A "brain-eating amoeba" has been discovered on the Yucatán Peninsula, but tourists are not at risk ... at least so long as they remain in "vacation mode." (Andres Medina/Unsplash)
MÉRIDA, Yucatán — State health officials and regional tourism representatives issued a joint public service announcement today reassuring visitors that while the microscopic organism Naegleria fowleri was recently discovered in an artificial lake on the Yucatán Peninsula, it typically displays a marked preference for higher-order intellectual matter and is therefore unlikely to find much interest in the average tourist in “vacation mode.”
The advisory, released following heightened online anxiety among international travel forums, sought to clarify that the single-celled organism — popularly known as the “brain-eating amoeba” — is extremely selective in its dietary habits. Medical researchers confirmed that after initial contact, the organism typically conducts a brief structural assessment, retreating if there is insufficient intellectual sustenance.
Mérida’s Plaza La Isla was recently confirmed to contain Naegleria fowleri, or “brain-eating amoeba.” (Inmobiliaria Mendicuti)
“We want to assure our valued international guests that our local beaches, hotel pools and cenotes remain exceptionally safe,” said Dr. Alejandro Mendez, lead epidemiologist for the regional public health board. “The biological reality is that Naegleria fowleri requires a specific threshold of complex neural activity to sustain its lifecycle. Our comprehensive sampling indicates that individuals who spend their time debating whether to order a third frozen margarita do not meet the microorganism’s baseline nutritional criteria.”
The tourism board echoed these findings, noting that regional swim spots have seen zero incidents among visitors whose primary brain activity consists of calculating tip conversions or worrying about sunscreen application. Officials stressed that the water conditions are monitored daily, with safety ratings adjusted according to the collective academic output of swimmers present at any given time.
Hotel operators across Mérida and Tulum have already updated their guest welcome packets to include the new health guidelines, advising visitors to leave heavy philosophical literature on the beach and to engage exclusively in casual, low-effort small talk while submerged in natural springs.
“Our goal has always been total relaxation for our guests,” said resort manager Sofia Morales. “Now we can scientifically prove that turning off your brain at the pool bar is not just a leisure choice — it is a vital safety precaution.”
Beginning in March of 2027, Montego Bay, Jamaica, will be one of two Caribbean destinations that Aeroméxico will be flying to directly three times a week aboard a 737 MAX 8 aircraft (Shutterstock)
Legacy airline Aeroméxico has announced new nonstop routes from Mexico City to Nassau, Bahamas, and Montego Bay, Jamaica, making it the first airline to offer direct service connecting Mexico and the two Caribbean destinations.
Before those two new routes — which begin operations in March — travelers departing from Mexico for the the Bahamas or Jamaica had to arrive through connections in the United States or Panama.
Nassau will soon be just a nonstop flight away from Mexico City, and no longer require a stopover in Panama or the United States. (Unsplash)
Chief Executive Officer Andrés Conesa linked the two new direct routes to Aeroméxico’s ongoing expansion. “We continue to strengthen the ‘Eagle Knight’s’ leadership position in the international market and bring our passengers closer to the world’s most iconic destinations,” he said in a in a statement on his official LinkedIn page.
(The Eagle Knight or Caballero Águila is Aeroméxico’s emblematic logo that appears on the tail of its aircraft.)
The Mexico City–Montego Bay flight will begin March 18, 2027, and operate three times a week: Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Departure from the Mexican capital is scheduled for 9:20 a.m., with arrival in Jamaica at 2 p.m. local time. The return flight will depart at 3:15 p.m. and land in Mexico City at 6:20 p.m.
The following day, March 19, Aeroméxico will launch the route to Nassau, which will also operate three days a week on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Flights will depart from Mexico City at 9:10 a.m. and arrive in the Bahamas at 3:00 p.m. The return flight will depart at 4:15 p.m. with a scheduled landing at 6:30 p.m.
According to the newspaper El Universal, both services are still subject to government approval. If approved, they will be operated onboard a 737 MAX 8 aircraft configured to seat 166 passengers.
The addition of Nassau and Montego Bay expands the airline’s presence in the Caribbean, where it already offers nonstop connections to Punta Cana and Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, as well as to Havana, Cuba.
Senior Vice President of Global Sales Giancarlo Mulinelli said that the addition of Jamaica and the Bahamas reflects the airline’s commitment to offering its customers more travel options to world-class destinations.
“These new routes will provide passengers with direct access to an extraordinary range of tourism, culinary, and cultural offerings, while strengthening our connectivity from Mexico City,” Mulinelli said in a press release cited by El Universal.
Looking forward to Holy Week 2027 (March 21 to 28), Aeroméxico will be offering more than 4,000 weekly seats to its Caribbean destinations across 27 weekly frequencies.
The president discussed the country's expanding rail network, an upcoming trip to China and Trump's comments about Mexico at the U.N. at her Wednesday presser. (Presidencia)
Sheinbaum’s mañanera in 60 seconds
🇺🇳 Sheinbaum fires back at Trump’s U.N. remarks: Responding to Trump’s U.N. General Assembly claim that Mexico is the “epicenter” of cartel violence and that it’s “unacceptable” for the U.S. to border a country “controlled by enemy cartels,” Sheinbaum said she could just as easily say it is “very difficult to live next to a country” with such high illegal drug use and gun production.
🇨🇳 Sheinbaum to attend APEC Summit in China: The president announced she’ll travel to Shenzhen, China, in November for the APEC Leaders’ Meeting — her first trip to Asia as president. Mexico will host the APEC summit in 2028.
🚆 750-billion-peso investment in rail projects: Sheinbaum said Mexico is investing roughly 750 billion pesos (US $42.95 billion) in railroads this sexenio, with around 60,000 jobs tied to construction.
Why today’s mañanera matters
At her Wednesday morning press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum offered a riposte to the Mexico-related remarks U.S. President Donald Trump made during a 37-minute speech to the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday.
Her retort was significant as it demonstrated — once again — that Sheinbaum is prepared to forcefully counter Trump’s rhetoric on Mexico, while simultaneously seeking to maintain a positive and productive working relationship with the U.S. president and his administration.
Also of note at today’s mañanera was Sheinbaum’s disclosure that she will travel to China in November to attend the APEC Leaders’ Meeting. The trip will be Sheinbaum’s first to Asia as president. She has visited seven foreign countries since she was sworn in on Oct. 1, 2024: Panama, Brazil, Honduras, Canada, Guatemala, the United States and Spain.
Sheinbaum responds to Trump’s UN address
A reporter asked the president about Trump’s U.N. General Assembly address, highlighting that the U.S. president described Mexico as the “epicenter” of cartel violence and declared that it is “unacceptable” for the United States to share a 2,000-mile border with a country “controlled by enemy cartels.”
Sheinbaum’s first response was to note that Trump also said “something else.”
“Let’s see, what did he say?” she asked, prompting the reporter to acknowledge that the U.S. president also said that his administration has “a very good relationship with the Mexican government.”
“They take one part of the statement and not the other,” Sheinbaum said without specifying who she was referring to.
She then gave a pointed response to Trump’s declaration that it is “unacceptable” for the U.S. to share a border with a country “controlled by enemy cartels.”
“I could say it’s very difficult to live next to a country that has such a high level of illegal drug use,” Sheinbaum said.
“Or I could say it’s very difficult to live next to a country that produces so many guns,” she said.
“But I’m not going to say it,” Sheinbuam said, eliciting laughter from the press corps.
“I’m not going to say it because we have a good relationship with President Trump and the U.S. government,” she said.
“We’re working in a coordinated way [on security challenges] and we’re making progress,” Sheinbaum said.
La presidenta Sheinbaum no quiso pronunciarse sobre las declaraciones de Trump ante la ONU
Afirma que es difícil vivir a lado de un país que es consumidor de drogas
Asked why she decided not to travel to New York to participate in the 81st session of the U.N. General Assembly, Sheinbaum responded:
“There are moments and then there are moments when one decides to go or not go. I felt that this wasn’t the time to attend the [General] Assembly. I didn’t go last year either.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Roberto Velasco is representing Sheinbaum at the General Assembly. The president noted that he has not yet addressed the General Assembly.
She told reporters that she will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting in Shenzhen, China, on Nov. 18 and 19. Sheinbaum noted that Mexico will host the APEC Leaders’ Meeting in 2028.
In China, “we’re going to receive the baton,” she said, although Vietnam will host the 2027 APEC event before Mexico gets its turn the year after.
Sheinbaum highlights 750-billion peso investment in rail projects
The president was joined by Andrés Lajous, director of the Trains and Integrated Public Transport Agency, who gave an update on under-construction rail routes including Mexico City-Querétaro, Mexico City-Pachuca and farther north, Saltillo-Nuevo Laredo. (Presidencia)
After an update on the various railroads currently under construction, Sheinbaum told reporters that the total investment in the projects is around 750 billion pesos (US $42.95 billion).
“That’s what we’re investing in trains in the sexenio,” she said, referring to her six-year period of government (2024-30).
Sheinbaum said that trains have “many virtues,” noting that they “connect regions” and “cities” and help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by taking cars and buses off the roads.
She also highlighted that railroad projects create jobs. Sheinbuam told reporters that around 60,000 people are currently employed in jobs directly related to the construction of railroads. She also said that rail projects help drive economic growth.
“We’re very happy with the work being carried out,” Sheinbaum said, referring to the various railroad projects under construction, including lines linking Mexico City to Querétaro, Mexico City to Pachuca and Saltillo to Nuevo Laredo.
Taro Watanabe shows off the form that led to a runner-up finish to Jett Schilling in the inaugural Pacífico Surf Open Cerritos in 2024. (World Surf League)
Although Acapulco and Puerto Escondido hosted World Surf League (WSL) competitions in recent years, only one WSL event is scheduled in Mexico in 2026: the Pacífico Surf Open Cerritos, returning November 19–22 at Playa Los Cerritos in the municipality of La Paz, Baja California Sur.
This will be the third edition of the Pacífico Surf Open Cerritos, which brings 120 surfers from around the globe to El Pescadero to compete in the QS 2,000-level men’s qualifying series event (the 2,000 refers to the number of ranking points available to the winner).
Baja California Sur has been a popular destination for surfers since the 1950s. (Baja California Sur)
It’s also the third major surf competition to have taken place in Baja California Sur.
The history of surf contests in Baja California Sur
Long before Los Cabos became a notable international golf destination, the southern rim of Baja California Sur was already reputed for its great surfing.
In fact, one of the first regional sporting competitions of note — after Bisbee’s Black and Blue fishing tournament, which premiered in 1982 — was the Fletcher Los Cabos Classic, a 1991 contest organized by entrepreneur, filmmaker and surfer Herbie Fletcher that brought many of the world’s best surfers to Los Cabos to compete at the famed Zippers surf break at Playa Costa Azul in San José del Cabo. Won by a 19-year-old Kelly Slater, by then already launched on what would become a legendary career, the event also led to two iconic surf films: “Herbie Fletcher’s Los Cabos Classic” (1991) and “Blistering Hot — Fletcher’s Los Cabos Classic” (1992).
Although surfers were still regularly flocking to Baja California Sur, it would be more than 20 years before another major surfing competition would be held in the state. The return was heralded by the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) sponsored Los Cabos Open of Surf, a 6-star men’s qualifying event, which debuted in June 2013.
Also based at Zippers in San José del Cabo, this event would continue for six years, but ultimately ended following the 2018 edition due to a lack of consistency. The ASP was rebranded as the World Surf League (WSL) in 2015, and at various times in the short history of the Los Cabos Open of Surf, it was promoted as a showcase for men, women or pro juniors. The event never failed to attract top talent, but it also never established a clear identity.
What’s new for the Pacífico Surf Open Cerritos this year?
“This event represents an opportunity to continue showcasing the state as a premier destination for sports tourism and to share its natural beauty with the world,” noted Fernando Ojeda Aguilar, a subsecretary of tourism for Mexico’s Secretariat of Tourism and Economy (SETUE), regarding the 2026 Pacífico Surf Open Cerritos and the spotlight it shines on Baja California Sur.
The WSL-sponsored Pacífico Surf Open Cerritos returns to Playa Los Cerritos (right) in November 2026. (Josh Withers/Unsplash)
The Pacífico Surf Open Cerritos should provide a spur to tourism, drawing not only surf fans, but those interested in regional beach culture, to be highlighted in a four-day festival featuring live music and community events.
The surfing, however, will remain front and center, with a special emphasis on the development of young Mexican surf stars. Already confirmed for this year’s event are Alan Cleland Jr., the 24-year-old Colima native who became an International Surfing Association (ISA) world champion when he took the gold medal at the 2023 ISA World Surfing Games in Surf City, El Salvador. Jhony Corzo of Puerto Escondido holds the same title thanks to his gold medal in the 2017 ISA World Surfing Games, and he too will be competing at Playa Los Cerritos.
Sebastian Williams, also from Puerto Escondido, and Lucas Cassity of La Paz will likewise wave the flag for Mexico. Cassity should draw particularly strong backing from locals … as he did in 2024, when he rode a wave of regional support to a third-place podium finish with Williams.
In December 2024, the Cabo Real Surf Club, part of the larger 3,000-acre master-planned Cabo Real development in the corridor between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo, announced it was partnering with Endless Surf, a surf park technology company, to develop the first private Endless Wave surf basin in North America.
As the project parameters indicate, it’s an enormous undertaking. The 4-acre surf basin — a centerpiece amenity for 200 surrounding new homes — will, when complete, be capable of accommodating up to 40 surfers riding 480 customizable ocean-quality waves (up to seven feet in height) per hour, thanks to a pneumatic air system powered by 250-horsepower motors. Due to its customizable features, the basin promises an excellent training tool for beginners and valuable experience for more advanced surfers.
“When complete” are the operative words, although the Gringo Gazette recently reported that Cabo Real Surf Club had begun work on filling the 16,000-square-meter surf basin — a task that could take up to 40 days given the enormous quantity of water needed — with an end of 2026 operational date targeted.
Notably, in an area with profound water scarcity issues, the seven million gallons needed to fill the basin are being sourced from a purpose-built desalination plant, not from municipal supplies.
Additional amenities at Cabo Real Surf Club will include restaurants, a fitness center, trampoline and skateboard facilities, a racquetball court and a beach club.
Chris Sands is a writer and editor for Mexico News Daily, and the former Cabo San Lucas local expert for the USA Today travel website 10 Best and writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook. He has also contributed to numerous other websites and publications, including The San Diego Union-Tribune, Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, Forbes Travel Guide, Porthole Cruise and Travel, and Cabo Living.
Can a very British sportswear brand that runs stores like this one on Oxford Street in London take over the Mexican market? JD Sports is betting that it can. (Samuel Regan-Asante / Unsplash)
British sportswear retailer JD Sports is poised to expand into Mexico next year after negotiating a long-term franchise with Mexican fashion retailer Grupo Axo, betting on high demand from the country’s growing young population.
Under the agreement, Axo will operate JD stores and e-commerce in Mexico, managing the JD brand and intellectual property, while both companies will leverage JD’s own brand and unique product portfolio in footwear, clothing and accessories.
JD Sports CEO Régis Schultz praised Grupo Axo’s “30-year track record of working with brands [in Mexico].” (Facebook)Axo, described by Fashion Network as “Mexico’s leading omnichannel multi-brand retailer,” will operate more than 140 of JD’s locations through existing Axo sneaker stores.
Betting on strong demand from Mexico’s growing young population, JD also plans to expand stores in key locations over time.
“This initiative represents another significant step in the ongoing execution of the group’s ‘JD Brand First’ strategy to enter one of the world’s most dynamic and youthful consumer markets,” JD said in a statement.
Axo will also leverage JD’s portfolio of private-label and exclusive products “to offer a differentiated proposition to Mexican consumers in the footwear, apparel and accessories categories.”
In the statement, JD noted that Mexico’s population of over 130 million — roughly 40% of whom are under 25 — has a sportswear market valued at around US $6.5 billion, a market that is projected to grow to over US $10 billion by 2034.
“Mexico is a market with a large and highly engaged consumer base, and a demographic profile that closely aligns with JD’s unique position as a trendsetter in footwear and apparel across the sports, music and fashion sectors,” JD said.
JD CEO Régis Schultz described the agreement as “an exciting milestone,” adding that “our position at the intersection of sports, music and fashion will deepen our connection with consumers.”
Schultz described Axo as “an ideal partner,” touting its “30-year track record of working with brands [in Mexico],” its deep market knowledge and robust operating platform.
Axo President and CEO Andrés Gómez highlighted JD’s brand relationships, differentiated product catalog and immersive retail experience as elements that will be incorporated into Axo’s commercial capabilities.
“This collaboration represents a significant moment for sportswear in Mexico,” he said.
For the Mexican consumer, the arrival introduces another major competitor in a category already dominated by flagship stores of large brands (such as Nike and Adidas), specialty chains (such as Grupo Martí and Innvictus), department stores and marketplaces.
U.S. President Donald Trump addressed the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday, where he called Mexico the "epicenter" of cartel violence and urged the country to "reclaim control of its soil" from cartel groups. (Laura Jarriel/United Nations)
U.S. President Donald Trump told the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday that Mexico is the “epicenter” of cartel violence and “must reclaim control of its soil from the enemies of humanity.”
During a lengthy address at the U.N. General Assembly Building in New York City, Trump described drug cartels as “the ISIS of the Western Hemisphere” before labeling Mexico as “the epicenter of the cartel violence, unfortunately.”
🇺🇳🇺🇸 Donald #Trump aseguró que 🇲🇽 #México es el epicentro de la violencia de los cárteles de la droga a quienes debe quitarle el control de su territorio, esto en su discurso ante la Asamblea General de la #ONU en Nueva York. “Lamentablemente, México es el epicentro de la… pic.twitter.com/eKhqP9yPpL
“It’s unacceptable for the United States to share a 2,000-mile border with a territory controlled by enemy cartels. So Mexico must reclaim control of its soil from the enemies of humanity,” he told his fellow world leaders and other officials, including Mexican Foreign Affairs Minister Roberto Velasco.
Trump subsequently declared that “freedom will be coming to Cuba and safety and security will be coming to Mexico.”
He didn’t specify how “safety and security” would be achieved in Mexico, but he has previously demonstrated his eagerness to combat Mexican cartels with U.S. force on Mexican soil. President Claudia Sheinbaum is vehemently opposed to any kind of U.S. intervention in Mexico, and has firmly denounced what she sees as U.S. interference in Mexican affairs.
Despite bilateral tensions related to security and trade, Trump spoke glowingly about the Mexico-U.S. relationship in his U.N. address.
“I’m very proud to tell you we have a very good relationship with the Mexican government. We’ve made great strides — very great strides — with Mexico,” he said, apparently referring to security cooperation.
“They don’t want the cartels either. And when that day comes, this entire region will be a better, safer and more beautiful place in which to live and thrive.”
Trump delivered his speech in New York a week after he submitted a “presidential declaration” to the U.S. Congress in which he said that “Mexico must take additional action” against drug cartels “that dominate vast areas of its territory,” and arrest “the many corrupt public officials” who have colluded with them.
In response, Sheinbaum said that Mexico doesn’t need to be judged “from the outside” and questioned the United States efforts to combat drug use and the illicit southward flow of weapons.
Trump: Cartels are ‘enemies at war with civilization’
Before turning his focus specifically to Mexico, Trump spoke about cartel activity in the Western Hemisphere.
“For decades, other administrations allowed much of this region to be dominated by vicious gangs and bloodthirsty drug cartels, destabilized by uncontrolled migration and infiltrated by hostile foreign adversaries — foreign, sick, demented adversaries,” he said.
“But not anymore. We are reasserting American power, including American military power, where necessary, in our region and around the world to create a safer future for all of us. It’s happening and it’s happening quickly,” Trump said.
The U.S. president noted that his administration has designated various drug cartels — including eight Mexican ones — as foreign terrorist organizations, and “unleashed the United States Armed Forces to eliminate them.”
“The cartels are the ISIS of the Western Hemisphere — not good people. They’re enemies at war with civilization, using murder, rape, torture and extortion as instruments of terror. Like ISIS, they should be killed, exiled or detained as enemy combatants without the possibility of release, which is what we’re doing,” Trump said.
“To that end, the United States has carried out dozens of strikes on cartel drug boats, destroying 97% of the drugs coming into the [U.S. via the] ocean and sea. You’ve seen it. They disappear very quickly, and we’re down 90%. They’re down 97%. Nobody thought that was possible. It was a big source of delivery,” he said.
According to the International Drug Policy Consortium, on Sept. 2, a group of U.N. experts demanded an end to unlawful killings by U.S. forces, after at least 223 deaths at sea were recorded from U.S. air strikes in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean over the past year.
“These systematic killings gravely violate the fundamental obligation to respect the right to life,” the experts said.
“International law does not permit governments to simply murder alleged criminals at sea, just as the police cannot summarily execute people on the street in United States territory.”
The return of the wayward torpedo to its U.S. owners was a formal affair, with Mexican Navy Ministry personnel attending with the U.S. defense attaché. (Semar)
A U.S. Navy torpedo lost during a training exercise off Southern California drifted into Mexican waters and was recovered near Ensenada before being returned to U.S. authorities, Mexico’s Navy said.
The device was a nonexplosive MK 54 REXTORP practice torpedo designed for training launches from aircraft or ships, the Mexican Navy said in a Monday press release detailing the recovery and return.
🚨 #BajaCalifornia | Un torpedo apareció a la deriva frente a las costas de #Ensenada y fueron pescadores quienes alertaron a la Marina. El artefacto fue localizado a 42.7 kilómetros al suroeste del puerto.
The device was lost by U.S. Navy personnel on Sept. 2 and spotted adrift two weeks later by fishermen roughly 20 nautical miles southwest of Ensenada, Baja California, the Mexican Navy said.
The fishermen’s report of an object with ballistic characteristics prompted the Mexican Navy’s Ensenada Search, Rescue and Maritime Surveillance Station to send a small boat to investigate.
Naval personnel recovered the device last week and secured it at the Second Naval Zone’s facilities, noting that it posed no danger to navigation or the maritime community.
According to information provided by the U.S. Defense Attaché, the device belonged to the U.S. Navy and was lost about 18 nautical miles west of San Clemente Island during the Sept. 2 training exercise.
Mexico’s Navy said poor weather hampered the search and the battery for the torpedo’s location system later expired.
After U.S. authorities confirmed the device was theirs, the commander of Mexico’s Second Naval Zone handed it over to personnel from the U.S. Naval Attaché in Mexico for transfer to U.S. authorities.
The fishermen initially believed the object might be floating seaweed, according to ABC Noticias.
“We thought it was sargassum. We said: Let’s go fish for dorado,” one fisherman said.
Querétaro moved up in the ranking this year, jumping from sixth to second place overall. Pictured: Querétaro city. (Shutterstock)
Mexico City remains Mexico’s most competitive state for business, while Querétaro — the country’s data center hub — ranks second, according to an analysis by a Mexican think tank.
According to IMCO, the ICE “measures the ability of the country’s states to generate, attract, and retain talent and investment.”
“A competitive state is one that makes efficient use of its capabilities to foster a favorable environment that contributes to improving its development and, consequently, the well-being of its inhabitants,” the think tank said in its index report.
The 2026 ICE — the 20th edition of the annual index — ranks all 32 federal entities based on their performance across 53 different indicators in six categories called “sub-indexes.”
The sub-indexes are innovation and economy; infrastructure; labor market; society and environment; law (which includes crime rates and citizens’ security perceptions); and political system and governments.
Mexico City ranks first in three of those sub-indexes — innovation and economy; infrastructure; and society and environment — and comes out on top overall for a 20th consecutive year.
Querétaro, which ranks first in the “political system and governments” sub-index, moved up four positions compared to 2025 to become Mexico’s second most competitive state.
Mexico City and Querétaro are the only two entities deemed to have a “very high” level of competitiveness.
The next three most-competitive states, each of which was found to have a “high” level of competitiveness, are Nuevo León, Coahuila and Baja California Sur. Nuevo León’s position didn’t change compared to last year, while Coahuila moved up three spots to become Mexico’s fourth most competitive state. Baja California Sur fell three spots in the ranking to fifth from second a year earlier.
On the other end of the scale, Guerrero is Mexico’s least competitive state, according to IMCO. The southern state fell one spot in the rankings to 32nd in 2026. IMCO said that “economic, labor, institutional and security shortcomings” limit the state’s capacity to attract investment and retain talent.
Guerrero’s business environment ranked as the least competitive in the country. Pictured: St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral in Chilpancingo, the Guerrero state capital. (Shutterstock)
Oaxaca ranks as the second least competitive state while Michoacán is the third least competitive.
Guerrero and Oaxaca have “very low” levels of competitiveness, according to IMCO, while Michoacán’s level is “low.”
Chiapas, deemed Mexico’s least competitive state in 2025, rose five places in the rankings to 27th this year. Along with 10 other states, it has a “medium low” level of competitiveness, according to IMCO.
What makes CDMX Mexico’s most competitive state?
As mentioned above, Mexico City ranks first in three of the six ICE sub-indexes.
The capital ranks second in the “labor market” sub-index; fifth in the “political systems and governments” sub-index; and 28th in the “law” one.
In its index report, IMCO wrote that Mexico City “remains the top-ranked entity in the 2026 ICE 2026 by combining economic scale, talent, innovation, financial infrastructure, and fiscal capacity.”
The think tank said that 925 economic sectors operate in Mexico City and that 47.1% of the population has a higher education qualification. It also said that per capita GDP in Mexico — at 545,000 pesos (about US $31,500) per year — is 4.7 times higher than that of Guerrero.
Many large Mexican and foreign corporations have offices in Mexico City, while the main campus of Mexico’s most prestigious university, UNAM, is located in the capital. In addition, the federal government and most of its agencies and departments are based in Mexico City, as are some of the nation’s leading healthcare facilities.
Mexico City hosts the offices of numerous large national and international companies as well as the country’s top public university, UNAM. (Shutterstock)
This helps Mexico City attract highly educated workers from around the country and abroad.
Still, Mexico City’s competitiveness faces “concrete challenges,” according to IMCO.
“Only 23.7% of the adult population feel safe and 88.9% perceive frequent corruption in the state government,” IMCO said, referring to the administration led by Mayor Clara Brugada.
“To maintain its leadership in an environment of geo-economic competition, the capital must translate its economic and fiscal sophistication into greater certainty, security, and productive linkages with national and international value chains,” the think tank said.
Querétaro, which has received billions of dollars in data center investment in recent years, ranks in the top 10 in all six ICE sub-indexes. As noted above, the state ranks first in the “political system and governments” sub-index, scoring particularly well on the “state debt” and “corruption perception” indicators. Querétaro ranks second among Mexico’s 32 federal entities in the infrastructure sub-index.
Así se ve el ranking del Índice de Competitividad Estatal #ICE2026🏆.
En esta edición, la Ciudad de México se mantiene en el primer lugar, Querétaro asciende cuatro posiciones🚀 hasta quedar en el segundo y Nuevo León permanece en tercero.
10 states recognized for their ‘competitive performance’ over 2 decades
At the presentation of the 2026 ICE in Mexico City on Monday, IMCO director Valeria Moy and other representatives of the think tank recognized 10 states for the “competitive performance” and “strengths” they have maintained over the past 20 years.
Those states are Aguascalientes, Baja California, Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Mexico City, Coahuila, Jalisco, Nuevo León, Querétaro and Sonora.
IMCO highlighted the strengths of each of those states in a statement.
Aguascalientes (8th in this year’s ICE) was lauded for its “strong integration” with North American supply chains and for the “significant progress” it has made in exports and the attraction of investment.
Baja California (17th in this year’s ICE) was praised for its “strong integration” with the global economy and its “sustained” strong performance in exports and attracting foreign investment.
Baja California Sur (5th in this year’s ICE) was described as having a tourism-driven economy with a strong ability to attract investment, “relatively high wages” and “low levels” of employment informality.
Chihuahua (15th in this year’s ICE) was singled out as Mexico’s “exports leader” during a period of 20 years.
Mexico City (1st in this year’s ICE) was described as the country’s leader in talent and higher education over the past 20 years. The capital was also said to be Mexico’s “most efficient economy in electricity use.”
Coahuila (4th in this year’s ICE) was lauded for being an “export powerhouse” in the automotive sector.
Jalisco (6th in this year’s ICE) was described as having a “diversified economy” with a “capacity for innovation.” The state was also praised for fostering the growth of medium and large companies.
Nuevo León (3rd in this year’s ICE) was lauded for its “highly trained talent” and “low” levels of employment informality. The northern state was also described as a leader in “innovation sectors.”
Querétaro (2nd in this year’s ICE) was praised for its “dynamism” in the automotive, aerospace and data center industries. It was also recognized for its “high level of economic complexity” in the past five years.
Sonora (12th in this year’s ICE) was described as a state with an “industrial economy with a highly educated workforce.” The northern state, which is also known for its high-quality beef, was praised for its “sustained” strong performance in GDP per capita and exports.
Moy: Water and energy are crucial to competitiveness
IMCO director Valeria Moy. (Cuartoscuro)
At Monday’s Mexico City event, Moy said that adequate access to water and energy is decisive to competitiveness in Mexico.
She said that each of the country’s states requires federal government support to ensure they have adequate quantities of the vital resources.
“We’re going to need electricity and water, and we know that these depend largely on the federal government —we’re very clear on that. The states won’t be able to manage on their own,” the IMCO director said.
“We urgently need a much more productive dialogue in order to have more electricity, [greater] supply and competitive prices. Otherwise, there will be no way to compete with the southern border of the United States,” Moy said.
Hurricane Polo is already dumping rain on Michoacán (including in its capital Morelia, seen here), prompting school closures in a number of municipalities and sending public protection vehicles into the streets.
(Cuartoscuro.com)
Residents of the states of Guerrero and Michoacán remain on alert Tuesday as Hurricane Polo, a Category 5 hurricane, moves slowly along the Pacific coast and is forecast to bring heavy rain to southwestern Mexico.
At 9 a.m. Tuesday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center described Polo as ‘extremely dangerous’ with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph (270 km/h). It was moving slowly north at 2 mph, located about 200 miles (330 kilometers) south of Zihuatanejo, Guerrero.
An updated satellite photo clearly shows Hurricane Polo sitting menacingly off Mexico’s Pacific coast. (SMN)
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (55 km) from the center and tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles (150 km).
The storm had been moving east slowly toward the coast, but had begun to turn northwest and is forecast to continue west-northwest, moving away from land by Wednesday night.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 165 mph (270 km/h) with gusts reaching 195 mph (315 km/h). Additional strengthening is likely through Tuesday, with fluctuations possible throughout Wednesday.
Authorities have suspended classes in Guerrero and Michoacán and schools will remain closed through Wednesday. The Navy has restricted navigation in several ports as authorities continue to monitor the storm’s development.
Polo is expected to dump up to 6 inches of rain across coastal portions of Guerrero and Michoacán through Thursday. The National Water Commission has warned of potential landslides, overflowing rivers and streams, flooding and waves of up to 4 meters (13 feet) in Michoacán and Guerrero.
Rainfall of 2 to 4 inches is possible in coastal portions of Oaxaca, Colima and Jalisco through Thursday.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Pacific coast from Tecpan de Galeana, Guerrero, north to Punta San Telmo, Michoacán. At the same time, the Tropical Storm Watch that has been in effect north of Michoacán was extended westward to Playa Perula, Jalisco.
A Tropical Storm Warning signifies that tropical storm conditions are expected within 36 hours, whereas a Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within 48 hours.
The governments of Michoacán and Guerrero have issued warnings encouraging residents — especially those living near the coast — to adhere to recommendations by Civil Protection authorities and take precautions to secure their homes against heavy winds.
Wind power production in Mexico is expected to surge to 15 gigawatts by 2030, according to Energy Ministry projections. Pictured: Wind turbines in La Rumorosa, Baja California. (Yitzhak Rodriguez / Unsplash)
Mexico is doubling down on its renewable energy ambitions, with wind energy generation expected to increase 80% by 2030 to reach 15 gigawatts, the Energy Ministry (SENER) reported in September.
Mexico is expected to increase its renewable energy generation from 24.6% of its total portfolio in 2025 to over 38% in 2030, said Jorge Islas Samperio, SENER’s Deputy Minister of Planning and Energy Transition, at a forum of the Mexican Wind Energy Association (AMDEE) and the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) earlier this month. He said renewable sources will account for more than 74% of new capacity additions, including solar, wind and hydroelectric power.
The SENER plan includes 6.86 gigawatts of capacity additions, of which 4.7 gigawatts have already been allocated to 17 wind farms.
At the same Sept. 10 forum, CFE announced the awarding of eight wind energy projects under mixed-ownership schemes, with a total capacity of 2.9 gigawatts.
The projects, which include 890 megawatts of battery storage, are expected to be operational in Nuevo León and Tamaulipas by 2030, supplying clean power to the industrial hubs of northeastern Mexico.
Energy Minister Luz Elena González previously presented the government’s plan to add almost 32.5 gigawatts of generation capacity to the national grid by 2030, with around 22 gigawatts — roughly 70% — coming from renewable sources, predominantly solar (55%) and wind (30%). González said that total investment across CFE, joint ventures, and private projects was expected to reach 739 billion pesos (US$ 41.9 billion).
In the September forum, Samperio highlighted opportunities for Mexico to develop across the wind energy value chain, including parts manufacturing and construction, and operation of wind farms.
The deputy minister said that expanding Mexico’s renewable energy capacity would be key to meeting growing electricity demand, supporting industrial development and achieving the country’s energy transition goals.
Meanwhile, AMDEE President Gerardo Pérez Guerra acknowledged that legal certainty, public-private collaboration and the expansion of transmission networks are needed to encourage new investments in infrastructure and storage.
