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American Airlines announces new flights from US to Mexico City and Querétaro
American Airlines has announced several new flights to Mexico out of U.S. airports that will bring its operations to more than 430 peak daily departures to 97 destinations in Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America this winter.
The airline will open year-round service between its Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) hub and Mexico City’s Benito Juárez International Airport beginning on Oct. 26. The new flights will compete against four carriers on the route — United Airlines and three Mexican carriers, Aeroméxico, Viva Aerobus and Volaris.
Billing itself as “the leading U.S. airline in Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America,” American Airlines (AA) also announced it will launch seasonal holiday service between ORD and Querétaro.
In a press release, AA promoted the new Querétaro destination by highlighting the colonial town’s historic center and the “convenient access to nearby attractions, including one of Mexico’s best wine regions and the charming town of San Miguel de Allende.”
AA will fly the route daily from Dec. 18 to Jan. 5, 2026.
Earlier this year, American revealed plans to add its 30th network point in Mexico by providing service between Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, beginning on Dec. 3. The route will be operated twice-weekly year round.
At the same time, AA confirmed its earlier announcement that it will offer three daily flights from Chicago-O’Hare to Cancún International Airport, up to two daily flights to San José del Cabo-Los Cabos International Airport and two daily flights between Dec. 18 and Jan. 6 to Puerto Vallarta International Airport.
According to the CAPA-Aviation Centre, American Airlines is the leading carrier in the U.S.-Mexico transborder market, holding a 19.8% share of two-way seats. United Airlines is second with a 16.2% share, followed by Volaris (14.1%), Delta Air Lines (12.5%), Aeroméxico (9.3%) and Viva Aerobus (6%).
With reports from Aviation Week Network, Simple Flying and Aviación al Día
Canada tariffs and Mexican artificial intelligence research: Friday’s mañanera recapped
President Claudia Sheinbaum’s Friday morning press conference had a colorful and melodious start, with musicians and dancers joining Oaxaca Governor Salomón Jara to promote the Guelaguetza festival, which is taking place in Oaxaca this month.
One of the dancers was wearing a mojiganga, a gigantic puppet figure that includes an oversized head.
Con todo el folclor, colores, sabores y ritmo del estado de Oaxaca, hoy en la #MañaneraDelPueblo, se anunció La Guelaguetza 2025, que se realizará del 21 al 28 de julio.
Esta vez, la celebración va por una gran causa, ya que parte de los ingresos se destinarán al apoyo de… pic.twitter.com/cmRNJswcFd— Ernestina Godoy Ramos (@ErnestinaGodoy_) July 11, 2025
Later in the press conference, Sheinbaum responded to questions on a range of topics, including trade, artificial intelligence and her reading habits.
‘We don’t agree with the tariffs,’ says Sheinbaum
A reporter asked the president about the 35% tariff that United States President Donald Trump said he would impose on imports from Canada starting Aug. 1.
Sheinbaum first noted that a Mexican delegation led by Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard was in Washington, D.C., for talks on Friday with U.S. officials about the “global agreement” covering security, migration and trade that she proposed to Trump last month.
Mexico is seeking to win an exemption from, or at least a reduction of, the tariffs that currently apply to Mexico’s steel, aluminum and vehicle exports to the United States.
Sheinbaum declared that “obviously, we don’t agree with the tariffs.”
That remark apparently applied to the duties the United States has imposed on imports from Mexico and Canada, as well as the 35% tariff Trump said he would impose on Canadian products starting Aug. 1.
“We believe that the best way to compete … is by strengthening the trade agreement,” Sheinbaum said, referring to the USMCA, which is up for review in 2026.
The strengthening of the three-way pact will allow North America “to compete a lot better with other regions of the world,” she said.
“That has always been our position,” Sheinbaum added.
Asked whether Mexico would always favor a trilateral free trade agreement in North America, the president responded:
“Yes, the three countries being together strengthens us. Our position has even been to expand [the USMCA] to really make [the continent of] America an economic, cultural and social power in all senses.”
Sheinbaum added that Mexico’s “maxim is cooperation for development.”
“Of course President Trump has his own vision, and we’re always going to seek to defend Mexico, in the first place — jobs and the people of Mexico,” she said.
Sheinbaum: National Artificial Intelligence Laboratory will focus on various issues
Sheinbaum reminded reporters that establishing a National Artificial Intelligence Laboratory is one of the objectives of the federal government’s Plan México economic initiative.
She said that José Antonio Peña Merino, head of the government’s Digital Transformation and Telecommunications Agency, and the federal minister for science, humanities, technology and innovation, Rosaura Ruiz, are working toward that goal.
The laboratory, Sheinbaum said, will have “many aspects.”
It will focus on education, technological development, the development of open-source programs and various other issues, she said.
“We’ll present it here at a later date,” Sheinbaum said.
In April, she said that experts in a range of scientific disciplines would work together at the National Artificial Intelligence Laboratory on strategic projects. Sheinbaum said at the time that seismology, meteorology and medicine would be among the topics AI researchers would focus on.
The government has not said when it experts the laboratory to start operations.
Sheinbaum has finished Merkel’s autobiography. What’s she reading now?
Almost three months after Sheinbaum revealed that she was reading the autobiography of former German chancellor Angela Merkel, a reporter asked the president whether she had finished the book and whether she learnt any “lesson” from it.
Sheinbaum said that she had finished reading Merkel’s book (called “Freedom: Memoirs 1954-2021″) and noted that the former German leader recounts her “personal story” growing up in East Germany and writes about her political career including the “important decisions” she took as chancellor.
She reiterated that is not politically aligned with Merkel, but described her personal story as “very interesting.”
Sheinbaum revealed that she is now reading a book called “Una patria con madre” (A Homeland with a Mother), a non-fiction work about La Malinche, the Indigenous woman who was an interpreter, advisor and companion to Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés.
The book is “very interesting, and we’re going to speak about it this year because it’s the Year of the Indigenous Woman,” she said.
“… We have a working group of anthropologists, historians and philosophers … [focused on] this person who is so important and so maligned and whose recognition is very important,” Sheinbaum said.
She said that after the conclusion of the celebrations marking the 700th anniversary of the founding of Tenochtitlán, “we’re going to start speaking about Malinche.”
“That’s why I’m reading that book,” Sheinbaum said.
By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)
Sinaloa Cartel leader Ovidio Guzmán pleads guilty to drug trafficking and organized crime charges in the US
Ovidio Guzmán López, son of the notorious Sinaloa Cartel boss Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera, pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges in a U.S. federal court in Chicago on Friday.
Facing a possible life sentence, Ovidio pleaded guilty to two counts of drug distribution and two counts of participation in a continuing criminal enterprise at the Dirksen federal courthouse in downtown Chicago, a city where cartel members made key inroads.
His next court appearance in front of U.S. District Judge Sharon Coleman will be in six months.
The guilty plea comes as violence unleashed back home by warring factions of the Sinaloa Cartel continues to terrorize residents of the northwestern state of Sinaloa.
In late June, Mexican authorities found 20 bodies — including five that were decapitated — in the state capital of Culiacán. In early May, an outburst of violence in the bloody turf war between two cartel factions, Los Chapitos and Los Mayos, forced authorities to shut down highways in and around Culiacán.
The infighting began a few months after the arrest of two rival drug kingpins, including Ovidio’s brother, Joaquín Guzmán López, who was accused by the other — Ismael Zambada — of kidnapping him and turning him over to U.S. authorities.
Zambada is being held in a U.S. federal prison in Brooklyn, while Guzmán López is in Chicago where he is expected to plead guilty during a hearing in September.
What does Ovidio’s plea mean?
In indictments filed in New York and Chicago, prosecutors allege Ovidio and his brothers — aka Los Chapitos”— are accused of reviving the Sinaloa Cartel after their father’s arrest in 2016 by trafficking in fentanyl, sending the deadly opioid to the U.S.
Ovidio, 35, was arrested in Culiacán in January 2023 and extradited from Mexico to the U.S. in September of that same year.
As part of his plea agreement, Ovidio admitted to overseeing the production and smuggling of large quantities of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana and fentanyl into the United States. The actions fueled a crisis that has led to tens of thousands of overdose deaths annually.
Ovidio also pleaded guilty to money laundering and firearms charges. Terms of the deal, including sentencing recommendations or cooperation agreements, were not disclosed, CNN reported.
Before Friday’s court hearing, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum was critical of U.S. dealings with Ovidio, accusing the neighboring country of a “lack of coherence.”
“The U.S. declared Mexican cartels terrorist organizations in January and yet they continue to negotiate with their representatives,” she said.
Ahead of the guilty plea, there had been considerable speculation that Ovidio would become a cooperating witness.
After an Oct. 21, 2024, hearing, El País reported that Ovidio and his brother Joaquín were negotiating plea deals and would be represented by the same attorney, Jeffrey Lichtman.
In mid-May, Mexican authorities confirmed that 17 members of the extended Guzmán family had crossed into the U.S. as part of a deal between Ovidio and U.S. prosecutors.
Attorney Rob Heroy told BBC Mundo that Ovidio was likely turning state’s evidence. “There would be no incentive for him to plead guilty unless he was cooperating,” he said.
Lichtman declined to comment on Friday, telling CNN that he would wait until Ovidio was sentenced before discussing whether the agreement was a good deal.
Parker Asmann, a Sinaloa Cartel expert with organized crime research group InSight Crime, said a plea deal could help pave the way to further prosecution of the Chapitos and the Sinaloa Cartel.
“Securing his cooperation could mean [U.S. authorities] could undermine the drug trade and attack corruption in Mexico they want to target,” Asmann told USA Today.
With reports from El Economista, El País, USA Today, CNN and Reuters
Sheinbaum promises more resources for consulates after ‘unjust’ ICE raids in California
President Claudia Sheinbaum Friday sharply criticized U.S. military-like raids the day before on a pair of marijuana nurseries in California, and said she would make extra funds available to Mexican consulates in the United States.
“These raids are unjust,” Sheinbaum said during her Friday morning press conference. “But they will also cause severe harm to the U.S. economy.”
¿Eres mexicano(a) y vives en EE. UU.?
Acércate a tu consulado 🇲🇽 más cercano. Estamos para apoyarte, orientarte y proteger tus derechos.
El servicio es gratuito, confidencial y disponible 24/7. Acércate. 🤝
Obtén más ℹ️ en: https://t.co/oDIxyCMCZa #NoEstásSolo #NoEstásSola pic.twitter.com/N4NCEvvK33
— Consulado de México en Caléxico (@ConsulMexCal) July 10, 2025
Sheinbaum said that without the labor force of “Mexican [immigrants] and other… Latinos,” farms in California will go unharvested.
As a result of Thursday’s raids — led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents accompanied by National Guard troops in military-style vehicles — Mexican consulates in California received 25 calls asking for help.
This prompted Sheinbaum to increase resources for consulates in the U.S. and to order that bureaucratic procedures be simplified, specifically mentioning the certificate for importation of household goods (trámite de menaje de casa). This certificate — increasingly in demand since the immigration crackdown in the U.S. began in earnest in January — allows Mexicans returning home to import their household belongings free of import taxes.
“We are increasing budgets for our consulates, especially with regard to legal support we provide to our countrymen,” Sheinbaum said, adding that the Finance Ministry will be asked to adjust the budget and provide a report next week.
Additionally, the Foreign Relations Ministry (SRE) activated emergency protocols to attend to Mexican nationals caught up in the California raids. The actions include the publication of emergency consulate protection phone lines.
The SRE also said it is in constant communication with local authorities and is prepared to act in support of any Mexican national in need of legal assistance.
Sheinbaum said that 355 Mexicans have been detained in the California raids to date and, since Jan. 20 (the date Donald Trump was sworn in as U.S. president), more than 67,000 Mexicans have been deported home by plane.
Thursday’s raids took place at two locations operated by Glass House Farms in two California counties — one in the Santa Barbara County town of Carpinteria, about 90 miles northwest of Los Angeles, and one in the Ventura County community of Camarillo, about 50 miles from Los Angeles.
Glass House Farms, self-styled as one of the “fastest-growing vertically integrated cannabis companies in the U.S.,” said in a social media post that its greenhouse sites “were visited … by ICE officials,” adding that it “fully complied with agent search warrants.”
The news agency Reuters reported that “as word and video images of the raids spread on social media, … migrant-rights activists converged on the area … leading to face-offs with federal agents.”
About 100 farmworkers were detained before the protesters arrived. A local TV station reported that tear gas was fired at the crowds, according to Reuters.
At the Carpinteria farm, U.S. congressman Salud Carbajal, a California Democrat, published a video in which he complained that he was denied access to the scene of the raid.
I went to Casitas Pass Road in Carpinteria today after learning ICE was conducting a militarized raid targeting farm workers. As a Member of Congress, I have the right to conduct oversight, but I was denied entry. Here’s what happened. ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/bnrpv6Axot
— Rep. Salud Carbajal (@RepCarbajal) July 10, 2025
He said company officials told him 10 workers were taken into custody at that location, adding in a separate social media post that he “will be demanding answers from the Department of Homeland Security to find out who [was] detained and where the detainees [were] taken.”
The nationalities of the 10 detained workers mentioned by Carbajal have not been made public.
At the farm in Camarillo, Reuters reported that a man fleeing federal agents “appeared to open fire with a handgun in the direction of authorities as they lobbed smoke canisters at protesters.”
Approximately half of all farmworkers in the U.S. are undocumented, but the farm sector insists that mass deportation of agricultural workers would cripple the U.S. food supply chain. Reuters reported that raids on California farms in June left crops unharvested.
With reports from El Universal, UNO TV and Reuters
Government ‘Wellness Chocolate’ is coming soon to a store near you
The Sheinbaum administration’s campaign to offer Mexican-made healthy food options to the public will soon make available a product that’s sure to make a lot of people happy — “Wellness Chocolate.”
This “Chocolate de Bienestar” is part of the government’s “Food for Well-Being” strategy, which aims to bring nutritious and affordable food options to consumers while supporting national producers, particularly those in the southern states of Tabasco and Chiapas — a region that has historically lagged behind other regions in several social and economic indicators.
Les comparto la cápsula que presentamos en la #MañaneraDelPueblo junto a nuestra presidenta @Claudiashein sobre nuestro #ChocolateBienestar 🍫 y el origen de su ingrediente principal: el cacao. Gracias al trabajo de las y los cacaoteros de Tabasco y el norte de Chiapas,… pic.twitter.com/Q90xRG5XPS
— María Luisa Albores González (@Mary_Luisa_AG) July 10, 2025
“Thanks to the efforts of cacao farmers in Tabasco and northern Chiapas, participants in the #SembrandoVida program, we’re now able to bring nutritious, affordable food with a deep social foundation to communities throughout Mexico,” head of Food for Well-Being María Luisa Albores wrote in her official X account.
Now one of those affordable foods will be chocolate, a favorite in Mexico since the time of the Aztecs, when it was so highly prized that its consumption is thought to have been reserved for the upper and priestly classes. Now it will be available to the general public in a presentation both more affordable and, allegedly, healthier than the commercial offerings.
Studies have shown that chocolate improves cardiovascular health via its antioxidants, provides energy, helps control blood pressure, improves cognitive capacity, satisfies hunger and lifts mood.
Albores adds that Wellness Chocolate is also a bone-supporting source of vitamins and minerals.
The down side is that the cacao bean from which chocolate is made is naturally bitter, prompting most commercial brands to include vast amounts of sugar. The Wellness Chocolate attempts to minimize that problem by striking a suppposedly healthier balance between natural cane sugar and the cacao itself. For example, the Wellness Chocolate in bar form uses 50% cacao and 35% sugar, which puts it in the “semi-dark” category with a relatively low fat content.
Still, the packaging dutifully includes warning labels for excess sugar, calories and saturated fats.
Albores revealed that the Wellness Chocolate will be available for purchase at the more than 25,000 Wellness Stores across the county, with its distribution occurring in stages.
“We will reach all of our stores,” she said. “We’re planning a three-month project to ensure that we can deliver these products directly from the countryside of Chiapas and Tabasco to consumers across the country.”
According to the government, the chocolate will be available in three presentations:
- Chocolate bar containing 50% cacao, and priced at 14 pesos (less than one dollar).
- Powdered chocolate with 30% cocoa, priced at 38 pesos (US $2)
- Chocolate de mesa or tablet chocolate, with 35% cacao, priced at 96 pesos (US $5)
Del Toro is at it again: Mexican star cyclist edges toward first place in the Tour of Austria
Mexican cyclist Isaac del Toro, 21, won the third stage of the 2025 Tour of Austria on Friday — his second consecutive victory after he also came first in the race’s second stage on July 3.
With this win “Torito,” as Del Toro is known, moved into second place in the overall standings, just three seconds behind his teammate Felix Grossschartner of Austria. Both men ride for the professional cycling team UAE Team Emirates.
🚨#AlertaADN #OrgulloNacional 🇲🇽El ciclista mexicano Isaac del Toro ganó la tercera etapa del Tour de Austria 2025 👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/bM7gltklH2
— adn40 (@adn40) July 11, 2025
Adverse weather conditions, including rain, upped the challenge during the third stage, a 142-kilometer stretch between Salzburg and the summit of the Gaisberg.
Del Toro’s strategy consisted of resistance and late attack. He remained protected by his team for most of the stage, conserving energy. Then in the last 300 meters of the steep final climb, he launched a powerful sprint that allowed him to overtake his rivals and cross the finish line alone.
AJ August from the U.S. Ineos Grenadiers team attacked with 1.4 kilometers to go, but Del Toro managed to fight back and leave him behind in the final section. Torito recorded a time of 3:39:27, finishing ahead of August and Grossschartner by five and seven seconds, respectively.
Del Toro’s next ride is on July 12, when the 2025 Tour of Austria resumes with the fourth and penultimate stage.
Originally from Ensenada, Baja California, Torito is one of the most promising athletes in Latin American cycling. He previously excelled in the Giro d’Italia 2025, an unprecedented achievement for Mexico, as he led the general classification for 11 consecutive days, wearing the famous maglia rosa.
Although he finished second in the Giro d’Italia behind Britain’s Simon Yates, his performance made him the first Mexican to reach the podium in a Grand Tour and the youngest to hold the lead for such a long period.
Del Toro began cycling at a young age, influenced by his parents. At 16, he emigrated to Italy to gain international experience. In 2019, he joined the A.R. Monex Pro Cycling Team in San Marino and, after a distinguished career in the youth categories, signed with UAE Team Emirates in 2023.
With reports from El Universal, Milenio and Nmás
Tepoztlán: Inside Mexico’s most powerful spiritual center
Two hours south of Mexico City lies Tepoztlán, a Pueblo Mágico that, in comparison to the capital’s frenetic nature, feels like stepping into “The Jungle Book.” As the city’s gridlocked traffic disappears behind you, making way to the verdant scenery of Morelos, something shifts. The air becomes crisp and clean, nature’s colors brighten and a feeling of tranquility blankets the landscape.
I’ve made this drive many times, and the energetic switch never fails to catch me off guard. Some visitors describe the air as dense, and that’s true: humidity levels are significantly higher than Mexico City, and the surrounding mountains of the Sierra Tepoztlán trap moisture, creating a sensation of thick, tangible atmosphere. Scientists might chalk it up to simple geography, but spend some time here and you’ll quickly understand why so many believe that density is something far more profound.
Over the centuries, Tepoztlán has earned its reputation as Mexico’s most powerful spiritual center. But why? What makes this mountain town a spiritual haven for ancient pilgrims and modern day hippies? I set out to find the answer, which turns out to be a mixed bag of ancient legends, sacred sites, and its contemporary role as a premier wellness destination.
The birthplace of Quetzalcoatl
Quetzalcoatl — the “Feathered Serpent” in Nahuatl — remains one of Mesoamerica’s most revered deities, linked to creation, wind, learning and the morning star. He’s most commonly represented as a serpent adorned with vibrant feathers, a symbol of the union between earth and sky and the endless cycles of life and renewal.
According to ancient legend, Quetzalcoatl was born in Amatlán, a mere 15-minute drive from the town Tepoztlán within the same municipality. It’s said that for over 1,000 years, Indigenous pilgrims have trekked these mountains to reach the god’s legendary birthplace. Upon arrival, they would — and often still do — participate in specific rituals for spiritual and personal transformation, including energetic cleansing, musical practices and chanting.
The zone’s sacred caves and natural hot springs continue to attract spiritual seekers today. Don’t miss Poza Nahualatl, a natural pool where Quetzalcoatl is said to have bathed — the water still feels charged with ancient energy.
El Tepozteco: The cliffside temple
As a visitor to Tepoztlán, it’s impossible to miss the town’s crown jewel: the soaring Tepozteco Mountain punctuated by dramatic volcanic rock formations and jagged peaks. What many don’t initially notice, however, is the 10-meter-tall pyramid perched atop one of those very peaks like a stone tiara.
Dedicated to Tepoztécatl, a god of pulque, the Tepozteco Pyramid is a pre-Columbian temple often associated with fertility and harvest. This has made the site a major pilgrimage destination, attracting worshippers from Mexico to Guatemala, and it maintains its spiritual significance today.
The hike itself is challenging but deeply rewarding. Depending on the season, you might pass cascading waterfalls, lush tropical vegetation and unique rock formations created by the area’s volcanic origins. The pyramid is dramatically perched on a cliff, offering sweeping panoramas of the valley below.
Living Indigenous traditions
A visit to Tepoztlán isn’t complete without participating in a traditional temazcal ceremony, which you’ll find offered in abundance throughout this Pueblo Mágico. The ancient sweat lodge experience is always led by a local spiritual practitioner, known as a curandero, and begins with an energetic cleansing using the smoke of burning copal resin; some claim this is a New Age incorporation and not traditional to ancient practices.
Once your aura has been properly cleared of negative energy, you’ll focus on your intention and enter the dome-shaped lodge, where temperatures climb to around 105 F. As you sweat profusely in the steamy darkness, your guide will initiate a series of Nahuatl chants, often inviting you to join in calling upon different deities to assist in your figurative rebirth.
The experience is intense, transformative and deeply rooted in traditions that have survived centuries of change. Many visitors describe feeling lighter, clearer and more connected to both themselves and the land afterward.
A modern spiritual renaissance
Due to Tepoztlán’s spiritual reputation, dozens of yoga retreats and meditation workshops have flourished here over recent decades. But this isn’t just about downward-facing dogs and breathing techniques. International visitors are drawn to the town’s extensive menu of ancient healing modalities, where plant medicine is often integrated with contemporary healing practices.
Whether you’re seeking chakra alignment, womb healing, sound baths or energy work, Tepoztlán has practitioners who blend Indigenous practices with mainstream wellness approaches. The selection can be overwhelming in the best possible way.
Holistic hotels of every price point dot the lush landscape, from the luxurious Amomoxtli resort to the minimalist Ekko Hostel. Personal transformation can literally be found around every corner. In neighboring Amatlán, Hostal de la Luz stands as perhaps the most prestigious wellness destination — it was designated by the Dalai Lama as a “place of world peace” during his visit to Mexico in 2006, cementing Tepoztlán’s global reputation as a spiritual powerhouse.
The sacred geography of Tepoztlán
To top it off, Tepoztlán’s geographic location is uniquely powerful. Nestled in a valley at about 1,700 meters above sea level, the town is surrounded by three massive mountain ranges that form a natural amphitheater. These mountains, including the striking Tepozteco, create a landscape of dramatic cliffs, hidden ravines and towering peaks that contribute to the area’s palpable energy.
Additionally, the town sits at the intersection of Mexico’s Trans-volcanic Belt and the Balsas Depression, making it a transition zone between two major geological and biogeographical regions: the Tropical Nearctic Zone, extending north, and the Neotropical Zone, which runs south.
The region’s natural power comes from nearby volcanoes, rivers, lakes, waterfalls and mineral springs. Stand anywhere in the valley and you can tap into its buzzing, electric quality that seems to emanate from the earth itself.
Perhaps just as importantly, the people of Tepoztlán have maintained a strong collective identity and commitment to preserving their sacred spaces as a community. There’s a deep intergenerational belief in the sacredness of these mountains and Indigenous placemaking practices. The community has actively resisted commercial development projects that threaten their environment and traditions, such as the longstanding opposition to the widening of the La Pera-Cuautla highway. They’ve also managed to keep chain stores and mass tourism at bay: you won’t find even an Oxxo in downtown Tepoztlán.
Why Tepoztlán reigns as Mexico’s spiritual center
After spending time in this mystical valley, it becomes clear why Tepoztlán has earned its reputation as Mexico’s most powerful spiritual center. The town represents a rare convergence of elements that can’t be replicated anywhere else. From its ancient origins as the legendary birthplace of Quetzalcoatl to its almost supernatural geography and the preservation of Indigenous traditions, Tepoztlán has managed a rare feat: maintaining a harmonious balance of ancient wisdom, natural power and contemporary healing.
Whether you come seeking transformation, spiritual awakening or simply a deeper connection to something larger than yourself, this mystical mountain town delivers an experience that will stay with you long after you leave its protective embrace.
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.
Why was there no ‘Middle Ages’ in Mexico?
Dragons, phoenixes and basilisks: None of these medieval beasts were ever sighted in Mesoamerican territory. Busy building pyramids and astronomical observatories, the ancient civilizations that populated present-day Mexico knew neither castles nor crusading knights. The question, however, remains: Why was there no Middle Ages in Mexico?
This question is fundamentally misguided for art historian Maira Montenegro, who recently graduated from the Master’s degree in Curatorial Studies at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Before answering why there was no Middle Ages in Mexico, Montenegro explains that defining what this period was is a good starting point.
“The Middle Ages,” the specialist told Mexico News Daily, “is a historiographical category created to study a historical period in Europe.” Temporally, it is located between the fall of the Eastern Roman Empire and early modernity in Europe. According to the historical magazine Medieval Times, the Middle Ages began in AD 476 and spanned a thousand years.
It was a period of profound theological exploration, translation of Greek philosophical texts and extensive artistic development, especially that related to the religious work of the Christian world. Furthermore, Montenegro adds, “this category [the Middle Ages] can be controversial and open to criticism,” as it depends on the local context in which a given work was created.
Dominated by the construction of magnificent and somber cathedrals, the Middle Ages — or Dark Ages, as the period is also known — was fundamentally influenced by the spread of Christianity. This historical period was characterized by profound religious violence and “great political unrest,” The Medieval Times points out, “which resulted in the founding of many modern European countries.”
Broadly speaking, this extensive historical period — which lasted over 10 centuries —can be divided into two main stages:
- The High Middle Ages, between the 5th and 10th centuries
- The Late Middle Ages, between the 10th and 15th centuries
According to the University of Valencia, the High Middle Ages were characterized “by the struggle for supremacy between the three contemporary empires: the Byzantine, the Islamic and the Carolingian.” In the latter half, known as the Late Middle Ages, the geopolitical arrangements created during the preceding centuries began to decline.
What happened during the Middle Ages in Mexico?
Just as Europe had specific categories for this historical period, Mesoamerica and her cultures had their own. These historical processes had no connection with the European ones. Around the beginning of the Middle Ages, Mesoamerican civilizations were already deep into the Early Classic period, which lasted from around AD 150 to -600).
As archaeologist and anthropoligist George L. Cowgill wrote for Arqueología Mexicana magazine, by then, the ancient civilizations that populated Mesoamerica had already reached a “high level of development,” which was “evident in the complexity of their religious systems, the monumentality of their pyramids and other civic-ceremonial structures [as well as] the refinement of their artistic styles.”
Even in the most arid regions, entire cities had complex irrigation and water supply systems. For example, the sacred city of Teotihuacan, in the Basin of Mexico, and Monte Albán, the jewel of the Valley of Oaxaca, had already reached their architectural peak and were weaving their trade networks through present-day Mexico.
In the Yucatán Peninsula, the Maya had already developed a complex ritual calendar aligned with the stars and celestial cycles. Beyond the allegedly centuries-old cleansing rituals the Riviera offers today, this culture had already developed medical science and technology for dental procedures, as shown by research published by UNAM’s FES Iztacala campus.
Although the Middle Ages never really happened in Mexico, the Spaniards brought some unique medieval souvenirs from Europe. “In the summer of 1520,” as documented by the UNAM’s Institute of Historical Research, “Mexico-Tenochtitlan was gripped by a smallpox epidemic.” The disease wiped out 90% of the original population of what was then Nueva España. Other sources suggest that it was only about half of the native population, which is nonetheless scandalous and grievous.
The consequences were so dire that this spread of the virus is now considered the first pandemic ever recorded in the new world.
Why was there no Middle Ages in Mexico?
Regarding why there was no Middle Ages in Mexico, Montenegro explains that “this is a historiographical category for understanding a European process, in a context with distinct traditions and ethnicities.” The only known “medieval” settlement in the Americas occurred in 1021 AD, after the Vikings arrived on the island of Newfoundland, in what is now Canada. However, the University of Groningen (Norway) confirmed in 2021 that this settlement never truly prospered. Therefore, it is virtually impossible for Norse navigators to ever reach Mexican territory.
Half a century later, when the Spanish invaders arrived in the Americas, the Middle Ages were already coming to an end in Europe. Therefore, the art historian poses a question that seems more interesting to her: Why should Mexico have a Middle Ages? For her, this responds to this constant desire to “fit into European molds,” which seems to “impose a colonial category” on the country’s own historical processes.
Montenegro points out that historians and those dedicated to analyzing these historical processes must adapt these categories to more local issues. In the Mexican context, processes occurred completely unrelated to Europe. Mesoamerican timelines have nothing to do with medieval development on the theological, philosophical or scientific levels. Ultimately, “History should not always be as told by Europe,” the specialist concludes.
Andrea Fischer contributes to the features desk at Mexico News Daily. She has edited and written for National Geographic en Español and Muy Interesante México, and continues to be an advocate for anything that screams science. Or yoga. Or both.
US again halts imports of Mexican cattle over screwworm concerns: Thursday’s mañanera recapped
A new screwworm case in Mexico, job losses and the looming expiration of a tomato trade agreement were among the issues President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke about at her Thursday morning press conference.
Here is a recap of the president’s July 10 mañanera.
Sheinbaum: US decision to once again halt Mexican cattle imports due to screwworm threat ‘totally exaggerated’
On Wednesday, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins had ordered “the closure of livestock trade through southern ports of entry effective immediately.”
In a statement, the USDA noted that Mexico’s National Service of Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety, and Quality (Senasica) reported on Tuesday “a new case of New World Screwworm (NWS) in Ixhuatlán de Madero, Veracruz in Mexico, which is approximately 160 miles northward of the current sterile fly dispersal grid, on the eastern side of the country and 370 miles south of the U.S./Mexico border.”
“This new northward detection comes approximately two months after northern detections were reported in Oaxaca and Veracruz, less than 700 miles away from the U.S. border, which triggered the closure of our ports to Mexican cattle, bison, and horses on May 11, 2025,” the USDA said.
The department said that while it “announced a risk-based phased port re-opening strategy for cattle, bison, and equine from Mexico beginning as early as July 7, 2025, this newly reported NWS case raises significant concern about the previously reported information shared by Mexican officials and severely compromises the outlined port reopening schedule of five ports from July 7-September 15.”
“Therefore, in order to protect American livestock and our nation’s food supply, Secretary Rollins has ordered the closure of livestock trade through southern ports of entry effective immediately,” the USDA said.
At her press conference on Thursday, Sheinbaum expressed her disagreement with the decision.
She said that upon finding out about the new screwworm case in Veracruz, the United States government took, “from our point of view” a “totally exaggerated decision to once again close the border.”
“In any case, what do we do? Well, the technical teams immediately get back to work to demonstrate that [the screwworm situation] is under control and that everything that scientifically and practically should be done is being done,” Sheinbaum said.
She said that Agriculture Minister Julio Berdegué — who didn’t attend Thursday’s press conference due to illness — is in “permanent contact” with Secretary Rollins, and “we hope that the border will be opened again very soon.”
Sheinbaum said that the latest screwworm case in Veracruz was attended to “immediately.”
“As the director of Senasica rightly says: veterinarians arrive, there is a team, there is a care protocol; sterile flies are released so that this pest does not spread. So, all the protocols are being followed,” she said.
Sheinbaum seeks to allay concerns about job losses
A reporter noted that Mexico lost more than 46,000 formal sector jobs in June, the third consecutive month that the size of the country’s formal sector workforce shrank.
Sheinbaum declared that “the trend will change,” asserting that public and private infrastructure projects as well as housing projects “will enable employment to grow.”
She highlighted that the number of people in formal sector jobs at the end of June was higher than a year earlier, and therefore there has been job growth over the past 12 months.
The president is correct, although the formal sector workforce only added 6,222 jobs in the 12 months to the end of June, representing an annual growth rate of just 0.03%, according to the Mexican Social Security Institute.
Sheinbaum attributed job losses in recent months to the “tariff decisions” of the United States, which has imposed duties on imports of steel, aluminum and cars from Mexico.
“But we have Plan México, which is going to work,” she said, referring to the government’s ambitious economic initiative.
“And this year, in particular, the trend will change due to construction [projects], among other things,” Sheinbaum said.
“Any country in the world, when it has a situation like these, immediately activates construction,” she said, adding that the government will build 182,000 homes in Mexico this year.
She said that the construction of new houses “will help us a lot” in job creation.
“And it must be said that [vehicle] exports increased in June. So a part of exports that could have declined due to tariff measures is recovering,” Sheinbaum said.
No deal yet to avert US tomato tariff
A reporter noted that Mexico’s agreement with the United States on tomato exports is set to expire on July 14, paving the way for the U.S. to impose tariffs on Mexican tomatoes.
The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) announced in April its intention to “withdraw from the 2019 Agreement Suspending the Antidumping Investigation on Fresh Tomatoes from Mexico.”
“… With the termination of this agreement, Commerce will institute an antidumping duty order on July 14, 2025, resulting in duties of 20.91% on most imports of tomatoes from Mexico,” the department said.
Sheinbaum said that Mexican authorities “have worked a lot with the United States government” and that “tomato associations from different parts of the country, particularly Sinaloa, have also been working and have been in contact” with U.S. authorities.
However, no deal to avert the imposition of the tariff has yet been reached.
Sheinbaum said that between 70% and 80% of tomatoes consumed in the United States are exported from Mexico and therefore “it’s not easy to substitute them.”
“Firstly, due to the quantity, the volume, and secondly due to the quality,” she said.
“… They’re going to get angry if they produce elsewhere, but tomatoes from Sinaloa are difficult to replace,” Sheinbaum said.
“So, beyond the decisions that the United States government takes, it’s not so easy to substitute [Mexican tomatoes], they’re going to have to continue importing,” she said.
By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)
