an annual crowd-pleaser and holiday rolled into one. In true Mexican Caribbean style you can enjoy the music floating in a pool with a swim-up bar…who doesn’t love that!  

Date: 11-15 December
Location: Sapphire and Dreams Riviera. Puerto Morelos
Cost: Varied

Caribbean Ultimate Frisbee tournament

The Caribbean Classic is fun for the whole family. Frisbee enthusiasts will be in their element, but if you’re like me and love hanging out at the beach, having fun with friends, and enjoying a beach picnic, then this one’s also for you. Energy, fun in the sun, and sportsmanship await you on the beaches of Puerto Morelos.

Date: 13-14 December, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Location: Playa Sol, Puerto Morelos
Cost: free

Maya Marathon – Run in the Jungle

(Wild Marathon)

Maya Marathon isn’t for the faint of heart. Experience the Mexican installment of the global Wildmarathon series in Cozumel, with the option to run a marathon, half marathon, or 10k.

In addition to the race, activities include snorkeling, diving, and cultural visits to Mayan ruins. The race route features beach, asphalt, and scenic dirt tracks in Punta Sur Park, with regular aid stations, transfers, meals, and race memorabilia included.

Date: 14 December
Location: Cozumel Island
Cost: US $35-$84

Awakin Fest Tulum 2025

(Eventbrite)

Your ticket includes everything from the sunrise opening ceremony to the sunset closing circle. It’s a day full of ancestral ceremonies, music, workshops and connection practices, healing swims in the cenote sacred waters, and a camping spot for the night. 

There’s also access to the Eco Market full of crafts and natural products. Plus a special area for the kids to enjoy creativity and free expression.

Date: 19 December
Location: Zenote, Tulum
Cost: Adults 1,200 pesos, kids 550 pesos

Ancestral Journeys

(Eventbrite)

Enter a candlelit, jungle-inspired sanctuary in town and reconnect with Universal Wisdom and Optimal Health through a guided group experience. Each session includes energy clearing, gentle clothed massage, breath and presence practices, an oracle reading with Q&A, and Toltec and Maya teachings for real-life integration. Expect warm chai, supportive guidance for seekers of all levels, simple preparation, and an intimate, heart-centered space whose exact address is shared after registration.

Date: 23 December, 6 pm – 7:30 pm
Location: A secret location in Tulum, revealed on purchase
Cost: 380 pesos with two-for-one deals available

More than a dozen Tulum businesses temporarily shut down due to price gouging

By
MND Staff
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Suspended supermarket in Tulum
Tulum businesses issued suspensions by Profeco included supermarkets, convenience stores, restaurants and hotels. (Profeco)

Following complaints of unjustified price increases in one of Mexico’s most popular beach destinations, a number of commercial operations have been suspended in Tulum, Quintana Roo.

Mexico’s Consumer Protection Agency (Profeco) conducted inspections to verify that businesses were complying with the Federal Consumer Protection Law (LFPC), particularly concerning price displays and the prohibition of unjustified charges. During the inspections, Profeco identified multiple restaurants, bars and hotels charging excessive prices without offering clear pricing information.

Diamant K Tulum hotel
Diamante K Tulum, a boutique hotel that prides itself on environmental awareness, received its own suspension seal from Profeco. (Diamante K Tulum/on X)

As a result, several establishments were temporarily shut down for failing to display prices for their products or services, or for discrepancies between displayed prices and those actually charged to consumers. 

According to Profeco, inspection was done in 29 establishments, including five self-service stores, five convenience stores, five pharmacies, five hotels and nine restaurants and cafes.

Within Jaguar Park alone, Profeco visited 22 establishments, including hotels, beach clubs and restaurants.

As a result of the inspections, operations at the following hotels have been suspended: Diamante K, Pocna Tulum, Villa Pescadores and Cabañas Playa Condesa Tulum. 

Profeco said these hotels were issued a suspension seal due to a lack of observance of the LFPC, as prices were “significantly higher” than in other areas of Tulum.

According to Profeco, the suspended hotels failed to clearly display rates, did not provide terms and conditions for their services, encouraged the payment of tips, or lacked proper notes and receipts for the lodging services provided. 

Furthermore, prices were not available on the restaurants’ menus or were displayed in foreign currency, and the dishes were listed in a foreign language. 

In another indication of Tulum’s ongoing hardships, Profeco said that the Kore Tulum and Villa Miramar Tulum hotels were found to have no commercial activity at the time of the visits because they had voluntarily closed down due to low occupancy.

Profeco staff also monitored 11 food and beverage products, and found excessive prices for some dishes, including guacamole, with a minimum price of 160 pesos (US $8.64) and an average price of 226 pesos ($12.21).

The restaurants that were suspended included Burrito Amor, Batey Mojito and Guarapo Bar, Encanto, Wang Tulum, Restaurante Estrada, Sabor de Mar and Negro Huitlacoxe. Profeco said all restaurants were advised to make the necessary adjustments to comply with the LFPC.

Finally, Super San Francisco de Asís, New Walmart of Mexico, Chedraui Tulum, Southeast Pharmaceutical Trading Company and the grocery store Panadero Supplier were sanctioned for failing to properly display prices and information about warranties and returns.

Mexico News Daily

A 2-hour talk with Salma Hayek and a visit from the Honduran president: Monday’s mañanera recapped

By
MND Staff
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Sheinbaum mañanera Nov. 24, 2025
The president said that Hayek spoke to her about her film project in Veracruz, but told reporters she couldn't tell them anything about it because the information is "private." (Moisés Pablo/Cuartoscuro)

Cold weather, an upcoming meeting with a fellow Latin American leader and an encounter with Oscar-nominated Mexican actress Salma Hayek were among the topics President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke about at her Monday morning press conference.

Here is a recap of the president’s Nov. 24 mañanera.

Freezing temperatures forecast this week 

Asked what her “message” was for Mexico’s northern states as cold front No. 16 arrives, Sheinbaum noted that the government would issue a statement.

“Civil Protection issues it, but we do as well, as a precaution, so that people cover up,” she said.

“Through the National Guard and the Welfare Ministry we also distribute blankets in the highest, coldest areas,” Sheinbaum said.

In a statement, the federal government warned of temperatures as low as -10 degrees Celsius on Tuesday morning and Thursday morning in mountainous areas of Chihuahua and Durango.

It also said that temperatures were forecast to drop to as low as -5 degrees Celsius on Wednesday morning in high areas of Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Durango, Zacatecas, México state, Tlaxcala and Puebla.

The government statement also noted that heavy to very heavy rain is forecast for Wednesday in parts of Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, Hidalgo, Puebla, Veracruz and Oaxaca.

It advised citizens to adopt various “self-care measures” amid the forecast low temperatures, including the use of thermal clothing and going to temporary shelters if their homes are not equipped to “cope with extreme cold.”

Sheinbaum to meet with president of Honduras on Tuesday 

Sheinbaum acknowledged that she will meet with Honduran President Xiomara Castro in Mexico City on Tuesday.

Castro, whose four-year term will conclude in early 2026, arrived in Mexico on Sunday, and will take part in a “formal nation-to-nation visit” on Tuesday, Sheinbaum said.

“The two national anthems will be played” in the National Palace, she said.

“And after there will be a series of private meetings with her, further strengthening the good relationship with Honduras,” Sheinbaum said.

Asked to elaborate on her upcoming talks with Castro, the president only said they would discuss “issues of Latin America and the Caribbean.”

She noted that “Xiomara is about to end her term as president.”

“We’ve become good friends, since I met her, since she came [to Mexico],” Sheinbaum said.

Castro traveled to Mexico City last year for the president’s inauguration on Oct. 1.

“There is a strong relationship with Honduras, of economic activity and many other activities … and we intend for them to continue,” Sheinbaum said.

In recent years, Honduras was one of the main source countries for migrants who entered Mexico via its southern border as they sought to reach the United States. In an attempt to dissuade migration from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador extended his government’s employment programs, Sowing Life and Youths Building the Future, to the three Central American countries.

Sheinbaum speaks about her meeting with Salma Hayek

The day after she posted a photo to her Instagram account in which she appears with Salma Hayek, Sheinbaum acknowledged that she met with the Mexican actress in Veracruz, where she attended an event on Sunday to mark the bicentenary of Mexico’s “independence at sea.”

“She’s making a movie in Veracruz. She has already met with Rocío [Nahle], naturally, because she’s the governor [of Veracruz]. Rocío said to me, ‘Do you want to meet her?’ … and I said, ‘Yes, of course,'” the president said.

Sheinbaum said that she and Hayek spoke for almost two hours.

“She’s a woman who loves Mexico very much and her state, Veracruz,” she said of the Coatzacoalcos native.

“… The movie that she did about Frida turned Frida Kahlo into an icon in the entire world. Foreigners no longer come to Mexico to see [the art of] Diego Rivera, but rather [to see that of] Frida Kahlo. That movie was very important, for that reason,” Sheinbaum said.

She said that Hayek spoke to her about her film project in Veracruz, but told reporters she couldn’t tell them anything about it because the information is “private.”

Sheinbaum said that she hoped that the new movie, like “Frida,” would show off Mexico to the “whole world.”

The president also told reporters that she got on very well with Hayek, and noted that they spoke about “creating incentives” so that more Mexican and international films are made in Mexico.

The film industry creates “a lot of jobs,” Sheinbaum said before declaring that she likes to see women taking the initiative in various fields.

“And, in addition, [Hayek] has defended the compatriots [in the United States] a lot, and we thank her very much for that,” she said.

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

‘We’re not going to leave La Mixteca’: Sheinbaum pledges sustained regional investment in visit to Oaxaca

By
MND Staff
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During the presentation on Saturday, the governor of Oaxaca thanked the president for working to repay a historic debt to the Indigenous peoples of the Mixtec region.
During the presentation on Saturday, the governor of Oaxaca thanked the president for working to repay a historic debt to the Indigenous peoples of the Mixtec region. (Carolina Jiménez Mariscal/Cuartoscuro)

President Claudia Sheinbaum visited Mexico’s Mixtec region on Saturday to discuss the progress of the Lázaro Cárdenas Plan, detailing investments of 6.212 billion pesos (US $335.6 million). 

The plan, launched last year in coordination with Oaxaca’s state governor, Salomón Jara Cruz, supports economic and social development in one of Mexico’s poorest areas. 

“Roads and infrastructure projects cease to be mere material acts and become great acts of dignity and hope,” Jara Cruz said during the event. “That is the essence of Mexican humanism: love for the people and attention to the poorest.”

Plan Lázaro Cárdenas — named after Mexico’s president from 1934 to 1940, who was known for his agrarian reforms and focus on social justice — seeks to strengthen the region’s roads, healthcare systems, agricultural productivity, educational opportunities, environmental sustainability and cultural heritage.

“It’s been almost a year since we were here in La Mixteca with all of you,” said Sheinbaum in a speech. “I promised then that we would pave roads, that we would build new roads. Did we keep our promise? Yes. We still have work to do, but here’s the commitment: we’re not going to leave La Mixteca for the entire six-year term; we’re going to be right here.”

Some of the main achievements of the Lázaro Cárdenas Plan over the past eight months include:

  • The construction or rehabilitation of 1,100 kilometers of highway infrastructure 
  • 36 projects related to drinking water, sanitation and agricultural support by the National Water Commission (Conagua): 203 million pesos (US $11 million)
  • An annual investment of 120 million pesos ($6.5 million) in forest restoration through the National Forestry Commission (Conagua)
  • The launch of the National Institute of Indigenous Peoples’ (INPI) Justice Plan for the Chocoltec People in 19 municipalities and 70 Indigenous communities, benefiting 19,961 people: 300 million pesos ($16.2 million)
  • The soon-to-be-implemented Justice Plan for the Mixtec People, covering 87 municipalities and 377 Indigenous communities, benefiting 196,752 people
  • More than 3,800 ApoyARTE micro-loans granted to local women artisans
  • Support from “The School is Ours” program in 2,875 under-resourced schools
  • 5,276 new beneficiaries of the “Sowing Life” reforestation initiative
  • An initial investment of 18 million pesos ($972,000) for the construction of the Casa Odriozola School of Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage in Teposcolula

Meanwhile, the IMSS-Bienestar arm of the program, as presented by the ministry’s director Alejandro Svarch Pérez, will: 

  • Provide for the replacement of the Huajuapan de León Hospital by December 2026
  • Launch the Margarita Maza Brigades to prevent, detect and diagnose breast cancer
  • Renovate three local health centers into Comprehensive Health Centers (CESSA)
  • Hire 23 specialist physicians and 99 nurses
  • Launch ten mobile medical units with telemedicine services
  • Create a High-Priority Maternal Response Network with four new obstetric ambulances

Protests disrupt the event

A group of professors with Section 22 of the national teachers union (CNTE) used megaphones to express their discontent during Sheinbaum’s presentation at the Marco Antonio Ramírez Sports Complex in Teposcolula on Saturday. 

Protesters shouted slogans such as “Claudia, you lied about repealing the ISSSTE law” and “Claudia said everything would change.”

Members of the CNTE continue to press Sheinbaum on the 2007 ISSSTE Law, which changed the federal pension scheme from pooled to individual, and which the president had previously pledged to reverse.
Members of the CNTE continue to press Sheinbaum on the 2007 ISSSTE Law, which changed the federal pension scheme from pooled to individual, and which the president had previously pledged to reverse. (Carolina Jiménez Mariscal/Cuartoscuro)

Earlier that day, Sheinbaum had also faced demonstrations from Section 22 at an event in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. The protests in Oaxaca came just one day after teachers from CNTE Section 7 in Chiapas briefly detained the president’s vehicle in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, demanding she sign a written commitment to restart discussions concerning the ISSSTE law and education reform. 

With reports from Milenio, Quadratin and Expansión

Mexico’s inflation rate crept up to 3.61% during the first half of November

By
MND Staff
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shoppers
The government's goal of getting the inflation rate down to 3.0% has proven to be elusive, though it has stayed within the margin of error. (Victoria Valtierra/Cuartoscuro)

Inflation in Mexico is accelerating faster than expected, rising to 3.61% during the first two weeks of November compared to the same period last year, according to data released by the national statistics agency, INEGI, on Monday.

While core inflation, which excludes volatile food and fuel prices, stayed steady at 4.32% due to downward pressure from the El Buen Fin discount shopping campaign, the non-core index accelerated to 1.29% annually, from 0.80% in the second half of October.

Cowboy and cattle
Contributing to the bump in the inflation rate was the rising price of livestock. (@GeneralMCNews/X)

Livestock prices and government-authorized tariffs drove the increase in these prices.

The rise in prices was reflected in the cost of food consumed outside the home (lunch counter prices rose 0.47%, restaurant prices were up 0.51% and prepared foods climbed 0.61%), tomatoes (up 3.98%) and air transport (up 4.6%). 

Also, electricity prices soared by 20.7% following the end of a government subsidy program in 18 cities.

Mexico’s central bank (Banxico) had predicted that the current weakness of Mexico’s economy would reduce inflation, but the news agency Reuters reported that underlying price pressures pushing stubborn core inflation are a pressing concern.

In a social media post, analyst Gabriela Siller cautioned that core inflation, “which determines the trajectory of overall inflation in the medium and long term,” is not likely to decelerate any time soon.

“[This] implies that, if the rebound currently observed in non-core inflation persists, overall inflation would once again exceed 4%,” she said.

Banxico targets inflation at 3%, with a margin of error of ±1 percentage point.

Despite the worrisome inflation figures, Citibank analysts cited by Reuters expect Banxico to reduce their benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points at their next board meeting on Dec. 18.

Mexico’s gross domestic product contracted in the third quarter, a slowdown that most members of Banxico’s Board of Governors believe will help ease price pressures, according to the minutes of their Nov. 6 interest rate decision.

With reports from Bloomberg News and La Jornada

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