DEA threat assessment finds Mexican cartel activity in every US state

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May 10, 2024

Mexican authorities remove fentanyl pills, methamphetamine and cocaine from a drug lab found in Culiacán, Sinaloa, in February. (FGR/Cuartoscuro)

The Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) have a presence in every state of the United States and “have caused the worst drug crisis in U.S. history,” according to a new report from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

In its National Drug Threat Assessment (NDTA) 2024 report, the DEA describes the rival cartels as “the main criminal organizations in Mexico, and the most dangerous.”

“They control clandestine drug production sites and transportation routes inside Mexico and smuggling corridors into the United States and maintain large network ‘hubs’ in U.S. cities along the Southwest Border and other key locations across the United States,” the report says.

The DEA drug threat assessment notes that the Sinaloa Cartel and the CJNG are also involved in “arms trafficking, money laundering, migrant smuggling, sex trafficking, bribery, extortion, and a host of other crimes” and “have a global reach extending into strategic transportation zones and profitable drug markets in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania.”

In the United States — the world’s largest market for illicit drugs — “the scope of the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels’ control over each segment of the criminal drug trade has effectively eliminated any competition in U.S. markets, and enabled cartel members to establish a presence in every U.S. state,” the report says.

Included in the report is a map that shows the varying levels of Mexican cartel presence in the U.S.

Cartel presence in the United States, DEA map from the recent drug threat assessment — The report included a map showing relative levels of cartel presence across the United States. (U.S. DEA)

States shaded in dark blue to indicate a greater cartel presence include the border states of California, Arizona and Texas as well as Illinois, Florida and New York.

The DEA says that “together, the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels have caused the worst drug crisis in U.S. history,” adding that they “dictate the flow of nearly all illicit drugs into the United States.”

“Their dominance over the synthetic drug trade in particular is evident in the relentless stream of illicit fentanyl and methamphetamine crossing the border toward U.S. markets,” the agency adds.

In a letter included in the report, DEA Administrator Anne Milgram says that the Sinaloa Cartel and the CJNG “rely on chemical companies and pill press companies in China to supply the precursor chemicals and pill presses needed to manufacture the drugs.”

“They operate clandestine labs in Mexico where they manufacture these drugs, and then utilize their vast distribution networks to transport the drugs into the United States. They rely on associates in the United States to distribute the drugs at a retail level on the streets and on social media,” she wrote.

“Finally, the Cartels utilize Chinese money laundering organizations to move their profits from the United States back to Mexico.”

Milgram outlines the DEA’s efforts to combat Mexican cartels, including “enforcement operations such as Operation Overdrive, which targets violent individuals in our communities, and Operation OD Justice, which partners with local law enforcement to
investigate fatal drug poisonings.”

DEA Administrator Anne Milgram highlighted DEA enforcement activities in a letter included in the report. (DEA/Facebook)

The cartels’ reach into U.S. communities

The DEA says that “thousands of Sinaloa and Jalisco cartel-linked drug dealers in the United States bring illicit fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other drugs into American communities every day.”

“A web of illicit drug wholesalers, only one step removed from the cartels in Mexico, operate in major cities throughout the United States,” the agency adds.

“… Smaller branches of the cartels spread the drugs further, often using social media
platforms and messaging applications to advertise their deadly products and recruit couriers and dealers.”

The report says that fentanyl made by Mexican cartels is “the main driver behind the ongoing epidemic of drug poisoning deaths in the United States.”

It also says that fentanyl is much more profitable for the cartels than heroin.

“Unlike fentanyl, heroin is a traditional plant-based opioid (derived from the opium poppy). Crop-based drugs are time consuming and expensive to produce. … Fentanyl can be produced continuously, quickly, and efficiently, unimpeded by the challenges and risks associated with heroin production,” the report says.

The leadership structure of the Sinaloa Cartel

The NDTA report states that the Sinaloa Cartel “does not have a leader.”

Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán’s four sons, nicknamed “Los Chapitos,” run one branch of the Sinaloa Cartel. Ovidio Guzmán, second from the left, was extradited to the U.S. in September 2023.

“Instead, the cartel ‘umbrella’ covers four separate but cooperating criminal organizations,” the DEA says.

“This structure,” the agency says “theoretically gives the heads of the independent
drug trafficking groups the ability to share resources — like smuggling routes, corrupt contacts, access to illicit chemical suppliers and money laundering networks — without sharing profits or having to answer to a main chain of command.”

“In reality, however, internal power struggles and fluctuating alliances leave the viability of the ‘umbrella model’ in question,” the DEA adds.

It says that the four separate criminal organizations are directed by:

Los Chapitos: the collective name for Iván Guzmán Salazar, Alfredo Guzmán Salazar,
Joaquín Guzmán López, and Ovidio Guzmán López — sons of imprisoned drug lord and former Sinaloa Cartel leader Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera.

(Ovidio Guzmán was arrested in early 2023 and extradited to the United States last September.)

Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada García: A co-head of the Sinaloa Cartel for more than three decades.
Aureliano “El Guano” Guzmán Loera: Brother of “El Chapo.”
Rafael Caro Quintero: A notorious drug lord who was arrested in July 2022.

Since Caro Quintero’s arrest, “Los Chapitos have been fighting his organization (known as the Caborca Cartel) for control of the Sonora desert region, a crucial trafficking route through the Mexican state of Sonora to the Arizona border,” the report says.

The leadership structure of the CJNG

A CJNG gunman — CJNG “franchisees” are free to choose their own methods, within the guidelines provided by organization leadership, the DEA reported. (Especial/Cuartoscuro)

The DEA says that the Jalisco cartel “operates under a franchise business model.”

“The cartel is overseen by Ruben “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, and a small group of top-tier commanders who report directly to El Mencho. A second tier of regional and ‘plaza’ bosses operate under the top tier leaders,” the report says.

The DEA states that the franchise model allows “each semi-independent group to customize its operations according to specific areas of expertise (for example, running clandestine methamphetamine labs) or market demands, provided they comply with naming, branding, and organizational structure requirements, and follow the general direction handed down by Jalisco Cartel leadership.”

It also says that the franchise model allows the CJNG to expand quickly as new franchises are “easy to establish.”

“The Jalisco Cartel also maximizes their revenue through this model, because leadership does not pay the operating costs of its franchises but does collect a percentage of overall profits,” the report says.

“One of the key weaknesses of the franchise model, however, is that individual franchise groups operating under the Jalisco Cartel name can form their own unique alliances with other criminal groups, some of which are in direct opposition to the alliances of other franchises,” says the DEA.

Mexico News Daily

‘The Mexican Slang Dictionary,’ a book that picks up where your Spanish class left off

By

MND Staff

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May 10, 2024

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Some of the vocabulary used in casual settings like this Mexico City pulquería might not be words you can find in the official Royal Academy of Spanish dictionary. (Enrique Ordoñez/Cuartoscuro)

“That morro I met at the pachanga is really fresa!”

Does that Spanglish sentence mean anything to you?

What about this one?

“Me enchilé cabrón at the taco stand near my chamba.”

If your answers are no and no, and you’re interested in learning colloquial Mexican Spanish — or increasing your current repertoire — “The Mexican Slang Dictionary” is the book for you.

Compiled by Mexico-based British journalist Alasdair Baverstock, the pocket-sized dictionary contains hundreds of Mexican slang (and swear) words and colloquial phrases along with their equivalents in English.

It also has a section on albures, a form of (often sexual) word play that involves the humorous use of double entendres.

Here are a few of the entries:

Chulada

A beautiful, or high quality, thing or action.

e.g. “Su gol era una chulada.”

He scored a beautiful goal.

¿Jalas?

Informal and colloquial way of asking if a person will join you in your plans.

e.g. “Vamos al bar. ¿Jalas?”

We’re going to the bar. Are you coming?

Nini

A person who is lazy or work-shy. Comes from the phrase “Ni trabaja, ni estudia” — Neither works, nor studies.

Alasdair, a video journalist for Chinese broadcaster CGTN and erstwhile contributor to Mexico News Daily, explains in the forward to his dictionary that his Mexican slang compilation began as a “whimsical addition” to his professional website.

In January 2020, “half-way through a reporting trip to Oaxaca’s Istmo de Tehuantepec I found my notebook filled with phrases from interviews I could not understand,” he writes.

“… Henceforth, I noted down every piece of slang and jargon I came across and added them [to my online dictionary] alongside my own wording for their definitions. … In my trips across the country, and in speaking to Mexicans of all backgrounds, the dictionary quickly grew,” Alasdair says.

“… It has been thanks to the generosity, good humor and national pride of the Mexican people that the dictionary exists at all.”

“The Mexican Slang Dictionary” can be purchased on Amazon for 149 pesos. It is also available at Under the Volcano Books, located in the Condesa neighborhood of Mexico City.

A word of warning: the dictionary includes some extremely colorful — read potentially offensive — words or phrases.

Finally, in case you were wondering, the two sentences at the top of this article could read as follows in colloquial English.

That guy I met at the shindig is really snobby.
I burned my mouth big time at the taco stand near my work.

As you probably know, salsas — like Mexican Spanish — can be very picante (spicy/risqué) indeed.

By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies ([email protected])

International tourism to Mexico increased over 10% annually in March

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MND Staff

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May 10, 2024

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Mexican and international tourists enjoy the white sand beaches of Islas Mujeres, in April. — Domestic and international tourists enjoy the white sand beaches of Islas Mujeres, in April. (Elizabeth Ruiz/Cuartoscuro)

With the Holy Week vacation period falling entirely in March for the first time in eight years, Mexico’s tourism sector reaped the rewards as it continues to bounce back from the industry-wide slump caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mexico’s national statistics agency INEGI reported this week that 7,599,703 visitors entered the country in March, a healthy 10.8% improvement over the same month in 2023. Of those visitors, 4.1 million were international tourists, up 10.6% from 3.7 million in March 2023.

How much money do international tourists spend in Mexico?

The increase in numbers brought with it an 11.3% rise in spending by the visitors, though this was primarily fueled by the greater number of visitors, as average spending-per-tourist (just over US $458) was only 0.5% higher than in March 2023.

March tourism revenues were also significantly higher than those recorded in February (US $3.18 billion) which included a Leap Day this year, but average spending-per-tourist was an impressive US $479 during the second month of the year.

The INEGI data reveals that international and national tourists spent a total of US $3.5 billion in March this year, an 11.3% increase over the same month a year ago when US $3.1 billion was spent by tourists in Mexico.

Tourists spending increased 11.3% over March 2023. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)

Of that total, international tourists spent US $3.26 billion, a 10.8% increase over March 2023 when travelers from abroad spent US $2.8 billion in Mexico.

INEGI broke down the revenue figures even further: Tourists who spent at least one night in Mexico spent an average of US $1,119.77 per person, with those arriving by air spending US $1,222.22 per person and those arriving by vehicle spending just US $304.85 per person. Visitors who crossed the border for a day trip spent an average of US $106.75.

Mexico on the rise as a global tourism destination

The inflow of tourists continues an upward trend that saw more than 42 million international tourists visit Mexico in 2023, a 10% increase over 2022. During the first three months of 2024, 11,221,562 international tourists traveled to Mexico, a nearly 7% increase over the 10,498,230 international visitors who arrived in Mexico from January-March 2023.

According to Travel + Leisure, Mexico was the 7th most-visited country in the world in 2023, behind France, the United States, Spain, China, Italy and Turkey. The United Nations reported in December 2023 that global tourism numbers had recovered by 90% since the onset of the pandemic in 2020.

With reports from Forbes México, Infobae and La Jornada

Semiconductor manufacturer Micron Technology coming to Guadalajara

By

MND Staff

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May 10, 2024

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Microchip maker Micron Technology is based out of Boise, Idaho — Micron Technology expects to create 100 local jobs at its new engineering and operations center in Guadalajara. (Micron Technology/Facebook)

Just six weeks after Mexico and the United States announced an initiative to “grow and diversify the global semiconductor ecosystem,” the agreement is already paying dividends.

This week, Idaho-based Micron Technology announced plans to establish a semiconductor engineering center in Guadalajara with the expectation of hiring 100 employees by the end of this year.

The core objective of the Mexico-U.S. semiconductor initiative is to consolidate the development and production of semiconductor technology in the two countries. It included a US $6.14 billion subsidy from the U.S. Department of Commerce to Micron Technology.

Micron’s selection of Guadalajara will boost the region’s technology ecosystem and allow for collaborative opportunities with local universities while also cultivating the next generation of engineering and technology professionals.

The new facility will be the first headquarters in Latin America for Micron, which produces computer memory and computer data storage including dynamic random-access memory, flash memory and USB flash drives.

Mexico’s strategic location and its numerous international trade agreements were factors in the company’s decision to open a facility in Mexico, especially as the U.S. government seeks to reduce reliance on China and Taiwan for chips.

Micron Technology's Boise, Idaho headquarters — Micron received a US $6.14 billion subsidy from the U.S. Department of Commerce as part of a new bilateral semiconductor initiative. (micron.com)

Brian Callaway, the country manager for Micron in Mexico, spoke to Expansión magazine about the move to Mexico. “As we ramp up manufacturing in the United States, we need to maintain product innovation and that’s where our new site in Guadalajara enters the picture. It will be critical in developing solutions for next generation products,” he said.

Micron’s facility in Mexico will focus on developing products for memory solutions oriented toward fortifying the latest Artificial Intelligence tools, Callaway said.

Scott DeBoer, executive vice president of technology and products at Micron, praised Mexico’s experience in the semiconductor sector. “Mexico has a strong business ecosystem that encompasses technology and the semiconductor industry and also has an extremely talented labor force,” he said. “The engineering center and its operations in Mexico will complement Micron’s product engineering efforts in North America.”

April Arnzen, Micron’s executive vice president and personnel director, spoke highly of the Mexican labor force, saying it will “reinforce Micron’s leadership and innovation,” citing the performance of local hires at other technology companies such as Intel which also has a design center in Guadalajara.

With reports from Expansión, El Economista and Mexico Business News

Heat wave turns deadly, with deaths in at least 3 states this week

By

MND Staff

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May 10, 2024

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Mexico's second heat wave of the year swept across the country starting on May 3. (Windy.com)

The heat wave currently afflicting large parts of Mexico isn’t just uncomfortable for tens of millions of people — for some, it’s also deadly.

Heat-related deaths have been reported in at least three states this week, while hot weather had claimed seven lives across the country by May 4, according to the federal Health Ministry.

In the Huasteca region of San Luis Potosí, 10 people died with symptoms of hyperthermia between Wednesday and Thursday, according to a report by the La Jornada newspaper that cited local Red Cross and Civil Protection sources. Another person reportedly succumbed to a heat-related illness in Ciudad Fernández, located east of San Luis Potosí city.

The Husateca region of San Luis Potosí has recorded extremely high temperatures this week. La Jornada reported that Tamuín, the municipality where six of the deaths occurred, reached 52 C on Thursday. That appeared to be a reference to the apparent, or “feels like,” temperature, known in Spanish as sensación térmica.

In Veracruz, one person succumbed to a heat-related illness last weekend, according to a report by Diario de Xalapa. The newspaper said that a truck driver passed away in the municipality of San Juan Evangelista after showing signs of dehydration. “He received support from paramedics but didn’t manage to survive,” Diario de Xalapa said.

The newspaper also reported heat-related deaths in Papantla on May 3, the day the current heat wave began, and Minatitlán last month. Neither of those deaths were included in the Health Ministry’s latest “extreme natural temperatures” report, although they occurred before the May 4 cutoff date.

Street vendors and other outdoor workers are particularly at risk for heat-related illness. (Gabriela Pérez Montiel/Cuartoscuro)

In the neighboring state of Oaxaca, an 8-year-old boy died of apparent heatstroke, according to health official Ignacio Zárate Blas. He said that the boy from the Papaloapan region of the state arrived at hospital with symptoms of dehydration and that it is believed that he died of heatstroke. However, Zárate noted that the boy was also suffering from “some accompanying ailments.”

Oaxaca Health Minister Alma Lilia Velasco Hernández reported on Monday that two young men — one aged 18, the other 25 — had died of severe dehydration. Both were treated in hospital but were unable to recover. The 18-year-old was from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec region, while the older man was from the Costa region of Oaxaca and worked as a street vendor.

Parts of Oaxaca have recorded temperatures in excess of 40 C this week.

Health Ministry: 7 heat-related deaths before May 4

In a report published Thursday, the Health Ministry said that a total of 337 cases of heat-related illnesses and seven deaths were recorded between the March 17 commencement of “the present hot season” and May 4.

Tabasco recorded the highest number of heat-related deaths with four, while there were two fatalities in Oaxaca and one in Chiapas. The deaths were all attributed to heatstroke.

Two of the four deaths in Tabasco occurred in early May, both in the municipality of Huimanguillo, which borders Veracruz and Chiapas.

Bottles of Mexican electrolyte replacement drink Electrolit — Multiple deaths were attributed to dehydration. (File photo)

It was unclear why the heat-related deaths in Veracruz in April and on May 3 were not included in the latest report. They — and the deaths reported this week — may show up in next week’s report if state authorities convey the information to their federal counterparts.

The heat-related illnesses reported by the Health Ministry included cases of heatstroke, dehydration and sunburn. Heatstroke accounted for almost two-thirds of the cases while most of the remainder were cases of dehydration.

There were more heat-related deaths, and more cases of heat-related illnesses this year than at the same time in the previous four years. By early May last year, there had been three heat-related deaths and 267 cases of illness.

However, the heat-related death toll subsequently soared to reach a total of 421 in 2023, a figure 10 times that of 2022.

This year’s “hot season” will conclude Oct. 5, according to the Health Ministry.

With reports from Diario de Xalapa, La Jornada, Milenio, El Heraldo de Tabasco and Proceso

What is life like for working moms in Mexico?

By

MND Staff

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May 10, 2024

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A family of women of different ages with a young child — Mexico goes all-in on celebrating Mother's Day, but what is the day to day reality for working mothers in the country? (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)

The idea of a traditional family, where the husband is the provider and the wife stays at home with the kids, is increasingly changing in Mexico.

While low-income mothers have been historically forced to work to provide for their families, in middle and upper-class Mexican society, a woman was not expected to work once she became a mother. And if she did work, she would either be regarded with sympathy for not having a husband that could provide for her, or judged for leaving her kids at daycare when she didn’t need to.

Families gather in a restaurant to celebrate Mother's Day in Mexico, in 2022. — Families gather in a Polanco restaurant to celebrate Mother’s Day in 2022. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)

And this was just a few years ago.

A personal experience of Mexican motherhood

I grew up in that environment and went to an all-girls Catholic private school where only a handful of my classmates’ mothers worked. My mom was amongst that minority, working in the family business and encouraging us to go on to professional careers.

In school, we were taught that we could be anything we liked. Some of the teachers were even other students’ moms. But at the same time, whether from school or society, we would receive another message: once you become a mother, you should prioritize motherhood and wifely duties over a career.

It took some time for this perspective to change. Today, it is now acceptable for women in well off families to choose to either work or stay at home — both honorable and respectable choices. And those who choose to work are now less judged (though let’s face it, a working mom will always receive some amount of judgment anywhere in the world).

What is working life like for mothers in Mexico?

The increasing incorporation of Mexican mothers in the work field is seen in the latest report from the National Occupation and Employment Survey (ENOE) carried out by the National Institute of Geography and Statistics (INEGI). The survey shows that until 2023, more than 70% of women in the workforce in Mexico were mothers.

This means that 17 million women in the workforce have at least one child.

Meanwhile, a 2023 survey by job search platform OCCM found that more than 90% of registered companies employ mothers. In 29% of those companies, more than half of their staff were moms.

Other indicators that show the acceptance of mothers in the workplace include the increasing number of mothers in leadership positions. Just take a look at this year’s election — the two front-runner candidates are mothers. The head of Tesla in México, Teresa Guitérrez Smith, is the mother of four children.

Separate images of Xochitl Galvez and Claudia Sheinbaum speaking at podiums shown side by side — Both frontrunners for the Mexican Presidency in this year’s election are mothers, a sign of changing attitudes in the country. (Cuartoscuro/MND)

These examples reflect how the perception of working mothers has changed into a more acceptable idea amongst Mexican families.

While we should celebrate the change of perspective towards being a working mom in Mexico, working mothers still face numerous challenges.

In its survey, INEGI found that of the total of mothers in the workforce, 3.3 million (19%) work more than 48 hours a week. The survey also revealed that the biggest challenge for most respondents was finding a work-life balance.

These are not the only issues working mothers currently face however:

Lifestyle

In Mexico, life is still designed for families where the father is the sole provider, and the mother looks after the kids.

For instance, kids’ birthday parties are all during the weekday — usually from 4 to 7 p.m. Mothers are expected take their children to the parties, not the fathers. Weekend mornings are usually destined for first communions, to which mothers are also expected to take the kids unless the invitation explicitly invites fathers.

School meetings also happen during the working week during working hours. Festivals, parent-teacher meetings and other events, all take place mid-morning.

Domestic chores

On top of that, women carry most of the responsibility of chores at home.

A Mexican woman preparing food — Mothers in Mexico still do the bulk of domestic work, on top of their careers. (Juan Pablo Zamora Pérez/Cuartoscuro)

A 2022 INEGI survey found that overall, working moms spend 76.8 hours of their week between work, household chores and caring for a member of their family (young or old). This figure is almost nine more hours than men.

Childcare

Access to affordable daycare is also a significant challenge.

According to the OCC, about 40% of mothers get help from a family member, 23% leave their children in daycare or school, and only 15% have the support of their partner to share the responsibility. Another 10% hire someone to babysit their children, and 15% say they have no support.

Maternity leave in Mexico

Maternity leave is a major issue for working mothers and requires urgent addressing.

The current standard of 12 weeks of paid leave falls short of the 14 weeks recommended by the International Labor Organization. According to OCCM, 17% of surveyed mothers said their employers didn’t comply with this period. As a result, they were required to work during their maternity leave or to return to work before it ended.

A Mexican mother feeds her baby at a roadside stall — Many mothers in Mexico cannot afford to remain out of work. (Edgar Negrete/Cuartoscuro)

To address this, Congress has reformed the Social Security Law (IMSS). The law now allows mothers to move up to four of the six weeks of their leave prior to childbirth to after the birth. However, this measure is insufficient to relieve pressure from working mothers and to provide much needed bonding time with their newborns.

As a society, we have made progress in eliminating the stigma of being a working mother. However, there are still challenges to overcome. On one hand, employers and policymakers should collaborate to provide more flexible working hours, affordable childcare, and longer maternity leave. On the other hand, partners should take on more household responsibilities and society should shift towards a lifestyle that acknowledges working mothers.

Gabriela Solis is a Mexican lawyer turned full-time writer. She was born and raised in Guadalajara and covers business, culture, lifestyle and travel for Mexico News Daily. You can follow her lifestyle blog Dunas y Palmeras.

Peso strengthens against US dollar after Bank of Mexico maintains interest rate

By

MND Staff

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May 10, 2024

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Facade of the Bank of Mexico building — The governing board of the Bank of Mexico met on Thursday and decided to keep the key rate at 11%. (Cuartoscuro)

After weakening in April to well above 17 to the US dollar, the Mexican peso has recovered significantly and reached its strongest position so far this month on Friday morning.

Bloomberg data shows that the peso appreciated to 16.72 to the greenback on Friday morning before weakening slightly.

Shortly after 10 a.m. Mexico City time, the peso was trading at 16.77 to the dollar.

The peso has appreciated more than 2% in May after ending April at 17.14 to the dollar. It closed last Friday at 16.97.

The currency appreciated on Thursday and Friday after the Bank of Mexico (Banxico) announced that its governing board had decided to leave the central bank’s benchmark interest rate unchanged at 11%.

For an extended period, the peso has benefited from the large difference between Banxico’s key interest rate and that of the United States Federal Reserve, currently set at 5.25%-5.5%.

Janneth Quiroz, head of analysis at the Monex financial group, noted on the X social media platform that the differential between the two rates remained at 550 basis points, which she described as a “a very attractive level” for investors.

In a note, Monex said that the peso on Friday morning “extended its advance from the previous session after Banxico decided to maintain the interest rate without changes” and made an upward adjustment to its inflation outlook.

The bank is now forecasting that inflation won’t come down to its 3% target until the final quarter of 2025. It previously predicted it would reach that level in the second quarter of next year.

Monex said that the changed inflation outlook indicates that the broad differential between interest rates in Mexico and the United States will continue for longer than previously expected.

The peso has also benefited from strong incoming flows of foreign investment and remittances. Early last month, it appreciated to 16.30 to the dollar, the currency’s strongest position since August 2015.

The peso weakened later in April due to a range of factors including an increase in aversion to international risk amid ongoing conflicts including the war between Israel and Hamas.

With reports from Expansión and Radio Fórmula

The best wellness retreats in Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit

By

Meagan Drillinger

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May 10, 2024

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Woman in pool — Slow down and recharge in some of Mexico's best luxury wellness retreats. (La Joya Sayulita/Facebook)

Long gone are the days when travelers would flock to Mexico for endless tequila shots and open swim-up bars. Okay, well, maybe not long gone — but those days are few and far between. Wellness is one of the driving forces behind travel these days, and it shows no signs of slowing down. Wellness tourism is expected to hit $1.3 trillion by 2025, according to the Global Wellness Institute.

Health tourism these days is so much more than a yoga class and a green juice. People are paying much more attention to what they put into their bodies than ever before. According to surveys conducted by NCSolutions, a joint venture data analysis project between Nielsen and Catalina, 61 percent of Gen Zers say they plan to cut back on their alcohol consumption in 2024. Gen Z isn’t the only generation that is sober-curious. In the same survey, Millennials also said they would drink less in 2024. Forty-nine percent of Millennials are sober-curious for the new year, an increase of 26 percent from those surveyed a year before. Overall, 41 percent of all Americans plan to drink less in 2024.

Fitness fanatics from across the world flock to Mexico for their dose of wellness. (Bikini Bootcamp)

Mexico’s central Pacific Coast, particularly along the coasts of Jalisco and Nayarit, has long established itself as a health and wellness destination. The jungle-wrapped peaks of the Sierra Madre mountains, the crashing Pacific coastline, and an abundance of wildlife create quite the idyllic backdrop for a wellness journey. An entire range of accommodation styles also helps travelers across most budgets.

So where are the best destinations in and around Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit for a wellness retreat? Here are the ones that have our attention.

La Joya, Sayulita

While Sayulita may be perceived as the coastal capital for yogis, travelers need to be discerning when choosing the right spot in this boho beach town. These days, the tiny village once sought out for a low-key lifestyle has become so overrun with tourists that it can be a logistical nightmare to travel there. That said, the boutique hotel and retreat, La Joya, is far enough outside of the heart of Sayulita that it can tap into the natural beauty of the destination while managing to evade the throngs of visitors.

This new concept wellness hotel and retreat space is all about holistic wellbeing made up of bungalows, casitas, villas, and a main casa. Decked out in natural materials, like parota woods, woven textiles, clay, stone, ceramics, and even a thatched palapa or two, the spaces were designed to evoke that luxury aesthetic that has become synonymous with Mexico’s beach towns. The space hosts a series of retreats throughout the year, from yoga and healing circles to community and connection. Guests have a direct view of the Pacific Ocean from the resort, without having to deal with the crowds or overwhelming energy of Sayulita proper. An onsite restaurant, Tekuamana, incorporates organic, local, and wild ingredients into all of its menu items — paired with creative mocktails for those who are staying dry.

Mar de Jade

Further up the coast in the small, lesser-known beach town of Chacala, Mar de Jade is a yoga, wellness, and retreat center that is cushioned between the thick jungle of northern Nayarit and the Pacific Ocean. The boutique resort sits directly on the shores of Playa Chacala and offers guests a swimming pool and Jacuzzi, shaded by thick groves of banana trees and bushy bunches of explosive bougainvillea flowers.

Mar de Jade has been offering yoga, meditation, and movement retreats for more than three decades, but is most famous for its Buddhist retreats that it holds periodically throughout the year. They offer a weeklong summer Chan Retreat, as well as a Zen Rohatsu Retreat in the winter. The Silent Zen Meditation Retreat, held once a year, is one of its most sought-after experiences. Whether you’re part of a retreat itinerary or not, the experience at Mar de Jade is relaxed and therapeutic, serving ingredients from its 17-acre organic farm and with plenty of opportunity to get involved with its volunteer and community projects.

Susurros del Corazon

For well-heeled travelers who want to swap a rustic vibe for five-star elegance (and a much higher price tag) the new Susurros del Corazon in Punta Mita is a veritable realm of relaxation, taking the luxury spa concept to entirely new vibrational levels. The ONDA, an Auberge spa has everything you’d expect from a five-star wellness center, including hydrotherapy and a sprawling fitness center. However, ONDA is so much more than that, offering guided sunset meditations, intuitive expression painting classes, in-water sound vibrations, and many other holistic and spiritually guided experiences. The spa also has a dedicated Good Vibrations Cafe, serving farro bowls, salads, juices, and more.

Equilibrium Healing Resort and Spa

As Highway 200 snakes its way south of Puerto Vallarta and up into the mountains past the small village of Boca de Tomatlan, you find yourself surrounded by lush, tropical forest. A spine of mountains ripples out as far as the eye can see. The buzz and energy from the resorts and restaurants on the Malecon fade into the distance and it’s nothing but you, the trees, and the wind. Here is where you’ll find Equilibrium, a wellness resort nestled among the mountains. Here travelers can partake in one of the many wellness programs that Equilibrium offers. Choose from programs like Detox, Rejuvenate, Relax, and Full Reset — each one tailored and personalized to your specific needs and goals. Equilibrium hosts many private retreats, as well, from yoga and Ayurveda to lessons on self-love and self-care.

Careyes

Carved into the coves and secret bays of the Costalegre, south of Puerto Vallarta, Careyes is a colorful, creative community that sits far out of the spotlight. Those who know Careyes have been “in the know” for years, and want to protect their beloved community from over-tourism and over-hype. The discretion of the Careyes community is why it has quietly drawn celebrities, government officials, and other VIPs looking to keep a low profile since the late 1960s.

Part of the magic of Careyes comes from its energy, where its casitas and villas have all been designed with the natural flow of the environment in mind. Living spaces are open-air to allow for immersion into the elements. The sound of the ocean, explosive sunsets, and blankets of stars are all part of the daily routine. Careyes is not a traditional resort. It’s a living community, and its residents and guests have a pension for holistic lifestyles and wellness. It’s easy to see why when you see the raw, natural beauty of this part of Mexico. Careyes hosts retreats regularly, and will frequently schedule sound baths, cacao ceremonies, yoga, and healing meditations.

Coming Soon: Six Senses Xala

Still under development, Xala promises to revolutionize the wellness retreat game in Mexico. (Xala)

Costalegre is in the process of developing a massive $1 billion project, which is slowly opening in phases over the next few years. Known as Xala, the impressive design will feature luxurious rancho-style residences, an abundance of five-star facilities, a deeply entrenched environmental and community development program for local villages, and a Six Senses resort.

Six Senses Xala is slated to open in 2026, flanked by five miles of curving white-sand beach. Fifty-one bungalow-style accommodations will feature private pools and a village-like architectural design that will be both playful and luxurious. Six Senses as a brand is rooted in wellness, and Six Senses Xala will be no different. The Spa will be a retreat in itself for treatments and multi-day wellness programs.

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.

Azteca Stadium box owners won’t forfeit seats for World Cup 2026

By

MND Staff

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May 9, 2024

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Mexico City's Azteca Stadium, where box owners say they won't let FIFA control their seats for the World Cup in 2026 — Mexico City's Azteca Stadium has found itself at the center of a World Cup 2026 controversy as box owners at the stadium said that they won't cede to FIFA's demand it sell their seats for World Cup matches being hosted there. (Rogelio Morales/Cuartoscuro)

Mexico City’s iconic Azteca Stadium is gearing up to become the first stadium to host matches for three separate FIFA World Cup tournaments. But it has not been smooth sailing.

In late March, the Sipse news agency revealed that FIFA — soccer’s world governing body — was disappointed with the pace of the required stadium renovations. One source claimed Azteca was six months behind schedule, in part because Club América resisted changing stadiums mid-season.

Brazilian soccer legend atop the shoulders of his teammates in the 1970 World Cup in Azteca Stadium, Mexico — The stadium has hosted the World Cup finals twice, in 1970 and 1986. Azteca Stadium box owners say FIFA has never demanded their seats at these past events. Here, Brazilian soccer legend Pelé celebrates his team’s win at Azteca Stadium in 1970. (Wikimedia Commons)

This prompted speculation that Azteca Stadium could be replaced as a venue for the 2026 World Cup. The Cup will be hosted together by Mexico, the United States and Canada.

Now, this week, a new controversy has burst into full view.

FIFA typically demands full control of all World Cup stadiums, and for the matches that Azteca Stadium will host, an agreement was signed granting that power. However, an association of 134 box seat owners are determined to maintain access to their seats, claiming contractual rights.

The dispute is rooted in how the stadium’s construction was financed back in the 1960s. The Associated Press reported this week that “boxes were sold to private investors for 115,000 pesos” (about US $9,000 at the time), “giving the owners rights to use them for 99 years. That included access to soccer matches, concerts and other events, including the 1970 and 1986 World Cups in Mexico.”

The box owners formed their association about nine months ago.

Association spokesman Roberto Ruano recalls that the box seats were not an issue during the 1970 World Cup and that FIFA allowed box owners full access during the 1986 World Cup. Although he expects FIFA to respect the contracts, the Mexican Soccer Federation (FMF) has stepped in to act as an intermediary.

Azteca Stadium’s box seats (see top of photo) were sold to investors back in the 1960s when the stadium was built. They were given exclusive rights to the luxury seats for 99 years, including during World Cup matches. (Wikimedia Commons()

News magazine Proceso reported that former FMF president Justino Compean has been arranging compensatory payments to box owners that voluntarily cede control of their boxes. Ruano confirmed this but said that those owners are not members of his association.

Attorneys told Proceso that forcing box owners to cede their rights is illegal, but FIFA has been known to pressure host nations to bend their laws. In 2014, FIFA convinced Brazil to suspend a law prohibiting beer sales at stadiums, and the same thing occurred in 2022 in Dubai.

When asked by the AP about the controversy, FIFA said: “Specific details on fan access and other match information will be announced in due course.”

The FMF declined to comment, while Grupo Televisa — the owner of Azteca Stadium through the public limited company Ollamani — said it could not discuss ongoing negotiations but expressed confidence that a satisfactory agreement would be reached.

With reports from El Financiero, Proceso and Associated Press

INAH launches search for sunken ships off Baja California coast

By

MND Staff

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May 9, 2024

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A diver investigates the hull of a sunken ship off Baja California — Mexico's National Institute of History and Anthropology (INAH) divers initially investigated the area off the Baja California coast during 2021-2022 after fishermen reported seeing a sunken ship. The discovery prompted INAH to do searches for more sunken ships in the area, a project that begins later this month. (INAH)

Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) this week announced a long-term project to discover and register sunken ships off Baja California’s Pacific coast.

Once underway, one of the project’s main targets will be the SS Sacramento, a sidewheel steamer built in 1864 that made passenger and cargo trips from New York to San Francisco until 1872, when it sank about 250 kilometers south of Ensenada.

Black and white photo of a steam — A rare image published in 1866 of the *Sacramento*, a passenger steamship based in San Francisco that passed through Baja California waters regularly on its route between San Francisco and New York. (Laurence & Houseworth/Library of Congress

The area in Baja California where the ship went down is now called Sacramento Reef, and officials with INAH’s Underwater Archaeology Department (SAS) believe there could be up to five sunken ships in that area.

“Between the end of May and early June, we will begin the inventory with emphasis on two areas: the Todos Santos Islands, in Ensenada Bay, and the Sacramento Reef, in Rosario Bay,” said Mariana Piña Cetina, the project’s lead underwater archaeologist.

SAS conducted a series of explorations in 2021–2022 after fishermen reported a sunken vessel believed to be the 82-meter long SS Sacramento. After those probes, Pina said, “We realized the need to explore these areas due to the richness.”

The project is called “Archaeological Inventory of Wrecks from the 19th and 20th centuries in the Mexican Pacific.” Ships from various regions and eras are expected to be located and registered.

Piña Cetina noted that the Sacramento — which had to travel all the way around the tip of South America back before the Panama Canal’s creation — lies in waters off Isla San Geronimo that are only 5 meters deep.

The area is “more dangerous,” she said, because “the currents are stronger there.”

Map of Punta Baja to Sacramento Reef, where Mexican officials expect to find several sunken ships off Baja California. — One of the spots INAH will investigate is an area called the Sacramento Reef, where the *SS Sacramento* went down. (Islapedia)

The ship apparently sank when it hit an uncharted reef, but the captain, crew and all 145 passengers were able to make it safely to the island, where they were later picked up by the SS Montana.

Ships of all kinds have been sailing by the Baja Peninsula since soon after Mexico’s colonization, and tales of sunken ships in the waters around it have existed for almost as long. However, the Sacremento was just one of multiple ships reported sunken in this area during the 19th century.

According to an INAH press release issued Wednesday, sunken ships off the coast of Mexico are underwater treasures that, to a great extent, have not been explored or even discovered.

“The deep, sandy surface contains an immense time capsule with intact stories of ships from different times and latitudes,” INAH noted.

Although shipwrecks off Baja California have been sporadically recorded over the past decade, the SAS will now be using modern technology and strategies, such as the use of geographic information systems and photogrammetry.

Still, the area presents obstacles and finding any sunken ships will require a “full season of exploration,” according to INAH, “due to the currents, sediments and the difficulties in reaching the diving spots on the reef.”

Piña Cetina said the project will be “responsible and sustainable” and that INAH is forming strong bonds with local fishing communities — not only in the name of ecology but also for assistance in locating the sunken ships.

For more than 300 years, ships used the waters off Baja California on their main routes, but they had to contend with islands, reefs, sandy shoals and other challenging elements. These areas were also used for hunting sea lions and other animals that were marketed by U.S., Canadian and even Russian whalers.

With reports from Netnoticias