The best budget-friendly hotels in Los Cabos

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April 24, 2024

Siesta Suites best budget hotel los cabos — A trip to Los Cabos doesn't need to break the bank, with a wealth of great, yet affordable hotel options for the budget visitor. (Siesta Suites)

Los Cabos has been consciously rebranded as a luxury destination in recent years. It’s a process that dates back to hurricane recovery a decade ago, following the devastating category-4 storm Odile in 2014. But despite the luxury renovations and influx of high-end hospitality brands in the years since, from Nobu and Four Seasons to Ritz-Carlton and Waldorf Astoria, it is still possible to find budget-friendly hotel rooms in Los Cabos.

The price of the average hotel room has indeed been steadily rising. By the end of 2016, it was still just $206. But that figure has increased by over 150% in the eight years since. After 2022 it had more than doubled to $417. That trend has only continued through the start of 2024. The average daily rate has now climbed to a whopping $517, indicating an uptick of 23% in the last year alone.

Of course, it bears noting that these numbers are skewed by the swankiest of the high-end luxury resorts, where room rates are upwards of $1000 a night. However, only 3,000 of the 18,000 rooms currently in inventory for the municipality are categorized as luxury level—the rest range from intermediate levels of pampering comfort to refreshingly affordable, if not downright cheap. For our purposes, we’ll define the latter category as under $100 a night.

Fortunately, rooms are still available in this low price range, although less than there used to be.

The Best Budget-Friendly Hotels in 2024

An example of this dwindling inventory would be the Hotel Mar de Cortez, for nearly 50 years the cynosure of budget-friendly accommodations in Cabo San Lucas. Sadly, this downtown landmark closed in 2021 amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Land’s End city remains the best place to find affordable hotel rooms, however, with most conveniently located near the Marina – amid downtown shopping and dining – but within walking distance of Playa El Médano, the most popular beach in the area. Boutique hotel Siesta Suites, for example, is only a stone’s throw from the Marina, on the one-block-long street Calle Zapata, and its most affordable rooms start at US $75 per night. Suites with kitchenettes are US $85 and its penthouse, with wraparound city views from its enormous terrace, is only US $105.

Luxury can still be found at great prices, with Cabo Cush offering rooms for less than US $50 per night. (Cabo Cush)

That’s not the cheapest hotel in Los Cabos by any means. That title likely belongs to Cabo Cush, where rates start at 800 pesos (US $48 at the current exchange rate) for a standard room with a king-sized bed and twin, as well as basic amenities like air-conditioning, cable television, and even free phone calls to the U.S. and Canada. Yes, weekly rates are available, too, and as a bonus, beloved comfort food favorite El Pollo de Oro is only two blocks away.

But there are several other good US $100 or less options, including Cabo Inn Hotel, and the boutique gem Los Milagros. Affordable accommodations of this type are much rarer in San José del Cabo. and along the Los Cabos municipality’s scenic East Cape. Baja California Sur’s capital city of La Paz, a two-hour drive from Los Cabos, has more – the most notable being Hotel Pekin, a lodging above a Chinese restaurant that overlooks the malecón.

For lovers of boutique hotels, why not try Los Milagros? (Los Milagros)

What Amenities Can You Reasonably Expect?

Luxury hotels in Los Cabos typically provide onsite restaurants, wellness spas, fitness facilities, and often private roped-off beach areas. Many mid-range properties, meanwhile, may also offer all-inclusive plans that roll many food and beverage costs into the room rate. None of these options, notably, are common with budget-friendly hotels.

What guests can expect, however, is clean rooms and baths – usually with Mexican-themed decor. There is usually also a central location, air-conditioning, and Wi-Fi service. Swimming pools may be a feature of some properties but they’re not standard. Nor are beachfront vantages and ocean views. Some have attached restaurants and bars, although charges for eating or drinking at these establishments won’t be included in room rates. Siesta Suites, for example, hosts a terrace bar (called The Terrace Bar) and a popular Italian restaurant, Salvatore G’s, in its courtyard area.

Mexican themed bathrooms are a must when enjoying the budget hotel lifestyle. (Cabo Cush)

What to Know Before Booking

If you want the best rates, book directly through the hotel. Yes, it’s fun to shop for the cheapest available rooms on third-party booking websites but these sites tack on commission charges so that they too can profit. And they often don’t show all relevant taxes and fees. As a local hotel owner noted, the real price invariably isn’t lower than the one the hotels themselves can and do provide.

All of the lodgings mentioned in this article have websites to facilitate reservations. All, too, have a cadre of loyal guests that return regularly. These aren’t corporate operations. They’re privately owned – by couples and families mostly – and it’s in their best interest to ensure guest expectations regarding price and the quality of accommodations are met. That’s what keeps people coming back.

Dealing directly with the hotel also makes it easier to get answers to any questions about dates, rooms, potential discounts, or additional fees (if taxes aren’t already included in the posted room rates).

Why Cheap Hotels Are Better Than Cheap Vacation Rentals

Airbnb rentals have expanded the inventory of affordable properties for those who are attracted to Los Cabos and want to visit but are constrained by budgetary factors. However, there is a dark side. In Los Cabos, as in many popular vacation destinations, what has been termed the “Airbnb effect” has resulted in artificially inflated rent prices for locals, and dwindling inventory due to the decision of landlords to prioritize these rooms for tourist traffic. That means many hospitality workers and colorful characters who make vacations so memorable for visitors are being squeezed out and forced to move.

There may eventually be stricter regulations like the ones recently passed in Mexico City that require property owners to report occupation numbers and pay the resulting taxes, perhaps ameliorating issues for locals. But in the meantime, enjoying comparably low-priced accommodations at Los Cabos hotels is the most sustainable tourism option, with much better service and amenities than are common to all but the most luxurious vacation rentals. And just to be clear: those aren’t cheap.

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.

Canadian tourist attacked in downtown Mérida

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MND Staff

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April 23, 2024

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Photo of suspect seated handcuffed in police truck bed with a blurred out head — The young man who attacked the Canadian woman near Mérida's main plaza reportedly told police he was from Tabasco and had been brought to Mérida by the CIA. (X)

A Canadian woman was attacked by a man with an ax in downtown Mérida on Tuesday. She received a wound to the head and was taken to hospital for treatment, but her life did not appear to be in danger.

Local media reported that a 25-year-old Canadian tourist was attacked while walking near the main cathedral in the historic center of the Yucatán capital with friends.

#Yucatán I Así atacó un hombre con un hacha a una mujer en el Centro de Mérida 👉 https://t.co/qcNO4bt522 pic.twitter.com/BgV63fEg0N

— Por Esto! Online (@PorEstoOnline) April 23, 2024

A surveillance camera caught nongraphic footage of the attack, which can be seen at a distace in the right bottom corner of the video.

The aggressor reportedly grabbed an ax from workers carrying out remodeling work around Mérida’s main square and proceeded to attack the woman for no apparent reason. Reports said that the man — who was detained — appeared to be suffering from mental problems and was speaking incoherently.

The website Novedades Yucatán reported that the Canadian woman began to bleed profusely from the head after she was struck with the ax. Municipal police responded to the attack and called paramedics, who bandaged the woman’s head before taking her to hospital.

A photograph showed that the woman was conscious as paramedics checked her oxygen levels. Her head was bandaged, but her hand and leg were stained with blood.

El Diario de Yucatán said that her wound was “at the height of her eyebrow.”

The victim wasn’t immediately identified, but the aggressor identified himself as Eliazer and said he was from the state of Tabasco, according to reports. He reportedly said that the CIA had taken him to Mérida.

The man, who appeared to be relatively young, was taken away in a police vehicle.

Statistics show the tourist destination of Mérida to be one of the safest cities in Mexico. (Unsplash)

Mérida is known as one of the safest cities in Mexico, and violent attacks are very rare.

The city is a popular tourism destination but receives far fewer visitors than Cancún, located 300 kilometers east on the Caribbean coast of Quintana Roo.

With reports from Diario de Yucatán, Novedades Yucatán, Debate and Quadratín

Spencer Mahony, UK deputy trade commissioner for Latin America, talks to Mexico News Daily

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MND Staff

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April 23, 2024

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With trade links between Mexico and the United Kingdom booming, Mexico News Daily spoke with Spencer Mahony, His Majesty’s Deputy Trade Commissioner for Latin America and the Caribbean, about the future of business between the two nations.

How do you perceive Mexico’s role and significance in the global economy, especially concerning its trade relationships?

Mexico matters now and will matter even more in the future. As a rapidly growing member of the top 15 global economies, Mexico is a key player, particularly because of its extensive network of trade agreements and strategic geographic location.

Spencer Mahoney at an event in Mexico City — Spencer Mahony (third from left) at a meeting of the British Chamber of Commerce in Mexico in 2022. (Spencer Mahony/LinkedIn)

Mexico has 13 Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with over 50 countries — including the USMCA, CPTPP (which the U.K. is joining), and Pacific Alliance — which provides the country with access to global trade and supply chains across Latin America, Europe, and Asia. Mexico has also emerged as a major manufacturing hub, particularly in the automotive, aerospace, electronics, and medical device industries. Its location and skilled workforce continue to attract huge foreign investment interest. It is no wonder that multinational companies, including many British ones, have established production facilities in Mexico to take advantage of these factors.

Thus, it is no surprise that the world is looking at Mexico, and for us, it is and will continue to be an attractive and dynamic country for U.K. companies to explore, invest and partner with.

Can you provide an overview of the current presence of U.K. businesses in Mexico, including the sectors they are operating in and the scale of their operations?

Trade between the U.K. and Mexico has increased to record levels. In 2023, bilateral trade reached a value of US $8.2 billion, an increase of 22.3% compared to 2022. As for investment, the U.K. is also improving its performance in Mexico as we are now a leading source of foreign direct investment (FDI).

Currently, U.K. companies are operating in Mexico in sectors including tech, infrastructure, automotive, advanced manufacturing, financial and professional services, retail, food and drink, energy, creative and education, life sciences and security, defense and aerospace. In the last five years, British investments have amounted to more than US $5.11 billion and support nearly 50,000 jobs in the country.

Astra Zeneca in Mexico — AstraZeneca is one of the British companies with extensive investment in Mexico. (Jose Eduardo Rubio/Shutterstock)

From Sonora to Chiapas, British companies are considering how they can grow their presence in Mexico, driven by nearshoring. At the British Embassy, we see many areas of shared opportunity between the U.K. and Mexico. Our role is to spot opportunities and connect companies and investors to explore partnerships. We run dozens of programs with hundreds of companies each year highlighting opportunities in Mexico and opportunities in the U.K. for Mexican companies.

One of our challenges is a lack of knowledge about the strengths the U.K. and Mexico have; ultimately trade and investment are about people connecting and having confidence to partner to do new things. Our people-to-people links are growing, and we find once we have got U.K. companies to visit Mexico, they want to come back and do business.

What are some success stories or notable examples of U.K. companies thriving in the Mexican market?

As the U.K. was the first country to go live with Open Banking, we have collaborated with Mexico’s financial services sector towards financial inclusion. It was brilliant to see that Revolut recently obtained its banking institution license from Mexico’s National Banking and Securities Commission, their first outside Europe.

Keeping consumers and companies safe is something the U.K. has invested in heavily for many years. I suspect not many readers will have heard of Darktrace, but they are a U.K. AI-powered cyber company that is doing some brilliant work keeping businesses safe. Similarly, Featurespace is helping financial organizations avoid fraud. British Telecom is providing global communication networks for some of Mexico’s most international companies who need safe and secure networks. We can all spot iconic U.K. brands such as Burberry boots, Mini Cooper cars or Phenhaligon’s fragrances, but many of our most successful businesses are more B2B than B2C.

Mini Cooper in Mexico — Mini Cooper is one of the U.K. brands you will spot frequently in Mexico. (Mini Cooper MX)

In Mexico, British pharmaceutical companies such as AstraZeneca, Haleon and Reckitt have a strong presence in the country through increased portfolios and manufacturing plants that allow them to not only provide innovative products in the Mexican market but also export for U.S. and Latin American consumers. It’s inspiring to see their efforts to employ more women, make manufacturing more resource efficient and create more employment and growth opportunities.

Within the food and drink sector, there are well-known successes with iconic spirits like whisky and gin from British companies such as Diageo, William Grant and Sons and Edrington. We also have U.K. beers from Samuel Smith Brewery, Brewdog and Shepheard Neame doing well in Mexico’s highly competitive drinks market. Finally, one of the sectors I care about most is education. Our team has supported U.K. companies such as Pearson, Cambridge English, and Oxford University Press, as well as other small-medium enterprises such as Little Bridge, Manga High and Twig, to expand their presence in Mexico’s educational system. We think bringing high-value-added education products and services is key to supporting Mexico’s talent and growth.

In the next three years, how do you view Mexico’s economic potential for British businesses, which sectors do you believe hold promise for collaboration and investment, and how do recent shifts in trade dynamics impact the U.K.’s trade relationship with Mexico?

The potential is huge, and we are fortunate to have complementary areas of expertise. The U.K. is a science and technology superpower, so we are identifying where we can bring innovation to support sustainable development and growth. There are many more technologies across many sectors that we want, and are bringing. U.K. cybersecurity companies will better keep consumers and businesses safe. Our Agri-Tech will enable Mexico to produce more food more sustainably, our EdTech can help raise education standards, and MedTechs improve health outcomes.

The U.K. is still one of the world’s largest manufacturers, but the next wave of U.K.-Mexico collaboration will be in technology-driven services or high-value niche products. These technologies will help Mexico’s largest companies grow more efficiently to consolidate their position on the world stage. Companies going truly global will use the U.K. to access its skills, science, finance and professional services.

It’s worth noting the potential for U.K. investment and support for Mexico’s infrastructure. We expect to see continued interest in the energy sector. In January, U.K.-headquartered Cubico announced additions to its pipeline of projects that bring its Mexico total pipeline to 2.2GWs. No doubt there will be interest from others to meet the increased need for power and transmission capacity as nearshoring increases.

The U.K. has made an industry of high-value-added consultancy that is delivering some of the world’s biggest infrastructure projects with partners. In Peru, for example, we are helping the government build schools and hospitals. As well as helping to design, project-manage and deliver infrastructure, we can also bring financing through U.K. Export Finance. We have US $4 billion available for Mexico and hope in the future we can support more projects in the country.

Double decker bus in Mexico City — Mexico City’s double-decker buses are an import from the U.K. (Shutterstock)

The advanced engineering sector and electric mobility are obviously a key opportunity. The red double-decker buses on Reforma Avenue in Mexico City are from Scotland, and we could see electric or hybrid buses designed in the U.K. in Mexico in the future. U.K. companies are actively considering investments in the auto sector in response to nearshoring. As mentioned earlier, U.K. pharmaceutical companies represent one of the U.K.’s strongest sectors in Mexico, and we have recently been through a wave of expansions.

I should mention again that we’ve been working on the ratification of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and think this will help stimulate further interest and investment in Mexico.

Dan Carden, the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Mexico, noted on his visit to Mexico in March how trade agreements and better business-to-business ties will grow our trading relationship. We also see potential growth for British companies across all sectors, and that includes sectors such as food and drink and the creative industries, where Mexico is a fast-growing market for content consumption and creation. We are the world’s sixth largest economy, so the opportunities do span across the whole economy.

Finally, I suspect behind your question is interest in whether Brexit is relevant to future trade prospects. In short, I think it is. Firstly as companies are being encouraged to think more globally and secondly because our CPTPP membership was enabled by us being free to negotiate our membership outside of the E.U., and the same applies to a future trade deal with Mexico. Both deals should make a difference, and companies I talk to are thinking more globally about where future growth will be, and that naturally includes Mexico.

Regarding the U.K.’s relationship with Mexico and the significance of historical ties and the need for a modern approach to bilateralism: how do you perceive the evolution of this relationship, and what do you believe are the key factors driving its current trajectory?

This year, the U.K. and Mexico are celebrating 200 years of diplomatic relations. We’ve worked together to address mutual challenges, and we share strong cultural ties in areas like music, gastronomy, film, sports and education. Our historical bond has led us to achieve incredible results across our partnerships and joint initiatives on climate, political, economic, social and educational issues.

One of the factors that is driving forward our collaboration and partnership is our interest and commitment to develop exciting new areas of cooperation. For us, it is important to find areas of cooperation with the public, private and nongovernmental sectors to tackle challenges like climate change and bolstering clean energies, eliminating gender pay gaps, protecting human rights, and pushing for a safe use of artificial intelligence.

Another element that we are sure will have a positive impact on the U.K.-Mexico relationship and drive it forward is our accession to the CPTPP and a future new trade agreement between Mexico and the U.K.

How do you envision the U.K.’s role in providing meaningful assistance with significant challenges such as insecurity and climate change? What steps do you plan on taking to advance this?

There are many areas where the U.K. and Mexico are already collaborating on important issues like climate change, gender equality, human rights and cybersecurity.

One way the U.K. has become a strategic partner for Mexico is through the U.K. Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions (UK PACT) program. We are working with state governments to support them with technical capacity and highly specialized expertise to develop and update their environmental laws and regulations. To date, 11 states have passed legislation to help Mexico’s communities protect their ecosystems and address environmental challenges. In addition, we supported Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey with technical assistance for the electrification and upgrading of their Metrobús, Trolleybus and Cablebús units.

Another example of our collaboration is our actions to protect and promote human rights. The first Multilateral and Human Rights Dialogue between Mexico and the United Kingdom was held in January, where we had fruitful and constructive conversations on strengthening efforts on a number of shared multilateral and human rights priorities, including gender equality and the protection of economic, social and cultural rights.

On cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, the British Embassy’s Science and Innovation Network in Mexico has collaborated with the National Alliance of Artificial Intelligence and the Mexican Academy of Cybersecurity and Digital Law to create a regulatory framework for the responsible use of AI. Part of this effort was the presentation of results from the Regulatory Sandbox Project and the current state of AI in Mexico, which was a joint initiative to foster responsible innovation in this field.

I am sure the strong partnership that Mexico and the U.K. have will only continue to get stronger.

To read more in the Global Mexico: UK in Focus series, click here.

When will the Maya Train be completed? Another delay announced

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MND Staff

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April 23, 2024

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Conductor standing in doorway of Maya Train railroad car — Sections 1-4 of the Maya Train are already completely open. (Isabel Mateos Hinojosa/Cuartoscuro)

The federal government has once again pushed back the scheduled completion date for the Maya Train railroad: it will now be fully operational in September, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said Monday.

Sections 1–4 of the 1,554-kilometer-long railroad — which link Palenque, Chiapas, to Cancún, Quintana Roo, via Tabasco, Campeche and Yucatán — are already open, as is the northern part of Section 5, which connects Cancún to Playa del Carmen.

Mexico's President Lopez Obrador posing with a citizen inside a car of the Maya Train — The Maya Train, which is partially operational, is one of the legacy projects of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, left, but he may only just barely see it completed before he leaves office on October 1. (lopezobrador.org.mx)

However, trains have not yet started running on the southern part of Section 5 between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, or on Sections 6 and 7, which will link Tulum to Escárcega, Campeche, and include stations at Bacalar and Chetumal.

López Obrador said Monday that the construction of a cable-stayed bridge will delay the opening of Tramo 5 Sur, as the southern part of Section 5 is known.

“We already inaugurated [the section] from Cancún to Playa, … but we can’t connect to Tulum because of the cable-stayed bridge, which will take time. We think we’ll finish it at the end of August,” he told reporters at his morning press conference.

López Obrador acknowledged that steel and cement pilings pierced through the roof of a limestone cave during construction of a section of Tramo 5 Sur and said that authorities are “repairing everything and resolving the problem.”

As a result of the damage caused by the pilings, a decision was taken to build a cable-stayed bridge with a span of 200 meters in order to avoid damage to caves, cenotes (water-filled sinkholes) and subterranean rivers, the president said, although he previously announced such a bridge in January 2023.

“In other words, we’re not going to install columns, … it’s going to be a cable-stayed bridge, and this means a delay. … We could have drilled and installed piles, but we said, ‘No, we’re going to look after this area,’ and that’s why [we’re building] the bridge,” López Obrador said.

Maya Train piling pierces a cave — Photo shared by environmentalists in January showing the Maya Train’s pilings piercing the limestone ceiling of a cenote on Section 5 of the railway, which connects the international airports in Cancún and Tulum. (@gchristy65/X)

He said that the entire railroad — including “all the stations” and train sheds and workshops — will be completely finished by September, his final month in office before a new president is sworn in on Oct. 1.

Late last year, López Obrador said that the railroad, an approximately 500-billion-peso (US $29.5 billion) project, would be completed by the end of February. However, he conceded in January that that wouldn’t be the case, predicting at the time that the railroad would be 100% complete in “another two or three months,” or by the end of April.

López Obrador has said on repeated occasions that the construction and operation of the Maya Train railroad will help generate economic prosperity and well-being in the five states through which it runs. It connects cities and towns in Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán, Quintana Roo and Chiapas, giving passengers access to less-visited parts of Mexico’s southeast.

The president believes that many tourists who fly into Cancún will use the train to head to inland destinations on the Yucatán Peninsula — an area with numerous archaeological sites, pretty colonial cities such as Valladolid and Izamal in Yucatán and plentiful cenotes, among other attractions.

However, it remains to be seen how much long-term demand there will be for tourist services on the railroad, which is also set to be used by freight trains at some point in the future.

With reports from La Jornada and Reforma

Got 1 min? CDMX cops bust crime ring, seizing drugs, fake bills and…a monkey

By

MND Staff

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April 23, 2024

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A spider monkey next to a picture of confiscated marijuana. — The spider monkey was found during a raid on a home in Mexico City's Gustavo A. Madero neighborhood that turned up guns and drugs as well as counterfeit bills. The primate will be sent to a facility run by the federal environmental agency Profepa, authorities said. (SSC CDMX)

Cocaine, crystal meth, counterfeit bills and weapons were among the items seized over the weekend in a major security operation conducted by Mexico City authorities, arresting 61 people in the capital’s Gustavo A. Madero borough.

But perhaps the most surprising confiscation was that of a spider monkey, found during the series of raids on various homes on Friday and Saturday.

Small mugshots of 50 people arrested in an operation by Mexico City police — Just some of the 61 people who were arrested in the Gustavo A. Madero borough of Mexico City on Friday and Saturday. Police believe the counterfeit operation was putting fake 500-peso bills into circulation. (SSC CDMX)

The primate was taken into protective custody by the city’s Animal Vigilance Brigade (BVA) for later transfer to the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa), said Mexico City’s Ministry of Citizen Security (SSC) head Pablo Vázquez Camacho during a Monday press conference.

Vázquez also provided other details of the operation: officials seized 944 doses of cocaine powder, more than 240 doses of rock cocaine, 11 kilograms of marijuana, half a kilogram of marijuana in 65 bags, and dozens of bags of crystal meth and methamphetamine, Vazquez said.

Authorities also confiscated four short firearms, ammunition, seven cell phones and several stolen vehicles.

One major development was the arrest of three alleged members of the Los Arroyo criminal group. At a residence in the neighborhood of CTM Atzacoalco, authorities discovered a counterfeiting operation that included 42 sheets printed with 500-peso bills, cutting tools and seven fake ID cards, as well as the recovered spider monkey.

Investigators believe the gang put the fake bills — which were cut by hand using a utility knife and a school ruler — into circulation in local flea markets.

Also present in the home where the monkey was taken into custody were two altars and various objects related to Santa Muerte — a folk saint who represents death and is often associated with Mexico’s criminal subculture.

The operation took place in several neighborhoods of Gustavo A. Madero and included the execution of 10 search warrants. The residential area is known as the home of the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, El Tepeyac National Park and the huge Tianguis San Felipe market every Sunday. The market is said to be the largest in Latin America.

With reports Infobae, Reforma and López-Dóriga Digital

Is the Mexico City mayoral race tightening up?

By

MND Staff

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April 23, 2024

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The three mayoral candidates standing in front of a sign for the second debate — The three candidates - from left, Salomón Chertorivski, Clara Brugada and Santiago Taboada - at the second debate held on Sunday in Mexico City.

The contest to become the next mayor of Mexico City is tightening, according to a recent poll that found that the gap between the two leading candidates is just five points.

Conducted earlier this month, the El Financiero newspaper’s latest poll found that Clara Brugada, candidate for a coalition led by the ruling Morena party, had 42% support among 800 respondents who are eligible to cast a vote in the June 2 mayoral election.

Santiago Taboada — who will represent an alliance made up of the National Action Party (PAN), the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) and the Democratic Revolution Party (PRD) — attracted 37% support.

The gap between the two candidates declined three points compared to March, when El Financiero found that Brugada, former mayor of the Mexico City borough of Iztapalapa, had 44% support and Taboada, ex-mayor of the borough of Benito Juárez, had 36% support.

Support for the third candidate, Salomón Chertorivski of the minor Citizens Movement (MC) party, declined to 6% in April from 7% last month.

The remaining 15% of respondents said they hadn’t yet decided who they will vote for on the first Sunday in June, when Mexicans across the country will go to the polls to elect a new president and thousands of other federal, state and municipal representatives.

Photos of three mayoral candidates for Mexico City in 2024 — The three candidates running for mayor of Mexico City are (from left to right): Clara Brugada of Morena, Santiago Taboada of the PAN-PRI-PRD coalition and Salomón Chertorivski of the Citizens Movement party. (Cuartoscuro/X)

Excluding the presidency, the biggest single prize on offer in this year’s elections is considered by many to be the mayorship of Mexico City, the national capital and the country’s largest city. Claudia Sheinbaum, the Morena party’s presidential candidate, is aiming to use her 2018-23 tenure as mayor of Mexico City as a springboard to the nation’s top job.

Brugada more popular among women and the lower class, Taboada favored by men and the middle class

Almost half of female respondents to the latest El Financiero poll — 46% to be exact — said they intend to vote for Brugada, a 60-year-old economist who served as a federal and Mexico City lawmaker before becoming mayor of Iztapalapa, a sprawling densely-populated borough in the capital’s east.

One-third of the women polled said they plan to vote for Taboada, a 38-year-old law graduate who also served as a federal and Mexico City lawmaker before becoming mayor of Benito Júarez, a largely middle class borough south of the historic center.

Among men, support for the PAN-PRI-PRD candidate rose to 40%, while Brugada, who will also represent the Labor Party and the Green Party in the mayoral election, attracted support from 38% of male respondents.

El Financiero also found that 46% of respondents who identified as belonging to the lower class of society intend to vote for the Morena candidate. Founded by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Morena is particularly popular among Mexico’s most disadvantaged citizens, in part due to the welfare and social programs delivered by the current federal government.

About three in 10 “lower class” respondents — 31% — said they plan to vote for Taboada, who represented the conservative PAN as mayor of Benito Juárez.

Support for Brugada fell to 38% among respondents who identified as belonging to the middle class. Support for Taboada among that cohort was five points higher at 43%.

The PAN-PRI-PRD candidate was also more popular than Brugada among respondents aged 18-29 and those with a university education. The Morena candidate prevailed among respondents aged 30-49 and 50 and over, and among those whose highest level of education was primary school or high school.

Water and corruption the focus of the second mayoral debate

El Financiero’s poll was conducted before the second mayoral debate, which was held on Sunday night.

As was the case in the first presidential debate, the leading candidates took the opportunity to launch a number of personal attacks on their main rival.

But amidst the acrimony and allegations, Brugada, Taboada and Chertorivski did speak about some of the proposals they intend to implement should they succeed Martí Batres as mayor of Mexico City in late 2024.

Brugada

Among the proposals outlined by the Morena candidate were to build new water treatment plants and create a ministry dedicated to the sustainable management of water. As mayor, Brugada said she would guarantee the supply of high-quality water to all homes in the capital — no easy task in a city where the essential liquid is at a premium and many residents currently have limited or no access to running water.

She also said she would create and lead an “anti-corruption cabinet,” which would oversee the Mexico City government’s fight against corruption.

Taboada

The PAN-PRI-PRD candidate said that a government he leads would invest more in water projects than any previous Mexico City administration.

“First we’re going to repair the leaks that Morena was unable to repair in 27 years,” Taboada said, apparently ignoring the fact that Morena has only governed the capital since 2018 and was only registered as a political party in 2014.

After asserting that Mexico City loses 40% of its water due to pipe leaks, the candidate outlined his other planned water initiatives, including one to capture more rainwater.

A woman fills tanks with a pipe of water — Water scarcity in Mexico City has led to some neighborhoods going for days without municipal water and depending on deliveries by truck. (Cuartoscuro)

As mayor of Benito Juárez, “I captured more than 24 million liters of water,” he said. “… We’re a generation of change,” he added, apparently seeking to emphasize that he is significantly younger than Brugada.

Among Taboada’s corruption-fighting proposals was one to allow corruption-related complaints to be filed digitally with the Mexico City Attorney General’s Office.

Chertorivski

The MC candidate pledged to invest 17 billion pesos (US $1 billion) in a “zero leak” initiative under which faulty water pipes would be repaired. Chertorivski — a former federal health minister — also promised to guarantee citizens’ right to water.

As mayor, he pledged to make all government contracts public and to hold competitive tendering processes before they are awarded. Competitive bidding for contracts will be the rule rather than the exception, Chertorivski said.

Expounding further on his proposed anti-corruption measures, he said that during his mayorship, Mexico City residents will be able to complete all government procedures online and therefore won’t need to go into government offices.

“No more contact with public servants so that they don’t even have the chance … to be corrupt,” Chertorivski said.

Read more about the Mexico City mayoral candidates and their proposals in this recent MND article.

With reports from El Financiero and El Economista

Locals dismantle illegal water-siphoning pumps in Michoacán lake

By

MND Staff

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April 23, 2024

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Elderly women carrying pumps and hoses into a pickup truck in rural Michoacan — Local women from the Purépecha indigenous community dismantled pumps and hoses placed in Michoacán's Zirahuén lake, which has lost three feet of water depth, according to the Environmental Ministry. (Indigenous Community of Zirahuén/Facebook)

Indigenous villagers living alongside Zirahuén lake in the western state of Michoacán dismantled illegal pumping equipment this week that was siphoning water from the lake to irrigate nearby avocado farms.

After a Supreme Indigenous Council meeting of the local Purépecha community authorizing action, female members from the lakeside town of Zirahuén on Monday dismantled and destroyed four pumps and hoses siphoning water from the lake, apparently for use by nearby avocado orchards.

Michoacan's Zirahuen lake with a pump and hose sitting on the lake's shore. — One of the pumps at Zirahuén lake. They were spotted over a week ago by a sub-agency of the federal Environmental Ministry. Residents said they took matters into their own hands because the government was too slow to act. (Indigenous Community of Zirahuén/Facebook)

At the same time, the Naval Ministry (SEMAR) was tasked with protecting and rescuing the emblematic Lake Pátzcuaro about 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) to the northeast, which had also been targeted by water thieves, the El Financiero newspaper reported.

The clandestine water theft operation at Zirahuén lake was detected more than a week ago via satellite surveillance carried out by the Forest Protection Agency (Guardian Forestal), according to the newspaper La Voz de Michoacán. The agency — an arm of the Environment Ministry (Semarnat) — uses satellite imagery to fight illegal logging.

In early April, local Michoacán and federal authorities had established a joint operation to halt illegal pumping from Lake Pátzcuaro, but the huachicoleros (the slang Mexican Spanish term for criminals who illegally siphon oil or water) simply moved their enterprise to Zirahuén lake.

When authorities failed to react quickly to reports of illicit pumping at Zirahuén lake, the indigenous Purépecha communities that live around the lake took matters into their own hands.

Afterward, the Supreme Indigenous Council issued a statement defending their decision and decrying the inaction of authorities, declaring that they “are still waiting for support from the police to put a stop to the theft of water from the lake.”

Purépecha communities in both Zirahuén and Pátzcuaro have long complained about the illegal activities of avocado farmers. While the farmers make millions, community members told the newspaper El Financiero, the lakes suffer tremendously from the illegal siphoning.

Dirty polluted water inn Lake Zirahuen in Michoacan — Zirahuén residents have raised concerns that avocado farms in the mountains surrounding Zirahuén lake have been polluting Zirahuén for years with farming chemicals. (Juan José Estrada Serafín (Cuartoscuro)

Zirahuén residents have also been raising concerns for years that avocado farmers situated in the mountains surrounding Zirahuén lake are also responsible for polluting the lake with farming chemicals applied to avocado crops. During the rainy season, they say, chemical residue is carried down the mountain and ends up in the lake.

Concerned residents of lakeside communities that depend on the waters for their livelihood have watched the level of Zirahuén lake drop 3 meters in water depth due to drought and huachicoleo (water theft).

The local fishermen’s union has implemented conservation measures to preserve the lake and the surrounding flora and fauna, for instance, fighting to prohibit motorized crafts from being used on the lake, according to the news agency Quadratín Michoacán.

Community leaders also worry that the diminishing water level will negatively impact tourism, also a concern for residents of cities beyond the immediate vicinity of the lake. Quadratín reported that 60% of fishermen, restaurateurs and tourism operators who rely on Zirahuén lake live in the city of Salvador Escalante, which is 15 kilometers (9 miles) to the east and Zirahuén’s municipal seat.

Meanwhile, Semarnat personnel have begun dredging operations at the endangered Lake Pátzcuaro as part of its recuperation efforts.

In a related move, Semarnat took steps to protect more than 33,000 hectares of land in the Pátzcuaro Valley by designating it a Natural Protected Area. The preservation of this land — including a reforestation project — would benefit the lake as it would serve as a recharge zone and would reduce soil erosion that chokes the lake.

Another Michoacán lake just north of Zirahuén — Cuitzeo lake — is also dying out. A February report indicated that it has lost 70% of its water over the past 25 years.

With reports from Milenio, El Financiero, Quadratín Michoacán and La Voz de Michoacán

Discover the work of Mexico’s greatest architect through the Barragán Route in Guadalajara

By

MND Staff

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April 23, 2024

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Bold colors, straight lines and clean walls. These are some of the key features used by Luis Barragán, one of the most prominent architects of the 20th century who revolutionized Mexican architecture of the time.

Today, Barragán’s iconic collection of homes is symbolic of Mexico’s coolest neighborhoods, with many becoming art galleries and hotels as his legacy of simple design lives on.

Casa Orozco Barragán — Casa Orozco (Casa Orozco)

Who was Luis Barragán?

Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, in 1902 to a prosperous Catholic family of hacendados (landowners), Luis Barragán is the only Mexican to have won the Pritzker Prize, the highest award given to an architect.

Although his international fame came after he settled in Mexico City, where he lived until his death in 1988, his early life in Guadalajara and the time spent in his family’s haciendas in the countryside played an essential role in shaping the architect’s style.

“My work chronicles my father’s ranches during my childhood and adolescence. I strive to modernize them while preserving the enchantment and nostalgia of the past,” Barragán once said.

“The lessons contained in the popular architecture of the Mexican provinces have been a source of permanent inspiration for me: its whitewashed walls; the tranquility of its patios and orchards; the color of its streets and the humble grace of its plazas surrounded by shady portals.”

The simplicity of provincial Mexico was a major inspiration for Barragán. (Casa Estudio Luis Barragán/Facebook)

His travels in Europe also influenced his work. After graduating as a civil engineer and architect in 1923, he journeyed for two years through the continent, learning about the prevailing urban and architectural planning of the time.

In Paris, he was introduced to the Art Deco movement, and while in Granada’s Alhambra, he recognized characteristic elements of Mexican architecture, such as high walls, small windows, interior gardens, and inward-facing houses.

Upon returning to Mexico from Europe, Barragán’s style flourished in the homes he designed in Guadalajara between 1927 and 1934, during the early years of his career, largely as a response to the popular Tapatío design movement of the time.

While not internationally renowned, these residences established the aesthetic that would later be apparent in Barragán’s further works — a style that would later earn his Mexico City residence, Casa Estudio Luis Barragán, recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The list is organized in chronological order. If you would like to walk the route and see these buildings for yourself, follow our guide to the Barragán Route.

The Barragán Route

Here is a list of Baragán’s most memorable designs in Guadalajara, known as the Ruta Barragán. Most are in or close to the Colonia Americana, voted Time Out’s 2022 “coolest neighborhood in the world.”

Casa Robles León, 1927

MADERO 607Casa Robles León — Casa Robles León, Barragán’s first house. (RevisionesGDL)

Barragán’s first project was restoring a private residence on Madero Street, owned by Emiliano Robles León.

Even though it was a renovation of an existing property, Luis Barragán, who was only 25 years old, started to showcase his distinctive style in this house.

The house’s exterior boasts eclectic architectural features from the 19th and 20th centuries, while the interior features Moorish and Mediterranean elements in the stairs, new arches and roof. The design also draws inspiration from Ferdinand Bac’s work.

Robles León commissioned more work from young Barragán, helping him develop his talent before settling in Mexico City.

Casa González Luna, 1928

Casa Gonzalez Luna Barragán — The Moorish inspired Casa Gonzalez Luna is now a cultural center. (Wikiarquitectura)

In 1929, Barragán received a commission to design the residence of Efraín González Luna, a prominent Mexican lawyer and politician in Guadalajara.

The house is particularly noteworthy for its spaciousness combining Arab and Andalusian elements with inspiration from local architecture. This house reflects Barragán’s early exploration using the placement and sizing of openings to create intimacy.

Declared an Artistic Monument of the Nation by the Ministry of Culture (Conaculta) and the National Institute of Fine Arts (INBA) in 2006, the house is now the Casa ITESO Clavigero Cultural Center.

Casas Robles Castillo, 1928

Casa Robles Castillo was the first complete design built by Barragán. (RevisionesGDL)

One of the architectural gems of Guadalajara, this residence at the corner of Vallarta Avenue and Argentina Street was the first house built by Barragán. He designed it in 1926 — he was 24 years old — and completed it in 1928. It includes two houses, which Robles Castillo commissioned for rental purposes.

The property was declared a Building of Relevant Artistic Value in the Cultural Heritage Inventory of Jalisco and showcases the fundamental principles of Barragán’s work.

Through this design, Barragán distanced himself from the trend of designing French-style estates that had been prevalent since the late 19th century and instead incorporated Mediterranean design elements blended with features of Mexican architecture and locally sourced materials.

Casa Cristo, 1929

Casa Cristo Barragán — Casa Cristo was built for the president of Guadalajara. (Barragán Foundation)

In 1929, Gustavo R. Cristo, then municipal president of Guadalajara, commissioned Barragán to build his house.

Casa Cristo is known for its striking Moorish-style designs, characterized by bold colors, stylized arches and the prominent use of tiles on walls, ceilings, and cornices. This early work of Barragán is notable for his mastery of color and light, and the seamless continuity of exterior and interior spaces from the porch to the rooftops.

Casa Cristo currently serves as the headquarters of the College of Architects of the State of Jalisco.

Casa Franco, 1929

Casa Franco Barragán — Lovers of Barragán’s work can now stay in Casa Franco, which operates as an Airbnb. (Airbnb)

This house, situated in Colonia Americana, is one of Barragán’s most Moorish-influenced works, which can be seen in the design of the doors, carpentry and patios. The superb control of light, one of Barragán’s staple aesthetics, is also notable in this residence.

If you want to take the opportunity to stay in the Casa Franco, it is now an Airbnb.

Casa Estudio José Clemente Orozco

This is Barragán’s most modern house in Jalisco’s capital, designed for muralist José Clemente Orozco.

Featuring a small raised front garden, this property creates a subtle but decisive separation from the sidewalk to create intimacy, a distinctive feature of Barragán’s work.

Casa Orozco is a great work of modern architecture said to have been a creative collaboration between two of Jalisco’s greatest artists — Orozco and Barragán.

The house is currently the home of the Sala Silenciosa Gallery.

Casa Robles León, 1934

Commissioned by Robles León as well, this house faces Parque Revolución, which was also designed by Barragán (although it has since been partially demolished).

Casa Robles was one of the last residential works of Barragán in Guadalajara before he moved to Mexico City.

Other notable works by Barragán

Barragán helped design several public spaces in Guadalajara, including the Calvario Temple in Jardines del Bosque, for which he refused to take credit because it was built with alterations to Barragán’s original project.

Barragán primarily worked in Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey and other cities across the country. He has additional works in the United States in California, Florida, Texas, New York and Illinois.

Gabriela Solis is a Mexican lawyer turned full-time writer. She was born and raised in Guadalajara and covers business, culture, lifestyle and travel for Mexico News Daily. You can follow her lifestyle blog Dunas y Palmeras.

The crazy world of Mexico City’s Red Bull Soap Box derby

By

James Monack and Marina Villasenor

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April 23, 2024

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Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's the Red Bull Soap Box race, where participants risk life, limb and sanity as they compete to send homemade creations downhill. (Red Bull Soap Box)

Iran-Contra, Monica Lewinsky, and, of course, Watergate. What do they all have in common? The scandals pale in comparison to the 1973 Soapbox Derby cheating affair, which nearly ended a tradition known all over the world. A car design that included an electric magnet to give an extra jump off the start caused 14-year-olds everywhere to weep at the blatant interference by pesky adults. Luckily, the derby is still rolling along, but such an event will never rock Red Bull’s version of the race, the Red Bull Soap Box derby, as the adult contestants are encouraged to comport themselves like, well, 14-year-olds.

The event’s judging criteria say it all. The winners will be assessed on speed (duh), creativity, and performance. The latter two conditions give the officials wide discretion, and if a racer decides to create and, say, motorize and be first across the finish line, the design and performance better be up to snuff.

For instance, food-themed cars are always popular. Past examples include giant hotdog cars, frying eggs, and a table set for an Italian dinner while the co-pilot fed spaghetti to the driver.

As for the performance, most teams have a cheesy dance before mounting the car. These usually include collections of hip-thrusting in skimpy outfits, but one contestant went to the length of having a Jurassic Park raptor fire up the crowd before the dinosaur-themed vehicle burst out of its cage for the race. This earned 33/40 from the judges, so clearly, dancing in a speedo alone is not enough. Mexico is ready to impress the crowds after a seven-year absence from the event, and no group is more prepared than Team Camote.

The sweet potato cart with a need for speed

Team spokesman Santiago Bladinieres says, “We are going to be the sweet potatoes that are [driving] the car.” Uh… huh?

Those who live in the city limits will be familiar with the ear-splitting whistle that announces the arrival of piping hot camotes. This dish of sweet potatoes baked in a mobile fifty-five-gallon drum might remind ex-pats of the ice cream truck of their youth – that is, if the ice cream truck caused long-term inner ear damage. While the race may see its share of taco, burrito, michelada, or margarita-themed cars, crafting a vehicle that pays homage to such a distinctively local delicacy is an inspired choice for design.

Team Camote Red Bull Soap Box Derby — Team Camote’s (hopefully) winning design for the 2024 Mexico City event. (CR1 Engineering)

The team spent all their free time at CR1 Engineering, where they constructed the car. The workshop gave them access to tools and even welding lessons. Santiago, his brother, and two additional teammates are currently about halfway through construction. They will be ready for the race on April 27 in Santa Fe, where an expected 14,000 fans will arrive early in the morning to set up lawn chairs, enjoy food vendors, and, of course, plenty of Red Bull.

Santa Fe gets ready for the Soap Box derby

This year’s race at Parque La Mexicana is filled with excitement, not only because it has been so long since the last race but also because it is merely the fourth time the race has been held in Mexico. This seems a bit odd, considering Mexican’s well-known love for festivals that lean on the absurd. Forty-five teams registered to compete, and the roster of teams filled in record time.

Red Bull organizers take pride in the fact that many teams are family affairs, where fathers and sons, moms and daughters, combine skill, showmanship, and craziness to celebrate the race’s return.

But do not think one can pop a toddler into a canister and push it down the hill. Young racers must be at least fifteen years old, while elder racers are free to risk their already long-lived lives.

One cardinal rule in the vehicle’s design – beyond the indispensable flair – is the inclusion of brakes. This singular serious stipulation paves the way for entrants to prioritize speed, although it soon becomes evident that some cars might have been better left as blueprints. The spectacle of crashes, particularly those of a ludicrous nature, ranks high on the audience’s list of favorites.

For those planning to attend, an early arrival offers the best vantage points. Photographers, take note: adjust your camera’s shutter speed to at least 500fps. This ensures you capture the whirl of three, four or five wheeled foods as they zoom past at speeds of over 35 miles per hour, creating a feast for the eyes unlike any other.

It may not be Formula One, but when was the last time one of those cars looked like a plate of nachos?

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

With dozens of data centers in the works, could Mexico be a new digital services hub?

By

MND Staff

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April 22, 2024

1

Over the next five years, Mexico could see as many as 73 new data centers that would boost the local industry’s global status and address the growing need for digital services across the country, according to the Mexican Association of Data Centers (MEXDC).

The MEXDC said last week that over the next five years it expects investments of up to US $9.2 billion dollars in the sector, El Financiero newspaper reported.

Among the companies expected to participate in the new projects are Ascenty, DCD, Equinix, Layer9 Data Centers, Odata, Scala Data Centers and KIO, which opened its second data center in the state of Nuevo León in January and already operates in Querétaro as well. In February, Amazon Web Services announced a US $5 billion investment in the state of Querétaro.

“Mexico is increasingly attractive to the data center industry,” said MEXDC president Amet Novillo. “We have seen such tremendous growth recently that we have become one of Latin America’s primary technology hubs.”

The MEXDC also expressed the goal of transforming data centers into an essential, or mission critical, industry.

A data center is a building or a dedicated space used to house computer systems and associated components, such as telecommunications and storage systems. It generally includes redundant or backup components and infrastructure for power supply, data communication connections, environmental controls such as air conditioning and fire suppression, as well as various security devices.

Computer servers — Mexico could have more than 200 data centers around the country within 5 years. (Taylor Vick/Unsplash)

Novillo told reporters that there are 166 such centers in Mexico, making it one of the top 10 data center hubs in the world. The industry has developed so quickly that the MEXDC has grown from seven to 75 members since being founded a year ago, newspaper El Economista reported.

The MEXDC is in contact with the Economy Ministry (SE), the Infrastructure and Communications Ministry (SICT), and the Federal Telecoms Institute (IFT) to ensure the government recognizes the essential nature of the data center industry to Mexico’s economy and grants it privileged access to electricity and water.

The existing data centers require about 305 megawatts per hour to operate, whereas the new data centers are likely to be significantly larger and thus require up to 400% more energy (up to 1,492 megawatts per hour, said Novillo) to function properly.

Novillo told reporters that in addition to the US $9.2 billion in investments forthcoming, indirect investment in the same five-year time period could reach US $30 billion. In addition, more than 68,000 people would be hired to build the 73 new data centers which would provide employment to more than 24,000 people by 2029.

He also estimated that the industry’s expected contribution to Mexico’s economy by 2029 could exceed US $75.5 billion, or 5.2% of GDP.

With reports from El Economista and El Financiero