Sunday, September 21, 2025

What will I see on a tour of the Xochimilco canals?

By
Stephen Randall
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Xochimilco tour
A tour through the canals of Xochimilco is like a tour through Mexico itself. (Roberto Carlos Román/Unsplash)

Floating down the canal during a tour of Xochimilco, a crowded boat of locals passes by, chanting the battle cry, “Viva Mexico!” in between generous gulps of their micheladas. After they pass, the legendary Island of the Dolls appears, a bizarre monument to the lost and the damned. Here, decaying dolls hang like twisted totems from the old trees, some missing eyes, some down a few limbs. It’s a haunting spectacle, a surreal tribute to a drowned girl’s memory. A few meters farther we stopped ashore to marvel at some of the rare carnivorous plants in the riverside greenhouse. This was going to be a strange and glorious day.

Another boat moored up to ours offering some local delicacies, my favorite being esquite. The famous street food isn’t merely food but an edible riot. Coal fired corn, lime, chili and cotija cheese, esquite is a culinary rebellion against the mundane, and an important part of any Xochmilco tour.

Island of the Dolls, Xochimilco tour
The Island of the (extremely creepy) Dolls is the stuff of both legend and nightmare. (Alcaldía Xochimilco)

The watery labyrinth of Xochimilco remains an artery of tradition in the ever-modernizing megalopolis of Mexico City. It’s a place where the past is not just remembered, but vibrantly alive, moving with the colors and sounds of Mexico. As your trajinera (the punted boats that serve as transportation) glides through the water, edged by a kaleidoscope of flowers and verdant chinampas (floating gardens), you’re not just a spectator; you are part of a centuries-old continuum.

Post Spanish conquest, this realm of floral abundance and Aztec agricultural wizardry didn’t just fade into the annals of history; it morphed and resisted, becoming a defiant symbol of endurance amidst the tyranny of colonial expansion and urban sprawl. Today, Xochimilco stands as a testament to survival, its canals ferrying tourists and dreamers alike in brightly painted boats, floating amidst the echoes of a civilization that once was. Here, in the shadow of the past, the party rages on, a vivid, enduring defiance against the relentless march of time.

Unless you already have a large posse, I always recommend connecting up with other groups to rent the boats since they charge per boat per hour, and it’s a great way to make new friends! Bring sunscreen (unless you plan to become as peeling as the haunted dolls on the island), pre-made cocktails and extra pesos to buy mementos or additional cheladas in the canal. The route depends on how long you want to pay for, but 3 to 4 hours is usually enough to get into the spirit, have some drinks, relax, people watch, glide down the canal like an axolotl, and just soak it in.

A young lady from California insists on playing the new Beyonce song on her little Bluetooth speaker, which is completely inaudible and no match to the live Mariachi band playing in the boat next to us. Mariachi bands, aboard their own trajineras, float by, offering serenades for a few pesos. The strum of guitars, the wail of trumpets, and the soulful voice of the singers create a soundtrack that is as Mexican as the sky is blue.

While the main canals are filled with life, there are quiet corners of Xochimilco that can feel as if you stepped back centuries. (Roger Ce/Unsplash)

It’s not just about observing; it’s about participating, immersing oneself in the experience, letting the place seep into your pores. As the journey unfolds, the camaraderie among those on the boat deepens. Strangers slowly become friends, bound by shared experience and the communal joy of discovery. Laughter fills the air, mingling with the music and the soft splash of water against the boat.

The beauty of Xochimilco lies not just in its visual or culinary offerings, but in its ability to bridge time. Here, in the midst of modern chaos, lies a testament to the power of culture and tradition. It’s a reminder that some things—joy, community, the simple pleasure of a meal shared on the water—are universal and timeless.

As the journey winds to its close, the setting sun paints the sky in hues of orange and pink, a visual to match the day’s experiences. There’s a sense of melancholy that comes with the end of such a journey, a longing to hold onto the magic a little longer. Yet, there’s also gratitude—a deep, profound appreciation for having been a part of something so deeply rooted in history. This three-hour Xochimilco tour is more than a trip through a network of canals; it’s a journey through the soul of Mexico.

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.

Despite polls, presidential candidate Xóchitl Gálvez is optimistic

By
MND Staff
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Mexico presidential candidate Xochitl Galvez taking a selfie with a crowd of supporters
Though she says her campaign has been negatively affected by what she says are lies about her platform from the Morena party, opposition presidential candidate Xóchitl Gálvez, left, says she'll win the June 2 election if there is at least 62% voter turnout. (Ferando Carranza García/Cuartoscuro)

She comes in a distant second in the polls, but Xóchitl Gálvez remains outwardly confident that she can become Mexico’s next president.

In a recent interview with the Reforma newspaper, the candidate for the three-party Strength and Heart for Mexico opposition bloc predicted that she will win the June 2 presidential election if turnout is above 60%.

Mexico presidential candidate Xochitl Galvez holding a microphone on a stage

Gálvez also spoke to the Mexico City-based news outlet about a range of other topics, including possible appointments to her cabinet if she succeeds in becoming Mexico’s first female president and her commitment to investigate alleged corruption involving President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s sons.

Let’s take a look at the remarks she made to Reforma late last week before beginning a campaign visit to the northern state of Nuevo León.

On her plan to be an ‘independent’ president 

Gálvez, a businesswoman turned politician who was mayor of a Mexico City borough before becoming a federal senator for the conservative National Action Party (PAN), declared she will remain “independent” of political parties as president, although she also said she would “obviously … govern with them.”

The 61-year-old Hidalgo native will represent the PAN, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) and the Democratic Revolution Party (PRD) at the June 2 election.

She said that she and the parties backing her candidacy have a “common agenda” in security, healthcare and education.

However, Gálvez — who represented the PAN as a senator, but is not a member of the party — asserted that “no political party has dared to tell me, ‘This is my list [of requests].'”

Xochitl Galvez before a microphone in the Mexican senate
Gálvez’s previous political career has included a stint as mayor of the Miguel Hidalgo borough in Mexico City and, most recently, as a senator representing the National Action Party. (Graciela López Herrera/Cuartoscuro)

Turning her attention to the beleaguered state oil company Pemex, the opposition candidate said that in order to “restructure” the firm and make it “efficient,” she will have to work with political parties to “build” an agenda in Congress.

Gálvez has previously said that if she becomes president, Pemex — which currently has debt in excess of US $100 billion — wouldn’t solely be focused on oil.

“There are other sources of energy; we can’t leave them out, and [including them] would give much more financial viability to Pemex,” she told Reforma.

On the possible makeup of her cabinet 

Asked whether she had potential cabinet members in mind, Gálvez noted that she has met a range of people from civil society and political parties during her campaign.

“I’ve found very valuable people from the parties. I’m fascinated by [former economy minister] Ildefonso Guajardo, who is from Monterrey — an honest man … [with] a great capacity,” she said.

Guajardo, who was a key negotiator in the talks that led to the USMCA free-trade pact, is working on the candidate’s campaign.

Gálvez also spoke positively about former tourism minister Enrique de la Madrid, ex-education minister Aurelio Nuño, Senator Beatriz Paredes — who was the runner-up in the contest to become the PAN-PRI-PRD presidential candidate —  Senator Kenia López, Senator Lilly Téllez and energy analyst Rosanety Barrios.

She said that all appointees to her cabinet would be required to undergo an “asset evolution analysis” to determine how their wealth has changed over time.

“Is it OK to have money? Yes, it’s OK, but you have to say where it comes from,” Gálvez said.

On AMLO’s alleged ‘meddling’ in the election 

Gálvez said she would challenge the National Electoral Institute’s decision to allow López Obrador to continue holding his daily press conferences during the campaign period, asserting that she would prove that the president is “meddling in the election.”

Mexico's President Lopez Obrador gesturing behind a podium during his press conference
Gálvez said in her interview with Reforma that President López Obrador is being unfairly allowed to “meddle” in the election during his press conferences, where Galvez said he regularly talks up his Morena party’s candidate, Claudia Sheinbaum. (lopezobrador.org.mx)

“The most serious issue,” she said, is that López Obrador has said that “we want to get rid of the social programs.”

Gálvez was referring to government welfare and employment programs created by López Obrador’s government, such as the Youths Building the Future apprenticeship scheme and the Sowing Life reforestation initiative.

Government officials known as “servants of the nation are telling people that if they vote for another party, they’ll lose the social programs,” she said.

“That has caused tremendous damage in this election because people wouldn’t be willing to vote for [the ruling party] Morena if it wasn’t for … the social programs,” Gálvez said.

“So that hurts me — the election is inequitable, and in addition [López Obrador] uses his morning press conference to speak about the positives of his candidate [Claudia Sheinbaum] and my negatives,” she said.

On her expectations for election day

Gálvez — who trails Sheinbaum by 25 points according to the Bloomberg news outlet’s poll tracker — predicted that there will be a “surprising” level of “citizen participation” on June 2, a day on which Mexicans will not only elect a new president but also governors in some states and around 20,000 federal, state and municipal officials.

Gálvez, second from right, poses with, from left to right, PAN leader Marko Cortes, Senator Kenia López, whom Gálvez has mentioned as a potential cabinet member, and PAN senator Santiago Creel, an early supporter of Gálvez’s candidacy.

“If the people come out to vote, we’re going to win,” she added.

Although López Obrador has maintained a high approval rating throughout his presidency and polls show that Morena and its allies are likely to win a congressional majority, Gálvez said that people are “fed up” with the ruling party.

“Morena is going to try to instill fear so that people don’t go out to vote freely — that will be a strategy,” she said.

Nevertheless, “we’re going to have great participation,” Gálvez said before predicting a “tight contest.”

However, “if 62% of the people vote, there is no doubt that we’ll win by a good margin,” she told Reforma without explaining how she arrived at that conclusion.

On her plan to fight corruption 

“I will investigate any act of corruption, whoever is involved, regardless of the party they belong to,” Gálvez said when specifically asked whether she would put López Obrador and his sons under investigation if she becomes president.

Mexican senator Beatriz Paredes raising hand with Xochitl Galvez standing in front of supporters
Gálvez, center, also mentioned Senator Beatriz Paredes, left, as a potential cabinet member if she wins the June 2 election. (Cuartoscuro)

In February, the New York Times published allegations that people close to the president, including his adult sons, received drug money after he took office in late 2018. López Obrador’s adult sons have also faced other accusations that they have benefited improperly from their father’s position as president.

Gálvez said that alleged cases of corruption involving AMLO’s sons must be investigated.

However, she indicated she wouldn’t pursue López Obrador as “I believe the president doesn’t get directly involved in the funny business with contracts, but his sons do.”

Gálvez also said that a corruption case involving the federal food security agency Segalmex has to be investigated further and that outstanding cases, such as that in which former Pemex CEO Emlio Lozoya is implicated, “have to be followed up.”

More reading on Xóchitl Gálvez 

Want to know more about the Indigenous Otomí woman vying to become Mexico’s first female president and her plans for the nation? Take a look at these Mexico News Daily articles:

With reports from Reforma 

Opinion: Why Mexico needs a nearshoring strategy

By
The Mexican Institute for Competitiveness
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A Mexican electrician holding a digital monitor in front of a geothermal system
Mexico's skilled labor force and location in North America have attracted increasing investment in recent years. (VG Foto/Shutterstock)

This is the first column written for Mexico News Daily by the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO), a nonpartisan, nonprofit public policy think tank based in Mexico City. We look forward to bringing you more of their insights, research and analysis.

Nearshoring vs Reshoring

Those of us who follow international and economic news are probably familiar with the words “nearshoring” and “reshoring,” both of which gained traction after the 2020 economic and public health crisis and the commercial and geopolitical disruptions that followed. Those trends consist in bringing supply chains “home,” and are part of a larger worldwide shift towards deglobalization that came about after the crisis of 2008-2009. 

Of the two, nearshoring has a more open approach and seeks to bring supply chains home to a region, not just a country. That region, however, needs to meet certain requirements: the countries in that region need to be close not just geographically but politically and, most of all, in terms of commercial allyship. Close ties are fundamental. By contrast, reshoring usually refers to the action of bringing back supply chains to a specific country.

For Mexico, nearshoring represents an exciting opportunity. It’s seen as a path to further integration with North America, which would not only result in higher trade flows with the United States and Canada but also in a higher exchange of knowledge and skills and an advancement in our productive capabilities which — using those new skills — could be modernized.

If nearshoring materializes fully, it could mean another economic boost for Mexico, in the vein of what the country saw after the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) took effect in 1994.

How has nearshoring affected Mexico’s economy?

So far, Mexico has seen some encouraging results.

In 2023, foreign direct investment (FDI) linked to nearshoring spiked 93% compared to 2022 — namely investment directed to sectors like automotive production, pharmaceutical products and semiconductors, among others with ties to global value chains.

That performance compares quite positively with the (-)31% year-over-year decline seen in FDI flows directed to other areas of the economy, such as the telecommunications and financial sectors.

Foreign investment directed to automobile and truck manufacturing — the largest nearshoring-related sector in the country — increased by 72% during that period. For activities related metal ore mining, also integrated into global value chains, FDI inflows almost tripled. 

The country has also had a high number of new investment announcements: since the beginning of 2021, just when nearshoring was beginning to gain traction, over a hundred new investment projects associated with it have been announced in Mexico, with a total estimated investment of more than US $30 billion. Even if some of them fall through — currently, about 43% of those projects are still in the announcement stage — six out of every 10 projects are either already operational or under construction.

Large investment sums are expected to continue to arrive in the coming years. It would seem, then, that we’re capitalizing on the opportunity.

Is Mexico realizing its full potential?

However, as is often the case in Mexico — in its economic growth, its fight against poverty and its efforts to reduce inequality, to mention a few instances — it also looks like we’re not really reaching our full potential. Even though Mexico seems to be thriving as an FDI host, it pales in comparison to the FDI inflow growth seen in other countries.

When we look at the results seen in Brazil, for example, we see a year-over-year increase of 70% in FDI reception between 2021 and 2022; in Chile, that same figure was 50%. Both countries are located in Latin America, yet both have higher increases than Mexico, where FDI inflows grew 12% in the same period. Additionally, Brazil’s FDI more than doubled that of Mexico in 2022, even though it was only 0.4% higher back in 2020.

What is Mexico doing wrong? Why is its FDI not increasing at the same rate as that of other countries? The answer doesn’t necessarily lie in what the country’s doing wrong, but in what it’s failing to do. 

Mexico needs a strategy, not assumptions

When the world and the United States started thinking about nearshoring, many in Mexico assumed that we would naturally be included as an integral part of the puzzle. We assumed that, due to Mexico’s geographical and cultural closeness with the U.S. and its participation as a partner of one of the largest, most comprehensive free trade agreements in the world, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, we’d be prioritized as an ally in the effort to create more resilient supply chains. 

That mindset has led to a lack of strategy or efforts aimed at becoming the most competitive and convenient ally for North America. Consequently, we haven’t yet done the work needed to ensure that we have the necessary infrastructure in terms of electricity and water, housing and connectivity, and we’ve neglected our compliance with trade commitments, including those contained in USMCA. 

Every relationship requires work, and maintaining our close ties to our North American partners is not the exception; without that work, it’s irrational to think that we’ll naturally take precedence over other countries.

The danger in assuming that we’ll be prioritized without having to make an effort to become more competitive is that we could let the nearshoring opportunity pass without leveraging it to boost growth and economic development. If we don’t want that opportunity to come and go — and if we want to be considered as part of the North American “home” that the United States wants to bring supply chains back to —we need to do the work.

Foreign Trade and Labor Market Coordinator at the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO) Ana Bertha Gutiérrez is an economist trained at the National Autonomous Technological Institute (ITAM), the University of California at San Diego, the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and the Organization of American States. Previously, she was Research Coordinator for México, ¿cómo vamos?, an NGO focused on tracking national and state economic figures.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Mexico News Daily, its owner or its employees.

Federal government providing security protection for 250 political candidates

By
MND Staff
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Funeral in Mexico for assassinated mayoral candidate Gisela Gaytan
Relatives carry the coffin of Gisela Gaytán, a Morena candidate for mayor of Celaya, Guanajuato, assassinated in April. (Diego Costa Costa/Cuartoscuro)

Against a backdrop of at least 15 murders of hopefuls for political office during Mexico’s current election cycle, the federal government on Tuesday offered assurances that candidates seeking protection are now getting it immediately.

Rosa Icela Rodríguez, head of Mexico’s Security and Citizen Protection Ministry (SSPC), told reporters at President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s Tuesday morning press conference that the number of national-level candidates who have requested protection from the federal government rose to 273, by her bureau’s most recent count.

Mexico security head Rosa Icela Rodriguez standing at a podium at a press conference
Federal civilian security head Rosa Icela Rodríguez told reporters Tuesday that candidates are now getting protection “faster and faster.” (Rosa Icela Rodríguez/X)

All requests are now processed “without pretext and without bureaucracy” on order of López Obrador, she said.

In Mexico, presidential, gubernatorial and congressional candidates receive federal protection from the Army and National Guard, while state governments are responsible for safeguarding aspirants for state and local positions.

This process could be seen as skewed, wrote the online news source Animal Político, because “applicants for municipal positions are the most vulnerable.”

Rodríguez said Tuesday that the streamlined 2024 Candidate Protection Plan eliminates risk analysis and ensures swift protection. As of Monday, 250 candidates had received the security they requested, Rodríguez said. Twenty-three declined the offered protection, she added.

“We are making the procedure faster and faster to provide the necessary security immediately,” the Security Minister said.

Rodríguez acknowledged the murders of one candidate, five pre-candidates and nine aspiring candidates who hadn’t yet registered formally. Investigations into these killings are underway by the federal Attorney General’s Office (FGR) and local prosecutors, she said.

Candidates for Mayor of Maravatio, Michoacan, Miguel Angel Zavala and Armando Perez Luna
From left to right: Miguel Ángel Zavala and Armando Pérez Luna, rival candidates for mayor of the Michoacán municipality Maravatío, were killed in March within 12 hours of each other. (Vive Maravatío)

However, according to the news site La-Lista, the consulting firm Data Int puts the number of murdered candidates at 28, while the data analysis nongovernmental organization Data Cívica reported 11 in the second half of 2023 and 15 in the first quarter of 2024.

In one of the year’s most high-profile cases, Gisela Gaytán — a 38-year-old Morena party candidate for mayor of Celaya, Guanajuato — was shot to death on her first day of public campaigning. Just hours before her April 1 murder, she said she had previously asked the state’s electoral authority for protection. 

Animal Político reported that her request was caught up in red tape for over three weeks.

“The citizens are with us. They look after us, but, of course, we’re going to have security protocols… Let’s see whether they have an answer for us today,” she said at that time, according to the newspaper El Pais.

In March, there were three politically motivated murders over seven days, including rival candidates for mayor in the Michoacán municipality of Maravatío, who were slain within hours of each other.

The surge in violence underscores the challenges Mexico faces in conducting safe elections. Voters will go to the polls on June 2 to elect a new president, all 500 members of the Chamber of Deputies and all 128 Senators, eight governors, 31 state legislatures and many other representatives in what will be the largest elections in Mexico’s history.

With reports from El Universal, Milenio and La-Lista

Got 1 min? Copa Airlines to connect Panama City to Tulum

By
MND Staff
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People enjoy the sand and sea on the beach in Tulum
"The Christmas holidays have always attracted people to Mexico,” said SiteMinder regional manager Alfredo Rodríguez. (Mara Lezama/X)

A new direct Copa Airlines flight has been announced from Panama City to Tulum. 

Beginning on June 26, Copa will operate four weekly flights to the Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport from Panama City on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. 

Panama’s Copa Airlines currently flies to Mexico City, Cancún, Guadalajara and Monterrey.

“The new route to Tulum, Mexico, consolidates the airline’s presence in Mexico with five destinations, providing a faster and more convenient alternative for traveling to this renowned tourist destination in the Riviera Maya,” Panama-based Copa Airlines said in a statement.

The new flight will become the fifth destination for the airline in Mexico, joining Mexico City, Cancún, Guadalajara and Monterrey. Tulum is also the third international destination announced by Copa this year, along with Florianopolis, Brazil, and Raleigh-Durham, United States.

Pedro Heilbron, CEO of Copa Airlines, said that “this strategic expansion […] promotes cultural exchange in the region but also encourages and deepens tourism and business ties in the United States, Mexico and Brazil.”

Tulum, Quintana Roo, is one of Mexico’s most popular beach destinations. Before the Tulum airport opened in December 2023, travelers had to make a 1.5-hour drive from the airport in Cancún. The new airport has made international travel to the Riviera Maya hotspot more accessible for tourists.

According to Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama, during the April 6-12 vacation period, the state saw over 2,000 international flights and over 500,000 tourist arrivals.

Mexico News Daily

Claudia Sheinbaum pledges to ‘accelerate’ transition to renewable energy if elected

By
MND Staff
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Modern windmills along a mountainous backdrop in Oaxaca, Mexico
Windmills dot the skyline in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in the state of Oaxaca. If elected president on June 2, Claudia Sheinbaum says she'll invest US $13.57 billion in renewables during her term. (Shutterstock)

Leading presidential aspirant Claudia Sheinbaum pledged Monday to invest US $13.57 billion in a renewables-focused energy plan if she wins the June 2 election.

“We’re going to accelerate the energy transition,” the Morena party candidate said at an event with business leaders in Mexico City, explaining that a government she leads would invest in solar, wind, hydro and geothermal projects during its six-year term.

Claudia Sheinbaum and business leaders standing behind a banquet table
Sheinbaum, center, seen here with Mexican business leaders Monday, outlined an energy plan that differs greatly from the current government’s strategy of increasing Mexico’s fossil fuel production, although it still supports moving ahead with planned and existing fossil-fuel projects. (Graciela López Herrera/Cuartoscuro)

Sheinbaum intends to ramp up the generation of wind and solar energy, undertake new projects at five hydroelectric plants, add around 3,850 kilometers of transmission lines and support families and businesses in installing solar panels on their homes and commercial establishments.

The plan she outlined represents a significant shift away from the current government’s fossil fuel-focused strategy, but Sheinbaum also committed to moving ahead with state-owned gas-burning power plant projects that are already under construction or have been planned.

Energy projects already in the pipeline, including solar ones, are expected to add about 3.3 gigawatts to Mexico’s national grid this year, Bloomberg reported.

Sheinbaum, a 61-year-old physicist, environmental scientist and former Mexico City mayor, said that the new projects to be undertaken during a government she leads would add 13.66 gigawatts of energy to the national grid by 2030, the year her six-year term will end if she succeeds in becoming Mexico’s first female president.

Bloomberg reported that one gigawatt can power approximately 750,000 homes in the United States.

Sheinbaum, who has a commanding lead in the polls over opposition bloc candidate Xóchitl Gálvez and minor party contender Jorge Álvarez, told leaders of organizations including the Business Coordinating Council and the Mexican Employers Federation that her team is “working on this energy plan not just with an eye on 2030, but also through 2050 to align with international commitments on climate change.”

President of Mexico Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador posing with Pemex workers in orange suits
The government of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who is seen here posing with Pemex workers in Cadareyta, Nuevo León, was ironically awarded second place in Climate Action Network’s “Fossil of the Day” contest in 2021. (lopezobrador.org.mx)

In an interview with the El Financiero newspaper last week, the Morena candidate cited her commitment to renewable energy as a key difference between her and current President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, her political mentor.

Sheinbaum has pledged to continue the so-called “transformation” of Mexico initiated by López Obrador and is campaigning heavily on her closeness and loyalty to the president, best known as AMLO. She intends to maintain the current government’s popular welfare and employment programs and has expressed support for the constitutional reforms AMLO sent to Congress in February.

She has also pledged to continue support for the debt-ridden state oil company Pemex, which has received significant tax relief and cash injections from the current government. López Obrador has also invested heavily in increasing Pemex’s capacity to produce fuel, including by building a new refinery on the Tabasco coast and purchasing Shell’s share in a  refinery that Shell jointly owned with Pemex in Texas.

In late 2021, during the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland,  Mexico was awarded second place in the Climate Action Network’s “Fossil of the Day” contest “for pumping more, not less, money into the fossil fuel industry, building oil refineries, and delaying policies aimed at carbon emissions reductions.”

Sheinbaum appears determined to make Mexico a more responsible global citizen in the area of climate change mitigation, but if she wins on June 2, she will face difficult decisions on government spending: she will inherit “the largest budget deficit in Mexico since the 1980s,” Bloomberg reported.

The news agency said that the deficit “may complicate plans to speed up Mexico’s clean-energy transition.”

Nevertheless, the candidate maintained an upbeat tone on Monday.

“We have the possibility and potential to develop Mexico in a way that generates investment with well-being,” Sheinbaum said.

“At the same time, that development does not have to negatively impact the environment,” she added.

With reports from Reforma, Bloomberg and Reuters 

Peso slips from its strong position against the US dollar

By
MND Staff
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Mexican peso bills
The peso had a strong beginning of the month performance against the US dollar, but has weakened as of Tuesday. (Cuartoscuro)

The Mexican peso weakened to as low as 17.08 to the US dollar on Tuesday morning, a depreciation of around 4.6% compared to the 16.30 level it reached just over a week ago.

Bloomberg data shows that the peso was trading at 17.08 to the greenback just before 9 a.m. Mexico City time before appreciating to reach 17.00 at midday.

The low point represented a depreciation of 2.1% compared to the peso’s closing position on Monday of 16.72 to the dollar.

Janneth Quiroz, director of analysis at the Monex financial group, said on the X social media platform that the peso was affected by “an increase in aversion to international risk.”

Investors are “nervous” as they await a response from Israel to the recent attack by Iran, she wrote.

The DXY index, which measures the value of the US dollar against a basket of foreign currencies, was up slightly at midday.

US Federal Reserve Board building
When will the U.S. Federal Reserve cut interest rates? Based on comments by U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, it’s unlikely “anytime soon.” (Wikimedia Commons)

On Tuesday morning, investors were also waiting for further clues about the United States Federal Reserve’s monetary policy intentions ahead of a speech by the central bank’s Chair Jerome Powell.

Speaking at a policy forum, Powell noted that the U.S. economy was strong, but inflation hadn’t receded to the Fed’s 2% goal.

Until inflation shows progress in moving toward that target, “we can maintain the current level of restriction for as long as needed,” he said.

His remarks pointed to “the further unlikelihood that interest rate cuts [in the U.S.] are in the offing anytime soon,” CNBC reported.

The peso has benefited for an extended period from the broad gap between the Bank of Mexico’s key interest rate — currently 11% after a 25-basis-point cut last month — and that of the Fed, set at a range of 5.25%-5.5%.

The peso has also benefited from strong inflows of remittances and foreign investment. The currency began the year at just over 17 to the dollar before appreciating to reach its strongest position in almost nine years on April 8.

Gabriela Siller, director of economic analysis at Mexican bank Banco Base, noted on X on Friday morning that the USD:MXN exchange rate was once again above 17, adding that “with this, the peso erases its gain this year.”

With reports from El Financiero and Aristegui Noticias

Gas explosion in Tlalpan causes building collapse, injuring at least 15

By
MND Staff
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The collapse occurred early on Tuesday morning due to a gas explosion. (Tlalpan Vecinos/X)

A house collapsed following a gas explosion in the southern Mexico City borough of Tlalpan on Tuesday morning, injuring at least 15 people, four of whom are being treated for serious injuries.

Emergency personnel on the scene told reporters the cause of the blast — which occurred around 8 a.m. — was an accumulation of gas. A gas tank inside the house was initially identified as the source of the explosion, though what caused the gas leak has yet to be determined.

The house that collapsed in a gas explosion
The explosion destroyed the house. (@i_alaniis/X)

The news broadcaster TV Azteca reported that 15 people were treated for injuries at the scene of the gas explosion, and four were considered serious.

Two of the victims suffered serious burns and another suffered crush injuries. One of the burn victims and the crush victim were quickly transported to the nearby Six Flags México amusement park where helicopters were waiting to transport them to the Xoco General Hospital in the borough of Coyoacán.

Firemen, paramedics and other emergency personnel were on the scene within minutes, as neighbors searched among the wreckage for trapped family members.

Mexico City police and Civil Protection officials established a perimeter and assisted with the rescue operation. Shortly thereafter, city officials were on site with heavy machinery to clear the debris. The smell of gas was still detectable 30 minutes after the explosion.

A Conalep technical college nearby was unaffected but authorities momentarily evacuated the school grounds before giving the all-clear. Four nearby houses were damaged by the blast and the newspaper El Economista reported that one of these buildings appeared to be on the verge of collapse. 

Humberto González Arroyo, tactical director of Mexico City’s Risk Assessment and Civil Protection Ministry, was on hand to coordinate the evacuations and lead the damage assessment operation as the clean-up continued.

Tlalpan borough officials issued an update via social media at 9:45 a.m., informing the public that firemen were still in the neighborhood and monitoring the situation. 

The borough also released the names of the hospitalized: Minerva Martínez (62), Miguel Reséndiz (68), Feliciana Hernández Reséndiz (66), José Luis Zedillo Rosas (65) and Leticia Sánchez (58).

The newspaper El Universal reported that a child was also taken to hospital for treatment, but borough officials did not confirm that information.

Tlalpan — the third-largest of Mexico City’s 16 boroughs — extends southwest beyond the urban sprawl toward the Ajusco mountain range. The Miguel Hidalgo neighborhood where the explosion occurred is immediately south of the Pedregal Forest National Park, about 25 kilometers south of the National Palace in the Historic Center of the capital.

With reports from El Universal and Proceso

The insider’s guide to investing in real estate in Cancún

By
Montserrat Castro
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0
Cancún is Mexico's biggest holiday destination. You could own a slice of the party. (Destinationless Travel)

Nestled along the shores of the Mexican Caribbean, Cancún is the most popular vacation spot for foreigners in Mexico. Visitors are captivated by its tropical splendor, turquoise waters, white sand beaches and vibrant culture. Most big cities in the United States, Canada, Latin America and Europe have direct flights to the International Airport in Cancún, giving this city incomparable accessibility to most other vacation spots in Mexico and making it a great place to invest in real estate.

With its strategic location and favorable climate, Cancún has quickly become a magnet for both leisure travelers and property investors alike. Additionally, situated close to the heart of the Riviera Maya, Cancún is no more than a couple hours away from other renowned destinations like Playa del Carmen, Tulum and Mérida, further enhancing its allure as a prime location for real estate investment. As the demand for second homes, vacation rentals, and investment properties continues to rise, now is the moment to delve into the dynamic world of real estate in Cancun. 

Cancún beach in the summer
Cancún remains Mexico’s top holiday destination, and a great real estate investment opportunity. (Cuartoscuro)

Because of its high tourism influx, the investment in this region is constant and large. According to the Mexican Association of Real Estate Professionals (AMPI), the real estate industry in Cancun registered an investment of 7.5 billion pesos (US $440 million) last year, with around 30 hotel projects underway. Capital gains have increased 30% in the last year and a half, and the return on investment ranges from 8% to 11%. Additionally, because Mexico is a country that remains in constant growth and has a stable economy, investing in real estate here is a safe bet and a great opportunity. Its laws also provide easy access and ensure safety and protection for investors. 

What are the best neighborhoods to invest in real estate in Cancun?

Zona Hotelera

Zona Hotelera is the most popular part of Cancún, as it’s located all along the beachfront. It’s where you will see the highest concentration of hotels and resorts, whose services make it a very attractive place for travelers. It’s also an area for a lot of entertainment and restaurants and with the most access to the turquoise blue beach that gives Cancún its allure. Departments and houses in this area range from US $210,000 to US $5 million. 

For example, at the very end of that range, you can find a luxury beachfront home, listed for US $5.8 million on Point2Homes. 

Luxury home Cancun real estate
Super Luxury Beachfront Villa, Point2Homes. (Point2Homes)

At the lower end of the range, you can find a two-bed, one-bath, 900-square-foot apartment on the south end of the Zona Hotelera for US $500,000. 

Zona Centro

This area is a combination of old and new and the city’s commercial and cultural hub. Downtown Cancún is very close to schools, banks and supermarkets, and has a mix of residential and commercial properties. This is an area that has more of a “real city” feel, as opposed to the resort and hotel vibe. Additionally, since it is older than most places in Cancún, you will find buildings with more history and a more traditional style. Because of all of this, investing in this area provides opportunities for rental income from not only tourists, but locals as well.  

Zona Sur

Zona Sur Cancun real estate
Zona Sur is rapidly emerging as Cancún’s hot new neighborhood. (Point2Homes)

This is the new best area to be in Cancún. It’s like a small city in of itself, where everything you need is at your reach — parks, tourist attractions, bus stops, hospitals, etc. The Mexican Association of Real Estate Professionals have said that the Zona Sur is an area of high capital gains thanks to the construction of private condos surrounded by ample green areas. Because Zona Sur is still in its development stage, it’s just the right time to think about investing here. 

Real estate in this area varies from 1 million to 6 million pesos (US $60,000 to $360,000). 

Puerto Cancún

Puerto Cancun real estate
Puerto Cancún offers all the luxury of the Zona Hotelera, but at a more affordable price. (Remax)

One of the most residential areas of Cancún. The main benefit of Puerto Cancún is that, similarly to the Zona Hotelera, it is located by the ocean, but with the added benefit of being in close proximity to the downtown. This is an area that has many private residential condos, golf courses and luxury apartments. It also has the biggest commercial mall in Cancún. 

For US $1.2 million, you can purchase a four-bedroom, four-bath condo with amenities including a pool, lounge, spa, business center and a dock. Other properties range from US $750,000 to US $1.5 million.

Other things to consider:

Some people find Cancún a bit overwhelming and maybe overly touristy. Because of the high influx of people and investors looking for good real estate opportunities, it might be more time consuming to find the perfect place for you. Given how many opportunities are available at any given time, however, there is sure to be something for almost every taste.  

Because of its size, Cancún is not the most walkable or easy-to-get-around place if you’re looking to vacation outside of the all-inclusive resort or hotel package. 

All in all, Cancún is about enjoying and making the most out of the beautiful Mexican Caribbean. If you find the ideal place for you to do that, make sure you understand the real estate process in Mexico for a foreigner before you invest.

Montserrat Castro Gómez is a freelance writer and translator from Querétaro, México.

Is jazz music making a comeback in Mexico City? The 4 bars you need to visit

By
Bethany Platanella
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2
While the genre is most associated with the 1930s, jazz music is alive and well in Mexico City. (Dolo Iglesias/Unsplash)

While the rest of Latin America moves and grooves on the daily, Mexico City bounces to the beat of its own drum. Or lack thereof. Yes, you’ll hear Luis Miguel blasting from the tiny speaker at the corner taco stand. You will listen to plenty of marching bands parading down Avenida Reforma. There is also the occasional saxophone player or mariachi group that will inevitably show up, uninvited, to serenade you awkwardly on your first dinner date with that cute guy you’d been eyeing for months at the coffee shop.

But when it comes to live music, the pickings are slim. However, thanks to the Tío brothers, Jelly Roll Morton, and even good ol’ Porfirio Diaz, Mexico City’s jazz scene rumbles with seduction. Before you make your Saturday night reservation at Parker & Lenox, read on to find out how Mexico discovered jazz and jazz, Mexico. 

Jazz in Mexico dates as far back as 1884. (Jens Thekkeveettil/Unsplash)

A history of Mexican jazz

Alain Derbez, author of Jazz en México, chronicles the birth of Mexico’s relationship to jazz in 1884. New Orleans hosted the World Industrial & Cotton Exposition and Porfirio Diaz sent the Mexican Eighth Cavalry Regiment band to perform. The group of nearly 100 musicians were such a hit that they were featured in Century [music] Magazine and according to TripodNola, the local paper at the time, Daily Picayune, had this to say:

“There has never been a band which has taken such hold on the affections of the people of New Orleans, not only on account of its artistic ability, but the individual and social qualifications of its members.” 

Several members of the Cavalry Regiment stayed north, including Lorenzo Tío of the famous Tío brothers, who would go on to introduce Americans to the clarinet. To be clear, the Tío clan was Catalan by origin, but spent several decades living in Tampico, Mexico. 

Mexico’s melodic influence continued to taint the early American jazz and blues scene. Pianist and composer Jelly Roll Morton, who would record alongside Lorenzo Tio Jr., once said “If you can’t manage to put tinges of Spanish in your tunes, you will never be able to get the right seasoning, I call it, for jazz.” 

The legendary Jazzatlán, home of Mexico City’s modern-day jazz scene. (Jazzatlán)

The golden age of Mexican jazz

Which brings us to jazz’s journey to Mexico. The USA’s Original Dixieland Jazz Band recorded the first official jazz album in 1917, but jazz didn’t truly thrive until the 1920s. Its rise coincided with Prohibition, the nation’s 13-year ban on alcohol. 

It is speculated that a wave of musicians, as well as drinkers, fled across the border looking for work or whisky. Even Morton himself is said to have performed in Mexico in 1921 and composed “The Pearls” in Sonora. By the 1930s, Mexican big band music exploded in popularity. This would later encourage greats like Duke Ellington to perform locally [Ellington held a concert at Palacio de Bellas Artes in 1968]. 

Juventino Rosas’ waltz “Over The Waves” had formed an integral part of jazz music in New Orleans. But it wasn’t until 1954 that ¡La Orquesta de las Estrellas! released the first jazz album in Mexico. Years later, clubs started surfacing in the capital in neighborhoods like Juarez, Roma, and Centro and a handful remain to this day. I spoke with Maurice Orlando Montoya, Mexican-American owner of MM Music Agency in Los Angeles and expert on all things jazz, about his thoughts on Mexico City’s music scene. “⁠I was happily surprised to find a jazz scene in [CDMX]. I was even happier to see that the audience was young and enthusiastic and ready to party.”

Is Mexican jazz having a comeback?

Montoya, whose agency represents the finest Jazz, Afro-Caribbean, Brazilian, and Contemporary Music artists, thinks the expat community might have something to do with it. “Like France in the 50’s, expats make for a good audience. However, the twist here is young people do not listen to jazz Stateside as they did in the middle of the 20th Century.” Does that mean jazz is making a comeback? Or are Mexico City’s jazz clubs more enticing to younger generations than they are in the States? Maybe it’s because, as Montoya says, “mezcal and jazz mix well.”

Is jazz having a moment in Mexico City? Get down to a jazz bar and find out for yourself. (Mónica García)

Multi-day festivals celebrating jazz and blues have also popped up as of late. MJazz, a family-friendly outdoor music jubilee, takes place every February at Parque Bicentenario. The Polanco Jazz Festival is a series of outside concerts in April that showcases talent from Cuba to France, Mexico to Spain. Neuma is a Mexico City-based jazz school that offers classes, workshops, and concerts throughout the year.

All of which makes for an excellent alternative to your usual night out. When you’ve tired of the predictable date night in a restaurant or chisme and cocktails with friends, change it up with some live music. Mexican musicians are often featured, giving you the chance to dive into the local creative culture. Plus, there’s really no better way to refine your listening skills than trying to understand your server speaking Spanish over an enthusiastic trumpet set.

Feeling jazzed up? Here are four cool clubs in Mexico City to scratch the itch.

Jazzatlan Capital: Guanajuato 239, Roma Norte

An intimate, bilevel space with a full menu. Downstairs sees a rotation of multiple artists that change each month, and entry is free. Upstairs is reserved for resident musicians and international players. Tickets are required, open daily. There is a second location in Cholula.

Casa Franca: Merida 109, Roma Norte

Charming and eclectic spot with pizzas, tapas, and drinks. There is a cover charge before midnight and live music Tuesdays — Saturdays. Reservations are suggested and can be made on Facebook or Instagram.

Parker & Lenox: Calle Gral. Prim 100, Juárez

The legendary Parker & Lenox offers a diverse range of sounds for listeners with a discerning ear. (Mónica García)

Very vibey and spacious club known for its eclectic music scene and live music Tuesdays — Saturdays. Reservations are required and talent is sourced from Mexico and beyond. There is a full menu of food and drink. 

Zinco Jazz Club: Calle de Motolinia 20, Centro Histórico 

The most iconic jazz club in Mexico City can, and should, be found in the Historic center. It’s where you go for a sexy, dancey night out in your date-worthy attire. Reservations are absolutely necessary and musicians come from all over the world to perform on Zinco’s stage.

Bethany Platanella is a travel planner and lifestyle writer based in Mexico City. She lives for the dopamine hit that comes directly after booking a plane ticket, exploring local markets, practicing yoga and munching on fresh tortillas. Sign up to receive her Sunday Love Letters to your inbox, peruse her blog, or follow her on Instagram.

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