Toy guns sold in Mexico are not allowed to be made in the colors black, silver or gold. (@DavidMonroyMx/X)
Authorities have confiscated toy guns on sale at a market in Celaya, Guanajuato, because of their close similarity to the real thing.
Municipal authorities seized the replica weapons from a tianguis, or market, set up in the city for Three Kings’ Day (Día de los Reyes Magos), on which Mexican children traditionally receive gifts.
🔴 ¡ARMAS DE JUGUETE, ENTRE LOS MÁS VENDIDOS!
😥 En las calles de Eje 1, Manuel Doblado y del Carmen, las armas de juguete son de los más vendidos, los precios van desde los 250 a los 450 pesos.
The Celaya security department said that the products confiscated “don’t comply with the official standard for the manufacture of war toys.”
“In other words, they look real,” the department said.
According to the Mexican standard NOM-161-SCFI-2003, replica weapons must be made out of transparent or fluorescent plastic. To avoid being mistaken for the real thing, a toy gun can’t be silver, grey or black, or a combination of those colors.
Local official Salvador Martínez Abud said that many of the toy weapons on sale at the Three Kings’ Day market complied with regulations, but three models didn’t because they’re “completely identical” to real guns.
Replica AK-47s that shoot hydrogel bullets were among the toy guns seized.
Martínez said that municipal authorities in Celaya – one of Mexico’s most violent cities – “categorically condemn” the manufacture and sale of “these kinds of toys.”
“We’re not in the ’80s when perhaps children in their innocence played cops and robbers. … We have to take a lot of care in managing the issue of arms,” he said, adding that children could get the wrong idea about “what a game is” were they to play with the authentic-looking – and reportedly popular – toy guns.
On the X social media platform, the Celaya security department posted a “letter” to the Reyes Magos (Wise Men or Three Kings) asking them not to bring replica weapons as gifts.
“To the beloved Reyes Magos, let’s promote the use of traditional and playful toys as well as reading in order to encourage the prevention of crime and violence, and appreciation of the values of family and social coexistence,” the letter said.
The flight crashed just 200 meters short of the airport runway. (@JuanJoRamz28/X)
Four people are dead after a light aircraft crashed near the Saltillo Airport in Coahuila on Friday.
A Piper PA-46 plane with four people on board came down just 200 meters short of a runway at the airport — officially the Plan de Guadalupe International Airport — at around midday after taking off from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, some 40 minutes earlier, according to Coahuila authorities and media reports.
Just before the crash, the pilot, identified as Antonio Ávila, reported that the aircraft had run out of fuel, the Milenio newspaper reported.
The other three victims were Adriana Garza Ibarra, Rosario Garza Ibarra and Hilda Garza Ibarra, according to the newspaper El Heraldo de Saltillo.
Milenio reported that Adriana Garza Ibarra was a crew member and that the other two women were from the United States, but El Heraldo said that all three were passengers. Their surnames suggest they were sisters.
El Heraldo reported that the single-engine aircraft first departed Brownsville, Texas, before stopping off in Matamoros. The two cities are located on opposite sides of the Mexico-U.S. border.
El Heraldo also said that strong winds may have been a factor in the crash, which occurred in the Blanca Esthela neighborhood of Ramos Arizpe, a municipality in the metropolitan area of Saltillo where the airport is located.
According to Milenio, the single-engine aircraft — made by the Florida-based manufacturer Piper Aircraft — was owned by a company based in Toluca, México state.
The peso has maintained strength against the US dollar as January begins, but could weaken later this year, experts say. (Crisanta Espinosa Aguilar/Cuartoscuro)
The Mexican peso appreciated to its strongest position against the US dollar in over four months on Friday after data showed that United States employers hired more workers than expected in December.
The peso was trading at 16.87 to the dollar at 3:00 p.m. Mexico City time, the currency’s strongest position since late August.
The peso closed just below 17 to the greenback last Friday, but was above that level on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Gabriela Siller, director of economic analysis at the Mexican bank Banco Base, said that the appreciation of the peso on Friday was due to the better-than-expected employment data out of the United States.
The U.S. Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that non-farm payroll employment increased by 216,000 in December and that the unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.7%.
The Bank of México (Banxico) headquarters in Mexico City. (Shutterstock)
Siller said that the U.S. employment data was “positive news for economic growth in Mexico, due to the close economic relationship between the two countries through exports.”
The stronger-than-expected job growth also makes it less likely that the United States Federal Reserve will cut interest rates in the very near term.
“Jobs growth remains as resilient as ever, validating growing skepticism that the economy will be ready for policy rate cuts as early as March,” said Seema Shah, chief global strategist at Principal Asset Management.
Nancy Vanden Houten, lead U.S. economist at Oxford Economics, predicted that the Fed will make an initial cut to its 5.25%-5.5% interest rate range in May.
The wide difference between the Bank of Mexico’s record high benchmark interest of 11.25% and the Fed’s range is one factor that helped the peso strengthen in 2023 after it started last year at around 19.5 to the dollar.
Reuters reported Friday that the bank, abbreviated as Banxico, “drove inflows [of foreign capital] by leaving its key rate at a multi-year high of 11.25% for much of the year to lower inflation.”
Mexico’s central bank raised its key rate to 11.25% last March and has left it unchanged since then. The bank said last month that “the reference rate must be maintained at its current level for some time” in order to “achieve an orderly and sustained convergence of headline inflation to the 3% target.”
The peso has appreciated significantly over 2023, but analysts expect the currency to weaken next year. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)
Many analysts believe that Banxico will make an initial cut to its key rate in the first half of 2024, but the bank’s board members don’t expect inflation to converge to the 3% target until the second quarter of 2025, according to the freshly-released minutes of their December monetary policy meeting.
Annual headline inflation ticked up to 4.46% in the first half of December, from 4.32% in November.
What’s in store for the peso in 2024?
The peso appreciated by about 15% against the US dollar in 2023, its best performance in over 30 years.
However, many analysts and financial organizations believe the currency will weaken this year.
All 33 banks, brokerages and research organizations consulted by Citibanamex for its most recent “expectations survey” predicted that the peso will depreciate in 2024. Their consensus forecast was that the USD:MXN exchange rate will be 18.65 at the end of 2024.
The median estimate of 25 currency strategists polled by Reuters in early January is that the peso will trade at 18 to the dollar at the end of 2024, a weakening of around 6% from its position on Friday afternoon.
“The expected drop is bigger than a consensus inflation forecast of 4.0%, meaning the currency will undergo some pressure from narrower [interest] rate differentials ahead,” Reuters reported.
Montserrat Aldave, principal economist in Finamex, told the news agency that “central banks will begin to ease in 2024 and we anticipate rate spreads between Mexico and the United States will decrease by 100-150 basis points.”
The current gap between the Bank of Mexico’s key rate and the Fed’s rate is 575-600 basis points.
“At 11.25%, Banxico’s rate continues to offer a big margin over the U.S. Federal Reserve’s range of 5.25%-5.50% for the cost of credit, which investors capitalize on in profitable so-called ‘carry trade’ bets,” Reuters reported.
A reduction in that margin could lead to a decrease in investment inflows to Mexico, and thus reduce demand for the peso and weaken the currency in 2024.
One in ten fruits produced in Mexico is a mango. (Rodolfo Patiño/Cuartoscuro)
Mexico produced more than 2.23 million tonnes of mangoes between January and November 2023, up from 2.16 million tonnes in the same period of 2022, and setting a record for annual production.
TheAgriculture and Rural Development Ministry (Sader) highlighted that the sector had seen sustained growth of around 39% over the last ten years, largely driven by increased areas allocated to mango cultivation.
Mangoes are cultivated in 23 Mexican states, but just five states account for 76% of national production. (Gobierno de México)
Between 2022 and 2023, mango cultivation areas in Mexico increased by 5%, from 208,994 to 219,452 hectares, while average yield grew from 10.83 to 10.85 tonnes per hectare. Around 80% of Mexican mangoes are harvested between April and August, according to Sader’s data.
“As Mexico is a world power producer of the fruit, with a high capacity for mobilization, it also makes the largest shipments abroad during those months,” the ministry said.
Sader also highlighted that better systems implemented by the National Service of Agrifood Health, Safety and Quality (Senasica) are helping more fruit reach the market.
Mangoes are cultivated in 23 Mexican states, but just five states account for 76% of national production. Sinaloa led the way, producing 475,324 tonnes in the first 11 months of 2023, followed by Guerrero with 417,209 tonnes, Nayarit with 323,117 tonnes, Chiapas with 272,151 tonnes, and Oaxaca with 213,960 tonnes.
Native to southeast Asia, mangoes were firstintroduced to Mexico by the Spanish in the 16th century, and proved well-suited to the local soils and climate. Today,Mexico ranks fifth in global mango production, with 14 different breeds cultivated in the country. The most popular is the sweet, yellow Ataúlfo mango, which was originally bred by agronomist Ataúlfo Morales in Soconusco, Chiapas.
Mango is ubiquitous in Mexican cuisine, flavoring everything from ceviche to salsas to cocktails. But it is typically eaten fresh, often seasoned with lime and chili. Sader estimates that Mexicans consume an average of 13 kilos of mango per person per year, and mangoes account for 9% of national fruit production.
AICM began reducing the maximum number of hourly flights allowed in early 2022. (Carlos Aranda/Unsplash)
Hourly flight numbers at the Mexico City International Airport (AICM) will be reduced to 43 from 52 starting next Monday.
The plan to reduce flight numbers at Mexico’s busiest airport was first announced last August and initially scheduled to take effect in late October.
However, the federal government subsequently postponed its implementation until Jan. 8 to to avoid a negative impact on travelers using the AICM during the peak winter travel season.
In a statement issued on Friday, the airport confirmed that hourly flight numbers would be reduced as of Monday.
It didn’t specify when flight numbers would increase again, but noted that the same reduction would apply for the “upcoming summer season,” which will commence March 31 and conclude Oct. 26.
In order to cut flight numbers from 52 to 43 — a 17% reduction — a “complicated and complex process in the allocation of landing and takeoff schedules (slots)” was completed, the AICM said.
Mexico’s busiest airport will see another reduction in flights starting on Monday to relieve congestion. (Cuartoscuro)
It added that the process resulted in the “proportional reduction of 9,413 schedules” over an unspecified period. The AICM highlighted that “the reduction of slots will not apply to international flights.”
The federal government declared in early 2022 that both AICM terminals had reached saturation point, and enacted the same year a so-called “temporary” plan to reduce the number of flights arriving and departing, from 61 to 52 per hour.
In August last year, the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport said that the reduction to 43 flights per hour would also be “temporary” and “remain in place as long as the saturation conditions at AICM persist.”
As things stand, it appears that the limit of 43 flights per hour will apply throughout most of 2024.
The National Chamber of Air Transport said last year that “the basic problem at AICM is not the capacity of [flights] per hour, but the age of the infrastructure and [its state of] deterioration.”
The government has sought to encourage Mexican airlines to shift some of their operations to the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA), which opened north of Mexico City in early 2022.
Casa de piedra, Mérida. Designed by Enekén Studio. (@nkn.studio/Instagram)
The kitchen holds great importance in Mexican culture. It is a space for gathering and culinary creation, as well as a space for experimentation with materials, layouts, textures and colors. To honor this design tradition, we’re sharing the latest of the avant-garde in Mexican kitchen design. Whether you are looking to remodel your kitchen in Mexico, or add modern touches of Mexico to your kitchen across the pond, these trends and examples of excellence in Mexican kitchen design will inspire you to enhance your own kitchen space.
In this globalized world, regional identities continue to thrive and contribute to the overall diversity. This is particularly evident in the fields of architecture and design, which add a unique charm to our living environments. Today, we will explore some of the trends in Mexican kitchen design.
Villa Cava, Tulum. Designed by Espacio 18 Arquitectura. (@espacio18/Instagram)
In 2024, kitchen design trends will combine aesthetics, functionality, and sustainability to create practical, beautiful, and environmentally responsible choices. Mexico, with its privileged climate, offers numerous possibilities to play with building materials’ temperature, the quality of light, wind currents, and more. Mexican kitchen designers embrace this flexibility and integrate it into their work.
Biophilic design, which incorporates elements such as plants, natural light and natural materials, will be a definite trend for the next year. Functional minimalism, clean surfaces and the use of durable building materials will also be popular. Neutral colors will dominate, creating a calm and timeless interior aesthetic. Sustainability will be a key consideration, with a focus on choosing eco-friendly materials for countertops, flooring and kitchen cabinetry. As a result, recycled woods, natural stone and sustainable quartz countertops will be in high demand. Neutral and earthy colors, such as moss green and earth tones, will be popular choices to create a connection with nature.
In terms of technology, Internet-connected appliances, such as refrigerators that can track inventory and ovens that can be controlled from a smartphone, will become more common. Additionally, open layouts that facilitate a seamless transition between the kitchen and other living areas will be popular. The kitchen island will continue to serve as the centerpiece, providing space for cooking, dining and socializing. Multifunctional layouts will be utilized to optimize space.
In Mexico, modern kitchen designs combine beautiful elements of rustic charm with influences of Mexican nature and landscapes. Below, explore ideas that showcase the aforementioned trends in a delightful blend of sophistication, nature, technology and sustainability.
Casa Palo, Tulum. Designed by Terreo Studio. (@terreostudio/Instagram)
This kitchen is a beautiful example of an open layout that blends the sensation of a natural landscape with the softness of neutral, peaceful colors. Enekén Studio, known for its expertise in architecture and design, has created a kitchen that poetically combines elegance and rusticity. Their attention to detail and commitment to creating meaningful objects is evident in every aspect of this space.
This kitchen serves as a representation of the significance of kitchens in Mexican culture. The dining table seamlessly connects to the modular kitchen, creating a natural extension of the space. The color palette chosen for this kitchen harmonizes perfectly with the surrounding landscape of the Baja California Valley. An adjacent terrace enhances the spacious feel of the area. This project was specifically designed for Cla Cla mx, a collaboration between Claudia Turrent and Axel de la Torre, who describe their architectural approach as “Contemporary Vernacular Architecture,” committed to sustainable and organic design principles.
Casa que canta, Mérida. Designed by Workshop Diseño y Construcción. (@workshop_arquitectos/Instagram)
This beautiful kitchen combines the essence of colonial history, tradition and modernity. Created by Workshop, this kitchen is a representative project of the firm, which is known for its masterful interventions in colonial and old houses.
The beauty of this kitchen lies in its seamless blend of rustic and modern elements, creating a harmonious connection with its surroundings in Tulum. Terreo Studio, an architectural design firm inspired by Mexican landscapes and materials, has created a space that exudes elegance and lightness. The practicality of the design is complemented by its simplicity and sophistication.
This kitchen evokes an open and inviting atmosphere, enhanced by the adjacent terrace. The color palette chosen creates a sense of tranquility and takes inspiration from the vibrant colors of Tulum. The elegance of this space lies in its refined simplicity, which paradoxically highlights the significance of the kitchen within the home.
This kitchen is part of Casa Escuela, a multidisciplinary residency in Mérida, Yucatán. The restoration of this historic colonial house took four years, and the result is simply breathtaking. The kitchen in Casa Escuela is designed to promote a sense of joy and creativity, with its eye-catching colors and peaceful ambiance.
Ana Paula de la Torre is a Mexican journalist and collaborator of various media such as Milenio, Animal Político, Vice, Newsweek en Español, Televisa and Mexico News Daily.
21 million tourists flocked to the beaches of Quintana Roo last year, as the state exceeded tourism projections. (Elizabeth Ruiz/Cuartoscuro)
Quintana Roo, home to some of Mexico’s most popular beach destinations including Cancún, Tulum and Playa del Carmen, ended 2023 with record-breaking tourism figures.
Governor Mara Lezama announced that traffic through the Cancún International Airport reached 33.7 million passengers last year, and the state received 21 million visitors, up 8% over 2022. Revenue from tourism was also reported to be 12% higher in 2023, reaching US $21 billion.
Cruise ship traffic to the state was over 6 million for the year. (Cuartoscuro)
According to the Cancún, Puerto Morelos & Isla Mujeres Hotel Association, the Caribbean resort city closed the year with a 91.2% occupancy rate, Puerto Morelos with 88.7%, and the Isla Mujeres’ area with 91.1%.
The state has over 130,000 hotel rooms, and this number is expected to increase in 2024 with the addition of a growing number of vacation rentals.
The state also saw 6.1 million cruise passengers arrive during 2023.
Daily air operation reports at the Cancún airport show that the average number of daily flights in December was between 540 and 600, peaking on Saturday, Dec. 30, with 701 flights.
“It has undoubtedly been a great year for Cancún, with numerous high-level events taking place,” the Benito Juárez Tourism Minister, Juan Pablo de Zulueta Razo said.
In December, plans were announced to update the Cancún airport, with an investment of US $1.4 billion over five years. The opening of the Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport in Tulum last month is also expected to ease congestion at the Cancún airport, which serves as the primary gateway for international tourists visiting Mexico.
Last year, out of the 34.9 million seats on international flights to Mexico, 12.6 million were on routes to Cancún airport, accounting for 36.1% of the overall market.
The president discussed the migrant case by video call with Américo Villarreal, the governor of Tamaulipas, at the Friday morning press conference. (Cuartoscuro)
Federal Security Minister Rosa Icela Rodríguez and Tamaulipas Governor Américo Villareal provided an update on Friday morning on the case involving the abduction on Dec. 30 and release on Jan. 3 of 32 migrants.
Twenty-six of the migrants who were abducted near the border city of Reynosa are Venezuelan, while the other six are Honduran, Rodríguez said. She noted that 12 are women, eight are girls, nine are men and three are boys.
The group of abducted migrants included 12 women, eight girls, nine men and three boys. (JesusRCuevas/X)
A one-year-old girl was not initially counted among those abducted. Rodríguez previously said that Ecuadorians, Colombians and Mexicans were also among those kidnapped.
Federal officials said on Wednesday that the migrants had been “rescued,” but President López Obrador acknowledged on Thursday that they were released by their captors and left in a shopping center parking lot.
No arrests have been made in connection with the abduction, but authorities are confident that their investigations will lead to the kidnappers being taken into custody. The National Immigration Institute will issue visitor permits to the abducted migrants, allowing them to access a range of services.
Here are the key points from the update on the case presented at López Obrador’s Friday morning press conference.
Rosa Icela Rodríguez reported on the migrant kidnapping at the Friday morning press conference. (Rosa Icela Rodríguez/X)
Per Rodríguez’s report
The bus on which the migrants were traveling was intercepted by armed men in five pick-up trucks on the Reynosa-Matamoros highway in the municipality of Río Bravo at approximately 7:30 p.m. last Saturday.
A total of 37 passengers including a baby were on the bus.
The “criminals” forced the passengers to disembark the bus and put 32 of them in their vehicles, leaving behind five people – two Mexicans and three Venezuelans.
The bus driver reported the incident to authorities before completing the journey from Monterrey to Matamoros. Police escorted the bus from Nuevo Progreso to Matamoros.
The migrants were driven along a dirt road for 20 minutes until they were put onto an “old bus” and taken to a property with a warehouse and “a nearby house.”
The migrants were stripped of their cell phones and other “items of value.”
The “kidnappers” called the families of their victims in the early hours of Dec. 31 to demand ransoms.
Some families paid “a part” of the money demanded by the criminals.
Federal and state authorities immediately launched a search operation. Police dogs and drones assisted the search efforts across six municipalities. The abducted migrants’ telephones were traced and authorities interviewed local residents as part of their investigations.
The Tamaulipas Attorney General’s Office (FGJ) reported the location of the migrants in the municipality of Río Bravo on Wednesday.
The migrants were “immediately” taken to FGJ offices for a medical checkups and all were found to be in good health “without injuries.”
The migrants told authorities they were released due to “the deployment of federal forces in the area.”
“There are very clear lines of investigation to achieve the arrest of the culprits.”
According to Rodríguez, there are “clear lines of investigation” in the case to help authorities arrest the culprits. (Cuartoscuro)
Per Villareal’s report
Three of the abducted Venezuelans also have Colombian nationality, but they chose to receive consular assistance from Venezuelan authorities.
The National Immigration Institute and the DIF family services agency are assisting the migrants. Some of the abductees are continuing to provide testimony to authorities.
There is no evidence to support allegations that police were involved in the abduction of the migrants.
Organized crime groups are seeking “new ways” to make money off migrants as many are now moving through the country on public transport to attend appointments with U.S immigration authorities rather than paying people smugglers for their services. Extortion – of which many migrants have been victims in Tamaulipas and other parts of the country – is one of those ways.
López Obrador weighs in
It is “offensive” and “very irresponsible” to say there was police involvement in the abduction when there is no evidence to support the claim.
Claims that federal forces were deployed to Tamaulipas due to a situation of “ungovernability” in the northern border state are “categorically false.”
“In Tamaulipas, we’ve managed to considerably reduce the crime rate. … We can prove it.”
Report: over 300 migrants kidnapped in six states in 2023
The Milenio newspaper reported Friday that more than 300 migrants, including Mexicans traveling through the country en route to the United States, were kidnapped in Chihuahua, San Luis Potosí, Veracruz, Chiapas, Sonora and Tamaulipas last year.
Migrants are often targeted by criminal groups as they transit through Mexico towards the United States. (Cuartoscuro)
The newspaper, which looked at official data and spoke to human rights advocates, said that at least 150 migrants were kidnapped in Chihuahua in 2023 and at least 100 were abducted in San Luis Potosí, including a group of 49 in the municipality of Matehuala last May.
Milenio said that more than 30 migrants were kidnapped in Veracruz last year and that 17 were abducted in Chiapas in December alone. It also reported that at least 30 Mexicans who left their home state of Oaxaca for the United States were kidnapped by armed groups in Tamaulipas and Sonora last year. Some of the migrants from Oaxaca are still missing.
Migrants are frequently targeted by criminal groups as they travel through Mexico toward the northern border. Many have been forcibly recruited by cartels, while others have been killed.
Spend the best 72 hours of your weekend in Puerto Vallarta. (Meagan Drillinger)
A quick Google search of the best things to do in Puerto Vallarta reveals a laundry list of the classics: hit the beach, stroll through the Malecon, eat and drink in the Zona Romantica. Those are all solid suggestions and should be on anyone’s first itinerary to Puerto Vallarta — they are classics for a reason. But for those of us who live here, they tend to be a little generic and sometimes a little overplayed.
I’ve been calling Puerto Vallarta home for five years now, though my relationship with the city goes back a decade. Despite that, I still find myself discovering new sides and personalities of this place every time I’m home. What’s even better is when I get to show friends and family my Puerto Vallarta — the things that have become my favorites even after so many years of hitting the same cobblestone streets.
Near Puerto Vallarta, there are quiet beaches to rest from the bustle of tourists. (Meagan Drillinger)
So, if you’re looking for an insider’s guide to a perfect weekend in Puerto Vallarta, here is my personal itinerary, which mixes in the classic highlights with little nuggets that you’d only know if you were truly a local.
Friday
You’ll be spoiled for choice when searching for hotels in Puerto Vallarta, but I always recommend that visitors stay at Casa Kimberly. It’s more than just a fabulous boutique hotel — it’s an experience. The opulent Mediterranean-style villa was a gift from Richard Burton to Elizabeth Taylor, and the two carried on a not-so-secret affair when he was in Puerto Vallarta filming the now-iconic “Night of the Iguana.”
Pass through the wrought-iron gate, head up the stone stairs, and beneath glittering chandeliers — careful not to get locked in the blue-eyed stare of the larger-than-life portrait of Liz hanging in the lobby. Then it’s off to one of the nine individually decorated suites, each of which has sweeping balconies with panoramic views over the terracotta-tiled roofs nestled between ridges of moss-colored peaks, and the cobalt-colored Bay of Banderas below.
After settling in, head towards the buzzy, slightly less touristy 5 de Diciembre neighborhood. This area, brimming with restaurants, coffee shops, and souvenir stands has one of the best beaches in Puerto Vallarta, and with that comes one of the best beach restaurants, El Solar. Grab a table on the sand or the elevated wooden deck for the perfect PV welcome.
Casa Kimberly. (Meagan Drillinger)
The pocket-sized restaurant/bar enjoys one of the best addresses in town, with a prime beachfront location and a menu of fresh seafood, ceviches, salads, and more. I always like to order a Crunchy Salad, Tuna Poke, and the Baja-style Shrimp Tacos. Plan your visit just before sunset so you’ll have the best seat in the house for one of Puerto Vallarta’s epic evening displays.
After you’ve had your fill of fresh seafood, great music, and perhaps a cerveza or two, take your time walking the Malecon back towards Zona Romántica and Casa Kimberly. Be back on your terrace before 9 p.m. to catch the nightly fireworks show over the bay.
Saturday
Morning
It’s an early start to the day as you’ll be taking one of the most beautiful beach hikes in Puerto Vallarta. Walk down from Casa Kimberly’s hilltop perch and follow the cobblestone streets toward Zona Romántica’s Olas Altas Farmer’s Market, held every Saturday. Grab a coffee and a bite to eat at Crema Vallarta, a lovely little coffee shop with hearty breakfast sandwiches and pastries. It’s woman-and-locally-owned, too, which I love to support.
After breakfast, head to the corner of Constitución y Calle Basilio Badillo to grab the white-and-orange bus to Boca de Tomatlan. The bus fare is roughly 10 pesos and the ride is about 30 minutes. From Boca, follow the signs towards the Colomitos hike, which is down the hill from the highway and to the left at the back of the large public parking area.
This 2.5-mile moderate hike takes about two hours from Boca de Tomatlán to Playa Las Animas and hugs the coastline for the entire route. The trail frequently opens up from rocky vistas overlooking crashing surf to some of the most beautiful and undeveloped beaches in the area. You can stop at any of the beaches to take a dip, but I like to save my swimming for close to the end, just before Playa Las Animas.
Afternoon
Before you reach Playa Las Animas you will hit the bohemian beach hideaway of Casitas Maraika. This funky, artsy beach club has a secluded stretch of sand and is only accessible by boat or hike. A collection of hilltop bungalows is available to rent for the night. Still, daytrippers can reserve a table at the beach club for an al fresco lunch that is practically begging to be photographed — impossibly blue water, powder-soft white sand, and a barefoot, boho vibe. This is where I like to spend the afternoon bouncing back and forth between the water and mouthfuls of fish burrito and guacamole.
A delicious shrimp taco at Abulón. (Meagan Drillinger)
When you’ve had your fill, continue to the much more hectic and crowded Playa Las Animas to grab the water taxi back to Boca de Tomatlán. Take a taxi or the bus back to Puerto Vallarta and head to Casa Kimberly for a little rest and refresh before heading out for the evening.
Evening
After a shower (or a soak in your beautiful Casa Kimberly bathtub), head down to the hotel’s The Iguana Restaurant & Tequila Bar for a cocktail. Be sure to steal another glance at that view — it is the best in town.
Then it’s off to dinner — but the good news for your already-tired feet is you don’t have to go very far. A quick walk down the steps just outside the hotel will put you on the banks of the Rio Cuale. Here you’ll find Tintoque, one of Puerto Vallarta’s best restaurants for fine dining.
I say fine dining, but Puerto Vallarta is a perpetually casual town, so the restaurant atmosphere is far from stuffy, white-glove service. Instead, the dining room is chic, but comfortable, with a lovely al fresco patio overlooking the river. The menu here changes regularly, but expect dishes like tuna sashimi with capers, fresh burrata, or short ribs that fall right off the bone.
If you’re still burning with energy, grab a nightcap at dive bar El Soñador, or dance it out to 90s and early 00s hits at Mr. Flamingo’s. You can also head towards Centro for swanky cocktails and a speakeasy vibe at El Colibri.
Sunday
Morning
Today is a day to sleep in, especially if you enjoyed PV’s nightlife to the fullest last night. Have a relaxed coffee on your breezy terrace and watch the boats gently drift back and forth across the bay.
This morning is about mindfulness, spirituality, and healing at the gorgeous Terra Noble. This jungle-shrouded healing center is nestled in the mountains overlooking Puerto Vallarta. The spectacular space feels like it’s out of a castaway-style adventure with tiered terraces, broad palapas, sparkly plunge pools, and thick jungle foliage showing off every shade of green. The center specializes in everything from massage and sound baths to cacao circles, reiki, and temazcal.
Afternoon
Grounded, centered, and showing off a vibrating, newly cleansed aura, it’s time for one last meal in Puerto Vallarta, except that you’ll make this experience many meals in one with a snack-hopping tour around Versalles.
Versalles is one of Puerto Vallarta’s hottest neighborhoods, particularly when it comes to food. This growing neighborhood of locals and expats has seen a high concentration of restaurants opening up at lightning speed. Easily walkable, you can stroll down any of its European city-named streets for a dizzying array of international cuisine.
I like to recommend a stop at El Puerco de Oro, a humble hole-in-the-wall that specializes in one thing only: a super succulent pork belly taco atop a blue corn tortilla. It’s easy to eat three or four of these, but you’re going to want to save some room because the next stop is nearby Abulón, Antojería del Mar. This outdoor seafood eatery is known for its ceviche, tacos, and tostadas. The shrimp tacos al pastor and La Mulata Tostada (spicy tuna, lime juice, chicharron) are two must-orders.
If you still have space to spare, you can visit Lamara for outstanding ceviches and aguachile, or close it out with one of Puerto Vallarta’s very best fish tacos at Marisma Fish Taco.
Loosen the belt a notch or two and take a deep breath. After this whirlwind weekend itinerary in Puerto Vallarta, you can say with absolute conviction that you have seen, experienced, and eaten the very best of PV — and you did it in true insider style.
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.
No Kings' Day celebration is complete without a rosca de reyes, or king cake. (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)
Toy stores and bakeries expect a 10% increase in sales for the celebration of Three Kings’ Day (Día de los Reyes Magos) on Saturday, according to the president of the Confederation of National Chambers of Commerce, Services and Tourism (Concanaco Servytur).
Héctor Tejada Shaar predicted total revenue of 22 billion pesos (US $1.3 billion) from this year’s festivities, up from 20 billion pesos (US $1.18 billion) in 2023. The commerce, services and tourism sectors are expected to be the biggest winners.
Three Kings’ Day is traditionally a day for gift giving, in recognition of the gifts brought by the Three Kings. (Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)
Three Kings’ Day, also known as Epiphany, is a traditional Catholic holiday held on Jan. 6, which celebrates the arrival of the three wise men in Bethlehem to bring gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby Jesus. In Mexico, it is celebrated by sharing a sweet, circular bread known asRosca de Reyes. The oval shape of the bread symbolizes God’s eternal love, while the crystallized fruits on its surface symbolize the jewels in the crowns of the three kings.
A small doll is baked into the bread, representing how the holy family hid the baby Jesus from King Herod’s Massacre of the Innocents by fleeing to Egypt. In Mexico, whoever finds this doll must take care of it until Candlemas Day (Día de la Candelaria) on Feb. 2.
Thanks to this tradition, Mexico’s estimated 70,000 bakeries are the biggest economic winners from the holiday. The festival also sees increased demand for milk, chocolate and coffee to accompany the bread.
Many Mexican families also give gifts on Three Kings’ Day, particularly to children. This drives increased toy sales, as well as demand for electronic items, perfume, clothing and shoes.
Tejada celebrated the economic windfall for the sector, encouraging consumers to buy from the formal trade sector to stimulate the economy and obtain quality products.
“The commerce, services and tourism sector is the engine of the country’s growth and an ally in Mexico’s cultural richness, through traditions such as Three Kings’ Day,” he said.
