The vaccines are currently available at Farmacias del Ahorro, Farmacias Benavides, Farmacias San Pablo and Farmacias Guadalajara. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)
As of Wednesday, doses of the new Pfizer vaccine against COVID-19 are available at some of Mexico’s biggest pharmacy chains.
The new immunizations are available at some branches of Farmacias del Ahorro, Farmacias Benavides, Farmacias San Pablo and Farmacias Guadalajara, among others, with costs ranging from 848 pesos (US $49.78) to 999 pesos (US $58.65), which is less than some recent estimates made by officials.
Currently, Pfizer, Abdala and Sputnik are the only Covid-19 vaccines available in Mexico. Moderna’s Spikevax vaccine has been authorized by Cofepris but has not yet been distributed to pharmacies. (Demián Sánchez/Cuartoscuro)
The shots will be administered by on-site registered nurses in the consultorios (consulting rooms) adjacent to the pharmacies.
Suggested for those 5 and over, COVID-19 vaccines are also available for free at public health centers throughout Mexico, President López Obrador assured in his Wednesday presser.
The president said he got vaccinated “about a month ago” and received “both: the COVID one and the flu one. And it was all good. I didn’t even have a reaction.”
The Mexican health regulatory agency (Cofepris) announced Dec. 8 that it had authorized the sale of the Pfizer (Comirnaty Omicron XBB 1.5) and Moderna (Spikevax monovalent XBB 1.5) vaccines.
The vaccines both have an updated formula that works against the Omicron variant XBB.1.5 of Sars-COV2.
The plan is to distribute them through vaccination centers, private medical practices, hospitals and authorized pharmacies. Consumers are urged to check the brand of vaccine available and the cost, if any.
Farmacias San Pablo said it will have the Pfizer vaccine at 77 branches in the Valley of Mexico and the states of Morelos, Querétaro and Puebla for 848 pesos (US $49.78). Farmacias Benavides is selling it at 999 pesos (US $58.65), with discounts on any subsequent shots scheduled for family members.
López Obrador said he is against regulating prices because medicines that “save lives should not be limited or controlled.” The most important thing is getting the drug widely distributed “for the people — for everyone, for rich and poor.”
Epidemiologist Ruy López Ridaura, who has replaced Hugo López-Gatell as Mexico’s deputy health minister, said that roughly 19 million flu vaccines have been administered this flu season, approximately 53% of the goal of 35 million. However, only 3.8 million anti-COVID-19 doses have been given, approximately 18% of the goal.
“We have vaccines available in almost all health centers, in all entities,” he said by way of a reminder. He also noted that while COVID-19 positivity has been “decreasing continuously,” influenza has been on the rise since early November, with positivity right now “close to 20%.” Mexico launched its national COVID-19 and influenza vaccination campaign in mid-October.
Regarding the Pirola variant of COVID-19, which is a subvariant of Omicron, López Ridaura said that there has been only one confirmed case in all of Mexico since August (in Mexico City).
“They have calculated the capacity to produce up to 4 million doses in the first quarter [of 2024],” he said. “We will see how necessary that will be for the country, but we are also focusing on our commitment of [having the vaccine] for the next [2024-25] winter season.”
As a multicultural community, Puerto Vallarta is a great option to call home. (Chris McQueen/Unsplash)
I can tell you the minute I knew I wanted to live in Puerto Vallarta. It was Dec. 17, 2013. It was my first time visiting and I had spent a whirlwind four days in town. On my final morning, I took a swim in the Bay of Banderas. It was 7 a.m. — the city was still sleeping. It was just me, the cool sunlight reflecting off the bay, and mist rising over the lush jungle peaks. I said to myself, “I will live here one day.” Five years later, that dream came true and I have never looked back.
So now that you’ve decided to relocate to Mexico, and chosen Puerto Vallarta as your next home base, let me offer a heartfelt congratulations! Trust me, I get it. The decision to go expat is a big one. But rest assured, this charming Pacific coastal city is one of the most convenient places and enjoyable places in Mexico for expat life.
Puerto Vallarta has become an extremely easy and convenient place for expats to settle down. (Doug Golden/Unsplash)
Not only is Puerto Vallarta safe for expats, it’s one of the most vibrant and culturally diverse cities in Mexico. Overlooking the Bay of Banderas, Puerto Vallarta is a buzzing resort town that combines a massive international presence with centuries of traditional roots. Expats here will find their neighbors are a wonderful mix of locals, tourists, and other expats who all mingle together in a cohesive, multicultural community. In fact, that’s my favorite thing about Puerto Vallarta. Our friends are not only from the U.S. and Canada, but all over Mexico and other parts of the world, as well.
As the city has grown and expanded over the years, it has become an extremely easy and convenient place for ex-pats to settle down, packed with essentials like grocery stores, hospitals, public transportation, and banks, and amenities like Uber, bars, restaurants, beautiful beaches, and mountains.
Cost of living in Puerto Vallarta
The cost of living for expats in Puerto Vallarta greatly depends on what kind of lifestyle you want to have. You can find an affordable year-long rental for less than 17,000 pesos per month (US $990) or splurge on luxury condos that can cost upwards of 60,000 pesos (US $3,500) per month. For ex-pats who want to purchase property, condos start at around US $100,000 but can go as high as US $1 million and beyond. It all depends on what creature comforts you want or need to live happily in paradise. Do you want a clifftop infinity plunge pool overlooking the bay? Or maybe all you need is a strong A/C, Wi-Fi, and a short walk to the beach. The good news for expats in Puerto Vallarta is that you have options.
Where do most expats live in Puerto Vallarta?
This is a city of neighborhoods, each with its own distinct vibe.
Marina Vallarta is one of the most expensive neighborhoods to live in, with beautiful bay views and access to upscale facilities like gourmet supermarkets, restaurants, and luxury shopping. This is also where the cruise ships dock so it can be very busy here during the season.
Versalles has been a rising star recently as more and more condos spring up along its cobblestone streets. The quiet, residential neighborhood has seen an infusion of fantastic restaurants and bars lately, as well as a growing community of expats and young locals. It’s also close to big supermarkets like Costco and La Comer. While my husband and I were renovating our condo in the Santa Maria neighborhood, we always chose to rent in Versalles and if we were to move, this would be the neighborhood we would choose.
5 de Diciembre is the beginning of downtown Puerto Vallarta. This beachfront neighborhood is quieter than the neighborhoods downtown, yet is still within walking distance of all the action of Zona Romántica. The perks of 5 de Diciembre include plenty of apartment options, restaurants, coffee shops, one of the best beaches in Puerto Vallarta, and a grocery store.
Puerto Vallarta Centro is the best option to live in. You can find restaurants, bars, beach parties, and nightlife. (Alonso Reyes/Unsplash)
The next neighborhood down is Centro, where the world-famous Malecón begins. Centro is a busy neighborhood with lots of tourist-heavy restaurants and bars. It can get loud here at night, but it’s one of the best neighborhoods in Puerto Vallarta if you want to be close to everything.
Crossing the small bridge over the Rio Cuale from Centro will put you in the Zona Romántica, the historic heart of Puerto Vallarta. The oldest and most beautiful part of the city, Zona Romántica is also the most active when it comes to restaurants, bars, beach parties, and nightlife.
How to find an apartment in Puerto Vallarta
If you already know where you want to live in Puerto Vallarta, finding an apartment is the next step. Facebook can be one of the biggest resources when it comes to finding an apartment in Puerto Vallarta. Puerto Vallarta also has a wide variety of living setups, from studios to one-bedroom condos, to full homes with gardens and pools.
Ex-pats can also find long-term rentals on Airbnb. These apartments or homes are fully furnished and often heavy on luxury amenities. You will pay more of a premium for these rentals, especially taking into consideration the Airbnb fees and cleaning fees. However, Airbnb rentals tend to be contentious in many destinations in Mexico because of the effect it has on the local housing market. It is one of the least socially responsible ways to find a rental, but it is an option.
Getting around Puerto Vallarta
Most neighborhoods are walkable, but Puerto Vallarta is a big city, and getting around requires some form of transportation. The public bus system is efficient and cheap costing only 10 pesos for local travel. Buses operate from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. on most routes.
Taxis and Ubers are also abundant in Puerto Vallarta, as well. Taxis operate on a price-per-zone rate, while Ubers are priced by distance. As in many places, Uber is typically much cheaper. I don’t have a car in Puerto Vallarta and get by just fine on foot or with Uber.
You do not need a car in Puerto Vallarta, but should you want to buy a car, there are plenty of dealerships. The caveat is that to legally purchase a car you need to be a legal resident of Mexico with a CURP number (similar to a social security number) and an RFC number (tax identification number).
Buying groceries in Puerto Vallarta
As a major destination, Puerto Vallarta has a Costco, Walmart, and Sam’s Club, as well as major Mexican grocery store chains like La Comer, Mega, and Chedraui. For those wanting a more local angle to their purchases, the Olas Altas Farmers Market runs every Saturday at Lazaro Cardenas Park in the Zona Romantica.
Living in Puerto Vallarta essentials
Electricity: Power in Mexico is provided by the state-run firm CFE. The most popular way to pay your CFE bill is at a CFE branch. There are three in Puerto Vallarta. You can also pay through a Mexican bank or at a partner establishment, like Oxxo, Walmart, Chedraui, Ley, or the Xoom app. CFE also has a mobile app and an online payment portal, but these tend to be the most stress-inducing ways to pay because they often don’t work.
Internet: Wi-Fi is fast and consistent in Puerto Vallarta. Most people get their internet through Izzi, which can be easily paid for via the Izzi app, through partner establishments, or Xoom.
Language: These days it’s more common than ever to hear English in Puerto Vallarta. That certainly helps makes things easier as you’re relocating down here, but it might be a good idea to try to learn some Spanish either before you get down here or while you’re living here. Being able to communicate in a country’s native language adds so much depth to any expat experience. Speaking Spanish in Mexico will open so many doors when it comes to building friendships with neighbors, conducting business, running errands, and so much more. Part of the reason you wanted to live in Mexico was to be immersed in its culture, right? Language is one of the best ways to do that.
Food delivery: Uber Eats and Rappi are the two main delivery app services used in Puerto Vallarta.
Enjoy living as an expat in Puerto Vallarta
I’ve seen Puerto Vallarta change and reinvent itself so much over the past decade. No longer the sleepy beach town it once was, it has evolved and transformed into a thriving, 24/7 multicultural community. And yet, it still clings to its traditional Mexican roots, with local markets, traditional celebrations, and plenty of off-the-tourist-trail beaches, communities, and villages to explore. I can’t imagine living anywhere else in Mexico and I hope you love living here, too. See you at the beach.
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.
In Acapulco, at least 31 sailors are still missing at sea. (Carlos Carbajal/Cuartoscuro)
The official death toll from Hurricane Otis has risen to 52, while authorities assure that the search continues for 32 people still missing, two months after the devastating Category 5 hurricane hit Acapulco on Oct. 25.
The governor of Guerrero, Evelyn Salgado, gave the update during President López Obrador’s Wednesday morning press conference, citing figures from the state Attorney General’s Office. She said that the remains of 46 of the dead have been given to their families, while six more bodies have yet to be recovered.
Two months after Hurricane Otis hit Acapulco, the families of missing sailors are desperate to recover the bodies of their loved ones. (Carlos Alberto Carbajal/Cuartoscuro)
“Search actions on land continue, together with the main effort [at sea] by the Navy, but the national and state search commissions are also participating,” Salgado said. “The government’s principal and most sensitive task is to attend to the victims’ families.”
Salgado added that 31 people were missing at sea, and one person on land. Navy Minister Admiral Rafael Ojeda Durán said that the Navy has already carried out 100 searches at sea, 30 on land and 7 by air, to locate sunken boats and the bodies of missing sailors. So far, these searches have recovered 87 vessels and 17 bodies.
The update comes a month after families of missing sailors protested outside Acapulco’s Icacos Naval Base, alleging that authorities appeared to havestopped looking for their loved ones – many of whom were crew members on luxury yachts moored in Acapulco Bay. The group of protesters demanded that Governor Salgado and President López Obrador give more support to the Navy to continue and extend the search.
Nevertheless, the official count of the dead and missing from Hurricane Otis remains well below unofficial local estimates. The latest figure added only two dead and two missing to thelast count given in November, while some local media have asserted that the true death toll could be up to seven times higher.
Meanwhile, efforts continue to reconstruct Acapulco’s devastated economy. The Fitch credit rating agency has estimated the losses from Hurricane Otis at US $16 billion. Although there is still extensive reconstruction to be done, there are also signs that the Pacific resort town is starting to get back on its feet, with 127 hotelspartially reopening for the holiday season.
“We are going to be reporting periodically so that soon, very soon, the recovery, the rebirth of Acapulco is achieved,” the president said.
Michoacán self-defense leader Hipólito Mora had been active since 2013, and was killed in June in La Ruana, Michoacán along with three bodyguards. (Cuartoscuro)
Authorities in Michoacán have arrested a presumed member of the Viagras crime group in connection with the murder in June of former self-defense force leader Hipólito Mora, according to the victim’s brother.
Mora, the co-founder of a citizens’ self-defense force movement that took up arms in 2013 and succeeded in driving the Knights Templar cartel out of Michoacán, was killed June 29 in Buenavista, a municipality in the notoriously violent Tierra Caliente region of Michoacán.
Brayan Quintero was arrested by Michoacán authorities. (FGE Michoacán)
Gunmen also killed three bodyguards who were with Mora when he came under fire in the small town of La Ruana.
Guadalupe Mora told the Quadratín news agency and the Milenio newspaper that Brayan Quintero Equihua was arrested early Tuesday in connection with the murder of his brother.
He said that police, acting on a warrant issued for the arrest of Quintero, detained the suspect at the home of his mother-in-law in La Ruana. As of Wednesday morning, authorities hadn’t confirmed the arrest.
The Michoacán Attorney General’s Office had offered a reward of 100,000 pesos (US $5,850) for information leading to the arrest of Quintana, who is aged in his early 20s.
Guadalupe Mora, Hipólito Mora’s brother, has accused the military of colluding with criminal groups in Michoacán. (JUAN JOSÉ ESTRADA SERAFÍN /CUARTOSCURO.COM)
Shortly after his brother’s death, Guadalupe Mora accused the military of collusion with the Viagras, head of a larger criminal group known as the Cárteles Unidos.
“All of La Ruana knows that the soldiers, those who are here, are very involved with them, with those who killed my brother, with the Viagras. That’s why they left, they gave [the Viagras] a chance to kill him,” he said.
On Tuesday, Guadalupe Mora thanked the Michoacán Attorney General’s Office for taking Quintana into custody “because we want justice.”
All those involved in the murder are “identified,” he added.
Authorities are seeking to arrest four other suspects in connection with the murder of Hipólito Mora, a lime farmer turned vigilante who spent periods of his life in jail both in Mexico and the United States for crimes including kidnapping and drug possession, and ran unsuccessfully as a candidate for federal Congress in 2015 and governor of Michoacán in 2021.
One of the suspects is Heladio Cisnero Flores, who is allegedly plaza chief of the Viagras in La Ruana.
Cisnero, known as La Sirena, “coordinated the operation to kill my brother,” Guadalupe Mora said.
New legislation in the state of Texas will make repeated attempts to illegally enter the country a crime, punishable by up to 20 years in prison. (U.S. CBP)
Mexico will challenge a new law in Texas that allows police to arrest migrants who have entered the Lone Star state between official ports of entry, President López Obrador said Tuesday.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Monday signed into law what his government called “a transformative package of border security legislation.”
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has introduced a number of strict border measures during his administration, many of which have severely disrupted transport links between Mexico and the United States. (Wikimedia Commons)
One law, known as Senate Bill 4 (SB 4) “creates a criminal offense for illegal entry into this state from a foreign nation,” according to a Texas government statement.
The law, which is scheduled to take effect in March, gives police the power to arrest people who have entered Texas illegally from Mexico, or those suspected of doing so, and grants local judges the authority to order undocumented migrants to leave the United States.
“The law cracks down on repeated attempts to enter Texas by creating the offense of illegal reentry and penalizes offenders with up to 20 years in prison,” the Texas government said.
“It also provides the mechanism to order an offender to return to the foreign nation from which the person entered or attempted to enter this state.”
The Associated Press reported that opponents of the Texas government “have called the measure the most dramatic attempt by a state to police immigration since a 2010 Arizona law — denounced by critics as the “Show Me Your Papers” bill — that was largely struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court.”
Migrants who enter the United States illegally can already be charged with illegal entry or re-entry under federal laws, Reuters reported, but Abbott “has criticized what he calls U.S. President Joe Biden’s failure to enforce them.”
López Obrador told reporters at his morning news conference that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is “already working on the process” to challenge SB 4.
“I would like to say to our compatriots [in Texas] and to [other] migrants that we’ll be defending you,” he said before asserting that Abbott’s actions are motivated by a desire to be on the U.S. Republican Party’s 2024 presidential ticket as a candidate for vice president.
Migrants attempt to cross the Rio Bravo between Coahuila and Texas. Mexican president López Obrador has already condemned the new measures. (Cuartoscuro)
“With these measures, he wants to gain popularity [but] he’s not going to gain anything. On the contrary, he’s going to lose support because there are a lot of Mexicans in Texas, a lot of migrants,” López Obrador said.
Abbott has “forgotten” that Texas used to be part of Mexico, “that there are 40 million Mexicans in the United States” and that “that great nation was strengthened thanks to the migrants of the world,” he added.
“And he forgets that it says in the Bible that we mustn’t mistreat strangers … and a lot of these leaders [including the Texas governor] are religious and probably go to church,” López Obrador said.
The new law is “inhumane” and “politically motivated,” he said, adding that Abbott is a “man with a malicious nature” or, in simpler terms, a “malo de Malolandia,” or a “baddie from Badland.”
“… We’re going to intervene because … [detaining and deporting migrants] are United States federal government powers, not powers of states,” López Obrador said.
“[Abbott] is usurping powers … that correspond to the [U.S.] Congress and the United States president,” he said.
He has urged Mexican-Americans to not vote for Abbott or Florida Governor and presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis, who has pledged to make immediate use of the United States military to combat Mexican cartels in Mexico if he becomes U.S. president.
The cave contained the remains of 8 people and several animal skeletons. (INAH)
Researchers from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) have announced the discovery of ancient human remains inside a cave inside the ancient Maya city of Tulum, Quintana Roo.
The findings a the world-famous archaeological site were made while clearing the area to create a new path between buildings 21 (Temple of the Columns) and 25 (Temple of Halach Uinic).
The small cave entrance, unearthed during renovation work, was covered by a boulder. (INAH)
According to the archaeologists, the cave entrance was blocked by a large rock placed on top of human bones.
“Upon removing the rock that blocked the entrance to the cave, we saw that it was splitting the ossified remains of an individual, leaving the lower part of his body on the outside and the upper part inside [the cave],” said the coordinator of the archaeological research project, José Antonio Reyes Solís.
According to Reyes, the cave has at least two small chambers to the north and south. Each chamber is approximately 3 meters long, 2 meters wide, and 50 centimeters high. He added that the front of the cave is also decorated by a sea snail, covered in stucco, likely left by the ancient Maya people who inhabited the area.
Researchers have discovered eight adult burials inside the cave’s chambers, all in good condition thanks to the favorable cave environment. These remains are currently being studied at INAH’s Quintana Roo lab.
Excavation and documentation work has been hampered by the restrictive conditions inside the caves, but archeologists are using cutting edge technology to map their findings. (INAH)
Animal remains were also found in the cave, including the bones of domestic dogs, rodents, opossums, turtles, iguanas, tiger sharks, eagle rays, crabs, snails among others.
Pottery fragments, dating from the Maya Post-classical period (between 1220 and 1550 A.D.) have also been found inside.
Reyes has said that excavation work undertaken in the cave has posed significant challenges for the team. The confined space, lack of lighting, high temperature and humidity, and presence of insects have complicated documenting the archaeological elements and their surroundings.
However, he said that new technologies, such as laser scanners and high-resolution photography, have facilitated the exploration of the cave and the artifacts within it.
With the help of these technologies, researchers generate 3D models with detail and precision, allowing them to continue the analysis and processing of field data from a computer and give the public a virtual tour of the cave’s interior.
Field work will continue at the site for the remainder of the year.
The former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Tony Garza, shares his perspective on the year ahead. (George W. Bush Presidential Center)
As we close out 2023, I have looked back at my previous end-of-year writings. It’s clear that words like uncertainty, complexity, and polycrisis dominate. But this year, to quote Ian Bremmer, “the wheels are coming off,” and radical geopolitical uncertainty is the norm, and likely here to stay for the foreseeable future.
The Ukraine-Russia conflict continues to grind on, while war in the Middle East threatens to involve others in the region. Against that backdrop, tensions oscillate between the U.S. and China, with Beijing’s ambitions in the Pacific and Taiwan never too far from the surface. The combination of these events has exacted a very real human toll, compounded economic uncertainty and brought into sharp focus US political polarization. The sum of which raise questions about the U.S.’s role in the world, especially with Washington currently gripped by negotiations on immigration reform in exchange for funding for our allies. Though, the House did manage to push through the defense bill with bipartisan support yesterday.
On Dec. 13, the US Federal Reserve announced that it would leave interest rates as is for remainder of the year, with economic growth expected to close at 2.1% for 2023. Overall, in 2024 the global economy risks slowing momentum, impacted not only by multiple wars, but also by lingering pandemic stressors. Inflation stubbornly hangs on, though in the United States it has seemingly stabilized. China’s economic outlook for 2024 has improved slightly, though is expected to slow in the coming year. From a European perspective, RBC expects growth to stall at 0.7% in 2024, up only slightly from 0.5% in 2023. And real concerns center around the debt crisis with dozens of the poorest nations already in default or likely to soon miss payments on the trillions they owe.
To add to the overall sense of foreboding, forty countries will also hold national elections next year, including both the United States and Mexico. While we can’t anticipate the outcomes of all of these elections, we can be certain of additional political transition in the largest election year to date. With the sum of these unknowns, I can’t help but echo academics, investors, and officials alike: the world is facing perhaps its most tumultuous year in a generation.
In June 2024, Mexicans will head to the polls casting their own ballots for more than 20,000 posts, including Mexico’s next president. In the race for president, most third-party candidates have now dropped out with former Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard also vowing not to run. Polls continue to show front-runner Claudia Sheinbaum holding a consistent two-digit lead over Xóchitl Gálvez.
Despite the uncertainty associated with the upcoming elections, Mexico’s economic outlook for 2024 looks relatively stable, given a combination of US demand, government spending, and remittances. BBVA estimates a growth of 2.6% for 2024 with inflation expected to stay under 4%. While Banxico has not yet announced interest rate cuts, analysts are anticipating one early in the new year. On the USMCA front, the US lost its claim on auto parts rules of origin while the panel on GMO corn is set to be decided by March 2024.
U.S. and Mexican officials spent the last months of 2023 tackling a host of bilateral issues. In November, Presidents Biden and López Obrador held a bilateral meeting at the APEC conference expressing a shared desire to tackle irregular migration and drug trafficking. The United States and Mexico also put in a bid to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup. Finally, on Dec. 5, U.S. Treasury Secretary Yellen visited Mexico, making a push for nearshoring to keep China from investing in North American companies.
During her visit, Yellen also announced new sanctions against 15 individuals and 2 Mexican companies linked to fentanyl trafficking. Overall, fentanyl continues to be a priority, and as such, parallel to Secretary Yellen’s visit to Mexico, the Biden administration announced the establishment of a “counter-fentanyl strike force”. This comes after the U.S. announced sanctions against 13 Sinaloa Cartel members for fentanyl trafficking, and two Mexican men were indicted in Kansas for fentanyl distribution last month.
In early December, Mexican migration director Francisco Garduño announced the suspension of deportations in Mexico, citing a lack of funds. Along similar lines, in December, CBP announced the closure of the Lukeville, Arizona port of entry with CBP officers redeployed to assist Border Patrol agents to process the increasing number of migrants crossing irregularly in Arizona. While announcements from both countries this month show signs of insufficient funding or personnel to manage migration, immigration itself shows no sign of easing in the coming year, and indeed that seems to be the case globally.
Antonio Garza acts as Counsel to White & Case in Mexico City, and served as U.S. Ambassador to Mexico from 2002 through 2009. Mr. Garza has been recognized as a ‘Directors to Watch’ by Directors and Boards Magazine, cited amongst the National Association of Corporate Directors ‘100’ for leadership in the boardroom and has been named by Hispanic Executive Magazine as one of 2019’s Best of the Boardroom.
Cold temps are predicted across the country this week, causing wind and high waves in coastal areas. (Crisanta Espinosa Aguilar/Cuartoscuro)
Mexico faces another wintry week, as cold front 17 brings “cold to very cold” temperatures to much of the country on Tuesday.
TheNational Meteorological Service (SMN) predicts minimum temperatures of -10 degrees Celsius in the mountains of Chihuahua, Durango, Hidalgo, Puebla and Veracruz, and -5 degrees Celsius in Aguascalientes, Baja California, Coahuila, México state, Guanajuato, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Sonora, Tlaxcala, Oaxaca and Zacatecas. Residents are warned to watch out for ice and possible snow.
It’s been a cold and wet winter so far this year in Mexico, with consistent snowfall in mountainous regions. (@meteoredmx/X)
High-altitude areas in Chiapas, Mexico City, Jalisco, Michoacán, Morelos, Querétaro and Tamaulipas are also expected to see temperatures close to freezing. The National Water Commission (Conagua)tweeted: “Don’t leave the house without bundling up well.”
Meanwhile, the same cold air mass will cause strong northerly winds with gusts of up to 90 kilometers per hour and waves 2-4 meters high in the Gulf, potentially reaching the area of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. The coasts of Quintana Roo and Yucatán will see gusts of up to 60 kilometers per hour and waves 1-3 meters high.
In Coahuila, Nuevo León and Tamaulipas, winds could reach up to 60 kilometers per hour, with tornados possible.
Light rain is predicted for Baja California, Chiapas, Guerrero, Michoacán, Oaxaca and Veracruz, and scattered showers for Baja California Sur, Campeche, Colima, Jalisco, Quintana Roo, Sonora, Tabasco and Yucatán.
Maximum temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius will be seen in low-lying areas of Colima, Guerrero, Jalisco, Michoacán, Nayarit and Sinaloa, and 35 degrees Celsius in the south of Sonora and the coasts of Oaxaca and Chiapas.
The Valley of Mexico is predicted to see a cold and cloudy morning, brightening later in the day. Temperatures in the capital will range between 3 and 22 degrees Celsius on Tuesday.
The revived Mexicana airline will begin carrying passengers in late December. (Omar Martínez/Cuartoscuro)
Mexico’s new military-run commercial airline is preparing for its inaugural flight on Dec. 26, following initial test flights over the weekend.
The first test flight was undertaken using a Boeing 737-800 plane owned by the Defense Ministry (Sedena), which flew to Tijuana International Airport without passengers and returned to the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) north of Mexico City.
Though the first Mexicana plane flew to Tijuana, the airline will not yet offer regular service to the northern destination. (Omar Martínez/Cuartoscuro)
“Look what a beauty,” Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda wrote on social media as the aircraft completed the outward journey. “The Mexicana de Aviación plane that took off at AIFA is landing in Tijuana, as part of the test flights to start operations VERY SOON.”
The plane had previously been kept at Monterrey International Airport, where it was repainted in the airline’s colors and received a new license plate to change its registration from a military to civilian aircraft. Two other Boeing 737s that are on loan to Mexicana from the Mexican Air Force are going through similar preparations.
Each of these Boeing 737s is a single-aisle aircraft with capacity to carry 130 passengers and an average lifespan of 15 years. Mexicana will also lease two smaller Embraer 145 aircraft for its initial phase of operations.
The airline’s launch date hasalready been delayed by several setbacks. In October, it was forced to suspend ticket sales while awaiting certification from Mexico’s Federal Aviation Agency (AFAC), which was finally granted on Oct. 30.
Mexicana has said that its operational centers will be the AIFA and the newTulum International Airport, both of which are run by the military. The route between the AIFA and Tijuana was initially expected to be one of the airline’s main services.
However, in mid-November, the airline announced that it would not be able to serve the 20 routes it had planned during its first phase of operations – and both Tulum and Tijuana have been left out of its preliminary schedule.
For now, Mexicana will open with flights from the Mexico City to 10 destinations: Acapulco, Huatulco, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Los Cabos, Mazatlán, Puerto Vallarta, Oaxaca, Monterrey, Villahermosa and Guadalajara. Travelers who had already booked tickets to other destinations will be reimbursed.
The airline will also not be able to fly outside of Mexico or provide third-party services until its aircraft are approved by international agencies. In the long-term, the federal government has said that Mexicana will continue to focus on covering national routes.
Despite these challenges, President López Obrador has continued to express optimism about the new government-run service, and confirmed on Sunday that he will attend the airline’s scheduled inauguration on Dec. 26.
The venue of the Mexican Men's Tennis Open is currently being rebuilt to be able to host the 2024 tournament in late February. (@LaPresse_Sports/X)
Despite the extensive damage caused to the Arena GNP Seguros stadium in Acapulco by Hurricane Otis organizers have confirmed that the 2024 Mexican Open men’s tennis tournament will be held there.
“With great enthusiasm and optimism, we are pleased to announce that the Telcel Mexican Open presented by HSBC will take place in Acapulco from February 24 to March 2, 2024,” the event organizer Mextenis said in a statement.
Hurricane Otis caused severe damage to the GNP Arena in Acapulco. (Cuartoscuro)
The organizers have also invited Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal to join the tournament. “We’ll always have a place for Rafa, if he decides to come,” Mextenis Director Álvaro Falla said. Nadal won the Mexican Open in 2022 but did not return to play in this year’s tournament, which was won by Australian Alex de Miñaur.
The Category 5 storm destroyed the tennis courts and caused structural damage when it made landfall on Oct. 25, also causing the roof to collapse. Despite the significant reconstruction required, event organizers have assured that they will be ready to host the tournament.
“[This] is a process of reconstruction, but also of healing; there are scars from the wounds, but we are going to offer the same experiences,” Falla said.
In their statement, the organizers emphasized that the tournament celebrates tennis and the broader camaraderie among Mexicans as they rebuild in the hurricane’s aftermath.
“We express our recognition and gratitude to the great work and support of the people of Guerrero, to the public that has purchased tickets, to all our sponsors for their continued support, and to… the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP),” Falla said.
Not only is the GNP Arena a venue for tennis tournaments, but it also hosts other large-scale events, including concerts. The venue had planned to host two concerts by pop superstar Luis Miguel and one by the Mexican group Ha-Ash, but they were canceled due to the schedule of reconstruction.
