Lessons from the road: What I wish I’d known before driving the Baja peninsula

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March 23, 2025

jeremy-bishop-F3ObQKjvpsI-unsplash — Take the trip of a lifetime through Baja California and let these tips guide you along the way. (Jeremy Bishop/Unsplash)

I’ve taken a lot of road trips in Mexico. But the one that continues to replay in my mind is the month-long trip I spent driving the entire Baja peninsula, from Cabo up to Ensenada and back again. Let me tell you — it was one of the most incredible road trips of my life. The rugged landscapes, untouched beaches and roadside taco stands made it an adventure I’ll never forget. But I’ll be honest: I went in completely blind. I had no idea what to expect or what to plan for.

If you’re planning to drive the Baja peninsula, here are a few things I wish I had known before setting out.

You don’t need a 4×4, but you’ll want one

A 4x4 in the Baja desert — A proper off-roader makes things so much easier. (Peek)

You can absolutely drive Baja without a 4×4. The main highways are paved and in decent condition, and you’ll still see some jaw-dropping scenery. But if you want to get off the beaten path — and trust me, part of the magic of Baja is in the remote, wild places — you’re going to need a 4×4. Some of the best spots, like hidden beaches or remote villages, require tackling washboard dirt roads, sandy paths, or rocky trails. If your dream is to land on a secluded beach with no one else in sight, you’ll want a vehicle that can handle the journey.

Sometimes the drive is a whole lot of nothing

Baja California desert — I hope you like looking at this, because it’s what lies in wait a lot of the time. (Wikimedia)

Baja’s landscape is raw, rugged and strikingly beautiful. But there are stretches of highway that feel endless. Specifically, the drives between San Ignacio and Guerrero Negro, and then Guerrero Negro up to Ensenada, are long, desolate and have little to no cell reception. The scenery is stunning — vast desert, cacti forests and wide-open sky — but after several hours of it, you’ll be grateful for a solid playlist. Download your music, because radio stations are nonexistent in these remote areas. Download the map, too — just in case you did rent that 4×4 and want to venture down a dirt road.

Always fill up with gas when you can

A Pemex gas station sign against a blue sky dotted with clouds — Never pass a gas station unless your tank is full. (Shutterstock)

I never actually ran out of gas, but I had a few panic-inducing moments where I wondered if I would make it to the next station. Gas stations are few and far between in Baja, so whenever you see one, just fill up. Even if you’re at half a tank. Better safe than sorry.

Real-time road conditions are hard to get

Facebook is your friend when it comes to finding out about unexpected surprises on the highway.(Cuartoscuro)

One of the biggest challenges I encountered was getting real-time information about road conditions. Baja is prone to hurricanes, flash floods and unexpected road closures, and finding up-to-date info isn’t easy. About halfway through my trip, I discovered the Baja Overlanding Facebook group, and it was a game-changer. The community shares posts about road conditions, gas availability and any hiccups along the way.

A perfect example: Hurricane Kay had sliced through the peninsula during my trip, destroying parts of the main highway. I ended up stuck in Ensenada for five days, waiting for updates on when the roads would be passable again. If I had known about the Facebook group earlier, I could have planned better and avoided some of that stress.

Take your time

Los Barriles — The view is incredible, so take your time to enjoy it! (La Paz)

If you’re thinking of doing Baja in a week, you’ll be missing out on so much. This is a road trip where the journey is just as important as the destination. Rushing through means skipping hidden beaches, local restaurants and spontaneous detours. I spent a month exploring Baja, and even that didn’t feel like enough time. If you can, plan for at least a couple of weeks.

Be prepared for military checkpoints

National Guard checkpoints on highways near the border are one tool the federal government uses to check incoming vehicles. (National Guard/X)

Throughout Baja, you’ll encounter military checkpoints, especially as you move between states. These are completely routine and nothing to worry about. Sometimes, they’ll wave you through. Other times, they might ask you to step out while they check your vehicle. Just stay calm, be polite and have your paperwork — license, car rental agreement and passport — readily available. It can feel a little unnerving the first time, but after a few, you’ll get used to it.

Bonus tip: Rent a car in San José del Cabo

Car lot — Rent your car in San Jose del Cabo, it’s a very straightforward process. (Jason Leung/Unsplash)

I rented my car in San Jose del Cabo from Cactus Car, and I’d highly recommend them. They include all the necessary insurance you need to drive in Mexico in the price, which means no hidden fees or surprises when you pick up your car. Rental car insurance in Mexico can be tricky, so it was nice to have everything covered upfront.

Driving the Baja peninsula was one of the most freeing and rewarding adventures I’ve ever taken. Sure, I went in blind and learned a few lessons the hard way, but that was part of the fun. If you’re thinking about making the trip, I can’t recommend it enough— just go in prepared. Fill up your tank, download your playlists, join a Baja road conditions group, and most importantly, take your time. The magic of Baja is in the journey, and trust me, it’s one you won’t forget.

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

State by Plate: Michoacán and carnitas

By

Chris Sands

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March 23, 2025

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A plate of carnitas served with lime and a fork — There can only be one contender for the taste of Michoacán: Carnitas. (Shutterstock)

According to legend, after the fall of Tenochtitlán in 1521, Hernán Cortés and his conquistadors held a banquet to celebrate their victory in Coyoacán. Wine flowed freely, but the highlight of the feast was the cooking of pigs imported from Cuba.

Was the pork cooked in its fat? Possibly, but this origin story is just that… a story. It’s unlikely that Cortés and his men ate that on that 16th-century night was what we now think of as carnitas, literally “little meats.” However, what’s undoubtedly true is that the Spanish introduced pigs to Mexico and Cortés was a connoisseur, having established his pigs in the Toluca valley by 1525, where they birthed the national chorizo industry.

Three pigs in a sty — Pigs were introduced to Mexico by the Spanish and have quickly become a staple in the national diet. (Amber Kipp/Unsplash)

Today, most credit Quiroga in Michoacán as the true birthplace of carnitas. Michoacán isn’t the only state where carnitas are made — for example, in Jalisco regionally made carnitas are a signature ingredient in the torta ahogada — but Michoacán has become synonymous with this pork style and the tender, delicious tacos that result from it. Michoacán is also synonymous with the copper pots, or cazos, in which carnitas are made, sourced from copper artisans in Santa Clara del Cobre.

How carnitas are made

When were carnitas first made in Quiroga? There is no year one can point to. It has been a local specialty for as long as anyone can remember, with methods passed down from generation to generation. In Quiroga, the pigs chosen are invariably young and tender, less than five months old, and fed solely on corn.

Virtually every part of the pig is included, and the cooking process takes three to four hours. Natural fat or lard ensures the meat retains its moisture. Some cooks or restaurants add seasoning ingredients beyond traditional salt during preparation, like orange juice or Coca-Cola, which accounts for slight variations in flavor and color.

Carnitas vendors in Quiroga, Michoacán — Quiroga, Michoacán, is the spiritual (and probably literal) home of carnitas in Mexico. (Popurrí de Viajes)

There are two steps when cooking carnitas Quiroga style. First, the pork is seared to seal in the juices. Then, it’s slowly simmered, with the temperature sweet spot between 194 and 212 degrees Fahrenheit. The finished carnitas should exhibit a tongue-melting contrast between tender meat and crunchy skin and are optimally served in taco form, with a corn tortilla and toppings such as onion, cilantro, salsa, and the inevitable squeeze of lime.

The importance of the copper pots

Of course, as every true aficionado of carnitas knows, this delicacy is only Michoacano-approved if cooked in a copper pot. The state has a long history of copper working that goes back to the ancient Purépecha, rivals of the Mexica (Aztecs) who were never conquered. From the 14th century to the arrival of the Spanish in the early 16th, the Purépecha were the finest metallurgists in Mexico and perhaps the world, experts at making jewelry, tools and weaponry from copper and other metals.

These traditions continue into the present day, notably at Santa Clara del Cobre, whose very name speaks to its expertise. Santa Clara del Cobre is one of 10 Pueblos Mágicos in Michoacán, “Magical Towns” given this designation due to their rich history and traditional culture. Visitors to the town can explore its copper-making history at the Museo Nacional del Cobre, or go to individual workshops and watch coppersmiths hammer out their cazos by hand, a technique that looks as difficult as it probably is.

A shop selling a range of copper pots and cookware for preparing carnitas — Copper pots from Santa Clara del Cobre enhance the flavor of carnitas. (Blissfulmaan/ Wikimedia)

Why is copper considered so essential for making carnitas? That’s simple: copper is an excellent heat conductor, and using it helps to give the pork its trademark crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside texture. It’s also thought to imbue the pork with a more intense flavor.

The parts of the pig

Those who’ve grown up eating carnitas are not shy about asking for their favorite parts when they pick up servings by the kilo for Sunday, a traditional day to enjoy the specialty—even if those parts may seem a little unusual to those who weren’t born in Mexico.

For example, the stomach and skin, called buche and cuerito, are favorites of many connoisseurs. But even portions like oreja, trompa and viril (ear, snout and penis) have their adherents, as do sesos, lengua and manitas (brains, tongue and feet).

Pork carnitas, including roasted pig snout — True connoisseurs of carnitas love all the parts of the pig. (Tomas Castelazo/Wikimedia Commons)

Costillas and pancita (ribs and belly) are also popular, particularly with chefs, and yes, the uterus and testicles (nana and criadillas) are likewise eaten, as is virtually any other organ you can think of. What’s the appeal? Testicles in particular are considered to be an aphrodisiac. As for the rest, it just comes down to flavor and individual preference.

When and where to eat carnitas in Michoacán

The biggest annual event celebrating carnitas in Michoacán is the Feria Michoacana de las Carnitas, which takes place annually in Tacámbaro, another of the state’s Pueblos Mágicos and a carnitas stronghold. Regional residents circle November on the calendar, as that’s the month it is traditionally held. The 2024 edition drew 60,000 attendees, a by no means unusual occurrence.

In Quiroga, the self-declared World Capital of Carnitas, every day is an occasion to eat them so no special events are necessary. The Feria Nacional del Cobre, held each August in Santa Clara del Cobre, is mainly focused on copper, albeit with some gastronomic elements.

El Rey de Las Carnitas, a yellow painted carnitas restaurant in Quiroga, Michoacán — Quiroga, Michoacán is acknowledged as the “Carnitas Capital of the World.” (El Rey de las Carnitas)

Charanda and the spirits of Michoacán

If you’re looking for a good pairing option for carnitas, beer is always a good choice; especially if it’s one of the brands brewed in the state, like La Brü from Morelia. However, the state’s ancestral spirit is charanda, an aguardiente de caña with Purépecha roots that’s now the only rum in Mexico with an appellation of origin.

Charanda can legally be made in 16 municipalities in the state and is double-distilled from molasses or fresh-pressed sugarcane juice. The canes are often grown at high altitudes and benefit from a distinctive red soil known locally as charanda, hence the name. Charanda Uruapan, which gets its name from the municipality where it’s made, is the most popular distiller, thanks to the quality displayed during its 118 years on the market.

Chris Sands is the Cabo San Lucas local expert for the USA Today travel website 10 Best, writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook and a contributor to numerous websites and publications, including Tasting Table, Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, Forbes Travel Guide, Porthole Cruise, Cabo Living and Mexico News Daily. His specialty is travel-related content and lifestyle features focused on food, wine and golf.

Lizeth Cuara: The entrepreneur bringing Mexican postpartum tradition to the mainstream

By

Rocio Lucero

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March 23, 2025

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Lizeth Cuara working at a desk — (Lizeth Cuara)

Lizeth Cuara, a Mexican-American entrepreneur based in Los Angeles, is the force behind Misty Phases, a multimillion-dollar e-commerce brand specializing in postpartum shapewear. Her products draw inspiration from la cuarentena, the traditional 40-day Mexican postpartum period focused on maternal healing and recovery. But Cuara’s path to success was anything but conventional.

From hustle to healing

Raised in Compton, California, by a single mother, Cuara grew up facing financial hardship. She never finished high school, and a decade ago, she was stuck in an entry-level job, struggling to make ends meet. Looking for a way to change her circumstances, she took a leap into e-commerce, experimenting with flipping Amazon return pallets. With US $10,000 in savings, she invested in two $5,000 pallets, then turned to YouTube to teach herself how to list and sell the items on eBay.

Mastering shipping and pricing was her next challenge, but she quickly realized a simple formula: the more she listed, the more she sold. Within a month, she had made back her initial investment. Encouraged by her early success, she quit her job to focus on the business full-time.

While the pallet resale business was profitable, it was unpredictable— some shipments turned a strong profit, while others barely broke even. After eight months, Cuara started looking for a more sustainable and scalable venture. Drawing on her experience, she identified a growing market for products like lotions, teas, waist trainers and sauna belts. Confident in the demand, she hired a marketing agency, leveraged Facebook ads and tapped into influencer promotions. Soon, her products gained traction, landing features on Univision and CBS.

The experience gave her critical insights into pricing, consumer behavior and branding—lessons that laid the foundation for Misty Phases, which she launched in 2022. Named for the “fog” that often follows childbirth, the brand offers a carefully curated collection of postpartum essentials, including girdles, underwear, bras, leggings, shorts, herbal baths, oils and creams. The demand is so high that the brand operates primarily on a pre-order basis, frequently selling out.

A business born from trauma

“Misty Phases was born out of a deeply personal and traumatic experience,” Cuara recalls. “I nearly died giving birth to my daughter due to an incorrectly administered epidural, which led to an incredibly difficult recovery.”

After the error, the baby received medical attention at a different hospital. — Women of color and their children are at increased risk of obstetric violence in the United States. (DepositPhotos)

Cuara was sent home with a new baby, stitches and severe pain from the mismanaged epidural— but little to no guidance on how to care for herself. As her health deteriorated, she became so weak that she could barely walk or hold her baby. Desperate for answers, she returned to the hospital, only to be dismissed. The doctor’s advice? That she was simply “stressed” and should avoid carrying her baby.

That moment was a turning point. Cuara realized how little postpartum care was available in the United States, especially for women of color, who face significantly higher risks of complications and maternal mortality in the country. Studies show that college-educated Black women are still more likely to experience severe pregnancy and childbirth complications than white women who never graduated high school.

Determined to change that, Cuara created Misty Phases not just to provide postpartum support but to advocate for maternal health equity. “Misty Phases was really about creating products to support women through postpartum recovery, drawing from our Mexican heritage and the tradition of the cuarentena. I modernized ancestral practices to make them accessible and easy to use, bringing awareness to what our grandmothers and great-grandmothers did after childbirth.”

Years in the making

Unlike many e-commerce entrepreneurs focused on quick-turnaround products, Cuara dedicated four years to researching and developing her postpartum line before launching Misty Phases. She consulted with midwives, gynecologists and doulas to ensure her products honored traditional postpartum practices while meeting modern medical standards.

Three women model Misty Phases products — (Misty Phases)

Her journey wasn’t easy: many suppliers refused to work with Cuara, dismissing her small initial orders and the complex technical specifications required for her designs. But her persistence paid off. She secured both U.S. and international patents, ensuring that Misty Phases stood out in an industry often dominated by generic mass-market products.

In its first year, Misty Phases generated over US $1 million in sales, tripling that figure in its second year. TikTok has played a huge role in the brand’s expansion, not only driving global sales but also fostering a supportive online community where mothers share birth stories and postpartum advice.

But beyond business success, Cuara’s remains committed to uplifting underserved mothers. Through Misty Phases, she donates postpartum kits — including belly binders, nursing bras and postpartum underwear — to homeless and refugee mothers in need. What started as a personal struggle has become a movement, proving that postpartum care isn’t a luxury but a necessity.

Bringing Misty Phases to Mexico

“My goal was to serve Latinas and women of color in the U.S., but to my surprise, I found customers in Mexico as well,” Cuara recalls. Soon, she realized that Mexican mothers were willing to pay over $65 in shipping fees just to access her postpartum products. Seeing the growing demand, she knew it was time to expand. In 2023, she officially launched Misty Phases in Mexico.

Expanding internationally was both humbling and challenging. Cuara quickly learned that doing business in Mexico was nothing like in the United States. Her business bank account was closed three times, and she discovered that her Spanglish wasn’t cutting it in high-level business discussions. Determined to succeed, she hired an interpreter and began working on improving her business Spanish.

Reflecting on the differences of doing business in Mexico and the U.S., Cuara says that conducting business in the U.S. has a casual and transactional approach while in Mexico, it’s relationship and trust-driven. Even if you show up to a business meeting in Mexico, you are expected to spend the first 10 minutes chatting and getting to know your counterparts versus diving right into business like is the norm between Americans.

Mexican customers also engage with Misty Phases in a deeply personal way. Unlike in the U.S., where customers primarily follow brand recommendations, Cuara found that Mexican mothers actively share their own postpartum knowledge— offering tips, stories and feedback that have helped her refine and improve her products. “Doing business in Mexico has taught me to lead with more humanity rather than treat everything as a transaction,” she reflects. Now, she makes sure to start every meeting by genuinely asking how the other person is doing, a small but meaningful shift in her approach.

More than a brand

Today, Misty Phases has a growing presence across the U.S., Mexico and Latin America. In 2024, the company surpassed US $5 million in sales, and projections for the Mexican market alone exceed $1 million for 2025. Beyond the numbers, Cuara’s journey is proof that postpartum care isn’t just a niche— it’s a necessity.

What started as a personal struggle, then a side hustle, has grown into a global movement empowering mothers through tradition, innovation and community. By blending the wisdom of past generations with modern postpartum care, Misty Phases is changing the way women recover after childbirth, one mother at a time.

Rocio is based in Mexico City and is the creator of CDMX iykyk, a newsletter designed to keep expats, digital nomads and the Mexican diaspora in the loop. The monthly dispatches feature top news, cultural highlights, upcoming CDMX events and local recommendations. For your dose of must-know news about Mexico, subscribe here.

Taste of Mexico: Chía seeds

By

María Meléndez

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March 22, 2025

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To continue with food trends that have been popular on TikTok — and that you probably didn’t know were Mexican — we present chia seeds.

What exactly are chia seeds?

Chia is an herbaceous plant native to southern Mexico and northern Guatemala, belonging to the same family as mint and lavender. We know that its domestication began approximately 6,000 years ago. Unlike today, for pre-Columbian cultures, chia wasn’t just a dietary supplement — it was one of the most important foods.

From Mesoamerica to the world

According to dictionaries, the word “chía” comes from Nahuatl and means “seed from which oil is extracted.” It is believed to derive from the Mayan word “chiháan,” meaning “strong” or “strengthener,” due to its powerful properties.

Chia is thought to have ranked third in importance among crops, surpassed only by maize and beans. In Tenochtitlán, the pre-Columbian version of Mexico City, between 5,000 and 15,000 tons of chia were received as tribute from conquered peoples. Chia was even used as currency in tributes and commercial transactions.

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Beyond being a staple food, chia was used in various ways. It was ground into flour to prepare different dishes and was also used to make a drink called cinapinolli, which mixed chia powder with water. The seeds were also offered to the gods — replanted as a sacred act to bless future harvests — and chia oil was extracted for use in body paint and pottery decorations.

Chia flour had an incredibly long shelf life, making it an ideal food source during droughts and long expeditions. It was said that a person sustained by a small pouch of ground chia could run from the Colorado River to the Pacific Ocean — or chase down prey until it collapsed from exhaustion. I find that hard to believe, but perhaps some of our marathoner friends can try it out and tell us if they feel more energized!

A rediscovered treasure

During the colonial era, chia nearly disappeared because its cultivation was associated with indigenous “pagan” rituals, and the Spanish replaced it with other cereals. However, some remote communities continued growing it, allowing it to survive to this day — though without the same significance it once held in pre-Columbian cultures.

Aztec chia codex — Chía was often used by Indigenous Mexicans as part of their rituals. (Mexicolore)

Today, the world’s largest consumer of chia is the United States. Interest in chia grew in the 1990s when health food brands began marketing it for its supposed weight-loss benefits. But as someone who has been drinking lemon water with chia since childhood, I can confidently say — without any proof, but also without any doubts — that I haven’t lost a single gram because of chia.

That said, it is one of the most nutritionally complete foods you can eat. Per 100 grams, chia seeds contain:

• 21 grams of high-quality protein

• 24 grams of unsaturated fatty acids (omega-3s)

• 34 grams of fiber (121% of the recommended daily intake!)

• High levels of calcium (606 mg) and magnesium (306 mg)

• Five times more potassium than a banana — perhaps explaining why it was popular among Mesoamerican runners.

Benefits

Recent studies confirm that chia is an excellent ally for cardiovascular health and reducing inflammation. It promotes good digestion and contributes to an unparalleled gut health experience. Due to its high fiber content, it helps maintain a feeling of fullness longer and improves hydration efficiency.

And most importantly, indigenous knowledge was right — chia is one of the best foods for athletes, as it aids in muscle repair and growth.

Warnings

Chia absorbs 10 times its weight in water, so my recommendation is to soak it first in any liquid — water, milk, or juice. Like most Mexicans, you can drink it in agua de limón con chía. You can also add it to smoothies and juices. Those with a sweet tooth can also try chía jam!

You can eat it raw by sprinkling it over salads or fruit, but be careful not to overdo it—remember, it absorbs liquid! Speaking from experience, it can be quite uncomfortable when those little seeds expand inside you.

You can also make chia flour. Just blend or process it into a fine powder and use it as a substitute for breading or baking breads and cakes.

The possibilities with chia are endless — just don’t go overboard, like some young women I’ve seen on social media who have ended up in a hospital bed with a “chia baby” in their stomachs.

If you’re a high-performance athlete, have you incorporated chia into your diet? How has it benefited you? Let us know!

María Meléndez is a Mexico City food blogger and influencer.

Government jobs in the US vs. Mexico

By

Sarah DeVries

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March 22, 2025

18

Long queues in the DMV — Government efficiency is a hot topic on both sides of the border. Mexico is (maybe) less extreme abut managing it, explains Sarah DeVries. (Wavetec)

If you’ve been paying any attention at all to the news in the United States, you know that the civil service is going through some major changes. Personified by Elon Musk acting like a madman with a chainsaw, all kinds of federal employees are getting tossed aside and their departments shredded.

The justification is getting rid of government waste and corruption. If you ask me, that’s rich coming from two of the richest men on earth, especially given how many billions of dollars one of them has received from the U.S. government in subsidies. Of course, nobody did ask me.

Tesla owner Elon Musk — (Elon Musk/Twitter)

But I’m going to talk about it anyway, because I’m a writer and it’s what I do. Besides, this isn’t an issue that only concerns the United States. There’s plenty to be said for Mexican civil servants, too.

Everybody wants a steady gig

I personally am someone who’s often been — and in many ways still is — in precarious situations regarding steady work and consistent, sufficient income. AI is competing mightily for jobs requiring my skill set. Have y’all seen how good Google Translate is now? It’s not as good as me personally, but most companies don’t care about that. Which option is cheaper and ensures a bigger profit? Exactly.

So I’ve got quite a lot of sympathy, especially toward people who thought they’d found steady, well-paying jobs. Because the quantity of those types of posts, government or not, is constantly decreasing in a sea of gig “opportunities” that offer no stability and even fewer benefits. I’d imagine the cinching of one takes about an 800-pound load off.

And it’s not just about the loss of government jobs. Once we get to Artificial General Intelligence in a few short years, I suspect more workers than not will be in my exact predicament. Are we prepared for an economy where we’re all getting paid piecemeal to “check AI” and receiving zero benefits? I think not.

An empty office building — (Jose Losada/Unsplash)

Government jobs anywhere are a contentious topic. Who among us hasn’t been confronted with a grouchy government worker it seems impossible to get past? Whether a literal sloth at the Texas DMV or a scary barker at the local Mexican immigration office, we’ve all had frustrating and stressful encounters with bureaucracy. “Why do these people get to keep their jobs?”, we might wonder.

On both sides of the border, a government job is widely considered to be a good, stable job. But the U.S. and Mexico do things fairly differently when it comes to these jobs. Here’s a breakdown.

Familiar faces in bureaucratic places

In Mexico, some jobs — especially government jobs — are “plazas.” This basically means that the position is tenured. It’s especially common within the Mexican public school system. The fact that so many teachers had tenure has been stated as a major reason for educational reform. While many teachers were dedicated to helping their students, others were happy to simply not show up for class and collect a paycheck. Plazas could be sold or inherited, which I think we can all agree is hands-down, 100 percent bonkers.

The school year in Mexico runs from Aug. 26, 2024 to July 16, 2025. — Under the previous system, some teachers exploited the fact they have tenure. (Carolina Jiménez/Cuartoscuro)

But there are other government jobs that are also plazas. I’ve been dealing with the same two immigration agents in Xalapa for the past 15 years, for example. Luckily they’re pretty nice, because I don’t think I’ll ever not deal with them if I need to go to the INM.

Out with the old, in with the new

Other job posts can change with the change of administration, even if the change is within the same party. This is because the new administration might have its own team that it wants to work with. It could also mean they owe favors to certain people who’ve helped them, and the new jobs serve as rewards.

When that happens, of course, it’s out with the old. Thankfully, this typically doesn’t happen as often with highly skilled workers, those who know all of the operational ins and outs of their posts. One friend here, for example, has a high-ranking post within the governing party. Her work is important and she does it well. She thought, however, that she’d lose that job when our state’s current governor, Rocío Nahle, took office. “Honestly, I’m tired and looking forward to the break,” she told me.

But it turns out she was just too good at it. I am not surprised by this, as my friend is awesome, noble and smart as a whip. The break did not come, as she was re-hired, so to speak, by the new administration.

Another friend didn’t fare so well. She worked as a clerical worker in a government office and had only recently been hired. Unfortunately, her job was on the chopping block; as soon as the new administration took power, she was dismissed.

Personal teams: Good or bad?

Honestly, the fact that some people get rewarded by friends or allies with jobs gets some major side-eye from me. Are they absolutely sure that the new person can do the job well? What about the continuity of work during transition?

It also strikes me as a major flaw in a system that names corruption as one of its biggest problems. If a person has a job that they know for a fact will be lost in a few years and lives in a place where impunity rules, it’s hard to imagine that they wouldn’t be at least tempted to skim off the top while they have a chance.

This is why, honestly, I’m a bit prejudiced when it comes to a career civil servant policy. I want them to be able to get fired for doing an objectively bad job, of course, as plazas also don’t seem to be the best idea. But getting tossed out because the new administration wants to stock the posts with their friends? One thing’s for sure: it truly is all about personal relationships in Mexico.

Unfortunately, this seems to be increasingly true in the U.S. as well, as Trump has long seen the value in rewarding loyalty over skills. I guess, in this sense, we’re on our way to becoming more alike.

Sarah DeVries is a writer and translator based in Xalapa, Veracruz. She can be reached through her website, sarahedevries.substack.com.

A perfect day in Cabo San Lucas: A guide for the quintessential 24-hour visit

By

Chris Sands

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March 22, 2025

0

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)

Cabo San Lucas has long been the most popular tourist destination in Los Cabos. However, several other destinations of note are also found in Los Cabos or the neighboring La Paz municipality, including the other cape city, San José del Cabo, the East Cape, Todos Santos and La Paz. Thus, many planning a vacation to the area will stay somewhere other than CSL.

Still, no one should pass up a chance to visit Cabo San Lucas, even if it’s only for a single day. That’s particularly true for those who have yet to see and experience the charms of the Land’s End city. While it doesn’t have the vibrant art scene of San José del Cabo or the rich cultural life of La Paz, Cabo San Lucas, home to mile marker zero of the peninsular highway, is ground zero for outdoor adventures, particularly of the water-based variety, and offers the best beach scene and nightlife in the region.

With that in mind, here are some itinerary suggestions for a one-day trip to CSL.

Breakfast: Solomon’s Landing

A waffle topped with fruits and cheese at Solomon's Landing Los Cabos — (Solomon’s Landing Los Cabos)

Start with a good breakfast. You’ll need the energy for your morning adventures. Solomon’s Landing commands a prime spot overlooking the Cabo San Lucas Marina. It also offers reliable fare, from seafood specialties to morning fare like eggs Benedict and waffles loaded with delicious toppings.

Morning: El Arco, Lover’s Beach, Cabo San Lucas Marina

Los Cabos, Baja California Sur — (Salvador Navarro/Unsplash)

Cabo San Lucas was built on big-game fishing and still hosts the world’s richest tournament, Bisbee’s Black and Blue. So, full- or half-day fishing trips are certainly one of the best activity options for first-time or return visitors. However, the most important geographic feature is the half-mile Land’s End headland, which features Lover’s Beach and granite monuments such as the naturally formed arch known locally as El Arco.

One of my favorite ways to experience Land’s End is via High Tide Los Cabos’ kayak paddling tour to The Arch, not only because paddling offers plenty of time to appreciate all the unique features of Land’s End, from small beaches to evocatively shaped rocks. But also because it provides an equally gorgeous view of Cabo San Lucas Bay and its shoreline. It’s thus a memorable introduction to the local land and seascape.

After paddling to the arch, there’ll be time for snorkeling near Pelican Rock or exploring Lover’s Beach and the adjacent Divorce Beach, which faces the Pacific Ocean. If this sounds like a lot of swimming and paddling, don’t worry: the rest of the day is much more relaxing.

Once the tour is finished, you’ll have about an hour before lunch, giving you time to walk along the boardwalk that rims the marina. This stretch includes plenty of shops and two actual shopping centers — the Puerto Paraíso and Luxury Avenue malls — so if you’re interested in souvenir shopping, this is a good time to do it. Walking the length of the marina boardwalk takes nearly 30 minutes, so if you get tired, just hail a water taxi to take you over to Médano Beach.

Afternoon: Playa El Médano

The two-mile stretch of golden sand that is Playa El Medano is the center of the social scene in the city. It’s an activity locus for everything from parasailing to jet skis, and like the marina, it’s also home to some of Cabo San Lucas’ most iconic restaurants and bars. Mango Deck and The Office on the Beach are the two most famous. I recommend The Office for lunch. Don’t forget to try dishes featuring local seafood; it’s a specialty hereabouts.

So, too, are pampering spa treatments. Walk down the beach from The Office to The Sand Bar and enjoy a one-hour, four-hand massage. It’s guaranteed to cure any lingering soreness from your kayak paddle. Afterward, you can work on your tan, go beach walking or order a cubeta of ice-cold beer. Actually, hold up on the last one: you’ll want to wait for the cocktail hour.

Cocktail Hour: Rooftop 360 at Corazón Cabo Resort & Spa

One of the best new resorts on the beach, Corazón Cabo, is best known to locals for its rooftop bar, Rooftop 360, which features spectacular wraparound views of the city and bay. It’s the perfect place, in other words, to watch the sunset over Land’s End and enjoy a pre-prandial cocktail before your dinner reservation.

If you decide to stay in CSL for the night, Corazón is also an excellent accommodation option— right on the beach and an easy walk to the marina or downtown shopping and dining. It’s dog-friendly, but don’t show up with a Great Dane: there’s a 25-pound weight limit for furry friends.

Dinner: Los Tres Gallos

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Los Tres Gallos is a local institution and has been seemingly from the moment it opened in 2010. Named for three movie idols from Mexico’s golden age of cinema — Pedro Infante, Jorge Negrete and Javier Solís were collectively known as Los Tres Gallos, or Three Roosters — it and nearby Maria Corona are the go-to spots for traditional Mexican cuisine.

Owner Michel Zermeño, who co-owns the restaurant with his wife Fabiola Sánchez, used to bring his mother into the kitchen periodically to ensure the dishes were made with the requisite love. Everything here, including the furnishings, is handmade, and the food and atmosphere are superb. When I used to make “best of” lists for the USA Today travel site 10 Best, I invariably rated Los Tres Gallos as the best restaurant in Los Cabos.

I’m not the only one who thinks so, either. Michelin Guide recommends it, too.

Nightlife: Cabo Wabo Cantina

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You may be tired by this point, but catch a second wind. The one thing Cabo San Lucas has that no other regional destination does is a vibrant nightlife scene. The two landmark spots are El Squid Roe and Cabo Wabo Cantina, which opened within a year of each other in 1989 and 1990, respectively. Both are worth a visit, but if you’re a first-timer, go to Cabo Wabo. Founded by Sammy Hagar and his then Van Halen bandmates, it’s got plenty to recommend, from live music to one of the best local margaritas.

Chris Sands is the Cabo San Lucas local expert for the USA Today travel website 10 Best, writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook and a contributor to numerous websites and publications, including Tasting Table, Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, Forbes Travel Guide, Porthole Cruise, Cabo Living and Mexico News Daily. His specialty is travel-related content and lifestyle features focused on food, wine and golf.

Grading Sheinbaum’s response thus far to Trump’s tariff threats: A perspective from our CEO

By

Travis Bembenek

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March 22, 2025

35

A close-up portrait of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum — Mexican President Sheinbaum faces a difficult task as she seeks to defend Mexican interests against an aggressive northern neighbor. Has she risen to the challenge? (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)

Dealing with a bully is never easy. On the issue of tariffs, there is little doubt that the Trump administration has been acting like a bully to many countries around the world. That being said, I do think that they have brought up some valid concerns that need addressing on both tariff and non-tariff issues. Why is Mexico not cracking down harder on the cartels? Why is Mexico allowing so many migrants from Central and South America to pass through the country? Why is Mexico allowing large amounts of Chinese products into the country that clearly are destined for the United States? All good and fair questions being asked.

And it’s not just Mexico. Why does Canada have large tariffs on certain U.S. farm products? Why are India and European countries able to place much higher tariffs on certain products to protect their local industries while the United States mostly does not? Why does China protect many industries from foreign companies?

Cabinet meeting of Donald Trump administration in the White House. In the picture is Donald Trump, who has threatened tariffs against Mexico and the Sheinbaum administration — Some of the questions Donald Trump has raised on topics like drug trafficking, transshipment and even tariffs are valid, Travis Bembenek writes. (Donald Trump/X)

Trade imbalances do exist globally and a level playing field in many products and industries often does not exist. That is a valid and factual statement. However, making the argument that the United States “is getting ripped off” as a result is not one.

Let’s take Mexico as an example. The U.S. does buy much more from Mexico than Mexico does from the United States — a true statistic that Trump frequently highlights. But of course it does! The U.S. has nearly three times the population, an economy that is 15 times larger and much wealthier citizens. In addition, the United States has an exceptionally high percentage of the economy that is “consumer based” (in other words, Americans like to buy lots of stuff!).

Mexico has been hit with a variety of justifications for tariffs from the United States. Some are justified and logical — like a lack of action on cartels, drug production, Chinese transshipment and migrants. Others are illogical and make little sense — like pointing to the trade imbalance. I recently wrote about many of the key demands of the Trump administration of Mexico.

The Sheinbaum administration has been responding to many of these demands. To name a few:

1. Sheinbaum has embraced potential Mexican deportees, going so far as to create a program for them (Mexico Te Abraza, meaning Mexico Hugs You). The program has set up 10 welcome centers near the border and offers a (albeit small) initial stipend of 2,000 pesos for each deportee.

2. Sheinbaum has helped stem the flow of new migrants crossing the border. She has sent 10,000 Mexican troops to the border area in a show of commitment.

3. Sheinbaum has stepped up activity against the cartels. There have recently been more arrests of cartel members, more confiscations of drugs and more crackdowns on fentanyl labs. Overall activity is still low, but the trend is clearly positive.

4. Sheinbaum has cooperated with U.S. authorities on previously arrested cartel members by recently sending 29 of the highest ranking and most wanted ones to the U.S. for extradition.

5. Sheinbaum has taken some action on China. Going after Chinese residents illegally in the country, counterfeit Chinese goods, agreement to a U.S. review of new Chinese investment into Mexico in certain key industries, and offering to match U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods.

I recently wrote about what I think Sheinbaum should say directly to the American people to provide clarity on what Mexico has been doing on many of the demands.

Regarding tariffs specifically, what stands out most is what the Sheinbaum administration hasn’t done, rather than what it has done. Many weeks into Trump tariff threats, Sheinbaum still has yet to respond with any reciprocal tariffs. The administration has instead focused on an “educational campaign” explaining how painful tariffs would be to both countries and why they should be avoided. The administration also sent high ranking members to Washington, D.C., and other parts of the country several times over the past few weeks to help communicate Mexico’s message.

A member of the crowd carries an effigy of Trump in the Mexico City Zócalo while President Sheinbaum gives a speech on Trump's proposed tariffs, while other members of the crowd wave Mexican flags. — Mexicans have rallied around President Sheinbaum as she faces off against her U.S. counterpart. (Edgar Negrete Lira/Cuartoscuro)

There have as of yet been no tariffs announced by Mexico, no threats made, no escalations and no drama. Mexico has been calm, steady, and patient — a strategy that so far seems to be working. Trump publicly has had nothing but positive things to say about Sheinbaum (unlike his comments of many other world leaders) and the administration continues to defer most tariffs on Mexico and seems to be changing the tariff narrative to focus on other countries.

I personally think, given the difficulty in facing a much larger and unpredictable bully, that Sheinbaum has thus far handled Trump and the tariff issue exceptionally well. She has demonstrated progress in areas important to the United States while at the same time showing a firm resolve on issues important to the Mexican people (like national sovereignty and the issue of guns from the U.S. coming into Mexico). Mexicans have rallied around their president, with recent polls showing an approval rating as high as 85%. Financial markets seem impressed as well, with the Mexican peso just last week hitting stronger levels than before Trump was elected. No one predicted that.

The world is a very uncertain place right now. Sheinbaum has quickly and quietly demonstrated herself to be a voice of calm and reason. Let’s hope the Trump administration recognizes and rewards this by changing the dialogue with Mexico to be more constructive and positive. The focus instead should be on how to make the U.S.-Mexico partnership stronger and more integrated than ever. Let the bullying be focused elsewhere.

Travis Bembenek is the CEO of Mexico News Daily and has been living, working or playing in Mexico for nearly 30 years.

‘I’m not going to debate Bukele’: Friday’s mañanera recapped

By

MND Staff

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March 21, 2025

5

President Claudia Sheinbaum stands at a podium during her morning press conference — President Sheinbaum refused to be drawn into a debate with Salvadorean President Bukele at her Friday morning press conference. (Presidencia)

President Claudia Sheinbaum was openly critical of a former president during her Friday morning press conference, but refused to be drawn into a debate with a current one.

Here is a recap of the president’s March 21 mañanera, which had a strong focus on Mexico’s present and past security situation.

Sheinbaum: ‘I’m not going to enter into a debate with Bukele’

During Sheinbaum’s Q&A session with reporters, one journalist raised a social media post made by El Salvador President Nayib Bukele on Thursday.

On the X social media site, Bukele shared a post from another X user who asked who would be “such an idiot” to compare “security measures” in Mexico to those of El Salvador given that Mexico is “almost 100 times” bigger than the Central American country in terms of land area and has a population of 130 million compared to 6 million in El Salvador.

Above the post he shared, the El Salvador president wrote:

“I’ve seen a lot of posts like this and the truth is I don’t understand the obsession with El Salvador. But, in any case, 28 of the 32 states of Mexico have a population equal to or less than that of El Salvador. Why then can’t they resolve the security issue in a single state with fewer residents than El Salvador, having the resources of a country with 130 million residents? They [should] resolve the security issue in one state first, then in the next one and so on until they contain [insecurity in] those 28 states.”

He visto muchas publicaciones como esta y, la verdad, no entiendo la obsesión con El Salvador. Pero, en todo caso, 28 de los 32 estados de México tienen una población igual o menor a la de El Salvador.

¿Por qué, entonces, no pueden resolver el tema de la seguridad en un solo… https://t.co/WHjFC1kdOX

— Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) March 20, 2025

The security situation in El Salvador has improved remarkably during the presidency of Bukele, who began his first term in 2019. However, the 43-year-old leader has faced severe criticism for the methods he has used to reduce crime and violence.”Grave human rights violations under El Salvador’s state of emergency point to a systematic, widespread pattern of state abuse that has seen thousands of arbitrary detentions, the adoption of a policy of torture in detention centres and hundreds of deaths under state custody,” Amnesty International said in December.

“What the [El Salvador] government calls ‘peace’ is actually an illusion intended to hide a repressive system, a structure of control and oppression that abuses its power and disregards the rights of those who were already invisible — people living in poverty, under state stigma, and marginalization — all in the name of a supposed security defined in a very narrow way,” said Ana Piquer, Americas director at Amnesty International.

Asked what she made of Bukele’s remarks on X, Sheinbaum declined to enter the fray.

“I’m not going to enter into a debate with Bukele,” she said.

“We could have a whole debate here about the way in which they’re confronting [insecurity], Sheinbaum said.

“He was elected by his people, but at the same time we ask for respect for Mexico,” she said.

Hundreds of Salvadorean prisoners sit packed together with shaved heads. — Under Bukele’s state of emergency, tens of thousands of Salvadoreans have been swept up in a system of mass incarceration, where many prisoners are held without trial. (El Salvador Presidential Press Office)

“Respect, always respect, is the characteristic of diplomacy. So respect what we do in our country,” Sheinbaum said.

Sheinbaum and other federal officials have frequently highlighted the progress made in improving security in Mexico since the new government took office on Oct. 1. Homicides have declined in recent months and thousands of people have been arrested for “high-impact” crimes, but violence remains a major problem in various parts of Mexico.

While the Sheinbaum administration appears to be taking a more hardline approach to combating organized crime than its predecessor, and is perhaps moving away from the controversial “hugs, not bullets” security strategy of former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), the president has stressed that her government will always respect human rights in its fight against crime.

Former president Felipe “Calderón’s war against narcos won’t return,” Sheinbaum said in October when her government presented its new security strategy.

“… We’re not looking [to carry out] extrajudicial executions,” she said.

A tale of two ex-presidents

A reporter asked Sheinbaum whether Calderón — president between 2006 and 2012 — could be investigated for allegedly leading a “narco-government” given that his security minister Genaro García Luna was convicted in the United States of colluding with the Sinaloa Cartel while serving as Mexico’s top cop.

“It’s not up to us, it’s up to the Attorney General’s Office if evidence [against him] is found,” the president said.

Genaro Garcia Luna and Felipe Calderon — Former President Felipe Calderón speaks with his then-Security Minister Genaro García Luna — who is now imprisoned in the U.S. for aiding the Sinaloa Cartel. (Cuartoscuro)

She also said she had no knowledge of any case against the ex-president in the United States.

Sheinbaum highlighted that homicides and enforced disappearances surged during the administration of Calderón, who launched a militarized war on drug cartels shortly after he took office in late 2006.

“And then it turns out that the person who was in charge of that war was linked to cartels and is detained in the United States,” she said in reference to García Luna, who was sentenced last October to more than 38 years in prison.

“All this is public [information] today [but] we can’t stop mentioning it because there are young people who are 15 today who weren’t alive at that time, or 18 and they lived through it when they were little. They have to know that this is what happened in Mexico,” Sheinbaum said.

While Calderón has never been convicted of any crime and has denied knowledge of García Luna’s illicit activities, Sheinbaum asserted that “the people of Mexico have already judged Calderón and his six-year term of government.”

The National Action Party, or PAN — which ruled Mexico between 2000 and 2012 — has not returned to power since the end of Calderón’s presidency.

Claudia Sheinbaum with Andrés Manuel López Obrador — Former President López Obrador, Sheinbaum’s political mentor, was undeniably popular during his six-year term as Mexico’s leader. (Cuartoscuro)

While Calderón left a “bad legacy” that “he’ll never be able to rid himself of,” AMLO was — and is — much loved by the people of Mexico, Sheinbaum said.

“The people of Mexico have a very special place in their heart [for López Obrador] and … maybe he is the most loved president in the history of Mexico,” she said.

Calderón was a “spurious president” who reached power due to “an electoral fraud” and “unleashed a war on his own country with consequences we already know about,” Sheinbaum said.

On the other hand, AMLO was “a president loved by his people,” she said.

“That is the legacy that will go down in history, as much as the adversaries want to speak ill of president López Obrador,” Sheinbaum said.

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

Tec de Monterrey partners with University of Texas to launch Latino health research center

By

MND Staff

-

March 21, 2025

1

A group of older men and women stand in front of a screen reading OriGen Health Research Center — The new research center is a collaboration between the Nuevo León's prestigious Tec de Monterrey and the University of Texas-Austin. (Tec de Monterrey)

Tec de Monterrey and the University of Texas at Austin (UT) announced plans this week to establish a research center to advance the investigation of health issues affecting the Latino community in the Americas.

The partnership will result in the creation of the OriGen Health Research Center, which will “explore the root causes of diseases through cutting-edge technologies, interdisciplinary expertise and a unique biobank,” according to a press release.

oriGen: en busca del genoma mexicano

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A press release introducing the partnership acknowledged that “chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers cause nearly 75% of deaths worldwide” and research has shown that Latino populations “experience these chronic diseases at a disproportionate rate.”

However, more research is needed to understand why and to develop more comprehensive treatment strategies for all patients, officials from both institutions say.

“With a strong focus on research, education and active engagement with the Latino community, OriGen Health Research Center will ensure that the proposed solutions are practical and accessible,” said Guillermo Torre-Amione, rector of TecSalud at the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (commonly known as Tec de Monterrey).

The center will take care to consider the cultural and social reality of individuals so as “to offer solutions that impact people’s lives,” he added.

The UT partnership comes as the Tec de Monterrey aims to strengthen its global reputation for academic excellence and applied research.

Andreas Matouschek, interim dean of the UT College of Natural Sciences, lauded the partnership as an exciting time to bring both universities together “to save and improve lives and foster the exchange of knowledge.”

“By joining efforts and perspectives, the two institutions will promote scientific innovation and help solve major health and economic problems affecting people across the Americas,” he said.

Faculty members in fields such as genetics, obesity, human development, statistics, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning will work “to uncover the biological and social drivers of chronic disease.”

Guillermo Torre-Amione, rector of the Tec de Monterrey health research department, stands at a podium — The center aims to develop “practical and accessible” health solutions for Latino communities, TecSalud rector Guillermo Torre-Amione said.

The OriGen Health Research Center is intended to become a cutting-edge research center that “combines personalized medicine and community-driven approaches to transform disease prevention, understanding and treatment.”

By using personalized, data-driven approaches, OriGen aims to develop targeted prevention and treatment strategies and improve the lives of all patients.

“The main goal is to develop healthcare solutions that are more suitable for Latino communities,” says UT’s Gabriela Livas, the co-director of the research center. “We hope to understand the risk factors, physical changes, genetic challenges, stress, biology, family dynamics, diet, and all the different aspects that can contribute to health and well-being.”

To explore the root causes of diseases, researchers will leverage the OriGen Project biobank, a massive genomic and clinical/epidemiological databank based at Tec de Monterrey.

Experts from UT’s College of Natural Sciences, Dell Medical School and College of Pharmacy will work with partners from Tec de Monterrey’s Institute for Obesity Research, Center for Early Childhood and its medical school.

With reports from University of Texas at Austin, Tec Science, Tec de Monterrey and Mexico Business News

Durango secures investment of nearly US $4 billion for new data center and fertilizer plant

By

MND Staff

-

March 21, 2025

0

A “digital city” data center facility and a fertilizer plant are part of a newly-announced US $3.7 billion investment in the northern state of Durango by Mexican technology company Grupo Fermaca.

During President Claudia Sheinbaum’s Thursday morning press conference, co-president of Grupo Fermaca Fernando Calvillo said that these investments are part of Sheinbaum’s Plan Mexico, which seeks to turn Mexico into the world’s 10th largest economy.

Man in an orange shirt looks out over a spectacular waterfall cascading down a cliff in the wooded state of Durango, Mexico — Durango is better known for mountains, timber and mining than for its technology industry. (TripAdvisor)

Both projects will take about three to four years to be completed, according to the announcement.

Fermaca Digital City

With a US $2.7 billion investment, Fermaca Digital City will include a hyperscale data center with the capacity to generate its own electricity. The facility will have an installed capacity of 250 megawatts, making it the largest such facility in Latin America.

Located in the city of Durango, the data center will serve large national and international companies in the digital industry to store their e-commerce data and files. Companies that will benefit from the facility include Amazon, Netflix and Home Depot, among others.

To construct the data center, four projects will simultaneously create more than 3,500 jobs:

A gas pipeline from Texas to Durango to increase gas availability for the industry.
Over 190 strands of long-haul dark fiber in an underground deployment that will run from the northern border to Querétaro, with branches to Durango and Guadalajara. The fiber optic cable will interconnect digital activity hubs in Mexico with the United States.
A combined-cycle plant with a capacity of 350 megawatts to generate energy for the data center.
Construction of a 160-km long gas pipeline from Texas to supply natural gas to the combined-cycle plant.

Calvillo said that the data center facility is set to begin construction in the coming weeks.

Fermaca’s fertilizer plant

Fermaca’s second investment is the Fermachem nitrogen fertilizer plant in the municipality of Lerdo.

The plant is expected to produce 600,000 tons of urea fertilizer per year, supporting the national fertilizer production and Mexico’s food self-sufficiency. This output will complement the 1.5 million tons that Pemex already manufactures.

Calvillo noted that currently, Mexico imports between 80% and 90% of fertilizers, which come at high prices for farmers. With the gas pipeline project, the company seeks to eliminate intermediaries and provide competitive prices for the farmers.

“With cutting-edge technology and a strong commitment to environmental protection, this plant will produce quality fertilizers in Mexico to replace imports,” Calvillo noted.

About Grupo Fermaca

Fermaca is a Mexican company founded over 60 years ago that specializes in the development and execution of high-impact infrastructure projects. It has developed several gas pipes in Mexico, such as the Villa de Reyes – Aguascalientes – Guadalajara gas pipeline, known as VAG.

Overall, Grupo Fermaca comprises eight companies in the infrastructure and energy sectors in Mexico.

Mexico News Daily