Coming soon to a protected wildlife sanctuary near you? Hopefully not.
In a bold new move defying geography, hydrology, and basic common sense, the federal government announced that the long-canceled Texcoco Airport project will be reborn — this time in Xochimilco, where officials claim “the ground seems way less swampy if you squint from a helicopter.”
The announcement came after Lake Texcoco’s rising waters fully reclaimed the remains of the former airport site. “Nature clearly wants Texcoco back,” said project spokesperson Jorge Daniel Fonseca, standing knee-deep in newly formed wetlands once home to terminal foundations. “So we’re heading to Xochimilco, where water is just a theoretical concept now.”
A concept image of the new Xochimilco Axolotl International Airport.
Landscape architect Iñaki Echeverría, leading the Lake Texcoco restoration, nodded supportively. “We’re turning Texcoco into a thriving wetland while turning Xochimilco into a thriving tarmac. It’s perfect symmetry,” he said, ignoring the sound of fish splashing nearby.
Government engineers remain undeterred, presenting ambitious plans to replace Xochimilco’s longboat rides with “aeronautical trajineras” powered by repurposed jet engines. “The good news is, if it floods, we’ll just call it a ‘traditional’ airport,” one planner said cheerfully.
Locals in Xochimilco expressed mixed feelings. Some welcomed the development, hoping the airplanes might “at least scare away the mosquitoes.”
As part of the sustainable vision, officials promised to name the new site Xochimilco Axolotl International Airport (Take Two) and ensure it’s “completely future-proof” by sitting on at least six layers of reinforced optimism and environmentally friendly heavy metals.
Meanwhile, birdwatchers at Texcoco continue celebrating the return of thousands of migratory species to the newly restored wetlands. “It’s beautiful,” said one, “though we can’t help but wonder where those birds will go once the new flight path runs right through their old home.”
When asked about potential flooding in Xochimilco, an anonymous official responded confidently: “Come hell or high water, it’s probably dryer than the last place we picked.”
How did Cholula Hot Sauce turn from a brand hardly known outside Mexico into a global superstar? Clever marketing and a flavor profile that's unique among its competitors. (Zoshua Colah/Unsplash)
You don’t even have to read the label to know what it is — that distinctive wooden cap is all it takes to identify Cholula Hot Sauce. What many don’t know is the story of how this small bottle of Mexican salsa picante went from a simple tequila chaser to an $800 million product and the third-most popular hot sauce in the United States.
While the rise from a national brand to Cholula’s global presence today may seem an overnight success, it was actually 100 years in the making, involving family cooks, tequila titans, baseball stars and an advertising strategy that would eventually conquer palates from Austin to Amsterdam. This is the story of how authentic Mexican flavor, wrapped in sustainable beechwood and backed by brilliant marketing, built a global hot sauce empire that proves good taste knows no borders.
Cholula Hot Sauce uses chile de árbol and piquín hot peppers to create its distinctive flavor. It also uses less vinegar than many other hot sauce brands. (Wikimedia Commons)
The legend behind the label
According to the Cholula lore, Camilla Harrison was working as a cook for the Cuervo family — as in Don José Antonio de Cuervo, the tequila titan. One day, the story goes, while experimenting in the kitchen, she came up with a locally infused version of sangrita, the red peppery sauce generally used as a complement to the agave spirit.
Her mixture of citrus juices, piquín and árbol chili peppers, vinegar and spices captivated the Cuervo family’s taste buds, enough that the family bought the rights to Harrison’s creation, standardized her recipe and produced the sauce at factory scale to sell as a versatile table condiment.
No documented evidence exists to confirm whether or not Señora Harrison received any financial compensation, though local lore speculates it’s her caricature on the label. It’s possible that by the time the sauce hit Mexican shelves in the mid-20th century, she was no longer alive — that is, if she ever existed at all.
But the Cuervo family’s decision to name their sauce not after their city but an ancient one would prove to be marketing genius.
Sacred geography, secret recipe
This pyramid at Cholula, Puebla, has the distinction of being the world’s largest pyramid, though not the tallest. Using the name for the hot sauce gave the product a sense of gravitas that distinguished it from other brands. (Diego Delso/Wikimedia Commons)
The choice to name the sauce “Cholula” rather than “Chapala” wasn’t accidental. Mexico’s 2,500-year-old city of Cholula lies at the base of Popocatépetl volcano, the longest-inhabited city in North America and home to the largest pyramid in the world by volume.
The city today is known for churches, sopa Cholulteca and this little bottle of hot sauce that actually comes from Jalisco. How did that happen?
From a brand psychology perspective, naming your sauce “Cholula” taps into an ancient Mexican archaeological and cultural powerhouse. This distinction far surpasses the usual playfulness of bottled sauce brands, the name signaling history, continuity and something more serious than your average hot sauce. This broader implied link between regional cuisine and deep-rooted traditions aligns well with the consumer search for “authentic” Mexican flavors in global markets.
In other words, Cholula’s symbolic geography gives this tiny bottle of hot — and not overly so — sauce instant credibility in a crowded marketplace.
For popularizing Mexico’s traditional dishes with her successful 1972 book, “The Cuisines of Mexico,” author Diana Kennedy received Mexico’s highest honor awarded to foreigners, the Order of the Aztec Eagle. (Mexico City Museum of Popular Art)
The book has been largely credited with changing how the English-speaking world viewed Mexican food. Tex-Mex chefs like Stephan Pyles and Robert Del Grande became household names in the ’80s, defining the flavorful cuisine as a trendy alternative to an otherwise bland American diet. To top it off, the number of Mexican immigrants to the U.S. more than tripled between 1970 and 1990, according to Pew Research.
This perfect storm of factors caught the eye of the Cuervo company, which saw a clear path to commercial success.
When Cholula Hot Sauce launched in Austin, Texas in 1989, it quickly spread throughout the U.S. via supermarket chains. Twenty years later, Cholula would emerge as one of the country’s leading hot sauce brands; by 2020, its annual retail sales reached approximately US $96 million. This success is owed, in part, to McCormick & Company’s acquisition of Cholula Hot Sauce in the same year.
From baseball diamonds to pizza boxes
Cholula’s marketing genius lay in understanding American culture beyond just taste buds. The company seized upon baseball as a promotional tool, running a prominent “Order of Cholula” campaign with New York Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard around 2017, in which he discussed using the sauce as part of his routine.
Significant investment in baseball sponsorships also included a multiteam ‘Cholula Flamethrower’ MLB program that combined in‑stadium and on‑air exposure, placing the sauce at concession stands. The widespread presence throughout “America’s favorite pastime” led to the creation of the Cholula Porch space at the Texas Rangers’ Globe Life Park in Arlington.
The Order of Cholula - Hero
A Cholula marketing campaign in the late aughts centered around then New York Mets star pitcher Noah Syndergaard marketed Cholula to American millennials as a passionate lifestyle choice and raised the hot sauce’s visibility in the U.S.
These sports partnerships helped move Cholula from a niche Mexican‑restaurant condiment into a broader part of American food and fan culture — although not without some friendly competition from a brand from the U.S. South.
David vs. Goliath: Taking on Tabasco
The Cholula and Tabasco brands compete for the same condiment real estate — on diner counters, in stadium condiment offerings, on brunch tables and in supermarket aisles — but they occupy distinct spaces in terms of origin, flavor and brand personality.
Cholula is marketed by McCormick as a Mexican hot sauce with medium heat and a rounded, food-first flavor profile meant to “go on everything,” supported by strong placement in North American restaurants and grocery chains.
Tabasco, produced by the McIlhenny Company on Avery Island, Louisiana, is framed as a foundational American brand, known for its sharp, vinegar-forward, fermented chili taste and its longtime use in hospitality, airlines and home kitchens worldwide.
Both use hot peppers as their base, but the fundamental difference lies in flavor philosophy: Tabasco ages mashed peppers and salt in white oak barrels, then blends them with vinegar, which dominates the taste. Cholula’s approach prioritizes the peppers themselves, so you instead taste the piquín and árbol peppers, not the vinegar or the wood.
McCormick explicitly positions Cholula as a premium brand that can compete in the same spaces where Tabasco traditionally dominated, offering different flavor experiences but solving the same basic consumer need: a trusted, everyday hot sauce that enhances rather than overwhelms food.
A global phenomenon
Today, Cholula has official distributors across Europe, with dedicated sales managers within United Kingdom and German distribution networks. Major British retailers like Tesco stock it alongside traditional favorites. British consumers specifically seek it out as an alternative to vinegar-heavy sauces, wanting “developed and well-rounded pepper flavor without a searing hot punch”— a perfect example of why Cholula succeeded where other hot sauces couldn’t.
Market research now lists Cholula among the major players in the European hot sauce market, with the U.K., Germany, France and the Netherlands emerging as leading consumers. The scramble for hot sauces in Europe highlights a broader cultural shift, as demand for Mexican cuisine and spicier condiments moves these flavors from niche products into everyday pantry staples.
The Cholula Effect has spread beyond the plate, showing how genuine cultural products can transcend borders and make the world a more flavorful place, one wooden cap at a time.
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.
Humpbacks like this one are among the most commonly sighted whales seasonally in Los Cabos. (Visit Los Cabos)
What a difference a century makes. In the 19th century, the Pacific Coast of Baja California Sur (BCS) was a hunting ground for whalers. Indeed, some of the most notable early immigrants to what is now Los Cabos were deserters from whaling ships who married into local families. As historian Pablo L. Martinez pointed out in his “Guia Familiar de Baja California, 1700-1900”:
“In the southern tip (of the Baja California peninsula), most of the immigrants were fugitives of the whale fishing ships who escaped from the terrible life they endured aboard such ships. Nowadays, the regional inhabitants call them pirates, which is not correct. Many years ago, six young fellows deserted their whaling ship. They were of the following family names: Hastings, Collins, Leggs, McClish, Gavarine and Robinson.” Others bearing surnames like Green and Ritchie followed.
Virtually every type of tour boat in Los Cabos offers daily whale watching excursions during the winter season. (Visit Los Cabos)
By the late 20th century, however, there had been a sea change in attitudes and a nascent whale watching industry had taken root in Los Cabos. Rather than being hunted, whales were now protected by law and even the season during which tours could occur was regulated.
How long does whale watching season in Los Cabos last?
Yes, that season has arrived. The 2025-2026 whale watching season in Los Cabos begins on Dec. 15 — meaning that’s the day when local tour operators can officially begin taking out tourists aboard boats to see whales — and runs for a full four months, until April 15. The whales themselves, which typically feed in Arctic waters during the summer months before heading south during winter to breed in shallow water coves around BCS, have been seen in local waters since early November, and may be gone by April.
But the dates for whale watching season remain the same regardless and it’s now a big business locally, with tens of thousands of tourists participating in some type of whale watching experience each year.
When are the peak months for viewing?
No guarantees are given when it comes to whale watching tours. The whales do what they want. But from January to March, the peak of whale watching season, it’s a rare tour that doesn’t see some of the whale species that transit Los Cabos this time of year, which include blue, bryde, fin, gray, humpback, minke, orca and sei whales.
Gray and humpback whales are the most commonly sighted, however, and humpbacks are the most memorably photogenic, thanks to their propensity for spectacular breaching behavior, in which they lift nearly the entirety of their up to 40-ton bodies out of the water before splashing down.
What are the restrictions for tour operators?
Rest assured: whales aren’t harassed by tour operators, even though nearly every tour boat in the Cabo San Lucas marina has the proper permits to offer daily whale watching excursions, as do some from the Puerto Los Cabos marina in San José del Cabo. But legal restrictions ensure that all boats remain a certain distance from the whales (60 to 80 meters, or about 200 to 250 feet, depending on the boat’s size), and do nothing that might frighten or annoy them.
A humpback breaches spectacularly near a zodiac boat filled with whale watchers in Los Cabos. (Cabo Adventures)
Of course, the whales are unfamiliar with such regulations and can occasionally come up for air much closer to boats. But Los Cabos is not Magdalena Bay, where gray whales will sometimes approach tourists for more intimate interactions.
Still, Los Cabos is a remarkable place for whale watching — as many as 5,000 whales transit the area annually — even for those who aren’t on tour boats, as enormous cetaceans can often be seen from coastal restaurants or golf courses, like those captured on-air during the recent World Wide Technology Championship.
Swimming with orcas in La Ventana
Whale watching in Los Cabos is a bucket-list activity of the first order, but hardly the only seasonal one within a couple of hours of drive time. This year, for example, BCS became the first state to legalize swimming with orcas, although only in La Ventana, a small town about 30 miles southeast of La Paz on the Gulf of California, or as it is known locally, the Sea of Cortés.
This type of tourism is restricted, too, with the zone off La Ventana for orca encounters encompassing 110,000 hectares and the number of boats capped at 24 daily, now through this summer, when presumably restrictions will evolve based on how the pilot program for this season goes. Tours and round-trip transportation from Los Cabos are available via companies like Cabo Adventures, although due to the travel time, it bears noting that this is at least a six-hour time commitment.
Swimming with whale sharks in La Paz
For years, swimming with whale sharks — not actually a whale, but a massive plankton-eating shark and, at up to 30 tons, the world’s largest fish — has taken place off the coast of BCS’ capital city, La Paz, and has also been a bucket-list vacation activity for tourists. But due to declining numbers of the species regionally, these tours were suspended in February 2023, and again from January 2025 through the completion of last season (whale shark season runs annually from October through May).
The activity has reopened, however, for the new season after enough whale sharks were spotted in November to meet the threshold for tours to commence. But conservancy remains a priority for what is, after all, an endangered species, so there’s always the possibility that these tours are suspended again, something visitors should keep in mind before booking too far in advance.
Swimming with whale sharks season is open in La Paz … at least for now. (Go La Paz)
Here, too, there are legally mandated requirements for boats and group size (no more than 36’ in length and 5 per group, respectively), and for distance, with swimmers obliged to stay at least six feet away from the body of whale sharks, and for their own safety, at least 10 feet away from the tail.
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.
In northern Nayarit, you can still find authentic, respectful tourism opportunities. (Presidencia)
When VidantaWorld’s expansion plans finally debuted this month — one of the most anticipated and widely discussed tourism projects in Mexico — it dominated the travel conversation across the Pacific coast. With upcoming immersive attractions, dramatic entertainment zones and a scale previously unseen in the region, the opening of the new BON luxury theme park instantly positioned Nuevo Nayarit as a high-profile tourism magnet.
But not everyone is interested in a mega attraction. And for travelers who crave emptier landscapes, quieter beaches, meaningful cultural encounters and nature that hasn’t been packaged into an experience, Nayarit offers a very different story — one that begins just a little farther north and a little farther inland.
The BON luxury theme park, one of the latest amenities in VidantaWorld’s 3,000-acre beachfront resort. (Vidanta on X)
Beyond the new development boom in the south, the rest of Nayarit is emerging as one of Mexico’s most compelling hidden-gem destinations for ecotourism.
Home to wetlands, mangrove forests, surf towns that still feel local, sacred mountains, volcanic valleys, and communities deeply connected to the environment, Nayarit delivers the kind of off-the-beaten-path travel that is increasingly hard to find.
And with global travel awards and features in publications placing Nayarit on their “Best Places to Go in 2026” lists, this quieter side of the state is finally getting the visibility it deserves.
To find the real Nayarit, head north
Most visitors arriving through the Puerto Vallarta airport naturally drift south toward Nuevo Vallarta, where Vidanta has transformed more than 3,000 acres of beachfront into resorts, golf courses and, now, the landmark VidantaWorld. It’s a monumental project, but it’s also just one sliver of Nayarit.
Drive 20 or 30 minutes north, and the coastline changes dramatically. The beaches stretch wider, the towns get smaller and the daily pace drops. This is where Nayarit’s ecotourism story truly begins.
Further north in Nayarit, even in touristy surf towns like San Pancho, there are unforgettable ecotourism opportunities. (Project Expedition)
San Pancho and Sayulita may be well known, but they anchor a coastal corridor where surfing, conservation and community-led initiatives still shape the visitor experience. San Pancho in particular has maintained a strong environmental ethos, with local organizations working to protect turtle nesting sites, support wildlife rehabilitation and manage sustainable tourism practices.
Continue farther north, and you reach Litibú, Lo de Marcos, and a series of beaches where development drops away almost entirely. These stretches of coastline with dramatic cliffs, translucent water and untouched coves represent the version of Riviera Nayarit that early travelers fell in love with, long before the region appeared in travel magazines.
Wetlands, mangroves and an important bird habitat
For ecotourism travelers, one of the most exciting regions in the state is Marismas Nacionales, a vast wetland system considered one of the largest and most ecologically important in Mexico. Covering roughly 200,000 hectares, Marismas Nacionales is home to mangrove forests, lagoons, estuaries and lowland jungles that support extraordinary biodiversity.
Birdwatchers have known about the region for years, but tourism interest is now beginning to broaden. Migratory species arrive in the winter months while resident species, including herons, spoonbills, kingfishers and ospreys, thrive year-round. Kayaking and small-boat excursions offer low-impact ways to explore the wetlands, and community-based guides ensure that your tourism dollars stay within the region.
This area also offers travelers a chance to see conservation in action: Local cooperatives are deeply involved in mangrove preservation, species monitoring and sustainable fishing practices, making Marismas Nacionales a powerful example of ecotourism that directly supports environmental stewardship.
At the beginning of the 2000s, jaguars began to be spotted in Nayarit, inhabiting areas near the Marismas Nacionales Biosphere Reserve, a protected area that approximately 240 verterbrate species call home. (Government of Mexico)
Experiences not found on a booking site
While the coastline is the gateway to Nayarit, its interior is where the state surprises even seasoned Mexico travelers. Within an hour of the coast, the landscape shifts into the foothills of the Sierra Madre Occidental, where pine forests, waterfalls, river valleys and volcanic formations create an entirely different terrain.
Hiking routes here are becoming more accessible, thanks to small outfitters and local communities that have begun offering guided excursions focused on ecology, geology and Indigenous heritage.
The mountains are also home to the Cora and Huichol (Wixárika) peoples, whose sacred sites and cosmology are deeply tied to the land. Cultural experiences in these regions are handled carefully and respectfully, ensuring that visitors learn without disrupting traditions.
For travelers who want to combine activity with immersion, horseback riding, waterfall hikes and river swimming provide easy entry points into Nayarit’s inland wilderness.
What really makes Nayarit a hidden gem for authentic ecotourism is that travelers can still experience communities and landscapes before their growing popularity reshapes them. The state is growing, and VidantaWorld’s arrival will only accelerate interest, but the north and interior remain largely defined by local daily life.
Many of Nayarit’s most interesting experiences aren’t found on booking sites but through local cooperatives, small tourism collectives and family-run operations. Visitors can learn traditional weaving or beadwork, join conservation projects or participate in community food experiences that highlight regional ingredients like the bejuco tuber and ancient corn varieties.
In a moment when many Mexican destinations are grappling with overtourism, Nayarit offers a different narrative, one where travelers have the opportunity to choose how their tourism dollars shape the future of a region. With wetlands, mountains, small surf towns, Indigenous communities and stretches of coastline that feel almost untouched, the state is poised to become one of Mexico’s most important destinations for ecoconscious travelers.
Experience it now, before the rest of the world arrives.
Meagan Drillinger is a New York native who has spent the past 15 years traveling around and writing about Mexico. While she’s on the road for assignments most of the time, Puerto Vallarta is her home base. Follow her travels on Instagram at @drillinjourneys or through her blog at drillinjourneys.com.
A figure of the Virgin of Guadalupe watches over pilgrims camped out Thursday night. Roughly 13 million people converged on the Mexico City Basilica to honor the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe at one of Mexico's most sacred sites. (Galo Cañas / Cuartoscuro)
Tariffs took center stage the second week of December. Mexico approved new tariffs of up to 50% on a variety of products from non-trade partners in a move some speculated was aiming at appeasing the U.S. ahead of next year’s trade pact review. Mexico also faced the prospect of higher tariffs on its own products — a threat U.S. President Trump says will become reality if Mexico doesn’t deliver Rio Grande water it owes the U.S.
President Sheinbaum highlighted the decline in homicides, while the National Public Security Council agreed prioritize fighting extortion in 2026. On the economic front, inflation is trending up as the central bank prepares its last interest rate decision of the year.
Didn’t have time to read this week’s top stories? Here’s what you missed.
Protectionist trade policies dominate at home and abroad
On Wednesday, Congress approved sweeping new tariffs on imports from China and other non-free trade agreement countries. The legislation, passing the Chamber of Deputies 281-24 with 149 abstentions, proposes tariffs ranging from 5% to 50% across 1,463 product categories.
The Chinese government immediately responded, urging Mexico to reverse the tariffs “as soon as possible.” However, Sheinbaum defended the measures at her Thursday morning press conference, with Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard emphasizing the tariffs aim to protect Mexican industry from cheap imports rather than serving as a political measure. The legislation targets sectors including auto parts, textiles, furniture, and electronics, with the government estimating it will generate 70 billion pesos ($3.8 billion) in additional revenue annually.
The tariff bill, though somewhat softened from Sheinbaum’s original September proposal, represents a calculated recalibration of Mexico’s trade relationships. It aims to protect domestic manufacturers, and could potentially smooth relations with the U.S. ahead of next year’s USMCA review — though critics warn it could increase consumer prices and create inflationary pressures.
Security progress and setbacks
Mexico’s security landscape presented a study in contrasts this week. A devastating car bomb explosion in Coahuayana, Michoacán, killed six people, including at least three community police officers, on Dec. 7. The powerful blast outside a community police station, initially characterized as terrorism before that designation was quietly removed, underscored the operational capacity criminal groups still maintain despite government initiatives like Plan Michoacán.
Yet government data told a different story. At her Tuesday morning press conference, President Sheinbaum presented figures showing homicides down 29% nationally compared to 2024, with an average of 65.1 murders per day during the first eleven months of 2025. November alone saw a 37% reduction compared to September 2024, equivalent to 32 fewer homicides daily. Officials reported nearly 39,000 arrests for high-impact crimes since October 2024, alongside seizures of 311.7 tonnes of drugs and 20,169 firearms.
Despite trade tensions and security concerns, Mexico’s labor market demonstrated remarkable strength. Formal employment reached a record 22.8 million workers as of Nov. 30, the highest figure since records began in 1943. The addition of 48,595 new jobs in November brought cumulative growth for 2025 to 599,389 positions, with women’s formal employment showing particularly strong gains of approximately 98,000 new positions over the past year.
However, inflation continued climbing toward 4%, reaching 3.80% in November, up from 3.57% in October. Core inflation hit 4.43%, the highest since March 2024, driven by service sector pressures, food price increases (serrano peppers up 24.76%, squash climbing 17%), and electricity costs soaring 20.7%. The central bank is expected to reduce interest rates by 25 basis points at its December 18 meeting despite these inflationary pressures.
Es muy posible que en algunos meses de 2026 la inflación general se ubique por encima de 4% en México. pic.twitter.com/BAia27tmhG
President Sheinbaum’s week illustrated the volatile nature of U.S.-Mexico relations. Following what she described as a “very friendly” meeting with President Trump at the World Cup draw in Washington, D.C., where Trump showed “a lot of respect toward Mexico,” the diplomatic atmosphere quickly deteriorated. Just days later, Trump threatened a 5% tariff on Mexican goods unless Mexico promptly delivers water owed to Texas farmers under the 1944 Water Treaty, demanding 200,000 acre-feet before December 31.
Sheinbaum responded diplomatically, acknowledging treaty obligations while noting physical limitations including pipeline capacity and Mexico’s own water needs during severe drought. She expressed confidence that an agreement could be reached, emphasizing Mexico’s shortfall is “not a matter of ill will.”
The water dispute emerged alongside other bilateral tensions. Sheinbaum reported that the Trump administration is deporting fewer people to Mexico than the Biden administration did—an average of 472 per day versus 572 under Biden. This data point, presented at Wednesday’s press conference, suggests a more complex reality than Trump’s tough-on-immigration rhetoric might suggest.
As the year winds to a close, Sheinbaum is under increasing pressure over Mexico’s ongoing security challenges. Water issues remain top of mind as Mexico and the U.S. work out how to deal with Mexico’s water delivery shortfall along the two countries’ shared border.
Economically, record formal employment and continued foreign investment signal underlying strength, but inflation trending toward 4% threatens purchasing power and could force difficult monetary policy decisions. The central bank is expected to further cut interest rates next week, which could push inflation even higher.
Meanwhile, the tempestuous relationship with the United States—oscillating between friendly World Cup meetings and water-driven tariff threats within days—underscores the delicate diplomatic tightrope Sheinbaum must walk. As 2026 approaches with its crucial USMCA review, Mexico’s challenge will be maintaining sovereignty over domestic policy while managing an increasingly transactional and unpredictable northern neighbor. The coming months will test whether Sheinbaum’s blend of pragmatism, cultural nationalism, and strategic assertiveness can navigate these crosscurrents successfully.
Mexico News Daily
This story contains summaries of original Mexico News Daily articles. The summaries were generated by Claude, then revised and fact-checked by a Mexico News Daily staff editor.
In Mexico, it's not just how water is captured that matters, but who gets access. (Gobierno de Mexico)
Many years ago, I saw a short video. It was supposed to be funny in that clever “hindsight is 20/20” way. In it, two boys who would today be in their 70s sit by a stream of clear running water. One of them dips a bottle into it and says, “One day, I’m going to sell this water to people in bottles.” The other boy looks at his friend like he’s crazy. “But water’s free. Who would ever buy water in a bottle?” he says incredulously.
Who, indeed.
Remember when the idea of selling water in bottles seemed crazy? Now, it’s big business. (Agua.org)
Well, here we are, all buying water in bottles. Its market share worldwide is now at nearly US $350 billion. But it’s sure worth thinking about alternatives to this reality. Wouldn’t it be something if we could go back to saying, “Water in a bottle, for money? But it falls from the sky and gathers on and below the ground for free!”
The reality of water in Mexico
The reality is, of course, that water is not free. And even when we’re prepared to pay for it, it’s not necessarily forthcoming. In Xalapa, where I live, tandas de agua (water rationing schedules) have been a thing for years now. Doing too much laundry on the wrong day or accidentally leaving a toilet running for a few hours means you could be out of luck for a few days afterward.
If you were here in the spring of 2024, you might remember some scary potential scenarios. Talk of“Day Zero” — the day that Mexico City would officially run out of water — was everywhere.
In the very-worth-reading report “Los Millonarios de Agua“ (“Water Millionaires”), authors Wilfrido A. Gómez Arias and Andrea Moctezuma point out a perhaps unsurprising fact: 3,304 “water millionaires” (1.1% of users) use 22.3% of all the water available in Mexico.
Wow.
A new water law in Mexico
At a congressional session, where Mexico’s new general water law was both debated and approved. (Andrea Murcia / Cuartoscuro.com)
Water is the important resource, of course. Whoever controls it literally controls everything. It even surpasses money in importance: money might be an important resource, but money is just a symbol. Water is a resource we cannot live without.
Now, we’ve gota new water law that’s caused quite a bit of uproar, specifically among farmers. It’s meant as an antidote to correct aPresident Salinas-era law, circa 1992, that essentially privatized water concessions. This allowed individuals and institutions to basically administer their own water from national territory with no involvement from water authorities at all. From there, they could basically do whatever they wanted in terms of access to their allotted amount of water…even sell it. This new law is an attempt to rein that in. It’s not a good look, after all, when everyone is rationing except a select, very wealthy few.
Farmers have fought the law, saying it will impede them from selling or passing on their land to their children. The government, for its part, has assured them that they will still be able to do so. The only circumstance in which they’d have to get a new concession would be if the use of the water changes.
Who gets access to water and who doesn’t?
My main question about the law is this: Are the water millionaires, accounting for about 1% of companies and individuals, still going to be able to extract over one-fifth of the country’s water?
Will resort pools and golf courses stay full and green while the surrounding areas continue to ration? From what I can tell, most likely. Concessions won’t be able to be transferred to others without state involvement. Fine. Is Coca-Cola or Nestlé going to be trying to transfer their concessions? My guess is no.
And if that’s true, then how exactly does this law guarantee water as a human right? It’s not that it causes harm — it’s that it doesn’t seem to really do anything to change the status quo. We’ll still be paying for water. We’ll still be rationing while the big players continue to use their concessions.
‘One water, one law’
At the Open Water Parliament in Jalisco, citizens stressed that water must not be a private commodity. (Instagram)
So what does it mean exactly for water to be seen as a “human right” rather than a “good”?
I’m with the“One Water, One Law” crowd on this one. “The law they’re proposing is a simulation,” said María González Valencia, director of the Mexican Institute for Community Development (IMDEC). “It keeps the old privatizing structure intact and treats water as a market, not a human right.”
Well, exactly. If they can still extract water and sell it back to us while we ration, what exactly is changing? And will heavier state involvement in water concessions be an area in which Mexico is magically not corrupt? I know that sounds cynical, but it’s an honest question: What’s the plan for making sure this all goes down like it’s supposed to?
I’m glad, though, that they’re at least trying to deal with the issue. It needs to be dealt with — it’s literally a matter of life or death.
How much further could they go? “One Water, One Law” advocates have some good ideas: “Participants demanded publication of a full list of concession-holders delinquent on their fees and urged that new permits be conditioned on sustainable use,” wrote the author of an article on the movement, Tracy L. Barnett, in MND. “Others proposed regional water councils with citizen participation to monitor local supply, and mandatory rain-harvesting systems for public buildings to reduce pumping from Lake Chapala.”
And here’s an idea, surely shared by many, that I’ve hoped for for a long time now. We don’t all have access to wells, but it rains on us all at least sometimes.Water catchment and purifying systems — Mexican-grown! — already exist. If the government were to subsidize the installation of those systems in homes and buildings around the country, that could ensure an important lifeline.
A facility in Mexico where rainwater is harvested for crop irrigation. (Gobierno de Mexico)
Wouldn’t it be something if Mexico became a model around the world for its handling of water for a growing population?
Trying to rein in some of these big guys by cutting off the possibility of treating water as a commodity without government oversight is a start.
But let’s take this all the way; there’s so much more we could do.
Don't worry if you waited until the last minute. We've got the lowdown on all the best New Year's Eve parties in Mexico City. (Eneas De Troya / Wikimedia Commons)
Planning a memorable New Year’s Eve celebration in Mexico City? This comprehensive guide covers the best last-minute options for dining, parties and experiences to ring in 2026 with pizzazz.
Upscale New Year’s Eve restaurants in Mexico City
Fónico in Mexico City offers elegant surroundings for New Year’s Eve dining. (Fónico)
Fónico – “Fónico a la Gatsby” NYE Party
Perfect for: Couples, special occasions, groups Atmosphere: Fine dining with Art Deco glamour and vintage vibes What to expect: This high-end Mexican restaurant occupies a heritage mansion in Roma Norte, where Chef Billy Maldonado reinterprets northwestern Mexican flavors with modern creativity. The restaurant offers tasting-menu presentations and craft cocktails in a Gatsby-era aesthetic. NYE celebration: Two seatings available – early seating 6:00-8:30 p.m. (1,950 pesos) or late party seating from 9:30 p.m.-4:00 a.m. (2,980 pesos, 4,100 with open bar). The late seating includes live music and a festive party atmosphere. Reservations:OpenTable |Fonico Website
Recognized by the Michelin Guide for its superb Italian cuisine, Galea is a great dinner option for New Year’s Eve. (Galea)
Galea Mediterranean Cuisine NYE Tasting Menu
Perfect for: Food enthusiasts, couples, intimate celebrations Atmosphere: Michelin-recognized Italian cuisine with classy ambiance What to expect: This acclaimed Italian restaurant in Roma honors artisanal techniques and conscious hospitality, crafting each dish with precision in an intimate setting. Galea has earned recognition from the Michelin Guide and features Mediterranean-inspired cuisine led by Chef Rafael Zaga and Chef Michelle Catarata. NYE celebration: Single seating 5:00-8:30 p.m. (maximum 3-hour stay). Choose between a 3-course menu (1,500 pesos) featuring eggplant tartlet, langoustine ravioli and truffle mille-feuille, or a 5-course menu (2,700 pesos) showcasing black truffle porchetta and caramelized milk bread with Reblochon cheese. Reservations:Galea Reservations
Sendero in the JW Marriott Polanco in Mexico City offers a stylish and traditional setting to celebrate the New Year. (Marriott)
JW Marriott Polanco – Sendero Restaurant NYE Gala
Perfect for: Couples, families, multi-generational celebrations Atmosphere: Refined hotel dining with contemporary Mexican cuisine What to expect: This polished restaurant inside JW Marriott Polanco features contemporary Mexican and Latin American dishes built around local, seasonal ingredients in an elegant, comfortable dining room. The refined atmosphere works equally well for romantic dinners and family gatherings. NYE celebration: Buffet dinner 7:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m. includes sparkling wine and traditional 12 grapes. Dinner starts at 2,900 pesos per person (850 for children under 12). Room packages are available with the gala dinner and a New Year’s Day brunch featuring endless mimosas. Reservations:Sendero OpenTable |JW Marriott Polanco
Speakeasy & Sophisticated Party Venues for NYE
The Midnight Monkey is among the best of Mexico City’s speakeasy-style spots for New Year’s Eve imbibing. (The Midnight Monkey)
The Midnight Monkey New Year’s Eve Celebration
Perfect for: Couples, jazz enthusiasts, refined party-goers Atmosphere: Intimate 1920s speakeasy with live jazz and burlesque shows What to expect: This exclusive speakeasy recreates the Prohibition era with authentic Art Deco style, hidden-bar atmosphere and live entertainment. The venue features classic cocktails and immersive golden-age experiences in an intimate setting. NYE celebration: Starts at 10:00 p.m. with premium open bar, gourmet canapés, live music and “the countdown that sets the tone for 2026.” The party is set to last until 2:00 a.m. Reservations:Midnight Monkey |OpenTable
Parole is one of several venues offering an upscale atmosphere for New Year’s Eve. (Grupo RosaNegra)
Grupo RosaNegra NYE Celebrations (Multiple Venues)
Perfect for: Groups seeking glamour with live entertainment Atmosphere: High-energy party dining with shows and performances What to expect: Collection of upscale Masaryk venues where dinner transforms into entertainment. Taboo offers Mediterranean beach-club vibes with DJs; Parole provides cozy Italian romance with live musicians; RosaNegra delivers Latin glamour with percussion and sparklers; Chambao features steakhouse-supper club atmosphere; Mestiza offers relaxed social dining perfect for cocktail sharing. NYE celebration: Each restaurant offers a 4-course dinner with a live show, DJ and midnight Moët & Chandon toast. The celebration runs from 8:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m. with emphasis on elegant dress and table-based socializing. Reservations:Grupo RosaNegra
Traditional & Casual NYE Dining in Mexico City
The opulent interiors of Gran Cantina Filomeno offer a window into a Mexico gone by. (Gran Cantina Filomeno)
Gran Cantina Filomeno New Year’s Eve Tradition
Perfect for: Friend groups and families seeking an authentic Mexican atmosphere Atmosphere: Historic Mexican cantina with Porfirian-era charm What to expect: This traditional cantina operates from a historic Porfirian mansion, serving classic Mexican cantina cuisine with generous botanas, premium tequila and mezcal selections. The venue features live mariachi music, domino tables and card games in an authentic golden-age Mexican social setting. NYE celebration: The evening begins at 9:00 p.m. with a dinner-only option (2,200 pesos) or dinner plus open bar (4,000 pesos). Includes live music and a traditional midnight toast. Reservations:Cantina Filomeno OpenTable
Live music is a popular feature at Botanero del Bosque, particularly on New Year’s Eve. (Botanero del Bosque)
Botanero del Bosque NYE Dinner
Perfect for: Groups, casual celebrations Atmosphere: Lively cantina-style venue with vintage-modern décor What to expect: This restored Centro Histórico venue revives traditional Mexican “botanero” culture, where complimentary snacks accompany every drink. The space features vintage-meets-modern design, with live cantina music and communal seating arrangements perfect for group celebrations. NYE celebration: Starts at 8:00 p.m. with a 4-course dinner, New Year’s toast, live music and traditional 12-grape midnight ritual. Reservations:Botanero del Bosque
Free Outdoor NYE Events in Mexico City
The Ángel de la Independencia is the site of light shows and fireworks for New Year’s Eve. (Fausto.Herz/Instagram)
Angel of Independence (El Ángel) NYE Street Party
Perfect for: Large groups, budget-conscious celebrants, cultural experiences Atmosphere: Massive street party with festive crowds What to expect: Mexico City’s primary public New Year’s Eve celebration centers around the iconic Ángel de la Independencia on Paseo de la Reforma. This free event features live music or DJ performances, city-organized light shows and fireworks at midnight. Sections of Reforma close to traffic, creating space for dancing and street celebrations.
Mexico’s historic Zócalo is the site for many big events, including a magnificent fireworks display on New Year’s Eve. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)
Zócalo Fireworks & Historic Celebration
Perfect for: Families, cultural enthusiasts, budget-friendly options Atmosphere: Historic communal celebration in the heart of Mexico City What to expect: The classic countdown takes place in Mexico City’s main plaza, surrounded by the Cathedral and National Palace. This massive public gathering often includes stage programming, concerts, fireworks and building projections at midnight. Upgrade option: Reserve terrace dining at Balcón del Zócalo or La Terraza del Gran Hotel for elevated views of the square before joining the street celebration.
Unique NYE Experiences in Mexico City
Floating through Xochimilco’s canals on a trajinera is one of the coolest things you can do on New Year’s Eve in Mexico City. (Visit Mexico)
Xochimilco Trajinera NYE Boat Parties
Perfect for: Friend groups, party enthusiasts Atmosphere: Festive floating celebration on traditional boats What to expect: Nighttime floating parties on decorated trajineras through Xochimilco’s canals. These unique celebrations include open bar service, live music (DJ, mariachi or banda), tacos and snacks, with boats often connecting to create larger floating dance floors for a distinctly Mexican New Year’s experience. Booking: Reserve through platforms likeFever orGetYourGuide. Choose between shared or private boat options. Most tours are during the day.
Hot air balloon rides over the Teotihuacán pyramids, just outside of Mexico City, are a great way to welcome the New Year. (Juliana Barquero/Unsplah)
Teotihuacán Sunrise Experience (January 1st)
Perfect for: Couples, cultural enthusiasts, early risers Atmosphere: Spiritual, scenic new year beginning What to expect: Start 2026 with sunrise hot-air balloon flights or early morning visits to the ancient Teotihuacán pyramids. Watch the year’s first light illuminate these archaeological wonders, often followed by a celebratory breakfast and optional guided tours. Booking: Schedule with balloon operators, including Flying Pictures or Globos Aerostáticos for January 1st flights.
NYE Spa & Wellness Experiences in Mexico City
Step into serenity at Nima before partying on New Year’s Eve. (Nima Urban Spa)
Nima Urban Spa Wellness Retreat
Perfect for: Couples, small friend groups, solo relaxation Atmosphere: Tranquil urban wellness sanctuary What to expect: This intimate Roma Norte spa offers curated “Spa Half-Day” packages including hydrotherapy circuits (sauna, steam, contrast showers), 50-minute massages, 45-minute facials and light refreshments. The experience provides a mindful body and mind reset before or after NYE celebrations. Booking:Nima Urban Spa
Have your spirit cleaned at Thai Spa Temazcal before greeting the New Year. (Thai Spa Temazcal)
Thai Spa Temazcal Spiritual Cleansing
Perfect for: Couples, wellness seekers, cultural enthusiasts Atmosphere: Traditional pre-Hispanic spiritual cleansing What to expect: Authentic temazcal (steam bath) rituals from Mesoamerican traditions, conducted inside stone or brick domes with herbal infusions poured over heated volcanic rocks. Guided sessions include breathing techniques and intention-setting, available at Polanco and Roma Norte locations. Pricing: Basic 40-minute temazcal sessions start at 499 pesos, with extended rituals combining massage and body treatments available. Booking:Thai Spa
Tips for last-minute NYE planning in Mexico City
Book immediately: Popular venues fill up quickly, especially for NYE celebrations.
Confirm dress codes: Upscale venues typically require elegant attire.
Plan transportation: Traffic increases significantly on NYE; consider ride-sharing or designated drivers.
Check the weather: December in Mexico City can be cool; bring layers for outdoor events.
Currency: Most venues accept credit cards, but carry pesos for street vendors and tips.
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.
Mexico's men's national football team now knows the challenges it will face in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. (FIFA World Cup)
It is hard to believe that the long, pompous, and at times cringeworthy World Cup draw ceremony in Washington has set a promising tone for the 2026 tournament. I hope to be proved wrong, but a tournament with 48 nations already looks bloated, and the addition of a Round of 32 means that the first 16 days will produce 108 hours of football to eliminate just 16 teams. It feels as if the real action will not start until the knockout stages at the end of the month.
At least with the draw completed, we know, more or less, who Mexico will face in the summer. Will they still be involved when the tournament starts to warm up with the knockout stages? Well, Mexico should qualify from Group A, particularly given their home advantage, yet there are reasons for concern. They face South Korea, South Africa and a yet-to-be-determined European nation, which will not be known until the European play-offs at the end of March.
President Sheinbaum drew group A at the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw. As a result, Mexico will kick off the tournament with a match against South Africa, set for June 11 in Mexico City. (Presidencia)
Two rounds of sudden-death games, which could end in penalties, are difficult to predict, but Denmark is the favourite to secure the last place in the group. That should set alarm bells ringing. The Danes were unlucky not to qualify directly for the finals, and were seconds away from doing so when Scotland scored two late goals to snatch the game and take the one automatic place from their European qualifying group. This put the Danes into the play-offs, where they will join North Macedonia, Ireland and the Czech Republic. If it is Denmark that qualifies or, to a lesser extent, the Czech Republic, then World Cup Group A shapes up to be an evenly matched competition with little to choose between the four teams.
Expectations are mixed for Mexico’s national team
It will certainly test a Mexican team that their own fans have concerns about. This year started well enough for El Tri with coach Javier Aguirre guiding them to two regional trophies, the CONCACAF Nations League Finals and the CONCACAF Gold Cup. While neither tournament caused great ripples on the world stage, they did beat their fellow World Cup hosts: Canada in the Nations League, and the U.S. in the Gold Cup.
With countries wanting to familiarize themselves with the World Cup venues, September brought games against South Korea and Japan, both ending in respectable if unspectacular draws. However, the international weekends in October and November saw a series of poor results against South American opponents, the home crowd even booing Mexico off the pitch after a dull 0-0 draw with Uruguay. The feeling is that this is not a particularly strong Mexican team, and this time around lacks the strong European club players that often add a backbone of experience. Raúl Jiménez is still playing at Fulham, but is now thirty-four, and as his team slides down the Premier League table, there have been murmurs from the fans that the veteran can no longer influence a game. Santiago Gimenez plays for AC Milan and is noted for moments of brilliance and periods of inconstancy. At twenty-four, he needs to make the jump from ‘promising star’ to ‘established star’, and a home World Cup is just the arena to do that.
Previewing the South Africa match
It doesn’t help the Mexican cause that they will play South Africa first. This is probably the weakest of the four teams, and a draw would be disappointing for Mexico. A defeat, with harder teams still to come, would be a disaster. These two sides met in the opening game of the 2010 World Cup, a match which ended in a 1-1 draw and is still remembered for a stunning goal from South Africa’s Siphiwe Tshabalala. Next summer, the roles will be reversed, with Mexico the home side. This gives them the considerable advantage of playing at high altitude in front of 87,000 home fans.
The South African side will be largely made up of home-based players, and that might be a problem for them. At the top level, a few teams, including Mamelodi Sundowns, champions for the last eight seasons, are extremely well organized, and their players enjoy world-class facilities, coaching and care. However, down at the bottom half of the table, a trip to play Magesi F.C. or Marumo Gallants can feel like entering a soccer wilderness.
The league is also noted for arguments and disputes, and this touched the national team. Having easily beaten Lesotho, South Africa faced a protest over the inclusion of Tebo Mokoena, who picked up yellow cards against Benin in November 2023 and Zimbabwe in June 2024. He was banned for the next game, something the South African officials overlooked during the long intervening period. As a result, South Africa had three points deducted and went into the final round of games with qualification on a knife-edge. The South Africans won at home, and Benin, ahead of them going into that last day, lost to Nigeria, a combination of results that saved South Africa the embarrassment of elimination.
South Africa’s coach and top players
South Africa managed a 1-1 draw against Mexico when the two countries’ teams met in South Africa in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. A draw won’t be enough for Mexico in 2026. (Celso Flores/Wikimedia Commons)
Unusually for an African team, the South Africans have stayed with one coach. Hugo Broos had a long career as a player in his native Belgium, including playing for his country in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. By the 1990s, he was the up-and-coming manager in Belgian soccer, having taken Club Brugge to two championships. The national team position at the time was securely in the hands of the legendary Paul van Himst, so Hugo took his trade to Anderlecht and, from 2008, worked overseas. After he led South Africa to a third-place finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, several sides had their eye on him, but South Africa retained his services to see them through to the 2026 World Cup.
The best-known South African player is captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Hayden Williams. An international since March 2014, he has won numerous African awards. The team will have several young players, and much will depend on whether the likes of Tylon Smith can step up to the occasion. Smith was voted Player of the Tournament at the 2025 Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations and plays for Queens Park Rangers in the second level of English football. South Africa has never lacked talent, but this World Cup might have come a little early for the next generation of stars.
Matching up with South Korea’s talented roster
For their second game, Mexico will relocate to Guadalajara, where they face South Korea. Unlike the South Africans, South Korea will have a core of players who will bring experience from the world’s top leagues. Lee Kang-in, an attacking midfielder or winger, is on the books of Paris Saint-Germain, and Kim Min-jae plays center back for Bayern Munich. The key player is captain Son Heung-min. A Premier League legend after ten seasons and 127 goals with Tottenham, he is now plying his trade in the U.S. with Los Angeles FC. Son is a fit and dedicated young man, but a player who depends so much on speed might struggle at 33. We wait and see. If Son Heung-min still has his magic, he will shine in what must surely be his last major tournament, and that should take Korea through to the final stages.
Denmark shapes up as the toughest test among potential European qualifiers
Mexico’s third game on June 25, 2026, will be against the European qualifiers. If that proves to be Denmark, then that will make a tough finish to the group. The Danes have several players who earn their wages at top European clubs but have yet to make their name there. Center forward Rasmus Højlund is a prime example. He showed so much promise that Manchester United signed him for £64 million. He played well in patches, but a striker has a clear task: he is there to score goals, and Højlund did not find the net with any regularity. As a result, this season has seen him loaned to Naples. Højlund has sometimes found it easier to score for Denmark than for his club, and a chance to play on the world stage might revive his career.
The Czech Republic has a solid team with a core of players from the German league. They finished second in their group, well behind Croatia, and suffered an embarrassing 1-2 defeat to the Faroe Islands. However, once the World Cup starts, teams tend to make their own form, and this would also be a tough game for Mexico. Ireland, with its collection of players mostly involved in the English Championship League, or North Macedonia, would be far easier opponents for Mexico.
So, an even group, with South Korea and Denmark (if they qualify), in the best form as we approach the run-up to the tournament. If Mexico wins the opener against South Africa and gets the fans behind them, they should go through. If they start badly and the fans turn against them, there might be problems.
What if Mexico advances beyond the group stage?
Mexico’s national team hoisted the trophy at the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup, but advancing beyond Group A in the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be a far tougher challenge. (Olympics.com)
The next stage, like everything else in this competition, seems to have been over-managed, as FIFA tries to set up the big four — Spain, Argentina, France and England — for the semi-final positions. Winning Group A would mean Mexico facing a third-place team in the round of 32. Finishing as runners-up would pair them against the runners-up from Group B. That creates a lot of guesswork, particularly as one of the four sides in Group B is still unknown. However, a likely possibility could be facing Italy or Switzerland, something Mexico would want to avoid at that early stage. A third-place finish would not automatically guarantee a place in the knockout stage, but teams qualifying through a third-place spot would face a group winner. All we can do now is wait for the big kick-off!
Bob Patemanis a Mexico-based historian, librarian and a life-term hasher. He is editor of On On Magazine, the international history magazine of hashing.
