The Mexica Sun Stone, also called the Aztec Calendar Stone, is one of the museum's most iconic pieces, a must-see for any visitor to or resident of Mexico City. (Unsplash)
The National Museum of Anthropology (MNA) in Mexico City has won the 2025 Princess of Asturias Award for Concord, as the foundation recognized on Wednesday the museum’s contribution to preserving Mexico’s anthropological heritage.
The Princess of Asturias Foundation, a prestigious Spanish non-profit private institution that promotes scientific, cultural and humanistic values, lauded the MNA as “heir to a long-standing tradition of defending and preserving an essential part of humanity’s anthropological heritage (that) simultaneously expresses the hallmarks of a great nation, signs of identity to which its people genuinely relate.”
In announcing the award on Wednesday, the Princess of Asturias Foundation lauded the National Anthropology Museum for its “long-standing tradition of defending and preserving an essential part of humanity’s anthropological heritage.” (FPA/X)
The MNA opened in Chapultepec Park in 1964 with a design by Pedro Ramírez that was immediately viewed as a valuable example of modernity and the avant-garde. Its mission to research, conserve, exhibit and disseminate Mexico’s most important archaeological and ethnographic collections has made it one of the most important museums in Latin America and the most popular in Mexico City, attracting 3.7 million visitors in 2024.
The Concord Award, announced on Wednesday, is “aimed at recognizing the work of defending and advancing human rights, as well as of promoting and protecting peace, freedom, solidarity, world heritage and, in general, the progress of humanity.”
The foundation has seven other categories of awards: the Arts, Literature, Social Sciences, Communication and Humanities, Technical and Scientific Research, International Cooperation and Sports.
Winners of the Concord Award receive a prize fund of €50,000 (1 million pesos/US $56,900) and a sculpture created by the Catalan artist Joan Miró (1893-1983).
The MNA recently invested 45 million pesos (US $2.2 million) in the construction of five new rooms housing almost 6,000 archaeological, ethnographic and artisanal pieces from the pre-conquest section to an area showcasing Mexico’s contemporary cultural traditions, which opened in January.
Previous MNA distinctions include the Government of the Federal District’s 1808 Medal and the United Mexico Foundation 2010 “For the Excellence of What is Ours” Award.
The award comes a day after the museum had to close early on Tuesday, citing a shortage of security personnel.
Other National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) institutions, such as the Templo Mayor Museum, the Museo del Carmen and the Museum of Interventions, were also closed to the public.
The closure followed a Sunday announcement that the INAH changed its security from the Mexico City Auxiliary Police to a private company.
Lunario and Olivea Farm to Table are two Baja California restaurants from the Ensenada area honored this year with a Michelin
star. (Lunario Restaurante/Facebook)
Two Baja California restaurants have been awarded the coveted Michelin star, joining five newly starred Mexico City eateries as the Michelin Guide Mexico 2025 announced its latest honors.
The newest awardees join 16 other Mexican restaurants — from the Baja California Peninsula to the Yucatán Peninsula — that received stars last year, marking an unprecedented wave of recognition of Mexico’s renowned culinary excellence by the world’s premier restaurant rating organization
Lunario, in El Porvenir, is known for its seasonal menu that incorporates fresh ingredients from the restaurant’s own garden, farm and beehives. (Lunario Restaurante/Facebook)
Olivea Farm to Table, located in Valle de Guadalupe, near Ensenada in Baja California, was one of the new recipients of a Michelin star this year. Chef Eduardo Zaragoza’s cuisine is recognized for its approach of using organic and seasonal ingredients from local producers. Dishes that stand out include the catch of the day with celeriac puree or grilled octopus on white mole.
Featuring an a la carte menu plus a vegetarian and a seafood menu, the restaurant also received the Michelin Green Star for its commitment to sustainability and eco-friendly practices.
Lunario, in El Porvenir, also near Ensenada, was also recognized with its first Michelin star. Led by chef Sheyla Alvarado, it’s known for its seasonal menu that incorporates fresh ingredients from the restaurant’s own garden, farm and beehives.
Open from Thursday to Sunday, Lunario features two multi-course tasting menus with a seasonal, contemporary and plant-based approach. The Baja oyster duo, mixing sweetness and spiciness, or the blue corn sope served with carrot puree, smoked shrimp and bougainvillea, are menu favorites.
The Michelin star chefs at the 2025 award ceremony in Mexico City on Tuesday night. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)
Besides Baja California, several Mexico City restaurants received their first star, along with two existing starred restaurants that received a second one. Pujol by Chef Enrique Olvera and Quintonil by the husband-and-wife team Jorge Vallejo and Alejandra Flores, both in Mexico City, received a second star.
Meanwhile, the new restaurants that received a star included Expendio de Maíz, Masala y Maíz and Máximo.
Similar to the unpretentious El Califa de León (which kept its first star), Expendio de Maíz is a low-key restaurant with no sign, no menu and only four communal tables under an improvised roof on the sidewalk. Yet, the Michelin Guide praised its maíz-based creations, including tortillas, huaraches, sopes and more.
Meanwhile, Masala y Maíz, under the leadership of Chefs Norma Listman and Saqib Keval, blends Mexican cuisine with flavors from Africa and India. Dishes that stand out include shrimp from Veracruz or the samosa (savory pastry) filled with suadero (thin-cut fatty beef).
Combining Mexican cuisine with French and international influences, Máximo, by self-taught cook Eduardo García and his wife Gabriela López, uses an innovative technique in blending different cuisines and flavors. Dishes include the abalone toast with pepita sauce and the octopus ceviche with tiger’s milk.
The Michelin-starred restaurants in Mexico that retained their distinction from the year before are:
Animalón (Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California)
Damiana (Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California)
Le Chique (Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo)
Cocina de Autor RM (Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo)
Ha’ (Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo)
Cocina de Autor Los Cabos (Baja California Sur)
KOLI Cocina de Origen (Monterrey, Nuevo León)
Pangea (Monterrey, Nuevo León)
Levadura de Olla (Oaxaca)
Los Danzantes (Oaxaca)
Rosetta (Mexico City)
Sud 777 (Mexico City)
EM (Mexico City)
Esquina Común (Mexico City)
Taquería El Califa de León (Mexico City)
Conchas de Piedra (Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California)
The circulation of the fake statement on social media and the U.S. and Mexican embassies' denunciation of it came after Marina del Pilar Ávila revealed last month that the United States had revoked tourist visas for her and her husband, Carlos Torres Torres. (X)
The United States Embassy in Mexico denounced as “false” a supposed U.S. government statement that purported to identify various “political leaders in Mexico with ties to drug cartels.”
“About the supposed information that circulates on some [social media] accounts regarding a statement of the [U.S.] Department of State about Mexico, this embassy confirms that it is completely false,” it said.
Which politicians were named in the fake statement?
The statement denounced by the U.S. and Mexican embassies includes a U.S. Department of Homeland Security seal and has the heading “DEPARTMENT OF STATE POLITICAL LEADERS IN MEXICO WITH TIES TO DRUG CARTELS.”
It states:
“The State Department has confirmed the implementation of a secret sanctions mechanism targeting Mexican political figures identified as having ties to drug cartels. Marina del Pilar [Ávila], the Governor of Baja California, for her association with the leader of the ‘Los Rusos’ drug cartel in Baja California.
Ruben Rocha Moya (Sinaloa)
Américo Villareal (Tamaulipas)
Samuel García (Nuevo León)
Layda Sansores (Campeche)
Ricardo Monreal Ávila (Ex-Governor, Zacatecas)”
Rocha, Villareal, García and Sansores are current state governors. Monreal is the leader of the ruling Morena party in the lower house of Congress.
The circulation of the fake statement on social media and the U.S. and Mexican embassies’ denunciation of it came after Marina del Pilar Ávila revealed last month that the United States had revoked tourist visas for her and her husband, Carlos Torres Torres.
The Baja California governor asserted she hadn’t done anything wrong, declaring that the revocation of her visa was “an administrative decision, not an accusation.”
Citing unnamed United States officials, the U.S. investigative journalism organization ProPublica reported on May 15 that “the Trump administration has begun to impose travel restrictions and other sanctions on prominent Mexican politicians whom it believes are linked to drug corruption.”
“So far, two Mexican political figures have acknowledged being banned from traveling to the United States,” ProPublica said, referring to Ávila and her husband.
“But U.S. officials said they expect more Mexicans to be targeted as the administration works through a list of several dozen political figures who have been identified by law enforcement and intelligence agencies as having ties to the drug trade. The list includes leaders of President Claudia Sheinbaum’s governing party, several state governors and political figures close to her predecessor, former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the U.S. officials said.”
A few days before ProPublica published its report, journalist Salvador García Soto wrote in a column for the newspaper El Universal that the Trump administration, “through its powerful Secretary of State Marco Rubio has commenced the ‘hunt’ for Mexican politicians, which, according to their investigations, have links to drug trafficking.”
García asserted that the Department of State has a so-called “list of Marco” that includes “at least 44 names of prominent officials and politicians” from Mexico with alleged links to drug trafficking, including federal ministers, governors, mayors and lawmakers.
He wrote that the list includes “politicians from all existing parties in Mexico,” but “the majority of those mentioned are active members of Morena, the party of President Sheinbaum, and some have a very close relationship with her and with the ex-president López Obrador.”
Asked on May 15 about a supposed U.S. “narcolista,” or “narco-list,” that includes the names of “narcogobernadores” (narco-governors) and other officials, Sheinbaum responded:
“There are a lot of rumors. They are rumors.”
She said that her government had not received any notification from the United States government about the existence of “lists” of politicians with links to drug cartels.
“In this case, you ask the Department of State and you’re told ‘No, there is nothing,'” Sheinbaum said.
On Wednesday, she expressed surprise that the U.S. Embassy felt the need to denounce the fake statement (and clearly fake at that) that has been disseminated on social media.
ProPublica said in its report that the Morena party governor of the northern border state “has been frequently accused of having ties to drug trafficking, which he has denied.”
In early 2024, ProPublica, German state-owned news organization Deutsche Welle and crime-focused media outlet Insight Crime all published reports that said that people working for the 2018 presidential election campaign of former president López Obrador received between US $2 million and $4 million from drug traffickers affiliated with the Beltrán-Leyva Organization and the Sinaloa Cartel.
López Obrador rejected the reports, describing them as “completely false.”
The low-pressure system, now off the coast of Oaxaca, could possibly develop into the second named storm of the season. (NOAA)(NOAA)
Meteorologists are closely monitoring a low-pressure system off southern Mexico’s Pacific coast, which could develop into Tropical Storm Barbara — the second named storm of the 2025 Eastern Pacific hurricane season.
The first was Tropical Storm Alvin, which remained well offshore as it headed north toward the Baja California peninsula in the final days of May.
Even if Barbara doesn’t develop into a full tropical storm, Pacific Coast residents are urged to stay updated and take appropriate precautions if necessary. (Carlos Alberto Carbajal/Cuartoscuro.com).
Alvin quickly weakened over cool ocean waters and had minimal impact once it reached land, although it did eventually bring flooding rain and thunderstorms to the deserts of the U.S. Southwest.
Barbara, as of Wednesday morning, was a system of showers and thunderstorms located 515 kilometers south-southeast of Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, with an 80% chance of cyclonic development within seven days, according to Mexico’s National Water Commission (Conagua).
The U.S.-based National Hurricane Center reported that the disturbance is moving west-northwestward at 16 km/h over waters warmed to 28°–29° Celsius, with moderate wind shear.
While there was a 10% chance of tropical storm formation within 48 hours, conditions are expected to have it top out as a tropical depression by the end of the week.
However, if its sustained winds do reach 65 km/h, it will be upgraded to Tropical Storm Barbara, or a hurricane if they reach 119 km/h.
Even without full cyclonic strength, the system is threatening coastal Guerrero, Michoacán and Oaxaca with heavy rainfall (75 to 100 mm) and potential landslides.
Soil saturation from recent rains raises risks of flash flooding and mudslides in mountainous zones, warned Conagua. No coastal watches are active, but residents are urged to monitor updates.
As the year hits its vibrant midpoint, San Miguel de Allende comes alive with the first June rains, turning fields lush green and setting the stage for the grape harvests of July and August. Dive into the season with events that splash the city with color, flavor and unforgettable fun!
Second San Miguel de Allende International Book Fair
(Gobierno de San Miguel de Allende)
The 2025 Feria Internacional del Libro en San Miguel de Allende offers a truly enriching week for book lovers of all ages. The Centro Cultural Ignacio Ramírez “El Nigromante” will host a lively program of events that celebrates literature in all its forms. The program includes book presentations by local and international authors, an origami workshop, classes on how to create comics, puppet shows, poetry recited by the University of Guanajuato choir and author conferences. Everyone can take part in this celebration of creativity and storytelling, where readers, writers and publishers come together in a space filled with ideas, inspiration and connection. Whether you’re attending a hands-on workshop or browsing books at affordable prices, you’ll find plenty to spark your imagination. True to its motto, this fair reminds us that reading brings us together.
Date: June 2 through 8, 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Location: Centro Cultural El Nigromante, Calle del Dr Ignacio Hernandez Macias 75, Centro Cost: Free
Leonard Brooks at Centro Cultural El Nigromante
(INBAL)
Leonard Brooks was a Canadian artist known for his painting, collage and mural practice. After studying art in Canada and serving as a war artist during World War II, he moved to Mexico in 1947 with his wife Reva. They settled in San Miguel, where Brooks became a central figure in the local art scene. Inspired by Mexican culture and landscapes, he evolved from realism to abstract collage art. Brooks also taught art and music, enriching the community. His work bridges Canadian and Mexican artistic traditions, making him a key cultural link between the two countries. An exhibition of his work will be inaugurated at the Centro Cultural El Nigromante on June 11 and will run through until October 12.
Date: June 11 at 5 p.m. Location: Sala Arte Mexicano, Centro Cultural El Nigromante Cost:Free
Convite de Locos
(María Ruiz)
San Miguel de Allende is about to go gloriously mad. The Convite de Locos is the city’s most delightfully unhinged celebration. Locals from different neighborhoods form their own dance groups, each with its own music and costume theme. They spend the entire year preparing their outrageous outfits and rehearsing for the big day.
On the Sunday after June 13, the feast day of San Antonio de Padua, they take to the streets in a parade full of color, music and mayhem. Dressed in wild costumes, they dance to booming music and hurl candy into the cheering crowds. The parade kicks off at 10 a.m. from the Iglesia de San Antonio and zigzags through town until it reaches the Jardín Principal. What started as a local tradition has become a must-see spectacle that draws visitors from all over Mexico and beyond. Whether you join the madness or prefer to keep a sane distance, consider yourself warned: it’s locos time!
Date: June 15 at 10 a.m. Location: Centro Cost: Free
Literature seminar with Bernardo Esquinca
(Teatro Santa Ana)
Meet the Mexican journalist and storyteller Bernardo Esquinca at the literature seminar he will be hosting in La Biblioteca. Esquinca will present his latest book, “La región crepuscular,” in an engaging conversation with Marie Moébius at the Teatro Santa Ana. Known for his masterful fusion of the supernatural and crime fiction, Esquinca received the 2017 Premio Nacional de Novela Negra (National Noir Novel Award) for “Las increíbles aventuras del asombroso Edgar Allan Poe,” and was nominated for the Shirley Jackson Award in 2020.
Date: June 18 at 1 p.m. Location: Teatro Santa Ana, Biblioteca Pública, Relox 50A, Centro Cost: Free
Feast of Corpus Christi
(María Ruiz)
The Feast of Corpus Christi, celebrated the Thursday after Pentecost, honors the presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. In San Miguel de Allende, the streets and balconies are decorated with red banners, and altars dedicated to the Eucharist are displayed. On Thursday afternoon, a solemn procession from the Parish of San Miguel Arcángel features the priest carrying the Blessed Sacrament, accompanied by pilgrims who pray and sing at each station. Pilgrims often receive blessed bread. Meanwhile, the Plaza Cívica hosts stalls with traditional wooden and cardboard toys, offering visitors a vibrant glimpse into Mexican cultural and religious traditions.
Date: June 19 at 5 p.m. Location: Centro Cost: Free
Puccini’s “Gianni Schicchi” at Casa Europa
(Casa Europa en México)
Get ready for laughs, scheming and one of the most beautiful arias in all of opera. Performed by Operísima México, Giacomo Puccini’s “Gianni Schicchi” is inspired by a scene from Dante Alighieri’s Inferno. The story takes us to 13th-century Florence, where the foreseen death of the wealthy Buoso Donati sparks chaos among his greedy family.
Upon discovering their relative left his fortune to a monastery, the family calls on the clever peasant Gianni Schicchi to impersonate Buoso. Schicchi dictates a fresh will, only to leave the best of the inheritance to himself, while the outraged family can’t protest without revealing the fraud. Behind Schicchi’s trickery is a heartfelt motive: to secure a future for his daughter Lauretta with Buoso’s nephew Rinuccio. The opera is famous for the beloved aria “O mio babbino caro,” in which Lauretta sweetly begs her father to help her marry the man she loves.
Date: June 25 through 28 at 7 p.m. Location: Casa Europa, Calle San Francisco 23, Centro Cost:550 pesos
Save your appetite and mark your calendar! San Miguel y sus Sabores transforms Parque Juárez into a fun fair for lovers of food and drink. Many of the city’s top local restaurants set up stands around open seating tables at the park’s basketball courts and offer small portions of their signature dishes, all under 70 pesos each. With live music, DJs and the joy of eating with old and new friends, it’s the perfect way to kick off summer.
Date: 27 through 29, 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Location: Parque Juárez, Centro Cost: Entry is free, food prices vary
Anne Frank exhibition at Casa de la Cultura
(Gobierno de San Miguel de Allende)San Miguel de Allende hosts the international exhibition “The Diary of Anne Frank: Notes of Hope” from May 23 to November 22 at the Casa de la Cultura. The exhibit showcases Anne Frank’s story and the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands through texts, photos, videos and interactive materials, promoting memory, empathy and tolerance. Mayor Mauricio Trejo Pureco highlighted its educational and human value, inviting visitors to reflect and foster tolerance in the city. This unique experience offers a heartfelt journey into history.
Date: May 23 through November 22, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Location: Casa de la Cultura, Calle Mesones 71, Centro Cost: 80 pesos
"We don't think [the tariff] is just or sustainable because it raises the price of everything. We hope to reach an agreement," the president said on Wednesday. (Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)
The United States’ 50% tariff on imports of steel and aluminum — which took effect today — is “unjust,” “unsustainable” and “has no legal basis,” President Claudia Sheinbaum said Wednesday.
🚨 @POTUS just signed the order raising tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to 50%.
Here is the text of the order:
1. On January 11, 2018, the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) transmitted to me a report on the Secretary’s investigation into the effect of imports of steel… https://t.co/4uwBVmd4Zj
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 3, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump announced his plan to double the tariff on steel and aluminum imports last Friday.
“We’re going to bring it from 25% to 50% — the tariffs on steel into the United States of America, which will even further secure the steel industry in the United States,” he said at an event in Pennsylvania.
Trump signed an executive order to impose the higher tariff on Tuesday.
“I have determined that it is necessary to increase the previously described steel and aluminum tariffs to adjust the imports of steel and aluminum articles and their derivative articles so that such imports will not threaten to impair the national security,” Trump said in the order.
“In my judgment, the increased tariffs will more effectively counter foreign countries that continue to offload low-priced, excess steel and aluminum in the United States market and thereby undercut the competitiveness of the United States steel and aluminum industries.”
A White House fact sheet said that Trump is “taking action to end unfair trade practices and the global dumping of steel and aluminum.”
“Foreign nations have been flooding the United States market with cheap steel and aluminum, often subsidized by their governments,” the White House said.
Mexico is the world’s second-largest exporter of steel, aluminum and products derived from those metals to the United States, according to 2024 data from the U.S. Department of Commerce. The value of those Mexican exports to the U.S. was US $34.83 billion last year, second only to China.
Sheinbaum: ‘It’s a measure we consider unjust’
Sheinbaum responded to the implementation of the higher tariff at her Wednesday morning press conference.
“It’s a measure for the whole world, not just for Mexico, the tariff is increased for all countries of the world with the exception of Great Britain, which stays at 25%,” Sheinbaum said.
“… In the case of Mexico, firstly, it’s unjust … because as we have said several times, Mexico imports more [from the United States] than it exports in steel and aluminum. Formally, a tariff is imposed when there is a deficit,” she said.
“… Secondly, from our perspective, it has no legal basis because there is a trade agreement,” Sheinbaum said, referring to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA.
She noted that the United States imposed the steel and aluminum tariff for national security reasons, before highlighting that “yesterday the White House spokeswoman said there is good collaboration with Mexico in all terms, including on the issue of security.”
Sheinbaum expressed her disagreement with the 50% steel tariff on steel and aluminum, referencing a conversation yesterday with a White House spokeswoman, who said “there is good collaboration with Mexico in all terms, including on the issue of security.” (Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)
“So we don’t think there is a basis” to impose the tariff on imports from Mexico, Sheinbaum said.
She also said that a tariff on Mexican steel and aluminum is “unsustainable because, as is the case with cars,” products containing steel cross the border during the production process.
Sheinbaum noted that she would discuss the issue with representatives of Mexico’s National Chamber of the Steel and Iron Industry on Wednesday, and highlighted that Ebrard would meet with U.S. officials on Friday.
She said that if Mexico fails to reach an agreement with the United States, her government will announce its response — but not an “eye for an eye” one — next week.
“Our responsibility is first to protect the employment of Mexicans, and second [to protect] the steel industry. A 50% tariff represents a very big impact for the steel industry,” Sheinbaum said.
“… We don’t agree [with the tariff], we don’t think it’s just or sustainable because it raises the price of everything. We hope to reach an agreement,” she said.
Ebrard: Steel tariff will have to be adjusted because economic impact will be ‘very big’
Ebrard told reporters on Tuesday that he doesn’t believe the 50% tariff can be sustained long term.
“As has happened with other [U.S.] tariffs, it will have to be adjusted because the economic impact is very big,” he said.
Indeed, Trump has made various changes to tariffs he has announced since returning to the White House in January. By doing so, and much to his chagrin, he gave rise to the acronym TACO — “Trump always chickens out.”
Ebrard described the 50% tariff on Mexican steel and aluminum as “unjust for Mexico because United States has a surplus” on the trade of those metals.
“It doesn’t make sense to impose a tariff on a product on which you have a surplus,” he said, repeating an argument he has made before.
The economy minister said he will formally ask for an exclusion from the tariff when he meets with U.S. officials in Washington D.C. on Friday.
“How do I see this measure? I see it as unjust, unsustainable and inconvenient,” he said.
Ebrard has been attempting to negotiate more favorable trading conditions between Mexico and the United States for months, and has made regular trips to Washington since Trump began his second term.
Before the U.S. tariff on steel and aluminum doubled, he had been attempting to win an exemption from the 25% duty on those metals as well as a U.S. tariff on foreign cars.
It remains to be seen whether Ebrard will be able to get any concessions from the United States government at his meeting on Friday.
In addition to the steel, aluminum and auto tariffs, Mexican goods not covered by the USMCA also face 25% duties when entering the United States.
The United States Court of International Trade last week ruled that Trump had exceeded his authority in using the IEEPA to impose fentanyl trafficking-related duties on non-USMCA compliant goods, but the U.S. government promptly appealed the decision and obtained a stay on the trade court’s ruling.
The mayor of Guanajuato town San Diego de la Unión made local groundwater contamination the focus of a recent press conference. “We share an aquifer with seven other municipalities," he emphasized. "If one of us fails to act, we all suffer.” (Caminos de Agua)
As communities around San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, continue to grow, so too does the pressure on already strained groundwater supplies.
In the Upper Laja River Basin, home to more than 740,000 people across seven municipalities, deeper wells and worsening contamination have become the norm — bringing mounting health risks and growing public concern. Those concerns were front and center last Thursday when the mayor of San Diego de la Unión, a community north of San Miguel de Allende, confronted the crisis head-on.
“When we open the tap, we are poisoning ourselves.”
With those words, Mayor Juan Carlos Castillo Cantero of San Diego de la Unión opened a press conference that may prove to be a turning point for his municipality — and potentially for the entire Upper Laja River Basin, in the northeast of Guanajuato state. The event marked a rare and striking moment of transparency in local government, as the mayor laid bare the extent of water contamination affecting San Diego de la Unión and the surrounding communities.
The issue is neither new nor isolated. Across the basin, aquifers are being overdrawn and contaminated, pushing entire municipalities toward a full-scale public health crisis. Water quality monitoring conducted between April and July 2024 found that 20 of the 23 rural wells tested in San Diego de la Unión were unsafe for daily use. These wells supply water to 59 rural communities. Eleven wells exceeded Mexico’s legal limit for arsenic, and nineteen for fluoride — both contaminants linked to serious long-term health problems. The findings violate national regulations and international health guidelines.
“This isn’t just about water,” said Dylan Terrell, Executive Director of the NGO Caminos de Agua. “It’s about systemic health deterioration — kidney failure, dental and crippling skeletal fluorosis, cognitive issues in children. And it’s all invisible until it’s too late.”
Caminos de Agua’s Alvaro Gutiérrez Berra, who oversees water monitoring, emphasized the risks. “There’s no such thing as a safe level of arsenic. Even small amounts accumulate. The well at Ex-Hacienda de Jesús tested at nearly five times the legal limit.” In San José del Charco, fluoride measured 4.08 mg/L, more than four times the legal standard. Across the municipality, 59 out of 71 communities are now confirmed to have unsafe water.
“This is a ticking time bomb,” the mayor warned. “If we don’t act now, there won’t be enough resources to care for so many sick people. No government or family can bear the cost of a kidney disease epidemic.” A single hemodialysis session can cost up to 1,500 pesos, with patients requiring multiple treatments weekly, costs far beyond the reach of most rural families.
Breaking the silence
Public health risks related to water infrastructure are often downplayed or left for civil society groups to highlight. That’s why Mayor Castillo Cantero’s direct language was so striking — and for many, overdue. “The alarms are sounding—whether we want to see them or not,” he said. “We can’t keep ignoring them. We must act now—for our health, for our children, for future generations.”
Gudelia Trejo’s community of Pozo Ademado had excessive levels of fluoride and arsenic until they began building rainwater harvesting systems. “I started to feel relief from all the pain because I was one of many people who used to survive on painkillers. Rainwater harvesting was something new for us, a very beautiful thing. A breath of life,” said Trejo.
Eleven wells in San Diego de la Unión exceeded Mexico’s legal limit for arsenic, and nineteen for fluoride — both contaminants linked to serious long-term health problems. Across the municipality, 59 out of 71 communities are now confirmed to have unsafe water. (Shutterstock)
Community-driven responses
Despite the grim data, the mood wasn’t hopeless. Castillo Cantero emphasized that action is already underway.
The municipality, in partnership with Caminos de Agua and grassroots organizations SECOPA and COENLAVIS, has installed over 490 rainwater harvesting systems (SCALLs) since 2021 and is currently working to build an additional 140 this year. These systems include cisterns that collect and store clean, arsenic- and fluoride-free rainwater and are combined with household water filters to make the water fit for human consumption. A properly used 5,000-liter cistern can supply a family of five with safe water for at least six months.
Reverse osmosis filters, which are effective against heavy metals, are also being deployed, though their cost and infrastructure needs make widespread distribution difficult.
“These contaminants can’t be boiled out,” said Gutiérrez Berra. “Common filters like carbon or UV don’t remove them. And bottled water is 100 times more expensive than municipal supply—and bad for the environment.”
María del Rosario, from the community of Los Ricos, helps take care of the groundwater treatment system there, a community-scale arsenic and fluoride water treatment plant designed by Caminos de Agua and their academic partners. “We had many years without safe drinking water, while taking care of the groundwater treatment system is hard work, it’s changed the reality of my family and community,” she said.
A regional issue demanding collective action
Mayor Castillo Cantero stressed that San Diego de la Unión cannot solve the crisis
alone. “This is a regional crisis,” he said. “We share an aquifer with seven other municipalities. If one of us fails to act, we all suffer.”
He urged neighboring mayors, state officials and federal agencies to coordinate efforts — and to revive initiatives like FONASA, a federal program that once funded rainwater harvesting systems and filters but has since been discontinued.
Mayor Juan Carlos Castillo Cantero of San Diego de la Unión emphasized it was not a call to alarm, but a call to act. (Caminos de Agua)
“We deeply regret the elimination of FONASA,” he said. “That initiative gave us a real chance to build household-level water security. Now we’re left raising awareness on our own—but awareness isn’t enough.”
“This isn’t something the government can solve alone. We need awareness, collaboration and pressure.”
That includes a cultural shift in how residents understand water risks.
The mayor said there has been a shift in priorities. He said that citizens often demand streetlights or paved roads because they don’t understand the invisible threat in their water, but once they do, they start asking for cisterns and filtration systems.
The future at stake
In his closing remarks, Castillo Cantero didn’t sugarcoat the stakes.
“If we don’t act now, we’re jeopardizing the health of future generations,” he said. “This isn’t a soap opera episode. It’s a real crisis we live with every day. And this isn’t a call to alarm — it’s a call to act.”
That in itself is something amazing. Known a few decades ago as a nation that drank little else but beer and tequila, Mexico has in recent decades embraced mixology in a big way. In this article, we delve into the stories behind the seven other bars that were included on this year’s list.
(Arca)
Arca, Tulum – No. 27
Deep on the jungle side of the main road through Tulum’s hotel zone is the sexy and sultry Arca, one of my absolute favorites on this list. If there’s a reason to pop down the coast, it’s Arca.
The bar program is created by Carlos Mora, Edson Sánchez and head chef José Luis Hinostroza, drawing inspiration from the jungles of Yucatán with local flavors like achiote, mamey and melipona honey. These stunning cocktails are paired with delicate dishes from the kitchen of Hinostroza, who, after a string of positions at Michelin-star restaurants, is utilizing the best that his home country has to offer in terms of ingredients and flavors.
Swanky and sophisticated, Selva has won a spot on 50 Best Bars of North America’s list since its inception in 2022. The chic ambiance gives the feeling of being in a much larger city, but the menu’s focus on seasonality and local ingredients — one, of course, being mezcal — brings you right back down to the earth you’re standing on.
Selva is working towards sustainability, trying to maximize the use of leftovers from their bar and the restaurant downstairs, Los Danzantes — to whose hospitality group they belong — by reimagining the leftovers with infusions, fermentation and other tricks.
A newcomer to the list this year, Bijou is more of an expression than a bar, drawn from the mind of communications engineer turned bar owner Dani Ortega. A math geek, Ortega has made the ordering process at Bijou one of the most complicated and fun in the city. It involves using a Rubik’s Cube to create an infinite number of combinations.
You can choose a liquor along with a flavor profile — bitter, fruity, dry — and a texture — bubbles, frothy, clarified — a specific fruit juice, and so on, and the ace bartenders will create your concoction on the spot.
While a plethora of options might not be everyone’s cup of tea, Ortega says that this speakeasy has won the hearts of regulars who like to come in and stump the team with requests.
Hanky Panky, Mexico City – No. 35
(Hanky Panky/50 Best)
Hanky Panky was created as an homage to the speakeasies of the 1920s and was the first of its kind in Mexico City when it opened in 2015. Through a hallway and behind an unassuming Oaxacan restaurant, visitors enter a world of red leather and dark wood, dotted with the many wall mirrors that make this tiny space feel bigger than it is.
Hanky Panky continues to focus on classics with a twist, creating new cocktails by the team’s bartenders and through collaborations with mixologists around the world.
“We want our customers to be able to experience the recipes of Eric Lorincz or Charly Aguinsky even if they couldn’t fly to London or Argentina to taste them in person,” says Gina Barbachano, one of the bar’s partners.
Kaito del Valle, Mexico City – No. 40
(Kaito del Valle/50 Best)
“I think the list acts as this first stop for people, and then they are like, ‘okay, where should I go next?’ and we have a good network of bartenders sending people to bars across the city,” says Claudia Cabrera, Kaito’s co-owner and bar director. “A lot of new people are coming from abroad who were not used to coming to Mexico, and 50 Best has helped to get people thinking that it’s a cool place, and that it’s not dangerous. It’s been switching the mood about the city.”
Located in Mexico City’s residential Del Valle neighborhood, Kaito del Valle is definitely the furthest bar off the tourist track on this list, but it is moving on up to a space in Colonia Juárez this July and taking their Asian-inspired cocktail menu — featuring garnishes of nori, a fortune cookie, shiso and sake — with them.
Don’t worry, the karaoke rooms at the new place will be even bigger and better.
Café de Nadie, Mexico City – No. 47
(Cafe de Nadie/50 Best)
Café de Nadie is an accidental cocktail star, according to co-founder Billy Castro.
“For 10 years, we were dreaming about a place to hang out and listen to good music, not trendy stuff but with good DJ-ing — a place that would be like going over to friends’ to listen to vinyl. We never even had the idea of cocktails on our mind.”
But when they opened the bar in 2021, brand manager and mixologist Mapo Molano knew that a solid cocktail menu would be a requirement in the burgeoning bar scene they were entering.
The selection of alcohol-forward concoctions at Café de Nadie prioritizes seasonality, a thread woven throughout the business at large due to the influence of Pablo Usobiaga, who cofounded the organic CSA Arca Tierra with his brother Lucio. Arca Tierra just opened Baldío, which bills itself as Mexico City’s first zero-waste restaurant, and Café de Nadie’s cocktail and food menus incorporate the zero-waste philosophy.
“We love what 50 Best has meant for us and other bars,” says Billy Castro. “But even more than that, the award and the notoriety allow us to have the kind of bar we want — one that’s focused on creating incredible musical experiences.”
Bekeb, San Miguel de Allende – No.49
(Bekeb/50 Best)
Located inside San Miguel’s Aqua Live Hotel, Bekeb has a desert chicness that folds nicely into the overall feel of this Guanajuato city.
Fabiola Padilla has created a menu of libations that overlays local flavors — copal, prickly pear and garambullo — with agave and other spirits to showcase the bounty of central Mexico.
She works closely with Casa Dragones, an award-winning local tequila brand with its own strong following in the San Miguel bar scene.
Even more Mexican bars make the extended list
This year also saw the inaugural 51–100 list of North America’s Best Bars, allowing space for an even greater selection of Mexican bars to be included:
Sabina Sabe, in Oaxaca city, came in at No. 54
Brujas, owned by the Hanky Panky group, was No. 65
Zapote, in Playa del Carmen, was No. 74
Ticuchi, Enrique Olvera’s bar in Mexico City, came in at No. 82
Casa Prunes, an Art Nouveau beauty in Mexico City’s Roma Norte, was No. 94
Lydia Carey is a freelance writer and translator based out of Mexico City. She has been published widely both online and in print, writing about Mexico for over a decade. She lives a double life as a local tour guide and is the author of “Mexico City Streets: La Roma.” Follow her urban adventures on Instagram and see more of her work at mexicocitystreets.com.
A child math prodigy, a new road and an unmissable festival all dominate the headlines in San Miguel de Allende this week. (wallpaperaccess)
From the colorful Los Locos parade and an international book fair to progress on infrastructure and global academic honors, San Miguel de Allende is buzzing with celebrations and expansion this June. Here’s the latest news and events shaping the city.
Día de los Locos Returns June 15 with colorful traditions
Dia de Los Locos - San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Prepare for San Miguel de Allende to be transformed by joy, mischief and costumes.
This year, the beloved parade honoring San Antonio de Padua takes place on Saturday, June 15, at 10 a.m.
Known locally as the “Convite de Locos”, which roughly means “Parade of the Crazies”, this San Miguel festival is a playful, lively procession where participants wear imaginative, colorful costumes ranging from clowns, devils and animals to politicians and everyday items like mops.
The tradition dates back to the dances held by gardeners in honor of Isidore the Laborer, the patron saint of farmers, and Paschal Baylón, patron of cooks. During these celebrations, they’d distribute the fruit of their orchards, an act that explains today’s handing out of candies. Originally, dancers would wear scarecrow costumes to surprise onlookers but by the 19th century, the costumes evolved into clowns and masks. These locos take part in many festivities, with the Convite de Locos in honor of San Antonio de Padua becoming one of the most important, a joyful expression of cultural identity, community, and creativity.
The procession will begin at the historic Church of San Antonio and travel through the streets of Zacateros, Hernández Macías, Insurgentes, Aparicio, Núñez and San Francisco before culminating at the Jardín Allende. Arrive early, bring a chair, stay hydrated and don’t be surprised if a few lollipops rain down on you!
International Book Fair returns in early June
(Gob. de San Miguel de Allende)
San Miguel is hosting its second Feria Internacional del Libro, a week-long celebration of literature and community. You can attend this free, family-friendly event from June 2 to 8, at the Centro Cultural Ignacio Ramírez.
The fair will feature 23 book-selling booths showcasing a range of editorial offerings for all tastes and ages. Authors and readers will get to meet and greet, teen writers can narrate their own stories, and children can participate in interactive activities that nurture their love of reading. As organizers explained, the goal is for every participant to connect with new voices, amplify perspectives, and expand their reading universe.
Sponsored by the National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature (INBAL) and the municipal government of San Miguel, this event promises to delight bibliophiles and casual readers alike.
Concerns over timely completion of Bulevar La Libertad
(Screen capture)
The ambitious modernization of Bulevar La Libertad, a 30.5-kilometer road connecting Dolores Hidalgo with San Miguel de Allende, is reportedly about 71% complete. Officials recently toured the site, highlighting progress in the concrete paving on both sides of the road, with 1.6 km still to be completed under the current construction contract. Guanajuato’s Secretary of Public Works, Juan Pablo Pérez, emphasized the project’s complexity, citing over eight kilometers of retaining walls, pedestrian bridges and ongoing topographic and hydraulic work.
Despite the advances, Morena deputy Luis Ricardo Ferro Baeza warned that the latest July 31 completion date — a ten-month extension from the original timeline — may be too optimistic. Key elements, like lighting, signage and bike lanes are still pending. Ferro stressed the boulevard’s importance to tourism and mobility, noting that local businesses have also been negatively impacted during construction, with several closing along the route.
One major complication is a land dispute with the community of La Cieneguita, which led to the removal of nearly three kilometers of road as part of the project. That section, Deputy Ferro explained, will likely never be fully completed as originally designed. Still, the project promises to bring much-needed improvements to enhance urban mobility and safety on this important route.
San Miguel student ranks top 3 globally in math contest
Sebastián Bustamante Cano, a nine-year-old third-grade student at San Miguel’s Instituto Latinoamericano Bilingüe, has achieved international recognition by securing third place in the Mathematics Challenge of the Mexican Association of Schools (AMCO) Summit 2025. The May 24 event, held in Guadalajara, brought together over 11,000 students from more than 12 countries, challenging participants in mental calculation and problem-solving skills under tight time constraints.
Sebastián stood out for his exceptional speed and precision, advancing through five hours and eight rounds among 60 finalists in his category. His outstanding performance not only earned him a spot among the top three but also placed Mexico in the international education spotlight.
Cleviá Hotel opens in San Miguel, blending luxury with local art and legend
(Clevia San Miguel de Allende)
Last April, San Miguel de Allende’s hospitality scene welcomed Cleviá San Miguel, part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection and the city’s first-ever Marriott hotel. Located on Josefina Orozco, this boutique hotel offers 74 rooms and 42 residences, all centered around a picturesque courtyard with a mirror-like pool.
Cleviá opened its doors with a focus on art, culture and community. An on-site gallery showcases works by local and national artists, and guests can dine at Ayolí, the hotel’s signature restaurant led by acclaimed Chef Eduardo Osuna. Diners can expect traditional Mexican fare with a “cosmopolitan twist” reflective of Mexico’s rich culture and complexity.
One of the hotel’s standout touches is the Jardín de los Olivos, where guests receive a decorative brass key to personalize and hang on olive trees to commemorate their stay. Guests can also write down their discoveries of San Miguel alongside their keys, such as new traditions they experienced, or the beauty of the sunset from the hotel’s rooftop.
“As we open our doors, we are not just bringing a new hotel to the city,” said Brian King, President of Marriott International’s Caribbean and Latin America region, “we are embracing the opportunity to become part of this extraordinary community, creating meaningful connections and unforgettable experiences for travelers and locals alike.”
President Sheinbaum announced on Tuesday that United States Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau — who served as U.S. ambassador to Mexico between 2019 and 2021 — would visit Mexico next week ahead of a visit by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)
At her Tuesday morning press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke about a range of issues, including the reduction in overdose deaths in the United States last year, upcoming visits to Mexico by U.S. officials, her possible attendance at the G7 Summit in Canada this month and the sharp decline in remittances to Mexico in April.
Here is a recap of the president’s June 3 mañanera.
Sheinbaum: Decline in overdose deaths in US related to reduction in fentanyl trafficking from Mexico
A reporter noted that the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a decline of almost 27% in drug overdose deaths in the U.S. last year.
“Provisional data from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics indicate there were an estimated 80,391 drug overdose deaths in the United States during 2024 — a decrease of 26.9% from the 110,037 deaths estimated in 2023. Annual drug overdose deaths are projected to reach their lowest level since 2019,” the CDC said in a statement on May 14.
The reporter suggested to Sheinbaum that the information would be of use to her in conversations with United States President Donald Trump, who has frequently railed against the harm caused by narcotics from Mexico and even imposed tariffs on Mexican goods to pressure the Mexican government to do more to stop the trafficking of fentanyl.
The reporter also said she had spoken to some CDC researchers and they told her that “many” of the anti-drug strategies used in the United States over the past year were “copied from the Mexico model.”
Sheinbaum acknowledged the reduction in overdose deaths and said it was “good news for the United States and the world in general.”
Sheinbaum acknowledged Mexico’s role in the decline in overdose deaths while mentioning the impact of the anti-overdose medicine naloxone in the United States. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)
All deaths are painful and “a tragedy,” but fatalities due to the “abuse of drugs and in particular the abuse of fentanyl” are particularly sad, she said.
“In addition, there is a decay of the person little by little,” Sheinbaum said.
“So, that deaths by overdose have decreased 27% is very good news,” she said.
The CDC said that “since late 2023, overdose deaths have steadily declined each month,” providing “a strong sign that public health interventions are making a difference and having a meaningful impact.”
Sheinbaum said that a “significant” reason for the decrease in overdose deaths in the United States “has to do with the reduction of the [illegal] passing of fentanyl from Mexico to the United States” as well as seizures of the powerful synthetic opioid in the U.S.
“Analyses have to be carried out in the United States to see what this reduction corresponds to, but it’s very good that [overdose deaths] have declined,” she said.
Sheinbaum to meet with Landau ahead of visit by Rubio
Sheinbaum said that United States Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau — who served as U.S. ambassador to Mexico between 2019 and 2021 — would visit Mexico next week ahead of a visit by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“He’s coming, I understand, between June 9 and 10 to prepare for Rubio’s visit later,” she said.
“… We’re going to speak about a lot of issues,” Sheinbaum said.
Rubio said on May 21 that he “intended to travel potentially to Mexico” in “the next few weeks” to discuss security and other matters.
In an appearance before the United States House of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs Committee, he also said that the Mexican government has been “very responsive on our security concerns” and “increased their security cooperation with us.”
Sheinbaum still hasn’t decided whether she will attend G7 Summit in Canada
Six days after Sheinbaum confirmed that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had invited her to attend the Group of Seven (G7) Leaders’ Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, from June 15 to 17, a reporter asked the president what was stopping her from confirming her attendance at the meeting.
“There are several issues we have to resolve,” Sheinbaum responded.
Asked whether the arrangement of a meeting with Trump at the summit was one of them, the president only said:
“Until now, what there is is an invitation from the prime minister of Canada to attend the summit, which I’m very grateful for. As I told you, Mexico is not part of the G7 so we would attend as a guest country. I think that in a week, more or less, we’ll assess the situation. You always have to assess the situation in the country in order to leave.”
Sheinbaum said that if she does decide to go to the summit, she would attend for just one day.
“We’re going to assess it and we’ll let you know,” she said.
Decline in remittances ‘probably’ related to Trump’s ‘new immigration policy,’ says Sheinbaum
“We’re working to see what the reason is,” she said, adding that the government is collaborating with U.S.-based migrants’ associations to find out why remittances declined.
“Until we have more information, we can’t say what the reason is,” Sheinbaum said.
She said that the number of Mexicans who have recently returned to Mexico (including due to deportation) is not “so significant” that it can explain the decline in remittances in April.
“So we have to find out exactly what’s happening. It’s probably something that has to do with the new immigration policy that President Trump has implemented. But we’re not getting ahead of ourselves, we’re not speculating,” Sheinbaum said.
In a post to X on Monday, Gabriela Siller, director of economic analysis at Banco Base, said that the decline in remittances in April was due to the “deterioration of the labor market in the United States and migrants’ fear of being deported,” which leads to them “avoid going out to work and/or send remittances.”
