State officials and company executives pose for the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Walmart distribution center, called CEDIS Bajío. (Gobierno de Guanajuato)
With an estimated US $500 million investment, Walmart has laid the first stone of a new artificial intelligence-powered warehouse in Silao (Guanajuato), in central Mexico.
“This investment represents jobs, progress, and opportunities for our Guanajuato families,” state Governor Libia Dennise García wrote on her official X account. “Thank you very much, Walmart Mexico, for trusting Guanajuato. I’m sure we will continue to work together.
The new distribution center will serve over 600 stores and clubs in Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Michoacán, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas. It will create 1,044 permanent jobs, according to reporting by the newspaper El Economista.
A warehouse with the highest levels of automation in all of Latin America
Ignacio Caride, CEO and Director of Walmart Mexico and Central America, said that the upcoming distribution center reiterates the company’s commitment to the state, automation and simplification.
“Customers and partners will save money,” Caride said at the event.
The new warehouse, featuring an AI-powered robotic technological platform, will cover 9.5 hectares of built area within a 45-hectare property.
Walmart Mexico boasts over 2,700 stores nationwide and employs more than 230,000 people. (Doctor Dragon 2000/Wikimedia Commons)
“This distribution center will feature one with the highest levels of automation in all of Latin America,” said Gastón Weinstein, a senior executive at Walmart Mexico. He also explained that Walmart Mexico will incorporate the same technologies used in the United States, due to its partnership with Symbotic, a robotic warehouse automation company based in Massachusetts.
Walmart Mexico began operations in Guanajuato almost three decades ago. It owns 143 stores, a portfolio which includes Walmart stores as well as Bodega Aurrerá and Sam’s Club.. Its expansion plans include new stores in the Guanajuato municipalities of Salamanca, Apaseo el Grande and Cortazar.
Walmart Mexico boasts over 2,700 stores nationwide and employs over 230,000 people, across the country.
National Guard agents found five victims of cartel violence near Ojuelos, Jalisco, on Sunday. (Noticias de Ojuelos/X)
The National Guard found five decapitated bodies along a rural stretch of federal Highway 80 in the western state of Jalisco on Sunday morning after motorists alerted officials about “several bags that looked like human silhouettes,” the state prosecutor’s office reported.
The bodies of the five men were discovered on the side of the San Luis Potosí-San Juan de los Lagos highway. Nearby, local officers found another plastic bag containing the victims’ heads.
Durante un recorrido de la Guardia Nacional se encontraron bultos con los cuerpos de 5 víctimas en la carretera de Ojuelos, Jalisco. Información de Hirma Espinoza de los Monteros.#FórmulaNoticias con Juan Pablo Pérez-Díaz (@perezdiazmx). pic.twitter.com/bH74fbKIyu
As the forensics team examined the scene, the unidentified victims were transported to the coroner’s office for autopsies. No additional information had been made available as of Monday afternoon.
The decapitated bodies were found in the northeasternmost municipality of Ojuelos de Jalisco, which borders the state of Zacatecas to the north, and the municipality of Lagos de Moreno to the south.
The Jalisco highlands have been a hotbed of criminal activity in recent years. The news agency Infobae reported that the region is the base of operations for the Grupo Élite Delictivo de Reacción Inmediata (Rapid Reaction Elite Criminal Group, or GEDDRI), an armed faction of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
GEDDRI’s objective, according to Infobae, is to stave off advances from the rival Sinaloa Cartel.
The newspaper La Jornada reported that there was a shootout between the National Guard and armed civilians on Saturday afternoon in Lagos de Moreno, located about 72 km south of Ojuelos. The attack occurred along Highway 212, during which the gunmen set six vehicles on fire.
Jalisco Governor Enrique Alfaro said two arrests were made and firemen were able to put out the flames and clear away the wreckage a few hours later. No further details were forthcoming.
In June, state officials increased the presence of local and federal security agents in northeastern Jalisco after a clash with armed civilians in Lagos de Moreno left one state prosecutor dead.
This is the second migrant caravan to form in Chiapas, Mexico, since Sheinbaum assumed the presidency on Oct. 1. (Damián Sánchez/Cuartoscuro)
A migrant caravan made up of some 1,000 people left Tapachula, Chiapas, on foot on Sunday, eight days after another caravan departed the same city.
The migrants, nationals of various countries including Venezuela, Haiti, Ecuador, El Salvador and Honduras, aim first to reach Mexico City before continuing the journey to the Mexico-United States border.
The migrants left Tapachula because they had become fed up with waiting to schedule an appointment with United States immigration authorities, which they can do using the CBP One app once in Mexico. (Damián Sánchez/Cuartoscuro)
On Sunday, they walked around 26 kilometers from Tapachula to reach the town of Huehuetán, where they spent the night.
The migrants told media outlets that they decided to leave Tapachula — located near the border with Guatemala — due to a lack of jobs and insecurity in southern Mexico, among other factors.
They also said they had become fed up with waiting for appointments with United States immigration authorities, which migrants have been attempting to schedule from southern Mexico using the U.S. government app CBP One.
“We’re leaving because there is no work here. We don’t have money to pay rent, the appointments are taking too long, we need to advance,” Mario Hernández, an Ecuadorian migrant, told the newspaper La Jornada.
Álvaro Batista, a Colombian man traveling with his family, defended the right of migrants to travel through Mexico to seek asylum in the United States.
“What we’re doing is not at all illegal,” he told the news agency EFE.
Migrants called on the National Guard, and health workers, to support the caravan as it moves through Mexico. (Damián Sanchez/Cuartoscuro)
Batista called on the National Guard to provide “support” to the migrant caravan as they headed north, even though that security force is better known for detaining migrants.
He indicated that he and his family joined the migrant caravan for safety reasons, saying, “It’s better to travel in a group than alone, especially for women and children.”
Another Colombian man told the newspaper Milenio that he and the other migrants are “vulnerable people” who “simply want God to lead” them on their journey through Mexico.
However, the migrant, identified only as Guillermo, also called on President Claudia Sheinbaum to lend them a “hand … in order to be able to continue.”
Other migrants called for health workers to accompany the caravan, which includes pregnant women as well as people from countries beyond the Western Hemisphere, such as Nepal and Afghanistan. Police officers in vehicles accompanied the migrants on Sunday.
Jeison, a Venezuelan man, said that he and other migrants left their countries due to a lack of work opportunities and high prices. Crime, political problems and climate change are among the other migration push factors for those seeking to reach the United States via Mexico.
The first caravan is currently in northwestern Chiapas, not far from the state’s border with Oaxaca.
La Jornada reported that another migrant caravan is currently being organized with plans to leave Tapachula this coming Sunday.
It remains to be seen whether the first two migrant caravans of the Sheinbaum presidency achieve their ultimate goal of reaching the United States’ southern border. One thing is certain: their journey won’t be easy.
Migrants face a range of risks on the road
Migrants typically walk, hitch rides on trucks and jump aboard freight trains to get to the Mexico-U.S. border.
The journey is a dangerous one. Migrants have been involved in countless truck and train accidents in Mexico, and are frequently preyed upon by criminal groups, whose members have been known to forcibly recruit men and rape women.
Migrants have been involved in countless truck and train accidents in Mexico, and are frequently preyed upon by criminal groups. (Damián Sánchez/Cuartoscuro)
Traveling in a large caravan might make the trip safer, but such groups typically break up as they move through the country.
Migrants also run the risk of being detained in Mexico, or the United States, and deported back to their country of origin.
At least one member of the caravan that left Tapachula on Sunday already knows that risk well. Honduran Carlos González told La Jornada that he was deported two months ago when he attempted to seek asylum in the United States.
As a result of a new United States border policy that took effect in June, it is easier for U.S. border officers to send migrants back to Mexico or their countries of origin, even if a migrant believes they have a worthy asylum claim.
The number of migrants attempting to illegally enter the U.S. via Mexico declined significantly after the implementation of the policy, which prevents migrants from making asylum claims at the U.S.-Mexico border at times when crossings between legal ports of entry surge.
González, a 35-year-old former soldier, said it wasn’t possible for him to stay in Honduras because he has received threats from gangs. His wife and daughter are already in the U.S.
“I want to see my daughter, … she’s eight. She [and my wife] escaped from our country two years ago because they were threatened by the 18th street gang,” he said.
Sheinbaum committed to AMLO’s migration strategy
Earlier this month, shortly after the Mexican army shot and killed six migrants in Chiapas, President Sheinbaum said that her government was committed to respecting the human rights of migrants and addressing the root causes of migration.
Former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador frequently made the same remarks during his six-year term in government.
Speaking on Oct. 4, Sheinbaum acknowledged that the government has a strategy to stop migrants from reaching the northern border and crossing into the United States. She recognized that the strategy includes “repatriation flights” or deportations.
While the restrictive border policy implemented by the Biden administration in June has been cited as a major factor in the reduction of migrant encounters at the Mexico-U.S. border, USA Today reported on Sunday that Mexico was “the U.S. government’s secret weapon in cutting illegal crossings.”
“Mexico is holding the line, analysts say, thanks to a carefully negotiated — but unwritten — agreement between neighbors, executed late last year by the Biden-Harris administration,” the newspaper reported.
“It’s held, they say, because it’s in Mexico’s economic interest to keep the border chaos-free and exports flowing north. And because the political stakes are high for Mexico in the upcoming U.S. presidential election.”
The federal government expects the project to benefit more than 30,000 people and generate nearly 500,000 direct and indirect jobs. (Presidencia)
President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that construction on the Mexico City-Querétaro train line will begin in 2025, following her pledge to build more than 3,000 kilometers of passenger railways during her six-year term.
Speaking from an event in Querétaro to inaugurate preliminary studies for the railway, Sheinbaum said that construction will begin in April 2025 and will be completed in three years. It will require an investment of 75 billion pesos (US $3.8 billion).
Construction on the railroad is expected to take three years. (Presidencia)
At the Oct. 13 event, Querétaro Governor Mauricio Kuri González celebrated the news, anticipating that this mobility alternative would improve the quality of life of citizens and visitors to the state.
As with the Mexico City–Pachuca passenger train, and other federal infrastructure projects, the Defense Ministry (Sedena) will be responsible for the train’s construction.
Located about 206 kilometers north of Mexico City, Querétaro is a city of 1.6 million and the capital of the state bearing the same name. The passenger train will connect both cities within an estimated one hour and forty minutes — a 40% reduction in travel time compared to what it currently takes by car. The train will have a capacity of 450 passengers and an estimated speed of 160 km per hour.
The train’s main stations will be Buenavista, Mexico City, San Juan del Río, Querétaro, and Querétaro city, with intermediate stops in towns throughout México state and Hidalgo. In Querétaro, the train will connect with the Qrobús, a public bus line servicing the metropolitan Querétaro area. Meanwhile, in Mexico City, the train will connect with Line B of the Metro, Line 1, 3 and 4 of the Metrobús, and with ecobici bicycle ports.
During her visit, Sheinbaum met with Querétaro officials to discuss priority infrastructure projects for the state. (Claudia Sheinbaum/X)
According to Sheinbaum, the train will feature two parallel passenger lines built adjacent to existing freight lines.
As part of Sheinbaum’s goal to extend passenger train routes to the north of the country, the forthcoming Querétaro station will eventually offer passengers access to three new destinations by train: Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas; Guadalajara, Jalisco; and Nogales, Sonora.
“This train will improve the country’s connectivity, consolidating President López Obrador’s vision of recovering passenger trains,” said Jesús Antonio Esteva Medina, head of the Infrastructure, Communications and Transport Ministry (SCIT).
Meet the strange little fruit with a... powerful taste. (Veliya)
For me, there is a fascinating world of native plants in each country I live in. I don’t know if you have tried Nance, but it’s a fun little fruit about the size of a blueberry. Full of antioxidants and rich in vitamin C, this bright yellow, abundant little native fruit is the weirdest I’ve ever eaten. Now that’s saying something because I’m ex-Navy and have eaten some weird things during my travels.
Nance tastes unusual, but in a good way. First, it’s sweet, like a cross between lychee, pear and a banana. Then it’s slightly sour, but in a good way. Then, strangely, there’s with an aftertaste of cheese. No, I’m not pulling your leg. Parmesan or cheddar comes to mind every time.
A handful of tiny nance fruits. (Bel Woodhouse)
Delightful exotic fruits like these make living in Mexico such a joy, sspecially for a crazy plant lady like me. I adore plants and learning all about their beneficial properties. Speaking of which, this little fruit packs a punch in the health department.
How do I eat nance?
People use nance in both sweet and savory cooking because of the sweet/tangy taste profile. I first tried them in Guatemala years ago, but I was recently delighted to find them walking down the street one day here in Cozumel.
In Mexico, they are eaten raw or cooked and even made into a liquor called licor de nanche. I can’t wait to try it!
Nance, or nanche as it’s called in Veracruz, is a versatile little fruit. This makes it a common dessert element. You’ll find it in the form of popsicles (percheronas) and ice sorbets (raspado). It also makes an appearance in endless candies and candied fruits, cookies and cakes, jellies and jams, juices, liqueurs, nectars, and even fruit drinks.
Where can I find nance?
During the season, nance can be found in markets across Mexico. (Bel Woodhouse)
When in season, you’ll find them in mercados or just dropping in the street through southern Mexico. I was delighted to find a tree during my morning walk a few months ago. Stopping to pick some up, I realized I wasn’t the only one making the most of nature’s bounty. Within minutes another lady walking behind me stopped to grab some as well.
The nance tree, Byrsonima crassifolia, is quite a big tree and grows natively from central Mexico down to Panama, South America and across the Caribbean. It’s hardy and drought tolerant so will grow just about anywhere. From sea level to the mountains, many people plant nance in their gardens. Both for shade and the yummy fruits. Which, when in season, are abundant.
But my favorite thing is the tall spikes of flowers up to 20cm long in beautiful sunset colors. Starting out as a cheery sunflower yellow, they deepen to orange, then red as it ages. The flowers are stunning!
Health benefits of Nance
Dazzling nance blooms in the wild. (Bel Woodhouse)
This small fruit packs a punch. Just one cup provides 100% of the recommended daily dose of vitamin C. This is just one reason why I recommend trying it. Even if the sweet-savory-cheese taste described sounds a little weird to you, you may still be pleasantly surprised. I’ve had friends say “Nope, too weird, I don’t like it.” Others smile broadly having found a new fantastic fruit to eat. So promise me you’ll at least try it once, because it could be your new favorite snack.
As a great source of dietary fiber Nance helps to support and regulate the digestive tract. It also contains nutrients, vitamins and minerals known to reduce stroke and cardiovascular disease. A powerhouse of Vitamins E, A, and K, Manganese, and folate for those healthy bones. And the best thing is … it’s cheap, abundant, and available by the bag in mercados.
Or, if a neighbor has a tree, I’m sure you can offer them some pesos to fill a bag.
When can I try Nance?
Nance is a spring fruit. Abundant in spring and early summer, April through to June. I sincerely hope you’ll try it. Even if it’s just sampling one little bite at a mercado.
So, have I convinced you to try Nance? I’d love to hear if I have! Let me know in the comments below.
Mexico Correspondent for International Living, Bel is an experienced writer, author, photographer and videographer with 500+ articles published both in print and across digital platforms. Living in the Mexican Caribbean for over seven years now, she’s in love with Mexico and has no plans to go anywhere else anytime soon.
Day of the Dead, Halloween and Thanksgiving are all coming up, and all call for a pumpkin treat - so look no further. (Canva)
We associate pumpkin with Fall and Halloween — and with pie, especially Thanksgiving since it’s the holiday that wouldn’t be the same without this traditional dessert. But I guess we forget the role that Mexico played in introducing this versatile foodstuff to the world! It was Mexico who introduced pumpkin to the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century, who then introduced it to the Europeans and then, eventually, it found its way to the rest of the Western world.
It all started about 9,000 years ago. Archeological findings date pumpkin seeds to caves found in Oaxaca (located in southern Mexico), about 8,000-10,000 BC. Aztecs and Mayans both used pumpkins as a food source and along with their seeds, valued them nutritionally — although they wouldn’t be cultivated until around 3,500 BC. The Aztecs served pumpkin delicacies to their gods during the festival of Huey Tecuilhuitl.
Pumpkin consumption in Mexico goes back to long before the arrival of the Spanish. (Calmecac Anahuac)
Ancient peoples loved calabaza and grew them beside other stable crops like beans and corn. This triumvirate became a method for cultivation and production which became known as “the three sisters, ” as each crop protected and nurtured the other.
Pumpkin was roasted, stewed and was also featured in soups and tamales — and even sweets! Calabaza en tacha, a popular candied pumpkin treat is traditionally served at Day of the Dead celebrations.
Pumpkins are grown all over Mexico, especially in the Yucatan and in Nayarit, but also grown in Sonora, Sinaloa, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, Puebla, and Morelos. There are large and small seed varieties of pumpkin, but the best known in Mexico is the Cucurbita pepo, which has been harvested for thousands of years.
Curcubita pepo is your classic halloween pumpkin, and as popular in Mexico as the United States. (Rogelio Morales/Cuartoscuro)
Mexicans like to use their pumpkins fresh, not canned, and will take the time to turn the awesome, orange fruit into the varied delicacies of their choice. For that reason, I include simple instructions on how to make your own pumpkin puree, which will make this dessert even more “homemade,” tasteful and unforgettable!
To celebrate this wonderful Mexican fruit that made its way to the Western world and became an indelible part of its traditions, let’s make a pumpkin swirl cheesecake pie with a pecan crust, perfect for a month with two major pumpkin-heavy celebrations, don’t you think?
Pumpkin-swirl cheesecake pie with pecan crust:
Filling recipe adapted from secretlyhealthyhome.com (Canva)
* ½ Cup (170 g) Pure Maple Syrup* (jarabe de arce puro)
* Available in Mexican supermarkets, or order online.
* 2 Eggs (huevos)
* 2 tsp. (8.4 g) Vanilla Extract (extracto de vainilla)
*Mexican brands noted for their intense flavor: Villa Vainilla; Vainilla Totonac’s; Molina Vainilla
* 1 TBS. (10 g) Cornstarch (maicena)
* 1 Cup (245 g) Canned Pumpkin puree (calabaza)
* Libby’s canned pumpkin can be found in Mexican supermarkets or ordered online.
To make pumpkin puree (easy!):
5-8 lbs. pumpkin, about 2 small (makes 7 cups; freeze remainder):
* Preheat oven to 375F (191C)
* Wash pumpkin.
* Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
* Cut stems off and cut fruit in half, lengthwise.
* Scrape the seeds from inside.
* Put pumpkin halves, cut side down, on baking sheet. Bake for 35-45 minutes or until the tender when pierced with a fork.
* Scoop the cooked pumpkin out of the shells and place in a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth. Add a tablespoon or two of water, if needed.
* 2 tsp. (28 g) Pumpkin-Pie Spice*
*The best is homemade: Combine: 4 tsp. (10.4 g) ground cinnamon (canela molida); 2 tsp. (5.6 g) ground ginger (jengibre molido); 1 tsp. (2.10 g) ground cloves (clavo molido); 1/2 tsp. (1.10 g) ground nutmeg (nuez moscada molida). Store in an air-tight jar in a cool place.
Directions:
* Beat softened cream cheese and yogurt until smooth.
* Add maple syrup, eggs, vanilla, and cornstarch and mix until smooth.
* Pour half the batter into a separate bowl and add the pumpkin purée and pumpkin pie spice. Mix.
* Pour cheesecake batter into crust, switching between plain cheesecake batter and pumpkin batter. Use a spatula or spoon to intermix the batters together to create a swirl effect. Continue until all batter is gone, leaving some of the cream cheese-yogurt mixture to create a swirl on top.
*Smooth the top, and lightly drop pie pan on the counter a couple times to remove air bubbles.
* Fill a large baking dish halfway with water and place on the lower oven rack.
* Place cheesecake on middle rack of oven and bake 55-60 minutes, or until the middle is just set, and jiggles slightly, and the sides are slightly puffed.
* Turn off oven and open door. Leave cheesecake in the oven until slightly cooled (about an hour).
* Chill cheesecake in the refrigerator 4-6 hours or best, overnight, to allow it to set completely.
* Stores in refrigerator for about 10 days, covered in plastic wrap.
Deborah McCoy is the one-time author of mainstream, bridal-reference books who has turned her attention to food, particularly sweets, desserts and fruits. She is the founder of CakeChatter™ on FaceBook and X (Twitter), and the author of four baking books for “Dough Punchers” via CakeChatter (available @amazon.com). She is also the president of The American Academy of Wedding Professionals™ (aa-wp.com).
Young Mexican Americans are returning to Mexico in increasing numbers - but what is bringing them back home - and is the true American Dream now found south of the border? (Monica S. Villalobos/X)
For a long time, I’ve been searching for a very specific place to call home.
I’ve lived in rural Mexico, Chicago, Italy and South Korea. Having been exposed to cultures from across the world, I formed a very clear idea of the city I wanted to live in.
Desperately seeking: City, must be large, vibrant, affordable, with great access to nature and genuine culture. (Alejandro/Unsplash)
My dream city needed to be big, vibrant, and cosmopolitan, with a major airport for easy domestic and international travel. I wanted nature within an hour’s drive, a walkable city with decent public transportation, and no need for a car (I hate driving). It had to be a direct flight from Chicago where my family lives. And, of course, it had to be affordable, with a thriving culinary and creative scene, rich history, and pleasant weather. Plus, green spaces were a must.
I doubted this city even existed.
Yet, in the most unexpected place, I found it. I never imagined that Mexico City would check nearly all my boxes. When people ask why I chose to move here, it is easier to name the two things I dislike: traffic and pollution. But just as there’s no perfect romantic partner, there’s no perfect city.
How I ended up living my best life here is a story I want to share with you as part of the new MND series, “My American Dream is in Mexico.”
Who am I?
From rural Durango to the Windy City (and beyond), Rocio Lucero is a new breed of Mexican American that isn’t afraid to search for success beyond outside of traditional areas. (Rocio Lucero)
I am the daughter of Mexican immigrants, born in Santa Rosa, a small village in the northern state of Durango with a population of just 100 people. When I was 11, my family moved to the Chicagoland area for the same reason most immigrants uproot: for a better life and more opportunities.
As the youngest of four children, I naturally assimilated the most. I was the first to move out of my parents’ house at 18 to go to college in Chicago. From there, I studied abroad in Italy, and after graduating, I moved to South Korea to teach English and travel.
I’ve always wanted a lifestyle filled with creativity, freedom, and flexibility — while doing work I enjoy. For a while, I thought freelance writing was my ticket there, but I never truly went all in. The truth is, I was more drawn to the idea of the lifestyle than I was willing to hustle for it — like starting with topics I wasn’t passionate about or learning the ropes in unfamiliar areas.
So, instead, I focused on my full-time job to pay the bills while pursuing meaningful creative projects on the side. Then the pandemic hit, and suddenly, my dream lifestyle became a reality. Gone were the dreaded 45-minute commutes to my office in the city. In the blink of an eye, I had the freedom to work from anywhere.
How did I end up here?
First stop: Playa del Carmen. (Cuartoscuro)
Well, almost anywhere. In late 2020, much of the world was still closed, except for Mexico. So, I packed my bags and headed to Playa del Carmen to start my digital nomad journey.
After months in Quintana Roo, I traveled across Mexico, landing in Mexico City in the fall of 2021. People say that when you meet “the one,” you’ll just know. I don’t know if I fully believe that, but that’s exactly what happened with CDMX. The calm certainty I felt about this city was exactly what I needed, especially as an overthinker.
After my family left northern Mexico, I didn’t think I’d return to live here permanently. But early on, I realized how earning in dollars while living in Mexico gave me the ability to create a lifestyle that would be difficult to maintain in many U.S. cities. Still, my main reason for coming to Mexico in the height of the pandemic wasn’t financial — it was to heal from the deep depression I had fallen into.
That decision changed everything. After months of talk therapy and holistic practices like temazcal and cacao ceremonies, I started to feel more like myself again. I discovered that I’m genuinely happier here. The energy in Mexico is simply different from the U.S.
Not to gloss over Mexico’s complex challenges, but there’s a warmth and joy in the people that’s harder to find where I grew up. I feel less anxiety, more grounded, and hearing Spanish all around me is a soothing connection to my roots. Reconnecting with my homeland has been a welcome side effect of living here and Mexican values of family and community resonate with me deeply.
There’s also an emotional aspect to returning to the country my parents left but with the privilege and financial ability to live in a way they never could. My parents rarely vacationed or experienced the richness and beauty of Mexico like I get to. And all of this is possible because of their sacrifices. I’m immensely proud of their work ethic and determination to create more opportunities for our family.
When I told my parents I was moving to Mexico City, they thought I was crazy. My dad, especially, was worried about the city’s crime. They remained skeptical, but thankfully, never tried to talk me out of it.
It’s ironic that I now live in the capital of the country my parents left to give me a better life. Their plan worked — my life is immeasurably better than if we had stayed in Mexico. But now, part of that dream has come full circle, bringing me back to my origins. It’s almost like a cosmic joke.
Our American Dream is in Mexico
Americans from all walks of live are reinventing themselves and finding a new sense of freedom in Mexico. (Tiara Darnell/Carlos Requenes)
And I’m not alone. Since the pandemic, many children of Mexican immigrants — like myself — are choosing to leave the U.S. for Mexico. While they’re seeking many things, their motivations mirror those of their parents—to pursue a better life. For many, it’s also about reconnecting with their ancestral homeland and heritage as well.
In the “My American Dream is in Mexico” series, we’ll explore the stories of Mexican-Americans who’ve made this journey back to Mexico. We’ll delve into their unique experiences, the cities they’re settling in, and the ties they’re rediscovering. We’ll also explore how their families feel about this new version of the American Dream.
If you’d like to share your story for this series, leave your email in the comments, and I’ll get in touch!
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 weekly dispatches feature top news, cultural highlights, upcoming CDMX events & local recommendations. For your weekly dose of must-know news about Mexico,subscribe here.
Puerto Vallarta has no shortage of all-inclusive resorts for every occasion. Our insider has collected the very best of the best. (Secrets Vallarta Bay Puerto Vallarta)
Puerto Vallarta is truly a destination where you can choose your own adventure. If adventure to you is a stress-free resort where you don’t have to worry about meals, drinks or finding activities, Puerto Vallarta’s all-inclusive resorts deliver. From luxe, five-star escapes with expansive suites and sprawling beaches to boutique all-inclusive resorts that are steps from the action of downtown, here are the best all-inclusive resorts in Puerto Vallarta.
Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta
Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta. (Hyatt)
A private beach, great food and a jungle-meets-Pacific setting set the stage at Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta, an all-inclusive resort for families, couples and groups. Tucked in a secluded cove with views of the Bay of Banderas, the resort has five pools, including a kids’ pool, infinity pools and an adults-only pool for a little extra privacy.
This resort’s all-inclusive package covers dining at five restaurants, unlimited drinks, live entertainment, and activities like snorkeling, tequila tastings and watersports. For a romantic touch, couples can enjoy beachfront candlelit dinners and spa treatments by the ocean.
Hilton Vallarta Riviera All-Inclusive Resort
If you’re looking for an intersection of high-end amenities and adventure, Hilton Vallarta Riviera should be on your list. Set against the backdrop of the Sierra Madre, this resort has 14 acres of beachfront and stunning views from every room.
Guests can dine at eight international restaurants, enjoy drinks at multiple bars or unwind in one of the infinity pools that overlook the bay. Don’t skip the oceanview sushi at Sunan Sushi— it’s one of the best restaurants in the house. The Hilton also offers activities, from yoga and water aerobics to tequila tastings and cooking classes.
Hotel Mousai
(Hotel Mousai)
For travelers looking for a chic, modern, adults-only retreat, Hotel Mousai is one of the most sophisticated options in town— and my favorite all-inclusive resort in Puerto Vallarta. Mousai is located within the Garza Blanca Preserve, perched on a hillside overlooking the ocean, where it offers the most wonderful views from its suites and rooftop infinity pools.
The hotel’s all-inclusive package includes gourmet dining, premium drinks and access to a world-class spa. The sleek, design-forward resort is perfect for couples seeking a romantic getaway or groups of friends who want to celebrate something special in style. Don’t miss the rooftop bar, where you can sip cocktails and catch the gorgeous Pacific sunsets. Dinner at Dao or Bocados Steakhouse is also essential.
Garza Blanca Preserve Resort & Spa
For those who want the best of both worlds — a family-friendly atmosphere with access to an adults-only luxury experience — Garza Blanca Preserve is the place to be. Set on a lush 85-acre nature preserve, the resort offers both all-inclusive and European plans, giving guests the flexibility to tailor their stay. With multiple pools, beach access and gourmet dining, this is a great place for families who want a lot of options. Adults can slip over to Hotel Mousai, located across the street, to enjoy treatments at the award-winning Spa Imagine.
Secrets Vallarta Bay Puerto Vallarta
(Hyatt)
For an adults-only retreat that dials up the romance, look no further than Secrets Vallarta Bay. This all-inclusive resort is known for its elegant suites, many of which come with private balconies and whirlpools overlooking the ocean. With its focus on romance, Secrets Vallarta Bay is a top choice for honeymooners and couples. The resort’s all-inclusive package features gourmet dining at eight restaurants, unlimited top-shelf drinks and 24-hour room service.
Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta
Located just a short distance from downtown, Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta is a perfect blend of relaxation and local culture. With its prime beachfront location, this all-inclusive resort is known for its service, family-friendly amenities and lively atmosphere.
The resort’s large free-form pool, complete with a swim-up bar, is perfect for spending lazy afternoons in the sun. Guests can enjoy delicious meals at the resort’s six restaurants, which offer everything from Mexican to Asian cuisine and take advantage of included activities like beach volleyball, yoga and nightly entertainment. Families will also appreciate the kid’s club and teen’s club.
Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa
Known for its impeccable service and beachfront location, Marriott Puerto Vallarta offers sits on a prime stretch of beach in Marina Vallarta. The resort’s all-inclusive package includes dining at its restaurants, unlimited drinks and a variety of activities, including paddle boarding, yoga and tequila tastings. After a day of adventure, guests can unwind at Ohtli Spa.
Villa Premiere Boutique Hotel & Romantic Getaway
(Trip Advisor)
If you’re looking for an intimate, adults-only experience within walking distance of Puerto Vallarta’s downtown, Villa Premiere Boutique is one of my favorite all-inclusive resorts in Puerto Vallarta. This small resort is located right on the beach with just 80 rooms. The resort has three restaurants and offers each guest a five-minute de-stress welcome massage as a teaser to the recently renovated spa’s skills. Beachfront cabanas offer a front-row seat to the Bay of Banderas.
Casa Velas
For a quiet and sophisticated escape, Casas Velas is an adults-only, all-inclusive resort that feels like a private oasis. Located on a golf course about five minutes from the beach, Casa Velas is a hacienda-style retreat tucked back behind Marina Vallarta. The resort’s all-inclusive package includes gourmet dining, premium drinks and access to the Tau Beach Club at nearby Velas Vallarta. The lush gardens, intimate pool areas and roaming peacock or two create a dreamy vibe. Guests can also enjoy a wide range of activities, from golf to yoga to cooking classes.
Velas Vallarta
For families and groups looking for a laid-back, all-inclusive vacation, Velas Vallarta is a fantastic option. This beachfront resort is known for its spacious suites, many of which come with full kitchens and ocean views. The resort has a wide range of activities, including tennis, beach volleyball and kids’ programs. It also has one of the loveliest sections of beach in Puerto Vallarta and the Tau Beach Club is one of the city’s best.
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.
From murder to mystery to comedy, what does streaming platform Netflix have planned for Mexico in 2025? (Netflix)
You might be one of the people who consider Mexico’s cinema one of the greatest in the world — if you are, welcome to the club. Sadly, there’s not enough infrastructure in the country for its art to be widely spread and broadcasted throughout the world, making it so that hundreds of movies and shows remain far away from mainstream media, and projects can’t develop farther than its initial production stages. Mexican Netflix shows are even rarer still.
In 2022, Netflix Mexico started Que México Se Vea in an attempt to address this shortcoming. The initiative seeks to invest in projects by Mexican directors in order to promote Mexican cinema. Netflix holds an active role as producer within these projects, both inside and outside of Mexico.
Director Luis Estrada and the cast of “Las Muertas.” (Netflix)
This past February, Netflix announced ten new Mexican series and film projects that will be produced for the streaming giant this year. Make sure you keep an eye out for these upcoming projects to get the best of modern Mexican film!
Que México se Vea’s 2025 series in production
Las Muertas
This series is based on the 1977 novel by Jorge Ibargüengoitia, which was itself based on the real story of four sisters known as Las Poquianchis, serial killers who terrorized and ran a prostitution ring in a city in Guanajuato between 1945 and 1964.
“Las Muertas” will be produced by Mezcala Films and directed by Luis Estrada — best known for “La Ley de Herodes” and “La Dictadura Perfecta” — who will be directing a series for the first time and giving the story a touch of his own black humor and style. The series arrives on Netflix in sometime in 2025.
Nadie nos vio partir
In this miniseries, based on Tamara Trotter’s 2020 novel of the same name, a vengeful husband kidnaps his own children and takes them out of the country. A collision course between the couple’s powerful families is then unleashed as the mother desperately tries to find her children.
Gringo Hunters
“Gringo Hunters” stars Harold Torres, Mayra Hermosillo, Manuel Masalva and Andrew Leland Rogers (Netflix)
This thriller series adapts journalist Kevin Seiff’s 2022 article about an elite Mexican police unit that catches American fugitives trying to flee south across the border. “Gringo Hunters” will hit Netflix in 2025.
This series, directed by Carlos Villega and Iker of “La Reina del Sur” and based on an original script by José Ignacio Valenzuela about sisters Perla and Antonia, who have a relationship of intense rivalry, betrayal and manipulation.
Que México se Vea’s 2025 Films in production
Las Locuras
This new film by Mexican-Colombian director Rodrigo García exploreshow people are pushed to the limits by family pressure.
Delincuentes
A group of privileged young people abuse their social standing in order to commit a variety of crimes. Starring Alfonso Herrera, Ximena Lamadrid and Juan Pablo Fuentes.
The biggest fan
Still a working title, “The biggest fan” is a comedy starring Kate del Castillo asan actress who, after being canceled by Hollywood, goes back to Mexico to star in a movie.
Negociando con mi mujer
Directed by Juan Taratuto, Mexico’s best hostage negotiator, played by Mauricio Ochmann, must face the most important case of his career: the kidnapping of the president and his mistress.
Montserrat Castro Gómez is a freelance writer and translator from Querétaro, México.
Mexico's water concerns are increasingly making headlines. Mexico News Daily CEO Travis Bembenek introduces an upcoming series focused on this vital issue. (Samuel García/X)
Water has been in the news a lot lately — from the recent hurricanes hitting Florida and the Carolinas in the United States, to European and Asian countries experiencing significant flooding, to much of Brazil suffering from what is being called the worst drought in hundreds of years — water is top of the mind around the world.
Consider the Panama Canal, which for over 100 years has been a reliable cog in the global supply chain. It is now under threat due to a lack of water. In Mexico, Acapulco has been devastated two years in a row by powerful hurricanes, and both Baja California and the Yucatán Peninsula have also been hit by severe storms and flooding.
It’s hard to believe that just a few months ago, 76% of Mexico was suffering from drought, with lakes and reservoirs nationwide drying up! As of late September, only 22% of the country is facing drought conditions, following an abundant rainy season.
Perhaps the ancient Mexica were right to worship Tláloc, the god of rain and water. Tláloc was not only highly revered but also feared, as he could send rain, cause droughts, create hurricanes and send damaging lightning.
Throughout Mexico, people have been increasingly voicing concerns related to water. From heightened awareness about devastating storms to fears about how economic growth could impact water supplies and concerns about the water usage of exporting companies, the topic of water is a major concern. I hear expats living in Mexico who are more concerned about water scarcity than they are about security.
This brings me to an exciting announcement: Mexico News Daily is starting a new series focused on water in Mexico. Over the coming weeks and months, we will profile companies, organizations and individuals trying to solve the country’s water problems. We will highlight challenges and success stories across the spectrum of water usage: residential, industrial and agricultural.
Our series will certainly create some anxiety regarding the challenges facing the country, but will also inspire you.
Before purchasing MND, I worked in the water industry for over 20 years and saw first-hand the problems communities and businesses faced, as well as the many solutions being developed and deployed across equipment, services and chemical innovations.
Through this series, our objective is to position MND as your authority to learn more about this vitally important issue for Mexico’s future.
Perhaps most importantly, we will provide reasons for optimism when you see the talented people and organizations dedicating significant human and financial resources to solving these challenges. As I have highlighted before, economic growth and responsible water usage can coexist.
If Mexico is to fully realize its potential, grow its economy and improve the lives of its citizens, water issues must be addressed. For example, data centers have historically been associated with significant water usage. Does that mean that Mexico cannot responsibly allow construction of data centers in the country?
As this example from Microsoft in Querétaro highlights, human ingenuity should not be underestimated, and companies can actually be part of the solution to reducing water usage. Businesses are increasingly using artificial intelligence and new technologies to help solve important water problems across the country.
However, the water challenges facing Mexico should not be underestimated. Many parts of the country face water scarcity, especially in the booming central and northern regions where most nearshoring investment is concentrated.
Additionally, Mexico has serious problems regarding water quality. Unlike many countries, especially the United States and Canada, Mexico has very little surface water (water in lakes and rivers) and much of what is available is polluted.
As a result, most water is extracted from underground wells. The deeper the well, the more energy is consumed to pump it to ground level, and the more minerals and heavy metals are naturally present in the water. Often, this water requires significant pre-treatment to make it safe for human use or industrial purposes.
Water is the basis of life and is increasingly recognized as a resource requiring much more protection and care.
Alarmist news coverage of an impending “Day Zero” when cities run out of water provokes fear and anxiety, without adding value. Our series aims to inform, educate and hopefully inspire you to help be part of the solution in your own small way.
If you know anyone doing great work in Mexico related to water, please email me here at editorial@mexiconewsdaily.com and perhaps we can highlight their efforts in this series.
Thank you for reading MND.
Travis Bembenek is the CEO of Mexico News Daily and has been living, working or playing in Mexico for over 27 years.
