The more active approach to law enforcement coupled with improved intelligence and investigation could help explain the increase in firearm seizures over the past year. (José Betanzos Zárate/Cuartoscuro)
The current government of Mexico is seizing firearms at twice the rate of the administration of former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador, statistics show.
The federal government reported earlier this month that 17,283 firearms were confiscated between Oct. 1, 2024 and Sept. 30, 2025, a period that coincides with the first year of Claudia Sheinbaum’s presidency.
During López Obrador’s six-year term, an average of 8,564 firearms were seized on an annual basis. That figure is equivalent to 49.5% of the number of firearms confiscated during the first year of Sheinbaum’s presidency. Federal security forces including the army, navy and National Guard are responsible for most firearm seizures in Mexico.
The 17,283 firearms seized in the 12 months to Sept. 30 is equivalent to 33% of the 51,384 guns confiscated during the best part of López Obrador’s presidency. The ex-president cited the figure of 51,384 in his sixth and final annual report to the nation, delivered in a speech a month before he left office.
Security Minister Omar García Harfuch said Oct. 7 that the seizure of weapons reduces the firepower of criminal organizations and results in “less violence on the streets.”
Homicides declined almost 25% annually in the first nine months of 2025.
Most seized weapons came from the US
The Sheinbaum administration has taken a less passive approach to combating organized crime than the previous federal government. In addition, it has implemented a new security strategy with four core tenets including the strengthening of intelligence and investigative practices.
The more active approach to law enforcement coupled with improved intelligence and investigation could help explain the increase in firearm seizures over the past year.
Inresponse to Trump’s offers to help Mexico in the fight against organized crime, President Sheinbaum has repeatedly asked the U.S. to crack down on the smuggling of firearms to Mexico. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)
According to Security Ministry data, 70% of the guns confiscated during the first year of the Sheinbaum presidency were brought into Mexico from the United States.
The illicit southward flow of firearms from the U.S. has long been a problem in Mexico, fueling the violent crime that plagues various parts of the country. Many of the hundreds of thousands of weapons smuggled across the border on an annual basis end up in the hands of members of Mexico’s notorious drug cartels. They are frequently used to commit high-impact crimes including murder.
Almost three-quarters of the more than 14,000 homicides in Mexico between January and August were committed with firearms.
The joint project is called “Mission Firewall: United Against Firearms Trafficking Initiative.”
Mexico’s Foreign Ministry said that the “main goals” of Mission Firewall include increasing border operations to prevent weapons from entering Mexico from the U.S. and expanding use of the eTrace tool to strengthen firearms investigations in both countries.
During a visit to Mexico in early September, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio pledged that the U.S. government would “stop the flow of armaments” to Mexico and other Western Hemisphere countries.
“And it’s not just Mexico, by the way. Those arms are flowing to Haiti, they’re flowing to Jamaica, they’re flowing to Trinidad, they’re flowing into the Caribbean and we’re going to put a stop to it,” he said.
The parasitic screwworm is causing economic hardship for Mexican cattle ranchers who haven't been able to sell their stock in the U.S. because of entry bans. (Isabel Mateos Hinojosa/Cuartoscuro)
There is a glimmer of hope for Mexican livestock farmers plagued by the parasitic New World screwworm (NWS) as researchers at the Autonomous University of Querétaro (UAQ) are reporting promising developments in their efforts to produce a pioneering vaccine.
The NWS — a species of blood-sucking blowfly whose larvae eat the living tissue of warm-blooded animals — has been steadily moving through Mexico from Central America since last year. The northward advancement of the pest has the U.S. cattle industry on alert and, since November last, U.S. authorities have twice suspended cattle imports from Mexico.
The adult screwworm, a blowfly, lays her eggs in a cow’s open wound, so that the larvae, when hatched, can feed on the live animal’s flesh. (@insectbeau/on X)
As there is presently no vaccine for screwworm, the battle against the pest involves a multi-pronged strategy of sterile insect technique, epidemiological surveillance, pesticide application, border control and immediate treatment of infected animals and humans.
So the news emerging from last week’s 33rd Annual Meeting of the National Technical Advisory Council on Animal Health is cause for optimism.
Dr. Juan Joel Mosqueda, a researcher at the UAQ School of Natural Sciences, told El Heraldo de Chihuahua that the project is using reverse immunology to create a multi-epitope vaccine.
Reverse immunology relies on computational methods to identify potential immune targets, such as antigens or antibodies, rather than traditional methods of isolating them from a live subject. A multi-epitope vaccine is a type of a molecular vaccine that simultaneously encodes multiple target antigens and auxiliary antigens.
“With an effective vaccine, producers would not have to continually invest in chemical treatments,” he said, adding that a new vaccine could reduce the use of fly killers, products that are expensive and pose an environmental risk by harming beneficial insects.
The project is still in the genetic analysis phase as researchers identify antigens that could be incorporated into the vaccine.
“We began working on this idea a little over a year ago as the screwworm advanced from Central America to Mexico,” Mosqueda said. “Just as vaccines have been developed against ticks, we thought we could apply a similar strategy to this larva.”
Advancing to the biological stage to evaluate the first vaccine candidates produced will require initial funding of 1.5 million pesos (US $81,500). Additional funding would be required for challenge trials and to corroborate the vaccine’s effectiveness.
With the necessary resources, Mosqueda estimated that preliminary results on the efficacy of the vaccine candidates could be obtained within a year.
Mexico is Costco's second-biggest market after the United States. (Unsplash)
Costco has outlined an ambitious expansion plan in Mexico over the next 20 years that includes the opening of new stores in Durango, Tampico and Playa del Carmen.
The expansion plan also includes opening new stores in cities where the company already operates, such as Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Puebla and Querétaro.
Mauricio Talayero, Costco Mexico’s finance director, said that the integration with the U.S. economy, and the upward trend in per capita GDP make the investment panorama in Mexico “interesting.” (Deloitte/Facebook)
“We are aware that we are living through very complex times and that they will only get more complex,” Finance Director of Costco Mexico Mauricio Talayero said during a presentation at Retail Day Mexico 2025. “But I will continue to grow this business despite this, despite the authorities, despite the renegotiation of the [USMCA], despite many things.”
According to Talayero, Costco’s growth plans respond to Mexico’s demographic projections; estimations suggest the population will increase by an average of 2.1% over the next 25 years. Its integration with the United States economy, and the sustained increase in Mexico’s per capita GDP, which currently exceeds US $14,000, make the investment panorama “interesting,” Talayero emphasized.
“Mexico is a country of strengths. If economic growth continues and the population expands, the outlook is attractive for business,” Talayero said.
“We identified four markets where Costco is not operating,” Talayero said. One of the markets Costco is considering is the southern state of Oaxaca. However, Talayero said the company has decided “not to open there at the moment” due to recurring social conflicts.
“Ruling out Oaxaca, we have three places left in Mexico [with no Costo],” he said. Those areas are Durango, Tampico and Playa del Carmen.
In the short term, the company has announced a new store in Mexico City, located along División del Norte. Construction is expected to begin in January 2026.
Meanwhile, Talayero said that Guadalajara, which currently has three Costco stores, “still has room for another one.”
In Puebla, Costco plans to build a second store, and there are also plans for a new store in Querétaro, in the municipality of Corregidora. Up to six additional stores could be built in the Mexico City metropolitan area.
Looking ahead, regions with the potential for Costco warehouses in the next 10 to 20 years include northern Mexico (Reynosa and Matamoros in Tamaulipas), the Central-Bajío region (Irapuato in Guanajuato, and Pachuca in Hidalgo) and the Riviera Maya (Playa del Carmen).
With just over 20,000 residents, Puerto Aventuras is the second-largest community in the municipality of Solidaridad, behind Playa del Carmen. (Puerto Aventuras/Facebook)
Puerto Aventuras, a residential and resort complex in the Riviera Maya, announced an investment of over 4.3 billion pesos (US $233.6 million) over the next five years to consolidate its position as a world-class tourist destination.
Located 15 kilometers from Playa del Carmen and 85 kilometers from Cancún International Airport, Puerto Aventuras is the second-largest community in the municipality of Solidaridad, Quintana Roo. This exclusive, master-planned coastal destination operates as a trust, blending luxury tourism with residential living in the Mexican Caribbean.
“What sets Puerto Aventuras apart is its strong sense of community,” architect and founder of the project Román Rivera Torres told the industry magazine Inmobiliare. “Residents deeply identify with the place, which generates a sense of belonging and a commitment to its care and continuous improvement.”
According to Pablo Segui Vizcaíno, the trust’s general director, this investment demonstrates confidence in Puerto Aventuras’ potential and its ability to continue being an attractive destination for both residents and tourists.
Segui said that the investment will go toward the construction of 140 residential apartments and 110 hotel rooms. It will also enable strategic alliances with social and environmental initiatives to promote the region’s well-being and long-term sustainability.
Segui noted that collaboration with authorities is key to promoting the orderly growth of Playa del Carmen. He added that current work is underway to implement fiber optic cables and improve sports facilities to enhance the existing infrastructure.
The community of Puerto Aventuras is divided into two main areas: the beachfront tourist-residential complex, which features hotels, marinas and private villas, and the inland settlement, where most of its local residents live.
Furthermore, the property also houses a town created for Puerto Aventuras’ workers, which accommodates up to 40,000 residents.
For Rivera, Puerto Aventuras embodies more than just “a romantic philosophy of belonging.” It encompasses practical meanings reflected in the continuous planning of operations, enhancements and updates in development.
Trump first announced his intention to impose a 25% tariff on truck imports in September, but did not specify if Mexican exports — the largest source of medium and heavy-duty trucks for the U.S. market — would be subject to the same rate. (Unsplash)
As is the case with Mexico’s light vehicle exports to the United States, the U.S. content in USMCA-compliant medium- and heavy-duty trucks made in Mexico will be exempt from the 25% tariff the U.S. will implement on Nov. 1.
The exemption was outlined in a proclamation issued by U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday and in an accompanying White House fact sheet on the 25% tariff.
“For medium- and heavy-duty trucks that do not qualify for preferential tariff treatment under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the tariff will apply to the full value of the vehicle,” the fact sheet states.
“For medium- and heavy-duty trucks that qualify for preferential tariff treatment under the USMCA, the tariff will only apply to the value of the non-U.S. content in the vehicle,” it continues.
Trump’s proclamation states that importers of USMCA-compliant medium- and heavy-duty trucks from Mexico and Canada “may submit documentation to the Secretary [of Commerce] identifying the amount of United States content in each model imported into the United States.”
Medium- and heavy-duty trucks include Class 3 to Class 8 vehicles, like large pick-up trucks, moving trucks, cargo trucks, dump trucks and tractors for eighteen-wheelers, according to the White House fact sheet.
The announcement that the U.S. content in trucks made in Mexico won’t be subject to the 25% tariff came two days after President Claudia Sheinbaum said that progress was being made toward an agreement with the Trump administration to that end.
The U.S. content in cars made in Mexico is exempt from the 25% tariff the United States imposed on imports of light vehicles in April. The exemption lowers the effective tariff on Mexican cars to 15% on average as those vehicles have 40% U.S. content on average.
The United States is imposing a 25% tariff on medium- and heavy-duty trucks for national security reasons in accordance with Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.
Trump first announced his intention to impose a tariff on imports of heavy-duty trucks (but not medium-duty trucks) in late September, saying at the time that the duty would “protect our Great Heavy Truck Manufacturers from unfair outside competition.”
Mexico is the world’s largest exporter of medium and heavy-duty trucks to the United States.
In the first seven months of 2025, Mexico’s exports of trucks, buses and special purpose vehicles to the United States were worth US $25.86 billion, accounting for 80% of U.S. expenditure on imports of those vehicles, according to U.S. government data.
Buses made in Mexico will face 10% tariff
Trump’s proclamation also states that a 10% tariff on imports of buses will take effect on Nov. 1. The duty will apply to school buses, transit buses and motor coaches, according to the White House fact sheet.
Production of heavy-duty vehicles and passenger buses in Mexico has seen a sharp decline in 2025, according to data from INEGI. (Mercedes Benz)
There will be no exemption for the U.S. content in buses made in Mexico.
Several companies including Volvo and Mercedes-Benz manufacture buses in Mexico. Some of the buses they manufacture are exported to the United States.
US content in USMCA-compliant truck parts will also be exempt from tariff
Trump’s proclamation states that imports of medium- and heavy-duty vehicle parts will also be subject to a 25% tariff starting Nov. 1.
However, the U.S. content in USMCA-compliant parts, including engines and transmissions, will be exempt from the duty.
Moreover, “USMCA-compliant medium- and heavy-duty truck parts will not be subject to tariffs … until the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, establishes a process to apply tariffs to the non-U.S. content of the parts,” according to the White House fact sheet.
It was unclear how soon the process would be established.
The White House fact sheet also says that Trump’s proclamation “incentivizes domestic medium- and heavy-duty truck production by offering an offset to a portion of tariffs for medium- and heavy-duty truck parts equal to 3.75% of the aggregate value of all trucks assembled in the United States from 2025 through 2030.”
More US protectionism
The tariffs the United States will soon impose on trucks, buses and medium- and heavy-duty vehicle parts will add to the Trump administration’s protectionist “America First” posture that has affected U.S. trading partners around the world.
Since returning to the White House in January, the U.S. president has significantly undermined the USMCA by imposing tariffs on a range of imports from Mexico and Canada.
Mexican products including cars, steel and aluminum now face tariffs when exported to the United States. In March, Trump imposed a so-called “fentanyl tariff” on all imports from Mexico and Canada that don’t comply with the USMCA.
The three-way trade pact will be subject to a formal review process in 2026. Consultation processes ahead of the review have already commenced in Mexico and the United States.
Sheinbaum has expressed confidence that the outcome of the review will be positive for Mexico, even though Trump has indicated that he wants to “renegotiate” the pact he signed off on during his first term as president.
The U.S. president is unhappy that the U.S. runs trade deficits with both Mexico and Canada, and has accused both of not doing enough to stem the flow of narcotics across their borders.
Nobel Prize ceremonies take place annually in Stockholm, Sweden, and Oslo, Norway. (Nobel Prize)
Nobel Prize season has arrived, and we now know the laureates for the 2025 edition. Although several Mexican figures were rumored as potential winners, none made the final list this year.
However, three Mexicans have won the coveted prize during its history. Let’s take a moment to remember their achievements.
What is the Nobel Prize?
The Nobel Prize, named for Alfred Nobel, has been given to those who have benefited humanity in the areas of physics, chemistry, medicine, literature and peace since 1895. (Nobel Prize)
Each October, committees in Sweden and Norway award six Nobel prizes related to science, literature, economics and peace work to those “that have conferred the greater benefit to humankind.”
The prizes were created in 1895 by Swedish scientist Alfred Nobel, inventor of dynamite, who in his will stipulated that his fortune be used to reward those who made great contributions to humanity in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature and peace.
The three Mexicans who have won a Nobel Prize
Alfonso García Robles (Nobel Peace Prize, 1982)
Alfonso García Robles’ skills as a negotiator helped him become the first Mexican to win the Nobel Prize in 1982 (CDNH Mexico)
Alfonso García Robles (1911-1991) was a prominent Mexican diplomat born in Zamora, Michoacán. He studied law at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and completed postgraduate studies in Paris and The Hague, specializing in international law.
For this work and his role in the UN disarmament negotiations, he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1982, along with Swedish diplomat Alva Myrdal. In the words of the Nobel committee, the award was granted “for their work in support of disarmament and nuclear-weapon-free zones.”
García, regarded as a skilled and talented negotiator, played a crucial role in the Treaty of Tlatelolco (1967). While serving as Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, the diplomat chaired all the meetings for the military denuclearization of Latin America that took place between 1964 and 1967.
García’s work culminated in the “Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America,” also known as the Treaty of Tlatelolco, signed on February 14, 1967. The treaty is considered by experts as a pioneering international agreement that declared Latin America and the Caribbean nuclear-weapon-free zones.
This treaty marked a turning point in global diplomacy, serving as a model for other regions.
Octavio Paz (Nobel Literature Prize, 1990)
In a career spanning decades, writer and diplomat Octavio Paz wrote extensively about what it meant to be a Mexican. (Poblanerías)
Octavio Paz (1914-1998) was a Mexican poet, essayist and diplomat, born in Mexico City. Despite growing up under poor circumstances, his writing earned him a place as one of the most influential literary figures of the 20th century.
In 1990, Paz received the Nobel Prize in Literature “for impassioned writing with wide horizons, characterized by sensuous intelligence and humanistic integrity.”
The Swedish Academy recognized in his work a profound exploration of the human soul, a continuous exercise in lyrical and philosophical reflection, as well as a creative dialogue between different cultures and traditions. His poetry and essays are distinguished by their richness of language, originality and the universality of their themes, which range from loneliness, love and identity to history and politics.
In addition to being a poet and writer, Paz worked as a poet, journalist and translator. Starting in 1946, he also served as a diplomat for 20 years.
One of the most popular works of Paz is “El laberinto de la soledad” (“The Labyrinth of Solitude”), a collection of essays published in 1950 that reflect on Mexican history and culture. Paz was married to Mexican writer Elena Garro. According to published works of Garro, their relationship was marked by conflict, jealousy and gender violence.
Mario Molina (Chemistry Nobel Prize, 1995)
Mario Molino’s discoveries about the ozone layer earned him a Nobel Prize in chemistry. (Gobierno de Mexico)
Mario Molina (1943-2020) was a prominent Mexican scientist originally from Mexico City, who made a groundbreaking discovery regarding the ozone layer.
In 1974, alongside Frank Sherwood Rowland, he published research predicting the thinning of the ozone layer caused by chlorofluorocarbons, compounds found in aerosols and refrigerants. Their research played a crucial role in the creation of the United Nations’ Montreal Protocol, the first international treaty designed to address a global environmental issue caused by humanity.
Thanks to his research work, in 1995, Molina received the Chemistry Nobel Prize together with Rowland and Paul Crutzen for their “work on the chemistry of the atmosphere, especially on the formation and decomposition of ozone.”
The Nobel Prize organization has recognized that, thanks to the discovery of the effects of freons on the ozone layer, its depletion has been slowed.
Molina attended a boarding school in Switzerland from the age of 11, as it was considered important for a chemist to understand German. He later studied chemical engineering at UNAM and obtained a doctorate in physical chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley.
It was during his time at Berkeley that he discovered how freons damage the ozone layer.
Notable Mexican nominations
Cristina Rivera Garza from Tamaulipas has already won a Pulitzer Prize. Could the Nobel be next? (X, formerly Twitter)
Several notable Mexicans have been nominated for the Nobel Prize throughout history. Some recent examples include the non-profit organization Por Un País Mejor (For a Better Country), founded by Víctor González Torres (Dr. Simi). This organization has been nominated several times for its humanitarian work, with the support of Nobel laureate Rigoberta Menchú.
Another recent nomination includes that of writer, poet and essayist Cristina Rivera Garza. Originally from Tamaulipas, Rivera emerged as a strong candidate in the Literature category this year, according to major international betting houses such as Nicer Odds and Ladbrokes.
Gabriela Solis is a Mexican lawyer turned full-time writer. She was born and raised in Guadalajara and covers business, culture, lifestyle and travel for Mexico News Daily. You can follow her lifestyle blog Dunas y Palmeras.
Luis Barragán was the first Latin American to be awarded the Pritzker Prize, considered by many to be the "Nobel Prize for architecture." Now a new LA exhibition reimagines his work. (Brica Wilcox, Sean Kelly)
Renowned Mexican architect Luis Barragán‘s legacy continues to be a living source of inspiration in Mexico and around the world. His work demonstrates that modernity can be emotional, spiritual and local without losing rigor or clarity.
“It teaches us that progress doesn’t mean abandoning identity or memory,” says sculptor José Dávila, one of the artists behind “The Poetic Dimension: James Casebere and José Dávila,” a new exhibition at the Sean Kelly Gallery in Los Angeles inspired by Barragán’s oeuvre and that explores the emotional resonance of his architecture.
Cuadra San Cristóbal in Atizapán de Zaragoza, a Mexico City suburb, is one of Barragán’s modernist masterpieces. (The Pritzker Architecture Prize)
The exhibition runs until November 1.
Casebere is known for constructing meticulously crafted models that he then photographs. He says Barragán infused a modernist sensibility into his work while incorporating Mexican vernacular. He admires the colors, textures and materials Barragán used.
“The architect created an experience of space and time in designs that were no longer cold and distant. He developed a language rooted in place,” Casebere says.
At this particular moment in world events, Casebere says he finds Barragán’s work particularly healing, a “peaceful sanctuary of privacy and calm.”
“This exhibition is not just a presentation of works. It is a conversation,” says Dávila, who is known for his sculptures that balance tension and gravity with a distinctive elegance.
The physical vs. the imagined: A dialogue between two artists
Although Dávila’s artworks are sculptures and Casebere‘s are photographs, Barragán’s influence looms over both artists’ work.
Luis Barragán’s work is being reevaluated in the light of other artists’ responses to it. (INBAL)
“It is a dialogue, but it is also about silence,” says Dávila. “His sculptures are propositions rather than statements. Casebere builds models of imagined spaces and photographs them in a way that makes them feel inhabitable, even though they are constructions. His work creates a tension between what is real and what is imagined.”
“In contrast, my sculptures insist on their physicality. They are objects negotiating gravity, fragility and resistance. The materials depend on one another to remain upright,” Dávila reflects.
Casebere’s photographs recreate the iconic spaces of Barragán’s architectural creations: Gilardi House, the Gálvez House and the architect’s home and studio in Mexico City.
“I hope to evoke some of the same feelings Barragán transmits, like peace and quiet. I do this by using color and texture to create spaces that emphasize the materiality of the sculptures and the contrast between the organic,” Casebere says. “It is a physical, gravitational work, and I think the combination works interestingly in these times.”
“What interests me is how these two approaches resonate with each other when combined,” Dávila says. “[Casebere’s] photographs point to a kind of architecture of memory, while my work explores the presence of forces in real time and space. Together, they reveal the poetic dimension where matter and imagination converge.”
Inspired by Barragán’s work
When Casebere speaks about Barragán’s work, his voice sounds vibrant. He identifies with the architect’s goals, values and the atmosphere of his architecture.
Barragán, who died in 1988, shaped an indelible legacy as an architect in Mexico. (Barragán Foundation)
“In many cases, I try to encapsulate it in my work,” he says.
The artist is amazed by the patience and sustained attention to spatial relationships and one’s movement within Barragán’s buildings, as well as the way he adapts cultural history and values without being eclectic.
The architect adapted Mexican experiences, color, texture and materials into a modernist vocabulary, Casebere says. He also emphasizes Barragan’s deep relationship with nature.
“There’s a contrast between simplicity and the structure of organic formations in the natural environment,” he says.
On the other hand, Dávila admires Barragán’s ability to work with immense emotional weight.
“His ability to create an atmosphere that feels both grounded and transcendent moves me deeply,” he says. “He trusted silence, proportion and atmosphere. In that sense, I see him not only as an architect but also as someone who sculpted space itself.”
Luis Barragán, Architect – a film by Guido de Bruyn, 2000
“His clarity resonates with my own search: how to do the most with the least and how to bring intensity through restraint. How to avoid speed and prefer a slow pace. Architecture as an introspective search rather than an open spectacle,” he argues.
Both artists evoke elemental aspects of Barragán’s universe, such as the fact that architecture can be simultaneously physical and emotional. This legacy brings serenity, calm intensity, sensuality, memory and movement through space and colors into their work. It also encompasses the links between the inside and outside of spaces and light.
“Absence can be as powerful as presence. Silence can convey meaning,” Davila says. “In the shadow of Barragán’s legacy, the works aim to let silence speak.”
Ana Paula de la Torre is a Mexican journalist and collaborator for various outlets, including Milenio, Animal Político, Vice, Newsweek en Español, Televisa and Mexico News Daily.
Valle de Guadalupe in Baja California is Mexico's premier wine growing region, accounting for over 70% of the nation's wines. (Wikimedia Commons / Cbojorquez75)
Ah, Tuscany. The very name whispers of sun-drenched afternoons, cypress-lined lanes and glasses of Chianti enjoyed al fresco. It’s the gold standard of wine travel, a dream destination for oenophiles. But have you heard of a different wine region — one with the same soul-stirring landscapes and world-class food and wine, right here in Mexico, just south of the U.S. border?
No, this gorgeous vineyard scene isn’t from Tuscany, but rather from Valle de Guadalupe. (Expedia)
It’s almost baffling that this stunning region, just a 90-minute drive from San Diego, isn’t on every wine lover’s radar. Valle de Guadalupe has somehow only recently started to emerge on the tourist radar.
This relative anonymity is what I love about it: There’s a casual, “come as you are” kind of vibe here, where likely to be chatting with a winemaker as you sip their award-winning creations.
As part of our series where we showcase lesser-known corners of Mexico that rival world-famous wonders, this installment will take you on a journey to Baja’s wine region.
If you’re captivated by the rustic elegance of Tuscany but crave a touch of adventure and bohemian spirit, Valle de Guadalupe’s the place to be.
Tuscany vs. Valle de Guadalupe: Some surprising similarities
Luscious sangiovese grapes like these make some of the finest wines in Italy … and Mexico. (Facebook)
Tuscany, a region steeped in history, where every vineyard and bottle tells a story, needs little introduction. Some may say the comparison between the ancient, cypress-lined roads of Tuscany and the dusty, desert-like landscape of Baja California is a bit of a stretch, but look a little closer, and you’ll notice many striking parallels.
Firstly, both regions share a climate perfect for growing grapes. The long, sun-drenched days and cool, coastal breezes bring a refreshing salinity to Valle de Guadalupe’s wines. Just as the Tyrrhenian Sea influences the Sangiovese grapes of Tuscany, the Pacific Ocean leaves its mark on the nebbiolo and tempranillo varietals thriving in Valle de Guadalupe.
Both Tuscany and Valle de Guadalupe are home to passionate, multigenerational winemaking families who are deeply connected to their land. In Valle de Guadalupe, you’ll find families who have been cultivating these valleys for generations, as well as a new wave of innovative winemakers who are pushing boundaries.
And the food! Both regions are a foodie’s paradise, with a farm-to-table ethos that celebrates fresh, local ingredients. Just as you’d find in a rustic Tuscan trattoria, the culinary scene in Valle de Guadalupe is all about showcasing the bounty of the land, from fresh-pressed olive oils to artisanal cheeses and, of course, the incredible seafood plucked straight from the nearby Pacific.
The heart of Mexico’s wine industry
Valle de Guadalupe is only a 90-minute drive, and a scenic one at that, from the U.S. border. (Calandria Experience)
Wine has been made here since Jesuit priests planted the first grapes in 1791, with a significant influence from Russian Molokan immigrants in the early 1900s who were fleeing religious persecution.
But in the last few decades, the region has truly come into its own, experiencing a renaissance that has placed it on the international wine map. What makes the “Valle,” as it’s affectionately known, so exciting is the sense of growth. It’s a place that’s still being written, a wine region in the thrilling throes of defining itself. Here, you’ll find a creative spirit where winemakers aren’t afraid to experiment with unconventional blends and techniques, resulting in wines that are as bold and expressive as the landscape itself.
These days, Valle de Guadalupe is home to more than 200 wineries working with everything from cabernet and merlot to lesser-known grapes like nebbiolo and vermentino. Rolling vineyards fill the landscape, while more and more wineries are creating artful living spaces on their premises. You’re never far from a shaded patio or terrace where you can sip local creations while taking in the view of the vineyards.
How to get to Valle de Guadalupe and where to go
Valle de Guadalupe is acclaimed not only for its wines but also for its food scene, with Michelin-star-awarded chefs like Drew Deckman of Deckman’s en El Mogor. (Facebook)
One of the most appealing aspects of Valle de Guadalupe is its accessibility. From Southern California, it’s an easy and incredibly scenic drive down the Pacific coast. For those flying in, the nearest airport is in Tijuana; the valley is a scenic 90-minute drive through vineyard-dotted landscape. While you can certainly visit for a day trip, I highly recommend spending at least a weekend to truly soak it all in.
For a taste of the region’s pioneering spirit, a visit to Monte Xanic, one of the oldest wineries in the valley, is a must. Founder Hans Backoff helped to launch some of Valle de Guadalupe’s first forays into the wine industry. Now, 30 years later, his son is taking Monte Xanic’s wines to a new level.
For a more rustic, off-the-grid experience, seek out La Lomita, a family-run winery with a deeply artistic approach to winemaking. And for a unique architectural marvel, you can’t miss Vena Cava, a hip winery with a ceiling built from reclaimed fishing boats from nearby Ensenada. Tres Cantos has an eclectic space that’s tastefully designed with esoteric architectural principles, using recycled materials. Enjoy a tasting on the back patio while metallic ribbons flutter in the vineyard.
Having graced the Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants list, the legendary Fauna, led by chef David Castro, features a dynamic, experimental menu that changes based on seasonal ingredients.
Baja wine region
Monte Xanic has been one of the benchmark wine producers of Valle de Guadalupe since it was founded in 1987. (BLN Brands)
Are you ready to trade in your Chianti for a Chenin Blanc with a Baja twist? While Tuscany will always hold a special place in my wine-loving heart, I will always get a thrill in finding places that are still a little wild and rough around the edges. Valle de Guadalupe is exactly that — offering all the rustic charm, incredible food, and world-class wine of its Italian cousin, but with a rugged, cross-border culture that is all its own.
Nellie Huang is a self-proclaimed Mexico-holic. She’s the author of Lonely Planet’s Mexico guidebook and has written hundreds of articles on Mexico for various publications. Read about her adventures worldwide on wildjunket.com and follow her updates on Instagram @wildjunket.
Life behind bars is hard, but women doing time in Mexico's prisons sometimes serve sentences with their own children. What is life like for those convicted of criminal activity? (International Women's Media Foundation)
In October, I attended a yoga retreat in Malinalco that gathered a diverse group of people, most of them Mexican. One afternoon, while lounging by the pool during free time, a conversation unfolded about whether women feel safe in Mexico City. As the women began sharing personal anecdotes, the discussion shifted toward an unexpected subject: women in prison.
A psychologist, María Sotres, explained that she had spent nearly three years working in women’s prisons as the former Directora del Programa Integral de Reinserción Social (Director of the Social Reintegration Program) for La Cana, an organization that provides workshops, creative job training, mental health support, education and legal aid to incarcerated women.
Women receive far fewer visits in prison than men, a cultural double standard that heightens the isolation. (To Enjoy God)
As she spoke, we found ourselves captivated by stories that exposed unsettling truths not only about Mexico’s penal system, but about the broader gender inequalities that shape women’s lives throughout Mexican society.
Gender and the prison system
Today, roughly 15,261 women are incarcerated in Mexico — only about 6.1% of the total prison population. Yet María described a striking double standard: outside men’s prisons, long lines of visitors — mothers, sisters, grandmothers, brothers — wait with oversized stuffed animals and gifts. By contrast, the visiting areas of women’s prisons are nearly deserted. Many incarcerated women go years without a single visit.
Families often frame men’s crimes with sympathy or excuses, while women are scorned and abandoned. It’s a stark illustration of the patriarchal norms and gender biases that continue to shape life — and punishment — in Mexico.
Why women end up behind bars
In Mexico, theft is the leading cause of female incarceration, followed by kidnapping, homicide and drug-related crimes. But as Sotres points out, many of these cases are not as clear-cut as they seem. Often, they are crimes of survival — acts of self-protection or desperation — and the data support her observations.
Most incarcerated women come from backgrounds marked by poverty, limited education and social exclusion. Many carry histories of gender-based violence — physical, emotional or sexual — frequently at the hands of partners or family members. These experiences don’t just precede their time in prison. They often play a direct role in the very crimes for which they are convicted.
Abuse, economic dependence and coercion often push women into illegal activities. Some are pressured by male partners to participate in drug trafficking or theft. Others end up taking the blame for crimes committed within their households or by organized groups led by men. It is not uncommon for women in prison to have suffered sexual violence, including rape, before their incarceration.
There are over 15,000 women currently incarcerated in Mexico’s prisons. (Reach Alliance)
Another recurring theme is familial responsibility. Many of these women were the sole breadwinners, struggling to keep households afloat after being abandoned by partners or left with children to care for. For some, the path to prison began with a decision made under pressure. Stealing to feed a family, or submitting to a relative’s demand to carry out a crime.
The result is a system where women are punished not only for breaking the law, but for carrying the compounded weight of poverty, abuse and patriarchal double standards.
Guilty until proven innocent
Another disturbing thing to learn was that under Mexico’s Constitution and criminal procedure laws, judges can impose prisión preventiva (pretrial detention), which is justified using judicial reasoning (prisión preventiva justificada) and automatic for certain crimes. Mexico has one of the highest rates of pretrial detention in Latin America, with roughly four out of 10 prisoners awaiting trial, but not yet convicted. People can spend months or even years in detention before their case is resolved, often longer than the maximum sentence for the alleged crime.
While there are cases in the United States where suspects can be detained if judicially demonstrated to be violent or flight risks, Mexico’s pretrial detention system requires judges to automatically jail people for certain offenses, without assessing individual risk or case circumstances. It deprives suspects of liberty based on accusation rather than proven guilt. There are documented cases in Mexico where innocent people have spent years in prison, with many only being released after years of pretrial detention when their innocence was finally proven.
In Mexico, about 49%-53% of incarcerated women are held in pretrial detention, compared to 40%-49% of incarcerated men. This means women are more likely than men to be jailed without a conviction while awaiting trial, and they also tend to spend longer periods in pretrial detention than men. Women are also more likely to receive harsher sentences due to a lack of gender perspective within the legal system.
Babies in jail: The children of incarcerated women
A shocking ten percent of incarcerated women have been pregnant while in custody. Many of these pregnancies result from conjugal visits with partners, and in most cases, women give birth behind bars. By law, they are allowed to keep their children with them until the age of three. Mother and child live together around the clock in small sections of the prison designated for women with children. These spaces are restrictive: children grow up subject to the same rules as their mothers, from the number of clothes they can own to the kinds of foods they are allowed to eat. There is no access to formal education or stimulation beyond the confines of prison life, and the developmental costs are profound. One study notes:
According to La Cana, 97% of the women who participate in its programs never return to prison. (United Nations)
“The first three years of a person’s life are among the most critical for development … The consequences of exposure to adverse situations in this period can manifest during adulthood in the form of diseases such as obesity, diabetes, depression and post-traumatic stress, among others.”
Sotres recalls speaking to one child about colors and realizing the child could name only blue and beige. The child had learned the palette of her world from the grey-blue of prison walls and the beige of uniforms.
Glimmers of hope and humanity
When I asked Maria whether the challenges, gender injustice and systemic difficulties ever caused her to lose faith, she surprised me with her response. Far from feeling discouraged, she described witnessing remarkable moments of humanity and kindness behind bars. During one workshop she was leading, when a transgender man introduced himself as Rosa, she recounts, the other women called out “No! Tell her your real name!” urging him to be proud, until he shyly re-introduced himself as Jesus — revealing the supportive environment that stood in contrast to men’s prisons, where transgender people must be separated from the main prison population for their own safety.
She also spoke of the women’s agreements of nonviolence, pacts they made with one another to avoid fights, and of the eagerness to learn. Classrooms were always full. And she emphasized the importance of what happens after prison. La Cana not only runs workshops inside prisons – knitting, sewing, embroidery – where women receive fair payment for their work, but also meets them at the prison gates upon release to make sure they are safe, housed and able to find employment. They even bring work to women under house arrest with ankle monitors. According to La Cana, 97% of women who participate in these programs do not return to prison.
Despite inequalities, change is possible
While Mexico’s justice system continues to reflect the deep inequalities that define women’s lives, the work of organizations like La Cana proves that meaningful change is possible. In the end, these accounts remind us that even in the most unlikely places, compassion can flourish.
You can purchase products handmade in prisons by Mexican women at La Cana’s website, or find out about other opportunities to help at www.lacana.mx.
Monica Belot is a writer, researcher, strategist and adjunct professor at Parsons School of Design in New York City, where she teaches in the Strategic Design & Management Program. Splitting her time between NYC and Mexico City, where she resides with her naughty silver labrador puppy Atlas, Monica writes about topics spanning everything from the human experience to travel and design research. Follow her varied scribbles on Medium at medium.com/@monicabelot.
Sir Hugh Beaver of Guinness Breweries commissioned a record book to settle a bet. (Facebook)
In November 1951, Sir Hugh Beaver, the managing director of the Guinness Breweries, was out shooting. He aimed at a golden plover but missed, excusing himself with the fact that plovers were the fastest game bird in Europe. No, a friend argued, the red grouse was faster. Back in the house, Sir Hugh was surprised he could not find the answer to their dispute in a reference book, and the idea for “a book of records” that would solve such arguments was born. Norris and Ross McWhirter were employed to compile what became “The Guinness Book of Records,” with the first edition coming out in August 1955.
A thousand copies were distributed free to pubs across Britain and Ireland to promote the Guinness brand. The publication proved so popular that the following year, the first commercial edition was put on sale. It came out at Christmas with a plain green cover with the Guinness logo, 198 pages of records, and a handful of black and white photos. It was a humble start to what has become a publishing phenomenon.
The world’s largest margarita
Tijuana now owns the record for the world’s largest margarita. (Turisteando Tijuana)
Mexicans have a special love for “The Guinness Book of Records” and claim around 217 entries (the number changes regularly as records are set or surpassed). There are no financial rewards for breaking a record, but you receive an official certificate, and there is the potential for a lot of free publicity. Mexican towns have seen the advantage of this, and many of the record attempts have been arranged by local governments and their tourist boards. A great example is Tijuana’s successful attempt to make the world’s largest margarita.
In 2024, as Tijuana was approaching its 136th anniversary, Faviola Partida Dunn, the owner of Tequila Cachanilla, was looking for a way to attract international attention. Glancing through “The Guinness Book of Records” for a suitable challenge, she found (presumedly to her horror) that the record for the world’s largest margarita had been set in the U.S. Not only would breaking this record be great publicity, but it would be one over the town of Tequila. Their southern rivals might have invented the drink, but many in Tijuana felt they had become its spiritual home!
Triumph in Tijuana
The record was not an easy one. It stood at 32,176 liters, achieved by Margaritaville in Las Vegas. That is about the amount of liquid it takes to fill a large garden swimming pool. The Tijuana challenge would need a giant container, and it would have to be safe. (You don’t want to go into the record book for the highest number of spectators drowned in a margarita when a tank bursts). If possible, the drink should be visible as it was poured in, and there must be an accurate way to measure the volume. Pouring liters of tequila into an empty swimming pool simply wouldn’t work, being neither dramatic nor accurately measurable. A custom-designed 40,000-liter tank with a pumping and distribution system was constructed, and in July 2025, the Tijuana team broke the record by mixing 34,419.4 liters of margarita.
Record-breaking achievements in Mexico
Mexico has set numerous records of this type, including the biggest guacamole (4,972 kilograms, Peribán, Michoacán, 2022), Enchilada (70 meters, Iztapalapa, 2010), and burrito (5,799 kilograms, La Paz, 2010). In August 2025, an effort in Guadalupe broke three records: the largest stir-fry (2.5 metric tons) using the world’s largest pan (24 feet in diameter) to produce a record 13,000 tacos.
Not all Mexican records are food-linked. The country also claims the largest Mexican folk dance (1,095 participants in Monterrey, 2022) and the largest Mariachi performance (1,100 musicians in Mexico City in 2024). The Day of the Dead celebration inspired a remarkable record in Veracruz in November 2023. Seven hundred workers toiled for 24 hours, used 1,250 candles, 795 breads, 200 sugar skulls and countless Cempasúchil flowers, tamales and papel picado to produce the world’s biggest Day of the Dead altar.
Not all the records set in Mexico have such an obvious link to Mexican culture. One of the most dramatic events was organized by the History Channel brand History Latinoamérica, and saw 1,674 classic cars drive through the heart of Mexico City. Records don’t last forever; that number was surpassed in Puerto Rico three years later. Another off-the-beat record was set in 2018 when, with the World Cup about to kick off in Russia, 1,080 participants gathered in the Zócalo of Mexico City to set a world record for the most games of table football played simultaneously.
Doctor Who comes to Mexico and conquers
Nearly 500 people dressed as Doctor Who characters during La Mole Comic Con in 2016. Yes, that’s a record. (The Guinness Book of Records)
One of the most unlikely records came in 2016 at the La Mole Comic Con when an attempt was made for the “Largest Gathering of People Dressed as Doctor Who Characters.” There was considerable publicity for the event, helped by the fact that actor Peter Capaldi, the “Twelfth Doctor,” would be in Mexico to celebrate the local premiere of “Doctor Who,” Season 9. Even so, the program only has a fringe following in Mexico, and it was something of a surprise when 492 fans turned up dressed as Doctor Who, Daleks or other assorted monsters.
Not all records are purposely staged to win a place in the book. When the jetty at Municipio de Progreso in the Yucatán was extended in July 2023, the aim was to improve facilities for the 150,000 cruise ship passengers who arrive every year. The 8-kilometer construction getting into “The Guinness Book of Records” as the longest jetty in the world was a bonus, not part of the calculations. The 2021 opening of the 10.5-kilometer line in the Sistema de Transporte Público Cablebús, making it the world’s longest Public Transit Cable Car Route, also won a place in “The Guinness Book of Records.” Similarly, the Baluarte Bridge was briefly listed as the world’s highest cable-stayed bridge when it opened in 2012, although that record has since been lost to China.
Mexican sports stars who have set records
Getting into “The Guinness Book of Records”as an individual is perhaps more difficult than a team effort, but at least three Mexican sportsmen have made it. Few people who are not fans of Pelota will have heard of José Hamuy, but his three world titles in the long court game Cesta Punta are a world record for that event. Much more familiar to sports fans is boxer Ricardo López, whose 21 successful title defenses are the record for his weight. And there is boxer Julio César Chávez, who holds the record for world title bouts. Julio Cesar Chavez had his first title fight in 1984 against Mario Martínez and sixteen years later fought Kostya Tszyu for his 37th and record-setting world title fight.
As we said at the beginning, Mexicans have a special relationship with “The Guinness Book of Records.” This might be as simple as the fact that staging a world record attempt turns into a big party, and Mexicans love to party! No doubt more records will be set, and existing ones broken, and more Mexicans will find their way into a book that sets something of a record itself by selling three and a half million copies every year.
Bob Patemanis a Mexico-based historian, librarian and a life-term hasher. He is editor of On On Magazine, the international history magazine of hashing.
