Peso stumbles then rebounds after Sheinbaum dodges Trump tariffs

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February 3, 2025

Mexican pesos and US dollar bills — The peso appreciated nearly 5% over the course of the day Monday. (Shutterstock)

The Mexican peso strengthened against the US dollar on Monday after United States President Donald Trump agreed to pause his planned 25% tariff on Mexican exports for one month.

The peso depreciated to above 21 to the dollar on Sunday bottoming out at nearly 21.30 early Monday ahead of the planned commencement of the tariff at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.

However, the peso was trading at 20.35 to the greenback at 4 p.m. Mexico City time, according to Bloomberg, a 4.7% improvement compared to the low it reached earlier in the day.

President Claudia Sheinbaum announced on social media on Monday morning that she had spoken to Trump and reached “a series of agreements” that postponed the imposition of the 25% tariff on Mexican exports to the U.S.

As part of the deal, Sheinbaum agreed to “reinforce” Mexico’s northern border with the immediate deployment of 10,000 National Guard troops.

Trump said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent, and his nominee for Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick would engage in negotiations over the next month with “high-level representatives of Mexico.”

Analysts with the bank BBVA said on Saturday that “if the 25% tariff prevails, the peso could initially exceed 24 pesos per dollar with a subsequent correction to 23 pesos per dollar at the end of the year.”

Gabriela Siller, director of economic analysis at Banco Base, predicted Sunday that the peso would depreciate to 23 to the dollar with the imposition of the planned 25% tariff on Mexican exports. If the tariff remains in place for “several months,” the USD:MXN exchange rate “could reach new historic maximums,” she wrote on X.

On Monday, Siller noted that the peso had appreciated, but warned that one month is a “very short” period of time, and asserted that it was “certain” that Trump would continue to threaten to impose tariffs on Mexican exports.

The peso hit a near nine-year high of 16.30 to the dollar last April, but depreciated significantly after Sheinbaum and the ruling Morena party’s comprehensive victories at Mexico’s general elections last June.

Sigue a la baja el tipo de cambio. Comoquiera no hay que confiarse. Un mes es muy poco tiempo y seguro Trump seguirá amenazando a México con el arancel. pic.twitter.com/Uft7CTLjtb

— Gabriela Siller Pagaza (@GabySillerP) February 3, 2025

The peso also weakened after Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election, and after his initial threat in late November to impose a 25% on all Mexican exports.

The BBVA analysts said that “if tariffs are avoided, the peso could appreciate to around 19.5 pesos per dollar” and the Bank of Mexico’s benchmark interest rate could fall to 7.5% by the end of the year.

The central bank kept its key rate at a record high of 11.25% for a year between March 2023 and March 2024, a factor that contributed to the strength of the peso against the dollar for an extended period.

However, after five interest rate cuts last year, the Bank of Mexico’s benchmark rate now stands at 10% ahead of its next monetary policy meeting this Thursday.

With reports from El Economista, Reuters and Proceso

Money transfer fintech Wise launches in Mexico

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MND Staff

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February 3, 2025

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A hand holds a green Wise fintech credit card on a blue background — Wise, formerly known as TransferWise, has officially entered the Mexican market. (Wise/Facebook)

International money transfer company Wise announced its official entry into Mexico on Jan. 30 in an effort to tap into the country’s vast remittances market.

The new service will allow Mexican nationals to send money in and out of the country via a fully digital process using Wise’s app or website, where all features are accessible in one place.

In a press release, Wise said its services “are designed for Mexican nationals who need to send money abroad, enabling a transparent, fast and seamless method for international money transfers.”

Beyond offering a more convenient, more affordable and faster way to move money out of Mexico, Wise said it will address the lack of transparency in international payments, referring to it as “one of the biggest challenges in the country.”

According to the news agency Reuters, the new service will strive to address the high hidden fees associated with traditional money transfers.

Efrain Florencia, Wise’s Mexico country manager, said that launching the service in Mexico allows the self-styled global technology company “to disrupt a traditional remittance market by introducing radical price transparency, completely redefining how Mexican nationals send money abroad.”

Abstract image of Mexican peso bills and US dollar bills in a chaotic pile — Wise already supported converting foreign currencies to Mexican pesos. Now, the reverse is also true. (Shutterstock)

Remittances are one of Mexico’s most important sources of foreign currency — the country is the second-largest recipient of remittances globally, according to the World Bank.

Reuters reported that consumers moved around US $168 billion in and out of Mexico in 2024 and Wise believes that could double by 2028.

According to a survey conducted by Wise, Mexicans lost US $446 million in hidden fees when sending money internationally last year. Wise claims banks and other providers in Mexico are concealing up to 10.4% of their costs in hidden fees, which could easily surpass US $500 million this year.

With approximately 37.2 million Hispanics of Mexican origin living in the United States, sending dollars converted into pesos is the third-largest corridor for U.S. customers of Wise, a route that has doubled in the past two years.

At the same time, US $480 million in remittances was sent from Mexico to the United States, demonstrating the importance of this two-way currency route.

“With the potential for further growth, Mexico offers a unique opportunity to serve a large and growing region within Wise’s Americas operations,” the company said.

With the new service, Wise says Mexican nationals will be able to quickly and easily send funds in over 40 currencies from Mexico to 160 countries.

With reports from Reuters and El Financiero

Sheinbaum shares details of her high-stakes call with Trump: Monday’s mañanera recapped

By

MND Staff

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February 3, 2025

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Sheinbaum spent most of her Monday morning press conference detailing her call with Trump regarding tariffs on Mexican goods. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)

Applause greeted President Claudia Sheinbaum when she walked onto the stage of the Treasury Hall in the National Palace for her Monday morning press conference.

“You saw the tweet already, right?” the president remarked to reporters, referring to her post on X in which she detailed the agreement she hashed out with United States President Donald Trump that resulted in a one-month postponement of the 25% blanket tariff the U.S. government planned to impose on Mexican exports starting Tuesday.

“Ya vieron el tweet…”

Y en el salón Tesorería de Palacio Nacional con aplausos para la PresidentA @Claudiashein comenzó así la mañanera.

Con integridad, dignidad, inteligencia y firmeza.

Con la razón y el derecho se puede vencer.

Yo me sumo a ese aplauso.

Y tú? pic.twitter.com/nKLvL8mb8H

— epigmenio ibarra (@epigmenioibarra) February 3, 2025

President Sheinbaum began her Monday morning press conference by asking the audience, “You saw the tweet already, right?”

Sheinbaum spoke with Trump on Monday morning, and as part of a deal to avert the tariffs — at least for now — agreed to deploy 10,000 National Guard troops to Mexico’s northern border.

She held her press conference later than normal due to her dialogue with Trump, appearing in front of the press corps after 9 a.m.

Sheinbaum says she requested a permanent ‘pause’ on tariffs, but settled for one month

With various cabinet ministers seated behind her, Sheinbaum detailed her call with Trump, saying they spoke about “issues of common interest.”

“I told him that we have been working together on migration, that there were results,” she said.

“… And then we spoke about his interest and our interest in reducing the trafficking of fentanyl and other drugs to the United States,” Sheinbaum said.

“He made various proposals and finally we reached the agreement … to put more National Guard troops on the northern border to protect the border and avoid the trafficking of drugs and in particular the trafficking of fentanyl from Mexico to the United States,” she said.

Sheinbaum Feb. 3, 2025 — On Trump’s insistence on the issue of a trade imbalance with Mexico, Sheinbaum told him, “It isn’t really a deficit … this is the result of being trade partners.” (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)

Sheinbaum also said she expressed Mexico’s concerns about the large number of firearms that enter Mexico illegally from the United States. She said she asked for the United States’ help to stem the flow of the weapons and Trump agreed to her request.

“And finally he insisted on [raising] the issue of the trade deficit the United States has with Mexico, according to his perspective,” Sheinbaum said.

“I told him that it isn’t really a deficit, that we have a trade agreement and that this is the result of being trade partners. And [I told him] that in any case [the USMCA] is the best way to continue competing against China and other [countries], other regions of the world,” she said.

Sheinbaum said she also spoke about the trade deficit “per capita, which changes the scenario a little bit” given that the United States has a much larger population than Mexico.

She said Trump asked her how long she wanted him to put his proposed tariff “on pause.”

“I said to him, ‘Well, let’s put it on pause for good.’ But he said, ‘How long?'” Sheinbaum said.

“I said, ‘OK, let’s put it on pause for a month and I’m sure that in this month we’ll be able to achieve results, good results for your people, good results for the people of Mexico,'” she said.

“And this was the result of the agreement. So it was a good conversation within the framework of respect and this is the news we have,” Sheinbaum said.

Mexican and US officials to collaborate closely on security and trade

Sheinbaum said that Trump accepted her proposals for Mexican and U.S. officials to work closely together on the issues of security and trade.

“It’s about collaborating, as we have always said, coordinating, without losing sovereignty,” she said.

“… And he agreed in putting together this working group to come up with a plan of action within the framework of our sovereignties,” Sheinbaum said, referring to cooperation on security issues.

“And in the case of trade, I put the same proposal to him: ‘Why don’t we get the Economy Minister of Mexico and your Commerce Secretary to work together,'” she said, expressing confidence that they could resolve differences in the bilateral trade relationship.

“He agreed,” Sheinbaum added.

She noted later in the press conference that there will now be three “high-level” bilateral working groups, with the establishment of those focused on security and trade coming after the formation of one focused on migration.

“At the migration table, we speak about the defense of Mexicans in the United States,” said Sheinbaum, whose government is opposed to Trump’s mass deportation agenda but has developed a plan to assist immigrants sent to Mexico from the U.S.

Sheinbaum thanks business groups, companies, lawmakers and others for support amid tariff threat

A reporter noted that a large number of people spoke out against Trump’s proposed tariff on Mexican exports, including executives of United States companies and authorities in some U.S. states.

Hay mucha unidad en nuestro pueblo; amamos con todo a México. Aquí está su presidenta y un pueblo valiente que defiende a nuestros hermanos y hermanas que están del otro lado de la frontera. pic.twitter.com/HBakdQi6sp

— Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo (@Claudiashein) February 3, 2025

A video sharing all of the letters of support received by Sheinbaum following Trump’s threats of tariffs on Mexican exports.

“I want to say thank you because the truth is that the number of people, companies, business chambers and communities that came out in defense of Mexico and in support of the presidenta was overwhelming,” Sheinbaum said.

“And the truth is that provides a lot of strength when one sits down to speak with the leader of another country, particularly that of the United States,” she said.

Sheinbaum noted that she received ample support in Mexico, including from the National Governor’s Conference, deputies and senators, and “practically all the business chambers,” among others.

“And in the United States, a lot of people came out to speak — politicians, governors, members of Congress — to say ‘the tariffs don’t make sense,’ and also a lot of United States companies came out to say ‘this isn’t a good idea,” she said.

By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies ([email protected])

Hot pink estate designed by Luis Barragán to become a cultural center

By

MND Staff

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February 3, 2025

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A view of Architect Luis Barragán’s famous hot pink La Cuadra San Cristóbal estate — Originally designed as a private residence and equestrian estate, La Cuadra combines elements of modernist architecture with elements that evoke traditional Mexican haciendas. (Barragán Foundation)

Architect Luis Barragán’s famous La Cuadra San Cristóbal estate will be transformed into a cultural center, opening its doors to the public in the fall, the Fundación Fernando Romero has announced.

Mexican architect and philanthropist Fernando Romero is taking on the transformation project via his non-profit foundation, alongside the Egerström family, the original owners of the property. Romero is well known for his mirrored trapezoid Soumaya Museum in Mexico City.

“Our work at the Fundación is driven by the belief that architectural innovation and artistic production can help foster a more just and culturally vibrant world,” Romero said in a statement. “Through a range of programming, we aim to catalyze the power of architecture for the visiting public and celebrate the enduring cultural influence of Luis Barragán.”

Mexican architect Luis Barragán and his protégé Andrés Casillas built La Cuadra San Cristóbal just outside of Mexico City in 1968 as a private residence and equestrian complex. It became one of Barragán’s defining works for its hot-pink façade, geometric design and extensive courtyard.

Barragán is well known for his distinct architectural style, with several properties across Mexico City, including the Capuchin Convent Chapel, his UNESCO-recognized private residence Casa Luis Barragán and the Tetetlán cultural center.

La Cuadra San Cristóbal became widely known to those outside the architecture world following the shooting of a Louis Vuitton editorial campaign published in Vogue in 2016.

A sketch of the courtyard of Luis Barragán’s La Cuadra San Cristóbal estate — One of Barragán’s original sketches of La Cuadra’s courtyard, before the building’s completion in 1968. (Barragán Foundation)

Fundación Fernando Romero acquired La Cuadra San Cristóbal in 2024 with the plan of transforming the 6.7-acre estate into an art and architecture destination. The plan includes a timber pavilion designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, a library, a podcast production studio, a multi-purpose event space, a gift shop and a café.

There will also be a permanent exhibition on Barragán’s life and work curated by Jorge Covarrubias, the architect who restored Barragán’s Casa Prieto López and Fuente del Bebedero.

Fundación Romero is also establishing an artist residency program and additional galleries at the property.

During Mexico City Art Week, which runs Feb. 3-9 this year, La Cuadra will be open to a select group of guests and students as part of the Zona Maco art fair to inaugurate its residency program. Serbian conceptual artist and performer Marina Abramović will carry out an “intervention” in the courtyard during the event.

The complex is expected to open to the public in October 2025.

With reports from Elle Décor, The Architect’s Paper and Vogue

Fleet of 400 golf carts authorized for public transportation in Tulum

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MND Staff

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February 3, 2025

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Beep beep! A fleet of 400 golf carts just gained legislative approval to operate as public transportation in Tulum. (Unsplash)

The state legislature in Quintana Roo has taken a major step forward on last year’s proposal to authorize 400 golf carts for use as public transportation in Tulum — a move that has sparked divided opinions among business owners, residents and taxi unions.

The state’s Mobility Commission last week granted golf cart concessions to four private companies. The low-speed vehicles will operate in various areas, including downtown Tulum, Jaguar Park and the coastal zone.

Golf carts will soon be a new way to get around in downtown Tulum

The approved companies will be able to begin providing golf carts as soon as the decree is published in the Official Periodical of Quintana Roo, the congressional ruling states.

According to the decree, the permits were granted to Roasteryc of Guadalajara (168 units), the Metromobility Group of Cancún (112), Inmomercaqroo of Cancún (90) and CMX Logistic Center of Mexico City (30).

Some of the golf carts — which can seat a maximum of six people — will be operated by a company driver, but others will be for the public to rent and drive themselves. Fares or rental costs have yet to be publicized.

The carts can’t be older than five years and have to meet safety and environmental standards whether running on gasoline, electricity or as a hybrid.

People at Felipe Carrillo Puerto Airport in Tulum, Quintana Roo. — The plan for golf carts was put forward in large part due to Tulum’s explosive growth as both a tourist destination and a place to live. (Mara Lezama vía X)

Currently, a system of combis and colectivos (minibuses and vans) operates within the Tulum municipality, but largely outside of the downtown. “There is no adequate service in the center of town, so tourists, especially, have to travel by taxi,” the online news outlet Novedades Quintana Roo wrote last year.

Legally, Uber is an option in the state, but tensions with taxi unions have rendered service spotty and perhaps risky in Tulum.

The plan for golf carts was put forward last year by the Mobility Institute of Quintana Roo (Imoveqroo) in large part due to Tulum’s explosive growth as both a tourist destination and a place to live.

In the early 2010s, Tulum was relatively underdeveloped compared to nearby Cancún or Playa del Carmen. However, by 2020, the region was receiving over 2 million tourists annually, up from hundreds of thousands in previous years. The opening of the new Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport in late 2023 is bringing in even more visitors.

The golf cart transportation plan in Tulum has faced resistance, however, particularly from the Tiburones del Caribe taxi union.

Union members argue that the golf carts do not adhere to the same regulatory and fare conditions as taxis, putting traditional drivers at a disadvantage. Some also claim that the influx of golf carts will exacerbate existing congestion on Tulum’s main avenues, which already accommodate bicycles, motorcycles, public vans and cargo trucks.

With reports from La Jornada Maya, Reforma, La Silla Rota and Riviera Maya News

Texas man charged with trafficking dozens of firearms into Mexico

By

MND Staff

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February 3, 2025

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firearms retrieved by CBP at Eagle Pass in Jan. 2025 — In a formal criminal complaint, the person smuggling the firearms allegedly claimed that he was being paid US $100 for each weapon. (@USAO_WDTX/X)

A man from Austin, Texas, was caught trying to smuggle 40 firearms into Mexico by United States authorities last month.

If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in federal prison.

Austin Man Charged with Smuggling Dozens of Firearms into Mexico Through Eagle Pass https://t.co/cOlb3PNLyF @HSI_SanAntonio pic.twitter.com/6BGkyzrWqR

— U.S. Attorney WDTX (@USAO_WDTX) January 29, 2025

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Victor Hugo Diego-Avellaneda, 39, denied having weapons or ammunition as he tried to cross into Mexico at the Eagle Pass (Texas) Port of Entry on Jan. 19.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers then ordered the suspect to submit to a secondary inspection during which agents found 40 rifles, six shotguns, one pistol, 80 magazines and two rifle scopes.

In a formal criminal complaint, Diego-Avellaneda allegedly claimed that he was being paid US $100 for each weapon while also stating that 11 of the firearms belonged to him. The suspect has been charged with one count of smuggling goods out of the United States.

The announcement of the arrest was made by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Texas on Jan. 29, which added that the U.S. Office of Homeland Security is investigating the case.

After Trump accused the Mexican government of having alliances with criminal organizations on Saturday, Sheinbaum wrote back that "if such an alliance exists anywhere, it is in the United States arms manufacturers that sell high-powered weapons to these groups." — After Trump accused the Mexican government of having alliances with criminal organizations on Saturday, Sheinbaum wrote back that “if such an alliance exists anywhere, it is in the United States arms manufacturers that sell high-powered weapons to these groups.” (Presidencia/Cuartoscuro)

News of the arrest came just days before U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order placing 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian exports as a consequence of illegal immigration and drug smuggling across the United States’ borders.

As part of a deal reached Monday to avert the tariffs, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum said she agreed to send soldiers to the U.S.-Mexico border. According to Sheinbaum, Trump’s part of the deal includes working to prevent high-powered weapons from being trafficked into Mexico.

In a social media post, Sheinbaum said that Mexico will “immediately reinforce” the Mexico-U.S. border with 10,000 National Guard troops, and the United States will work to prevent arms trafficking.

While Trump confirmed the talks with Sheinbaum in his own social media post, he did not mention the commitment to address arms trafficking at the U.S. border, but mentioned that U.S. Cabinet officials would “attempt to achieve a ‘deal’ between our two Countries.”

I just spoke with President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico. It was a very friendly conversation wherein she agreed to immediately supply 10,000 Mexican Soldiers on the Border separating Mexico and the United States. These soldiers will be specifically designated to stop the flow of…

— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) February 3, 2025

According to the newspaper El Imparcial, official U.S. data indicates there are 9,000 gun shops near Mexico’s border in the U.S. states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California.

Trump said Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary nominee Howard Lutnick will comprise the U.S. working group leading the trade negotiations.

Sheinbaum did not yet announce who would be negotiating on behalf of Mexico.

With reports from Infobae, The Associated Press and El Imparcial

New Marriott resort to open in Bacalar

By

MND Staff

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February 3, 2025

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A view of the clear blue water of Bacalar Lagoon, with mangroves on the shore. — Bacalar Lagoon, a strikingly blue freshwater lake near the Mexican border with Belize, is a popular tourist destination in Quintana Roo. (Dimitris Kiriakakis/Unsplash)

Bacalar, the Riviera Maya’s “lagoon of seven colors,” will be home to a new Marriott resort, according to Bacalar Mayor José Alfredo Contreras Méndez.

Contreras said the news followed meetings between Quintana Roo state officials and Marriott executives held during the International International Tourism Fair (FITUR) in Madrid earlier this year.

According to Contreras, construction of the resort is set to begin by the end of this month and will employ 500 people.

The new Marriott property is located near the coast of Bacalar Lagoon and features 60 low-density rooms to ensure sustainable development and preserve the natural beauty of the lagoon.

While the hotel won’t be directly adjacent to the lagoon, it will have an exclusive beach club for guests.

Contreras added that during FITUR, he held some 100 meetings with tour operators who will be visiting Bacalar in the upcoming weeks. He also announced that new investment projects would be revealed in the coming months, spurred by the increasing tourist interest in the region, particularly following the opening of Ichkabal and the launch of the Maya Train.

Pyramid at Ichkabal archeological site in Quintana Roo, Mexico — With the re-opening of the Ichkabal archaelogical site near Bacalar, the area is expecting increased visitation. (INAH)

Bacalar is a popular tourist destination in Quintana Roo, near the city of Chetumal. Its name comes from the Mayan name Bakhalal, which means “close to or surrounded by reeds.” Bacalar Lagoon is circular in shape and shallow, allowing for comfortable swimming.

The new resort will be joining other Marriott properties in the Riviera Maya.

The resort firm recently opened two all-inclusive hotels in the Yucatan Peninsula: Paraiso de la Bonita resort near Puerto Morelos, which opened last month, and before that, the highly-rated new Almare resort on the Mexican Caribbean island of Isla Mujeres. The latter opened in October and was Marriott’s first all-inclusive resort in Mexico.

Both properties are adults-only hotels and part of Marriott’s Luxury Collection.

With reports from Reportur

What’s on in February in Los Cabos

By

Chris Sands

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February 3, 2025

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La Paz Carnival — It's a busy month in glorious Baja California Sur. (Turismo de La Paz)

High tourist season remains in full swing this February, featuring everything from weekly and annual cultural to-dos to seasonal outdoor adventures like whale watching, surfing, and windsurfing. Of particular note is Sabor a Cabo, a yearly food and wine festival that brings together top regional chefs and showcases live entertainment.

Todos Santos Writers Workshop

Best known for its painters, Todos Santos has also proved a congenial community for writers. Participants enjoy craft workshops and faculty readings — not to mention food, drinks, and fiestas — from an experienced faculty whose published work encompasses fiction, nonfiction, memoir, poetry, and other literary genres.

Dates: February 1 – 8
Location: Posada del Molino
Cost: $2200

San José del Cabo Art Walk

2024 Alebrije Parade in Mexico City — (Rogelio Morales/Cuartoscuro)

The historic Art District in San José del Cabo takes center stage each Thursday

evening from 5 pm to 9 pm during high tourist season — November through June — when residents and visitors alike are invited to stroll its cobblestone streets and peruse the many eclectic fine arts galleries. Nearby bars and restaurants (of which there are many of superb quality) also benefit, since the event finishes around dinner time.

Dates: February 6, 13, 20, 27
Location: Gallery District in San José del Cabo
Cost: Free

Half-Marathon in San José del Cabo

Los Cabos isn’t all food fests and bacchanals. This 21k — better known in the U.S. as a half-marathon — allows participants to enjoy a healthy competitive run (trophies are given to the top three finishers in various categories) while enjoying some picturesque scenery (the event starts and finishes in the heart of San José del Cabo). If 21k is too much of a test for your stamina, 5k and 10k sign-up options are also available.

Dates: February 9
Location: Starts and finishes at Plaza Mijares in San José del Cabo
Cost: 1050 pesos for the 21k

Carnaval in La Paz

Two cities on the Baja California peninsula boast notable Carnaval celebrations: Ensenada and La Paz. The six-day pre-Lenten farewell in La Paz is centered on the capital city’s malecón. It offers voluminous food and drink, plenty of live music from high-profile performers, and the coronation of a festival king and queen. This year’s theme is “El Mundo Baila.”

Dates: February 13 – 18
Location: La Paz
Cost: Free

Valentine’s Day Dinner at Sunset Monalisa

Valentines Day meal at Sunset Monalisa — (Sunset Monalisa)

No restaurant in Los Cabos can top Sunset Monalisa for romantic dining and spectacular sunset views of Land’s End. Considered one of the world’s most iconic seaside eateries, it pulls out all the stops for its annual Valentine’s Day menu. However, space is limited and the prices aren’t cheap.

Dates: February 14
Location: Carretera Transpeninsular 5.5
Cost: 4,750 pesos

Baja Shakespeare

For 25 years, Baja Sur’s beautiful East Cape has welcomed visitors for fun-filled theater twists on cultural classics…often but not always Shakespeare. This year’s selection, Madre Mia, is as the name suggests, a Mexican-style take-off on everyone’s favorite musical filled with ABBA songs: Mamma Mia!

Dates: February 21 – 23, February 26 – March 1
Location: Hotel Palmas de Cortez Conference Center, Los Barriles
Cost: 500 pesos

Sabor a Cabo

The biggest food and wine festival in Los Cabos returns for its 16th edition to Club Campestre, the Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course in San José del Cabo that has hosted several previous events. As usual, top regional restaurants and Mexican wine producers will provide the food and drinks. Live entertainment is also featured.

Dates: February 22
Location: Club Campestre, San Jose del Cabo
Cost: 5,700 pesos

Whale Watching Season

A humpback whale jumping in Baja California Sur — (Brigitte Werner/Pixabay)

Annually in winter more than 5,000 blue, gray, humpback, and other whales migrate from their arctic feeding grounds to breed in the shallow water coves and inlets of beautiful Baja California Sur. In this regard, these leviathans of the deep are very much like the snowbirds who flock to cape cities Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo to escape frigid winter temperatures in the U.S. and Canada. They’re just much, much larger.

Dates: December 15 – April 15
Location: Sea of Cortés and Pacific Ocean
Cost: Free, with tours available at various price points

Surf Season on the Pacific Coast

After the passage of the storm Lidia through Jalisco and Nayarit, only one person was reported dead and material damage to houses and roads. In Puerto Vallarta there were only fallen trees and superficial damage to buildings. In the morning people began to remove the debris, there were no injuries. Tourist activity resumed early in the morning. — (Agencia Perspectiva/Cuartoscuro)

Summer may be the best time to find great waves off Los Cabos’ Sea of Cortés-facing beaches. But beginning in November the surf scene is centered around Pacific Coast beaches like Cerritos, La Pastora, and San Pedrito. Surfing is indeed good year-round in this part of Los Cabos (La Paz municipality, to be exact). However, conditions are at their peak from November to March, thanks to seasonally bigger and more consistent swells.

Dates: November – March
Location: Pacific Coast surf beaches like Cerritos, San Pedrito, and La Pastora near Todos Santos
Cost: Varies according to the company for lessons and rentals

Windsports Season on the East Cape

Windsurfing — (Ludomil Sawicki/Unsplash)

While the Pacific Coast is Los Cabos’ wintertime surf mecca, windsports enthusiasts flock to the East Cape. Why? From November to March each year, strong El Norte winds blow hundreds of miles down the Sea of Cortés, creating optimal wind and kite surfing conditions in small East Cape communities like Los Barriles and La Ventana. The wonderfully named Lord of the Wind Competition may be a thing of the past. Still, the East Cape is the place to be if you love kiteboarding, kitesurfing, windsurfing, or similar pursuits.

Dates: November – March
Location: East Cape of Los Cabos
Cost: Varies for lessons, camps, and rentals

Chris Sands is the Cabo San Lucas local expert for the USA Today travel website 10 Best, writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook and a contributor to numerous websites and publications, including Tasting Table, Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, Forbes Travel Guide, Porthole Cruise, Cabo Living and Mexico News Daily. His specialty is travel-related content and lifestyle features focused on food, wine and golf.

6 victims in Philadelphia plane crash were Mexican

By

MND Staff

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February 3, 2025

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Josué Juárez, victim of air ambulance crash in Philadelphia — The crash took the lives of the air ambulance's pilot, Josué Juárez, two passengers and three crew members. (X)

Six Mexican citizens were killed Friday when the air ambulance in which they were traveling crashed onto a busy street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mexican authorities said.

One person in a car was also killed while more than 20 others on the ground were injured when the Tijuana-bound medevac plane crashed in the Castor Gardens neighborhood shortly after departing from the Northeast Philadelphia Airport.

The medevac plane, bound for Tijuana, crashed in the Castor Gardens neighborhood shortly after departing from the Northeast Philadelphia Airport on Friday evening. (City of Philadelphia)

The plane exploded in a “massive fireball” when it hit the ground, Reuters reported.

The Mexican victims included a girl who had received medical care at the Shriners Hospital for Children in Philadelphia and her mother. The Ensenada municipal government identified them as Valentina Guzmán Murillo and her mother, Lizeth Murillo Osuna.

The girl recently completed treatment at the Shriners Hospital “for a condition not easily treated in Mexico,” the Associated Press reported.

The four other Mexicans killed in the crash were the pilot of the Learjet 55 and the air ambulance crew members.

The cause of the accident has not been established.

The United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Sunday that investigators had recovered the cockpit voice recorder of the Learjet 55 and the plane’s two engines.

“NTSB investigators have obtained surveillance videos of the crash and numerous witness statements. … A preliminary report is expected within 30 days from the date of the accident. … A probable cause of the crash and any contributing factors will come in the final report, which is expected in 12 to 24 months,” the safety board said.

President Claudia Sheinbaum acknowledged the death of the six Mexicans in a social media post on Saturday morning.

Lamento el fallecimiento de seis mexicanos en el accidente aéreo en Filadelfia, Estados Unidos. Las autoridades consulares están en contacto permanente con los familiares; he pedido a la Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores que apoye en todo lo que se requiera. Mi solidaridad con…

— Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo (@Claudiashein) February 1, 2025

“I regret the death of the six Mexicans in the air accident in Philadelphia, United States. Consular authorities are in permanent contact with the families,” she wrote.

“I’ve asked the Foreign Affairs Ministry to provide support in all that is required. My solidarity with the loved ones and friends [of the deceased],” Sheinbaum said.

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker said Sunday that five of the people injured on the ground remained in the hospital and three were in critical condition. She said that a total of 22 people were injured, while at least 11 homes and some businesses sustained significant damage in the fiery crash.

With reports from AFP, Reuters and AP

Sheinbaum reaches deal with Trump to postpone 25% tariffs on Mexican exports

By

MND Staff

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February 3, 2025

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The United States’ proposed 25% tariff on Mexican exports will be postponed for one month “as of now” thanks to a deal between the Mexican and U.S. governments, President Claudia Sheinbaum said Monday.

Sheinbaum said on social media that she had a “good conversation” with U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday morning and that “we reached a series of agreements” including one to postpone the 25% tariff, which was due to take effect on Tuesday.

Sostuvimos una buena conversación con el presidente Trump con mucho respeto a nuestra relación y la soberanía; llegamos a una serie de acuerdos:

1.México reforzará la frontera norte con 10 mil elementos de la Guardia Nacional de forma inmediata, para evitar el tráfico de drogas…

— Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo (@Claudiashein) February 3, 2025

She said that Mexico would “immediately” deploy 10,000 National Guard troops to the northern border “to avoid the trafficking of drugs from Mexico to the United States, in particular fentanyl.”

Sheinbaum also said that the United States had committed to “work to avoid the trafficking of high-powered weapons to Mexico” as part of the tariff deal.

“Our teams will begin to work today on two issues: security and trade. The tariffs are placed on pause for one month as of now,” she wrote.

For his part, Trump said on Truth Social that he had “a very friendly conversation” with Sheinbaum and that she “agreed to immediately supply 10,000 Mexican Soldiers on the Border separating Mexico and the United States.”

“These soldiers will be specifically designated to stop the flow of fentanyl, and illegal migrants into our Country,” he wrote.

“We further agreed to immediately pause the anticipated tariffs for a one month period during which we will have negotiations headed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent, and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and high-level Representatives of Mexico. I look forward to participating in those negotiations, with President Sheinbaum, as we attempt to achieve a ‘deal’ between our two Countries,” Trump said.

AMLO: social problems not solved with coercive measures. Trump: tariffs will force companies to leave Mexico. — Trump previously threatened to impose a 5% tariff on Mexican exports in 2019, but former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador reached a deal to avert the tariff by sending more military to Mexico’s borders.

The agreement the Mexican and U.S. agreements reached on Monday is reminiscent of one negotiated during the first Trump administration when Andrés Manuel López Obrador was president of Mexico. In 2019, Trump threatened to impose a 5% tariff on all goods from Mexico to pressure the country to do more to stop immigration into the United States.

However, Mexico and the U.S. reached a deal in June 2019 that averted the proposed tariff. As a result of the agreement, Mexico beefed up security at both its southern and northern borders.

Trump said on Sunday night that he would speak to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and “Mexico” on Monday morning, but added that he didn’t expect “anything dramatic” to come of the talks.

“We put tariffs on. They owe us a lot of money and I’m sure they’re going to pay,” said the United States president, who has railed against the trade deficits the U.S. has with its USMCA trade partners.

The U.S. and Canada reached a deal on Monday afternoon that paused Trump’s planned 25% tariff on Canadian exports for 30 days.

White House accuses Mexican government of providing ‘safe havens’ for cartels

In a “fact sheet” issued on Saturday, the White House said that Trump was responding to the “extraordinary threat posed by illegal aliens and drugs” by implementing tariffs on exports from Mexico, Canada and China.

The threat, the White House said, “constitutes a national emergency under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.”

pic.twitter.com/SWZtSm6NMX

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 1, 2025

“Until the crisis is alleviated, President Donald J. Trump is implementing a 25% additional tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico and a 10% additional tariff on imports from China. Energy resources from Canada will have a lower 10% tariff,” the fact sheet said.

“President Trump is taking bold action to hold Mexico, Canada, and China accountable to their promises of halting illegal immigration and stopping poisonous fentanyl and other drugs from flowing into our country.”

The White House also said that “the Mexican drug trafficking organizations have an intolerable alliance with the government of Mexico.”

“The government of Mexico has afforded safe havens for the cartels to engage in the manufacturing and transportation of dangerous narcotics, which collectively have led to the overdose deaths of hundreds of thousands of American victims,” the White House said.

“This alliance endangers the national security of the United States, and we must eradicate the influence of these dangerous cartels,” the fact sheet said.

Given that Trump has laid the groundwork to designate Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, the assertion that the Mexican government “has afforded safe havens” for cartels is virtually akin to accusing Mexico of harboring terrorists.

Unsurprisingly, Sheinbaum rejected the White House’s claim.

Como decía Juárez: Nada por la fuerza; todo por la razón y el derecho. Entre los individuos, como entre las naciones, el respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz. Mensaje al pueblo de México: pic.twitter.com/yYUKmZsonY

— Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo (@Claudiashein) February 2, 2025

“We categorically reject the libel the White House makes against the government of Mexico,” she said in a social media post on Saturday.

Sheinbaum also said that the Mexican government is opposed to “any attempt at interference in our territory” — i.e. U.S. military action against Mexican cartels on Mexican soil.

In a lengthy social media statement, the president effectively accused U.S. gun stores of having an alliance with Mexican criminal groups because “they sell high-powered weapons” to them “as the United States Department of Justice showed in January of this year.”

Sheinbaum also highlighted the Mexican government’s efforts to combat drug trafficking.

“In four months our government has seized more than 40 tonnes of drugs, including 20 million doses of fentanyl,” she said.

“More than 10,000 people linked to these [criminal] groups have been detained,” Sheinbaum added.

She stressed that “Mexico doesn’t want confrontation” with the United States, and asserted that problems aren’t solved “with the imposition of tariffs” but rather through dialogue.

Sheinbaum said on Saturday that her administration would respond to the United States’ tariffs on Mexican exports with its “plan B,” which she explained “includes tariff and non-tariff measures in defense of the interests of Mexico.”

For now, those retaliatory measures will not be necessary given that Mexico and the United States — each other’s largest trade partners — have agreed to keep their hundreds of billions of dollars of annual trade tariff-free, at least for the next month.

Mexico News Daily