The magic of Yucatán’s stunning cenotes

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August 1, 2024

roberto-nickson-U2FcwQnhs9k-unsplash — Dive into a refreshing world of history, as Mérida's cenotes - sinkhole pools - beckon the adventurous. (Roberto Nickson/Unsplash)

The capital of Yucatán state and the largest city in Mexico’s southeast, draws visitors for its rich cultural heritage, stunning colonial architecture, and proximity to Maya ruins such as Uxmal. More than history, Mérida is near a number of cenotes that deserve to be visited.

These natural limestone sinkholes, filled with clear freshwater, offer a chance to dive into the geological and cultural history of the Yucatán Peninsula. This article will take a look at the cenotes near Mérida and offer a guide on this unique way to beat the Yucatecan heat.

Uxmal archaeological site, with main pyramid in background and a colonnaded building in foreground — While Yucatán is famed for its Mayan history, there is more to the peninsula than just pyramids. (INAH)

How to visit

You can go it alone and try to explore the cenotes through your own wits and gumption. Though the joy of leading your own adventure may be offset by the difficulties in finding cenotes in the vast jungle, where GPS can often falter.

Another option is to find a guide in a town in a cenote-rich area like Homúl. Roadside guides will jump to their feet the moment they see your car approaching town, waving a laminated offer sheet with prices. If you choose to stop, prepare to negotiate price and number of cenotes to visit.

Personally, I’ve had better luck ignoring the aggressive guides on the outskirts. I prefer driving into town and asking a shopkeeper if they know anyone who can show me around. I’ve made much better connections with honest, personable locals who are happy to while away an afternoon showing off their favorite local spots.

If you have the resources, you can go the luxe route and find a local tour agency that can arrange everything for you, up to and including transportation to the site, private, guided tours, food and the pleasure of enjoying your own personal cenote. There are also a number of haciendas that feature cenotes on their grounds, offering the visitor the chance for a truly private, luxury escape.

Gazebos around a cenote — It’s not uncommon for luxury hotels and haciendas to offer their own private cenotes for guests to enjoy. (Roberto Carlos Roman/Unsplash)

Fact and fiction

Plenty of rumors swirl around the cenotes. Locals like to warn you to be careful when swimming, as there are dangerous currents that connect the cenotes and can drag the hapless swimmer under. It’s a scary thought, but one with little basis in reality: the flat Yucatán plain has none of the steep elevation changes necessary to form a current.

Another rumor, likely promulgated by local guides, is that the water in the cenotes has elevated levels of calcium, which makes swimming more difficult and necessitates the use of life jackets. Although there are higher levels of calcium in the water in Yucatán, this has no effect on a swimmer’s buoyancy.

In all likelihood, these and other rumors spread with the good-hearted intention of keeping swimmers safe. Though there have certainly been drowning incidents in cenotes, the reasons are the same as those at a public swimming pool: head injury, panic, swimmer fatigue and visitors simply misjudging their abilities in the water. Though they may feel infantilizing, lifejacket rules enable more people to enjoy the cenotes, so wear yours and respect the local rules.

Top cenotes to explore near Mérida

Cenote Xlacah

Located at the Dzibilchaltun archaeological site, Cenote Xlacah is one of the most accessible and historically significant cenotes near Mérida. This open cenote, whose name means “old village” in Mayan, is perfect for a refreshing swim after exploring the nearby ruins. The clear, shallow waters make it ideal for families and those new to cenote swimming.

A diver in the Xlacah cenote — Archaeological studies of Xlacah began in the mid-1950s and lasted for close to a decade. (Benjamín Magaña/Cuartoscuro)

Cenote Yokdzonot

About 18 kilometers from Chichén Itzá, Cenote Yokdzonot is a less well-known cenote managed by a cooperative from the local community of the same name. This cenote offers a more tranquil experience compared to the often crowded cenotes near major tourist attractions. The community’s eco-friendly initiatives ensure the cenote is well-preserved and pristine.

Cenotes of Cuzamá

This trio of cenotes in the town of Cuzamá — Chelentun, Chansinic’che and Bolonchoojol — are accessible by traditional horse-drawn carts. Each cenote offers a unique experience, from the crystal-clear waters of Chelentun to the dramatic light beams filtering into Bolonchoojol. The journey to the sites is an adventure in itself, traveling through the jungle in your cart with birds screeching above and mosquitos whining below.

Cenote San Ignacio

Unlike many other cenotes, the Cenote San Ignacio in Chocholá is entirely underground, creating an intimate and otherworldly atmosphere. The cenote is well-lit, allowing you to fully appreciate the stunning stalactites and stalagmites that adorn the cave. Aboveground, the site also offers amenities such as a restaurant and hammocks for lounging.

Cenote Kankirixche

Cenote Kankirixche is a stunning, larger cenote whose name means “tree of yellow fruit” in Maya. Located in Abalá, the cenote features a large cavern with beautiful stalactites and crystal-clear waters. Its relative seclusion ensures a peaceful and immersive experience, making it a favorite among those looking to escape the crowds and connect with nature.

Whatever your reasons for visiting the Mérida region, the cenotes are an essential addition to any trip, offering the visitor a journey into the heart of Yucatán’s natural and cultural heritage. From the historically significant Xlacah to the tranquil waters of Yokdzonot, each cenote offers a bewitching experience. And hey, if you are pressed for time, at least stop by Mérida’s Costco, where in the parking lot you can take a look at Ka Kutzal: the world’s only cenote in a parking lot.

Stewart Merritt is a professor and freelance writer based in Mérida. A native of California, he has been visiting Mexico his entire life, especially the Pacific coast, where he likes to surf. This summer he will marry his Yucatecan fiancé.

Mexico’s 6 stunning UNESCO Natural World Heritage sites

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MND Staff

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August 1, 2024

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Archipielago de Revillagigedo: Cabo Pearce Socorro Island — From natural island paradises to rugged mountaintops, Mexico has a range of Natural World Heritage Sites worth exploring. (Rodrigo Friscione Wyssmann/Unesco)

Mexico is renowned for its beautiful beaches, colorful towns, delicious food scene and rich cultural offerings. With these many attractions, it comes as no surprise that Mexico ranks seventh among countries with the most sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List, with 35 sites to its name. But did you know that out of these, six are natural sites?

From the diverse ecosystem of the Revillagigedo Archipelago to the lush Monarch Biosphere Reserve and the unspoiled mangroves of the Yucatán Peninsula, here’s the complete guide of Mexico’s natural sites on the UNESCO list to plan your next adventure.

Revillagigedo Archipelago

Named after Viceroy of New Spain Juan Vicente de Güemes, Count of Revillagigedo, the archipelago comprises four remote islands and their surrounding waters: San Benedicto, Socorro, Roca Partida and Clarión. It lies in the Pacific, some 400 km southwest of Cabo San Lucas at the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula.

Both the land and seascape of the archipelago boast impressive active volcanoes, arches, cliffs and isolated rock outcrops emerging in the middle of the ocean. The archipelago is known for drawing large concentrations of marine life, including sharks, whales and dolphins. The main attractions are the area’s giant manta rays, which interact with divers in a friendly way that is rarely found anywhere else in the world.

How to get there: Diving cruises depart from Cabo San Lucas and typically last between six and nine days.

El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve

The reserve is managed in collaboration with the Tohono O’odham, the Indigenous people of the region. (UNESCO)

Located in the northern state of Sonora, the El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve are part of the four great North American deserts along with the Chihuahuan Desert, the Mojave Desert and the Great Basin Desert.

The reserve is home to the Gran Altar Desert, North America’s largest field of sand dunes — which reach up to 200 meters in height — and the Pinacate Shield, a dormant volcanic area of black and red lava flows and desert pavement. The combination of these features results in a highly diverse and visually striking desert landscape.

How to get there: Arrange a guided tour to the desert with a local company, including overnight camping experiences.

Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California

Dubbed the “Aquarium of the World,” the Gulf of California or Sea of Cortez has one of the world’s most varied marine ecosystems. The area is a paradise for divers and scientists: it is home to 39% of the world’s total number of species of marine mammals and a third of the world’s marine cetacean species.

Extending from the Colorado River delta to the hydrothermal vents of the Guaymas Basin, the site comprises 244 islands, islets and coastal areas, providing dramatic views of rugged scenery, sandy beaches, turquoise waters and desert landscapes.

How to get there: The area is accessible through expedition cruises typically departing from La Paz and Los Cabos in Baja California Sur.

Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve

The area was designated a biosphere reserve in 1980 and a World Heritage site in 2008. (Carlos Gottfried/Unesco)

Every autumn, up to a billion monarch butterflies undertake an epic journey of up to 4,500 kilometers from Canada and the United States to find refuge in the fir tree forests of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve.

Stretching across 56,000 hectares of Michoacán and México state, the reserve was declared a World Heritage Site due to the significance of the natural phenomenon it hosts. UNESCO has said that “the overwintering concentration of the monarch butterfly in the property is the most dramatic manifestation of the phenomenon of insect migration.”

How to get there: Various expeditions depart daily from Mexico City, México state and Morelia between November and March.

Sian Ka’an

Located on the eastern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula in the state of Quintana Roo, Sian Ka’an boasts diverse tropical forests, palm savannah, one of the most pristine wetlands in the region, lagoons, extensive mangrove stands, sandy beaches and dunes.

Dubbed the “Origin of the Sky” by the ancient Maya due to its aesthetics and beauty, Sian Ka’an is one of Mexico’s largest protected areas. The region is home to mammals like the jaguar, puma, ocelot and Central American tapir, as well as over 300 species of birds and hundreds of marine species.

Sian Ka’an’s remarkable concentration of life makes it an important site for scientific research. (Manuel Quesada/Unesco)

Besides its varied flora and fauna, the biosphere reserve stands out due to its cenotes, the region’s famous natural sinkholes, and petenes tree islands emerging from the swamps.

How to get there: Tourist companies typically offer full-day tours from various destinations in Quintana Roo.

Whale Sanctuary of El Vizcaino

Mexico’s largest protected natural area, the Whale Sanctuary of El Vizcaino is located in the central part of the Baja California Peninsula and is Mexico’s largest protected area. This biosphere reserve comprises the coastal lagoons of Laguna Ojo de Liebre and Laguna San Ignacio and their surroundings, a complex variety of wetlands, marshes, halophytes, dunes, desert habitats and mangroves.

The reserve’s lagoons are important reproduction and wintering sites for the gray whale, harbor seal, California sea lion, northern elephant seal and blue whale. Moreover, they are the most important breeding ground of the North Pacific population of the gray whale, serving as a refuge for this endangered species.

How to get there: various tour operators in Baja California offer whale-watching expeditions in the area during whale season, which typically begins on Dec. 15.

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

Tropical Storm Carlotta strengthens in the Pacific, veers away from Mexico

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MND Staff

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August 1, 2024

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Tropical Storm Carlotta satellite image — Tropical Storm Carlotta is likely to become the first Pacific hurricane of the 2024 season. (Zoom.earth)

Poised to become the first Pacific hurricane of the 2024 season, Tropical Storm Carlotta has veered away from the Mexican coast but is still expected to bring rains to western coastal states, from Jalisco to Baja California Sur.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued a public advisory on Thursday morning noting that Carlotta was expected to become a hurricane by Thursday night or Friday morning but since the storm was moving west-northwest — away from Mexico — neither coastal watches nor coastal warnings were issued.

NHC Tropical Storm Carlotta trajectory — The trajectory of the storm according to the Thursday morning advisory from the U.S. National Hurricane Center. (NHC)

The NHC projected that Carlotta would turn west on Friday and continue westward through the weekend.

Mexico’s National Meteorological Service (SMN) reported on Thursday morning on its social media account that Carlotta was 635 km south of Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, and 735 km west-southwest of Manzanillo, Colima, at 9 a.m. The storm was gradually intensifying and moving at approximately 19 km/h, the SMN added.

The SMN post said outer bands of the tropical storm would bring heavy rains to the Jalisco coast (50 to 75 mm) on Thursday, and would also drench the states of Michoacán, Colima, Nayarit and Baja California Sur with about 25 to 50 mm of rainfall.

The SMN warned that the rain could be accompanied by electrical storms and hail.

A fireman on a flooded street in Guadalajara — The state of Jalisco experienced heavy rainfall in July, causing flooding in Guadalajara and other parts of the state. (Cuartoscuro)

The SMN issued flood warnings for the states mentioned and warned the public to be on the watch for mudslides and avoid fast-moving streams and rivers.

Boaters were also advised to exercise extreme caution and residents of the five states directly impacted were told to heed instructions issued by local Civil Protection authorities.

Both the NHC and SMN advised that Carlotta’s winds would generate swells that will affect the coasts of west-central mainland Mexico and the southern Baja California Peninsula beginning later Thursday.

These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions through the weekend, the NHC warned, particularly in Baja California Sur where waves could potentially exceed 2 meters.

The Pacific hurricane season has gotten off to a slow start (Tropical Storm Aletta formed on July 4, the latest date for a first tropical storm there), but weather forecast service Meteored reports that warming ocean temperatures and an increase in the Madden-Julian oscillation is likely to produce potent tropical storms this month.

With reports from AP, Informador.mx and Meteored

Mexican Navy seizes 1.5 tonnes of cocaine found adrift in the Pacific

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MND Staff

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August 1, 2024

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Bricks of cocaine seized by the Mexican navy off the coast of Acapulco — The Mexican navy announced Wednesday they had seized approximately 1.5 tonnes of cocaine found adrift in the Pacific off the coast of Guerrero, south of Acapulco. (SEMAR/Cuartsocuro)

The Mexican Navy has announced the seizure of some 1.5 tonnes of “presumed” cocaine off the Pacific coast of southern Mexico.

The Ministry of the Navy (SEMAR) said in a statement on Wednesday that navy personnel found 45 packages of “presumed” cocaine adrift in the Pacific Ocean 170 nautical miles south of Acapulco, Guerrero.

Each package contained 30 “bricks” of “white powder with characteristics similar to cocaine,” SEMAR said.

The 45 packages had an estimated weight of 1,500 kilograms, the ministry said.

All 45 appear in a 30-second video clip scored with cinematic music that was posted to SEMAR’s X account.

The ministry highlighted that “the presumed drugs” were turned over to “the appropriate authorities.”

🚨Marina Informa 🚨

En funciones de #GuardiaCostera, personal de la Décima Segunda Región Naval #RN12, logró el aseguramiento de 45 costalillas con un peso estimado de 1,500 kilogramos de presunta cocaína, aproximadamente a 170 millas náuticas al sur de #Acapulco, Guerrero.

Con… pic.twitter.com/anxOEWOYhf

— SEMAR México (@SEMAR_mx) July 31, 2024

The navy posted this video of the seized cocaine to its account on X.

The navy frequently seizes narcotics at sea. Among its seizures this year was a 3-tonne cocaine bust off the coast of the state of Quintana Roo in May and an almost 2-tonne cocaine interdiction off the Pacific coast in April.

In March, the navy seized numerous packages of white powder that were emblazoned with the Batman logo.

Organized crime groups use a variety of transportation modes to move cocaine from South America to Mexico and then into the United States.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, “cocaine is typically transported from Colombia to Mexico or Central America by sea and then onwards by land to the United States and Canada.”

In a 2021 report, the Organization of American States outlined seven maritime drug trafficking routes between South America and Mexico or Central America. Five of those routes terminated in Mexico, including in the states of Chiapas, Guerrero and Sinaloa.

Mexico News Daily

Cargo train derailment in Jalisco injures 2

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MND Staff

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July 31, 2024

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A cargo train derailment in La Barca, Jalisco — This is the second train derailment in the same area this year, following a similar incident on Jan. 31. (@TNnoticiasMx/X)

Dozens of cargo containers were scattered along a stretch of railroad track Tuesday morning after a dramatic train derailment near the Jalisco-Michoacán border. This is the second train derailment in the same area this year, following a similar incident on Jan. 31 in which three people were injured and the train caught fire.

At least two people were reported injured from this latest derailment and at least 30 cargo containers were dispersed across the train tracks and the adjacent farmland in the vicinity of San Francisco Rivas just outside the city of La Barca, Jalisco, which borders the state of Michoacán.

🚨Esta mañana se registró un descarrilamiento del tren de carga que va de Guadalajara-Pantaco en La Barca, Jalisco. Decenas de contenedores salieron proyectados y otros quedaron apilados y tirados sobre las vías o sobre los campos.

Más información 📌https://t.co/kpkf88YU17 pic.twitter.com/v4duWxtMsS

— 𝐄𝐋 𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐑 (@informador) July 30, 2024

According to La Barca Civil Protection authorities, one of the injured, a machinist on the train, suffered minor injuries and was treated and released from the hospital. The newspaper Milenio reported that there was a second person injured in the crash, but the authorities have offered no confirmation.

No information about the content of the containers was provided although National Guard and Army troops were on the scene to establish a secure area surrounding the accident.

The track operator Ferromex said the accident occurred at 4:23 a.m. on “Line I” just east of Lake Chapala, about 106 kilometers south of Guadalajara, the Jalisco state capital.

Ferromex declined to offer information about the possible cause of the crash, but the fact that cargo containers were scattered, upside down and piled on top of each other, suggests the train was traveling at high speed, speculated the newspaper La Jornada.

Other sources reported that the authorities were inspecting the area to rule out sabotage or vandalism.

The train was en route to the Pantaco cargo train station in Azcapotzalco, a borough in northwestern Mexico City.

Ferromex contacted its clients to inform them of the derailment and assure them their agents were on site to remove the containers and repair the tracks. Due to the remoteness of the crash site, the train operator was unable to get cranes and heavy equipment to the scene until Tuesday afternoon.

“Our people are just now arriving because it is not easy to get here,” a Ferromex spokesman told the Guadalajara-based news site Informador.mx, “and we have to walk the entire scene to assess the situation. We don’t yet know when we might get things back up and running.

All multimodal operations on “Line I” out of Guadalajara have been suspended until the track is repaired and inspected.

Ferromex operates over 10,000 kilometers of railroad track in Mexico, including six international crossings into the United States.

With reports from Milenio, El Universal, La Jornada, Excelsior and Informador.mx

Judge orders ‘El Mayo’ Zambada will be held without bond in Texas

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MND Staff

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July 31, 2024

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Alleged Sinaloa Cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada García may have made a fortune during a lengthy drug trafficking career, but he won’t be able to buy his way out of jail in the United States.

Anne T. Berton, a United States magistrate judge in the Western District of Texas, ruled that Zambada must be detained without bond as the case against him proceeds.

A news stand in Mexico City with papers showing arrest of El Mayo Zambada and Joaquín Guzmán López — The two alleged Sinaloa Cartel leaders were arrested last Thursday in Texas, though the circumstances of their detention are still unclear. (Cuartoscuro)

The 76-year-old suspect was arrested last Thursday after flying into a small airport near El Paso with Joaquín Guzmán López, one of the sons of convicted drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera.

Last Friday Zambada pleaded not guilty to charges for a range of crimes including drug trafficking, murder, kidnapping and money laundering.

A United States District Court detention order that was signed by Berton on Tuesday noted that the U.S. government’s “motion to detain defendant without bond” was scheduled for Wednesday.

“Prior to the hearing, counsel for the defendant announced to the court that the defendant did not contest the government’s motion,” the document said.

El Mayo Zambada and Joaquín Guzmán López — “El Mayo” Zambada (left) and Joaquín Guzmán López are both facing multiple charges in the U.S., including drug trafficking and homicide. Both have pleaded not guilty. (Archive)

“Accordingly, the court finds that there are no conditions or combinations of conditions of release that will reasonably assure the appearance of the defendant or the safety of the community,” the detention order continued.

“It is therefore ORDERED that the defendant be detained without bond and the defendant is hereby committed to the custody of the Attorney General for confinement in a corrections facility separate, to the extent practicable, from persons awaiting or serving sentences or being held in custody pending appeal.”

The document also ordered that Zambada be afforded “a reasonable opportunity for private consultations” with his legal team.

Lawyer Frank Perez has alleged that Guzmán López “forcibly kidnapped” El Mayo and “forced” him onto a United States-bound plane.

The circumstances that led to Zambada’s arrest remain murky, but U.S. officials who spoke to The New York Times supported the version of events put forward by Perez.

U.S. officials previously told media outlets that Guzmán López tricked Zambada into getting onto the plane by telling him they were going to inspect clandestine airfields or real estate within Mexico.

In an appearance in federal court in Chicago on Tuesday, Guzmán López pleaded not guilty to the drug trafficking and other charges he faces.

His lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, “criticized — but did not refute —” the allegation by Zambada’s lawyer that Guzmán López “forcibly kidnapped” El Mayo, according to a Chicago Tribune report.

“He’s not being accused of kidnapping. When the government accuses him, then I’ll take notice. When lawyers who are trying to score points with the media make accusations, then I ignore that because it’s meaningless,” he said.

Lichtman also said that his client doesn’t have an agreement with the United States government, as some media outlets have reported.

Mexico News Daily

Quintana Roo’s economy booms, seeing over 20% annual GDP growth in Q1

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MND Staff

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July 31, 2024

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Beach in Quintana Roo — Quintana Roo is known as a tourist magnet, but it was another economic sector that pushed GDP growth in the state in the first quarter. (Mara Lezama/X)

The Caribbean coast state of Quintana Roo easily recorded the highest economic growth among Mexico’s 32 federal entities in the first quarter of 2024, with GDP increasing more than 20% on an annual basis.

Data published by the national statistics agency INEGI on Monday shows that 25 entities recorded annual growth in the first quarter of the year, while the economies of six states contracted. The economy of Baja California was stagnant, with GDP unchanged in annual percentage terms.

Map showing annual GDP growth by state in Mexico in Q1 2024 — This map shows the annual GDP growth by state in Q1 2024. Six states saw a contraction in economic growth, 25 saw growth and one was stagnant. (México ¿cómo vamos?)

The national economy grew 1.6% annually in the first three months of the year.

Secondary sector drives growth in Quintana Roo

Annual data shows that the Quintana Roo economy expanded 20.1% in the first quarter of 2024.

The state’s primary sector recorded growth of 3.4%, while the tertiary sector — which includes Quintana Roo’s large tourism industry — expanded 5.5%.

Quintana Roo’s secondary sector, which includes manufacturing and construction, grew a whopping 125.6% compared to the first three months of 2023.

Maya Train construction in Quintana Roo — The secondary sector, including manufacturing and construction, led growth in both Quintana Roo and Campeche in the first quarter. (Cuartoscuro)

The state’s economy has benefited from the construction of large infrastructure projects, including the US $20 billion Maya Train railroad, as well as urban projects in cities such as Cancún and Playa del Carmen.

Governor Mara Lezama celebrated Quintana Roo’s position at the top of Mexico’s economic growth rankings in a video posted to social media.

The INEGI data “positions us as the leading state in economic growth in the entire country,” she said.

“… We continue to work so that all this [growth] is reflected in the social wellbeing of every family in Quintana Roo. [We want] prosperity, but shared prosperity,” said the Morena party governor.

The Quintana Roo economy also performed well in 2023, growing 12% in annual terms.

Which other states recorded strong economic growth in Q1?

Campeche, another state that has benefited from the construction of the Maya Train railroad, recorded the second highest economic growth among Mexico’s 32 federal entities in the first quarter of the year.

The state’s economy grew 5.8% in annual terms between January and March, according to INEGI. Campeche’s secondary sector expanded 89.8% annually in the first quarter of the year.

Maya Train station in Campeche — Campeche, like Quintana Roo, has seen explosive growth in the secondary sector in part because of construction of the Maya Train. (Cuartoscuro)

Ranking third to 10th for overall economic growth in the first quarter were:

Durango: annual growth of 5.3%
Baja California Sur: 4.7%
Hidalgo: 3.9%
Sinaloa: 3.9%
Yucatán: 3.9%
Puebla: 3.4%
Veracruz: 2.8%
San Luis Potosí: 2.7%

Guanajuato, México state and Nuevo León all recorded growth above 2%, while the economies of seven states – Querétaro, Sonora, Oaxaca, Morelos, Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala and Aguascalientes – expanded by 1.1%-1.9%.

Nayarit recorded annual growth of 0.4% in the first quarter, while the economies of Michoacán and Mexico City expanded by 0.2%.

Which states recorded economic contractions in Q1?

While the economy of Baja California was stagnant with annual growth of 0.0%, the economies of six states went backwards.

Coahuila recorded the biggest contraction, with GDP declining 3.1% in the northern border state.

The other states that recorded annual economic contractions in the first quarter of 2024 were:

Tabasco: -1.7%
Zacatecas: -0.8%
Guerrero: -0.7%
Jalisco: -0.6%
Chihuahua: -0.2%

With reports from La Jornada Maya and Excélsior

Business council calls on authorities to ‘intensify’ security after Tamaulipas business leader is killed

By

MND Staff

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July 31, 2024

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The murder occurred on Tuesday morning outside of the National Chamber of Commerce building in Matamoros. (@MexicoInformo/X)

The murder of a business association leader in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, on Tuesday, prompted another business group to call on authorities to “intensify” security efforts across Mexico.

Julio Almanza, president of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce (Fecanaco) in Tamaulipas and a former candidate for governor in the state, was shot and killed outside the National Chamber of Commerce building in the northern border city.

Almanza was president of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce in Tamaulipas and a former candidate for governor in the state. — Almanza, 55, was president of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce in Tamaulipas and a former candidate for governor in the state. (@PamCerdeira/X)

Almanza, who was in his car at the time of the attack, was reportedly shot as many as nine times by assailants who fled the scene on a motorbike.

The 55-year-old business leader had spoken out about widespread crime, including extortion, which caused the convenience store chain Oxxo to temporarily close all 191 of its stores in Nuevo Laredo, another border city in Tamaulipas.

On Monday, Almanza told the news station Milenio Televisión that Tamaulipas was being held “hostage” by organized crime groups and called on authorities to guarantee security in the state, which borders Texas.

On Tuesday, the influential Business Coordinating Council (CCE) issued a statement expressing “profound regret” over Almanza’s murder, saying that “this terrible occurrence represents a great loss for the business community and all those who worked with him on the promotion of economic development in the region.”

Later in the statement, the CCE expressed its “most profound anger” over “the growing insecurity affecting Mexico, especially businesses and the families that depend on them.”

“… We make an emphatic call to authorities … [to not allow] this act to go unpunished and to intensify the efforts of all three levels of government to guarantee the safety and peace our families deserve,” it said.

“We reaffirm that the development and prosperity of Mexico depends to a large extent on a safe environment, which is essential for economic dynamism and the attraction of new investment,” the CCE said.

“It is imperative that urgent and effective measures are taken to protect all citizens and guarantee a safer and more prosperous future,” it added.

Tamaulipas governor commits to “exhaustive investigation”

Governor Américo Villareal condemned the “cowardly murder” of Almanza and said his government was committed to working “arduously so that security and justice authorities carry out an exhaustive investigation.”

In a post to X on Tuesday, he described the Fecanaco chief as “a brave voice who always stood up against injustices.”

His murder “profoundly affects us as a society and government,” Villareal said.

En #LaMañanera | “Me duele mucho”, dijo el presidente López Obrador sobre el asesinato de Julio César Almanza Armas, presidente de la Fecanaco en Tamaulipas. Dijo que lo “más difícil” cuando se gobierna, es recibir el informe de la muerte de gente inocente, “no tenemos de piedra… pic.twitter.com/nfnCDDQgkh

— Azucena Uresti (@azucenau) July 31, 2024

‘All murders hurt,” says AMLO

Asked about the attack on Almanza, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador told reporters at his Wednesday morning press conference that “all murders hurt,” and even more so when the victim is “innocent.”

“… We don’t have hearts of stone, we have feelings,” he said.

López Obrador noted that an investigation into the murder of the Fecanaco leader is underway. No arrests in connection with the crime were reported on Tuesday.

“I send my condolences to the family,” López Obrador said. “It’s very regrettable. We didn’t want this to happen.”

López Obrador’s six-year term in office will go down as the most violent in Mexican history in terms of total homicides, with more than 193,000 recorded since he took office in December 2018.

However, homicide numbers have trended down during López Obrador’s administration, and last year reached their lowest level since 2016.

With reports from Reforma, López-Dóriga Digital, Milenio, El Universal and El Financiero

St Jude Thaddeus relic begins Mexico tour, drawing thousands in CDMX

By

MND Staff

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July 31, 2024

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The relic's tour through Mexico began on Monday, July 29. — The relic's tour through Mexico began on Monday. (Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)

A relic of St. Jude Thaddeus — an arm bone encased in an ornate reliquary — has arrived in Mexico City from Vatican City, following a nearly yearlong tour across the United States.

While on its journey authorized by the Vatican, the relic is a must-see for many Catholics, especially given Mexico’s deep-rooted devotion to St. Jude, the patron saint of impossible cases and lost causes.

Upon arriving at Mexico City International Airport on Monday, the relic was placed in a white van with large windows.
(Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)

One of Jesus’ 12 Apostles, St. Jude had the mission of bringing the Christian message to the world. In Mexico, he is celebrated with a feast and veneration every Oct. 28, drawing thousands of people to churches across the country, with many of them praying to him for help in desperate situations.

The relic of St. Jude, often referred to as “the hand of St. Jude,” will be displayed in various parts of Mexico through Aug. 29.

The tour began with a three-day stop at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Mexico City that ends on Wednesday, July 31. There, thousands of people lined up, many of them waiting for two hours or more under a hot sun.

“I think that those of us who are here are here because of the devotion and faith we have in St. Jude,” Ernesto Rosas told the newspaper El Universal while waiting in line. He said looking upon the saint’s hand would be a thrill, even if only for “a few seconds.”

One devotee leaving the church said, “I was able to see the hand for about 40 seconds, and that’s being generous. It was very fast, but it was really worth it.”

The arm bone relic, believed to be a fragment of St. Jude’s own remains, symbolizes the saint’s enduring presence and his role as a helper of the hopeless. It was separated from his skeleton centuries ago, placed into a silver reliquary, and preserved for many years in Armenia, Turkey and Turin, Italy.

In 1949, the Dominicans in Turin presented the relic to the Dominican Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus in Chicago on the occasion of its 20th anniversary.

For the tour, it was placed in a wooden reliquary carved in the shape of an arm that is making a gesture of giving a blessing.

The relic will make stops at several Mexico City churches before moving onto México state, Tlaxcala and Puebla. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)

After its U.S. tour — which started last September in Illinois and went through 28 additional states before ending with two months throughout California — the relic received blessings for its Mexican journey during a special mass in St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.

The relic arrived at the Mexico City International Airport on July 29, where hundreds of people were waiting near the customs office to see it. A delegation from the Mexican archdiocese was there to help place the relic in a white van with large windows that resembled a Popemobile.

The relic was then transported through the streets of Mexico City by motorcade, which included more than a dozen police motorcycles and a helicopter flying overhead for extra security.

The relic’s second stop in Mexico will be Aug. 1-2 at the Temple of San Hipólito in Mexico City. San Hipólito became one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the country for the Oct. 28 feast of St. Jude after an image of the saint was placed on the church’s main altar in 1982.

At many stops, church officials have prepared special events and masses to welcome the relic and accommodate the expected crowds.

After four additional stops in Mexico City through Aug. 11, the artifact will move on to México state, Tlaxcala, Puebla and other locations that have not yet been made public.

With reports from El Universal, La Jornada Maya, El Financiero and National Catholic Register

AMLO: Mexico will not participate in OAS meeting on Venezuela election

By

MND Staff

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July 31, 2024

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In his morning press conference, AMLO also reiterated that "proof should be presented" of Nicolás Maduro's win on Sunday. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said Wednesday that Mexico wouldn’t participate in an Organization of American States (OAS) meeting on Sunday’s allegedly fraudulent presidential election in Venezuela.

“I have information that Alicia Bárcena, the minister of foreign affairs, won’t participate in the OAS meeting [on Wednesday],” López Obrador told reporters at his morning press conference.

Venezuela ignited in protest on Monday after Nicolás Maduro was declared the winner of the presidential election. (Israel Fuguemann/Cuartoscuro)

“We’re not going to participate because we don’t agree with the attitude of partiality of the OAS,” added AMLO, who has previously been critical of the Washington D.C.-based organization and favored the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States as a forum for regional dialogue during his presidency.

The office of OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro said in a statement on Tuesday that throughout the entire electoral process in Venezuela, “we saw the application by the Venezuelan regime of its repressive scheme complemented by actions aimed at completely distorting the electoral result, making that result available to the most aberrant manipulation.”

Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE) announced on Monday that incumbent President Nicolás Maduro of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela had won a third six-year term in office, triggering protests across the poverty-stricken nation.

Before that announcement, López Obrador said that Mexico would respect the result determined by the CNE.

On Wednesday, he accused Almagro of having “recognized” one of the candidates — opposition aspirant Edmundo González — as the winner of the election “without any proof.”

“So why go to a meeting like that? This is not serious, it is not responsible, it doesn’t help to find a peaceful, democratic way out of … [this] conflict,” López Obrador said.

“… Enough of this! Enough of the interventionism. Venezuela’s problems have reached a stalemate, a way out hasn’t been found, because there is a lot of interference — they get involved from abroad, not just [foreign] governments, the media [as well],” he said.

Despite that remark, López Obrador voiced an opinion that has been expressed by other world leaders in recent days – that the Venezuela government should release the complete voting records of Sunday’s elections.

“I believe proof [of the election results] should be presented, the voting records,” he said.

So far, however, there is no evidence that electoral fraud was committed in Venezuela, López Obrador said before asserting that he had “a lot of proof” supporting his claim that his defeat in the 2006 presidential election in Mexico was the result of fraud.

In 2006, he added, “no foreign country, no foreign government asked for transparency.”

With reports from El Universal and Milenio