The Mexican government will shortly begin a six-month survey of wild jaguar populations, to determine the number that remain in the wild. (Shutterstock)
How many wild jaguars are left in Mexico? A government census will soon shed light on the status of one of Mexico’s apex predators, the largest wild feline in the Americas.
According to the National Commission for Natural Protected Areas (Conanp), the third National Jaguar Census will take place from March to June this year, with results expected to be released in August.
How many jaguars were recorded in the most recent surveys?
Mexico conducted the first census in 2008, studying jaguar populations across 15 conservation sites.
The review took three years to complete and established Mexico as a leader in conservation strategies for preserving wild jaguar populations.
According to that first census, an estimated 4,000 jaguars lived in the country, mostly in the Yucatán peninsula. By 2018, when the second census was carried out, this figure had increased to approximately 4,800.
Con la información que se genere tomaremos decisiones para fortalecer el cuidado de nuestro felino sagrado en 🇲🇽, con las comunidades. 🐾🌳🌺⛰️ pic.twitter.com/G5x9gfKLNd
One of the conservationists involved posted this video of camera trap footage of “our sacred feline in Mexico”
Experts hope to see that number increase once again in response to the conservation measures in place.
How will the census be conducted?
Data will be collected from Natural Protected Areas (ANP) and areas of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, the jaguar’s natural habitat. In total, 19 ANPs and 10 additional sites will participate in the census.
The survey will be conducted by the Environmental Ministry (Semarnat), the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Conanp) the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and the National Alliance for the Conservation of the Jaguar (ANCJ).
Where can jaguars be found in Mexico?
Jaguars are the biggest wild cats in the Americas. In Mexico, they primarily live in the southeast of the country and along the Río Bravo region of the Gulf of Mexico. They can also be found in the Sierra Madre Occidental on the Pacific coast and near the borders of Belize and Guatemala.
The current government has increased protected jaguar habitats by more than 1.6 million hectares. (Moisés Pablo/Cuartoscuro
The three states with the largest jaguar populations are Campeche, Chiapas, and Quintana Roo, with the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve in Campeche and the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve in Quintana Roo reporting the largest population of jaguars.
How much protected land is there for jaguars in Mexico?
A healthy jaguar population requires extensive habitats. A single jaguar requires between 2,500 and 10,000 hectares, along with a network of connected territories.
During the administration of President Andrés Manul López Obrador, the protection of priority jaguar habitats has been increased by 1.6 million hectares.
Through ANPs and Areas Voluntarily Destined for Conservation (ADVC), Conanp said it has consolidated 1.5 million hectares of vital territory for jaguars in the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, the second-largest protected tropical forest on the continent after the Amazon.
The 2024 tax season has begun. Here are some tips to save you a headache when filing. (Kelly Sikkema/Unsplash)
Many Americans have had nightmares about sitting at the kitchen table late at night, with their head in their hands, eyes toggling back and forth between the instructions for tax forms and schedules, and a pile of receipts, while their pencil, eraser and calculator wait patiently next to their now-cold cup of coffee and their mind agitates about how they ever got themselves into this mess.
Tax season has that effect on people. It’s an unwelcome, often confusing and tedious chore that brings no joy and that everyone wishes would just go away. But if you are like me, and have been dutifully signing your name on a tax return for (going on) forty years, you must realize by now that it is not going away. Even if you move to Mexico.
If you live and work abroad, different tax rules may apply to you. Check with the IRS (or a professional) to see if you are affected. (Unsplash)
And since we can’t avoid it, we may as well embrace it. Yes, I said embrace it. As April 15 marches inevitably closer, I am providing the following five tips to get you in the right frame of mind to handle tax season with aplomb.
Tip one – Assume you have to file a tax return
Did you ever wonder what the United States has in common with the African nation of Eritrea?
Answer: They are the only two countries in the world that tax the worldwide income of their citizens, regardless of where they live or where they earn money.
This means that if you are a U.S. citizen living anywhere in the world, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) wants to know how much money you made last year. And, if you happen to be an Eritrean citizen and are reading this article, you should know that the Inland Revenue Department of Eritrea also wants to know how much money you made last year.
The happy news is that just because you are a U.S. citizen and have to file a Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, this does not mean that you will owe tax. Generally, if you are single and your gross income is less than $13,850, or if you are married and your gross income is less than $27,700, you won’t owe anything to the IRS. Gross income means anything that puts money in your pocket, including your earnings from work, dividends from investment accounts, distributions from IRAs and pensions, rents and royalties that you receive and profit on if you sell your home.
If your income is below the taxable threshold for your filing status, there can still be special situations that require you to file a return. To be certain, you can click the link “Do I need to file a tax return?” on the IRS website to help you decide if you need to file a return.
If you are living and working outside the United States on April 15, you automatically qualify for a two-month tax extension until June 17, 2024, to file a return and pay tax. (coworking.tulum/Instagram)
If your income is below the taxable threshold for your filing status, and you don’t fall into one of the special situations that require you to file a return, you may still want to file. For example, you should file a return to get a refund of any income tax that was withheld from your pay or your retirement account or other distributions, to satisfy requirements to obtain a green card for a non-U.S. spouse, if you plan to apply for a loan from a U.S. bank or to get certain refundable tax credits such as the Additional Child Tax Credit for dependent children or the American Opportunity credit for higher education costs. Refundable tax credits are essentially reimbursements from the government of a portion of what you spent on what it deems “qualified costs.” Even if you don’t owe any tax, you can receive these payments, but you have to file a return to claim them.
Another reason to file a return even if you aren’t required to is to help prevent identity theft.
Consider this, if you file a return, and a fraudster files a return using your personal information, the IRS will contact you about the duplication. Following up with the IRS in this circumstance will help the agency to quickly resolve the fraud and issue you a personal protection identification number (PPIN) to use on future returns. A PPIN is an extra layer of protection to ensure the IRS only processes returns filed by you.
Tip two – Know the deadlines to file your return and pay your tax
Once you have established that you will file a tax return, you need to know when to file. I think most Americans know that April 15 is the regular due date to file a return and pay taxes. But if you can’t get your Form 1040 filed by April 15, you can file Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. This grants you a six-month extension until October 15, 2024.
It’s important to note that the Form 4668 extension provides more time to file your tax return, but it does not provide more time to pay your taxes. Your tax is still due on the regular due date of April 15. The IRS can charge you interest if you don’t pay your tax by the regular due date and can also charge penalties for late filing and payment. You can use Form 1040-ES, Estimated Tax for Individuals, and worksheets on the IRS website to help you figure what amount to pay with Form 4868.
If you are living and working outside the United States on April 15, you automatically qualify for a two-month tax extension until June 17, 2024, to file a return and pay tax. If you qualify, you need to include a statement when you file your Form 1040. The statement can simply state that you were living overseas on the regular due date and that your main place of business is overseas. Note that the rule states that you have to live and work outside the U.S. to qualify, so if you actually live and work in the U.S., scheduling your Mexican beach vacation to include April 15 won’t net you two extra months.
If you can’t get your return filed by June 17, you can file Form 4868 by that date to get four more months, to October 15, to deal with your taxes. Again, however, your tax is still due on June 17, and interest will be charged from April 15. To avoid this, you should estimate your tax due and pay what you can with Form 4868.
Here’s a helpful chart with information about filing your 2023 income tax return.
Tip three – Don’t ignore the IRS, because the IRS will not ignore you
Many U.S. citizens who move overseas don’t know if they are still required to file a U.S. tax return, or they just put it out of mind. If you haven’t filed a U.S. return in recent memory, now is the right time to get started again.
While being behind on filing tax returns can seem overwhelming and you may not know where to start, my recommendation is to start with the current year. The information you need is still fresh in your memory and if you file by your required due date, you can avoid interest and penalties.
Once you’ve got your 2023 return filed, you can work your way back. In most cases, though, the IRS can only go back and audit the most recent three years. So, for example, if you have not filed a return from as far back as 2016, and you haven’t been contacted by the IRS already, it’s safe to assume that you will not be contacted by the IRS about 2016. In that case, you may decide you do not need to file a return for that year.
The IRS will not email you, contact you on Facebook Messenger, or text you. The IRS will contact you by phone or mail, or, in the unlikely event that you have a fax machine, by fax. Mail is their most common means of contact. If the postal system in your overseas residence country is unreliable, you should maintain a U.S. mailing address, either through a delivery service or with a friend or family member.
If you have received a notice from the IRS, there will be a phone number on the notice. Don’t ignore it. Call the number. Ask questions. If you have received a notice from the IRS and you’ve ignored or misplaced it, and you have not been contacted further, do not assume the IRS has forgotten about you. They have not.
To learn the status of your tax situation, you can create an account on the IRS website. Once you have an account, you can verify your tax filings are up to date, see any outstanding tax balances you owe or refunds you may be due, and see copies of letters the IRS has sent you. Beginning this year, you should also be able to sign up for paperless correspondence.
Generally, to qualify for the IRS free file program, you must be filing an individual return and your income must be below a certain amount. (Shutterstock)
Tip four – Consider hiring yourself before hiring a tax return preparer
I am a tax return preparer and I am telling you that you do not need to hire a tax return preparer to file your tax return. Doing it yourself can save you hundreds of dollars. While many people may have bad memories of trying to muddle through IRS forms and instructions to do their own taxes, I think those days are long gone.
There are now plenty of online tax return preparation platforms that walk you step-by-step through completing your tax return. There is still value in going to the IRS website and looking at the forms and instructions that will make up your return, but in most cases, the questions asked by any given software platform will provide you with a flawless tax form.
In particular, if you have what I call a “simple return,” you can most likely knock it out on a sunny afternoon with a pot of tea at your side. A simple return is some combination of a Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, Form 1099-INT, Interest Income, Form 1099-DIV, Dividends and Distributions, Form 1099-R, Distributions from Pensions, and Form SSA-1099, Social Security Benefit Statement. If these are all the forms you have, then all that may be required is for you to transpose numbers from these forms into the online tax prep software. And, with the click of a button, you can e-file your return, saving a trip to the post office and the cost of a stamp, which is up to sixty-six cents in 2024!
Things get a little more complicated if you are self-employed and clients give you Form 1099-NEC, Nonemployee Compensation, or Form 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Income, or if you have income from rental property. But if you keep good records throughout the year, including expenses related to your business or property, inputting those numbers into the tax software isn’t difficult. And even if you don’t keep good records, you’ll have to pull together the numbers to give to your hired tax return preparer anyway, so after you’ve done that work, why not do the return yourself?
Additionally, for qualifying persons, the IRS has free file partners which will allow you to complete and file your tax return for free. Generally, to qualify for the IRS free file program, you must be filing an individual return and your income must be below a certain amount. You can click the link “File your taxes for free” on the IRS website to explore your options.
If you are still feeling a little trepidation about tackling your own return, take a look at your prior year’s return and then go to the IRS website and review the instructions for the different forms you filed. Even though a form may have 30 lines, you may only have to input numbers on a few lines that are relevant to your situation.
Tip five – What to look for in a tax return preparer
If your return is more complicated than you care to take on, or if you just feel more comfortable having a professional prepare your return, there are certain steps you can take to help you find the right person.
Like in any industry, tax return preparers have differing levels of skills, education and expertise. Anyone with a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) can prepare a tax return for someone else, but a PTIN can be obtained on the IRS website in about 15 minutes by completing an application and paying a small fee. It doesn’t guarantee any level of expertise.
An enrolled agent (EA) is the highest credential awarded by the IRS and requires the applicant to pass an exam administered by the agency. Certified public accountants (CPAs) and attorneys acquire their skills independently but are also qualified to help you file a return.
You can search the “Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers” on the IRS website to find a list of current tax return preparers in your area. Social media chat groups specific to your location are also a great place to get recommendations, but be careful what you accept as truth.
Once you have a few names, don’t be afraid to contact the person. If they don’t get back to you in a timely manner, that may be a red flag. You want someone who is responsive. Though, realize that preparers are up to their necks in it right before tax deadlines, so don’t wait until the last minute to find your person. Start searching now.
Many preparers are happy to talk with you for free to see if the partnership is a good fit. If you are living and working outside the U.S., be sure to ask whether they are familiar with rules that apply to living overseas. Preparers that have a majority of their clients living in the U.S. may not be up to speed on the foreign earned income exclusion, foreign tax credits, rules for non-U.S. spouses or partners and other quirks that apply to U.S. citizens living overseas.
Above all, though, remember that you are ultimately responsible for the accuracy of your taxes, even if someone else prepared it for you.
Paul Carlino is an attorney living in San Miguel de Allende and the founder of Pickleball Mexico. He writes for Mexico News Daily.
Former CEO of Mexican state-owned oil firm Pemex, Emilio Lozoya, has been released after more than two years in preventative detention on corruption charges. (Pedro Valtierra/Cuartoscuro)
Former Pemex CEO Emilio Lozoya was released from preventive detention on Tuesday after spending more than two years in jail as he awaits trial on corruption charges.
The ex-state oil company chief left the Reclusorio Norte prison in Mexico City Tuesday night after a court ruled that he was no longer a flight risk.
Lozoya left Mexico City’s Reclusorio Norte jail last night, and will wear an electronic ankle tag until his trial concludes. (Rogelio Morales/Cuartoscuro)
Lozoya is accused of receiving multi-million-dollar bribes from Brazilian construction company Odebrecht in exchange for granting it a lucrative contract for work on the Pemex refinery in Hidalgo. He also faces charges related to a corruption case involving Pemex’s 2014 purchase of a fertilizer plant at an allegedly vastly inflated price.
As he continues to await trial, Lozoya will be required to wear an electronic ankle tag, is prohibited from leaving Mexico and will have to periodically check in with authorities.
If found guilty of receiving bribes, money laundering and criminal association in connection with the Odebrecht case, the 49-year-old could die in prison as the Federal Attorney General’s Office (FGR) is seeking a prison term of over 46 years in addition to a compensation payment of some US $7.3 million. It is unclear when he will face trial.
Lozoya has admitted to complicity in a massive corruption scandal that involves former president Enrique Peña Nieto and other officials. (File photo)
Federal prosecutor Manuel Granados Quiroz said Tuesday that Lozoya has been afforded “totally unfair” privileges in being released from preventive detention. He said the FGR would appeal the decision.
The former Pemex CEO implicated a who’s who of Mexico’s political elite in the corruption of which he is accused, including two other former presidents, Carlos Salinas and Felipe Calderón, and 2018 presidential candidate Ricardo Anaya.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said in July 2020 that Lozoya must be protected because he was cooperating with authorities and his life could be in danger. On Wednesday he railed against his release, and asserted — not for the first time — that the judiciary is “dominated by a corrupt oligarchy” and “doesn’t represent the people of Mexico.”
He was the second high-ranking member of the Peña Nieto government to be taken into custody on corruption charges after former cabinet minister Rosario Robles, who allegedly participated in a huge embezzlement scheme known as the “Master Fraud.”
Robles spent three years in preventive detention before her release in 2022. She was absolved in late 2023.
The Popocatépetl volcano released a large amount of steam on Tuesday, but Mexico City is not expected to be affected. (Webcams de México/X)
Popocatépetl, one of Mexico’s most active volcanoes, released a large plume or fumarole on Tuesday evening at 6:25 p.m; civil protection authorities have maintained a Phase 2 Yellow Alert.
A column of steam and volcanic ash, which rose over 1.5 km above the crater, was visible from the Valley of Mexico and surrounding regions.
As of Wednesday morning, the volcano continued to spew steam and gas with low levels of ash content, and had registered 27 exhalations and 939 minutes of tremors.
According to the alert system developed by federal authorities and the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), a yellow alert indicates increased activity and suggests that residents should remain vigilant and prepare for a potential evacuation.
To the south of the city of Puebla, ash is expected to fall in Angelópolis, Atlixco, Matamoros and the Mixteca region. Authorities have also warned of ashfall in parts of the states of Tlaxcala, Veracruz, Morelos and Guerrero.
It is unlikely that ash will reach Mexico City.
The areas immediately around the volcano in the state of Puebla, Veracruz, Morelos and Guerrero are all expected to see light ashfall as a result of the fumarole. (Fernanda Valerio/X)
Located about 70 km southeast of Mexico City, the Popocatépetl volcano is colloquially known as “el Popo” or “Don Goyo.”
In May 2023, Popo’s volcanic activity put the area on high alert after registering intense activity for over two weeks.
After the volcano’s activity diminished early in June, the state government of Puebla announced it would create a permanent action plan for those who live near the volcano.
If you've got a cool US $1 million, Mexico offers the chance to live a life of ultimate luxury. Here are our picks from some of the best properties on the market right now. (James Edition)
Thinking about investing in real estate? What you can buy for US $1 million in the United States is quite different from what you can buy for the same price in Mexico! In most of the U.S., that budget might land you a very nice home or condo, while in Mexico, $1 million can unlock the door to major luxury. Mexico offers an enticing array of options for buyers looking to maximize their investment and enjoy a high-end lifestyle.
Excited to dive in? Let’s take a thrilling tour of properties across Mexico, each boasting its own incredible character, and unique features. From lively beachfront condos to countryside hideaways, there’s a slice of paradise to fit every style.
We’ve curated a selection of outstanding properties in some of Mexico’s most popular expat destinations. (Unsplash)
San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato:
Escape to the beautiful countryside while enjoying the convenience of a mere 15-minute drive from the vibrant heart of San Miguel de Allende. Nestled on 6.2 acres of pristine land, this stunning single-level home was meticulously crafted by the architect for her parents.
Indulge in panoramic views of the Presa de Allende reservoir and the majestic Picacho Mountains from the comfort of your own personal haven. With six opulent en suite bedrooms and the potential for three more, Casa Terra could easily be transformed into the ultimate retreat center.
Each bedroom has a private terrace, elegant marble and tzalam hardwood floors, built-in closets and spacious bathrooms with granite countertops. Let the warm glow of well-engineered skylights, ample windows and breezeways envelop you without overheating, creating an ambiance of pure bliss.
The chef’s kitchen is equipped with state-of-the-art appliances, and the adjoining maid’s apartment includes its own living room, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom — because everyone in your entourage deserves to live in luxury.
Discover Casa Terra, with gorgeous views of the Presa de Allende reservoir and Picacho Mountains, all just a 15-minute drive from the heart of historic San Miguel de Allende. (CDR San Miguel)
Merida, Yucatán:
This meticulously renovated colonial compound boasts seven bedrooms and eight and a half bathrooms, seamlessly blending old-world elegance with modern comforts. Sprawled across a generous 12,300-square-foot lot, this luxurious home is overflowing with exquisite details, including colonial beamed ceilings, skylights, ornamental pasta-tile floors and shimmering crystal chandeliers.
Ideal for entertaining, the property features a fully equipped chef’s kitchen and covered terraces boasting their own bar and grill.
This stunner comes complete with a three-vehicle electric garage, water purification and pressure systems and mature gardens with fruit trees.
Now, hold on to your sombreros for the big reveal! This compound includes two independent suites, each featuring two-bed/two-bath setups and their own kitchens, providing an excellent opportunity to generate rental income. All that plus the 32 solar panels installed for energy efficiency means you can enjoy sustainable living while maximizing prosperity at the same time.
Nestled just moments from Mérida’s bustling downtown, yet tucked away to provide serenity and privacy, this property offers swift access to Avenue Itzaes so you can quickly reach the airport, local beaches and the nearby Mayan ruins.
A thoughtful and detailed renovation incorporates classic colonial features with flowing contemporary design and function to shape this sumptuous Merida home. (Mexico International Real Estate)
Mexico City:
Step into the spotlight with Casa Colima, a slice of history tucked away in the heart of Mexico City’s hip Roma Norte neighborhood. Built in 1920, this Porfirian-style townhouse is a statement of elegance spread across 2,200 square feet.
Picture yourself sashaying into the spacious living room, where high ceilings, original moldings, hardwood floors and large windows set the stage for your glamorous morning latte.
The kitchen is a scene straight out of a Mexican film from the Golden Age, while upstairs, three fabulous bedrooms and a full bathroom offer a sophisticated urban retreat. The crowning glory of this home is the rooftop terrace with an outdoor kitchen, half bathroom and shower, the ultimate spot for celebrating the good life with friends.
A dreamy Porfirian-style townhouse located on Colima street, one of the capital’s most sought after addresses. This beautiful property is a dream come true for any lover of early 20th century Mexican architecture. (Sotheby’s International Realty)
Los Cabos, Baja California Sur:
Welcome to Casa Adobe, where luxury and innovation come together in the heart of Los Cabos. With three bedrooms, three full bathrooms, and a further half bathroom on a 3,240-square-foot plot, this modular marvel adapts to your desires by dividing into two or three independent spaces as required, each with the high-end finishes of your choice.
Built within an exclusive housing community, the amenities include a jogging track for when you need to run off that extra taco, 24/7 security services, commercial spaces for all of your retail therapy needs and even jacuzzis to soak in style. There is even a rooftop garden, the ultimate spot for meditating on those breathtaking Cabo sunsets.
The amazing Punta Gorda view is just one of hundreds of reasons to snap up this incredible Los Cabos property. (Pose Knows Cabo)
Oaxaca City, Oaxaca:
This oasis in Tlalixtac de Cabrera, Oaxaca is a 7,300-square-foot masterpiece sitting on a 19,300-square-foot lot. Offering five bedrooms and five bathrooms spread across two floors, there’s room for everyone, including garage space for five cars!
This home comes ready to enjoy with all the bells and whistles, including tropical wood floors and walls, a large garden with fruit trees, a palapa with two bathrooms and a kitchenette, two ponds with waterfalls and a private water well.
Dive into your own shimmering pool, soak up the sun on the terrace, or unwind in the jacuzzi. When you’re done relaxing, whip up meals in the fully fitted kitchen to enjoy in the lush garden, or on the balcony overlooking your tropical paradise.
A spacious house with a large garden is unquestionably the best way to experience the magic of Oaxaca. (Remax)
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco:
This incredible investment opportunity is nestled in the heart of the stunning Zona Romantica, just two blocks from the coveted Playa Los Muertos in Puerto Vallarta. With seven bedrooms and six bathrooms, this home provides plenty of room to live your best life.
Be greeted by interior brickwork arches as you explore the first floor, where three spacious bedrooms and two bathrooms are the perfect setup for either renting out or calling home. Two private terraces perched above the street add an extra dash of prestige and come equipped with an outdoor bathroom for when you’re enjoying those alfresco moments.
The second and third floors host two studio suites on each level with their own bathroom, kitchen, terrace and private entrance. This fully furnished turnkey operation is primed and ready for entrepreneurial spirits.
This Puerto Vallarta home boasts amazing Mexican charm, with interior brickwork arches and inside windows giving it true Mexican flair. (Coldwell Banker La Costa)
Tulum, Quintana Roo:
This exclusive beachfront development boasts 21 unique villas with three bedrooms and three bathrooms spread across a spacious 2,400 square feet each. Your new home is nestled along the coast of the Riviera Maya – just minutes away from trendy Tulum – with lush jungles on one side and the soothing Caribbean on the other.
Step into luxury with a 24-hour concierge service that ensures your every whim is met. The on-site wellness center and spa promise extra pampering. Stay fabulous at the gym with personal trainers and massage therapists, then enjoy leisurely afternoons at the private beach club. With its own restaurant and bar, plus catering services, free WiFi, valet parking, and 24-hour security, you can indulge yourself in the Caribbean lifestyle without worrying about a thing!
Committed to environmental sustainability and preserving the local wildlife, this development is located next to the Tulum National Park, making it a haven for three species of turtles who call this coastline home – so if you’re passionate about nature, there’s no better place for you to do the same.
Tulum Apartment – $1,165,800 US (price listed as 19,885,122 pesos)
Tulum Apartments is located on the coast of the Riviera Maya, famous for its stunning natural landscape and proximity to world-class tourist areas. (James Edition)
Purchasing a $1 million property in Mexico allows foreigners to indulge in a luxurious lifestyle while enjoying the many perks of living in paradise. From tranquil beachfront villas to charming colonial estates, there’s a property to suit every preference. Take the plunge and let Mexico’s charm and beauty enrich your life.
Sandra is a Mexican writer and translator based in San Miguel de Allende who specializes in mental health and humanitarian aid. She believes in the power of language to foster compassion and understanding across cultures. She can be reached at: [email protected]
Dangerous weather conditions caused the climbers to lose their way on the way down from the 5,636-meter peak. (Pedro Valtierra/Cuartoscuro)
Authorities in Puebla have confirmed the death of a man who led an expedition to climb the Pico de Orizaba volcano last Saturday. The death of a woman was previously announced, while another man remains missing on the dormant volcano.
The Puebla Civil Protection agency said on the X social media platform on Wednesday morning that search and rescue teams had located the body of Luis Flores Gómez.
Guide Luis Flores was found dead on Tuesday night. (@chignahuapan_va/X)
He was the guide for a group of 11 mountaineers from Jalisco who scaled Mexico’s largest peak in cold weather last Saturday.
The death of a woman identified as Jessica N. was confirmed Monday.
The Civil Protection agency said that Flores’ body was found 4,600 meters above sea level on Tuesday night. Rescuers were unable to retrieve it due to a lack of light, but will bring the body off the mountain on Wednesday.
They will also continue searching for a mountaineer who remains missing five days after the expedition began. He has been identified as José Luis Díaz.
Led by Flores, the group of mountaineers reportedly lost their way due to bad weather when they were descending the 5,636-meter-high Pico de Orizaba last Saturday. Nine members of the group made it off the volcano on Sunday, although some of them had symptoms of dehydration and the early stages of hypothermia.
That left three of the group unaccounted for, two of whom have now been confirmed to have died.
The fatalities come just six months after four mountaineers fell to their death on Pico de Orizaba, which straddles the states of Puebla and Veracruz.
Also known as Citlaltépetl, the stratovolcano is the third highest mountain peak in North America after Denali (Mount McKinley) in Alaska and Mount Logan in Canada.
The military has been deployed previously to natural disaster zones to help clear highways; now they will be in charge of maintenance on some of the country's major roadways. (Cuartoscuro)
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has given the military yet another job: maintaining the nation’s highways.
At his morning press conference on Tuesday, López Obrador acknowledged that he had assigned the task of maintaining some federal highways to the Defense Ministry (Sedena).
He explained that the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport (SICT) previously contracted private companies to maintain highways.
“But they didn’t do the job well” and “there were swindles,” López Obrador said.
He said that he had informed the minister of infrastructure, communications and transport, Jorge Nuño Lara, that military engineers would assume responsibility for the highway maintenance program in the southeast of the country using machinery purchased for the Maya Train railroad project. Roads were damaged in the region due to their use by trucks transporting ballast for the railroad, according to the president.
It hasn’t been confirmed, but it appears likely that the military will also assume responsibility for highway maintenance projects in other parts of the country.
Mexico’s military has been given a wide range of tasks during the López Obrador administration, including public security and infrastructure construction. (Cuartoscuro)
López Obrador asserted that the army could do a better job fixing highways than private companies. He also said it could complete projects more quickly and at a lower cost.
The military engineers provide a “guarantee” that the government will fulfill its commitment to leave the nation’s highways in good shape when it leaves office in late 2024, he said.
The president has relied heavily on the armed forces since taking office in 2018, using the army and navy for a wide range of tasks including public security, infrastructure construction, the management of customs, ports and airports and the administration of public companies such as those responsible for the Maya Train railroad and the state-owned airline Mexicana.
López Obrador’s remarks about the new role he has assigned the army came after the Reforma newspaper and other news outlets reported Monday that he had ordered Sedena to take charge of maintaining the nation’s highways. Reforma’s reporting was based on a Jan. 20 letter from a military official to Nuño Lara in which the former seeks information about highway projects planned for this year so that the army can prepare to carry them out.
Earlier this month, the SICT canceled the government’s 2024 “highway conservation” program, which “had 559 tenders underway” and estimated funding of 11 billion pesos (US $644.6 million), according to Reforma.
The Mexican Chamber of the Construction Industry (CMIC) on Monday expressed its “profound concern” about the cancellation of the program given that “good maintenance of the national highway network is the basis for the development of the country’s economy.”
“The lack of investment in the maintenance and conservation of highways has been a constant for several years, which with it has brought a significant deterioration in the country’s transport infrastructure, affecting Mexico’s competitiveness,” the chamber said in a statement.
“A highway network in poor condition increases transport costs, reduces logistical efficiency, affects road safety, increases accidents [and] reduces investment, both national and foreign,” CIMIC said.
It was unclear how much of the canceled program’s funding will go to Sedena for highway maintenance, but the amount of government money the army manages will almost certainly increase as the result of the new task it has been assigned.
“The military manages at its discretion and in opacity a purse of 77 billion pesos, and now it will have the resources available for highway maintenance,” Reforma reported.
In addition to insufficient maintenance, insecurity is a major concern on Mexican highways.
Reconstruction of the stadium hosting next week's ATP tournament is 95% complete. (abiertomexicanodetenis.com)
The Mexican Open tennis tournament is less than a week away, and organizers in Acapulco are confident that post-hurricane reconstruction will be completed on time to host the ATP tournament.
The Pacific Coast beach resort was battered in late October by a Category 5 hurricane that destroyed the tennis courts and caused structural damage to the Arena GNP Seguros event complex, which has hosted the ATP tournament since 2022.
Hurricane Otis caused severe damage to the GNP Arena in Acapulco. (Cuartoscuro)
Event organizers said in December that they’d be ready to host the tournament in February, saying they hoped that the arena’s reconstruction – and the event itself – would contribute to Acapulco’s recovery process.
Thirty-five companies have been working since December to rehabilitate the Arena GNP complex as well as hotels in the area. The newspaper Milenio toured the grounds this week and reported that reconstruction of the installations was 95 percent complete.
The tour of the tennis courts revealed that the arena has been reconditioned and will capably host the thousands of fans, reporters and media expected to attend the tournament from Feb. 26 to March 2.
Although organizers declined to offer a precise figure, Milenio estimated the cost of the rehabilitation process at 200 million pesos (US $11.7 million).
Tournament Director Álvaro Falla called on Acapulco residents and tennis fans to unite to make the 31st Mexican Open a success. (abiertomexicanodetenis.com)
Tournament Director Álvaro Falla called on Acapulco residents and fans in attendance to unite to make the 31st Mexican Open a success. He did say that protests are to be expected, but hopes they will not tarnish the event.
“We have been working hard to host the [Mexican Open] with the goal of helping to reactivate Acapulco’s economy,” Falla said, expressing gratitude for the cooperation that has facilitated the reconstruction process and allowed the region to make early strides in the long road to recovery.
“These have been difficult days in Acapulco, so we might not see a packed house,” said Falla, acknowledging that local residents typically comprise a significant portion of fans in attendance.
Organizers are offering promotions and discounts to acapulqueños interested in seeing the tournament. Eleven of the Top 20 ATP players will be participating, including four ranked in the Top 10: Germany’s Alexander Zverev (No. 6), Denmark’s Holger Rune (No. 7), American Taylor Fritz (No. 9) and Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas (No.10).
Last year’s Mexican Open – just the second one ever held at the Arena GNP – set a tournament attendance record of over 90,000 fans.
Though not known for being a music festival, Irapuato's annual Strawberry Festival announced a major headliner on Tuesday. (Instagram)
The annual Feria de las Fresas (Strawberry Festival), held in Mexico’s top strawberry-producing region, has announced that Imagine Dragons will be the “surprise band” at the festival’s 2024 edition.
“The Strawberry Fair is consolidating its greatness,” Governor of Guanajuato Diego Sinhue Rodríguez Vallejo said when announcing the news on social media. “We are pleased to announce that Imagine Dragons will join us for our 2024 edition… Welcome to Irapuato, Guanajuato.”
The festival celebrates Irapuato’s strawberry tradition with concerts, shows – and of course – fresh berries. (Feria de las Fresas Irapuato/Facebook)
Similar to a large county fair, the Strawberry Fair (in its 128th year) is not an event you’d typically see on a music festival circuit. News of the fair’s “headliner” surprised fans and residents of Irapuato, who took to social media to share humorous memes as a sign of celebration.
Statements like “…Top things I never thought would happen,” or “I said surprise me, 2024, and it surprised me with this” were circulating on social media on Tuesday.
The fair will run from March 15 through 31 at the Inforum in the city of just over 450,000, with Imagine Dragons performing on March 29 at the Teatro del Pueblo.
The band is originally from Las Vegas and known for the hit songs “It’s Time,” “Believer,” “Enemy” and Grammy-winning “Radioactive.”
In addition to Imagine Dragons, the fair will feature 14 other performers, including U.S. singer and former Nickelodeon star Drake Bell.
Some of the Mexican artists that will perform at the fair include Julión Álvarez, Gloria Trevi, Carlos Rivera and sisters Hannah and Ashley, Ha*Ash.
Other activities at the fair include a food market, amusement rides and circus shows.
Tickets to the fair will cost 20 pesos per person from Monday to Wednesday, and 50 pesos per person from Thursday to Sunday. Toddlers, young children and certain other groups can attend the fair for free.
The ATP Los Cabos Open got underway earlier this week, bringing four of the world's top ten men's players to Baja California Sur. (Los Cabos Tennis Open)
The Los Cabos Tennis Open was already an important tournament, thanks to its status as one of only two Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) sponsored tour events held annually in Mexico. The ATP 250 series men’s competition should gain an even greater profile, however, thanks to both its calendar shift from August to February – the peak of Los Cabos’ high tourist season – and the fact that it serves as the lead-in for the Mexican Open in Acapulco.
The History of the Los Cabos and Mexican Open Tournaments
The Mexican Open has long been the nation’s most important tournament, dating back to the inaugural competition in Mexico City in 1993. The ATP 500 series event moved to Acapulco in 2001 and in the years since has been graced with legendary champions like Rafael Nadal, who has won the tournament on four occasions.
The ATP Los Cabos Open has only been held since 2016, but has risen rapidly in prominence since then. (Los Cabos Tennis Open)
The Los Cabos Tennis Open, by contrast, debuted in 2016. Although its tour level (ATP 250 events provide fewer ranking points than the 500 series) and prize money are lower than the tournament in Acapulco, it has continued to expand during its short eight-year history, rising steadily in terms of prestige, facilities and amenities.
The first tournament in 2016 was held at newly built facilities at the Delmar International School, a bilingual private education institution just outside Cabo San Lucas. By 2021, the action had shifted to the Cabo Sports Complex (CSC), a dedicated sports facility built across from the Solaz Resort Los Cabos (Carretera Transpeninsular Km. 18.5) in the Tourist Corridor that connects Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the new complex had no fans in 2021. But by 2022, the tournament reopened to the public, and over 30,000 spectators attended the 2023 tournament, won by Greece’s Stéfanos Tsitsipás.
Past champions at the Los Cabos Tennis Tournament include Ivo Karlović, American Sam Querrey, Fabio Fognini, Diego Schwartzman, Cameron Norrie and Daniil Medvédev, a Russian player who was ranked number one in the world when he won the tournament’s signature trophy, a colorful ball-shaped award created by talented Mexican Huichol artists.
Russia’s Medvédev with the traditional Huichol-inspired trophy. (Los Cabos Tennis Open)
The Dates and Location of the 2024 Tournament
The eighth edition of the Los Cabos Open will take place from Feb. 19 to 24, 2024 at the CSC in Los Cabos. It is a men’s hard-court event, with 32 singles players and 16 doubles teams competing for US $873,000 in prize money. Mexican bank Mifel and smartphone firm Telcel Oppo are the primary sponsors (this year’s tournament is alternatively known as the Mifel Tennis Open by Telcel Oppo). Other notable sponsors include Pepsi, Wilson, National Car Rental, Disney and ESPN.
Why the Tournament is Moving to February
In past years, the Los Cabos Tennis Open has been a summer showcase held in late July or early August. This will be the first year the tournament is held during winter.
Why the change? As the tournament organizers note, “It allows us to enjoy [tennis] with the perfect temperature.” This is not a trivial matter. Los Cabos in July and August is often blazing hot. During last year’s tournament, for example, the first day of play (July 29) saw temperatures of about 95 degrees Fahrenheit. The average daytime temperature in February, by contrast, is a glorious 80 degrees Fahrenheit. But it’s not just about the weather. February is right in the middle of high tourist season in Los Cabos, meaning there will now be a larger available pool of spectators.
The new date also means the Los Cabos Open will provide positive momentum via a direct lead-in to the Mexican Open in Acapulco (Feb. 24 to March 2). The latter is expected to provide an important economic boost as Acapulco recovers from Hurricane Otis, which devastated the city in October last year.
Los Cabos’ CSC complex will play host to the tournament this year. (Los Cabos Tennis Open)
Which Players Have Committed to the Tournament
Four players ranked among the top 10 in the world have committed to playing in 2024 at the Los Cabos Tennis Open, including last year’s champion, Stéfanos Tsitsipás. The 10-time ATP singles title winner and #5 ranked player in the world headlines an impressive lineup that includes Denmark’s Holger Rune (currently world #4), Norway’s Casper Ruud (ranked #9) and Germany’s Alexander Zverev (#10). Although none of them have won major championships, Ruud is a three-time majors finalist, Tsitsipás has made French and Australian Open finals and Zverev is a former finalist at the U.S. Open.
“There is no doubt that we will have one of the best lineups in the history of the tournament,” Tournament Director José Antonio Fernández told Los Cabos-based news outlet Gringo Gazette in October. “It is an event that has been consolidating over the years, and more and more players want to come live the experience of competing in Los Cabos. We are very excited about our new date during the winter. A new era begins for the organization and we hope it will be great for the fans. We are sure that it will be for the benefit of everyone.”
How to Buy Tickets
Tickets for the upcoming event can be purchased at box office locations in Los Cabos and Mexico City or online via the tournament website. For more information about purchasing tournament passes with all-courts access, as well as weekday and weekend passes and individual tickets, visit loscabostennisopen.com.
Chris Sands is the Cabo San Lucas local expert for the USA Today travel website 10 Best, writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook, and a contributor to numerous websites and publications, including Tasting Table, Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, Forbes Travel Guide, Porthole Cruise, Cabo Living and Mexico News Daily. His specialty is travel-related content and lifestyle features focused on food, wine and golf.
