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Is Mexico City an overrated Day of the Dead destination?

By
Bethany Platanella
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10
Dia de Muertos in Mexico City
Mexico City is the most famous Day of the Dead destination in Mexico. But is it the most authentic? (Visit Mexico)

Millions of tourists are expected to spend Day of the Dead in Mexico City this year, and for a city that houses more than 22 million people, that’s quite a number. 

The capital attracts revelers for a variety of reasons: a well-connected airport, plenty of sightseeing, an outstanding culinary scene and, let’s be honest — Mexico City knows how to throw a party. 

Thousands participated in Mexico City’s famed Catrina and Alebrije parades last year, commencing the two-week season celebrating Day of the Dead. (Moisés Pablo/Cuartoscuro)

But in a country heavily stocked with traditional Pueblos Mágicos, is CDMX the best place in Mexico to spend Día de Muertos? It seems that millions think so – after all, the nation’s largest Day of the Dead parade marches down Paseo de la Reforma annually, not to mention the city stages a series of colossal sculptures in the Zócalo and a haunting La Llorona that wails before spectators in Xochimilco’s misty canals. 

Coyoacán’s cobblestone streets are adorned with ofrendas (altars offered to the dead, usually loved ones, but not always). Condesa bakeries compete for the city’s best pan de muerto. Independent theaters stage dozens of Mictlan-themed performances depicting the Mexica (Aztec) underworld. 

There is no lack of celebration during Day of the Dead in Mexico City; the question is, are these celebrations a bit, well, inauthentic?

The tradition’s intimate roots

A century ago, Day of the Dead throughout the country was largely a private affair: Families built small altars at home, purchased (or baked!) pan de muerto, and decorated their loved ones’ graves with flowers and candles. There were no megaofrendas, no giant processions and very few community events — though in Mexico City, the holiday was already gaining commercial ground. According to Columbia University anthropology professor Claudio Lomnitz, the 18th-century Day of the Dead market in CDMX was so large, it required government oversight. 

Of course, an overcrowded tianguis selling holiday trinkets still pales in comparison to what we see today, and the evolution from intimate familial remembrance to a multimillion-peso-generating tourist attraction can be largely attributed to Mexico City’s aforementioned ability to throw a fine fiesta. Starting with food, of course.

Mexico City’s pan de muerto routes

Pan de muerto
Pan de muerto, or bread of the dead, is a popular seasonal specialty. (Wikimedia Commons/J. Méndez)

Don’t quote me on this, but I reckon if you ask your average visitor what their favorite part of Day of the Dead is, they’ll say the pan de muerto – i.e. bread of the dead. Historically, the sweet delight was a fusion of the bread introduced by the Spanish and the offering rituals of Mexico’s Indigenous peoples. Today, it’s far from a simple Day of the Dead food — it’s an opportunity for the city’s best bakeries to highlight their creativity by inventing all sorts of interesting variations. Within a few blocks’ radius of Mexico City’s bustling central zone — namely, the Condesa, Roma, Polanco and Juárez neighborhoods — you’ll find pan de muerto infused with lavender, injected with chocolate ganache or smothered in a seasonally appropriate pumpkin jam. 

To identify the best of the best, social media influencers and the like started documenting — even ranking — pan de muerto from various bakeries. This turned into a trend known as the “Pan de Muerto Route” that is so popular with both locals and visitors that EcoBici introduced its own bike-friendly self-guided tour. 

Contests large and small for the best bread of the dead take place all throughout town; Museo Kaluz has been hosting an annual Festival de Pan de Muerto since 2021 — Escandon’s La Maison Croffle won best bread in 2024.

Things to do in Mexico City for Day of the Dead

As far as Mexico City’s Day of the Dead activities, the options are seemingly endless. The calendar is dominated by multiple processions up Paseo de la Reforma — the three biggest being a celebration of catrinas, alebrijes and, lastly, the Grand Parade, which is, by far, the largest spectacle and — as many are surprised to find out — quite new. 

The parade began in 2016, thanks to the 2015 James Bond film “Spectre,” which featured a fictional Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City that inspired the city government to put on its own version. 

Spectre
Mexico City’s parade was inspired by the 2015 James Bond film “Spectre.” (Screen Capture)

The Grand Parade currently hosts musical entertainment and up to 40 floats. Face painters and flower vendors are everywhere in the streets. There are altars and installations in parks, museums, shops and cafes. Restaurants, from Testal to Pujol, offer menus incorporating themed ingredients like mole and marigolds. Some revelers head to the Mixquic cemetery on November 2 to see the grave sites transformed by candles and traditional decor, though overtourism at the site — like crowds and traffic jams — is becoming a significant concern.

Where to go instead: Unique Day of the Dead towns in Mexico

Needless to say, if you’re seeking an experience that borders on the authentic, Mexico City may not be the place for you. Thankfully, there are numerous options in towns nearby. If you can follow some simple rules — asking permission before taking photos of people or grave sites, refraining from talking when everyone else is quiet, avoiding stepping on piles of flower petals in front of someone’s door and understanding that eating the bread off a public altar is forbidden — you’ll likely be welcomed with open arms.

Are the following options hidden and bona fide traditional? Perhaps not totally, but you are guaranteed a less-chaotic, more charming approach to arguably the most wonderful holiday in Mexico.  

Atlixco, Puebla

Carpet of flowers for Day of the Dead
A carpet of flowers for Day of the Dead celebrations in Atlixco, Puebla. (Leigh Thelmadatter)

How to get there from CDMX: Take a direct bus from TAPO  (La Terminal de Autobuses de Pasajeros de Oriente) or Taxqueña using the ADO or Estrella Roja bus companies. The eBus to Puebla will drop you a 30-minute Uber ride from Atlixco. Driving directly takes 2–3 hours.

Why you should go: Atlixco shines during Day of the Dead with flower carpets, marigold fields, and monumental catrina displays. Visitors can explore vibrant marigold fields, festive streets and small parades honoring local traditions.

Huaquechula, Puebla

Ofrendas, or altars, welcoming back visiting souls can be seen in homes and public spaces during Dia de Muertos. (Poblanerías)

How to get there from CDMX: Take a bus or car from TAPO to Puebla, then transfer on local transport to Huaquechula; the trip usually takes 2–3.5 hours.
Why you should go: Huaquechula goes all out for the holiday. It’s known for its remarkable multitiered altars and open homes with family ofrendas, as well as a center square that’s full of decorations and entertainment and that features an open-air market.

Tepoztlán, Morelos

Convento de la Natividad in Tepoztlán
Lanterns, mountain backdrops and local hospitality make Tepoztlán an excellent destination for Day of the Dead celebrations. (Meer)

How to get there from CDMX: Direct passenger vans and buses leave frequently from Terminal Taxqueña; road travel takes about 1.5 hours.

Why you should go: The Tepoztlán Day of the Dead scene is considered a spiritual and cozy affair, featuring mystical candlelit cemetery vigils and Indigenous rituals amid mountain backdrops, plus vibrant lanterns and local hospitality.

Huamantla, Tlaxcala

Tlaxcala
Streets become outdoor art galleries during Day of the Dead festivities in Huamantla. (tipsparatuviaje)

How to get there from CDMX: ADO buses from TAPO to Huamantla take 2–2.5 hours.

Why you should go: Huamantla’s intricate sawdust carpets — made with vibrant colors and ingenious designs — transform the streets into outdoor art galleries, captivating visitors with visual spectacle and strong community pride.

Cholula, Puebla

Nuestra Señora de los Remedios church in Cholula, Puebla, with Popocatépetl volcano smoking behind
Volcano views are a feature of Day of the Dead celebrations in Cholula. (Gobierno de México)

How to get there from CDMX: Take an ADO bus from TAPO or an Ebus from the Torre del Angel stop to Puebla, then taxi 20 minutes to Cholula. Driving directly takes about 2 hours.

Why you should go: Cholula’s Day of the Dead celebration is a lively one, featuring plenty of vibrant altars, illuminated church processions and colorful street celebrations with volcano views  — plus festive tram rides through the charming town.

Bethany Platanella is a travel planner and lifestyle writer based in Mexico City. She lives for the dopamine hit that comes directly after booking a plane ticket, exploring local markets, practicing yoga and munching on fresh tortillas. Sign up to receive her Sunday Love Letters to your inbox, peruse her blog or follow her on Instagram.

 

Mexican lawmakers to debate bill to legalize medically assisted suicide

By
MND Staff
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7
protests euthanasia
The proposed legalization of euthanasia is in part the culmination of energetic protests by death-with-dignity activists, including many who themselves are suffering from terminal illnesses. (Rogelio Morales/Cuartoscuro)

The lower house of Mexico’s legislative branch was scheduled to receive on Wednesday a bill to legalize medically assisted suicide, currently prohibited throughout the country.

The legislation before the Chamber of Deputies, dubbed the Ley Trasciende (Transcendence Law), has been promoted by the Dignified Death Now Coalition, which seeks to reform  Mexico’s General Health Law on euthanasia in order to “define, recognize and guarantee the constitutional right to a dignified death.”

death with dignity activists at the Seante
In presenting the euthanasia legalization bill to the Senate, supporters of the proposal spoke, including Senator Luis Donaldo Colosio Riojas, Senator Margarita Valdez Martínez and the activist Samara Martínez. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)

Activist Samara Martínez, who is living with end-stage renal disease, has been a leading voice in the pro-euthanasia campaign, working alongside the coalition to promote the right to assisted death.

“The Transcendence Law does not seek to promote death; it seeks to humanize it,”  Martínez said during an earlier presentation of the proposal in the Senate on Tuesday. “It seeks to ensure that no Mexican man or woman has to die suffering in pain, in fear, but above all, in agony. Because dying in peace is also a right.” 

The proposal supports the right to decide on the end of life, voluntarily, with full information and free from coercion. It states that procedures must be requested by patients with terminal illnesses or irreversible suffering and be approved by a multidisciplinary team of physicians, psychologists and thanatologists. 

It also highlights the need to provide a team of medical personnel who do not conscientiously object to euthanasia. 

“I speak to you from experience,” Martínez stressed. “I have seen colleagues die in conditions that no human being should have to endure.” 

A group of patients suffering from chronic degenerative diseases and their caregivers recently gathered at the Angel of Independence monument in Mexico City in support of the proposal. 

Currently, Mexico’s General Health Law Article 166 Bis 21 prohibits “the practice of euthanasia, understood as homicide out of compassion, as well as assisted suicide.” 

However, 20 Mexican states allow for passive euthanasia, allowing patients to refuse medical treatment in critical moments. 

In a 2022 survey by the Mexican organization For the Right to Die with Dignity, seven out of 10 participants said they supported the right to medically assisted suicide. 

The passing of a Law on Dignified Death in Uruguay earlier this month has drawn greater attention to the cause across Latin America. 

With reports from La Vanguardia, IMER Noticias and La Crónica de Hoy

In case you missed it: The 2025 International Cervantino Festival in Guanajuato

By
Cathy Siegner
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0
International Cervantino Festival in Guanajuato
The 53rd International Cervantino Festival recently drew film and music fans in Guanajuato. (Facebook)

The 53rd International Cervantino Festival kicked off in Guanajuato on Oct. 10 with more than 3,400 artists from 31 countries and a special focus on this year’s cultural guests of honor: the state of Veracruz and the United Kingdom. Music, dance, opera and theater performances, along with films and visual art exhibitions, were featured through Oct. 26 and drew more than 330,000 attendees from across Mexico and elsewhere.

Top names included Mexican singer-songwriter Julieta Venegas, who performed with the University of Guanajuato Symphony Orchestra; Nathy Peluso, a Spain-based Argentine rapper; Damon Albarn, a UK singer-songwriter and record producer who performed with Africa Express; Kid Koala, a Canadian scratch DJ and record and theater producer; and Javier Camerena, an operatic tenor from Xalapa who has performed in Europe and the U.S. Many of the performances required paid tickets via Ticketmaster, but several offered free admission.

Origins of the festival

Guanajuato is draped in color and noise when the Cervantino comes to town. (Cathy Siegner)

Named for Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes, Cervantino has been regularly held in Guanajuato since 1972. However, it was inspired by playwright and professor Enrique Ruelas, who adapted short, comic plays by Cervantes and presented them in the Plaza de San Roque in the 1950s.

One of the many highlights from last week’s loaded Cervantino schedule was Channel One Sound System, a UK-based dub reggae sound system featuring Mikey Dread and three MCs performing with turntables, microphones, amplifiers and loudspeakers to an enthusiastic crowd Oct. 21 at the Alhóndiga de Granaditas esplanade.

The University of Guanajuato hosted a series of films from U.K. and Mexican directors, which, on Oct. 22, included “Mujer de Tierra,” a 2021 short documentary from Evelyn Muñoz Marroquín, and “Chicharras,” a 90-minute feature from Luna Marán released in 2024. Films from U.K. directors Stephen Frears, Ken Loach, Danny Boyle, Mike Newell and others were also spotlighted as part of this year’s festival.

Los Bitchos, a London-based “cumbia-rock” band, took the stage at the Alhóndiga on Oct. 22 and presented an energetic and mainly instrumental set that had the crowd up front on their feet and dancing throughout. Members are pan-continental and consist of lead guitarist Serra Petale from Australia, Uruguayan Agustina Ruiz on synthesizer and keytar, bass player Josefine Jonsson from Sweden and drummer Nic Crawshaw from the U.K.

Scotland and Mexico meet musically

Celtic Fandango, a blend of 14 Mexican and Scottish musicians, enthralled a packed audience at the Alhóndiga on Oct. 24 with a lively and emotive fusion of Veracruz fandango and traditional Gaelic tunes, interspersed with dance steps from both cultures.

On the Mexican side of the stage were Juan José Duarte, Nabani Aguilar Vázquez, Mariel Henry, Sergio Medrano, Julio Aguilar Caletti, Adrián Carrillo and Luis Huerta demonstrating versatility on a variety of traditional and modern instruments. On the Scottish side were Donald Shaw, Ross Ainslie, Kathleen Macinnes, John Sikorsky, Ciorstaidh Beaton, Patsy Reid and Sorren Maclean doing the same.

Celtic Fandango
Celtic Fandango, a mix of 14 Mexican and Scottish musicians, was a big hit at the International Cervantino Festival in Guanajuato. (Facebook)

The creative combination of accordions, harps, violins, guitars, upright bass, bagpipes, whistles, flutes, keyboards, drums, dance and voice proved so exhilarating that the crowd stood as one after the finale and called for an encore, which they happily received.

Bagpipes draw a crowd

For anyone needing another dose of bagpipes, the San Patricio Battalion Bagpipe Band marched to the rescue on Oct. 25 with a one-hour mobile performance that started at Plaza Allende and ended at Teatro Juárez. A big crowd walked along with the pipers and drummers, stopping when the band did and taking cell phone videos of each tune they played.

The Mexico City-based band formed in 1997 to honor the St. Patrick’s Battalion, Irish soldiers who left the U.S. Army during the Mexican-American War to fight with the Mexican Army. It’s considered the first Scottish pipe band in the country and is known for combining Mexican music and bagpipes, which the audience clearly appreciated.

A cosmic send-off

The Sun Ra Arkestra of Philadelphia took an Alhóndiga crowd on an interplanetary musical trip Oct. 25 with a two-hour extravaganza of avant-garde jazz, blues, bebop and big band swing. More than a dozen Arkestra members, some band veterans since the 1970s and 1980s, came to Guanajuato for the show, and all sported the colorful, spangled outfits and creative headgear for which they’re known.

Bandleader and saxophone player Knoel Scott stepped in for longtime Arkestra bandleader Marshall Allen, who is 101 years old and no longer tours. Scott simultaneously directed the horn and reed sections, signaled to piano player Farid Abdul-Bari Barron, singer Tara Middleton and drummer George Gray, played the sax and occasionally sang. Later, he even performed some impromptu cartwheels at the front of the stage to loud applause.

The audience refused to let the band go after their hour-and-a-half set and repeatedly shouted for more until they returned to the stage for a long jazzy number during which half the band played their way single-file through the delighted audience. It was a cosmic send-off for the festival’s final Saturday night.

Cathy Siegner is an independent journalist based in San Miguel and Montana. She has journalism degrees from the University of Oregon and Northwestern University.

Dense fog bank causes delays at AICM

By
MND Staff
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0
The fog was caused by a sharp drop in temperature overnight in the Valley of Mexico. (@LisetGlezG/X)

A dense fog bank descended on the Valley of Mexico before dawn Thursday, prompting cancellations and flight delays at the Mexico City International Airport (AICM).

Operations returned to normal shortly after 8 a.m., according to airport authorities who posted a message on social media.

“As of 8:14 a.m., takeoff and landing operations returned to normal after fog cleared in the airport area. We are coordinating with the airlines to ensure all operations are carried out safely. Please check with your airline for the status of your flight,” the AICM said.

The forecast for an overnight drop in temperature led the Mexico City government to activate a Yellow Alert for several of the city’s boroughs. A Yellow Alert for cold temperatures advises residents to dress warmly, cover their nose and mouth, protect their pets and avoid sudden changes in temperature.

The cooling temperatures — which dipped as low as 4 degrees Celsius (39F) — produced a thick fog bank over southern and eastern Mexico City, initially causing problems for arriving flights and primarily affecting Terminal 1.

The AICM issued its advisory about the delays at 6:31 a.m.

The airlines Aeroméxico and Volaris also issued an advisory, informing their passengers that some flights would be affected. Aeroméxico shared links related to flight status and reticketing options on X. Volaris also shared a link on its social media channels for passengers to check their flight status.

Travelers wishing to inquire about their flight status can check directly with the airline, or can track it from the Official Flight Status page by filling in your flight code, city of origin and airline.

With reports from LópezDóriga.com and El Financiero

What’s on in November on the Riviera Maya

By
Bel Woodhouse
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0
Riviera Maya
Riviera Maya visitors will find plenty of events to enjoy in November. (Unsplash/Eduardo Cano Photo Co.)

Hands down the best way to finish Day of the Dead celebrations I’ve seen, disembark the Muertobus, finish up your hot chocolates at Hanal Pixan and grab your cotton candy. This month is all about festivities and concerts. With a couple of triathlons to help run off those Halloween sweet treats. The Yucatán’s biggest state fair, Feria Yucatán Xmatkuil, is a highlight this month, with everything from cattle shows to famous pop stars. Plus, enjoy a cabaret with Barry I. White for Thanksgiving, and finish the month with romance.

There’s always time for romance in the Riviera Maya. Join hundreds of couples and get married for free. Read on to find out how. 

Forget Autobus, we’ve got a Muerto bus!

Muertos Bus on the Riviera Maya
Want to see Day of the Dead altars on the Riviera Maya? Hop aboard the Muerto bus. (Experience Puerto Morelos)

Vegetarian and pet-friendly are music to my ears! I’m dying to ride the Muerto bus and visit all the stops on the route of altars. Alux alters (cheeky Mayan spirits), heart altars and best of all fantasmas (ghosts). After all, my black cat’s name is Fantasma, and he was born on Halloween, so I’m thinking I could take him with me! This proves to be a fun night filled with phantoms and all the fun of Halloween.

Date: Nov. 1-2, 6 p.m.

Location: Parque de Colonia, Puerto Morelos

Cost: Free, show up and wait in line. 

Yucatán’s Xmatkuil Fair

Feria Yucatán Xmatkuil
Don’t miss the state’s biggest fair, which draws millions of visitors annually. (Feria Yucatán Xmatkuil)

Where cultural heritage and modern entertainment intersect, this year’s fair has a star-studded lineup. But it’s more than just concerts. It’s rides and regional cuisine, art and animals, agriculture and much more. Having celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, it’s the state’s biggest fair, attracting millions of visitors each year. 

Dates: Nov. 7-30

Location: Xmatkuil Fair, Merida. Free shuttles from central Merida on fair dates.

Price: The fair is mostly free, but concert prices vary depending on the artist and whether you want VIP service.

Infinite Open Golf Tournament

Infinite Open Golf Tournament
Interested in a free golf tournament with incredible views? It’s coming up on the Riviera Maya. (Eventbrite)

It’s not every day you get to golf overlooking the Caribbean. That’s tempting enough for a non-golfer like me to hire some clubs and hit a few balls. What a lovely way to spend a Thursday. So, if you’re like me and like to get out in the sunshine, dawdle around a golf course, and enjoy a cool beverage afterward, head to Playacar to play!

Date: Nov. 13, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Location: El Camaleón Golf Course at Mayakoba, Playacar, Playa del Carmen

Cost: Free, but you have to reserve your ticket. 

Cancún Jazz Festival

Cancún Jazz Festival
As always, there’s a great lineup of artists scheduled to perform at the Cancún Jazz Festival. (Facebook)

This is right up my alley and I’m tempted to get on a bus and head to Puerto Morelos. Get your groove on at the 11th Annual Cancún Jazz Festival. It’s a great lineup this year and fills up fast, so if packages sell out, you can always stay in town. Or email them at info@jazzfestevents.com to make sure you don’t miss out. 

Date: Nov. 15-17

Location: Dreams Jade Resort & Spa, Puerto Morelos

Cost: Book your packages here. 

Xel-Ha Triathlon

Xel-Ha Triathlon
Don’t worry. Beginners are welcome at this triathlon. (Xel-Ha Triathlon)

My kind of triathlon, the Xel-Ha Triathlon folks are sweet enough to break it into Beginners and Olympic categories. Guess which one I would be (wink wink). This one is fun for the whole family. Yes, there are events for the kids, plus the usual women’s and men’s categories. So if you’ve ever thought of trying, this might be the one for you!

Date: Nov. 15-16

Location: Xel-Ha Park, near Tulum. 

Cost: Entry starts at 1,599 pesos.

Buccanos Kitchen Experience

Buccanos kitchen experience
Food, wine and Cozumel. What’s not to like? (Cozumel Sun)

I love cooking and I love Buccanos, so this is a match made in heaven. Delve into making a delectable three-course meal, learning from amazing chefs. With the freshest ingredients, locally sourced goods, and perfect wine pairings, it’s an evening any foodie would adore. Classes are with Inés, the owner and a fantastic chef and restaurateur. 

Date: Nov. 19

Location: Buccanos, Cozumel

Cost: US $160

Ironman Cozumel

Zona Turística
Few places provide a more picturesque backdrop for Ironman competitions than Cozumel. (Zona Turística)

Called Ironman in paradise, I’m volunteering in the medical tent again this year for Ironman Cozumel. I promise to cheer you on. Swim through crystal clear Caribbean waters, cycle along pristine coastline and through vibrant green jungle. It’s one of the most beautiful places for an Ironman event. So if you want to give this one a go, I’ll be there to hold your hand when you’re finished. 

Date: Nov. 23

Location: Cozumel Island

Cost: US $808

Thanksgiving with Barry I. White

Barry I. White
Spend Thanksgiving with Barry I. White and receive a soulful serenade for the holiday. (Eventbrite)

Enjoy a luxurious Thanksgiving celebration this year with Barry’s soulful serenades under the stars, with a red carpet dinner and a show. Forget the hassle of cooking a huge meal, indulge in an award-winning chef’s traditional Thanksgiving meal, then get on the dance floor to help dance off too much turkey. It doesn’t stop there. Don’t forget the cocktail party afterward. 

Date: Nov. 27

Location: Deck 5 Pool & Skybar, Playa del Carmen

Cost: 800 pesos

Queen in Black and White 

Queen in black and white
They’re Queen songs, so of course you know the words. (Eventbrite)

If you’re in my age group (even if you’re not), you’ll love this one. Kick back for a great night’s entertainment with a glass and sing along to Queen’s greatest hits, as performed by pianist Homero Lezzama. Come on, I know you know all the words! So don’t be surprised if I’m singing along at the next table! You can even choose your own seats by the stage.

Date: Nov. 29

Location: House of Culture Cancún, Cancún

Cost: Tickets from 260 to 400 pesos.

Mexico Correspondent for International Living, Bel is an experienced writer, author, photographer and videographer with 500+ articles published both in print and across digital platforms. Living in the Mexican Caribbean for over 7 years now she’s in love with Mexico and has no plans to go anywhere anytime soon. 

Sheinbaum condemns US boat strikes near Mexico’s waters: Wednesday’s mañanera recapped

By
MND Staff
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9
Sheinbaum mañanera Oct. 29, 2025
Sheinbaum stressed on Wednesday that "we do not want there to be a violation of our sovereignty, nor for there to be these kinds of operations in ... [Mexico's exclusive] economic zone." (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)

The U.S. military strikes on alleged drug boats transporting alleged “narco-terrorists” in the Pacific Ocean on Monday were a key focus of President Claudia Sheinbaum’s Wednesday morning press conference.

Two days after the lethal, contentious — and quite possibly illegal — strikes occurred in international waters, many unanswered questions remain. Information from the Mexican Navy indicates that at least one of the strikes occurred in international waters off Mexico’s southern Pacific coast.

The only official U.S. government information on the attacks comes from a single social media post by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

Sheinbaum acknowledges that US attack occurred off Mexico’s coast

Sheinbaum said that a U.S. military strike on at least one of the alleged drug boats occurred in international waters off the coast of Mexico.

“There had been [U.S. attacks on boats] further south but now it was in the location, in latitude and longitude, of our country,” she said.

“We don’t agree with these interventions,” Sheinbaum added.

The U.S. attack on the alleged drug boats claimed 14 lives, according to Hegseth. He said on social media site X on Tuesday that there was one survivor and that Mexican authorities “assumed responsibility for coordinating the rescue.”

Hegseth said that the strikes occurred in the “eastern Pacific,” but didn’t provide the exact location.

The Mexican Navy said Tuesday that it was carrying out a search and rescue mission 400 miles southwest of Acapulco, indicating that the boat the survivor was on was off the coast of Mexico when it was attacked.

Sheinbaum said Wednesday that the navy “failed to rescue” the survivor, leaving their fate unclear.

On social media on Wednesday morning, José Díaz Briseño, a U.S.-based correspondent for Mexico’s Reforma newspaper, wrote that “thanks to Mexico’s Navy we know that one of the Pentagon’s lethal strikes vs an alleged drug boat this week occurred close to Mexico’s exclusive economic zone in the Pacific.”

Sheinbaum: We don’t want ‘these kinds of operations’ in Mexico’s exclusive economic zone

Sheinbaum spoke out in favor of arresting suspected drug traffickers at sea, rather than killing them.

“We have a model, a protocol, that has produced a lot of results. If, in international waters, the United States sees a boat that is allegedly carrying drugs, an agreement is reached and either the Mexican Navy or U.S. government institutions [should] intervene to arrest the alleged criminals,” she said.

Sheinbaum said that she had asked her foreign affairs minister, Juan Ramón de la Fuente, to convey the message to the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Ron Johnson, that what the Mexican government wants is for the aforesaid protocol to be improved “within the framework of the security agreements we have with the United States.”

De la Fuente and Mexico’s Navy Minister Raymundo Pedro Morales met with Johnson on Tuesday.

Sheinbaum said that the ambassador “agreed in principle” with Mexico’s position.

However, she noted that he has to discuss the issue with “different authorities of the U.S. government.”

“But in principle he agreed with promoting the continuation of a protocol” favoring the arrest of suspected drug traffickers, Sheinbaum said.

She stressed that “we do not want there to be a violation of our sovereignty, nor for there to be these kinds of operations in … [Mexico’s exclusive] economic zone.”

Sheinbaum explained that another reason why her government opposes military strikes of the kind the U.S. military has been conducting in both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean is that there could be Mexicans on board the boats that are targeted.

Hegseth said on X that 14 people had been killed in “three lethal kinetic strikes on four vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations (DTO) trafficking narcotics in the Eastern Pacific.”

However, he didn’t say where the victims came from or where the vessels departed and where they were headed. Hegseth didn’t provide any specific evidence to support his claim that the boats were carrying “narco-terrorists,” saying only that “the four vessels were known by our intelligence apparatus, transiting along known narco-trafficking routes, and carrying narcotics.”

Recent U.S. military strikes on alleged drug boats have killed a total of 57 people.

The New York Times reported on Tuesday that “a broad range of experts in laws governing the use of armed force have said the strikes are illegal.”

The Times also wrote that the Trump administration “has offered tenuous legal rationales” for its attacks “while releasing little evidence to support its smuggling allegations.”

Mexico seeking information from US about victims of strikes 

Sheinbaum said that her government is asking the Trump administration to provide details about the nationalities of the people killed in, and the survivor of, the military strikes in the Pacific Ocean on Monday.

Mexico searches for lone survivor of US strikes on alleged drug boats that killed 14

Asked whether the survivor, if rescued, would be handed over to the U.S. government, the president said that her government would have to look at the relevant Mexican and international laws.

Earlier this month, the United States repatriated two survivors of a strike in the Caribbean Sea to their home countries of Colombia and Ecuador.

U.S. President Donald Trump said earlier this month that his government was “totally prepared” to start targeting alleged drug traffickers on land as well.

So far in 2025, the Trump administration has designated 10 Western Hemisphere crime groups, including six Mexican cartels, as foreign terrorist organizations.

Sheinbaum has ruled out the possibility of U.S. armed forces targeting Mexican cartels on Mexican soil.

“Mexico is a free, independent and sovereign country, and no foreign government would dare to violate our sovereignty,” she said in August when asked whether a U.S. strike against Mexican cartels was a possibility.

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

Trump administration revokes 13 flight routes from Mexico to US

By
MND Staff
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volaris plance in air
The revoking of route permissions affects major Mexican airlines such as Aeroméxico and Volaris, as well as both of Mexico City's international airports. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)

The Trump administration has revoked approval for 13 routes operated by Mexican airlines from Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) and Mexico City International Airport (AICM) to the United States, affecting both currently available flights and planned new routes for Aeroméxico, Volaris and Viva.

The move eliminates all combined passenger and cargo flights – known as “belly cargo” – between the U.S. and AIFA, and freezes the growth of those services by Mexican airlines between the U.S. and AICM. Additionally, the U.S. has proposed banning all belly cargo transport between AICM and the U.S., which would take effect in about three months if finalized.

Sec. Duffy
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy used bold language in announcing the flight bans: “Until Mexico stops the games and honors its commitments, we will continue to hold them accountable. No country should be able to take advantage of our carriers, our market and our flyers without repercussions.” (Transportation.gov)

According to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, the decision responds to Mexico’s non-compliance with the 2015 U.S.-Mexico Air Transport Agreement, saying that Mexico “illegally canceled and froze U.S. carrier flights for three years without consequences.” 

The Transportation Department said Mexico breached the aviation agreement starting in 2022, when it rescinded U.S. passenger carriers’ slots and forced U.S. all-cargo carriers to relocate operations. 

“Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg were too weak to stand up to Mexico when they walked all over our bilateral aviation agreement,” Duffy said in a statement. “These deals are binding, and like our trade agreements, President Trump is going to put America First and enforce them.”

Duffy’s announcement affects existing flights, but also routes scheduled to be launched by Aeroméxico, Volaris, and Viva between now and the end of the year, one of the peak seasons for the tourism sector. 

“Until Mexico stops the games and honors its commitments, we will continue to hold them accountable,” Duffy said. “No country should be able to take advantage of our carriers, our market and our flyers without repercussions.”  

U.S. authorities have said the affected flights include Aeromexico routes between AICM and San Juan, Puerto Rico, and between AIFA and the Texas cities of Houston and McAllen. 

Volaris flights between AICM and Newark, New Jersey were also cancelled, as well as Viva flights from AIFA to Austin, Texas, New York-JFK, Chicago-O’Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver-Houston, Los Angeles and Miami and Orlando, Florida.

U.S. authorities have advised American citizens to contact “their carrier for specific re-accommodation information,” as they are aware this decision may impact their travel plans.

Meanwhile, President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo announced Wednesday morning that she will hold a meeting with Aeromexico, Volaris and Viva, to create a joint strategy in response to the restrictions imposed by the U.S. government.

With reports from Reuters, El Universal, and El País

Cartel drone attacks force residents to flee El Chapo’s hometown in Sinaloa

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MND Staff
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drone
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Rocha said that state and federal authorities had responded to the situation and seized "a lot of drones." Residents say the attacks started in September. (Juan José Estrada Serafín/Cuartoscuro)

Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya acknowledged on Tuesday that drone attacks have recently been carried out in Badiraguato, a municipality in Sinaloa where convicted drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera was born and grew up.

He noted that the attacks have generated fear among residents of Badiraguato and forced some families to leave their homes to seek refuge in safer places.

Some of the attacks reportedly targeted a property in the village of La Tuna where Guzmán Loera’s deceased mother formerly lived.

There are no reports of the drone attacks having caused fatalities or injuries.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Rocha said that state and federal authorities had responded to the situation and seized “a lot of drones.”

Citing unnamed security sources, Aristegui Noticias reported that authorities have seized seven drones as well as material used in the manufacture of improvised explosive devices.

Rocha didn’t specify when the drone attacks took place. However, displaced residents said they began in September.

The governor said that displaced residents have received assistance from the Sinaloa Welfare Ministry.

Rocha didn’t say who was responsible for the drone attacks, but they could be linked to a long-running and very bloody battle between rival factions of the Sinaloa Cartel.

One of those factions, Los Chapitos, is controlled by two of the sons of “El Chapo” Guzmán. Two of the notorious trafficker’s other sons are in custody in the United States, as is Guzmán, who was sentenced to life imprisonment on a drug trafficking conviction in 2019.

The mountainous municipality where he was born in 1957 has long been associated with the drug trade in Mexico.

Cartels’ use of drones 

Mexican cartels have been carrying out attacks with explosive-laden drones for several years. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel has allegedly used the unmanned aerial devices to carry out attacks in the state of Michoacán, while La Familia Michoacana has reportedly used drones in Guerrero.

Earlier this month, a crime group in Tijuana used three drones to launch a crude improvised explosive device attack on the Baja California attorney general’s offices in the northern border city.

In July, a senior Trump administration official said that it was “only a matter of time” before Mexican criminal organizations carried out drone attacks against U.S. citizens and law enforcement authorities.

“Nearly every day, transnational criminal organizations use drones to convey illicit narcotics and contraband across U.S. borders and to conduct hostile surveillance of law enforcement,” said Steven Willoughby, a high-ranking official in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

In September, The New York Times reported that drug smugglers and cartel gunmen in Mexico are using “improvised explosive devices to kill their rivals and modifying drones bought online to make attack drones, loaded with toxic chemicals and bombs.”

“… Just as drones, cheap and easy to modify, have proliferated in the battlefields of Ukraine, their use by cartels — for surveillance and precision bombing — has surged drastically in recent years,” the Times reported, citing government officials, security experts and analysts.

With reports from Milenio, Aristegui Noticias, El Universal and CBS

Oaxaca’s Centro Cultural del Mezcal wins Paris Design Award

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MND Staff
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Interior of Centro Cultural del Mezcal
Traditional materials used in the space include black clay, artisanal textiles and locally treated tropical woods. (Centro Cultural del Mezcal)

The Mezcal Cultural Center (CCM), a space celebrating Oaxaca’s mezcal heritage, came out on top in the 2025 DNA Paris Design Awards on Monday for its innovative mix of traditional and modern Oaxacan design. 

The awards recognize architectural and design projects that combine creativity, functionality and respect for cultural identity. The CCM, which opened in October 2023, won in the Interior Design/Renovation category. 

The design team, led by Alonso de la Fuente Obregón and made up of Itzel Paniagua, Andrés Vivanco and Mariana Forzán, carefully restored a 17th-century building in the heart of Oaxaca city to create the venue. 

The team aimed to promote and preserve the state’s long history of mezcal production, a spirit produced from the maguey plant — known scientifically as agave. The CCM’s Head Chef, Itzel Paniagua, and partners wanted to raise awareness about the cultural and historical importance of mezcal and to put a spotlight on the region’s master producers.  

“I see the project as a work of art,” Paniagua told the newspaper Milenio. “As a group, we want to contribute in every way; ensuring everything is well looked after and curated; not just offering delicious food and drinks but having a cultural space… that would showcase the richness of Oaxaca.” 

 

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The team preserved materials, textures and colors typical of the building’s era and incorporated contemporary elements to combine tradition and modernity. The designers used the maguey plant for inspiration, with furniture and other pieces that mirror the plant’s leaves and heart. 

Traditional materials used in the space include black clay, artisanal textiles and locally treated tropical woods. The CCM showcases art and handicrafts from local artisans and artists, as well as 95 plant species endemic to Oaxaca.  

The venue includes an interactive museum, the El Gallo bar, the Alambiq restaurant and a mezcal shop with over 320 Oaxacan mezcal labels. All the mezcal is purchased at a fair price directly from producers, who have committed to planting an agave for every mezcal sold. 

Mezcal producers across the state’s seven regions continue to use ancestral techniques for the alcohol’s complex production process, but they are often overshadowed by major mezcal brands, according to Paniagua.  

“We take it as if it were just another thing, and people don’t realize all the effort and work a master mezcalero puts into it so you can have a glass of mezcal on your table.” 

The team hopes the venue will celebrate mezcal’s community roots as well as raise awareness about its cultural importance.  

With reports from López-Dóriga Digital, Culinaria Mexicana and Milenio

Gulf of California’s vaquita population inches higher, giving some hope for recovery

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MND Staff
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Marine scientist surveying vaquitas
Mexican and international marine scientists carried out visual monitoring throughout September afer five months of acoustic monitoring to estimate the current vaquita population in the Gulf of California. (@seashepherd/X)

Between seven and 10 vaquitas — the world’s most endangered marine mammal — have been confirmed alive in Mexico’s Upper Gulf of California following a joint monitoring effort by the federal government and scientists, officials announced Tuesday.

Details of the 2025 Vaquita Marina Observation Cruise, presented at the facilities of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat), also heralded the birth of at least one new calf, giving hope to a species on the brink of extinction.

The visual monitoring from Sept. 2 to 30, following five months of acoustic monitoring, was supported by Mexican and international marine scientists aboard two vessels of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. 

Last year’s annual vaquita census expedition counted only six to eight individuals, down from between eight and 13 in 2023.

Though this year’s slight increase offers hope for recovery, scientists note that returning to the 2015 population of 60 would take up to 20 years

These figures are for the entire global population, since vaquitas are found in only one location: Mexico’s Upper Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortez.

They are shy, small porpoises whose full name in Spanish is vaquita marina, which translates to little sea cow.

Their population’s severe decline over the last two decades is largely due to a boom in the illegal fishing of totoaba, whose bladders are prized in traditional Chinese medicine and can fetch very high prices.

Totoaba are commonly caught using gillnets, which also indiscriminately trap and kill vaquitas.

Marina Robles García, undersecretary of Biodiversity and Environmental Restoration, a division of Semarnat, said the monitoring allows scientists to adjust their strategies and reinforce positive actions in specific areas.

But mainly, she added, the survey confirms “that the vaquita is still [out] there, that it persists, that the downward trend has not continued, that there are even individuals we hadn’t seen for several years — that were evidently in some other location where we haven’t been monitoring — and that it continues to reproduce.”

Using 1,228 detectors at 497 sites, acoustic monitoring recorded 254 encounters between May and late September.

Local fishermen and youth in the region participated in aspects of the monitoring.

Visual efforts identified at least one or two calves — including a juvenile swimming alongside its mother, a 1.5-meter female named Frida who is possibly pregnant again — signaling reproduction is underway. 

The newly reported population is based on a 67% probability that the number of vaquitas is between seven and 10, according to a structured process of consensus called Expert Elicitation.

With reports from López-Dóriga and La Jornada

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