The fall to US $61.8 billion in remittances received marked the biggest drop since 2009, but it still accounted for 3.4% of Mexico’s GDP in 2025. (Shutterstock)
Remittances to Mexico from abroad declined by 4.6% in 2025, to a total of US $61.8 billion, marking the biggest fall since 2009, the Bank of Mexico (Banxico) reported on Tuesday.
Remittances contributed 3.4% of Mexico’s GDP in 2025, according to an analysis by Banco BASE’s director of economic analysis, Gabriela Siller.
Mexicans living in remote pueblos often have to wait in line to receive their remittances from relatives abroad, which for many, is most of what they have to live on. (Claroscuro)
Electronic transfer was the method of preference for senders, accounting for 99.1%, or $61.2 billion, of remittances sent.
Of the total remittance income sent to Mexico electronically, 49.6% was collected in cash, totaling $30.3 billion. Remittances sent as bank deposits accounted for 50.4% of the total, or $30.9 billion.
Most remittances sent to Mexico come from Mexicans who live and work in the United States.
In addition, the worsening United States labor market and a stronger peso against the dollar were cited as factors driving the decrease.
A growth in remittances was observed during just three months last year: January, March and December.
In December, remittances totaled $5.3 billion, which was 1.9% higher than in the same month in 2024. The average remittance sent in December was $408 per transfer, which is slightly higher than the $375 average recorded in December 2024.
The three states that received the highest quantity of money from remittances were Guanajuato, Michoacán and Jalisco, accounting for 8.9%, 8.7% and 8.3% of total transfers, respectively.
Federal security forces said that "55 doses" of crystal meth, a long gun, two firearm magazines, a vehicle and two telephones were seized from Jesús Emir "N" when he was detained. (@OHarfuch/X)
Federal security forces have detained a man in connection with the armed attack last Wednesday on two Citizens’ Movement party (MC) lawmakers in Culiacán, the capital of the northern state of Sinaloa.
According to a joint statement issued by federal security forces on Tuesday, Jesús Emir “N” was arrested in Culiacán on Monday in an operation carried out by personnel from the Mexican Army, the Navy, the Federal Attorney General’s Office, the Security Ministry and the National Guard.
The statement said the suspect is “related to the attack against two deputies in the state of Sinaloa” on Jan. 28. In a post to X, federal Security Minister Omar García Harfuch wrote that “one of those responsible for the cowardly attack” on the MC lawmakers had been detained. Authorities haven’t disclosed any possible motive for the crime.
The detained suspect was identified in media reports as Jesús Emir Bazoco Peraza, also known as “El Compa Güero” and “Radio 13.”
The joint statement said that Jesús Emir “N” has been identified as the person responsible for controlling “communication radios” for a criminal cell and installing cameras to monitor the movements “of the authorities.”
It also said that the suspect purchased drones for a criminal cell.
Last Friday, García Harfuch said that “a cell of Los Chapitos” — a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel controlled by sons of imprisoned drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán — was to blame for the attack on Sergio Torres Félix and Elizabeth Rafaela Montoya Ojeda, both of whom are MC deputies in the Sinaloa state Congress.
The two lawmakers were in a vehicle when they came under fire near the boardwalk in downtown Culiacán. They were both wounded, and six days later remain hospitalized.
In their joint statement, federal security forces said that “55 doses” of crystal meth, a long gun, two firearm magazines, a vehicle and two telephones were seized from Jesús Emir “N” when he was detained.
They said that the suspect and the confiscated items were turned over to the “corresponding” public prosecutor, “who will determine his legal situation.”
In his X post, García Harfuch said that investigations are continuing in order to “detain all those responsible” for the attack on Torres and Montoya “and ensure that this crime doesn’t go unpunished, as President @Claudiashein instructed.”
The federal security forces said that security camera footage has been analyzed and that “lines of investigation” to identify the perpetrators of the attack have been drawn up.
They said it was established that the perpetrators used a white truck to flee the scene of the crime. That vehicle was found on the second floor of a supermarket parking lot, according to the joint statement.
For well over a year, Culiacán has been the epicenter of a bloody conflict between Los Chapitos and Los Mayos, another Sinaloa Cartel faction that was formerly led by Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a longtime leader of the cartel who last year pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges in U.S. federal court.
Who is ‘El Compa Güero’?
The newspaper El Universal reported that Bazoco Peraza is an “operator” for the “Los Chapitos” faction of the Sinaloa Cartel. His nickname means “The Blond Buddy.”
En una acción encabezada por @Defensamx1, @SSPCMexico y la Agencia de Investigación Criminal de @FGRMexico, fue detenido uno de los responsables del cobarde ataque contra diputados de Movimiento Ciudadano, ocurrido el 28 de enero en Culiacán, Sinaloa.
El detenido era responsable… pic.twitter.com/rBLOnNNe5i
Río Doce, a Culiacán-based newspaper, reported that the suspect is a former employee of the Culiacán municipal government and a member of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI.
Citing municipal government documents, Río Doce wrote that Bazoco Peraza worked at a park in Culiacán from 2018 until at least 2021, doing a range of tasks including operating children’s rides, selling tickets and preparing food.
Citing information on the National Transparency Platform, Río Doce also reported that the suspect joined the PRI in Sinaloa in 2019 and remained a member of the party at least until July 2025.
16 ‘organized crime members’ arrested in Sinaloa in a single day
On X, García Harfuch noted that a total of “16 organized crime members related to violence” in Sinaloa, including Bazoco Peraza, were arrested in the northern state on Monday.
Ten of the 16 suspects were detained in Culiacán, while the other six were arrested in Navolato, a city and municipality that borders Culiacán to the west.
In addition to making the arrests, authorities seized drugs, vehicles, firearms and tactical equipment.
In addition, in three different communities in the municipality of Culiacán, authorities “located and disabled four areas where various materials used in the manufacture of methamphetamine were concentrated,” according to a statement issued by federal security forces.
The authorities seized 2,810 liters of “chemical substances” at the four sites, the statement said.
Prediction Pit uses real-time data from SportsDataIO to predict plays, results and statistics during the playoffs and Super Bowl. (Avocados from Mexico)
Avocados From Mexico (AFM), the non-profit marketing organization that promotes U.S. imports of the essential guacamole ingredient, will not have a traditional TV spot during this year’s Super Bowl (Feb. 8). Rather, it will premiere an interactive digital tool designed with AI that offers real-time football predictions and custom guacamole recipes.
Dubbed the “Prediction Pit,” AFM is offering a digital guacamole-inspired experience instead of a traditional 30-second ad, which costs around US $8 million.
The decision marks the third consecutive year AFM has skipped a Super Bowl ad. The company’s last big game spot in 2023 — capping a decade of annual appearances — humorously reimagined the Garden of Eden, with Eve’s avocado (not apple) creating a naked utopia called “The Big Avocado” in modern-day New York.
“We wanted to use that platform to launch our communication strategy,” CEO Alvaro Luque told Forbes. “The Super Bowl is still our No. 1 consumption date in the U.S. — and it’s still growing. Last year was the largest Super Bowl in terms of consumption in our history.”
Still, AFM believes its new targeted approach will deliver better returns.
The web-based experience features an AI avatar modeled after comedian Rob Riggle, playing “Guac Guru” to offer live football predictions.
The initiative follows last year’s Guacline activation, which connected fans with “Gronk AI” — a digital version of Rob Gronkowski offering tips and recipes ahead of the Super Bowl.
The Prediction Pit uses real-time data from SportsDataIO to predict plays, results and statistics during the playoffs and Super Bowl. Users select their team and receive insights on win probabilities, touchdowns, player performance and other metrics — all in a lighthearted tone, with no actual betting involved.
“By blending real-time football data, technology and the undeniable appeal of our avocados, we’re creating an experience that not only engages fans with the sport they love but also enhances their celebration of game day,” said Luque in a press release.
How many avocados will Mexico export to the US ahead of the Super Bowl?
According to AFM, in the two weeks leading up to the Super Bowl, Mexico sends a truckload of avocados to the U.S. every six minutes. Moreover, retail volume during the week of the game is 32% higher than the average.
In a video that went viral over the weekend, an angry Sheinbaum is seen yelling, "You need to work more with the people, all of you. Work more with the people. Stop being there and ... [spend time] in your territory." (Social media)
A small group of Morena party politicians apparently believed it was a reasonable request: they asked President Claudia Sheinbaum to pose for a photo with them at an event in the municipality of San Quintín, Baja California, on Saturday.
But instead of a photo, the ruling party politicians got a public dressing-down from a visibly angry president.
La presidenta Claudia Sheinbaum protagonizó un momento de tensión durante su visita a San Quintín este 31 de enero, cuando reprendió públicamente a legisladores y funcionarios… pic.twitter.com/HazKVxX7Bl
“You need to work more with the people, all of you. Work more with the people. Stop being there and … [spend time] in your territory,” exhorted Sheinbaum in a rebuke that was caught on camera and subsequently went viral on social media.
On the receiving end of the presidential reprimand were federal Senator Armando Ayala Robles, Baja California Deputy Evelyn Sánchez and San Quintín Mayor Miriam Cano, among other Morena party politicians.
Prior to scolding the politicians, Sheinbaum had engaged with San Quintín locals and heard complaints about the poor condition of highways, abandoned hospitals and medicine shortages, among other issues.
‘A warm scolding’
Asked at her Monday morning press conference about the message she conveyed to the Morena party politicians in San Quintín, Sheinbaum said her words amounted to “un regaño caluroso” (a warm scolding), even though her demeanor at the time was certainly not friendly or affectionate.
Asked about the “context” of her remarks, the president responded that San Quintín is “an area of many shortcomings” where agricultural workers from all over Mexico primarily live in irregular settlements.
When asked about the motive behind her “warm scolding,” the president said it was “a call to everyone [in Morena] to be close to the people, especially the humble people, who need us the most.” (Saúl Lopez/Cuartoscuro)She pointed out that there are water shortages in San Quintín and that many agricultural workers don’t earn the minimum wage because they are paid “by the box” of produce they fill.
“So, it’s a situation of poverty. The agricultural day workers are residents of our country — internal migrants. Some go to Sonora, others to Sinaloa [and] in this case to Baja California. They have many deficiencies [in their lives],” Sheinbaum said.
“We are developing a comprehensive plan [to remedy the situation], it began with president [Andrés Manuel] López Obrador — the San Quintín Justice Plan,” she said.
“… We’re going to finish a hospital, expand the one that is there. We’re going to improve the health care centers. We’re going to improve the schools. We’re going to build more high schools. We’re going to improve the roads. And we’re going to install an integrated [service] center where the government of Mexico is present,” Sheinbaum said.
Sheinbaum: The photo request was incongruous with the local circumstances
Sheinbaum told reporters that “some deputies” called out “photo, photo, photo!” to her as she passed them at the event at which she presented the Justice Plan for San Quintín Agricultural Workers.
“It seemed to me that one thing didn’t go with the other, right? A photo of the president [and Morena politicians] with the circumstances we were experiencing,” she said.
“So, that’s why, a little annoyed, I said to them: … ‘Don’t just stay in Congress [or] here in the city. Go out to the land, be close to the people,'” said Sheinbaum, who — following in the footsteps of López Obrador — spends most weekends outside Mexico City on tours that allow her to get up close and personal with Mexicans from all parts of the country and all walks of life.
“That is what all of us from this movement have to always keep in mind, and even more so when you see such significant needs in a town,” she said.
Sheinbaum added that she will “always” be “grateful” to the nation’s deputies and senators “because they have approved a lot of very important reforms for the country and for the advancement of the transformation” — a reference to the so-called “fourth transformation” Morena says it is carrying out in Mexico.
“But this is a call to everyone [in Morena] to be close to the people, especially the humble people, who need us the most,” she said.
Asked how the Morena politicians took her scolding in San Quintín, Sheinbaum responded:
“You’ll have to ask them that, right? But I think it’s a wake-up call for everyone in the face of such circumstances.”
Hazardous waste processor Zinc Nacional was fined US $4.8 million for emitting dangerously high levels of lead, arsenic and cadmium. (Profepa)
In one of Mexico’s most aggressive moves yet against industrial pollution, the government has fined hazardous waste processor Zinc Nacional about 83.2 million pesos (US $4.8 million) and ordered sweeping cleanup measures at its plant near Monterrey, Nuevo León.
⚠️| La @PROFEPA_Mx multó con 83.2 millones de pesos a la firma Zinc Nacional, luego de que the Guardian y Quinto Elemento Lab revelaran la presencia de metales pesados en las casas, calles y escuelas aledañas a esta recicladora de residuos peligrosos en el área metropolitana de… pic.twitter.com/7W80LEjBdy
The reporting showed facilities in the region were emitting more toxic heavy metals than those reported in many U.S. states, and more carbon dioxide than nearly half the world’s nations.
Mexico’s Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) disclosed in late January that the fine was imposed Dec. 17, 2025, after inspections were launched earlier in the year in response to media reports.
In a press release, the agency also said it signed an Environmental Liability Agreement on Dec. 10 obligating Zinc Nacional to carry out remediation, restoration and compensation for environmental damage and to implement 24 corrective measures.
Those measures include relocating key processes to a new plant outside residential areas, building covered warehouses to end open-air storage of raw materials, paving internal roads, constructing new water and containment systems, remediating contaminated land and reforesting more than 5 hectares of company property.
Another outcome is an industrial Atmospheric Monitoring Network described by Profepa as “the first of its kind in Latin America” — designed to track heavy metals and other pollutants around major plants.
Profepa chief Mariana Boy Tamborrell said, “The work we have done over the past year with Zinc Nacional is a watershed moment in how we monitor and inspect regulatory compliance by industries.”
Zinc Nacional, a privately owned Mexican company founded in 1952, has acknowledged some contamination on its land but said its emissions remain below regulatory limits but vowed to “reduce the environmental footprint of our operations.”
Residents and activists say government actions still fall short of addressing health risks in surrounding neighborhoods.
Zinc Nacional recovers zinc from waste — including material shipped from U.S. steel mills — and supplies zinc oxide, zinc sulfate and other compounds to customers in North America and beyond.
Its plant in the municipality of San Nicolás de los Garza — the part of Monterrey metro area that includes the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL) — sits about 200 km from the U.S. border crossing at Laredo, Texas, and 430 km from San Antonio, Texas.
In presenting the four-year public-private investment plan, Finance Minister Edgar Amador
indicated that this year's spending alone could boost GDP growth by 2.5%. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)
The federal government unveiled a mixed public-private investment plan on Tuesday, committing 5.6 trillion pesos (US $323.4 billion) toward spurring major infrastructure and development projects over the next four years.
During the president’s daily press conference at the National Palace, Finance Minister Edgar Amador announced that the funds will be distributed across eight strategic sectors, following the analysis of more than 1,500 potential projects identified by federal agencies.
The energy sector is slated to claim more than half the multi-trillion-peso investment, with railways in second place at 16%. Other sectors slated for investment are highways, ports, health care, water, education and airports. (Cuartoscuro)
The development plan targets eight critical sectors: energy, railways, highways, ports, health care, water, education and airports.
Amador said more than half the money (54%) would be spent on energy sector projects, with railways (16%) and highways (14%) also getting considerable attention.
President Claudia Sheinbaum described the ambitious program as a “reinvigoration of Plan México,” the scheme she launched in January 2025 with the aim of making Mexico the 10th largest economy in the world.
Plan México outlines a vision for “equitable and sustainable development” that promotes growth while prioritizing the public good. Its goal is to reduce reliance on imports from China and create 1.5 million new jobs.
“Public investment in highways, water and energy will continue to rise, equaling 2% of GDP,” she said.
Infrastructure investment was a point of contention during congressional budget debates. Mexico’s 2026 budget allocates 1 trillion pesos (US $58 billion) to welfare programs and a similar amount to public investment.
Sheinbaum said the Finance Ministry will utilize “a range of mechanisms” to increase public investment by an additional 722 billion pesos (US $41.9 billion) this year. Still, in terms of GDP, the percentage destined for infrastructure is trending downward from the 2014 high of 4.5%.
Jorge Mendoza, director of the National Bank of Public Works and Services (Banobras), said the new model is aimed at “guaranteeing state ownership and oversight of key projects with the help of private capital to lessen risk.”
Sheinbaum restated Mendoza’s claim, declaring that, unlike past schemes, the new investments guarantee that concessions remain in the hands of the state, with controlled financing rates and no predatory contracts.
Amador reiterated that the central focus of the strategy is public investment as a catalyst for development, emphasizing that economic growth must be complemented by income distribution and social welfare.
“We don’t just need growth in macroeconomic variables,” he said. “We need to complement growth with justice and income distribution.”
Facing a fiscal deficit of 4.3% and with limited room for maneuver, the Sheinbaum administration is seeking a third way, working with the private sector to bolster public investment with private capital.
The plan envisions the use of new investment vehicles specializing in infrastructure. Amador promised more efficient and transparent financing schemes than the old Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).
The government intends to maintain a degree of control over the investments, while also aiming for effective governance to ensure the projects are financeable and bankable.
“We will be looking for highly cost-efficient schemes, with transparency and a specific focus on infrastructure projects,” he said.
The Mexican capital is never short of art, extraordinary food and cultural dialogue. Here’s what to do in Mexico City this February. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)
Love is in the air. But so is art, ballet and tamales in Mexico City. After overcoming the dreaded January slope, February arrives in the capital with the best of the art scene, immersive experiences, and, of course, the Chinese New Year. This new lunar cycle, according to Chinese astrologers, those under the sign of the horse will light an auspicious fire within them, and the capital is ready! Continue reading to find out all about what’s on in Mexico City in February 2026.
Tamal Fest 2026
If Iztapalapa feels too far away, there will be a similar edition in Colonia Roma as well! (Crisanta Espinosa Aguilar/Cuartoscuro)
February in Mexico City tastes like tamales due to the celebration of Candlemas Day, or Día de la Candelaria, as it is referred to locally. So, if you got the baby Jesus figurine in your Three Kings’ Day bread, get ready: Tamal Fest 2026 will be your chance to buy the best tamales of the season. For its 15th edition, the Iztapalapa borough aims to celebrate the culinary tradition and talent of its local producers, featuring 50 exhibitors from various parts of Mexico.
Dates: Jan. 30 to Feb. 2
Location: Macroplaza de la Alcaldía, Barrio San Lucas, Iztapalapa
Cost: Free
Zona Maco 2026
Zona Maco is the most important art fair in Latin America and positions Mexico City as a cultural epicenter for contemporary art proposals. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)
Zona Maco Art Week returns in full force to Mexico City this February. As Latin America’s most important cultural event for contemporary art, its 22nd edition brings together more than 228 galleries from 26 countries in a single venue: the Citibanamex Center. The Selection Committee curated a diverse range of formats, including painting, sculpture, installation, video and emerging technologies. This year, antiques will even be on display, thanks to the recent launch of Zona Maco Antiques Salon, co-curated by collectors Mario Uvence and Alfonso Miranda Márquez.
Dates: Feb. 4-8
Location: Centro Citibanamex. Av. Del Conscripto 311, Lomas de Sotelo, Miguel Hidalgo
Cost: Tickets starting at 450 pesos
Alegría y Olivo Fest 2026
‘Alegría’ is the name we locally use for amaranth, especially when it is used to make traditional sweets. (Juan Pablo Zamora Pérez/Cuartoscuro)
With amaranth, one of the emblematic plants in the preparation of Mexican sweets, as its star ingredient, the 2026 Feria de la Alegría opens its doors. Palanquetas, churritos, obleas and other Mexican confectionery delicacies will be featured at the event. With Plaza Quirino Mendoza as the setting, in the southern borough of Xochimilco, attendees will have the opportunity topurchase sweets from local vendors. In addition to sampling these traditional sweets, visitors to the 53rd edition of the fair can enjoy free concerts and exhibitions of amaranth-themed crafts.
Dates: Jan. 31 to Feb. 15
Location: Plaza Quirino Mendoza, Santiago Tulyehualco, Xochimilco
Cost: Free
Watch the Black Swan at Chapultepec
This season promises to be “intense, elegant, and powerful in one of Mexico’s most iconic venues,” organizers said in an Instagram post. (Nitzarindani Vega/El Cisne Negro via Instagram)
A contemporary vision of Black Swan arrives at the esplanade of Chapultepec Castle this month. The open-air performance will run from Feb. 12 to March 8 this year, with shows on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. To make the most of your experience, try arriving 45 minutes early. Remember! Access is on foot, and the walk to Chapultepec Castle takes between 15 and 30 minutes from the parking lot. Also, wearing a light jacket is recommended — winter nights in Mexico City can get chilly.
Dates: Feb. 12 to March 8
Location: Explanada del Castillo de Chapultepec. Av. Heroico Colegio Militar 172, Bosque de Chapultepec I Secc., Miguel Hidalgo
Cost: Tickets starting at 1,200 pesos
‘Enlightenment’: ‘The Four Seasons’
State-of-the-art projections and video mapping bring Vivaldi’s Four Seasons to life in a unique immersive experience (Eonarium/Fever)
Inspired by the work of the great maestro Vivaldi, the immersive performance group Eonarium presents “Enlightenment,” a spectacular light and sound video mapping show. For 30 minutes, attendees will experience the warmth of spring, the heat of summer, the cool breeze of autumn and the icy embrace of winter, all represented in “The Four Seasons.” Through immersive images that map the interior of the historic Sagrada Familia Church, in the heart of the Roma neighborhood, this experience is designed for the whole family to enjoy.
Dates: Feb. 13-28
Location: Iglesia de la Sagrada Familia. Puebla 144, Roma Nte., Cuauhtémoc
Cost: Tickets starting at 210 pesos. Buy yourshere!
Chinese New Year Celebrations 2026
Set amidst the lush green spaces of CENART, the New Year’s activities will bring a taste of China to Mexico. (Edgar Negrete Lira/Cuartoscuro)
There’s possibly nothing more exciting in February than theChinese New Year celebrations at CENART. This year, in collaboration with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Mexico, the venue will host a traditional-style festival featuring dances, martial arts, workshops and exhibitions. In addition to offering a unique culinary experience, visitors can participate in workshops and attend classic theatrical performances. This is an absolute must this month!
Dates: Feb. 14, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Location: CENART. Av. Río Churubusco 79, Churubusco Country Club, Coyoacán
Cost: Free
Mystika: An Immersive Spiritual Journey
Mystika is “a journey through light, photography and inner silence,” said event organizers. (Pepe Soho/Mystika/Fever)
If you’re looking to take your special someone on an immersive experience this month of love and friendship, Mystika is exactly what you’re looking for. With eight rooms, a gallery featuring over 45 large-format photographs, and three animated video walls, this experience takes visitors on a journey through the work of Mexican photographer Pepe Soho. Following his untimely death in October 2025, Mystika aims to pay tribute to his profound vision of Mexican nature and biodiversity.
Dates: All February
Location: Torre Cuarzo. Avenida Paseo de la Reforma 26, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc
Cost: Tickets starting at 420 pesos. Get yourshere.
Electric Daisy Carnival
Avoid FOMO at all costs — bring your Mexican sweetheart to EDC this year! (EDC)
Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) returns to Mexico City this February with a bang. Electronic music giants like Tao, Rossi and Alesso will join other world-class DJs at the 2026 edition of the festival. According to the organizers, this year will feature “pulse-pumping attractions, immersive art and breathtaking fireworks.” In addition to the light shows, over the course of three days, attendees will have eight stages to satisfy their musical cravings and dance their heads off.
Dates: Feb. 21-23
Location: Torre Cuarzo. Avenida Paseo de la Reforma 26, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc
Cost: Tickets starting at 420 pesos. Tickets are available here.
Omakase at Peco Peco
“Omakase was invented in a time before refrigeration technology,” explains the owner, “that’s why the state of the ingredients changed daily and hourly.” (Peco Peco Restaurante Japonés)
Transport your valentine to Kyoto with this culinary experience prepared by Chef Kazuma Ejiri, a graduate of Sushi Labo College, who will serve a 15-course tasting menu featuring the catch of the day. Omakase translates to “I’ll leave it up to you,” a polite Japanese phrase signifying a customer entrusting the chef to select and serve a meal. That’s why, says owner Leslie Luján, “Omakase is a declaration of complete trust.”
Dates: All February
Location: Peco Peco. Eugenia 732, Del Valle Centro, Benito Juárez
Cost: 1,000 pesos per person. Book your omakasehere!
The UNAM Kite Festival is a mass kite-flying event, followed by a kite competition and exhibition in collaboration with the Museum of Popular Art (MAP). In its 19th edition, the exhibition pays tribute to the UNAM Central Library for its 70th anniversary. Therefore, the winning kites must be inspired by the architecture, murals and cultural significance of this center of knowledge. Imagine a kite inspired by a Siqueiros mural? Contestants have until Feb. 5 to submit their designs. Don’t miss the deadline!
Dates: From Feb. 21 to April 5
Location: Museo de Arte Popular (MAP). Revillagigedo 11, Centro Histórico, Cuauhtémoc
Whether by airplane or cruise ship, a lot of people visited Los Cabos in 2025. (Paulina Vazquez/Unsplash)
The annual figures for 2025 released by Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico (GAP), which operates not only Los Cabos International Airport but 11 others in Mexico and two in Jamaica, should not be confused with official tourism numbers.
People fly into Los Cabos for several reasons. One of which is that they or family members live here — the 2020 population was 351,000 and it has doubtless climbed since — and another is business. That said, these figures are a strong indicator of tourism, since the vast majority of international visitors, and many domestic travelers, fly in for that very reason.
GAP reports 2025 airport traffic numbers, including a slight rise for Los Cabos
Los Cabos International Airport isn’t as busy as those in Guadalajara and Tijuana, but it did see a lot of traffic in 2025. (GAP)
In 2025, over 7.5 million passengers were welcomed at Los Cabos International Airport; 7,529,900, to be exact, an increase of only 0.6% over 2024. This mild growth was also seen in domestic passengers, which rose slightly by 0.4% to 2,841,600 in 2025. International passengers, a stronger harbinger of tourism strength, rose by 0.7%, to 4,688,300. That means for the year, international passengers accounted for 62% of airport traffic, domestic passengers for 38%.
Los Cabos International Airport was the third busiest among GAP airports in 2025, behind those in Guadalajara and Tijuana, which saw over 18 million and 12 million terminal passengers, respectively. Overall, it was the sixth busiest in Mexico, trailing also airports in Mexico City, Cancún and Monterrey.
It should be noted that cruise ship passengers are rarely included in tourism numbers, simply because they seldom stay overnight. Still, through November 2025, Cabo San Lucas had received over 900,000 cruise ship visitors, already a record number, and significantly more than the 625,000 plus who visited during the same period in 2024.
Which is to say that Los Cabos’ popularity may have stabilized from the explosive growth seen earlier this decade following the recovery from pandemic years of 2020-2021, but it’s still robust.
Kadún opens in Cabo San Lucas
Los Cabos hotels and resorts have been built at such a brisk pace in recent years that scarcely has one opened that another appears right on its heels. The Park Hyatt Cabo del Sol, for example, premiered on Dec. 15, 2025, but remained the newest hotel in Los Cabos for only a few weeks before an even newer property opened its doors.
That was Kadún, a 110-room boutique hotel that officially began welcoming guests in early January. Operated by the Macías family-owned hospitality group Mexico Grand Hotels, whose local collection of properties includes Marina Fiesta and Hacienda Encantada, Kadún offers several attractions to travelers, among them its convenient downtown Cabo San Lucas location— a short walk from Médano Beach and the Cabo San Lucas Marina — and its trendy rooftop swimming pool.
Boutique hotel Kadún in Cabo San Lucas is the newest hotel to open in Los Cabos. (Mexico Grand Hotels)
It’s also notable for its full embrace of local culture and cuisine. “With Kadún, our goal was to create a hotel that doesn’t just exist in Cabo, but truly belongs to Cabo,” said Gabriel Ibarra Macías, head of marketing and sales for Mexico Grand Hotels. “Everything from the design to the programming was crafted to honor the traditions, artistry and natural beauty of Baja California Sur. We wanted Kadún to feel like a gateway into the authentic spirit of the region.”
In short, it’s a nice addition to the Cabo San Lucas hotel scene, bringing the total number of rooms in the Land’s End city to over 9,600. But, of course, Kadún will remain the newest for only a short time.
Viceroy collaborates with sleepwear brand Petite Plume on new collection
San José del Cabo, meanwhile, has only about one-third as many hotel rooms (3,306) as Cabo San Lucas, but among these are some of the most sophisticated and luxurious in Los Cabos.
Viceroy Los Cabos, in San José del Cabo’s Zona Hotelera, is among the most visually striking of these upscale resorts — the reason it was chosen as a location for director Alejandro Iñárritu’s 2022 film, “Bardo.” After making its mark in hospitality and cinema, the resort is now being recognized for its fashion, thanks to a new collaboration with sleepwear brand Petite Plume.
The limited-edition Discovery Stripe Collection, which includes mulberry silk pajamas and eye masks for women, is currently available to be worn by guests at Viceroy Los Cabos, and may be purchased online or in the onsite gift shops. The pajamas make a nice gift for Valentine’s Day, and represent not just the luxurious spirit of Viceroy Los Cabos, but also its location. The stripe colors in the PJs are a nod to select properties under the Viceroy Hotels and Resorts banner, with the rust colored stripes inspired by the Baja desert.
The collaboration, it should be noted, also represents Viceroy’s commitment to making every aspect of a stay at its resorts a special experience … including sleep. “At Viceroy, rest is a ritual,” affirms a recent press release. “It is woven into every experience we create. This collaboration with Petite Plume allowed us to give form to that philosophy — presenting beautifully made keepsakes that reflect our sense of discovery and the joy of slow, intentional moments.”
A selection of the Discovery Stripe Collection of sleepwear is available to guests at Viceroy Los Cabos. (Viceroy Hotels & Resorts)
This is not the first fashion collaboration for Viceroy Los Cabos, which boasted a summer beachwear collab with Onia just last year. Nor is Viceroy the only luxury resort in Los Cabos to dip its toes in the fashion waters. One&Only Palmilla pioneered the trend in 2016 via its partnership with big-wave surfing legend Laird Hamilton on curated apparel for guests. Other Los Cabos luxury resorts have since followed with their own fashion collabs, including Four Seasons Resort and Residences Los Cabos at Costa Palmas with Caralarga, and Las Ventanas al Paraíso with Nick Fouquet, Mi Golondrina and Weezie.
Chris Sands is the former Cabo San Lucas local expert for the USA Today travel website 10 Best and writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook. He’s also a contributor to numerous websites and publications, including Tasting Table, Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, Forbes Travel Guide, Porthole Cruise, Cabo Living and Mexico News Daily.
As today was Día de la Candelaria, the president enjoyed a traditional breakfast of tamales from the newly operational Vasco de Quiroga light-rail train station. (@ClaraBrugadaM/X)
President Claudia Sheinbaum held her Monday morning press conference at Cineteca Nacional Chapultepec, a new state-owned cinema complex in the fourth section of Mexico City’s Chapultepec Park.
“Today is a very good day because we’re finally inaugurating the entire route of the Toluca-Mexico City train,” she said at the beginning of the mañanera.
“We’re inaugurating [the] Santa Fe-Observatorio [section],” Sheinbaum said.
(Read Mexico News Daily’s story on the inauguration here.)
During her engagement with reporters, Sheinbaum responded to questions on a range of topics, including Senator Adán Augusto López Hernández’s decision to step down as the leader of the Morena party in the Senate and U.S. President Donald Trump’s invitation to Mexico to join the Board of Peace, a new U.S.-led intergovernmental organization.
Sheinbaum acknowledges López Hernández’s decision to step down as Morena’s leader in the Senate
Sheinbaum told reporters that López Hernández informed Interior Minister Rosa Icela Rodríguez of his decision to step down as Morena’s Senate leader a few days ago.
Morena Senator Adán Augusto López Hernández said on Sunday that he will stay on as a senator but will no longer lead Morena in the Senate. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)
“We found out that he was going to join Morena’s territorial work,” she said, referring to López Hernández’s intention to participate in the ruling party’s grassroots efforts to garner additional support ahead of the 2027 elections.
But Sheinbaum indicated that López Hernández wasn’t pressured to step down as Morena’s Senate leader, saying his decision to resign from the position was his alone.
Asked whether she was considering offering López Hernández an ambassadorship — a subject of speculation in recent weeks — Sheinbaum said that was not the case.
Sheinbaum: SRE will respond this week to Trump’s invitation to join Board of Peace
Six days after Sheinbaum revealed that Trump had invited Mexico to join the Board of Peace, the president was asked whether she responded to the invitation during her call with the U.S. president last Thursday or whether the Mexican government had made a decision one way or the other.
“We didn’t speak about that in the telephone call,” Sheinbaum said, adding that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will respond to Trump’s invitation this week.
The Trump administration launched the Board of Peace at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, last month, and issued invitations for 60 countries to join the board, The Hill reported.
Around 20 countries promptly accepted Trump’s invitation and became founding members of the Board of Peace, while several others expressed their intent to join the board.
At least a dozen countries, including the United Kingdom, France and Germany, declined Trump’s invitation to join the board, while more than 20 didn’t publicly respond to the invitation.
President Sheinbaum was expected to make a decision about joining Trump’s new Board of Peace last week. (Presidencia)
CNN reported that “the board, indefinitely chaired by Trump, was originally conceived as a limited body tasked with overseeing the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, which was devastated by Israel’s two-year war.”
“However, its purpose has since expanded to tackle conflicts the world over, and the charter draft, which was sent along with the invitations to join, does not even reference Gaza,” CNN said.
On Monday, Sheinbaum said she was told by Lee that authorities in South Korea have contacted the promoter of BTS, a seven-member K-pop boy band formed in 2013.
“We hope it’s good news,” she said.
“… The president of Korea replied [saying] ‘thank you very much for the interest of Mexicans in this music group,’ [saying] that he very much appreciates the letter and that contact with the … [promotion] company of BTS was already made,” Sheinbaum said.
She added that Lee told her that he expects BTS’s promoter to contact the Mexican government “soon.”
By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)
About half of the delegation will be presenting coffee, cacao and Persian limes, all grown with organic farming processes that support sustainable production. (@Claudiashein/X)
Mexico will send 19 farmers from the national “Sembrando Vida” (Sowing Life) program to the organic products trade fair BIOFACH 2026, which will run from Feb. 10 to 13 in Nuremberg, Germany.
According to a government press release, the farmers will represent the Amuzgo, Mam, Ódami, Totonac, Tzotzil, Yokot’an, Zapotec and other Indigenous communities at the fair, coming from the states of Chiapas, Chihuahua, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Tabasco and Veracruz.
¡TREMENDO EJÉRCITO! 👏🏼❤️🇲🇽
Las y los guerreros de Sembrando Vida de Pijijiapan, Chiapas, muestran el resultado de su esfuerzo, mediante un tianguis de venta de productos, cosechados gracias a este noble programa.
Nine of the farmers will be presenting coffee, cacao and Persian limes, all grown with organic farming processes that support sustainable production.
The other farmers attending will promote Mexican agriculture through networking activities aimed at knowledge exchange and increased visibility of community work.
BIOFACH is internationally recognized as one of the leading platforms for the marketing and promotion of organic food. The annual trade fair brings together producers, buyers, certifiers and specialists from various countries.
Three farmers from Mexico’s Sembrando Vida program are also expected to take part in Fruit Logistica 2026, one of the world’s most important events for the trade of fresh fruit and agri-food products, to be held on Feb. 3-6.
Participants must prove land ownership and residence in a socially marginalized municipality to join the program. Once enrolled, they receive 6,450 pesos monthly (about US $370) plus seeds, plants, tools and other supplies to apply agroforestry techniques in the cultivation of crops. Beneficiaries join Farmer Learning Communities (CACs) where they develop collective production projects and receive technical training at community nurseries, biofactories and training centers.
To date, the program covers more than 1.1 million hectares across 24 Mexican states and has planted 1.1 billion trees, capturing an estimated 30 million metric tons of CO2 annually. In a 2024 speech, President Sheinbaum said the program supports 439,000 disadvantaged families in Mexico and 40,000 in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador with an annual budget of US $1.7 billion.
![In a video that went viral over the weekend, Sheinbaum is seen yelling, "You need to work more with the people, all of you. Work more with the people. Stop being there and ... [spend time] in your territory."](https://mexiconewsdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/HAHE6LPWoAA_8qJ-696x467.jpeg "HAHE6LPWoAA_8qJ")
