Saturday, June 28, 2025

How the map of Los Cabos has changed over the past 40 years

By
Chris Sands
-
0
A sunrise over Cabo San Lucas
The Los Cabos region didn't always look like it does today. How has it changed over the years? (Josh Withers/Unsplash)

For those who’ve visited Los Cabos or lived in the area for any appreciable amount of time, the changes that have occurred here in recent decades are remarkable, not only in terms of population increases or the rapid rise in the number of tourists visiting but also in terms of general development. 

For this article, I used Google Earth imagery to show how the maps of cape cities Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo have changed since 1985 (the limits of Google Earth’s historical capacity). I’ve paid particular attention to the timeframe 2005 – 2025, not only because Google Earth’s satellite imagery quality improves from this point onwards, but also because this is when the pace of development quickens. 

Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo in 1985

(Courtesy of Google Earth)

One of the first things you’ll notice in these maps is that they show no golf courses. That’s because there were none before 1987. Nor were there many hotels since tourism was not very developed. The Hotel Twin Dolphin, a Tourist Corridor favorite of the time, had 55 rooms, according to my Baja Traveler guidebook published in 1988. The Hotel Finisterra in Cabo San Lucas had the same number. Meanwhile, in San José del Cabo, the Hotel El Presidente boasted 250 rooms, a massive number for the time. 

By 1990, the closest year I could find accurate data, there were 22 hotels with 2,531 rooms in Los Cabos serving the 228,000 foreign tourists who visited that year. The population, likewise, remained very modest by today’s standards. The Los Cabos municipality had 43,920 residents as of the 1990 census, with Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo each boasting around 15,000 residents. 

Nightlife started in earnest in 1989 and 1990 in Cabo San Lucas, with El Squid Roe, Cabo Wabo, and Giggling Marlin appearing around this time.

Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo in 2005

San José del Cabo in 2005. (Courtesy of Google Earth)

By the dawn of the new century, growth is rapid in both Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo. The combined population in the Los Cabos municipality rose from 105,469 in 2000 to 164,162 in 2005 to 238,487 in 2010. 

The Los Cangrejos and Colonia del Sol neighborhoods rapidly grew in Cabo San Lucas. Indeed, according to the book Los Cabos, Prospective for a Natural and Tourism Paradise, 99% of the growth in Los Cabos between 2000 and 2005 occurred in just a few places: Cabo San Lucas and its Colonia del Sol and Los Cangrejos neighborhoods; and in San José del Cabo colonias like San José Viejo, San Bernabé, Las Veredas, and La Playa.

There were still no golf courses evident on the Pacific Coast. Davis Love III’s acclaimed Diamante Dunes Course would be the first in 2009. However, several can be seen in the Tourist Corridor, including the Cabo San Lucas Country Club and the Ocean and Desert courses at Cabo del Sol.

San José del Cabo experienced 124% growth during this decade, as the population of residents grew from 31,102 in 2000 to 69,788 in 2010. Golf courses, the backbone of local real estate developments, have been built at Querencia (2000), but not yet at Club Campestre or Puerto Los Cabos (both 2007).

Even bigger gains were being made in terms of tourism. Foreign tourists rose from 464,200 in 2000 to 842,606 in 2010. As tourism numbers climbed, the hotel room inventory in Los Cabos more than doubled, increasing from 6,167 in 2000 to 13,390 in 2010.

Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo in 2015

(Courtesy of Google Earth)

The Category 4 Hurricane Odile, which hit Los Cabos on September 14th, 2014, did over one billion dollars worth of damage, but didn’t slow down growth, as these 2015 satellite photos indicate. El Tezal, Cabo Bello, and Cangrejos are all growing in Cabo San Lucas, with several golf courses now evident on the Pacific Coast of the Land’s End city, including Love’s Dunes Course, Tiger Woods’ El Cardonal (2014) at Diamante, and Jack Nicklaus’ Quivira (2014).

There were 118 hotels in Los Cabos in 2013, although the number of rooms had declined slightly to only 13,003 in 2014. The total population of Los Cabos in 2014 was 294,452, with both Cabo San Lucas (99,072) and San José del Cabo (95,310) poised to break 100,000 and transform from towns to cities. 

The RIU Santa Fe, with 1,200 rooms in Cabo San Lucas, became the largest hotel in the area during this era. Hotels and resorts like The Cape, A Thompson Hotel in the Tourist Corridor, and the Hyatt Ziva and JW Marriott in San José del Cabo welcomed guests for the first time in 2015. The Hyatt Ziva, featuring 591 rooms, joined RIU Santa Fe and the RIU Palaces among Los Cabos’ biggest properties.

Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo in 2025

Cabo San Lucas in 2025 (Courtesy of Google Earth)

By 2025, Baja California Sur had 500 hotels and 29,000 hotel rooms available, with the largest part of the inventory (over 180 hotels and 18,000 rooms) in Los Cabos. Close to four million tourists visited in 2023 and 2024, with the population at 351,111 as of the 2020 census. Los Cabos had surpassed La Paz in terms of population, with Cabo San Lucas boasting 202,694 residents, and San José del Cabo at 136,285.

Using the Google Earth distance tool, I measured the developed area in Cabo San Lucas in 1985 at its outermost points as about 2.5 kilometers in length by 1.25 kilometers in width. By 2025, it had expanded to about 11 x 7. Thus, the physical dimensions of the city were growing. The same is true for San José del Cabo, although less dramatically so visually.

However, despite what seems to be fluid borders of the cape cities, the area of the Los Cabos municipality has remained stable, leading to a population density that has continued to rise. It was 93.6 residents per square kilometer in 2020, up from 11.7 in 1990, 28.1 in 2000, 63.6 in 2010, and 76.7 in 2015. The current number is the highest in Baja California Sur, although it bears noting that the state overall has the lowest population density in Mexico.

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.

Mexico is a top 10 happiest country. Is it the food? A perspective from our CEO

By
Travis Bembenek
-
8
A Mexican family eats food together and enjoys a meal
People who share meals with others report higher life satisfaction and a more positive outlook, according to the U.N.'s World Happiness Report. (Shutterstock)

We recently published an article about how Mexico is, for the first time, ranked in the top 10 happiest countries in the world. Having spent so much time in Mexico over the past 30 years, that doesn’t surprise me. What did surprise me was that the article cited one of the most significant factors in the happiness correlations was “frequently eating with other people.”

I would contend that Mexico and Mexicans have eating figured out. They know what to eat, they know how to eat, and they know that eating with other people is a big part of the happiness of it all. One thing you notice in Mexico is that restaurants often times have seating for big groups — like really big groups of 8 or 10 or 12. That, of course is because it is very common to see very large groups of Mexicans eating (and of course loudly laughing) together.

A family hosts a celebration in Oaxacan in which neighbors and community eat together and enjoy a meal
Mexico might be onto something: Large family and community meals, which are more common in Mexico than in the U.S., have been cited as a factor that boosts happiness in Mexico — and it doesn’t hurt that the food is delicious. (Andrew McMullen/Shutterstock)

I once read a saying in the United States that said: “No one has ever left a Mexican restaurant in a bad mood.” That stuck with me because I really do think it is true. Mexican restaurants tend to be busy, loud and fast paced, with music playing. It’s hard not to feel better in an environment like that — especially if the chips and salsa are good and the margaritas are strong.

Besides the atmosphere of the restaurants and recognizing the joy of sharing a meal with others, Mexicans get food right in another big way. They have literally centuries of traditions and family customs behind many of the things they eat. There is a fascinating history and logic to what they eat, when they eat it and how they eat it.

Mexico News Daily has tried to capture this for you in our Taste of Mexico video and article series. In it, we give you the history, culture, traditions and nutritional facts behind many of the most important foods in the country. We also have several other food articles each week that help inform, educate and tempt you to get more adventurous and confident to try some of the country’s amazing food.

For example, did you know that many varieties of tomato have been eaten in Mexico for thousands of years? It was in fact the Spanish who was brought tomatoes from Mexico to Europe. That’s right, the Italian food that we all enjoy today can be traced back to the Spanish bringing back tomatoes from Mexico. We share the full fascinating story here.

Taste of Mexico: Tomatl

Did you know that the superfood chia is actually from Mexico? That’s right, a chia diet goes back thousands of years in Mexico. We explain the history and talk about the many health benefits.

For the more adventurous, we explain how (and why) to eat “Mexican caviar” (ant larvae), called escamoles locally. We share the history of this strange food and tips on how to eat them.

Taste of Mexico: Escamoles

For the much less adventurous, we explain how to order churros in Mexico. You might be surprised to learn that there are a lot of options for how to “dress up” your churro. You need to be prepared when your turn comes up in the long line to buy one!

Afraid to try spicy salsa? We explain the history of spicy salsa in Mexico and the logic behind getting a rush from spicy food.

Why eating spicy salsa matters

Finally, if you love cooking and want to try some of the many healthy and tasty Mexican fruits and vegetables, we bring you a monthly look at what is in season and what you can cook with it.

The above is just a small sampling of some of our food articles from just the past few weeks, so check out MND’s Food & Drink section and get inspired.  It might even improve your overall level of happiness!

Travis Bembenek is the CEO of Mexico News Daily and has been living, working or playing in Mexico for nearly 30 years.

Another US anti-immigration ad appears in Mexico: Friday’s mañanera recapped

By
MND Staff
-
29
President Claudia Sheinbaum
Foreign relations took center stage on Friday after another U.S. anti-immigration ad began appearing to Mexican user of online platforms like YouTube. (Presidencia)

At her final press conference of the week, President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke about a new United States government anti-immigration advertisement and her administration’s plan to ban the paid broadcast of such messages in Mexico.

Interior Minister Rosa Icela Rodríguez was also on hand at the National Palace, where she provided an update on the number of deportees Mexico has received from the United States in recent months.

Here is a recap of Sheinbaum’s May 9 mañanera.

New US anti-immigration ad appears online in Mexico  

A reporter noted that a new U.S. anti-immigration ad has been airing in Mexico in which United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem warns would-be migrants to not undertake the “dangerous” journey to the United States and declares that people will be caught and deported if they enter the U.S. illegally.

In the ad, which is dubbed into Spanish, Noem also encourages undocumented people in the United States to self-deport using the CBP Home app.

The airing of the ad on YouTube in Mexico this week — seen on several occasions by Mexico News Daily — comes after a similar anti-immigration ad featuring Noem was broadcast on Mexican television last month.

Kristi Noem in an anti-immigration ad from the U.S. government
Sheinbaum has introduced legislation that would ban foreign propaganda like the recent ads featuring U.S. Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem from being shown in Mexico. (Screen capture)

Sheinbaum subsequently submitted a telecommunications reform bill to Congress that seeks, among other objectives, to ban advertising or propaganda financed by a foreign government, except for cultural or touristic purposes. The Senate paused the legislative process related to the bill late last month so that an “open parliament” process can take place amid claims that the proposed legislation promotes censorship.

On Friday, Sheinbaum said that she understood that the new ad featuring Noem is only airing on online “platforms,” and not on television as was the case last month.

“The law is not approved yet,” she noted before reminding reporters that the “proposal” is that foreign governments be prohibited from paying to have ads disseminated in Mexico.

“They have the right to record a message and if someone wants to see it on their social media they can access it,” Sheinbaum said.

However, paying so that an ad is “disseminated more” in Mexico — as the U.S. government has evidently done to reach a wider audience this week — will be prohibited (if and when the new law is approved), she said.

The ban will apply to foreign government ads focused on “politics” and “ideological matters,” but not “cultural, touristic and sporting issues,” Sheinbaum said.

More than 38,000 Mexicans deported from US since Trump took office 

Interior Minister Rosa Icela Rodríguez reported that 38,065 Mexicans have been deported from the United States since United States President Donald Trump commenced his second term on Jan. 20.

She also reported that 14,305 people — almost 40% of the total number of Mexican deportees — have been received at 10 “attention centers” set up in northern border cities as part of the government program México te abraza (Mexico embraces you) for people expelled from the United States.

Deportees in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico in January 2025
Almost 40% of Mexican deportees have used the services offered through the Mexico Te Abraza program. (Carlos Sánchez Colunga/Cuartoscuro)

Rodríguez said that those people have been received “with warmth and humanism,” highlighting that they were given meals, medical care, legal advice, financial support and help to enroll in government programs, among other assistance. The interior minister said that no problems had been reported at the 10 reception centers for deportees.

She pointed out that the National Immigration Institute has provided transport that allowed more than 2,000 deportees to travel to their states of origin. Rodríguez said that the “main destinations” for returnees have been Coahuila, Durango, Zacatecas, Querétaro, Aguascalientes, Mexico City, Michoacán, Jalisco, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Chiapas and Puebla.

She said that Sheinbaum has ordered the continued operation of the reception centers “to attend to repatriated Mexicans — honest people who have worked far from their nation to help their families get ahead.”

“They have contributed to the economy not just of the United States but also to that of the country of their birth,” Rodríguez said, referring to the remittances immigrants in the U.S. send to their families in Mexico.

While the federal government has expressed opposition to the Trump administration’s plan to expel large numbers of undocumented people, the interior minister put a positive spin on the deportation of Mexicans, saying that it gives them the “opportunity to return home” and reunite with their families.

Interior Minister Rosa Icela Rodríguez
Interior Minister Rosa Icela Rodríguez Mexican deportees for their hard work and economic contributions. (Presidencia)

“It is also the opportunity to rediscover a Mexico that is different to that they left when they set off in pursuit of the American dream,” Rodríguez said.

“The Mexico of today is in full transformation and has a humanist government led by the President Claudia Sheinbaum, who favors above all the well-being of those who most need it,” she said.

The Mexican Files 

Filmmakers Sergio Arau and Yareli Arizmendi, who made the 2004 satirical film “A Day Without a Mexican,” appeared at the mañanera in a pre-recorded video to present their new “emergency documentary” called “The Mexican Files.”

Like “A Day Without a Mexican,” the film shows “what would happen” if Mexicans weren’t in the United States, Arizmendi said.

The trailer, which was played at the morning press conference, appears below.

The Mexican Files- TEASER

By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies ([email protected])

Mexico sues Google over ‘Gulf of America’ renaming

By
MND Staff
-
11
President Trump displays a recently signed bill renaming the Gulf of Mexico
President Donald Trump signed an order to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America in the first days of his second presidential term. (POTUS/X)

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed Friday that her administration has filed a lawsuit against Google for displaying the name “Gulf of America” on its maps for U.S. users, escalating a dispute that involves tech giants and lawmakers on both sides of the border.

“The lawsuit has already been filed,” Sheinbaum said without specifying where or when it was submitted. She first warned of such a lawsuit in February.

The legal action follows Google’s decision to update its U.S. maps in line with an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on the first day of his second term, which renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America for federal purposes.

Sheinbaum, speaking at the National Palace during her Friday morning news conference, or mañanera, emphasized that Mexico’s demand is straightforward: Google and other platforms should apply the “Gulf of America” name only to the portion of the gulf that falls within U.S. territorial waters, as specified by Trump’s decree, and not to the entire body of water shared by the United States, Mexico and Cuba.

“That’s what we’re demanding be included in the platform. We’ll see how this resolution from the United States Congress comes out, but they can only name the part of the United States territory,” Sheinbaum said.

She added: “What we’re saying is that Google should put ‘Gulf of America’ where it belongs, that is, in the part that belongs to the United States, and that it should put ‘Gulf of Mexico’ in the territorial part that belongs to Mexico and Cuba. That’s what we’re demanding: that it appear on the platform.”

The controversy intensified Thursday when the Republican-controlled House of Representatives narrowly passed a bill to codify Trump’s executive order, titled “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness,” which required all federal agencies to update documents and maps to reflect the new name.

The measure, introduced by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), now heads to the Senate, where its future remains uncertain.

In the House, the bill passed 211-206, with all Democrats and one Republican (Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska) voting against it.

Greene defended the legislation, saying, “The American people deserve pride in their country and they deserve pride in the waters that we own, that we protect with our military and our Coast Guard.”

She also accused Democrats of “fighting to keep the Gulf of America named the Gulf of Mexico because the cartels are their business partners.”

“They fight for the cartels so much,” she added.

Meanwhile, Democrats said the bill was a waste of time and resources, and they accused Republicans of ignoring important matters while wasting what House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) called an “entire legislative day” to debate the bill.

The initiative is “silly, small-minded and sycophantic,” Jeffries added.

In addition to Google, Apple has also updated its maps for U.S. users to reflect the new name, further fueling Mexico’s objections.

Sheinbaum said she has sent two letters to Google and warned of legal action if the company did not limit the name change to U.S. waters.

Google has defended its decision, citing its policy of following official government sources and consulting multiple authorities to ensure accurate representation. The company’s change means U.S. users see “Gulf of America” on Google Maps, while Mexican users see “Gulf of Mexico” and users elsewhere see both names.

The name “Gulf of Mexico” has been recognized internationally since the 1550s and remains the official designation by the United Nations and most global authorities.

Sheinbaum, in a pointed retort to Trump’s move, has suggested renaming the United States “Mexican America,” referencing historical maps from before 1848.

With reports from El Financiero, El Economista, NBC News, AFP and Infobae

Completion of Cancún’s Nichupté bridge delayed to December

By
MND Staff
-
0
Aerial view of unfinished Nichupté bridge.
The new bridge promises faster commutes for Cancún residents and tourists. (Elizabeth Ruiz/Cuartoscuro)

The 11.2-kilometer-long Nichupté Vehicular Bridge — a critical infrastructure project connecting downtown Cancún and its bustling hotel zone — will open in December, four months later than expected.

The long-delayed project is expected to benefit 1.3 million residents of the resort city, save commuters up to 45 minutes in travel time and serve as an important evacuation route during hurricane season.

Aerial view of unfinished Nichupté bridge.
The bridge’s elevated design protects the Nichupté Lagoon ecosystem. (Elizabeth Ruíz/Cuartoscuro)

José Antonio Esteva, minister of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT), provided an update on the project during President Claudia Sheinbaum’s Wednesday morning press conference.

Esteva said there are currently 714 workers and 123 machines operating at five active work sites. He also confirmed a budget overrun of nearly 2.9 billion pesos (US $145 million).

“We expect to spend 2.1 billion pesos (US $108 million) this year to complete the bridge,” Esteva said. 

This will bring the total cost of the bridge to 8.6 billion pesos (US $440.5 million). Construction company ICA originally budgeted 5.6 billion pesos (US $286 million) for the project.

The 14.9-km-long project features an 8.8 km, three-lane span over the Nichupté Lagoon and will benefit 1.3 million residents as well as the millions of tourists who visit the Caribbean resort.

Most of the bridge will be elevated above the lagoon on stilts. It will also feature a 103-meter metal suspension bridge section.

Sheinbaum visited the site with Quintana Roo Gov. Mara Lezama and ICA CEO Guadalupe Phillips in April. At the time, with the bridge 78% completed, Sheinbaum said it would be operational by November.

Originally expected to be completed late last year, the SICT had targeted an August inauguration after design modifications were required in January. The alterations became necessary when several maritime zone permits were denied on environmental grounds.

Kayakers in the Nichupté lagoon.
Nichupté Lagoon’s natural beauty draws kayakers and nature lovers — even as major infrastructure like the new bridge takes shape nearby. (Greenpeace/Cuartoscuro)

Additional delays were caused by the addition of a metal arch section to provide extra support, upgrades to storm drainage systems to prevent lagoon contamination, and the installation of an Intelligent Transportation System to manage traffic flow more efficiently. 

Once operational, the bridge’s direct, elevated route over the Nichupté Lagoon will ease the burden on current roads and sharply reduce travel times for residents heading to work and tourists heading to resorts or nearby attractions. 

With reports from The Cancún Sun, Reportur and Por Esto!

Who is Luz Elena González and why is she one of Mexico’s most important politicians?

By
MND Staff
-
2
Luz Elena González speaking at podium
While the role of Energy Minister might not seem alluring, Luz Elena González has control of much of Mexico's financial future. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)

Luz Elena González Escobar, Mexico’s energy minister, has quickly emerged as a key figure in the nation’s economic and energy policy, leveraging decades of experience in finance and urban planning.

Before being appointed to the federal government, González served as Mexico City’s finance minister under then-Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum. She now holds significant sway as chair of the boards of both Pemex and the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), making her one of the most powerful voices in the cabinet.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Mexico News Daily (@mexiconewsdaily)

In February, González unveiled the National Electric System Strengthening and Expansion Plan 2025-2030, which allocates US $32.7 billion to modernize and expand the country’s power grid. The goal, she said, is to “ensure that no productive process or investment will be delayed due to a lack of energy.”

Internationally, González has prioritized energy diplomacy, particularly with the United States. In March, she met with U.S. Energy Secretary Christopher Wright at CERAWeek in Houston. The meeting led to agreements on continued cooperation, increased investment in petroleum and natural gas, and streamlined engagement for U.S. companies seeking to invest in Mexico.

Framing energy as “an enabler of development,” González has pledged to cut red tape and facilitate investment. As Mexico faces mounting pressure to modernize infrastructure while transitioning to cleaner energy, her leadership will be central to balancing sovereignty, private capital, and global collaboration.

Whether Mexico can deliver on these promises remains to be seen — but the stakes for its economy are high. Mexico News Daily’s María Meléndez explains what you need to know about another low-profile but high-power government figure.

Mexico News Daily

Sheinbaum promises to expand much-needed access to credit in Mexico

By
MND Staff
-
14
President Sheinbaum and business leaders celebrate new credit deal.
Sheinbaum plans to work with Mexican banks to improve small business credit access. (Presidencia/Cuartoscuro)

President Claudia Sheinbaum has signed an agreement with the Mexican Banking Association to boost credit access for small businesses, which she called a critical factor in stimulating economic growth.

The president announced the accord during her keynote address at the 88th National Banking Convention, which began Thursday in Nayarit. The agreement aims to facilitate access to financing for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, known in Mexico by the acronym Mipymes.

The federal government and commercial banks will commit to increasing credit for small businesses by 3.5% annually over the next five years. Development banks, in cooperation with the Finance Ministry, will also be called upon to lower interest rates.

The objective, Sheinbaum said, is that by the time she leaves office in 2030, at least 30% of all small businesses have some kind of financing. 

During her Friday morning press conference, Sheinbaum said that in addition to lower interest rates, credit application procedures will be simplified. She also said that although a timeline to implement the agreement has not been established, the two sides are working to create the conditions to do so in the short term. 

In her address to the bankers, the president painted a positive picture of Mexico’s economic panorama before identifying the lack of access to credit as a significant problem in the banking sector.

Sheinbaum cited World Bank data indicating that credit to non-financial companies and to households is far too meager in Mexico. Compared to other nations surveyed, Mexico ranked second to last in terms of non-financial companies’ access to credit, while credit access for households ranked third to last.

Credit reaches only 33% of the population, she said, adding that financing for small and medium-sized businesses is essential for fostering economic growth.

Sheinbaum said the primary goal “must be greater access to credit if we want not only growth but fundamental well-being for Mexicans.”

The president set the stage for the credit agreement during her April 15 press conference when she urged banks to lower interest rates for small businesses. She noted that although the central bank has lowered interbank rates, small businesses still find it “very complicated” to get credit.

Bar San Miguel shown from street.
Small businesses like this neighborhood bar could benefit under Sheinbaum’s credit expansion plan. (Roman Lezhnin/Unsplash)

Sheinbaum opened her speech by saying all Mexicans should be “grateful” and “satisfied” with the country’s solid economic footing. 

Mexico registered quarterly growth of 0.2% in the first quarter of 2025 and a yearly increase of 0.8% compared to Q1 2024. At the same time, the Economy Ministry has amassed an investment portfolio of US $298 billion, she said, showcasing the confidence investors have in the country. 

Sheinbaum preached optimism, saying that in the face of external challenges, the economy “has responded extraordinarily.” Not a single company has retreated from investment plans despite tensions caused by tariffs implemented by U.S. President Donald Trump, she said.

The president did not mention the 1995 bank bailout known as Fobaproa, which she recently called “a scam.” 

The topic arose as part of a public spat with former President Ernesto Zedillo, who slammed Sheinbaum and her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, for “steering the country back toward authoritarian rule.”

Sheinbaum responded by saying the bank bailout benefited Zedillo and the wealthy few while bankrupting millions of ordinary Mexicans. 

With reports from El Economista, La Jornada and El Universal

Good news for axolotls: Study finds captive breeding works, bringing hope for the species’ future

By
MND Staff
-
2
A white and black axolotl in a tank
The study found that captive-bred axolotls can survive and thrive in the wild. (Unsplash)

Axolotls, the oh-so-cute but critically endangered salamanders endemic to the canals of southern Mexico City, can successfully adapt to wild habitats after being bred in captivity, according to a new study.

The findings, published last week in the scientific journal PLOS One, offer a lifeline for the species, whose wild population — now limited to the precarious and deteriorating canals and wetlands of Lake Xochimilco — has plummeted due to pollution, invasive species and habitat loss.

View of a Xochimilco chinampa across a canal
Axolotl are native to Xochimilco canals, where farmers have cultivated crops on chinampas (floating gardens) since before the Spanish Conquest. (Sedema CDMX)

As noted by the study’s lead author, Alejandra Ramos, in an interview on NPR’s “All Things Considered” this week, researchers from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and Conservation International released nine male and nine female axolotls into the wild.

Two sites in southern Mexico City were chosen: restored wetlands in Lake Xochimilco, the species’ last natural stronghold, and La Cantera Oriente, a semi-natural/artificial wetlands in the Ecological Reserve of San Ángel.

Harnessed with tiny, high-frequency trackers, the amphibians — whose image has been on the back of 50-peso bills since late 2021, having replaced the Morelia aqueduct and monarch butterflies  — were monitored for 40 days, with all individuals surviving the duration and three recaptured specimens showing weight gain, indicating successful foraging.

The axolotls displayed distinct movement patterns, with those in Xochimilco covering larger territories (2,747 square meters) compared to La Cantera (382 square meters).

Close up of an axolotl or ajolote
If captive-bred axolotls can adapt in the wild, their species has a much better chance of surviving. (Depositphotos/Archive)

Overall, females traveled farther on a daily basis — 86.75 meters versus males’ 54.33 meters — while older axolotls moved shorter distances, possibly due to territory selection.

“If they had been skinny or ill, that would have been really bad for us,” said Ramos, a biologist at the Autonomous University of Baja California, underscoring the health of recaptured individuals.

Despite these successes, predatory birds emerged as a critical challenge. Great egrets were observed preying on two axolotls in Xochimilco, prompting calls for pre-release predator awareness training to improve survival rates.

“High mortality due to predation is a major cause of failure in reintroduction programs,” the study noted, emphasizing the need for adaptive strategies.

The study also highlighted the potential of human-made wetlands like La Cantera as complementary habitats.

“It’s kind of like having a Plan B,” said Esther Quintero of Conservation International Mexico.

A dark-colored endangered axolotl of the species A. altamirani swims over pebbles in a creek.
One of the greatest threats to axolotl captive breeding programs is predation by birds like egrets and herons. (J. Carlos/iNaturalist Mexico)

However, scientists stress that revitalizing Xochimilco remains paramount.

“We have to preserve Xochimilco in order to have axolotl,” said UNAM biologist Luis Zambrano, comparing the effort to safeguarding the Arctic for polar bears.

Axolotls, revered in Aztec mythology and valued for their regenerative abilities as well as their cuteness, have seen wild populations drop by over 80% since 2006 due to sewage contamination and agricultural runoff.

Restoration of Xochimilco’s chinampas — human-made Aztec agricultural islands that created networks of canals — has become a focal point, with the study’s authors advocating for expanded habitat rehabilitation.

The findings coincide with broader initiatives to protect the species — such as the 2-year-old “Adopt an Axolotl” campaign and a newly announced partnership involving Axolotitlán: the National Axolotl Museum and RappiCard.

Together, the museum (in southern Mexico City’s Tarango Ecological Park) and RappiCard (a product originally offered by the food-delivery app Rappi and now owned by Banorte) have launched a documentary, “Axolotitlán: Encuentros de resiliencia y regeneración” (“Land of the Axolotl: Encounters of Resilience and Regeneration”) and a new debit card to fund conservation.

The 15-minute doc can be seen on RappiCardMX’s YouTube channel; it’s in Spanish, but auto-generated English subtitles can be selected in the settings.

“If we can restore this habitat in a city of 20 million people,” Zambrano said, “we have hope for humanity.”

With reports from Uno TV, Mongabay, Smithsonian Magazine, Chilango and Animal Político

Insurgentes: Mexico City’s longest avenue

By
Bethany Platanella
-
2
Glorieta de los Insurgentes
Insurgentes Avenue is Mexico City's most transcendent artery, taking in swathes of the city as it works from north to south. (Overview MX)

On a recent Metrobus ride up Insurgentes Avenue, I was struck by how dramatically the scenery shifted from block to block. It felt as if I were passing through a series of distinct cities, each with its own character.

In many ways, I was: Mexico City’s sprawling nature creates a mosaic of enclaves, and it makes sense that the capital’s longest avenue (and one of the longest in the world) would cut through so many of them. At 28.8 kilometers (18 miles), Insurgentes is both the city’s most prominent north-south corridor and its backbone for public transportation. Its story is just as interesting.

Ancient origins and historical development

Insurgentes passes through some of Mexico City’s earliest settled areas, dating back to the Mexica. (Wikimedia Commons)

Avenida Insurgentes traces its roots to the Mexica (Aztec) era, as it passes through what was once Lake Texcoco and by the chinampas of Xochimilco. After the Spanish drained Lake Texcoco to prevent flooding, the original rural areas evolved into more modern corridors. Key segments of these colonial networks, such as Camino Nuevo a San Cosme (Santa María la Ribera), Avenida Veracruz (Roma) and Vía del Centenario (San Ángel), were eventually swallowed up by today’s Insurgentes.

The thoroughfare as we currently know it was completed in 1953, named for the insurgent army that fought for Mexican independence starting in 1810.

President Miguel Alemán played a major role in shaping Mexico’s longest urban road. His administration invested heavily in public works — completing University City (UNAM). He also completed the Multifamiliar Presidente Alemán, the first significant mass housing project in the country’s capital.

Beyond building construction, Alemán modernized the country’s highway system by commissioning new roads and bridges to support a rapidly growing population. Under his administration, the Mexico City airport was upgraded, further improving international connectivity.

With the 1968 Olympics came another wave of urbanization: the Metro was built, massive stadiums rose and major infrastructure in the city got a facelift. This included Insurgentes and the southern stretch of the avenue was widened and expanded to connect new sports venues like the University Olympic Stadium.

Public art sculptures were also added to Insurgentes at this time, for visual impact. A few remain to this day, including Señales” (Signals) by Ángela Gurría’ and “El Ancla” (The Anchor) by Willi Gutmann.

Insurgentes is also home to the city’s first Metrobús line, inaugurated in 2005. Chosen for its high passenger demand and strategic position, the Metrobús replaced hundreds of conventional buses with efficient Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) vehicles, now serving over 250,000 passengers each day.

Avenida Insurgentes’ geographical reach

The towers of central Mexico City straddle the northern section of the avenue. (Expedia)

Traversing a remarkable cross-section of Mexico City, Avenida Insurgentes begins in the northern section of Residencial Acueducto de Guadalupe and crosses through the following neighborhoods:

  • Lindavista
  • Guadalupe Insurgentes
  • Tlatelolco
  • Santa María la Ribera
  • Buenavista
  • Tabacalera
  • San Rafael
  • Cuauhtémoc
  • Juárez
  • Roma
  • Condesa
  • Del Valle
  • Nápoles
  • San Ángel
  • Pedregal

The thoroughfare culminates in southern Tlalpan at the Monumento al Caminero. There are, as one might expect, a healthy handful of notable landmarks to see along the way. Should you travel the entire length of the avenue, you’d encounter several showstoppers, including two world records.

Notable landmarks and historical monuments

Starting with the recognizable Plaza de Toros México, located in Ciudad de los Deportes, is said to be the largest, and perhaps one of the most controversial, bullrings in the world. Continuing south to Nápoles, you won’t miss the World Trade Center Mexico City, one of the city’s tallest and most recognizable skyscrapers. A short distance from here is the striking Polyforum Cultural Siqueiros and its famous mural, “La Marcha de la Humanidad.” The bold masterpiece is widely regarded as the world’s largest, thanks to Mexican artist David Alfaro Siqueiros. Starting in the mid-1960s, his painting project eventually covered every interior wall and ceiling of the Polyforum’s Universal Forum, which spans over 8,000 square meters. 

Further south in Extremaduras is Parque Hundido. Established in the 1930s, the park is famous for its sunken gardens and a brightly-colored floral clock. If you continue on a southern trajectory, you’ll come to the prominent facade of the Ollin Yoliztli Cultural Center, located in Isidro Fabela and known to be one of the city’s leading performing arts and educational centers. Finally, you’ll reach UNAM’s Ciudad Universitaria – both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the main campus of Mexico’s National Autonomous University.

UNAM Library
The UNESCO World Heritage-listed UNAM campus sits on the southern edge of Insurgentes. (Gomnrz/Wikimedia)

Modern cultural and urban significance 

Avenida de los Insurgentes is a symbol of Mexico City’s growth, modernization and cultural dynamism. Its name commemorates the struggle for independence, and its development reflects the city’s transformation from a patchwork of country paths to one of the largest modern metropolises in the world. The avenue has witnessed major historical events, urban planning milestones and the daily life of millions of residents walking, cycling and riding to their next destination.

Unfortunately, like any major avenue, Insurgentes faces its challenges. Severe traffic congestion is an issue, with chronic traffic jams and slow travel speeds, especially during a rush hour that seemingly never ends. Despite public transportation improvements, congestion has only increased in recent years, leaving city developers scrambling to improve Insurgentes’ infrastructure. Moreover, many of its Metrobús stations and sidewalks show signs of critical wear and tear.

There are signs of improvement, and in September 2024, a major rehabilitation project revitalized the Glorieta de Insurgentes roundabout, one of the busiest transit hubs in the city. Workers added new LED lighting, expanded green spaces, removed graffiti and constructed a tourist police station. 

Further upgrades are planned, including the construction of the 237-unit Skytown Insurgentes residential building near Paseo de la Reforma, though additional improvements may be paused as the city prepares for the FIFA World Cup.

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.

Celebrating mamá: Stuff to stream on Día de Las Madres

By
Carolina Alvarado
-
0
Stock image of a young mother and father at a meal outdoors at a wooden table filled with serving plates of food. They are interacting with their young children. The mother is squinting playfully at her daughter in her partner's arms. The daughter holds her face up close to her mother's while the young son looks on from her other side.
This coming weekend, Mexico honors the beloved bonds of motherhood with the Día de Las Madres holiday on May 10. (Dragen Zigic/Shutterstock)

This Saturday, May 10, is Mother’s Day in Mexico, or Día de las Madres. This Mexican holiday, on a different date than Mother’s Day elsewhere, gives us the perfect opportunity to look back and reflect on the admirable role of our beloved mamitas. 

If your family doesn’t have plans to go out, how about celebrating Mother’s Day by streaming a marathon of Mexican movies or series that openly address the importance of motherhood and undoubtedly conquer the heart of your household’s matriarch on her special day? Finding stuff to stream on Día de Las Madres can also be a way to remember and honor the mother who’s no longer with us.

In this selection, we have included great titles to showcase the best of Mom, in a joyful and uplifting way, highlighting her commitment and sacrifices for her family and the protection Moms give their children.

From emotionally mature comedies to family dramas, these Mexican productions offer an insightful look at the positive and challenging aspects of being a mother in Mexico, perfect for streaming on Día de Las Madres. More importantly, these fictional women of the small and big screen prove that one can be a successful mother without being perfect.

Get the family together this Mother’s Day in front of the TV and celebrate your mamá!

Poster for the Mexican film Las Horas Contigo, featuring a vertical split screen photo of three different women
(Netflix)

‘Las Horas Contigo’ (2014)

We begin our Mother’s Day selections with “Las Horas Contigo” (The Hours With You), the debut feature by Catalina Aguilar Mastretta, produced by Roberto Sneider. This film tells the story of three generations of multifaceted women who, faced with a family crisis, try to resolve their complex history. 

The plot revolves around young Ema (Casandra Cianguerotti), her mother, Julieta (María Rojo), and her grandmother, María (Isela Vega), who are forced to manage their intricate unfinished business. At the center of it all is the serious health situation faced by María, the family’s aging matriarch. Ema must reconsider the troubled relationship with her mother, Julieta, who was sadly absent for much of her childhood. 

Both mother and daughter choose to address their past problems and give themselves a new chance. Along the way, and with the renewed support of her mother, Ema begins to reconsider her reluctance towards motherhood.

“Las Horas Contigo” addresses themes of identity, motherhood, family legacy and the complexity of human relationships. Although the script at times approaches the soap opera genre, the director achieves a subtly sentimental tone that avoids falling into the outright cloying. 

A movie poster featuring two photos in a split screen format. Both halves show women holding infants in their arms. One woman is middle-aged and dressed like a high-powered businesswoman, with a sleek, neutral background featuring a desktop computer screen. The other woman is in her early 20s and dressed casually in a calico dress and a jean jacket. The younger women is facing screen right, as if looking at the older woman and in the middle of shouting. The older woman is facing into the camera and holding up her left hand with the palm facing the camera, as if to stay "stop."
(Netflix)

‘Madre Solo Hay Dos’ (2021)

If you’re interested in a Día de Las Madres watch that will simultaneously make you laugh and thrill you, allow us to introduce to you to a new obsession: “Madre Solo Hay Dos” (Daughter from Another Mother), a 2021 Mexican television series about two mothers who join forces when their babies are accidentally switched at birth.

Written by Carolina Rivera and Fernando Sariñana, the first season features two mothers with diametrically opposed philosophies and lives: Ana Servín (Ludwika Paleta), a successful and controlling professional, and Mariana Herrera (Paulina Goto), a carefree college student. 

Problems arise when — four months after their children’s births in the same clinic — the women discover that their newborns were mistakenly switched. Of course, the doctors announce that the next step is a new exchange. 

However, this proves an insurmountable challenge as both mothers have already bonded with the daughter they’ve been raising as their own. So, to avoid more chaos, Ana and Mariana agree to live together and start an atypical family. 

Netflix’s Madre Solo Hay Dos is endless entertainment. Its witty scripts never shy away from tackling tough questions about the everyday challenges of motherhood and unexpected family structures. With three lighthearted seasons, Madre Solo Hay Dos is perfect to introduce to your mother on her day. 

Poster for Valiendo Madres series on Amazon. Shows the series name in yellow chalk-like font, superimposed over a photo of four women in their 20s, all lying on their backs staring up at the camera. They are dressed in a variety of fashions, some looking more like professional business women and others dressed in casual tank tops and artsy zebra prints. Each woman is doing something different, one looking dreamy, one on her phone talking to someone, another looking at her phone.
(Amazon)

‘Valiendo Madres’ (2025)

Recently premiered on Prime Video, the series Valiendo Madres is filled with countless perfect moments of complicated and poignant motherhood for a Mother’s Day watch. Inspired by the hit Argentine novel What’s Up, Mamis, by author Erika Halvorsen (El Hilo Rojo), it tells the story of a group of young mothers who become embroiled in unexpected entanglements following the appearance of a sex toy, a possible infidelity and a family camping trip. 

This story begins when Paloma (Marcela Guirado) discovers a dildo in her house and, shortly afterward, receives a series of messages that hint at a possible infidelity by her husband, Federico (José María de Tavira). From that moment on, and in the middle of the parent-child camping trip, Paloma sets out to investigate possible adultery while lovingly caring for her son. A group of mamitas joins Paloma in a gesture of feminine solidarity to help her in her crusade. 

Beyond the romantic entanglements, Valiendo Madres delves into the challenges and expectations associated with motherhood, the complexities of life as a couple and the importance of female friendship in adulthood. Over the course of seven episodes, this comedy will make you laugh out loud and think at the same time. 

Poster for the Mexican film Mama Reinventada. Features three women in a classic triangle photography pose. The woman in front holds a half naked male sex doll in her arms and the two younger women behind her have differing expressions. One is sticking her tongue out and looks amused, while the other is holding her hand to her head and looks worried or embarrassed.
(Spectrum Films)

‘Mamá Reinventada’ (2025)

“Mamá Reinventada,” directed by Bonnie Cartas and Joaquin Russek, tells the story of a widow who, after experiencing a prolonged period of sadness and isolation, decides to face a new chapter in her life. This family comedy is fresh out of the oven and making its theatrical debut, so it makes for a brand-new stream for this Mother’s Day. 

After the death of her father, Marina (Michelle Renaud), a talented content creator, decides to move her mother, Patricia (Erika Buenfil), into her home, along with her mom’s crazy roomie (Nicolasa Ortiz Monasterio). 

What begins as an attempt at family reconnection leads to a significant change in their lives: Mother and daughter revamp their relationship and their individual longings. After drawing up a bucket list of goals, Patricia, accompanied by her daughter, decides to venture fully into the world and its challenges. 

“Mamá Reinventada” underscores the power of resilience, the importance of second chances and the value of motherhood, making it a great viewing for this Día de Las Madres. 

Carolina Alvarado is a Venezuelan journalist and has devoted much of her career to creative writing, university teaching and social work. She has been published in Lady Science, Latina Media, Global Comment, Psiquide, Cinetopic, Get me Giddy and Reader’s Digest, among others.
1...394041...1,903Page 40 of 1,903

Mexico's English-language newspaper

About Us

ADVERTISE WITH MND

SUBMISSIONS

COMMUNITY GUIDELINES

Subscription FAQ's

Jobs

Contact

Privacy Policy

Mexico News Daily - Property of Tavana LLC