Cold front 29 will cool down the north and center of Mexico this week, with rain clouds likely. (Crisanta Espinosa Aguilar/Cuartoscuro)
Wintry conditions will continue across much of Mexico this week, as the short-lived but intense Cold Front number 29 brings possible sleet and snow to five northern states, and strong winds and heavy rains to many other parts of the country.
The National Meteorological Service (SMN) predicts snow for the mountains of Baja California, Chihuahua, Durango, Sinaloa and Sonora, with temperatures falling as low as -10 degrees Celsius. Icy conditions are also predicted for high-altitude areas of Coahuila, México state, Hidalgo, Nuevo León, Puebla, San Luis Potosí, Tlaxcala, Veracruz and Zacatecas.
Residents are advised to wrap up well, stay hydrated, avoid sharp changes in temperature and look out for children and the elderly.
In lower-altitude areas, intense rains (75-150mm) are predicted in parts of Baja California, very heavy rains (50-75mm) in parts of Sonora, and heavy rains (25-50mm) in parts of Campeche, Chihuahua, Quintana Roo and Yucatán — causing flood risks in river basins. Light rains and scattered showers will also be seen across central and northern Mexico.
Conditions for tornado formation are currently present in many northern states, as gusts reach maximums of 80 kilometers per hour in Baja California, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Sonora and Zacatecas, and 60 kilometers per hour in Aguascalientes, México state, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Nayarit, Puebla and Querétaro.
The coasts of Tamaulipas and Veracruz will see southerly winds of up to 70 kilometers per hour and waves 1-3 meters high. The Isthmus of Tehuantepec and the coasts of the Yucatán Peninsula will see similar conditions, with winds from the north and east, respectively.
Maximum temperatures on Monday will reach 40 degrees Celsius on the coasts of Chiapas, Jalisco and Oaxaca, and in parts of Colima, Guerrero, Michoacán and Nayarit.
The weather in Mexico City will be cloudy with light to moderate wind, and temperatures ranging from 9 to 23 degrees. The surrounding mountains could see ice and cloud banks, particularly in the early morning.
Fend off the flu with these natural Mexican remedies. (Shutterstock)
My mom was a hippy, of sorts. The moment I felt a tinge of flu, out came the echinacea. I would beg for something I considered “normal,” like Benadryl or Triaminic, because it worked fast and that’s what my friends too and once in a while, she caved and begrudgingly gave me a small cup of the sugary red syrup. While it usually suppressed the symptoms, it mostly left me drowsy and unhealed.
The echinacea, much to my childhood chagrin, didn’t.
Decades later, I am now officially a clone of my mother, offering concoctions of boiled ginger or crushed herbs to friends who would much rather down a Tylenol for their ailments. In Mexico, however, I’ve met more of “my own kind” than ever before, and am now comfortably surrounded by new friends who opt for traditional remedies over pharmacy visits at the first sign of illness.
This prompted me to investigate. What alternative remedies are most popular in Mexico? After interviewing four locals (and one nutritionist), I’ve compiled a list of the most common traditional cures recommended by Mexico’s top medicinal expert — the all-knowing abuela. If you’re feeling sniffly and you want to combat that incoming cold the natural way, this article is for you.
All the essentials can be found in your local market. Whenever possible, buy organic to avoid unnecessary pesticides that could counteract the desired health benefits.
So grab your shopping bag and some pesos and embark on your journey toward natural healing, the Mexican way!
What ingredients do I need? Ginger, honey, garlic, lime.
What does it do? Clears a cold.
How do I take it? As a tea, bring chopped ginger and a few garlic cloves to a boil. Leave the flame on high until the flavor starts to seep out. Turn off the stove, allow the water to settle, and add generous amounts of honey and fresh-squeezed lime. Drink the mixture several times a day.
What are the traditional health benefits? Ginger eases nausea, boosts the immune system, and works as an anti-inflammatory. Garlic, especially in raw form, is known for its antiviral and antibacterial properties. Honey, also an antibacterial, is considered a cough reliever and an excellent source of antioxidants.
Recipe courtesy of Pao’s mother and Michell’s abuela, Mexico City born-and-raised
What ingredients do I need? Tequila.
What does it do? Sweats illness out.
How do I take it? Heat the tequila in the microwave until it’s hot but still drinkable and, well, drink it!
What are the traditional health benefits? Tequila, or more specifically, agave, is said to kill bad bacteria.
Recipe courtesy of Lu’s abuela, Mexico City born-and-raised
What ingredients do I need? Filtered water, salt, baking soda.
What does it do? Clears a runny nose.
How do I take it? As a nasal rinse. Dissolve salt and baking soda in hot water. Avoid tap water, as it may be home to various bacteria. Allow water to cool to room temperature and snort it up your nose. If that feels intense, invest in a nasal rinse bottle.
What are the traditional health benefits? This mixture will flush out extra mucus and allergens in the nasal cavity. Baking soda has antifungal properties and reduces inflammation. Salt thins the mucus and moisturizes nasal passages.
Recipe courtesy of Lu’s mother, Mexico City born-and-raised
What ingredients do I need? Honey and lime.
What does it do? Heals a sore throat.
How do I take it? Swallow a spoonful of honey with several drops of lime juice.
What are the traditional health benefits? Honey’s antibacterial and nutritional perks are enhanced by immune-boosting Vitamin C levels and inflammation-reducing antioxidants found in fresh lime juice.
Recipe courtesy of Melina’s abuela, Veracruz born-and-raised
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal or medical advice. The writer and Mexico News Daily assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content on this site. Individuals should always consult with qualified professionals regarding the use or any other substance for medical purposes, as well as consider their jurisdiction’s applicable laws and regulations.
Bethany Platanella is a travel planner and lifestyle writer based in Mexico City. She lives for the dopamine hit that comes directly after booking a plane ticket, exploring local markets, practicing yoga and munching on fresh tortillas. Sign up to receive her Sunday Love Letters to your inbox, peruse her blog, or follow her on Instagram.
The Mexican delegation met with high-level members of the Biden administration, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas. (SRE/X)
The joint efforts of Mexico and the United States to reduce the number of migrants arriving at their shared border have yielded “positive results,” U.S. officials told their Mexican counterparts at a meeting in Washington, D.C. on Friday.
A delegation of senior Mexican officials led by Foreign Affairs Minister Alicia Bárcena traveled to the United States capital to meet with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other high-ranking members of the Biden administration.
Alicia Bárcena met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday. (SRE/X)
“During the meeting, Secretary Blinken and the U.S. delegation noted that our coordinated efforts with Mexico are demonstrating positive results at our shared border,” U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement published Saturday.
The U.S. officials, including Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and White House Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall, “discussed the positive impact of efforts to increase migration controls on bus and train routes, crack down on criminal smuggling networks, and scale up repatriations for those who do not have a legal basis to remain in our countries,” Miller said.
The meeting came three weeks after Mexican and U.S. officials discussed migration in Mexico City, after which they noted that their “ongoing cooperation” includes “enhanced efforts to disrupt human smuggling, trafficking, and criminal networks, and continuing the work to promote legal instead of irregular migration pathways.”
The United States closed several border crossings in late 2023 due to a surge in migrant arrivals, but four crossings opened in early January, a week after the migration meeting in Mexico City.
The U.S. says that increased enforcement efforts by Mexican authorities have meant a reduction in encounters at the U.S. border. (Cuartoscuro)
In December, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reportedly had over 300,000 encounters with migrants who crossed into the United States between official ports of entry, but numbers have declined so far this month.
AZPM, a southern Arizona affiliate of PBS and NPR, reported last Thursday that “the number of migrants apprehended in Border Patrol’s Tucson Sector last week was just over 9,000, which is less than half what it was a month before, when the sector was seeing record highs.”
CNN reported Jan. 12 that “the number of migrant encounters in Eagle Pass, Texas — very recently the epicenter of the migrant crisis — has dropped significantly, from thousands of apprehensions daily a few weeks ago to about 500 a day this week.”
It noted that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security had attributed a decrease in migrant encounters all along the 3,145-kilometer-long border with Mexico to:
Enhanced enforcement actions by Mexico, including on trains and buses.
Mexico moving migrants along the country’s northern border to the southern border.
Mexico reinstating deportations of Venezuelans.
In an interview with AZPM, Ariel Ruiz Soto, a senior policy analyst at the Washington-based Migration Policy Institute, noted that Mexico ramped up deportation flights for Venezuelan migrants following the Dec. 27 meeting with U.S. officials, and added migrant checkpoints on its southern border with Guatemala and in other parts of the country.
After Friday’s meeting, Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) said in a statement that Bárcena had “reaffirmed Mexico’s commitment to addressing the root causes of migration and promoting regular migration.”
The foreign minister “expressed appreciation for the joint work done with the U.S. to address the issue for the benefit of our peoples, and stressed the importance of working with other countries in the region to make migration safe, regular, orderly and, above all, humane,” the statement said.
Bárcena (center left) was accompanied by Security Minister Rosa Icela Rodríguez (center right), National Defense Minister Luis Cresencio Sandoval (far right) and the director of Mexico’s immigration institute, Francisco Garduño (second from left). (SRE/X)
The Mexican delegation, which also included Security Minister Rosa Icela Rodríguez and National Defense Minister Luis Cresencio Sandoval, also “highlighted the country’s great effort to address the root causes of migration, in particular, the development program in which US $180 million will be invested in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Cuba and Haiti,” the SRE said.
The ministry added that the Mexican and U.S. governments agreed to conduct a joint visit to the Darién Gap “to understand the issue of migration in that region.”
Further north in Guatemala — a country that is both a source and transit country for migrants — new president Bernardo Arévalo took office last week.
The SRE said that Mexico and the United States “will seek a meeting with the new foreign minister of Guatemala to explore the best ways to strengthen our cooperation” on the issue of migration.
According to Miller’s statement, Blinken, at last Friday’s meeting, “highlighted the peaceful transfer of power in Guatemala as one of the most significant developments in the region since” the Dec. 27 migration meeting in Mexico City.
“In close collaboration with the Government of Mexico, the United States stands ready to support the people of Guatemala and their new government on a wide range of issues including economic development and hemispheric migration management,” the State Department spokesman said.
“… Migration is a hemispheric challenge. The United States is committed to work hand in hand with Mexico and countries across the region to address the root causes of migration and advance economic opportunities in the spirit of Los Angeles Declaration for Migration and Protection,” Miller added.
The truck's passengers were U.S. citizens according to reports from local authorities. (X)
A soccer game ended in tragedy in Torreón, Coahuila, on Sunday night, when a pickup truck veered off the road into a crowd of fans, killing one person and injuring several others.
The accident occurred at around 11:30 p.m. outside the TSM Corona stadium, following a LigaMX soccer game between the teams of Santos Laguna, from Torreón, and Rayados, from Monterrey.
The tragedy occurred outside of TSM Corona stadium, home of the Santos Laguna soccer team. (@cursorenla/X)
Witnesses reported seeing a dark gray pickup truck with Texas license plates speeding north on the San Pedro highway before veering into the left-hand lane, colliding with a yellow taxi, then plowing into a group of Monterrey fans outside the TSM parking lot.
According to media reports, four men and two women were injured, some of them seriously. In the early hours of Monday morning,LigaMX confirmed that one person had died, whom local media identified as a 50-year-old woman.
At least four people were taken to a nearby private hospital for treatment, with injuries including fractured bones and head trauma. One of the injured was a 14-year-old boy, who is reported to be in stable condition.
Agents of the Coahuila State Prosecutor’s Office (FGE) arrested two women of U.S. nationality at the scene, who are believed to have been passengers in the pickup truck. Authorities have not yet announced the identity of the driver.
“Those allegedly responsible have been detained and put at the disposition of the local authorities,” LigaMX said. The statement also expressed condolences to the deceased person’s family, and support and solidarity for the other victims.
The Coahuila FGE stressed that the incident is being treated as a road accident, denying rumors on social media that it was triggered by a fight between fans. Someminor disturbances were reported during the game, at whichRayados beat Santos 2-0.
“The board of Santos has been in direct communication with state authorities, as well as with the boards of Rayados and LigaMX, to make available all of their resources and information, to help clarify the events and determine responsibilities,” LigaMX said.
Costalegre is a coastal area in the state of Jalisco that extends south from Puerto Vallarta to Manzanillo.(Meagan Drillinger)
We can all agree that Mexico’s beaches are the stuff of paradise — and it’s that dream of paradise that brought so many of us to Mexico in the first place. We are not alone in thinking this, as Mexico attracted almost 20 million tourists in 2023. While tourism can do a lot of good for a destination, it is often difficult to ignore the issues it creates, particularly for the environment and the social inequities it can cause.
Wouldn’t it be great to visit some of Mexico’s most beautiful beaches with the full confidence that where you are visiting is truly taking care of the environment and the people who live on the land?
That destination is the Costalegre, and if you have yet to hear of it, you certainly will in the coming year.
I live in Puerto Vallarta, and while I could not imagine living in another beach destination in Mexico, it’s very difficult to gloss over the environmental and social toll tourism has taken.
Where is Costalegre?
Las Rosadas, Mexico. (Meagan Drillinger)
Costalegre is a coastal area in the state of Jalisco that extends south from Puerto Vallarta to Manzanillo. It’s a roughly 150-mile stretch marked by wild, undeveloped beaches, hidden coves, thick jungle, spiny mountains, and small towns and villages. For me, it is the most spectacularly beautiful place in Mexico and one that I needed to see to believe.
Mexico has its fair share of destinations that have allowed tourism to spiral at the demise of the local communities and environment, though many are working to correct what has gone wrong. This is a global issue.
But what I love most about Mexico’s Costalegre is its attempt to stop that toxic pattern before it can even begin, prioritizing sustainability as it slowly, but surely, grows in popularity. It’s a destination that makes me feel truly good, in all senses of the word.
Costalegre and sustainability
With a dramatic landscape bookended by two international airports, one can’t help but wonder why dozens of developers have not snapped up this land. The answer lies in the hands of a few select families who have owned parcels of land for decades — and have promised to protect them.
Sustainability has been a buzzword for many years, but it often gets lost under the guise of greenwashing. Resorts tout sustainability efforts like the removal of single-use plastics, an onsite herb garden, and lower-flow showerheads. Those are all parts of being sustainable but can be rather surface-level when it comes to actually benefiting local communities and the environment in the long term.
This is where Costalegre is an exceptional example of how tourism can grow but with deep care, intention, and mindfulness.
It started in the late 1960s when Italian businessman Gianfranco Brignone flew his tiny plane over the coast of southern Jalisco. Then the landscape was raw, wild, rugged, and untamed. It was crashing surf thundering down on golden, crescent-shaped bays, with thick jungle-covered mountains climbing off into the distance. Brignone knew he had to create something beautiful here, all the while keeping it as close to pristine as the place he fell in love with. That vision became Careyes, a quiet, secluded posh playground of cliffside casitas, beachfront bungalows, and private villas, fostering an off-beat community of art, wellness, and creativity.
Now almost 60 years later, Careyes boasts a thriving social scene among well-heeled jet-setters. But what has remained is the pristine landscape and the integrity of the small villages surrounding it, which have stayed almost entirely untouched. This was by design. In 1994, Careyes became part of the Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve, a 35,000-acre protected natural area. Part of this agreement meant that 93 percent of the land within the compound was to be protected, and to this day it has stayed almost entirely untouched.
Careyes is a quiet, secluded posh playground of cliffside casitas. (Meagan Drillinger)
Brignone set a remarkable precedent, and those who purchased land after him followed. One co-founder of the Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve was Sir James Goldsmith, an Anglo-French financier and politician who, like Brignone, became enamored with Costalegre. He, along with the National Autonomous University of Mexico established the reserve and Goldsmith constructed a spectacular 40-room estate on one of its many beaches.
Today the funky, golden-hued Cuixmala resort, known for its quirky onion dome, is one of the leading hotels in the Costalegre. But it is also one of the trailblazers of sustainability in Mexico. As far back as 1988, it launched the Cuixmala Ecological Foundation to bring both educational programs to local communities and protect the land from over-development.
In the wake of Careyes and Cuiximala followed the smaller-scale Las Rosadas, a nearly 400-acre ocean villa community along the Bahia de Chamela, with five clifftop villas, one beachfront bungalow, and a secluded stretch of gorgeous beach with palm groves, palapa-topped open-air living rooms, and a barefoot luxe vibe. A large portion of the land at Las Rosadas is part of the biosphere, as well.
International brands arrive in Costalegre
The latest resort to open along the Costalegre was the buzzy, splashy Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo, which made its debut in 2023. Its opening set a different tone for the Costalegre. Four Seasons was the first international brand to open there and with that came the beam of the international spotlight, something which many of the already-established resorts along the corridor have tried to avoid.
But with the globally recognized name also came the promise of commitment to the ethos of the area. The resort sits on 3,000 acres of nature reserve, only 2 percent of which can be developed. Much more sustainably than an on-site herb garden, Four Seasons Tamarindo has a 35-acre low-impact farm. Helmed by culinary director Nicolas Piatti, Rancho Ortega has planted more than 8,000 plants, has a 1,300-square-foot greenhouse, raises its livestock sustainably, and has a zero-food waste policy that consists of both worm composting and the help of some resident garbage disposal units in the form of pigs.
Lastly, there is Xala, the latest development to slowly stretch its roots along the Costalegre. From the same developers who opened One&Only Mandarina in Nayarit comes a 3,000-acre, $1 billion development. But like its Costalegre predecessors, one of the primary focuses of Xala is the local community and the environment.
The project is still in development. When it is completed it will be home to residences, a brand-new Six Senses resort, estates, and even a hostel. But what has already been established at Xala is programs and infrastructure to enrich the local community. These programs include mango farms, a skate park for local kids, mental health facilities for schools, a reforestation project, and year-round potable drinking water for homes in the region.
The future of Costalegre
I have to stop myself before I make Costalegre sound like Utopia — although for me, compared to most other beach destinations in Mexico, it is one. But I cannot help but be skeptical as we watch destination after destination succumb to over-development. Part of the expansion programs in Jalisco include a Costalegre international airport and an expanded highway. How can things not become more crowded? How can this quiet coastline not get a little bit louder?
Granted, these plans have been in discussion for at least the 15 years I’ve been covering Mexico and have yet to come to fruition. According to Gabriel Cardona, tourism director for the Costalegre, the airport is finally ready to open in mid-2024. When, and if, it does, let’s hope that Costalegre continues to lead by example and that other developing destinations in Mexico follow.
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.
What to do with white walls and hanging lightbulbs. (Unsplash)
So, you’ve decided to give Mexico a whirl. First off, I think you’re going to love it here. Congratulations!
At the top of your list will be, of course, finding a place to live (and if you’re like me, making your Mexican home your own as quickly as possible).
Add some lamps to your decor to make your space warmer. (Unsplash)
Common wisdom if you’re considering a permanent move to Mexico is that it’s better to rent first and buy later. This is true in any new place, really, but especially in a country like Mexico where online information about particular neighborhoods and amenities can be limited.
This means that while you might fall in love with the country immediately, you might also be itching to get out of your temporary space fairly quickly.
But as I’m sure you’ve found in your research, getting things moving can be a slow process.
Rental properties can be a mixed bag, as it’s pretty difficult to know what a particular dwelling and neighborhood are like until you’re physically there. For longer stays, renting a place for six months to a year is typically the more economical choice, something that many people do while they hunt for a more permanent place.
But a long stay doesn’t mean you’ll need to grin and bear it in a dark, damp place that didn’t turn out to be exactly like it was in the pictures.
As someone who’s been renting in Mexico for over 20 years now, I’ve picked up my share of tips and tricks along the way for making a place as comfortable and lovely as it can be, from two-room concrete boxes with the sink outside and no door to the bathroom to veritable palaces.
Framing paintings is cheaper in Mexico than in the U.S. (Unsplash)
Here are some things I’ve found to make a big difference:
1. Change the lightbulbs. This one might seem a little silly, but it makes a big difference. I’ve often found “blue light” (called “daylight”) lightbulbs in overheard spaces; to me, nothing makes a place look more dreary. Find some that say “luz cálida” (I’d recommend the energy-saving kind) and switch them out. Just be sure to save the original lightbulbs as the owner might be looking for them when you move out!
2. Get some lamps. Lighting, people. It makes a big difference! That said, they’re not always easy to come by. Options in department stores tend to be quite pricey, but a lamp or light fixtures store might have some cheaper options. Most of the ones I have were ordered online or found in artisan markets, and my own house is usually lit with them (rather than the glaring overhead lights) when the sun goes down. And remember: warm-light lightbulbs are what you want for that cozy feel, and blue lights can be used for workspaces.
3. Get some plants. Really. Get as many as you want! You have my express permission. Plants at greenhouses (viveros in Spanish) are plentiful and cheap, and the staff are typically very well-informed about them. Just be sure to get ones that are appropriate for the amount of light you have, picking low-light (plantas de sombra) ones if you’ve got some dark corners you want to brighten up. Pots (macetas) can usually be found there as well, as well as at most grocery stores … and remember, they can be painted!
4. Get some shelves. If the amount of storage space in your rental just won’t do, consider adding your own. Bookshelves can usually be got pretty cheaply at carpenter shops or markets, and you can usually ask them to varnish them (barnizar) for a slight price increase, as well. Another option — if you’re hardcore like me — is having some shelving installed, typically mostly needed in the bathroom and kitchen. If you go this route, be sure to check in with your landlord to make sure they’re okay with it. If they are, decide as well if they will leave with you when you move or stay, in which case you may be able to get the landlord to credit you for it (a cuenta de la renta).
Don’t forget the curtains! (Unsplash)
5. Hang some stuff up (just be sure to check with your landlord that you can; if not, command hooks can be ordered or bought locally. All holes in walls, mind you, are easily fixable, so don’t be afraid when a hunk of concrete and paint comes off around the nail or even tape). Some people are perfectly fine with nothing on the walls. I myself am not one of those people, “go big or go home” being my general attitude toward decor. If you want some things on your wall too, consider these options: A. Buy posters of art you like in your home community before you come and bring them along! Having things framed is wildly cheaper in my experience here than in the U.S., for example, and I have several framed pieces of art that have come with me from place to place for years.
B. Buy some local art or even textiles that can go up on the wall, with an eye for pieces you love that can travel with you to the next place you live.
C. Get some wall hangings (a personal favorite). These can be ordered online, and deliver a big punch for a very economical price. Plus, they’re light and take up very little space when it’s time to pack up!
6. Bring some sheets, and maybe some curtains. If you’re a textile snob like me, be sure to bring your own sheets especially. Good quality sheets are quite expensive here, and there are limited options. Full-size beds (matrimonial) are the most common size in Mexico, especially for small bedrooms. Remember, too, not to count on blinds or curtains in rentals, though some will have them. Even when mine do, I hang up my own anyway, because having them up in colors and patterns I love just makes me feel more at home. You can also have curtains made at the fabric store!
7. Bonus idea: mosquito netting and carbon monoxide detectors. Mosquito nets and screens on windows are — strangely if you ask me — uncommon in Mexico, where dengue, unfortunately, is common (and can be dangerous). Custom-sized netting can be ordered online, and most hardware stores (and even, perhaps, fabric stores) will have the raw, unsewn netting. I have not had a carbon monoxide detector myself (I keep meaning to get one, I swear!) but have heard some horror stories about poisonings since we live much closer to gas down here in general. If you can, throw one or two in your suitcase or order them.
So remember, my fellow paisanos and foreigners: A rental doesn’t have to be dreary and uncomfortable, even when it’s not what you expected. Happy decorating!
Sarah DeVries is a writer and translator based in Xalapa, Veracruz. She can be reached through her website, sarahedevries.substack.com.
Jan. 17: The cruise ship Norwegian Bliss was the first to arrive in Acapulco since Hurricane Otis, with 3,791 passengers and 1,633 crew members. (CARLOS ALBERTO CARBAJAL/CUARTOSCURO.COM)
Take a visual tour of Mexico — from a wake in Tlalnepantla to a beach in Playa del Carmen — with this selection of pictures from the week.
Mexico City
Jan. 13: People marched from the Angel of Independence to the Zócalo calling for an end to attacks on Palestinian civilians in Gaza in the war between Israel and Hamas. (MARIO JASSO/CUARTOSCURO.COM)
Cuernavaca, Morelos
Jan. 14: Popcatépetl registered increased activity, and here a fumarole of ash is seen rising from the volcano at sunset. (MARGARITO PEREZ RETANA/CUARTOSCURO.COM)
Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo
Jan. 15: Punta Esmeralda beach is one of Riviera Maya’s alluring destinations, particularly for visitors from the north in the winter season. (ELIZABETH RUIZ/CUARTOSCURO.COM)
Tlalnepantla, México state
Jan. 16: Family and friends attend the wake of transgender activist and aspiring politician Samantha Gomes Fonseca, who was murdered on Jan. 14 in Xochimilco. (ROGELIO MORALES /CUARTOSCURO.COM)
Mexico City
Jan. 17: A priest at the Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos parish church in Venustiano Carranza borough blesses pets brought in honor of Saint Anthony the Abbot. (GALO CAÑAS/CUARTOSCURO.COM)
Coast of Nayarit
Jan. 17: As part of the development of a large-scale irrigation project, archaeologists with the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) have been working on excavating, recording and preserving ancient sites on Nayarit’s central coastline. (INAH/CUARTOSCURO.COM)
Tijuana, Baja California
Jan. 17: Family, friends and colleagues of Margarito Martínez attend a commemorative mass to mark two years since his death. Martínez was a photojournalist and he was shot to death outside his home in Tijuana. Three were arrested in connection with the murder to date, but the family says they have no recent updates on the case from the attorney general’s office. (OMAR MARTÍNEZ /CUARTOSCURO.COM)
Travis Bembenek discovered Los Cabos and the surrounding area had much more to offer than he initially thought. (Shutterstock)
OK, I admit it. My first impression of Los Cabos was not very positive.
Los Cabos struck me as not very authentically Mexican — US $25 million homes; ultra-luxury hotels; an Ashley Furniture Store with prices listed only in US dollars; Costco Home Depot, Walmart, and multiple Mexican grocery store chains all within a mile or two. At first, I really didn’t understand the place.
But after several years and nearly a dozen trips there, I have absolutely learned to love the area. Here are the top five things that helped me learn to love Los Cabos.
It’s important to remember that Los Cabos is not one specific place, but rather a series of towns very different from one another: San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, with Todos Santos and La Paz located nearby. All of these are accessible on a vacation to the area, with La Paz a bit of a drive north. San José del Cabo is the most colonial of the towns, with great architecture, a wonderful evening vibe of great bars and restaurants, and a walkable town center. Cabo San Lucas is the epicenter of the boating culture of the area, with hundreds (if not thousands) of boats to rent in the marina and cruise ships continually docking in the bay. Todos Santos is the hip, chill, up and coming beach town on the Pacific Ocean. La Paz is a larger city with great day trips to incredible beaches and world-class sea life viewing in the Gulf of California.
It’s a place to become a foodie. Los Cabos has a mind-blowing variety of food experiences, from stunning desert oasis farm to fork restaurants like La Huerta, Flora Farms, Acre, and Torote, to ocean cliffside restaurants throughout the tourist corridor. From “feet in the sand” places to get tacos in Todos Santos like The Green Room, to rooftop restaurants with live music in San José del Cabo, you have access to a huge variety of foods like in few other places.
The golf is world class. Even if you are a very mediocre golfer like me, you will want to experience the golf courses in the area. The course conditions are perfect. The views of the ocean and surrounding mountains are gorgeous. The weather is perfect. The contrast of the desert, the sea, and the green fairways are beautiful. Take my advice and don’t keep score — just enjoy the amazing experience!
The water has something for everyone. The beaches are a bit different here than most places in Mexico and you need to do your homework in advance. Many are not ideal for walking, but there are some great options for swimming, like Playa Chileno, Playa El Medano, and Playa Santa Maria near San José del Cabo. At certain times of the year, it is very common to spot whales from the beaches. Near La Paz further north, you can find one of the most stunning beaches in the world at Playa Balandra. Los Cabos is a great place to rent a boat and the options for tours are endless. From whale watching, to snorkeling, to world-class fishing, to sunset cruises, or just to do some beach hopping – you can easily find your perfect boat day here.
Embrace driving a car here. Things are spread out, but it’s easy and safe to drive. Having a car will allow you to see and do much more and greatly enhance your experience. However, renting a car in Cabo — as is the case almost anywhere in Mexico — requires a bit of patience.
Although the cities of Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo have grown from a combined 29,000 people in 1990 to over 350,000 today, I think that the area is still in its early stages of growth.
There is so much to offer and the area is easily accessible from the West Coast of the U.S. and the booming Southwest as well. New domestic and international flights are frequently being added, new hotels opening, and new homes and condominium construction are visible nearly everywhere throughout the area.
Some places on the peninsula are just starting to grow on the East Cape, like Cabo Pulmo and Los Barilles. Parts of Los Cabos feel well-developed, while others are just getting started. It makes for an interesting mix.
Come see for yourself this uniquely beautiful and fast-developing part of Mexico, and be blown away by the variety of sights and experiences it offers. You’ll find it hard not to fall in love with it!
Travis Bembenek is the CEO of Mexico News Daily and has been living, working or playing in Mexico for over 27 years.
The Mexican economy, bolstered by investment, remittances, and low unemployment, significantly exceeded expert forecasts made in early 2023. (Cuartoscuro)
Preliminary data published on Friday indicates that Mexico’s economy grew by just under 3.3% in annual terms in 2023, a figure well above most forecasts made at the start of last year.
The national statistics agency INEGI published estimates of annual economic growth in November and December. It anticipates that final data will show GDP increased 3.1% in November and 2.6% in December.
The Mexican peso appreciated significantly against the US dollar during 2023, but is expected by experts to weaken this year. (Shutterstock)
Based on those figures, annual economic growth was 2.81% in the final quarter of last year and 3.26% across 2023, according to Gabriela Siller, director of economic analysis at Mexican bank Banco Base.
She noted on the X social media platform that data on growth in the final months of last year could be modified later this month and thus the 3.26% estimate is not definitive. Still, it is likely to be pretty close to the mark.
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) predicted in November that the Mexican economy would grow 3.4% in 2023, while the International Monetary Fund (IMF) made a 3.2% forecast in October.
Forecasts made in early 2023 were much lower. The OECD predicted last March that GDP would expand 1.8% in 2023, while the World Bank made a forecast of just 0.9% growth last January.
The consensus forecast of 30 banks, brokerages and other financial organizations surveyed by Citibanamex early last year expected only 0.9% growth for the Mexican economy in 2023.
The levels of GDP growth recorded last year allowed Mexico to pass South Korea and Australia to become the 12th largest economy in the world, according to the IMF.
The Washington, D.C.-based financial agency is forecasting that Mexico will pass Russia to become the 11th largest economy this year and remain in that position in 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028.
"La Kena" was arrested in a department store in an upscale neighborhood of the Monterrey metropolitan area. (X)
An alleged cartel leader linked to the kidnapping of four U.S. citizens in Tamaulipas last year was arrested Thursday in the metropolitan area of Monterrey, Nuevo León.
José Alberto García Vilano, presumed leader of the Los Ciclones faction of the Gulf Cartel, was detained by navy personnel and state police in San Pedro Garza García, described by the El País newspaper as “the richest municipality in Latin America.”
García, also known as “La Kena” and “Ciclón 19,” was arrested while shopping at a mall in the affluent municipality.
The navy said in a statement that the suspect, who it didn’t name, “served as one of the key leaders” of a criminal organization with a strong presence in Tamaulipas, and noted that the Attorney General’s Office of that state had offered a large reward — 2.5 million pesos (US $146,000) — for information that led to his capture.
The navy also noted that the alleged criminal leader was a “main target” of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. His arrest was possible due to “timely information” provided by the Ministry of the Navy, the statement said.
Capturan “La Kena” o “Ciclón 19″ líder del Grupo Escorpión del Cártel del Golfo (CDG) en Nuevo León pic.twitter.com/Huqrkfo4EB
— El Nuevo Gráfico de Hidalgo (@ElNvoGraficoHgo) January 19, 2024
Witnesses of the arrest shared their videos on social media. (El Nuevo Gráfico de Hidalgo/X)
The U.S. citizens came under fire shortly after they crossed the border into Matamoros, where one of them had an appointment for a tummy tuck procedure. They were subsequently abducted. A Mexican woman was killed in the initial attack.
The newspaper El Universal reported that García directed the abduction of the four Americans.
The Los Escorpiones faction of the Gulf Cartel, rather than Los Ciclones, was previously linked to the kidnapping and murder.
The Associated Press obtained a letter from a Tamaulipas law enforcement official last March in which Los Escorpiones apologized to residents of Matamoros as well as the Mexican woman who was killed and the four U.S. citizens and their families.
The group of four American friends were driving in this van with U.S. plates when, according to victim Latavia McGee’s family, criminals struck them from behind and kidnapped them. (Juan Alberto Cedillo/Cuartoscuro)
“We have decided to turn over those who were directly involved and responsible in the events, who at all times acted under their own decision-making and lack of discipline,” said the letter, whose contents were published after the Tamaulipas Attorney General’s Office announced the arrest of five men in connection with the kidnapping.
One theory regarding the motive for the crime was that cartel henchmen mistook the U.S. citizens, African Americans, for Haitian drug smugglers.
