Saturday, June 28, 2025

Formal employment stagnates, while unemployment shows slight uptick

By
MND Staff
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Female vendors sell prickly pear cactus pads at Mexico City's nopal distribution center, representing the increase in unemployment among women.
Vendors, mostly women, arrive early in the morning to sell prickly pear cactus at Mexico City's nopal distribution center. (Andrea Murcia Monsivais/Cuartoscuro)

The number of people with jobs in Mexico declined by well over 800,000 in June compared to the previous month, representing a 0.2 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate, according to national statistics agency INEGI.

The vast majority of those who lost or left jobs were women, as net employment for men actually increased in June compared to May. Employment declined in each of the three main sectors of the economy: primary, secondary and tertiary.

INEGI data also shows that the rate of unemployment in Mexico increased to 2.8% in June, up from 2.6% in April and May.

The statistics agency reported Friday that Mexico’s labor force was made up of just under 58.95 million people in June, down from 59.81 million people in May.

In other words, 863,862 fewer people had jobs in June than in the previous month. It was the largest month-over-month decline in employment since November 2023, when the Mexican labor force shrank by 1.2 million people.

The number of women in work declined by 869,600 in June, while the number of men with jobs increased by 5,738.

Guides give carriage tours through Mérida, Mexico
Guides offer carriage tours in Mérida, Quintana Roo. While women left the workforce in June, men’s workforce participation increased slightly. (Martín Zetina/Cuartoscuro)

INEGI data also shows that the economically active population (PEA) — people in work or looking for work — declined by 791,700 in June to 60.63 million.

The number of unemployed people increased by 72,162 to 1.68 million.

Gabriela Siller, director of economic analysis at Banco Base, noted that the PEA declined “significantly” in June compared to the previous month.

She said that the reason why almost 800,000 people left the labor market completely was unclear. However, the analyst said the reduction could be related to the end of the electoral process in Mexico, during which the National Electoral Institute and political parties employ a large number of additional people, including retirees.

Electoral agency workers unload ballots
The end of election season may have contributed to the increase in unemployment, as temporary campaign hires hit the job market. (Cuartoscuro)

Siller also said that the government’s cash transfer programs disincentivize labor force participation among some sectors of the people, which could also help explain the decline in the size of the PEA.

For her part, Monex’s director of economic analysis Janneth Quiroz said that the decline in the size of the labor force in June was partially explained by the economic slowdown in Mexico this year.

“In addition, all the temporary workers who participated in the electoral campaigns ended their contracts in June,” she said.

January-May gains wiped out in June  

Mexico’s labor force increased by 667,433 people between January and May, but those gains were completely erased by the decline in jobs in June.

In fact, 196,429 fewer people were in employment in June than in December 2023. The reduction in the size of the workforce by more than 860,000 people was the biggest decline for the month of June since comparable records were first kept in 2005.

A man works at a car manufacturing plant, representing a decrease in unemployment in Mexico
Some analysts predict job growth in coming months, as manufacturers relocate to Mexico as part of the nearshoring trend. (Gobierno de México)

In an encouraging sign, analysts at Banorte don’t believe that the decline in the labor force in June is the beginning of a trend. They think that the labor force will grow in coming months, in part due to hiring related to nearshoring investment.

However, Siller believes that the labor market will remain weak in coming months due to an even greater economic slowdown.

Most job losses were in the informal sector 

The informal sector accounted for just over 96% of the overall decline in the size of Mexico’s labor force in June. The formal sector workforce shrank by 33,471 positions in June, accounting for 3.8% of the total decline.

INEGI reported that 31.7 million people were working in the informal sector in June, a figure that accounts for 53.8% of the labor force.

Unemployment in Mexico hits highest level since January

The 2.8% unemployment rate in June was the highest since January, when 2.9% of the PEA was jobless. The rate is 0.1 points higher than it was 12 months earlier.

The total number of unemployed people rose for a third consecutive month in June, marking the longest stretch of increases since 2022.

Formal job creation declines 40% annually this year 

Separate data published by the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) on Monday shows that Mexico’s formal sector workforce increased by 307,402 people between January and July.

The figure is 40% lower than the 512,243 formal sector positions added in the same period of last year.

INEGI also reported that the overall size of the formal sector labor force has increased 2% over the past 12 months to reach 22.3 million people. The majority of those people —  86.6% — are in permanent jobs while the remainder hold temporary positions.

Wedding dresses on mannequins in a shop window in Mexico City, representing job growth in the retail sector
Retail is one of the sectors that has seen the most job growth over the past year. (Cuartoscuro)

The sectors that have recorded the biggest increases in the size of their workforces over the past year are transport and communications, retail, and construction, IMSS said.

How much do formal sector workers earn on average in Mexico?

IMSS reported that the average base salary of formal sector workers was 588.7 pesos (US $30.50) per day at the end of July. The average formal sector salary is up 9.7% compared to a year earlier.

The minimum wage in most of Mexico is 248.93 pesos per day, meaning that formal sector workers earn, on average, around 2.4 times the minimum.

With reports from El Financiero, El Economista, Expansión and La Jornada 

Hundreds of women and girls participate in annual tortilla trot in Puebla

By
MND Staff
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Women of all ages wearing huipiles and other traditional garments run in the Coapan, Puebla, Tortilla Race.
The local Indigenous community sued for and won the right to once again organize the race this year, after municipal authorities tried to take over the tradition. (Mireya Novo/Cuartoscuro)

With a satchel of tortillas on their back, more than 300 women and girls participated in the 30th edition of the annual five-kilometer Tortilla Race on Sunday in the state of Puebla.

The Carrera de la Tortilla began in the heart of Tehuacán, Puebla, and finished in the community of Santa María Coapan — known as the “Tortilla Capital” for its handmade corn tortillas of a size and texture different from most others.

A Coapan community tradition

Among the community’s population of 10,000 women, approximately 50% participate in the preparation of tortillas. Most of the women are of Nahua origin.

The satchels of tortillas weighed between one and six kilograms, depending on the runner’s age, which spanned from 4 to 70. Many children ran for the first time, and some of the runners also carried their babies in a rebozo, or traditional sling.

The race honors the four to five kilometers that the women walk every day to reach the markets of central Tehuacán, in addition to walking the streets to sell their tortillas and other snacks. Some of the “Coapeñitas” — women from Santa María Coapan — ran with sandals, others in their bare feet.

In 2023, the winner was a 12-year-old girl, but this year the winner was 50-year-old Margarita Felipa Flores of the veterans category. Carrying three kilos of tortillas on her back, she completed the course in 24 minutes.

Margarita Felipa Flores, the winner of this year's Tortilla Race in Puebla.
Margarita Felipa Flores, 50, won this year’s Tortilla Race. (Courtesy photo via Urbano Puebla)

Flores returned to the race after sitting out for 10 years. Afterward, she delivered a message to women, stressing that “anything is possible if one wants it.” She also asked for unity in the community so that the tradition of the race can continue.

Who should be in charge of the Tortilla Race?

This year, the race was in danger of being called off due to a dispute between members of the Coapan community and government officials in the Tehuacán municipality, in which Santa María Coapan is located.

Community members claimed the Tehuacán City Council had appropriated the tradition of the race and attempted to “folklorize” it to attract tourism. Many of the participants wear huipiles with embroidered flowers and colored threads, with a wide skirt and an apron tied at the waist.

With more and more spectators and outside runners showing up every year, organizers had to add a new “recreational category” last year to prevent a non-local from taking an award away from one of the local participants.

A group of children sits waiting to compete in the annual tortilla race in Coapan, Puebla.
The race is open to all ages, from young girls to old women. (Mireya Novo/Cuartoscuro)

Coapan residents filed a complaint saying that the community should once again organize the Tortilla Race, as it originally did. A district court made a provisional ruling in their favor based on the Federal Law for the Protection of the Cultural Heritage of Indigenous and Afro-Mexican Peoples and Communities.

Soledad Nicolás Gutiérrez, a lawyer working on behalf of the women, said that when municipal authorities took over the planning, locals began to be excluded.

After the ruling, a committee made up of women from Santa María Coapan organized this year’s race.

Nicolás Gutiérrez said the race represents “the pride of being from” Coapan, and the craft of processing corn every day and marketing their products in Tehuacán. “How we carry out this craft is how our ancestors handed it down to us.”

She also explained that the trial is still ongoing, and that municipal authorities are doing their best to discredit the women in their attempts to seize control of the race. Moreover, the Tehuacán City Council held back funds for this year’s race, instead allocating that money to the municipality’s Corn Festival. The municipality used to schedule the corn festival to coincide with the race, but held it separately this year.

“What a shame for the mestizo [Spanish-Indigenous mixed race] authorities,” one person posted as a comment in the news magazine Proceso. “They want to control everything to fill their pockets, and they push aside the owners of the ancient culture.”

With reports from Urbano Puebla, Milenio, Proceso, El Sol de Puebla and EFE

Pemex CEO says Dos Bocas refinery is now processing crude oil

By
MND Staff
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The list includes (lopezobrador.org.mx)

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador officially opened the new Pemex refinery on the coast of Dos Bocas, Tabasco, more than two years ago, even though the facility wasn’t finished.

Former energy minister Rocio Nahle announced over a year ago that crude oil had been transported to the Olmeca Refinery ahead of the commencement of processing at the multi-billion-dollar facility.

And López Obrador said on Sept. 1, 2023 that the refinery would “begin producing petroleum today” and produce 290,000 barrels of gasoline by the end of the year.

But it wasn’t until Saturday that the federal government held an official “start of production” ceremony at the refinery, located near the Dos Bocas port in the municipality of Paraíso.

Production begins at the Pemex refinery in Dos Bocas

At the event — attended by López Obrador, President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum and other officials — Pemex CEO Octavio Romero said that production in fact began last month.

The industrial landscape of the Pemex Olmeca refinery in Dos Bocas
The refinery began producing ultra-low sulfur diesel in July, the Pemex CEO said. (lopezobrador.org.mx)

The refinery produced more than 1.1 million barrels of ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) in July, he said.

Reuters reported in late June that “Pemex officials had sought to demonstrate the refinery was operational by bringing a cargo of high-sulfur diesel to the Olmeca refinery to be turned into ultra-low-sulfur diesel.”

But Romero stressed on Saturday that the refinery is now processing crude oil.

“Today we’re reaching a processing capacity of 170,000 barrels of crude oil [per day], which is equivalent to 50% of the capacity of the Olmeca Refinery,” he said.

Pemex CEO Octavio Romero speaks at a podium during an event at the Olmeca Refinery in Dos Bocas.
The refinery will be running at full capacity by the end of August, Pemex CEO Octavio Romero said.(lopezobrador.org.mx)

“During the coming days of August the maximum capacity of 340,000 barrels per day will be reached,” Romero said. The refinery will produce both gasoline and ULSD, he added.

“What is the Olmeca Refinery and what does it represent? It’s an impressive facility with a strategic location due to its proximity to the Dos Bocas maritime terminal, where more than 800,000 barrels of crude oil are received every day,” the state oil company chief said.

“Why else is it strategic? Because the costs and risks of transporting crude disappear,” Romero said.

‘Two points short’ of self-sufficiency for fuel

Romero highlighted the significant investment made in the “rehabilitation” of the national refining system in Mexico in recent years. He also predicted that fuel imports will decline to 52,000 barrels per day by the end of the current government’s six-year term later this year, from 927,000 barrels per day at the start of its term in late 2018.

“In the first quarter of next year we’ll be … [importing] 20,000 barrels [per day]; we’re going to be two points short, two points away from achieving 100% self-sufficiency,” he said.

A view of the Pemex Olmeca refinery on the coast of Dos Bocas, Tabasco.
A gas flare burns at the top of a tower at the Olmeca Refinery in Dos Bocas, Tabasco. (Gobierno de México/X)

In 2020, López Obrador pledged that Mexico would be self-sufficient in gasoline by 2023 through the rehabilitation of Mexico’s six existing refineries and the construction of a new one on the Tabasco coast.

The failure to reach self-sufficiency during this administration, Romero said Saturday, was not due to a “lack of desire,” but rather “a lack of time.”

Sheinbaum hails ‘majestic’ Dos Bocas refinery, AMLO highlights ‘record’ construction time

During an address at Saturday’s event, Sheinbaum highlighted a range of projects carried out by the government of López Obrador, her political mentor.

“They said it wasn’t going to be possible to build an airport in three years [but] the Felipe Ángeles Airport is operating and there is another [new] airport in Tulum,” she said.

The president-elect also spoke glowingly about the Maya Train railroad, the Interoceanic Railroad, the government’s social programs and the growth of Mexico’s minimum wage during López Obrador’s presidency.

Claudia Sheinbaum speaks at a podium
Sheinbaum’s remarks focused on the administration’s infrastructure projects, including but not limited to the Olmeca refinery. (lopezobrador.org.mex)

“They said a refinery couldn’t be built, but today this majestic work of civil and petrochemical engineering is operating,” added Sheinbaum, who will take office as Mexico’s first female president on Oct. 1.

“With will and perseverance, without corruption, and with a lot of conviction, President López Obrador has taught us that everything is possible,” she said.

AMLO himself declared that Saturday was a “very important” and “historic” day for Mexico as the refinery is complete and is “beginning to produce” gasoline and diesel.

“It was built in record time,” he said of the refinery, construction of which began in 2019.

Nowhere else in the world are refineries built so quickly and for such a low cost, said López Obrador. He decided in May 2019 that Pemex and the Energy Ministry would oversee construction of the refinery in Dos Bocas, as the bids submitted by private companies were too high and their estimated time frames too long.

“And of course, it’s a high-quality refinery,” he said.

Romero’s fast refinery facts 

The Pemex CEO offered numerous details about the Olmeca Refinery during his speech on Saturday. He said that:

  • A total of US $16.81 billion was invested in the facility.
  • The refinery has the capacity to process 340,000 barrels per day of crude oil and produce 304,000 barrels per day of gasoline and diesel.
  • The refinery has 17 processing plants and one electric and steam cogeneration plant.
  • The amount of concrete used to build the refinery was equivalent to that contained in 63 Estadios Azteca.
  • The amount of steel used was equivalent to that contained in 40 Eiffel Towers.
  • Construction created 44,000 direct jobs and more than 286,000 indirect ones.
  • The refinery’s pipes are collectively equivalent to the distance between Mérida and Tijuana.
  • More than 160 companies contributed to the construction of the refinery.
  • Over 50% of the raw materials used in the construction of the facility are Mexican.

Mexico News Daily 

Mexican women divers advance to finals at Paris Olympics

By
MND Staff
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Mexican divers Alejandra Orozco and Gabriela Agúndez advanced to the finals of the Women’s 10- meter platform competition
Mexican divers Alejandra Orozco and Gabriela Agúndez advanced to the finals of the Women’s 10- meter platform competition. (Comité Olímpico Mexicano)

Mexican divers Alejandra Orozco and Gabriela Agúndez advanced to the finals of the women’s 10-meter platform competition at the Paris Olympics, giving Mexico a solid chance to add to its medal haul.

Orozco qualified for the finals by finishing fifth in the semifinal round, while Agúndez advanced to Tuesday’s final after completing the semifinal round in ninth place.

Quan Hongchan and Chen Yuxi, representing China, dominated the preliminaries and are expected to battle for the gold and silver medals after winning the gold in the synchronized 10-meter platform diving competition last week. Still, Orozco and Agúndez are legitimate medal contenders.

Orozco, one of Mexico’s flag-bearers at the Opening Ceremony, is a three-time Olympian with silver and bronze medals to her name. The Jalisco native was just 15 years old at the 2012 London Games, where she teamed up with the legendary Paola Espinosa to win a silver medal in the synchronized 10-meter platform event. 

Agúndez, also a medal winner, is competing in her second Olympics. She and Orozco brought home bronze medals after coming in third in the synchronized 10-meter platform competition at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

At the Paris Olympic Aquatic Centre on Monday, Orozco and Agúndez breezed through the preliminary round, easily qualifying in the top 18 to advance to the semifinals. Orozco finished in a tie for fourth place while Agúndez placed fifth.

In the platform competition, each of the 12 finalists must perform a dive from five of six different categories: armstand, forward, backward, reverse, inward and twisting. Tuesday’s final will begin at 7 a.m. Mexico City time.

With two silver medals, one bronze and another medal guaranteed in men’s boxing, the Mexican Olympic team has already outdone its medal haul from the Tokyo Games, where it earned four bronze medals.

On Saturday, Marco Verde advanced to the semifinals of the men’s 71kg boxing competition, guaranteeing at least a bronze medal.
On Saturday, Marco Verde advanced to the semifinals of the men’s 71kg boxing competition, guaranteeing at least a bronze medal for Mexico in the sport. (@Conade/X)

Prisca Awiti earned silver in judo while Osmar Olvera and Juan Manuel Celaya teamed up to win silver in the synchronized 3-meter springboard event. Alejandra Valencia, Ana Paula Vázquez and Ángela Ruiz claimed a bronze medal in the women’s team archery competition. 

On Saturday, Marco Verde advanced to the semifinals of the men’s 71-kilogram boxing competition, guaranteeing at least a bronze medal. Verde will face Great Britain’s Lewis Richardson on Tuesday with the winner advancing to the gold-medal bout.

Other Mexican athletes still competing for medals at the Olympics include runner Paula Morán who finished third in the women’s 400-meter race, thus qualifying for Wednesday’s semifinals. Also, Andrés Azcárraga advanced to the finals of the Equestrian Individual Jumping competition, which takes place on Tuesday.

With reports from El Economista, El Financiero and Aristegui Noticias

Heavy rains forecast in 6 states as tropical storms Fabio and Emilia take form in Pacific

By
MND Staff
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Very heavy rainfall (50-75 mm) is expected in Chihuahua, Chiapas, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Sinaloa and Sonora.
Very heavy rainfall (50-75 mm) is expected in Chihuahua, Chiapas, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Sinaloa and Sonora. (Crisanta Espinosa Aguilar/Cuartoscuro)

The first full week of August will bring abundant rain across Mexico as forecasters track a monsoon, cyclones and several tropical waves.

Though persistent storms are expected, extreme conditions are unlikely.

Mexico’s National Meteorological Service (SMN) predicts very heavy rains today in the western half of the country, with heavy rainfall forecast for central Mexico. 

Here is your Monday rain forecast by state:

Rain forecast by state

Very heavy rainfall (50-75 mm) is expected in Chihuahua, Chiapas, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Sinaloa and Sonora. 

Heavy rainfall (25-50 mm) is forecast in Colima, Durango, México state, Jalisco, Michoacán, Nayarit, Tabasco and Veracruz.

Showers (5-25 mm) are likely in Baja California, Baja California Sur, Campeche, Mexico City, Coahuila, Hidalgo, Morelos, Puebla, Quintana Roo, Tlaxcala, Veracruz and Zacatecas.

The Mexican monsoon will cause strong winds (50-70 km/h) across several northern states including Baja California, Sinaloa and Sonora and high waves (1-2 meters) along the coasts of Colima, Jalisco and Michoacán. 

The SMN is also tracking two tropical storms in the Pacific — Fabio and Emilia — that are currently moving southwest and do not pose a risk to Mexico’s west coast.

A second Fujiwhara effect could emerge in the Pacific 

The pair of storms in the Pacific could potentially produce a second consecutive Fujiwhara effect, which occurs when two nearby cyclonic vortices move around each other. This binary interaction can produce a larger cyclone.

Last week, Hurricane Carlotta and Tropical Storm Daniel interacted and produced a Fujiwhara effect about 1,500 km from the Mexican coast. Meteored speculates that the occurrence of two consecutive Fujiwhara effects in the Pacific might be unprecedented.

The SMN is also tracking a low-pressure system in the Caribbean that has a 30% chance of becoming a tropical cyclone by the end of the week. 

Meteored predicts high temperatures in the north, east and southeast this week as an anticyclone pushes into Mexico from the southwestern United States. Sonora, Baja California, Chihuahua, Coahuila and Tamaulipas could see highs approach 45 degrees Celsius, as could the Yucatán Peninsula.

With reports from Meteored

Peso plummets amid global market turmoil

By
MND Staff
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The peso depreciated against the dollar on Sunday as news broke of a Japanese market crash early Monday.
The peso depreciated against the US dollar on Sunday as news broke of a Japanese market crash. (Google)

The Mexican peso plummeted to above 20 to the US dollar late Sunday as fears of a recession in the United States upended markets around the world.

Bloomberg data shows that the peso slumped to 20.16 to the greenback shortly after 10 p.m. Mexico City time on Sunday.

The peso reacted to a shake-up in the Japanese market on Monday. (Moisés Pablo/Cuartoscuro)

Compared to its position at the close of North American markets on Friday, the peso depreciated by almost 5% to reach 20.16 to the dollar.

It was the first time since October 2022 that the USD:MXN exchange rate went above 20.

At 12:30 p.m. Mexico City time on Monday, the peso had recovered considerably from its position on Sunday night to trade at 19.42 to the dollar.

In a post to X late on Sunday, Banco Base’s director of economic analysis Gabriela Siller said that the depreciation of the peso wasn’t caused by any internal factor in Mexico.

The weaker peso is “a consequence of the collapse of the Japanese market and fear of the possibility of a recession in the United States and an escalation of the war in the Middle East,” she wrote.

Earlier on Sunday, Siller said that the expectation that the Bank of Japan will again lift its key interest rate — after raising the rate to 0.25% last week — and “aversion to risk about Mexico” were two factors weighing on the peso.

“After everything, it seems that the Japanese carry trade was not so good for Mexico,” she said in another post to X.

Bloomberg reported Monday that “an unwinding of global carry trades is helping to jolt markets around the world.”

“The yen and yuan pushed higher Monday, while the Mexican peso extended its decline as traders continued to roll back the popular trading strategy,” the news agency reported.

According to Investopedia, “a carry trade is a trading strategy that involves borrowing at a low-interest rate and investing in an asset that provides a higher rate of return.”

The Bank of Mexico’s key interest rate is currently set at a near-record high of 11%.

Bloomberg reported Friday that Japanese individual investors had “cut bullish bets on the Mexico peso against the yen to the lowest this year, in a sign of how interest-rate hikes at home may reduce their appetite for higher-yielding assets abroad.”

The peso depreciated to above 19 to the dollar on Friday after data showed that hiring in the United States slowed significantly in July.

Janneth Quiroz, the Monex financial group’s director of economic analysis, said Friday that the July employment numbers and separate data showing that manufacturing activity in the United States dropped to its lowest level since November last month were generating fear that an economic slowdown in the U.S. could become more pronounced.

A slowdown in the U.S. could negatively affect Mexico’s economy and reduce the inflow of dollars to Mexico due to “lower exports, remittances and foreign direct investment,” the analyst wrote on X.

The New York Times reported Monday that “a wave of panic” was rippling through markets, “with stocks falling sharply in the United States and around the world as investors zeroed in on signs of a slowing American economy.”

The headquarters of the Mexican Stock Exchange (BMV) en Mexico City.
The Mexican Stock Exchange (BMV) was down 1.8% on Monday morning. (Shutterstock)

A volatile year for the peso 

Bloomberg data shows that the peso began the year at just above 17 to the dollar. In early April, it appreciated to its strongest position in almost nine years against the greenback, reaching 16.30.

Just before the June 2 elections in Mexico, the peso was again trading at just above 17 to the dollar, but it depreciated sharply after Claudia Sheinbaum and the ruling Morena party scored comprehensive victories in the presidential and congressional contests.

The peso fell to as low as 18.99 to the dollar 10 days after the elections on concerns that a coalition led by Morena will approve a range of constitutional reform proposals — including a controversial judicial reform proposal — once recently-elected lawmakers assume their positions on Sept. 1.

However, the currency subsequently recovered to trade at 17.6-17.7 to the dollar in mid-July.

The peso ended July at around 18.6 to the dollar, before losing further ground in the first days of August.

With reports from El Universal, López-Dóriga Digital, Bloomberg and Reuters 

Mexico City activities that are fun for the whole family

By
Camila Sánchez Bolaño
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Best family activities in Mexico City.
Climb, swim, run, jump, zip and wonder at some of these amazing family friendly acitvities in Mexico City and the surrounding area. (chapultepec.org)

Summer is now in full swing, bringing not only the rain and heat but school vacations too! Luckily, Mexico City and its surroundings have plenty to offer families looking for a great time. From cultural excursions and historical landmarks to vibrant markets and culinary delights, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. 

This summer, dare to get to know a different Mexico, one which will keep the whole family happy and entertained. Whether you’re looking for adventure, relaxation or educational experiences, Mexico City promises an unforgettable summer filled with new discoveries and cherished memories. 

Lucha libre and the Antique Toy Museum, CDMX

Pair a trip to the weird and wonderful Antique Toy Museum with the dazzling drama of the lucha libre.  (Tripadvisor)

Sites in the central Doctores neighborhood of the Cuauhtémoc have defined the Chilango culture. The Antique Toy Museum (MUJAM) has become a must-see destination, bridging the divide between generations through play. Connect with your little ones by showing them the toys you loved from your childhood and compare how the classics have evolved over the decades.

Since you’re in the area, why not catch a lucha libre show at the Arena México, the Cathedral of Lucha Libre wrestling. The venue, probably the most famous in the country, was inaugurated in 1956, and everyone who visits Mexico City should go at least once.

Entry to the Antique Toy Museum is 50 pesos. For the Lucha Libre, prices may vary depending on the fighters. 

Chapultepec Zoo and Botanical Garden

Get up close and personal with nature at Chapultepec Zoo. (Tripadvisor)

The 686 sprawling hectares of Chapultepec Park are filled with nature, activities and hidden wonders to enjoy. One of the best known Chapultepec Zoo, with its new Anifibium Axolotl Museum, an amphibian conservation and protection center promoting the preservation of Mexico’s most beloved endemic animal. 

Additionally, the space has workshops for children and interactive exhibition rooms. Don’t forget to buy your changuito mión — the park’s iconic water-squirting monkey headgear souvenir — at the end of the tour.

Before leaving the park, visit the Botanical Garden to contemplate the infinity of native plants and its magnificent orchid garden. Entry is free. 

Estrella Biopark, México state

¡Bioparque Estrella Ven a vivirlo!

Kids are fascinated by animals and dinosaurs, and this park, located near Mexico City, has both. At 300 square hectares in size, you can see 500 species roaming free here. You can even feed some of them, including the giraffes. On the Jurassic River, the youngest members of your family can discover different species of (animatronic) dinosaurs, complete with roars and movement. What are you waiting for?

Bioparque Estrella is located at kilometer 38.5 of the Ixtlahuaca-Jilotepec highway, Chapa de Mota. Tickets currently costs 380 pesos, but there are usually promotions.

Africam Safari, Puebla

Safari Seguro Para Toda la Familia en Africam Safari

You can visit this animal sanctuary just two hours away from Mexico City. For more than 50 years, Africam Safari has become a must-visit for children near the capital. 

Although similar to the zoo, the safari-like tour means your kids can experience nature in a more authentic setting. Africam has capybaras, elephants, flamingos, antelopes, buffalo, peccaries, hippos, lions and more. In January, the park also became home to Benito the giraffe after he was saved from a public park in Ciudad Juárez.

Entrance is 385 pesos for adults and 340 for children between 3 and 11. 

Volcanic Park, Puebla

You’ll find a great option for long weekends away on the slopes of Pico de Orizaba. The Volcanic Park is not only one of the best places for children near Mexico City but also a great option to visit with friends or as a couple for a fun filled day. The natural park offers around 30 outdoor activities, including lake rides, go karts, a maze, hanging bridges and zip lines. And yes, it also has an area populated by animatronic dinosaurs to surprise the little ones.

General admission is 350 pesos and includes all activities. Volcanic Park is located in San Juan Arcos Ojo de Agua in Ciudad Serdán.

If you don’t want to leave Mexico City, there are many spaces designed specifically for the entertainment of the little ones. Check out the Papalote Children’s Museum, Hasbro City and Kidzania for more inspiration! 

Camila Sánchez Bolaño is a journalist, feminist, bookseller, lecturer, and cultural promoter and is Editor in Chief of Newsweek en Español magazine.

Try your hand at these delicious apricot dessert tacos

By
Deborah McCoy
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Apricot tacos.
Make the most of Mexico's most underrated fruit with these apricot dessert tacos. (Whitney Bond)

When it comes to fresh fruit, apricots are something of a black sheep. They do not make the top ten list of consumed fresh fruits in either Mexico or the United States, but they should! Try these sweet, enticing apricot tacos for a whole new look at their flavor.

Low in calories and fat, apricots are packed with powerful antioxidants that benefit eye health and improve digestion, including beta carotene and vitamins A, C and E. They also protect the heart and guard against diabetes due to their flavonoid content that includes quercetin, for example. 

Why do we not eat more apricots? They’re fresh, tasty and great for your health. (Kate Laine/Unsplash)

The vitamins in apricots protect the skin from free radicals. Vitamin C helps prevent UV damage and build collagen. Beta carotene, on the other hand, reduces sunburn risk. Apricots also promote a healthy gut due to their fiber content, are high in potassium, and are very hydrating due to the amount of water they contain. 

They’re also delicious! Resembling a small peach, apricots belong to the fruit family, which includes cherries, plums, nectarines, and even almonds. They have a unique flavor that’s sweet but tart like a plum. They’re sweet — but tart like a plum; their flavor is unique.

Apricots appeared on the Russian-Chinese border about 3000 B.C. and later, their seeds were imported to Europe. They are an “escaped” natural tree that grows freely along roadsides in Armenia and Turkey (the latter now being the largest producer of apricots in the world). They were introduced to the Ancient Greeks and then to the Roman Empire in the first century A.D., who named the fruit praecocum, the “precocious one,” because it bloomed earlier in Summer. It finally made its way to Spain around 1100. One can only assume that they traveled to Mexico during the Colonial Period (1521-1821), when Spain introduced a vast number of fruits and vegetables to the country. From there they traveled up the west coast to what is now California, which is now the States’ leading apricot producer. 

It’s unclear quite when apricots arrived in Mexico, but it’s a safe bet to assume it was due to Spanish influence. (Mireya Novo/Cuartoscuro)

The apricots found in Mexico are grown here, primarily in the states of Sonora and Chihuahua, which have the best climate and the right soil to meet their needs. The obvious question is: what should we make with these luscious, little gems? I’m thinking along the lines of adding a touch of mascarpone cheese and other goodies to turn them into a Mexican dessert delight.

So let’s talk mascarpone. Sweet and creamy, this cheese originated in the Lombardy region of Italy sometime around the 16th century. Mascarpone is versatile and makes a fabulous frosting or tiramisu. It can also be substituted for cream cheese in all your baking recipes and only has two ingredients, so why not make it with the untouchable excellence of dairy found in Mexico?

Apricot Dessert Tacos

Try adding some ground cinnamon and brown sugar to sweeten the apricots. (Freepik)

Ingredients

  • 1 lb (.45 kilo) apricots (chabacano), peeled and sliced 
  • 1 lemon, juiced (limón)
  • ¼ cup water
  • 1 tsp. ground cinnamon (canela)
  • ½ cup brown sugar (azúcar morena)
  • 1 cup (240 g) mascarpone cheese (queso mascarpone)
    • Found in dairy section of supermarkets. Or make your own. Recipe follows.
  • ¼ cup (30 g) powdered sugar (azúcar glas)
  • 1 Tbsp. (13 g) vanilla extract (extracto de vanilla)
  • 8 small flour tortillas
  • 2 Tbsp. (28.35 g) butter (mantequilla)
  • 2 Tbsp. (25 g) cinnamon sugar
    • Make your own: Mix ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar (Sp. azúcar estándar) with 2 Tbsp. (15.6 g) ground cinnamon (Sp. canela). Store in an air-tight container.
  • ¼ cup (84 g) honey (miel)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 425°F. (218 C)
  • Place sliced apricots in a large skillet over medium heat.
  • Top with the lemon juice and water.
  • Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.
  • Cook for 10-12 minutes until caramelized. 
  • In a large bowl, whip together mascarpone, powdered sugar and vanilla. 
  • Place the cheese mixture in the middle of each tortilla.
  • Top with caramelized apricots.
  • Roll the tacos tightly and place on a baking sheet.
  • Brush with butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
  • Bake for 12-15 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and immediately drizzle with honey.

Homemade Mascarpone Cheese

Mascarpone cream
Recipe adapted from recipesfromitaly.com. (Frugal Hausfrau)

Ingredients

  • 2 cups (500 ml) heavy cream (Crema para batir)
    • Crema para batir is high in butter fat, usually between 36%-40%, which will make for an excellent, rich, creamy mascarpone.
  • 1 ½ tsp. (7 ml) filtered fresh lemon juice (Jugo de limón) 

NOTE: Requires a candy thermometer. 

Instructions

  • Squeeze the lemon and strain the juice. 
  • Place heavy cream in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir continually as the cream heats so the water evaporates. The temperature should reach 180°F-185°F (82°C-85°C). Use a thermometer to test. 
  • Once the temperature is reached, turn off the heat and add lemon juice. Stir for a few minutes. The cream will start to thicken. Once it does, cover the saucepan and let it sit for one hour.
  • Take a large strainer and place a thin, clean dishcloth (or tea towel or cheesecloth) inside the strainer. Put the strainer on top of a large bowl and pour the cream mixture into the dishcloth. The remaining water will pass through the dishcloth and into the bowl. Discard the water. What remains in the dishcloth is mascarpone! (You did it, but have a way to go!)
  • Take the strainer and once again, place it over the bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and put in the refrigerator. The process of filtering and separating the liquid from the creamy part of the cheese continues and takes about 24 hours. Keep refrigerated. 
  • After 24 hours, remove the bowl from the refrigerator. The mixture will be solid mascarpone! Scoop it out with a spoon and put in a covered container. Discard the remainder. 

Disfruta!

Deborah McCoy is the one-time author of mainstream, bridal-reference books who has turned her attention to food, particularly sweets, desserts and fruits. She is the founder of CakeChatter and the author of four baking books for “Dough Punchers” via CakeChatter (available @amazon.com). She is also the president of The American Academy of Wedding Professionals™ (aa-wp.com).

MND Where to Live in Mexico 2024 Guide: Baja California Sur

By
Greg Custer
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6
MND Where to Live in Mexico 2024 Guide: Baja California Sur
Comfortable, accessible expat living can be yours where the desert meets the Pacific Ocean in Baja California Sur. (Fiesta Americana Travelty)

Your first glance at this week’s ratings for Baja California Sur might make you think that the state just doesn’t cut it for year-round or seasonal living. Of the five places we rate, four are in the twos on our one-to-five scale. The state’s tourism superstar, Los Cabos, only comes in with a humble 4.0. This place must have problems, you might conclude.

But spend some time here and you’ll see that there are tangibles and intangibles not captured in our attempt to convey the essence of Mexico living: attributes that reveal Baja Sur’s raw beauty, frontier spirit and micro-destination personalities. There are superlatives about the state that just don’t stand out in our rankings. That’s okay. Tens of thousands of desert-meets-the-sea lovers will attest to how Baja Sur living is unlike the rest of Mexico. It always has been.

From colonial outpost to tourist’s dream

The state is rich in colonial history, perfect for those seeking a deeper connection to Mexico’s Spanish past. (Baja Travel Club)

Just as the Baja Peninsula broke away from mainland Mexico some two million years ago, any discussion of Baja Sur living today must grapple with whether living near the tip of a remote desert can be a sustainable choice. It’s Mexico’s least populated state, has the country’s longest coastline, the greatest amount of protected area and the most uninhabited islands. The state is mostly jagged mountains and barren coastal plains with almost no surface water. The Spanish and their evangelizing orders only gained a tenuous foothold in the 18th century, leaving a legacy of 16 outpost missions. When it became a state in 1974, Baja Sur was home to a mere 128,000 residents.

But no one would cast Baja Sur as insignificant today. It’s one of three states in Mexico that attract the lion’s share of international visitors. Los Cabos’ hotels have the highest average daily occupation rate in all of Mexico, and its two coasts are biological miracles and the wellspring for the one activity that unites Baja Sur culture: fishing. 

Starting with the Climate criteria of our ratings, Los Cabos bakes in the summer and has experienced almost annual hurricane or tropical storm disruptions in the past ten years. Slide up the west coast to the village of Todos Santos and Pacific cooling helps some. To the east, summers are sweltering in Cabo del Este and La Paz. Head north to Loreto and you’ll embrace a temperate fall and spring, bookended by winter chills and summer sweats. Sea temperatures around Loreto range from 68 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit (20 to 30 Celcius). Not really four seasons, but a semblance of variety.

Los Cabos has the best air Connectivity for getting back home or to mainland Mexico. Loreto and La Paz have limited domestic and very limited seasonal international flights. 

Baja Sur is sprawling. Long distances separate its resorts and cities, but it’s scenic driving as you move from Los Cabos up to La Paz or on to Loreto. Medical Care can also present challenges. You’ll likely find a doctor you love, but Baja Sur isn’t known for specialized medicine or tier-three hospitals.

Los Cabos

Los Cabos
Mexico living does not come cheaply in Los Cabos, but it does offer luxury and convenience at every turn. (Fiesta Americana Travelty)

Los Cabos living draws the most attention. The destination is now a hit for vacationers across the United States and there are even seasonal non-stop flights from Europe. Not so long ago, there were three geographically defined zones of Los Cabos: colonial and quiet San José, the tequila-drenched cruise port and fishing marina of San Lucas and a corridor of swanky resorts and golf courses linking the two. 

Today, with over 350,000 residents and a freeway-like artery between San José and San Lucas, the lifestyle distinctions from place to place have been blurred. It’s a dollarized economy and any semblance of affordable living is long gone. But there’s truly world-class golf, dining, sportfishing and desert and ocean living that nowhere else in Mexico can match.

Todos Santos

Quiet Todos Santos basks in colonial charm, with a great lifestyle for those who choose to base themselves here. (Visit Los Cabos)

You’ll experience a very different vibe in trendy Todos Santos, a 45-minute drive up the Pacific coast from San Lucas. One of Baja Sur’s prettiest colonial mission settlements, Todos Santos is today a hub for organic farming and a surfer and artisan’s grove. The village ambience looks likely to eventually yield to development pressures leaking up the coast from Cabo; however, it’s still a town that maintains a sense of place, neighborly relations between Mexican and newcomers,  and some fairly sophisticated lifestyle amenities, including dining, wine shops, galleries and cool bars

La Paz

While still a city, La Paz has retained that authentic feeling of Mexico living that other cities in the state have since lost – for now. (Tripadvisor)

La Paz may come closest to combining natural beauty with a local community vibe that reflects truer Baja traditions. The city is a leading destination for sustainably embracing the great outdoors in a city and regional gateway to the incomparable Gulf of California, augmented by the municipality’s whale-inhabited lagoons, serrated mountains, mining towns, fishing villages and austere European missions. But beware: Cabo-fication is underway as Baja Sur lovers get priced out of southern tip real estate. 

The state capital, La Paz is also a commercial port for fishing and mainland ferry connectivity and is home to what may be Mexico’s most enchanting malecón, which stretches for a little over three miles (five kilometers). Historic sites are just blocks from the city’s playful boardwalk and its plentiful seafood dining, bars, public art, piers and cycling and jogging paths. A cohort of high season expat residents unite around volunteering, beach days, house parties, the open-mic music scene and soft eco-adventure outings to nearby islands or up into the mountains and the charming mining town of El Triunfo. It’s the good life for desert living with jaw-dropping white sand beaches a short drive from downtown.

Points south of La Paz

Windswept beaches and sparkling ocean characterizes most of the villages and towns south of La Paz. (Westend61/Fabian Pitzer)

Heading south from La Paz, you’ll find coastal villages like El Sargento and adjacent La Ventana, which face the breathtaking La Ventana Bay. This area has been proclaimed the “home of the wind” for its consistent shore breeze that attracts wind and kite surfing enthusiasts from around the world. Sportfishing, diving, the Rancho Cacachilas Adventure Club and yoga and meditation centers make La Ventana one of the area’s up-and-coming micro-destinations. 

Further south are Los Barriles and next-door Buena Vista. This is where pioneering sportfishing camps put the East Cape on the map years ahead of Los Cabos. Sportfishing is the main anchor, especially for Marlin and dozens of feisty gamefish species. Los Barriles is 65 miles south of La Paz, off Highway 1.

Loreto

Loreto and nearby Loreto Bay (seen here) offer comfortable, if remote, living and an 18-hole golf course. (Ronival)


Loreto is another choice that can work for village-seeking, nature-loving northerners who don’t really care about connectivity, Costco or mainland Mexico cultural icons. With a population of under 20,000, Loreto is another of Mexico’s second-tier planned resorts that never caught on. Today it forges ahead in one of Baja’s most scenic settings, known for its sportfishing, nearby islands and affordability. 

Loreto faces the Sea of Cortez and three remarkable desert islands. A flat seafront plain is backed by the scenic and wild Sierra de La Giganta. It’s one of Mexico’s most dramatic coastal settings, home to Baja’s original mission settlement vestiges of 17th century architecture. 

The village spreads westward from the seaside boardwalk that extends along a rock jetty and includes Loreto’s sportfishing marina. The malecón is ideal for walking, cycling and some wildlife viewing. Imposing Isla del Carmen dominates views toward the Sea of Cortez. 

Nopolo and Loreto Bay

These cities are considered an alternative to living in town. Just three miles south of the city and separated by the Loreto Airport, this area has evolved to become a residential retirement development with over 600 homes and 18-hole golf, but not much commercial development. An active HOA has saved the development coming out of bankruptcy some years back.

Wherever you choose to settle across Baja Sur, your constant companions are broad vistas, clear desert air and starry nights. Who could have a problem with that? 

The ratings

A full breakdown of our rating system can be found here.

What did we get right? What do you disagree with? Let us know in the comments.

You can see more of our Where to Live in Mexico 2024 series here, including ratings for Yucatán, Oaxaca, Quintana Roo and Baja California.

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. 



My favorite thing to do in Cozumel

By
Bel Woodhouse
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2
While most people associate Cozumel with perfect beaches, the nature inland is every bit as stunning too. (All photos by Bel Woodhouse)

When people ask me about fun things to do in Cozumel, I can’t wait to tell them about this tour. The Tree Lovers Tour, with tour guide Tati Biermas, explores the jungle in the heart of the island. Nature walks are an amazing way to connect with the environment around us, and Cozumel is no exception.

They’re often surprised. Cozumel is famous for scuba diving and water sports. So many people forget about the rest of the island. But there is a wealth of wonder when you turn inland. 

A native orchid growing on a tree near the Mayan ruins, San Gervasio, on Cozumel.

Is it only trees?

No, it’s more than just that. It’s every layer of the jungle. Discovering native flora and fauna. Butterflies and berries at eye level. Fungi and flowers from the forest floor to the treetops. Plus, orchids and epiphytes on the trunks of trees all the way up into the canopy.

There are edible delights like the Tamarind tree. Covered in graceful orchid-like flowers, the tree seems to hum. Thousands of tiny native stingless bees are busy pollinating. In about six months, there will be thousands of tamarind pods ready for harvest.

An easy walk for all ages

I’ve done this tour twice and can’t wait to go back and do it again soon. Each time, the group has had people all ages and fitness levels, so if you’re worried about the hike — don’t be! The walking tracks are easy and flat. There are no hills to climb or obstacles to scramble over. The worst you’ll see is a larger rock or tree root. But if you watch where you’re going, it’s a very easy, relaxed walk.

This is about taking time to enjoy nature and observe what is around you. Or to stop in awe when an electric blue flash catches your eye. Blue morph butterflies are everywhere, flying across your path in striking contrast to the green hues around you. They are impossible to ignore, and most people excitedly point them out. “Morpho, morpho, morpho” is the most common phrase I hear on these tours.  

Trekking through the forests of Cozumel.

Some people chase them up the track, trying to get a photo. That’s always fun to watch, as their flight is quite erratic. And that’s okay; we all stop and wait. Trust me, you wouldn’t be the first person to do it, and you won’t be the last. I still find myself doing it every single time!

What animals do you see? 

Birds, bugs and beetles. Lizards are lazing on logs, and bees, butterflies and moths are all busy pollinating flowers (plus some unidentifiable creatures that scurry off into the jungle). While they’re mostly gone before you get close enough to see them, I’ve been lucky enough to spot everything from coatis to tiny pigs. 

And don’t forget to look down! I almost stumbled over a turtle in a puddle last time.

Flashes of color will catch your eye. Golden yellows and vibrant reds. The sound of birdsong helps Tati guess which birds are nearby. There are shining emeralds on hummingbirds and scarlet wingtips on postman butterflies. Seeing blue morphos is pretty much guaranteed. From the floor to the canopy, the jungle has plenty of wildlife to enjoy.

Can you see the turtle hidden in the puddle? Cozumel is filled with nature.

Learning about the trees

Tati shares the legends, tales, and medicinal uses of plants and trees. She also tells us their Mayan names, stories, and how they are used in the region. A perfect example is the Ceiba. Sacred to the Maya, it’s a symbol of the universe. The tree represents a connection between the underworld, this world and the heavens. Its thorn-covered trunk is very distinctive, so you’ll recognize it quickly. 

Or the Shi’ite palm, whose leaves are only gathered at a special time in the moon’s cycle, lasting ten times longer as a thatched roof on the traditional homes which dot the island. Flashes of color will catch your eye throughout the whole tour. Golden yellows and vibrant reds alongside every color of the rainbow. 

Tati also explains how some trees are kept alive by others around them. They share a network, passing sugars and food to sustain a fallen tree, helping it survive.

Forest bathing and a refreshing drink

The colors and sights of the walk are dazzlingly beautiful.

There is a break halfway through. Some time to rest and relax, taking time to immerse yourself in the nature around you. Tati allows this time for forest bathing and meditation. This reduces stress, calms the mind and soaks up the energy of nature.

After a refreshing drink, it’s then time for a nice walk back. The walk ends near the San Gervasio ruins in the heart of Cozumel — another fun thing to explore. This tree tour is one of the top things to do on Cozumel for good reason. I will certainly be doing plenty more in future.

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

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