200 endangered sea turtles were seized by federal regulator Profepa at Mexico City International Airport. (Profepa)
Officials from the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (Profepa) conducted a seizure of 200 turtles at Mexico City International Airport (AICM) after their export paperwork was found to be incorrect.
The passenger was traveling with 193 live specimens of broken-breasted turtle (Kinosternon acutum), one dead, and six live specimens of broken-chest scorpion turtle (Kinosternon scorpioides). They were all traveling under documentation that corresponded to the white-lipped broken-breasted turtle (Kinosternon leucostomum).
The surviving turtles were sent to a federally managed facility. (Profepa)
The illegal pet market is one of the main factors contributing to the extinction of species in their natural habitat.
In Mexico City metro area alone, Profepa said, between 150 and 200 exotic animals are seized every year. Mexico City Profepa chief Lucio García Gil told newspaper La Jornada that the most common species seized in the capital include exotic birds such as macaws or parrots, reptiles, primates and big cats. These are owned by wealthy families, merchants and even drug lords.
One such example was a monkey named “Botas,” a who belonged to notorious cartel boss Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.
Mexican law permits the ownership of exotic wildlife provided they are acquired from authorized firms and proper care is provided
In Mexico, illegal possession and trafficking of turtles can result in up to nine years in prison and fines ranging between 74,400 pesos to 744,000 pesos (US $3,981 to $39,810).
Survivors of the attack sought refuge in nearby homes before their van was set on fire. (X)
An armed attack on a vehicle transporting migrants early Sunday morning left one child dead and eight adults injured in the northern border state of Sonora, according to the state’s Attorney General’s Office (FGJES).
The incident occurred near the Tubutama-Sáric highway junction around 1:15 a.m. on Aug. 18, when unknown assailants opened fire on a van carrying migrants.
The deceased minor was a boy from southern Mexico, officials said, and the wounded included Mexicans and people from Ecuador and Africa, according to the Associated Press, despite earlier reports that the victims were from Haiti.
After the attack, the surviving victims — five men and three women — sought refuge in nearby homes, fearing further violence. Later, the injured were transported to a nearby health center for treatment.
No age was given for the deceased minor.
A video of the van being hauled away shows that its windows were shattered and that it had been set on fire.
Matan a niño en ataque a migrantes en Tubutama, Sonora
FGJES also noted it was “deploying security forces from all three levels of government,” including the National Defense Ministry (Sedena). “A coordinated operation involving ground and air support is underway.”
As of early Monday afternoon, FGJES had not provided any updates on social media.
The incident occurred near the remote municipality of Tubutama, located in a sparsely populated region known for its rugged terrain about 50 kilometers from the U.S. border. The area is subjected to conflicts between criminal groups, largely due to its proximity to drug trafficking routes.
More than 500,000 travelers have used the new Tulum airport, according to Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama. (Mara Lezama/X)
The Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport in the Caribbean resort city of Tulum has seen over half a million passengers since its opening on Dec. 1, 2023, according to Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama.
The governor spoke at President López Obrador’s morning press conference last week. (lopezobrador.org.mx)
“But what’s really impressive is the progression of that growth,” Lezama emphasized.
In March, the month it inaugurated its first international route, the Tulum airport saw over 5,000 international passengers. The following month, the number jumped ten-fold — increasing to 53,000 — and in July, the Tulum airport received over 88,000 international passengers.
Overall, counting national and international flights, the airport saw flight operations increase from 316 in December to 1,040 in July, or approximately 35 flights per day.
“In just four months, the number of international passengers multiplied by 16 and the projection is fabulous,” Lezama said. She added that if the trend continues, the airport could close the year with total domestic and international passenger traffic of 1.4 million.
Tulum airport has now become the 10th busiest in the country. (Elizabeth Ruiz/Cuartoscuro)
The increase in international passenger traffic puts Tulum airport as the 10th terminal with the most international passenger traffic among Mexican airports, representing 0.7% of the market share. It is also the second airport in Quintana Roo — behind Cancún — with the most international passenger traffic, surpassing older airports like Cozumel and Playa del Carmen.
Currently, three domestic airlines and five international carriers operate at Tulum airport. International destinations from Tulum include Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and Miami in the U.S., Montreal and Toronto in Canada, and Panama City in Panama.
Upcoming flights to Tulum airport
New routes operating from Tulum include the following:
Frankfurt-Tulum, starting Dec. 12 and operated by Discover Airlines.
Minneapolis-Tulum, starting Jan. 11, 2025, operated by Delta Air Lines.
Detroit-Tulum, starting Jan. 11, 2025, operated by Delta Air Lines.
Ignacio Mier, Morena's chief in the lower house of Congress, announced the changes at a Friday press conference. (Diputados Morena/X)
Federal court employees in Mexico went on strike Monday over President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s proposed judicial reform bill. The strike comes just after Morena, the president’s party, announced a series of modifications to the proposal on Friday.
If the judicial reform passes Congress, it will allow Mexicans to directly elect Supreme Court justices and other judges starting next year.
The ruling Morena party submitted to Congress on Friday a modified version of the constitutional reform proposal President Andrés Manuel López Obrador sent to the federal legislature in February.
Ignacio Mier, Morena’s leader in the Chamber of Deputies, told a press conference that the judicial reform proposal filed with the Constitutional Points Committee of the lower house has more than 100 changes from the original draft submitted by López Obrador.
Despite the changes, the key objective of the initiative remains — to allow citizens to elect judges. Candidates would be put forward by the sitting president, lawmakers and the judiciary itself. An equal number of men and women would have to be nominated.
Under the proposal, the justices of the Supreme Court and other federal judges would be elected rather than nominated. (CDMX Servicio de Medios Públicos)
Critics of the reform argue that it would jeopardize the independence of the judiciary and reduce checks and balances on executive power. López Obrador — an outspoken critic of the judiciary — denies the charges.
Mier said Friday that one modification allows for the staggered election of judges, but all 11 Supreme Court justices would be elected in 2025.
“It’s going to be gradual, it’s going to staggered. There will be an extraordinary election in 2025 [and] there will be another ordinary one at the same time as the federal [midterm] election in 2027. … The 2025 election will be to elect all justices of the Supreme Court and 50% of judges,” he said.
Mier said that various technical committees would ensure that candidates meet the legal criteria to be judges.
“This guarantees legal certainty and a justice system that guarantees the people of Mexico access to justice,” he said.
Mier said that the revised reform proposal would be made public in 10 days.
Juan Ramiro Robledo Ruiz, a Morena deputy and head of the Constitutional Points Committee, said that all current judges will be able to participate in elections.
Morena Deputy Juan Ramiro Robledo, leader of the Constitutional Points Committee, speaks at Friday’s press conference. (Diputados Morena/X)
“There won’t be campaigns” ahead of the elections but the candidates will have the opportunity to outline their merits at debates organized by the National Electoral Institute, he said.
As it seeks to change the constitution, the judicial reform proposal requires the support of at least two-thirds of lawmakers in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate in order to be approved.
Recently-elected lawmakers assume their positions on Sept. 1. Morena and its allies, the Labor Party and the Green Party, will have a two-thirds majority in the lower house.
However, they will be three votes short of a supermajority in the Senate. That means they will need to rely on the support of a few opposition senators to pass constitutional bills.
Still, the reform could conceivably be approved before López Obrador hands over the presidential sash to Claudia Sheinbaum on Oct. 1.
The president submitted 20 reform proposals to Congress in February, including ones aimed at disbanding a number of autonomous government agencies and incorporating the National Guard into the military.
Court workers go on strike over proposed judicial reform
Court employees across Mexico commenced strikes early Monday to protest the judicial reform proposal.
Federal court workers on strike Monday in Mexico City. (Moisés Pablo/Cuartoscuro)
Among the states where indefinite strikes began are Mexico City, Nuevo León, Puebla and Yucatán. Various unions representing judicial employees organized the nationwide job action.
Court workers in Mexico City who spoke with the El Universal newspaper said they are “defending Mexico from the abuse of authoritarian power.”
They said they would attend to urgent judicial cases, including ones where people’s lives were potentially at risk.
Videos posted online showed some workers placing chains around gates to courts and other judicial complexes shortly after strikes began at midnight.
The judicial unions said in a statement that the judicial reform seeks to “subjugate the federal judicial power.”
The judiciary, they asserted, is “the only counterweight” to executive and legislative power and “the guarantor of the rights of all people of Mexico, against the abuses and arbitrary actions of authorities.”
Con este comunicado, trabajadores del Poder Judicial iniciaron el #ParoNacional e hicieron un llamado a la población para unirse a su causa pues alertan que la reforma pretende someter al Poder Judicial como contrapeso. #apartadomexpic.twitter.com/IrUfxVraPZ
The judicial workers’ union released a statement warning that the proposed reform would “subjugate” the judicial branch, compromising its ability to act as a check on the executive and legislative branches.
The unions also said that the proposed reform poses a threat to the rights of court workers as it “seeks to eliminate the judicial career” based on “a system of merit.”
In addition, they said that judicial workers — of whom there are some 55,000 in Mexico — haven’t been given the opportunity to express their views on the reform, asserting that they were denied access to forums where it was discussed.
AMLO: Workers who continue to strike support corruption
At his morning press conference on Monday, President López Obrador said that court workers have the right to protest. He also defended his government’s judicial reform proposal.
“It doesn’t affect the workers. On the contrary, it benefits them. Let’s see if tomorrow or the day after it can be explained again,” he said, indicating that an official would outline the proposal at one of his upcoming pressers.
“… All this so the workers aren’t manipulated, so that the federal judicial workers have information. We’re not against the workers of Mexico, we’re against corruption and privileges,” said López Obrador, who has accused judges of serving the interests of the elite and described the salaries earned by some as “exaggerated and offensive.”
If workers decide to continue to strike even after they have the information to be presented by the government “they will serve as lackeys of those who are part of the corruption in the judicial power,” he said.
The Supreme Court and other courts have handed down various rulings against government projects and policies in recent years, angering the president.
López Obrador has claimed that Mexico’s judiciary is “at the service of a greedy and corrupt minority” of Mexican society as well as the country’s “conservative” political parties.
He has asserted that the nation’s judicial system needs to be overhauled, and believes that allowing citizens to elect Supreme Court justices and other judges is a key part of that process.
The Misión México Foundation event will offer attendees the chance to participate in a silent auction, sip cocktails and attend an expert panel on immigration in Mexico. (Misión México)
Traveling is all about connecting with people and places in a meaningful way, and sometimes that means giving back to the communities that have welcomed us with open arms. That’s why Mexico News Daily is partnering with the Misión México Foundation (MMF) to host a cross-cultural evening with panel discussions on immigration and how to ethically give back to your new community. All proceeds will go to MMF, which works to provide Chiapas’ most vulnerable children with safe homes and high-quality education.
If you’ve ever found yourself falling in love with the warmth and culture of Mexico, you might have also felt the urge to give something in return. But figuring out how to give back ethically can be tricky — especially when you hear about donations going astray or well-meaning expats getting caught up in harmful systems.
Take Jenna Mayhew, a psychologist who made the leap from Australia to Mexico. Like many new arrivals, she was keen to make a positive impact but found navigating the world of ethical giving a bit overwhelming. After doing her homework and connecting with the Misión México Foundation (MMF), she discovered a reliable way to make a difference.
Who are the Misión México Foundation?
The Misión México Foundation, based in Tapachula, Chiapas, started as a small house for orphaned children and has blossomed into a long-term care home for some of the state’s most vulnerable kids. These are children who’ve been removed from their families by the government and have no chance of returning home. MMF provides them with stable, therapeutic housing throughout their childhood and even supports them as they move into independent living.
It’s not just about providing a roof over their heads. MMF ensures the children are educated, bilingual, and given the tools to pursue their dreams — whether that’s becoming a doctor and opening a clinic in their community or working to improve their local economies as an entrepreneur or community leader.
MMF provides trauma-informed, long-term care internationally overseen by a team of experts. The foundation ensures these kids receive the compassion and support they deserve. MMF’s reach also extends beyond the children’s home, helping immigrants passing through Chiapas and supporting other vulnerable groups, like young mothers in need.
If you’re in Mexico City on Aug. 22, why not join us? The event takes place at Zuzu Restaurant in Roma Norte, starting at 7:30 p.m. Mexico News Daily CEO Travis Bembenek will join a panel to discuss the ins and outs of immigration to Mexico and how we can all meaningfully contribute to our communities.
For just 500 pesos, you’ll get a cocktail, appetizers, and the chance to be part of something special. You’ll hear from Travis, along with Mexican women’s rights advocate Karina Ojeda Valle and visual artist E.FLO. Plus, there’s a silent auction and a presentation by MMF Director Melissa Biggerstaff.
The manufacturing sector received more than half of all foreign direct investment in the first half of 2024. (Audi Mexico)
In the first six months of 2024, foreign direct investment (FDI) exceeded US $31 billion, a new record for Mexico. The total represents a 7% increase over the same period in 2023, according to the federal Economy Ministry (SE).
A low level of new investment usually suggests that companies are not fully taking advantage of the relocation phenomenon, according to the economic research department of BBVA Mexico. However, the fact that companies already invested in Mexico continue to do so indicates their satisfaction with previous investments.
So although new investment was down US $1.2 billion year-on-year from 2023, reinvestment was up nearly US $7.7 billion. In addition, the latest figures indicate 97.4% of foreign investment profits earned from January-June 2024 remained in Mexico instead of returning to the country of origin.
Meanwhile, loans, charges and payments between Mexican companies and their international partners reflected a US $101 million loss, compared to the first half of 2023 when Mexican subsidiaries received US $4.3 billion from their international partners.
Economy Secretary Raquel Buenrostro said the United States continues to be Mexico’s principal investment partner as U.S. companies were responsible for 44%, or US $13.7 billion, of the FDI. Germany (nearly US $4.2 billion) and Japan (US $3.1 billion) were second and third, respectively.
In the first six months of 2024, more than half of the record-setting foreign direct investment came from the manufacturing sector, according to the Economy Ministry. The unlabelled numbers represent millions of US dollars invested in each sector. (Secretaría de Economía)
The beneficiaries were 2,787 sociedades mexicanas (Mexican corporations), 1,977 investment funds and 28 multi-nationals. The manufacturing sector attracted 54% of the FDI with transportation, beverage and tobacco, chemical, and tech companies leading the way.
The new record for half-year FDI was boosted by a strong second quarter after Q1 FDI had fallen by 13.6% as compared to Q1 2023. Companies in Mexico City were the prime recipients of FDI during Q2 2024, accounting for 46% of the total.
“The behavior of FDI during the second quarter of 2024 suggests sufficient liquidity to cover debts acquired in previous years and to allow for loans within corporate groups,” the SE report explained.
The SE also highlighted that for a second consecutive year, the high percentage of reinvestment clearly demonstrates Mexico’s economic stability and positive business environment as well as the country’s competitive advantages.
Martín García was wanted in the United States, where the State Department was offering a reward of US $4 million for information leading to his arrest. (DEA)
An accused fentanyl trafficker and alleged “close associate” of Sinaloa Cartel leaders Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada García and Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera was found dead in Sinaloa on Saturday.
The body of Martín García Corrales was found near a dirt road in the municipality of Elota, which borders Culiacán to the south.
Two other bodies, including that of García’s brother José Ricardo García Corrales, were found in the same location in Elota. (Facebook)
His murder came three weeks after Zambada was arrested in the United States along with Joaquín Guzmán López, one of El Chapo’s sons.
García Corrales was also an alleged associate of Los Chapitos, as El Chapo’s sons are known.
The semi-naked bodies of the three men, all of whom had been shot, reportedly had signs of torture. Their eyes were blindfolded, their mouths covered with tape and their hands tied together.
Who committed the homicides and the motive for the crime is unclear. As of Monday morning, authorities in Sinaloa hadn’t released any public statement on the murders.
Martín García was wanted in the United States, where the State Department was offering a reward of US $4 million for information leading to his arrest.
His brother is Leobardo García Corrales, who is wanted in the United States on charges of fentanyl importation and firearms offenses.
In April 2023, a federal jury in New York returned an indictment against Martín García Corrales, Leobardo García Corrales and others charging them with fentanyl importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.
The DOS said that Martín García Corrales and a co-conspirator met at a restaurant in Mazatlán in November 2022 and the former “agreed to purchase hundreds of automatic rifles and other weapons, including grenades, with payment for the weapons in the form of fentanyl to be imported and delivered in the U.S..”
“Prior to that meeting, approximately September 2022, Martin García Corrales facilitated the delivery of approximately one kilogram of fentanyl at an address in California,” the department said.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury said last September that Martín García Corrales and his brother Leobardo are “associates of the Chapitos” — who head up a powerful Sinaloa Cartel faction — and “large-scale methamphetamine and fentanyl manufacturers in Sinaloa.”
“The brothers negotiate the sale of illicit fentanyl in the United States and operate fentanyl labs in Oaxaca, Mexico,” the Treasury added.
“They use the proceeds from fentanyl sales to purchase automatic rifles, grenades and other weapons.”
El Tano reportedly had “political cover” in Sinaloa
The newspaper Reforma reported that García Corrales “enjoyed political cover,” or protection, in Sinaloa “thanks to his family, members of the Sinaloa Party (PAS), founded by the recently murdered Héctor Melesio Cuén Ojeda,” a former mayor of Culiacán.
El Tano reportedly had protection from members of the Sinaloa Party (PAS), founded by the recently murdered politician Héctor Melesio Cuén. (@melesiocuen/X)
The newspaper noted that his sister, Sonia Estela García Corrales, is the PAS leader in Elota, and that he is related to the party’s state president Víctor Antonio Corrales Burgueño.
Zambada said in a statement that Cuén was killed at a location outside the city of Culiacán, where he claimed he was kidnapped after being lured by Guzmán López to a supposed meeting with Cuén and Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya. Zambada said he was forced onto a plane and taken to the U.S. against his will.
The Elota branch of the PAS lamented the deaths of Martín García Corrales and his brother in a post to its Facebook page.
“With profound sorrow and respect the entire team of the Executive Municipal Committee of Elota joins the García Corrales family in mourning the passing of José Ricardo García Corrales and Martín García Corrales,” the post said.
The legislation aims to protect the environment and prevent water shortages in nearby communities. (File photo)
Legislation to ban open-pit mining in Mexico was passed out of committee last week and the Chamber of Deputies will take up the bill when Congress is back in session in September.
The legislation aims to protect the environment and prevent water shortages in nearby communities.
Regarding the reform, AMLO has mentioned the damage caused by open-pit mining on the environment. (Andrea Murcia Monsivais/Cuartoscuro)
The measure is part of a comprehensive package of constitutional reforms submitted to Congress in February by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Congress recessed at the end of April but committees have been deliberating over the reforms, including a controversial bid to overhaul the judiciary.
In Mexico, constitutional reforms must be approved by a two-thirds vote in both the Chamber and the Senate, as well as by the majority of state congresses. López Obrador’s ruling Morena party and its allies swept to victory in the June elections. They now await a ruling from the Federal Election Tribunal later this month to see if they won qualified majorities in both houses.
Lopez Obrador has made it clear that he disapproves of the mining contracts his predecessors approved for private interests — his administration has not granted any new concessions since he took office in 2018.
In addition to the ban on open-pit mining and fracking, if approved, the reform would largely prevent the exploitation of water in areas with water scarcity.
The proposal has been met with criticism from the mining sector.
The Mexican Mining Chamber (Camimex) claims the reforms would cause a 1% contraction in Mexico’s GDP (a loss of roughly 250 billion pesos) and threaten some 200,000 jobs.
This legislation “would have devastating consequences for development and economic stability,” Camimex said in a statement. “It would limit the capacity to transform the country’s natural resources into development opportunities and slow the transition to clean energy.”
Camimex says 60% of the value of Mexico’s mining sector comes from open-pit mining.
For its part, the Association of Mining Engineers, Metallurgists and Geologists (AIMMGM) insists the ban would put Mexico’s mining sovereignty at risk and could make national industries dependent on imports. It also cautioned that such a law could prompt a recession in regions of the country that depend on mining.
While the Mexican cheese industry might not be on the same level as Europe or the United States, cheesemaking here remains a deeply artisanal affair. (Wikimedia Commons)
When it comes to internationally famous cheeses, Mexico is not quite on the map yet. The country isn’t known to produce the smelly cheeses so fancied by Eurocentric fromage connoisseurs, where it seems the stinkier the cheese, the more highly awarded. Nor are Mexican cheeses of the highly processed variety seen in much of the United States, where industrialized shreddings and plasticky cheese-ish substances in unnatural colors abound.
A 2016 study found that the majority of cheese in Mexico is produced by small-scale or artisan cheesemakers, with around 70% of all Mexican cheese coming from these producers. This artisanal approach often uses small-batch production, raw milk and traditional methods, leading to various delicious flavors and textures.
Mexican cheese offers a variety of different textures and flavors. (Wikimedia Commons)
Cheesemaking in Mexico originates from the Spanish conquest, as dairy products were unknown in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. In 1521, Spanish conquistadors brought cattle, sheep and goats to the New World, permanently changing dietary habits. Over time, the blending of European and Indigenous peoples and traditions led to the modification of cheeses to suit creole tastes.
For our dearest readers, we unpack the créme de la créme of the national cheese scene in our guide to some of Mexico’s most popular cheeses below:
Cotija: The Mexican Parmesan
(Wikimedia Commons)
Hailing from Michoacán, this crumbly delight is Mexico’s answer to Parmesan. Aged for a minimum of 100 days and sometimes up to a year, cotija develops a salty flavor with a milky undertone that intensifies over time. Its hard, crumbly texture makes it a staple garnish in Mexican cuisine, where it lends a savory kick. You’ll find cotija sprinkled generously over popular dishes such as esquites, tacos and enchiladas, adding depth and umami richness.
Queso panela: Standing firm
(Wikimedia Commons)
This firm, fresh cheese is a versatile player in central and southern Mexican cuisine. Made from pasteurized cow’s milk and curdled with vinegar or citric acid, the unaged panela has a mild, slightly sweet flavor with a hint of nuttiness. Its dense texture, reminiscent of halloumi, allows it to withstand high heat while holding its shape, making it a favorite for grilling. Panela is often served with salads or fresh fruit, used as a filling for quesadillas or incorporated into savory dishes like chile relleno.
Queso Oaxaca: Artisanal string cheese
(Cocina fácil)
Originating in the southern state of Oaxaca, where it’s known as quesillo, this cheese is a nod to the influence of Italian cheesemaking traditions in Mexico. Made using the pasta filata method introduced to Mexico by 16th-century Dominican monks, Oaxaca cheese is stretched and kneaded into long strands, then twisted into a ball or braid. Its mild, creamy flavor with a slight tang makes it a cornerstone of many Mexican dishes including quesadillas and tlayudas.
Queso fresco: The creamy, crumbly charmer
(My Gourmet)
Fresh and bright, this cheese is a staple in Mexican cuisine, with roots in traditional cheesemaking practices that date back generations. Made simply by heating cow’s milk and curdling it with an acid like vinegar or lime juice, queso fresco has a slightly tangy flavor and curd-like texture that adds a burst of freshness to any dish. Its soft, crumbliness makes it a favorite topping to a wide variety of foods, including tacos, soups, beans, salads, enchiladas and tostadas, where it provides a cool, creamy contrast.
Manchego: Not your Spanish grandpa’s cheese
(Wikimedia Commons)
Manchego is ubiquitous in Mexico, but don’t get it confused with the Iberian variety. Though made with a similar production method, this cheese uses cow’s milk instead of the traditional sheep’s milk used in Spain, resulting in a milder, slightly nutty flavor and a creamy texture. Aged for several weeks, manchego is a popular choice for quesadillas, sandwiches and cheese platters, where its smooth flavor complements a variety of accompaniments including fruits and nuts.
Requesón: Sweet and savory
(Wikimedia Commons)
Mexico’s answer to ricotta, this versatile cheese showcases the resourcefulness of Mexican cheesemakers. Made from the whey leftover from other cheese production, requesón has a mild, slightly sweet flavor and a creamy mini-curd-like consistency.
In Mexican kitchens, you’ll find requesón used in a variety of both savory and sweet dishes. It’s a common filling for enchiladas and lasagna and a key ingredient in many traditional desserts and pastries. Sometimes it’s also consumed for breakfast, along with honey and fresh fruit.
Queso Chihuahua: The melt master
(La Vizcaína)
Also known as queso menonita, this cheese has become a cornerstone of Mexican cuisine since its introduction by Mennonite settlers in the early 20th century. Originating in the state of the same name, queso Chihuahua is characterized by its smooth, melting qualities, mild, buttery flavor and a semi-soft texture that becomes creamy when melted. Queso Chihuahua’s superior melting properties make it the go-to cheese for queso fundido, quesadillas and enchiladas, as well as a topping for nachos.
Queso crema: Smooth operator
(Karolina Grabowska/Pexels)
This soft, creamy cheese is Mexico’s version of cream cheese. Made from cow’s milk and cream, queso crema has a smooth, spreadable texture and a mild, slightly tangy flavor. In Mexican cuisine, it’s a versatile ingredient used in both savory and sweet dishes.
You’ll find queso crema as a base for dips and sauces, often mixed with herbs and spices to create flavorful spreads. It’s also commonly used as a topping for baked potatoes and nachos, adding a rich, creamy element. In desserts, queso crema finds its way into cheesecakes and crepes, where its subtle tanginess balances sweetness perfectly.
Asadero: Gooey superstar
(Wikimedia Commons)
Originating in the northern regions of Mexico, asadero is renowned for its excellent melting qualities. This semi-soft cheese, made from cow’s milk, has a smooth, creamy texture and a mild, almost-sweet flavor. Asadero is a favorite for chiles, rellenos, quesadillas, cheese dips and as a topping for various baked dishes, where it provides a rich, creamy element that elevates the flavors of the entire dish.
Queso de bola: Waxy on the outside, soft at heart
(Teke)
Also known as queso holandés, this semi-hard cheese is a cheese with a fascinating history that connects Mexico and the Netherlands. With its characteristic red wax coating and yellowish innards, this cheese is derived from the Dutch Edam cheese, which was introduced to Mexico, particularly the Yucatán Peninsula, in the late 19th century.
Queso de bola is made primarily from cow’s milk and has a firm, slightly creamy texture. The slightly nutty flavor, which becomes more pronounced as it ages, makes it a favorite for cheese boards and traditional Yucatecan dishes such as queso relleno and marquesitas.
Honorable mentions
Queso reata: A cheese from Veracruz with a firm texture and mild flavor, often used in dishes like enchiladas and quesadillas.
Queso criollo: A mild, versatile cheese with a smooth texture, commonly used in a variety of tacos and salads.
Queso de poro: Originating from Tabasco, this cheese has a crumbly texture and a slightly tangy flavor, making it suitable for use in dishes like tamales and empanadas.
Adobera: A semi-soft cheese with a mild, slightly tangy flavor, often used in tortas and quesadillas.
Queso tenate: Known for its firm texture and mild taste, this cheese is used mostly in soups and casseroles.
Queso añejo: An aged cheese with a sharp, salty flavor and crumbly texture, typically used as a topping for tacos, soups and salads.
How many of these have you checked off your cheesy bucket list? Which are your favorites? Let us know in the comments below.
Monica Belot is a writer, researcher, strategist and adjunct professor at Parsons School of Design in New York City, where she teaches in the Strategic Design & Management Program. Splitting her time between NYC and Mexico City, where she resides with her naughty silver Labrador puppy Atlas, Monica writes about topics spanning everything from the human experience to travel and design research. Follow her varied scribbles on Medium at https://medium.com/@monicabelot.
Running from the very top of Sonora down to ultra-chill Nayarit, our trio of cities offer something for every kind of would-be Mexico resident. (Barcelo)
With over 6,000 miles of coastline across four distinct oceans and seas, Mexico has more coastal variety than any country in Latin America. The blue Pacific, emerald Gulf of Mexico, azure Gulf of California and turquoise Caribbean afford scenic settings, climates and inland attractions to keep prospective retirees on an endless journey of discovery.
This week we focus on three diverse locations touching two of these great bodies of water — Arizona’s beach getaway of Puerto Peñasco, venerable and quintessentially Sinaloan Mazatlán and newcomer the Riviera Nayarit (admittedly more of a collection of smaller towns than a singular destination). From the desert north to the tropical south, these three west coast locations each call to distinct cohorts seeking a Mexico living future.
Puerto Peñasco
Puerto Peñasco has long been a favorite of Arizonans looking for a weekend away at the beach. (Las Palmas Beach Resort)
Puerto Peñasco (also known as Rocky Point) carries a colorful history of bootlegging by 1920’s gangsters. It slumbered along until the 1980’s when it was discovered by sea seeking Arizonans, who found a Gulf of California beach just 60 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border. Its population nearly doubled in the decade between 2000 and 2010 and today stands at 63,000. The tempo is driven by weekenders from Arizona and snowbirds hailing from Colorado, California, New Mexico and even some Canadians.
It’s mostly beachfront high rise condo living with some gated single-home communities dominated by foreign buyers. There’s a border-beach vibe and not much of Sonoran culture (head further south to Hermosillo, Kino Bay, Guaymas and Alamos for these ecosystems). There is, however, a scientific celebration of Sonoran marine and desert ecosystems, including museums and two UNESCO World Heritage Sites (the Island of the Gulf of California and the El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve).
It’s affordable (you can find rentals under US $500 per month), has distinct neighborhoods (Las Conchas, for example), a Jack Nicklaus golf course, and Mexican retail shopping box stores. There are also volunteer opportunities (American Legion, Adopt A Class, Rotary, pet rescues). Fall and Spring are idyllic with summers hot and winters seeing days in the 50 F (10 C) range.
Mazatlán
Mazatlán is, in many ways, the quintessential Mexico living beach destination, with history, a great community and strong transport links. (Sun Country)
Mazatlán in neighboring Sinaloa (south of Sonora) certainly has earned its place as a pioneering Pacific seaport and resort. It began hosting U.S. visitors in the 1950s. The initial wave brought motorists and the camper crowd. International air started in the ’60s to ’70s and Mazatlán became a mainstay for west coast US visitors. Hotels like La Siesta, the Playa Mazatlán (owned for generations by a family from Newport Beach CA) and the legendary Carlos Anderson chain of bars/restaurants (Señor Frogs, El Shrimp Bucket) helped me (and millions more) define Mexico vacation bliss and spring-break debauchery.
Alas, other places (Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta and the Mexican Caribbean) have surged ahead of Mazatlán. International flights have declined. As the bandwagon moved on, Mazatlán settled into a new reality of hosting more Mexican domestic visitors (thanks to a highway link from the highlands via neighboring Durango state) and winter charters from Canada and the U.S.
A setback? Not really. Foreigners choosing to move here are the big winners. Mazatlán (population 500,000) is still traditionally Sinaloan, profoundly friendly, affordable, artsy and scenic. Nearly everyone you meet here is a state native from Sinaloa (try to find that at other Mexican resorts; you won’t). Balancing a commercial fishing (shrimp) industry with tourism realities, the city offers one of Mexico’s most genuine welcomes. Prices for real estate and rentals trend cheaper than other mainstay resorts, and the economy is less dollarized due to the predominance of Mexican vacationers. Yes, Sinaloa is on the short list of narco hotbeds; however, incidents impacting Mazatlán (in general) and foreigners in particular are extremely rare.
There’s also a ton of ways to stay busy, both recreationally and culturally. There are quality golf courses, miles of flat and sandy Pacific beaches for water sports, Mexico’s longest malecón (boardwalk), three islands, a fine resort marina and a genuine Mexican colonial historic zone. Downtown boasts lovely 18th and 19th century structures, once abandoned and now mostly restored and beautifully illuminated at night.
City center plazas and the remarkable Teatro Ángela Peralta are centers for socialization and Mexico’s second-best beach city calendar of cultural events (that title goes to Acapulco, subject of an upcoming essay). The slate for ballet, symphony, opera, modern dance and popular music surrounds the city’s famed Carnaval celebration — one of the world’s best. If I ever decide to live on the coast, it’s Mazatlán for me.
Riviera Nayarit
Vibrant Sayulita attracts tourists from across Mexico thanks to a combination of great surf and impeccable bohemian attitude. (Riviera Nayarit)
Continuing south into the state of Nayarit, the vegetation gets greener and the Pacific bluer. Is the Rivera Nayarit really a place, or more an attitude? Nayarit is striving to craft an identity (Nuevo Nayarit) distinct from Puerto Vallarta, its dominating Jalisco neighbor. The Wixárika and Cora Indigenous peoples play historic, artistic and contemporary roles in coastal and inland settings. The entire state has but 1.2 million residents (ranking in 29th place). It’s taken decades to complete a modern toll highway between state capital Tepic, behemoth Guadalajara and the coast. That road is now almost complete, and the impacts on Nayarit will be profound.
Stretching north from Puerto Vallarta airport in neighboring Jalisco, a string of coastal communities was branded in the early 2000s using a “riviera” moniker. It reflects a sprawling assortment of settings both within Banderas Bay and further north along a wild and underdeveloped coast of fishing villages with a luxury resort persona. There are no real cities here (even bustling Bucerías, only has 16,000, not counting the Canadian and U.S. flood of winter residents). Other settlements are much smaller (Nuevo Nayarit, La Cruz, Punta Mita, Sayulita, San Pancho, Lo de Marcos and Rincón de Guayabitos don’t break 5,000 residents). So, if your thing is getting away from the resort crowds in a paradisical tropical setting, this is your place. You also have the PV box stores and medical services in Bucerías/PV, and the new bypass highway to get around the dozen traffic lights that impede your movement into neighboring Puerto Vallarta. Progress for sure.
You’ll have a choice to make when living here — either stay within the Bay of Banderas (conveniences, high rise condos, two marinas and gated communities) or venture north and find your village in the sun. Whichever you choose, your family and friends will love you for picking this scenic and serene place. There are more AAA Five Diamond resorts here (11) than almost any other state in Mexico (except Quintana Roo with 12). The golf course assortment is Pacific Mexico’s finest.
Might one of these three locations be the right fit? Take a hard look at your lifestyle intentions, drive from Arizona into Sonora, and continue south. You’re bound to discover if coastal living (desert or tropical) can be your new home solution.
Author Greg Custer lives in Mexico. He’s worked for over 40 years in international tourism, educating travel advisors around the world about Mexico and other Latin American destinations. He helps folks explore Mexico for living at www.mexicoforliving.com.
