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Federal government announces 17 water infrastructure projects across Mexico

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MND Staff
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An aerial shot of a dam in Rosario, Sinaloa, in Mexico
President Sheinbaum's new National Water Plan has developed a list of 17 water projects across Mexico that will address the widely varying needs of states across Mexico's many microclimates. (Presidencia/Cuartoscuro)

A desalination plant in Baja California. A large-scale water storage project in the Mexico City metropolitan area. A flood prevention initiative in Tabasco. A new system of reservoirs in Sonora.

All these water infrastructure projects — and more than a dozen more — are slated to be  built in the coming years in Mexico, a country where water scarcity is a major concern.

A drought map of Mexico showing the level of drought being experienced throughout Mexico. It has colors ranging from gray to yellow to brown to dark red, which is considered exceptional drought conditions. The northern part of the map down toward the center of Mexico is a color that means some level of drought conditions.
As Conagua’s latest drought monitoring map shows, Most of Mexico’s northern states are already experiencing moderate to exceptional drought conditions. (Conagua)

National Water Commission (Conagua) General Director Efraín Morales said Wednesday at President Claudia Sheinbaum’s morning press conference that federal and state authorities will invest more than 120 billion pesos in strategic water infrastructure projects between 2025 and 2030.

“As you will remember, last November we presented the National Water Plan, which has the fundamental objective of guaranteeing the human right to water,” he said.

“Today we’re going to present the progress on the infrastructure projects we have,” Morales said.

The Conagua chief noted that the 17 “strategic” water projects will be undertaken in parts of Mexico with “the greatest water scarcity.” The total investment in the projects during the current six-year term of government will be around 122.6 billion pesos (US $6.07 billion), Morales said.

He said that the outlay this year will be 15 billion pesos, and noted that the projects will benefit approximately 36 million people, or about 28% of Mexico’s population.

The list of projects 

Efrain Morales Lopez, director of Mexico's National Water Commission, stands at the presidential podium at President Claudia Sheinbaum's daily press conference.
Efraín Morales López, director of the National Water Commission (Conagua), presented the government’s plans on Wednesday.

Morales presented brief details about the federal government’s 17 strategic water projects.

The 17 projects include:

*A desalination plant in Rosarito, Baja California, that will supply water to almost 1 million residents of that city and Tijuana. Total investment will be around 12 billion pesos, with 4 billion pesos of that amount coming from the Baja California government. Work is slated to commence in November after a tendering process in October. The project is scheduled for completion in 2028.

*A reservoir (Presa El Novillo) in Baja California Sur that will benefit “more than 250,000 residents of the city of La Paz.” Total investment will be around 1.42 billion pesos. Work is slated to commence in August after a tendering process in July. The project is scheduled for completion in 2027.

*A reservoir (Presa Tunal II) in Durango that will supply water to Durango city. The project will benefit 333,000 people. Total investment will be 3.98 billion pesos. Construction is slated to commence in June after a tendering process in May. The project is scheduled for completion in 2027.

*A reservoir (Presa Milpillas) in Zacatecas that will benefit more than half a million residents of the state. Total investment will be around 8.9 billion pesos. Work is slated to commence in August after a tendering process in July. The project is scheduled for completion in 2028.

*A large-scale water storage and flood prevention initiative in the Valley of Mexico metropolitan area.

“It’s a very ambitious project whose main objective is to develop projects for the storage of water in Mexico City, México state and Hidalgo,” Morales said.

The project will benefit 21.6 million people. Total investment will be 50 billion pesos. Work is slated to commence in October after a tendering process in September. The project is scheduled for completion in 2030.

*An aqueduct in Colima that will complement an existing aqueduct in the Pacific coast state. The project will benefit 238,000 people and total investment will be 1.78 billion pesos. Work is slated to commence in July after a tendering process in June. The project is scheduled for completion in 2027.

Cars on a highway in Tijuana
A naturally dry climate and rapid growth have pushed Tijuana and surrounding cities to their limits in terms of water supply. The federal government’s plan is to use desalination to provide more water. (Mauricio Covarrubias/Shutterstock)

*A water supply and flood prevention initiative in 10 municipalities in the eastern part of México state. The project will benefit 6.4 million people. Total investment will be 2.51 billion pesos. Work has already begun and the project is scheduled for completion in 2028

*A water supply and flood prevention initiative in Guerrero. The project is part of the government’s “Transforming Acapulco with You” hurricane recovery plan. Total investment will be 8 billion pesos. Work is slated to commence in May after a tendering process in April. The project is scheduled for completion in 2030 and will benefit almost 800,000 people.

*A reservoir (Presa Paso Ancho) in Oaxaca that will benefit almost 650,000 people in the Oaxaca city metropolitan area. Total investment will be 4.6 billion pesos. Work is slated to commence in August after a tendering process in July. The project is scheduled for completion in 2027.

A water distribution initiative in Campeche that includes the construction of an aqueduct. The aqueduct will supply water to Campeche city, benefiting more than 250,000 people. Total investment will be 1.38 billion pesos. Work is slated to commence in July after a tendering process in June. The project is scheduled for completion in 2027.

A flood prevention initiative in Tabasco that will benefit 340,000 people. Total investment will be 2.4 billion pesos. Work is slated to commence in May after a tendering process in April. The project is scheduled for completion in 2030.

An aqueduct in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, that will benefit 475,000 people. Total investment will be 1.55 billion pesos. Work is slated to commence in August after a tendering process in July. The project is scheduled for completion in 2027.

Mexican people walking nonchalantly through flooded streets up to their knees in Villahermosa, Tabasco. One man is walking holding his shoes in his hand and looking at the camera. To the side, a woman walks through the water, also gazing forward.
In Tabasco, flooding is a nearly annual event in many areas, thanks to high levels of rainfall, its geography and often poorly maintained infrastructure. One of the projects in the National Water Plan will address flood prevention in the state. (Carlos Canabal Obrador/Cuartoscuro)

An aqueduct in Guanajuato from the Solís reservoir to the city of León. The project will benefit 1.8 million people. Total investment will be 15 billion pesos. Work is slated to commence in September after a tendering process in August. The project is scheduled for completion in 2028.

An aqueduct in Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, that will benefit 147,000 people. Total investment will be 1.79 billion pesos. Work is slated to commence in May after a tendering process in April. The project is scheduled for completion in 2027.

A reservoir (Presa Las Escobas) in San Luis Potosí “that will guarantee potable water supply for the city of San Luis Potosí.” The project will benefit 69,000 people. Total investment will be 600 million pesos. Work is slated to commence in August after a tendering process in July. The project is scheduled for completion in 2026.

The construction of trunk mains in the Laguna region of Coahuila that will supply water to four municipalities. The project will benefit 144,000 people. Total investment will be 1.8 billion pesos. Work is slated to commence in May after a tendering process in April. The project is scheduled for completion in 2026.

A system of reservoirs in Sonora that will supply water to Hermosillo, the state capital. The project will benefit almost 900,000 people. Total investment will be 7.5 billion pesos. Work is slated to commence in July after a tendering process in June. The project is scheduled for completion in 2027.

Mexico News Daily 

San Luis Potosí gets 2 new flights to MTY and QRO

By
MND Staff
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Airport departure screen showing one of the new flight destinations from SLP
Monterrey is one of two new domestic destinations for flights out of San Luis Potosí's international airport. (@RGC_Mx/X)

San Luis Potosí (SLP) state in north-central Mexico is expanding its connectivity with new flights to Monterrey and Querétaro in partnership with the airline Transportes Aéreos Regionales (TAR), Governor Ricardo Gallardo Cardona announced Tuesday. 

During a ceremony at the SLP International Airport attended by state authorities and airline representatives, Gallardo praised TAR for its 14 years of service and for opening the new routes. 

“These projects are what bring dynamism and connectivity to San Luis Potosí, but also to the people of San Luis Potosí who work to improve their living conditions,” Gallardo said at the event. “Today, the state aspires to be the fifth strongest economy in Mexico, and we are taking firm steps to achieve this.”  

The state recently invested 100 million pesos (US $5 million) in the construction of the Airport Boulevard, as well as 1 billion pesos ($50 million) in the connection. 

Daily flights from San Luis Potosí to Querétaro and Monterrey have been running since Feb. 24, TAR’s commercial director Ángel García Colín said at the event. 

Before the opening of the two new routes, SLP International had just six flight routes. 

Domestic flights included Aeroméxico to Mexico City, TAR to Puerto Vallarta and Volaris to Tijuana and Cancún, while international offerings were American Airlines to Dallas and United Airlines to Houston. 

In total, 50,806 passengers traveled through SLP International Airport in February 2025, marking a 7.1% increase from the 47,457 passengers registered in the same month last year. The growth was driven by domestic passengers, which totaled 34,573, according to the North Central Airport Group). 

In February, the Mexican budget airline Volaris announced plans to open direct flights to Houston, Dallas and San Antonio from SLP starting in July, enhancing central Mexico’s connectivity with the United States. 

The new routes are expected to establish San Luis Potosí as a key hub for economic and tourism development in the region.

With reports from Quadratín SLP, Código San Luis and El Universal

Puerto Vallarta’s popular malecón to see major upgrades this year

By
MND Staff
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Puerto Vallarta boardwalk
"The [renovation] project’s goal is to create a more attractive and safer space for visitors," Puerto Vallarta Mayor Luis Munguía said. (Gobierno Municipal de Puerto Vallarta/Facebook)

Puerto Vallarta’s boardwalk, better known by its Spanish name malecón, will soon undergo renovations, the Public Works Adjudication Committee for Jalisco announced on Monday. 

During Monday’s session, Mayor Luis Munguía voiced his support for improvements to the popular malecón, a source of pride for local residents of the famous Pacific Coast destination.

Puerto Vallarta boardwalk
Additional places to sit are a welcome addition to the Puerto Vallarta boardwalk. (Gobierno Municipal de Puerto Vallarta/Facebook)

The project’s goal is to create a more attractive and safer space for visitors, Munguía said. The plans include the renovation of curbs, seawall cleaning, and the installation of prefabricated benches. 

Around 2.6 million tourists visited Puerto Vallarta in the first seven months of 2024, and the mile-long malecón is beloved by residents and tourists alike. 

The Public Works Adjudication Committee recently completed improvements to the malecón, including the replacement of 35 traditional lamps with LED technology, infrastructure repairs and a thorough cleaning, all aimed at enhancing sustainability and energy efficiency, the municipal government shared on its Facebook site. 

More improvements in the pipeline

In January, Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro announced plans to build a new 140-meter-long pier near Hotel Rosita on the Puerto Vallarta malecón.

The project is expected to cost 430 million pesos (US $21.3 million), according to Lemus. It will feature a canopy with a metal structure and steel mesh, pedestrian and stage lighting, outdoor seating and a large viewing platform. 

Lemus expressed his vision of a more standardized image for Vallarta’s future. 

Around 2.6 million tourists visited Puerto Vallarta in the first seven months of 2024.
Around 2.6 million tourists visited Puerto Vallarta in the first seven months of 2024. (Gobierno Municipal de Puerto Vallarta/Facebook)

“We want the people of Puerto Vallarta, the historic center, to have a standardized urban image,” Lemus said. “That is, for the entire town of Vallarta to be seen as those of us in my generation who grew up here remember it — all white, tiled, with all the houses the same, not as it is today, where some are one color, others another. We want to standardize the entire image and encourage many more tourists.”

Several piers have recently been completed along Jalisco’s coast, including in Quimixto, Punta Pérula, Melaque and Boca de Tomatlán.

The state government plans to construct more piers along the coast in Mismaloya, Las Peñas, Yelapa, Chimo, Bahía de Tehuamixtle and Bahía de Navidad.

With reports from NoticiasPV, El Occidental and El Economista

US tariffs on Mexican steel and aluminum go into effect

By
MND Staff
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The United States on Wednesday imposed 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports, as per an executive order Trump signed on Feb. 10. The U.S. has delayed tariffs on other Mexican goods and products until April 2, when it will make a final decision. (DedMityay/Shutterstock)

Mexico got a concession on tariffs from United States President Donald Trump last week, but it couldn’t avoid duties on the steel and aluminum it exports to its northern neighbor.

The United States on Wednesday imposed 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports, as per an executive order Trump signed on Feb. 10. The tariffs — imposed on national security grounds — also apply to hundreds of products made with those metals, including nuts and bolts, bulldozer blades and soda cans, according to Reuters.

Mexico and other countries tried to get an exemption to the duties but were unsuccessful.

“President Trump has once again used the leverage of the American economy, which is the best and biggest in the world, to deliver a win for the American people,” White House spokesperson Kush Desai said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Pursuant to his previous executive orders, a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum with no exceptions or exemptions will go into effect for Canada and all of our other trading partners at midnight, March 12th,” he said.

The tariffs took effect six days after Trump announced that imports from Mexico covered by the USMCA free trade pact would not be subject to U.S. tariffs until at least early April.

That announcement came two days after the United States imposed 25% tariffs on all imports from Mexico.

On Wednesday morning, President Claudia Sheinbaum said that her government would wait until April 2 to decide whether it would retaliate against the U.S. tariffs on Mexican steel and aluminum. April 2 is the date the United States intends to impose reciprocal tariffs on imports from all its trade partners.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum at the presidential podium in the National Palace, wearing a powder-blue suit jackets and a multicolored scarf around her neck. She is holding up the index and middle fingers of her left hand as she talks to reporters off camera.
President Claudia Sheinbaum has maintained that she expects no U.S. tariffs to be imposed on April 2, when Trump’s “reciprocal tariffs” go into effect. (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)

Sheinbaum once again expressed confidence that the vast majority of Mexican goods won’t be subject to reciprocal tariffs as Mexico, in accordance with the USMCA, doesn’t impose tariffs on most products it imports from the United States.

Speaking at her morning press conference, she noted that Mexico’s Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard met with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington on Tuesday and said that the two countries had agreed to keep talking ahead of the April 2 commencement of the United States’ planned reciprocal tariffs.

“We’re going to wait until April 2 and then we will decide whether or not to impose reciprocal tariffs,” Sheinbaum said.

While Mexico is adopting a wait-and-see approach, Trump’s new tariffs drew “swift retaliation” from Canada and Europe, Reuters reported.

After the first Trump administration imposed tariffs on Mexican steel and aluminum in 2018, Mexico retaliated with duties on U.S. pork, apples, steel, potatoes, bourbon, cheese and various other products. Many of the products Mexico targeted in 2018 are produced in large quantities in states Trump won in last year’s presidential election, such as Iowa (pork) and Kentucky (bourbon).

In May 2019, almost a year after the tariffs took effect, the United States government agreed to lift its duties on Mexican and Canadian steel and aluminum, removing a major obstacle for the ratification of the USMCA.

Three men in dark suits smiling for the camera on the side of a roadway with cars. Further in the background of the photo is the Washington Monument.
Mexico’s Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard, center, has visited Washington, D.C. three times since January to negotiate an exemption for Mexico from U.S. tariffs. (Economia/X)

The Mexican government’s argument against the current tariffs centered on the fact that Mexico buys more steel and aluminum from the United States than it sells.

Ebrard said last month that the 25% tariffs are illogical and a “bad idea” with regard to Mexico.

How will the tariffs impact Mexico? 

Mexico is the world’s second largest exporter of steel, aluminum and products derived from those metals to the United States, according to 2024 data from the U.S. Department of Commerce. The value of those Mexican exports to the U.S. was US $34.83 billion last year, second only to China.

Most of that amount, however, came from the export of products derived from aluminum and steel. Mexico’s exports of steel itself to the United States were worth US $3.5 billion last year, while aluminum shipments generated revenue of $397 million.

After Trump signed his Feb. 10 executive order, the Mexican Iron and Steel Industry Chamber (Canacero) expressed its “profound disagreement” with 25% tariffs on Mexican steel.

“This measure will severely affect the iron and steel industry and North America’s entire metalworking chain, placing competitiveness and regional integration at risk,” Canacero said in a Feb. 11 statement.

The industry group said that the tariffs posed a threat to 75% of Mexico’s steel exports and placed at risk “jobs and key investment in our country.”

“If exclusion of Mexican steel from this measure is not achieved, it will be necessary to apply reciprocal reprisals on United States steel products,” Canacero said.

According to the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO), a Mexico City-based think tank, the United States’ steel and aluminum tariffs will impact 4.7% of all Mexican exports.  Mexico’s exports of steel, aluminum and derivative products collectively contributed to 1.56% of Mexico’s GDP in 2024, the think tank said.

While Mexico only exports about US $3.5 billion of steel and US $397 million of aluminum to the U.S., the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness says the tariffs would apply to a wide variety of products made in Mexico with these metals. (IMCO)

In a statement issued in late February, IMCO noted that auto parts, domestic appliances and electronic products manufactured in Mexico will be affected by the tariffs. The manufacture of those products is “crucial” to the industrial sectors of at least 11 Mexican states, the think tank said.

IMCO calculated that the new 25% tariffs — if they had been in effect in 2024 — would have affected Mexican goods worth US $22.53 billion.

The figure is lower than the total value of Mexico’s steel and aluminum exports to the United States last year because the new tariffs only apply to the steel and aluminum content of a product partially derived from those metals, not the entire product. In addition, United States steel and aluminum used in products exported to the U.S. are not subject to the 25% tariffs.

Among the Mexican products that are subject to the new tariffs, IMCO listed those that generated the most revenue as a result of their shipment to the United States last year.

  • Auto body parts: $7.71 billion
  • Air conditioner parts: $2.88 billion
  • Vehicle engine parts: $1.45 billion
  • Vehicle air conditioner parts: $1.14 billion
  • Vehicle suspension parts: $817.6 million
  • Telephone parts: $814.5 million
  • Metal furniture: $727.5 million
  • Machines and mechanical devices: $572.7 million
  • Fridge and freezer parts: $428.9 million
  • Electrical devices: $407 million

IMCO noted that Mexico’s auto industry, “one of the country’s main export sectors,” will be “directly” impacted by the tariffs.

The El Economista newspaper reported that the United States’ universal steel and aluminum tariffs will drive up prices for a range of products in the U.S., including cars, domestic appliances, construction materials and solar panels.

The New York Times reported that “because steel and aluminum are used to make so many other products, raising the price of the metal will have ripple effects throughout the U.S. economy.”

“By increasing costs of basic inputs for many companies, the tariffs could harm manufacturers who ultimately employ far more Americans than steel mills and aluminum smelters do, potentially causing Mr. Trump’s plans to bolster U.S. manufacturing to backfire,” the Times said.

With reports from El Economista, Reforma, El Financiero, Reuters and El Universal

Profepa shuts down dolphin show at Hotel Barceló in Riviera Maya

By
MND Staff
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A generic frolicking dolphin.
A monthlong investigation after the death of two dolphins in the hotel's aquatic show led to the suspension of the event. (Ranae Smith/Unsplash)

The Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) has suspended aquatic shows at one of the Riviera Maya’s biggest resorts following a month-long investigation into the treatment of dolphins at the facility.

The decision to halt shows at the Barceló Maya Grand Resort in Quintana Roo came after a video surfaced showing a leaping dolphin landing hard on concrete during a performance in January, and amid reports of the deaths of two other dolphins, Alex and Plata, last year.

Official banner announcing the suspension of the dolphin show.
Profepa stated that the hotel’s dolphinarium does not have the necessary permits, and the activities are not included in its management plan. (Digital News QR/X)

The suspension, which also applies to hands-on encounters in the dolphin pool, was based on the lack of authorization from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) for the resort to host dolphin shows.

In a press release issued Monday, Profepa stated that the hotel’s dolphinarium — part of the decades-old “captive dolphin industry in Mexico,” according to a 2022 Mexico News Daily article — does not have the necessary permits, and the activities are not included in its management plan, which has led to the endangerment of the dolphins.

“It’s important to add that … Profepa will begin conducting inspections at all dolphinariums in the country to ensure the dignified treatment of the animals they house,” the agency wrote in the press release.

Located halfway between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, the sprawling, all-inclusive Barceló Maya Grand Resort includes more than 2,500 guest rooms spread out among five interconnected hotels and a separate adults-only property. 

The dolphin injured in the recent acrobatic stunt, Mincho, has been transferred to a facility where its condition is being monitored, federal environmental protection attorney Mariana Boy Tamborrell said in a video posted to Profepa’s social media accounts.

However, Jerónimo Sánchez, director of the Animal Heroes organization, expressed skepticism about Mincho’s survival chances after such an impact.

In an interview with the newspaper El País, Sánchez added, “We find it incredible that a multinational hotel chain like Barceló would agree to host shows without [proper permits]. It’s terrible. [The facility] is one of the smallest in Mexico, there’s no shade, the pool is smaller than the human ones — and Alex and Plata have already died.”

Animal rights groups have long campaigned against the exploitation of dolphins in entertainment.

A protest by animal protection activists at a Hotel Barceló in Mexico City last year.
A protest by animal protection activists at a Hotel Barceló in Mexico City last year. (Alice Moritz/Cuartoscuro)

“Never Swim With Dolphins at Barceló Maya Grand Resort Near Playa Del Carmen — Here’s Why,” was the headline of a recent blog post by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

“How foolish to take photos with these animals or swim with them,” Sara Rincón Gallardo, president of the Luum Balicheo animal protection society, said in the newspaper Por Esto. “As long as there are consumers, it will be difficult to eradicate this practice.”

Profepa noted that although the hotel can continue to operate normally, the dolphinarium will remain closed until further notice.

The incident has sparked outrage and calls for the closure of dolphinariums across Mexico, where there are approximately 30 facilities, according to El País. Most are located in Quintana Roo, but there are others in Guerrero, Veracruz, Baja California Sur, Nayarit and Mexico City.

According to data from Forbes México, there were approximately 3,000 dolphins in captivity around the globe at the start of this decade, with 60% of those in just five countries: China (23%), Japan (16%), the United States (13%), Mexico (8%) and Russia (5%). That translates to about 250 captive dolphins in Mexico at that time.

In late 2022, Mexico’s lower house of Congress, the Chamber of Deputies, modified the country’s General Wildlife Law to include a prohibition against the use of marine mammals such as dolphins, seals and otters for entertainment purposes unless it is for scientific research or educational reasons.

The enacted law requires owners of marine mammals to comply by presenting an inventory and updating their management plans. However, enforcement has reportedly been uneven.

Eugenia Morales, wildlife campaigns manager at World Animal Protection, emphasized the need for thorough inspections and a plan to gradually close all such facilities.

“We support the investigation into this case and call for transparent inspections in all dolphinariums in the country,” she said. “It’s time for this to be the last generation of dolphins used for entertainment in Mexico.”

With reports from Milenio, El País, Riviera Maya News and Por Esto

Los Cabos welcomes first 20,000 visitors as spring break gets under way

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MND Staff
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The Los Cabos hotel zone
Starting Nov. 2, American will offer two daily flights to Los Cabos. (Unsplash)

Twenty thousand spring breakers have already descended on the beaches and night clubs of Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, a number that is expected to more than double before the season ends on April 5 and provide a much-needed boost to the local economy.

Local Director of Tourism Ana Gabriela Navarro González confirmed the 20,000 figure for early arrivals for the season that began the first week of March. Los Cabos is expecting more than 50,000 tourists, eclipsing last year’s total of 45,000 spring breakers.

Overall, hotel occupancy this season is expected to reach 80% with an economic impact of US $30 million.

Raúl Olivares, president of the El Médano Beach Tourism Service Providers Association, said that after a slowing trend in recent years, the arrival of spring breakers appears to be providing a boost to the local economy. While night clubs are among the businesses that benefit the most from the spring tourist influx, Olivares said that providers of nautical-tourism services expect a rebound of around 40%.

In a statement, Navarro noted that Los Cabos stands out from other Mexican destinations because spring breakers there spend approximately 50% more than they do in other destinations, significantly boosting the local economy.

“We are committed to offering a unique and safe experience to all our visitors,” Navarro said. “Inter-institutional coordination is key to ensuring the season’s success.” 

In addition to the economic benefit, spring breakers bring tonnes of litter. From glass and plastic bottles to cigarette butts, Mexican officials expect to collect about 500% more trash across all beaches of Los Cabos during the spring break season than at other times of the year.

In 2024, authorities collected over 95 tonnes, while 2023 brought 90 tonnes.

Trash on the beach
Authorities are expecting visitors to generate upwards of 100 tonnes of trash during spring break in Los Cabos. (Elizabeth Ruiz/Cuartoscuro)

Authorities said that some of the beaches with the most tourists, and therefore the most trash, include El Médano, Coral Negro (packing plant), La Hacienda, 8 Cascadas, Las Viudas, Santa María, El Chileno, El Tule, Palmilla, and La Ribera.

“[We] will be working to clean up and collect trash at various tourist attractions to keep them clean for visitors,” Roberto Sandoval Montaño, coordinator of Public Services in Cabo San Lucas said. 

Furthermore, the municipal coordinator of the Federal Maritime-Terrestrial Zone, Rafael Álvarez Munguía, said that lifeguards are stationed at seven towers to monitor and ensure the safety of swimmers. A jet ski and trained personnel will also be on duty from the sea in case a rescue is needed.

With reports from El Sudcaliforniano and Heraldo de México

How many heat waves are forecast this spring in Mexico?

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MND Staff
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Break out the sunblock — it's heat wave season once again in Mexico!
Break out the sunblock — it's heat wave season once again in Mexico! (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)

After record heat and scorching drought prompted scares about a Day Zero event in June 2024 — when Mexico City was predicted to run out of water — federal weather authorities are predicting more of the same for the spring season of 2025.

Earlier this month, the Civil Protection and Risk Management Ministry (SGIRPC) projected that four or five heat waves will bedevil the Mexico City metropolitan area this spring, with temperatures expected to top 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit).

The highest temperatures forecast for May 2025 across Mexico.
The highest temperatures forecast for May 2025 across Mexico. (SMN)

These heat waves (defined as at least three consecutive days during which temperatures are above average) will arrive in April and May, according to the National Meteorological Service (SMN), which added that each wave will last about six or seven days. The spring months are typically the hottest in Mexico City, with temperatures cooling off once the rainy season begins in June.

On May 25 last year, the thermometer hit a record 34.7 C (94.5 F) in Mexico City and, countrywide, 2024 was the hottest year on record, led by the record-setting temperatures in May — the hottest May in Mexico since 1953.

The SGIRPC also issued a warning to capital residents, reminding them that if they plan on using electric fans they must make sure they meet official standards so as to prevent short-circuits. The message also urged caution when eating at outdoor stands as food spoils more rapidly in the heat.

Heat waves have become more frequent and more intense in the capital, according to the SMN. In the 1980s, Mexico City saw roughly one heat wave each year lasting about five days. Since 2020, Mexico City has averaged four heat waves per year with one heat wave lasting an entire month.

As for the rest of the country, the SMN confirmed that the first heat wave of 2025 arrived last week in western Mexico, primarily affecting the Pacific coast regions of the states of Jalisco, Michoacán, Guerrero, Oaxaca and Chiapas. Temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius (105 F) in the latter four states, while the mercury hit 35 C (95 F) in states from the northern border to the Yucatán Peninsula.

The SMN’s monthly perspective for March indicates high temperatures in Mexico’s southeast and southwest, with potential for heat waves in north-central Mexico.

The country’s second heat wave is expected this week, with temperatures beginning to rise on Tuesday afternoon.

The SMN said the same westernmost states (Jalisco, Michoacán, Guerrero, Oaxaca and Chiapas) would be most affected, but the central highland states of Morelos and Puebla would also feel the heat with temps in the 40s (100 F).

The authorities are urging the public to take all precautions: stay out of direct sunlight, especially during peak hours and use sunblock, wear light clothing, hydrate regularly, eat fruits and vegetables and avoid alcohol.

With reports from Proceso, El Financiero and N+

Is Mexico’s first female president protecting women?

By
MND Staff
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Two protestors wearing purple crouch down and display their placards
How much progress has President Claudia Sheinbaum made in fighting Mexico's femicide problem? María Meléndez investigates. (Alaín Hernández/Cuartoscuro)

This year marked the first International Women’s Day in Mexico with a woman serving as president. In her speech for the occasion, Claudia Sheinbaum emphasized that her achievement was not solely her own, but a collective triumph for all Mexican women, in a country plagued by women’s rights abuses.

Meanwhile, in the streets, as is customary every year, hundreds of thousands of women marched to demand an end to violence against women. Among the chants heard were “Claudia, not all of us made it,” a reference to the women who are missing or have lost their lives. Another chant stated, “Claudia is not an ally; she’s privileged.”

Is Mexico's first female president protecting women?

Join María Meléndez as she takes a look at how Mexico’s first female president is solving the largest social issue facing Mexican society today: Gender violence.

Mexico News Daily

An Irish michelada that might drive the snakes out of Mexico

By
Stephen Randall
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An irish michelada with lime, ice and a straw
St. Patrick's Day is almost upon us. Please don't turn Mexico's already limited water supply green and maybe try celebrating with this instead? (Margaritaville)

It is a truth universally acknowledged that human beings will put almost anything in their beer, provided they are given a good enough reason or enough peer pressure.

Take St. Patrick’s Day. A perfectly fine Catholic feast day that, thanks to some transatlantic shenanigans, turned into an excuse for Americans to dye their beer green and pretend to be Irish for exactly 24 hours before retreating to their usual national pastimes of arguing about egg prices and misunderstanding soccer. The day allegedly honors Saint Patrick, a missionary who, depending on which story you believe, either drove the snakes out of Ireland (which is a lie) or converted a bunch of pagans by explaining the Holy Trinity with a shamrock (which is slightly less of a lie, but still suspicious). Either way, March 17 became a day of religious observation in Ireland, where people went to church and then went home to soberly contemplate their sins, much like every other day in Ireland.

St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Chicago, a boat sails down a green river
Whoever did this should be in The Hague to answer for their crimes. (Ireland.ie)

But then, like everything else that reached America’s shores, St. Patrick’s Day underwent an evolution — or, more accurately, an aggressive rebranding campaign. Irish immigrants in the U.S., tired of being treated like third-class citizens, turned the day into a celebration of their heritage, with parades, music, and eventually, large quantities of beer. Then, of course, the rest of America realized that drinking beer in public was fun, and suddenly, everyone was Irish on March 17. The green dye came later, probably invented by some sadistic Chicagoan who thought, “What if beer, but swamp-colored?” The tradition stuck, and now we have an annual event where people consume regrettable amounts of Guinness and wear shirts that say “Kiss Me, I’m Irish” despite being named Chad and having zero Irish ancestry.

Now, let’s turn our attention to the Michelada. Mexico, you see, does not need a holiday to tamper with its beer. The Michelada is a daily act of ingenuity, an ongoing testament to humanity’s inability to leave well enough alone. Much like St. Patrick’s Day beer, the Michelada’s exact origins are hazy.

One theory attributes the Michelada to a man named Michel Esper, who supposedly frequented a sports club in San Luis Potosí in the 1960s and enjoyed ordering his beer with lime, salt, and hot sauce. Another, less romantic theory suggests that “Michelada” is just a mash-up of “mi chela helada” (“my cold beer”) and that, rather than the stroke of genius from a single visionary, it was merely a logical step for a country that already puts lime on everything. Either way, the Michelada spread like wildfire, and soon every cantina in Mexico had its own version, each one slightly different but always adhering to the fundamental principle that beer should not have to stand alone.

Like St. Patrick’s Day beer, the Michelada has its skeptics. There are those who argue that beer should remain unadulterated, left to exist in its purest form. These are the same people who think pizza shouldn’t have pineapple and that socks should always match. But the Michelada, like St. Patrick’s Day, thrives on joyful chaos. It is beer with flair, beer with a sense of adventure.

A glorious michelada with escarcha de tajín
This is perfection in a glass. (Snappr/Pexels)

The key difference, of course, is that while St. Patrick’s Day beer is a one-day-a-year spectacle, the Michelada is an everyday companion. No one wakes up on March 18 and thinks, “Ah yes, time for another pint of green Bud Light.” But a Michelada? That is a remedy. A lifeline. It is brunch, it is beach, it is “I made some mistakes last night, and I need to set things right.” In this sense, Micheladas are superior. They do not pretend to be something they are not. They do not need an artificial holiday to justify their existence. They simply are.

And so, what have we learned? That beer is merely a blank canvas onto which cultures project their own particular forms of merriment, regret, and questionable decisions. That humans, given enough time and access to condiments, will eventually throw anything into their beverages. And, most importantly, that whether it’s green beer in Chicago or a Michelada in Mexico City, history is often just the sum of our most enthusiastic bad ideas.

The St. Paddy’s Day Michelada

Jameson whisky and a michelada for an Irish michelada
A.K.A. “The Shamrock y Sangre.” (Jameson)

Ingredients:

  • 1 cold Mexican lager (Corona, Modelo, or Pacifico)
  • 1 oz Irish whiskey 
  • 1 oz lime juice
  • 2 dashes hot sauce 
  • 1 dash Worcestershire sauce (or Maggi sauce)
  • ¼ cup Clamato or tomato juice
  • 1 pinch celery salt
  • 1 pinch black pepper
  • 1 handful ice
  • Green food coloring
  • Tajín or salt for the rim

Garnish:

  • A lime wedge
  • A crispy strip of bacon 
  • A small pickle or pickled jalapeño 
  • A tiny Irish flag

Directions:

  1. Rim the glass with lime juice, then dip it in Tajín or salt.
  2. In the glass, mix the lime juice, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, Clamato, celery salt, and black pepper.
  3. Add ice
  4. Pour in the whiskey
  5. Crack open the beer, add a few drops of green food coloring, and gently pour it in. 
  6. Garnish extravagantly—lime, bacon, pickle, and a tiny Irish flag for maximum confusion.
  7. Drink responsibly, or at least with plausible deniability.

Stephen Randall has lived in Mexico since 2018 by way of Kentucky, and before that, Germany. He’s an enthusiastic amateur chef who takes inspiration from many different cuisines, with favorites including Mexican and Mediterranean.

A gringo guide to the three queens of Mexican songwriting

By
James Monack
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List of Mexican female pop stars depicted through a a group of people holding vinyl LP covers.
It's time to learn about three more legends of Mexican music. Are you ready? (Lu Reyes/Henry Lefranc/Valeria Chàvez/Zùñiga/Jimmy Monack)

So, you have already impressed your new Mexican friends by name-dropping artists
from the last two articles. Now, before that final shot of mezcal and a triumphant
exit, you have a chance to take it to a level that will get you labeled “Gringo Supremo.”
The main consideration for this list, as opposed to the last two, is songwriting quality.
There is nothing wrong with being a pop star whose material is written by others, but
writing timeless songs is a whole different world than performing them. Put another way,
the Three Queens of Mexican Song Writing (our heroic female Mexican pop stars on this list) do not have backup dancers (apologies to Yuri and Alejandra Guzman).

Consuelo Velazquez

Consuelo Velazquez — Besame Mucho

The song is known worldwide, but not the writer. How many days can one go in Mexico
City without hearing a version of “Bésame Mucho” wafting from a café or shop? That
song alone should be enough to put the great Consuelo Velazquez on the list, but she
has contributed much more.

Ms. Velazquez comes from an era of music that, in almost any country, could be
considered a golden age. If the names Gershwin, Sinatra, and Ellington are familiar,
Valezquez should also be. In fact, “Besame Mucho” was released in 1941 (although
written in 1932), the same year as “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” “Stardust,” and
“Chattanooga Choo Choo.” This was well before rock and roll when pop songs were clever, simple, and mostly about love. But “Besame Mucho” was not satisfied staying in
its own decade. After all, once the Beatles cover a song, it is pretty much a classic, and
there have been hundreds of renditions since then.

A good place to start discovering the other hits of this prolific composer is the album
recorded by Rodrigo de la Cadena. Using modern technology, he sings duets with Ms.
Velazquez from the historic recording “Su Piano, Su Voz, Su Intérprete.”

Ana Gabriel

Ana Gabriel - Ay Amor (En Vivo)

One of the many wonderful things about Mexican music is that it is as varied and vast
as music in the United States. Consider the genre of jazz. Like heavy metal, the
subgenres seem endless, with Swing, Bepop, Afro-Cuban, Dixieland, Fusion, and more
all under one umbrella. As such, Ana Gabriel reminded Mexico that its musical history is
vast.

Ranchera was not invented by Ms. Gabriel, but she is surely the first name people will
think of when mentioned. Much like Fado music in Portugal, the mourning tones and
hints of longing define it. Starting just after the turn of the century, Ranchera was
centered on the glory of the revolution, which was altered into tortured love songs that
retained the yearning. Ms. Gabriel’s haunting vibrato takes one to the heart of the
heartache.

The aching in her voice also fits well with Mexican romantic ballads (as distinguished
from ballads known in the United States). A perfect example is her hit “Ay, Amor.” If
heartache is water, this song is a tidal wave, as proven by the crowd’s singing along in a
1990 performance.

To enjoy the full, box-of-Kleenex experience, consider “Simplemente Amigos,”
“Destino,” or “Quien Como Tú.” No wonder she is the bestselling Mexican female artist of all time.

Natalia Lafourcade

Natalia Lafourcade - Hasta la Raíz

If there were ever an artist to live up to the legacy of Juan Gabriel, it would be Natalia
Lafourcade. There it is. Go ahead and blow up the comments section. It’s on.
The giant hole left in 2016 when Mr. Gabriel passed was filled by the equally talented
Ms. Lafourcade, who was fortunate enough to record a song with him (“Ya No Vivo Por Vivir”).

Growing up in a musical family in Veracruz, Ms. Lafourcade was immersed in a wide
variety of styles. Her mother was a composer who graduated from the National
Conservatory of Music and later created the music pedagogy Macarsi Method. A life in
music was more destiny than a search for stardom.

Like other artists who hop from one Mexican genre to another, she is a very rounded
composer. Yet she brings a certain sophistication to each piece with melodies and chord
progressions that illustrate her jazz and classical influences. She not only honors Latin
traditions such as bolero, cumbia, and mariachi, but elevates them to new
elegance.

Her smash hit, “Nunca es Suficiente,” is a seemingly simple cumbia, but if one listens
closely to the melody and background coloring, it is clear Ms. Lafourcade is a studied
composer and not a mere pop star. To ensure the song’s authenticity, she later
partnered with Los Angeles Azules for the full cumbia treatment and a video viewed a
stunning two billion times.

Finally, as if earning respect from Mr. Gabriel, Ms. Lafourcade took it to a new stage
with an entire album dedicated to the immortal Augustin Lara, containing an exquisite
version of the famous “Farolito.” But one does not enter a task like that lightly as it is
akin to going into the studio to honor Elle Fitzgerald. This is Carnegie Hall stage talent.
Oh, by the way, she sold-out Carnegie Hall in 2022.

Natalia Lafourcade has many years ahead to polish all her awards and contribute new
music. Where many artists are considered the best of their generation, she will certainly
be considered the best of all time.

How did we do? Is anyone else missing from our (quite comprehensive) list of Mexican female pop stars? Do we need a fourth instalment? Please leave your suggestions in the comments section and expand all of our playlists.

Jimmy Monack is a teacher, photographer and award-winning writer. He profiles interesting people all around the world as well as writing about and photographing rock concerts. He lives in Mexico City. www.jimmymonack.com

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