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The best beaches in Los Cabos for every activity

By
Chris Sands
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0
Three people strapped into a yellow parasail connected to a boat off camera. They are in the air slightly above the ocean.
Whether it's swimming, snorkeling, beach volleyball or parasailing, Los Cabos has plenty of beachside activities to make your vacation all the more memorable. (Happy Flights Cabo San Lucas)

It’s hard to quantify Los Cabos beaches: They’re innumerable, with golden sandy stretches lined one after another across the municipality’s 125 miles of picturesque coastline. It’s also hard to rate them aesthetically: They’re all beautiful.

So, which ones are the best to visit? It depends on your idea of a perfect day at the beach. If you like swimming, I can immediately suggest several beaches and eliminate others that have steep drop-offs or strong rip currents. Do you prefer beaches where you can enjoy drinking and dining, or where you can go snorkeling?

All beaches in Los Cabos have strengths and weaknesses based on factors like these. So, in the interests of visitors who haven’t had a chance to experience many local beaches, here are the standouts in some important categories.

Swimming

Tourists swim and lounge on a Cancún beach.
(David Vives/Unsplash)

Several beaches in Los Cabos should be avoided for swimming as they are dangerous. These notably include Playa Divorcio and Playa Solmar. However, many others are safe, with a green flag displaying the quality of the swimming conditions. Playa Palmilla, site of the swimming portion of the annual Ironman 70.3 race, gets the nod as the best, thanks to its calm currents and onsite lifeguard (a prerequisite of Blue Flag beaches, of which there are 25 locally.

The best: Playa Palmilla (San José del Cabo)
Honorable mention: Playa Santa María (Tourist Corridor), Playa Chileno (Tourist Corridor), Playa El Médano (Cabo San Lucas)

Snorkeling

A whale shark
(Friend of the Sea)

Most boat tours departing from Cabo San Lucas take people to Chileno or Santa María Bays to snorkel in the waters off those respective beaches. I would endorse either, but Playa Chileno is a slightly better option — more marine life, and more space to explore — and a lot cheaper if you nix the boat tickets and get there on your own. However, remember to bring a mask and fins, and be ready for lots of company, as Chileno is a local favorite.

The best: Playa Chileno
Honorable mention: Playa Santa María, Playa Cabo Pulmo (East Cape)

Diving

(Semarnat/Twitter)

Cabo Pulmo’s beach is beautiful, its coral reef system is one of the oldest in North America and its abundance of marine life is unmatched anywhere in the Sea of Cortés; three good reasons why this world-class East Cape dive site is part of a national park that has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The only other dive sites locally that rival it are at Land’s End in Cabo San Lucas. Which is to say, they’re close to Playa del Amor. However, it’s not as if you can arrange anything or get equipment, as Lover’s Beach — the most gorgeous anywhere south of La Paz — lacks services. So this one is a walkover.

The best: Playa Cabo Pulmo

Surfing

After the passage of the storm Lidia through Jalisco and Nayarit, only one person was reported dead and material damage to houses and roads. In Puerto Vallarta there were only fallen trees and superficial damage to buildings. In the morning people began to remove the debris, there were no injuries. Tourist activity resumed early in the morning.
(Agencia Perspectiva/Cuartoscuro)

This is tough. There are so many great surf spots in Los Cabos, and they’re scattered across the length of the municipality, from Nine Palms and Shipwrecks on the East Cape to Costa Azul and Acapulquito in San José del Cabo, Playa Monumento near Cabo San Lucas and Pacific Coast standouts like Los Cerritos.

Zippers, one of a trio of surf breaks at Costa Azul, is the most iconic in the area, and the former site of the pro events Fletcher Los Cabos Classic and the Los Cabos Open of Surf. As a bonus, the nearby Middle Break is perfect for beginners. However, for great year-round surfing and rideability for all skill levels, the winner has to be Los Cerritos.

The best: Playa Los Cerritos (Pacific Coast)
Honorable mention: Playa Costa Azul (San José del Cabo), Playa Monumento (Tourist Corridor)

Windsports

Kitesurfing
(Velas Resorts)

Those knowledgeable about local geography may note that Los Cerritos — my best surf beach — and Los Barriles on the East Cape — my top option for windsports — are not in Los Cabos but part of the neighboring La Paz municipality. For windsports, this is unavoidable, as the two places that benefit most from seasonal El Norte winds are Los Barriles and La Ventana, within the municipal boundaries of La Paz.

Each used to host a windsports competition — the former the Lord of the Wind Showdown, the latter the La Ventana Classic. Both are great for windsurfing, kiteboarding and kitesurfing from November through March, but Los Barriles is slightly better due to stronger and more consistent winds.

The best: Playa Los Barriles (East Cape)
Honorable mention: Playa Central in La Ventana

Volleyball

(Anna Hoychuk/Shutterstock)

Thinking about recreating the famous volleyball scene from “Top Gun”? There are many great options in Los Cabos, starting with the Playa Hotelera in San José del Cabo, the long beachfront lined by many of the city’s best resorts, including volleyball-friendly ones like Royal Solaris and Hyatt Ziva. Meanwhile, Médano Beach is the go-to playa for setting and spiking enthusiasts in Cabo San Lucas, with several nets typically set up along its two-mile length.

The best: Playa Hotelera (San José del Cabo)
Honorable mention: Playa El Médano

Drinking and dining

(Corazón Cabo)

Playa El Médano, the biggest and most popular beach in Cabo San Lucas, has by far the most drinking and dining options, including restaurants on the beach like The Office, Mango Deck, The Sand Bar and SUR Beach House; and those overlooking it, like the spectacular Rooftop 360 at Corazón Cabo Resort & Spa. However, there are other options, too. Zipper’s Bar and Grill on Playa Costa Azul in San José del Cabo is a longtime local favorite, as is Tacos & Beer on Playa Cabo Pulmo.

The best: Playa El Médano
Honorable mention: Playa Costa Azul, Playa Cabo Pulmo

Of course, these aren’t the only activities available. Los Cabos is a paradise for lovers of almost every outdoor pastime imaginable — at least those that don’t involve cold weather.

Médano Beach in Cabo San Lucas, as evidenced by its inclusion in several categories above, is the best place to go for an abundance of options — from sunning and swimming to volleyball, parasailing, flyboarding, jet skiing and more. 

It’s also a great place to walk your dog, although you’ll have to steer clear of the scattered Blue Flag portions of the beach, where pets aren’t permitted.

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.

MND Tutor | Pirámides

By
MND Staff
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3

Welcome to MND Tutor! This interactive learning tool is designed to help you improve your Spanish by exploring real news articles from Mexico News Daily. Instead of just memorizing vocabulary lists or grammar rules, you’ll dive into authentic stories about Mexican culture, current events, and daily life… What better way to learn Spanish?

It wouldn’t be a conversation about Mexico if we didn’t take a moment to reflect on the centuries of history and culture that can still be seen across the country today. Major sites like Chichén Itzá attract more than two million visitors per year and have inspired awe and wonder in locals and foreigners alike for decades.

But no matter how popular, most of Mexico’s most iconic pyramids are off-limits to the general public — you can look, but you can’t touch. Mexico News Daily’s Andrea Fischer took a look at why Mexico’s iconic tourist attractions are being kept away from tourists.


Let us know how you did!

The MND News Quiz of the Week: June 7th

By
MND Staff
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News quiz
(Mexico News Daily)

What's been going on in the news this week? Our weekly quiz is here to keep you on top of what’s happening in Mexico.

Get informed, stay smart.

Are you ready?  Let’s see where you rank vs. our expert community!

The city of Mazatlán has set a new Guinness world record. What for?

Mexico has two new Michelin starred restaurants in the 2025 guide. Which state are they located in?
A plate of food at Vitea, Puerto Vallarta Malecón

The U.S. Supreme Court has thrown out a lawsuit brought by the Mexican government against which industry?
The facade of the US Supreme Court

A proposed new rail network will run from Mexico across Central America. In which country will it end?
A photo of the maya train is presented

Which state is facing record levels of sargassum seaweed on its beaches this summer?
Bucket loader carries a load of sargassum steps away from a woman in a bathing suit standing in ankle-deep water on a Playa del Carmen beach with her phone in hand.

President Sheinbaum has this week claimed Mexico should take credit for what U.S. phenomenon?
Sheinbaum at her morning press conference

The state of Jalisco has proposed the banning of what in its schools?
The school year in Mexico runs from Aug. 26, 2024 to July 16, 2025.

The U.S. government has announced new tariffs on Mexican steel and aluminium. How much will importers now be taxed?
Steel tubes, probably produced in Mexico

Mexico held it's first ever judicial elections this week. What was the turnout from voters?
AMLO voting in Mexico's judicial elections

Authorities in Baja California are struggling to stop illegal incursion into protected marine zones by what?

Mexico will maintain legal pressure on US gunmakers and dealers, Sheinbaum says: Friday’s mañanera recapped

By
MND Staff
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11
Sheinbaum at her morning press conference
"It's not just about not allowing the passage of drugs from Mexico to the United States, but also about not allowing the passage of weapons from the United States to Mexico," Sheinbaum said Friday. (Presidencia)

At her Friday morning press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum responded to the United States Supreme Court’s ruling on Thursday against a Mexican government lawsuit, and fielded questions about Mexico’s anti-fentanyl-trafficking efforts and her relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Here is a recap of the president’s June 6 mañanera.

Sheinbaum expresses disagreement with US Supreme Court decision on suit against gunmakers

A reporter asked the president about the United States Supreme Court’s decision to throw out Mexico’s US $10 billion lawsuit against gunmakers after all nine justices ruled that a 2005 law, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), shields the defendants from prosecution.

“The argument of the Supreme Court of the United States is that they find no link between the manufacture of weapons and the passage of weapons from the United States to Mexico,” Sheinbaum said.

“Remember that in January of this year the United States Department of Justice released a document in which it recognizes that 75% of weapons seized in Mexico come illegally from the United States,” she said.

“But the [Supreme] Court says there is no link between who makes [the firearms] and the weapons that come into Mexico, something that we don’t agree with,” Sheinbaum said.

US Supreme Court throws out Mexican lawsuit against gunmakers

Justice Elena Kagan said in the Supreme Court’s written opinion that “because Mexico’s complaint does not plausibly allege that the defendant gun manufacturers aided and abetted gun dealers’ unlawful sales of firearms to Mexican traffickers, PLCAA bars the lawsuit.”

Sheinbaum noted that the Mexican government has a separate lawsuit against gun stores in Arizona. That suit was filed in 2022, but still hasn’t been resolved. In the lawsuit, the Mexican government accused five gun stores in Tucson, Phoenix and Yuma of involvement in illegal arms trafficking to Mexico, where the majority of firearms used in high-impact crimes such as murder come from the United States.

Sheinbaum said that her government would continue to collaborate with the lawyers working on that case.

She also said that her administration would “continue working with the government of the United States” on stopping the southward flow of firearms.

“For the first time,” the United States government has “recognized the importance” of authorities in the U.S. taking action to “reduce the passage of arms from the U.S. to Mexico,” Sheinbaum said.

She noted that new U.S. Ambassador Ron Johnson took to social media on Thursday to post about U.S. efforts to combat arms trafficking to Mexico.

Johnson wrote on X that “Under the leadership of @POTUS @realDonaldTrump, we work with President @ClaudiaShein and her team to stop southbound arms trafficking and dismantle networks fueling cartel violence.”

“Together, we make our countries stronger and safer,” he added.

Sheinbaum said that in talks with the United States government, “we’re going to continue insisting … that it’s not just about not allowing the passage of drugs from Mexico to the United States, but also about not allowing the passage of weapons from the United States to Mexico.”

‘Are you doing enough to avoid a U.S. military intervention?’

A reporter from Australia’s public broadcaster ABC asked the president whether the Mexican government, with its efforts to stem the flow of fentanyl to the United States, is doing enough “to avoid a U.S. military intervention.”

After stating that “President Trump is unpredictable and … has a history of controversial comments against women,” the reporter also asked Sheinbaum how she handles her relationship with the U.S. president.

In response to the first question, Sheinbaum said that the quantity of fentanyl seized by U.S. authorities at the Mexico-United States border has declined around 40% since Trump began his second term.

Cars waiting at the Lukeville, Arizona, point of entry.
Sheinbaum said fentanyl border busts are down roughly 40% since Trump entered office in the U.S. — which she attributed to Mexico’s anti-fentanyl efforts. (CBP/Twitter)

Seizures of fentanyl at the border can be used as a rough proxy to estimate the amount of fentanyl being smuggled into the United States across the Mexico-U.S. border. A decline in confiscations of fentanyl at the border therefore indicates a decrease in the quantity of the drug entering the U.S.

Sheinbaum attributed the “very significant” decline in fentanyl seizures at the border to her government making fentanyl busts on “this side of the border” — including the largest bust in Mexican history last December.

“Do we do it to satisfy President Trump? No,” she said.

“We do it because we don’t want fentanyl to reach any young person in the United States, nor do we want fentanyl to reach young people in Mexico or anywhere in the world,” Sheinbaum said.

She also said that “we reject the presence of United States troops” in Mexico “because Mexico is a sovereign, independent country.”

Sheinbaum said last month that she had rejected an offer from Trump to send the U.S. Army into Mexico to combat drug cartels.

Sheinbaum points at reporters in the audience of her Friday morning press conference
Sheinbaum answered questions about fentanyl trafficking and her working relationship with Trump. (Presidencia)

In response to the reporter’s second question, Sheinbaum said that she handles her relationship with Trump “with respect.”

“I’ve always said Mexico must be respected. And when we speak by telephone, … [we speak] in an amiable way, always amiable, but with clear principles and seeking agreements,” she said.

“There has been recognition from the United States government of the work Mexico does in various areas,” Sheinbaum added.

“What do we want? An agreement that allows the trade pact [the USMCA] to be respected,” she said, explaining that Mexico is particularly pushing for an exemption from the 50% U.S. tariff on steel and aluminum that took effect this week.

By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)

Despite tariffs, Mexico maintains significant trade surplus with the US

By
MND Staff
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6
A United States dollar bill peeks out from behind a Mexican flag puzzle
Despite new tariffs, Mexico's trade surplus with the U.S. increased between April 2024 and April 2025. (Shutterstock)

Mexican exports to the U.S. declined in April for the first time in 13 months, while Mexico’s trade surplus with its northern neighbor increased since last year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Data from the U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services report for April showed that Mexico had a US $13.5 billion trade surplus that month, up 2.8% from April 2024. However, the surplus this April decreased compared to March, when Mexico registered a US $16.8 billion trade surplus with the U.S.

Mexico exported nearly US $41.7 billion in goods and services to the U.S. in April, 2.7% less than April 2024. The decline is due to the aggressive tariffs that U.S. President Trump placed on Mexican goods outside the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA), according to the website Trading Economics.

At the same time, U.S. exports to Mexico fell year-on-year by 5.2%, down from US $29.4 billion in April 2024 to US $27.8 billion this year.

Even so, Mexico was the top exporter to the U.S. in April and also the top recipient of U.S. goods and services.

The trade report was released as Mexico’s Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard is negotiating with U.S. officials after Trump doubled tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum to 50%. Ebrard criticized the measure which went into effect on Wednesday, calling it “unsustainable.”

Ebrard
Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard described the new 50% steel and aluminum tariffs as unsustainable due to the harm they would cause to both U.S. industry and that of its trade partners. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)

Before heading to Washington, Ebrard expressed doubt that the tariffs could be sustained over time, saying they would harm industries in both countries, since steel is used primarily for the automotive industry, construction and electronics.

Ebrard called the tariffs unfair, pointing out that the U.S. enjoys a surplus in steel trade with Mexico.

“It doesn’t make sense to put a tariff on a product you have a surplus in,” he said. “Normally, it’s imposed when you have a deficit, not a surplus.”

Even with the decline registered in April, Mexico remains the U.S.’ No. 1 trade partner, with total trade exceeding US $69 billion, representing 15% of U.S. international trade. Canada (US $56.6 billion, or 12.2%) and China (US $33.6 billion, or 7.2%) were second and third, respectively.

Overall, Mexico accounted for 14.7% of all goods and services imported by the U.S. in the first four months of the year, slightly ahead of Canada (13.1%) and nearly doubling China (8.7%). China is the U.S. trading partner most affected by the U.S. tariffs.

Exports to the U.S. from China and from Canada fell more steeply, dropping 19.7% for China and 14.4% for Canada. Canada is the U.S.’ No. 2 trade partner and China is third.

The U.S. trade report also included first-quarter statistics on trade in goods and services by country.Its figures indicate Mexico enjoyed a US $49.2 billion surplus through the first three months of 2025.

With reports from El Economista, La Jornada, Trading Economics and El Financiero

This US sportfishing boat keeps sneaking into Mexico’s natural protected areas. Mexico is still working on how to respond

By
MND Staff
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Sport fishers cast off the fishing boat Red Rooster III
Conanp said the Red Rooster III has entered the national park without authorization at least eight times since 2017. (via El País)

Mexico’s ability to defend its marine sanctuaries is being put to the test in Revillagigedo National Park, the largest marine protected area in North America.

According to a report from Mexico’s National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Conanp), a U.S.-flagged sportfishing vessel has entered the massive, 14.8-million hectare, no-take biodiversity zone multiple times since 2017.

Isla San Benedicto, a volcanic island in the Revillagigedo Archipelago
Revillagigedo National Park is a marine protected area surrounding the Revillagigedo Archipelago, a series of four volcanic islands. (via Periódico de Saltillo)

The most recent expeditions occurred in January and March, according to satellite data collected by Conanp.

The area is in the eastern Pacific Ocean, about 390 kilometers southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula and approximately 720 to 970 kilometers west of the Mexican mainland.

Conanp said that the fishing boat Red Rooster III — operated by San Diego-based Lee Palm Sportfishers, according to the newspaper El País — entered the park near Clarión Island, one of four islands in the area.

The vessel traveled at 4 to 7 knots, a speed consistent with fishing, and displayed zigzagging movements generally associated with tuna and wahoo (ono) fishing.

“This activity is completely prohibited in Revillagigedo, and it wouldn’t be the only irregularity this vessel has committed,” Fabio Favoretto, a Scripps Institution of Oceanography analyst involved in monitoring, told El País.

Social media posts from the vessel’s January trip showed crew posing with freshly caught tuna, further supporting the allegations.

Historically, the area in question was known as the Revillagigedo Archipelago Biosphere Reserve after Mexico designated it a biosphere reserve in 1994. In 2016, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage natural site, and a year later, Mexico expanded its protections and declared it a national park — which stood as the last such designation until two years ago. 

The area’s four volcanic islands are uninhabited except for two small naval bases and are accessible only by sea, typically from Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, or Manzanillo, Colima.

Often described as the crown jewel of Mexico’s marine conservation efforts, Revillagigedo offers sanctuary to the continent’s greatest concentration of tropical marine megafauna and is sometimes called “the Galápagos of Mexico.”

The area offers critical refuge, spawning grounds and migratory routes to a remarkable variety of marine species, including humpback whales, manta rays, dolphins, hammerheads and other types of sharks, yellowfin tuna, and other game and table fish.

A screen capture from the platform Global Fishing Watch shows the route the boat took from San Diego to the marine protected area Revillagigedo National Park.
A screen capture from the tracking platform Global Fishing Watch shows the route the boat took from San Diego into Revillagigedo National Park. (Conanp)

Studies cited by conservationists indicate that such protected areas can boost adjacent fisheries by 12% to 18% through population spillover. Yet the park’s remote location and vast size make enforcement challenging.

Mexican tour operators are regulated by sustainable wildlife-watching practices when they visit the area, which has increasingly become a mecca for scuba divers.

In 2023, a trip there was chosen by National Geographic’s as one of its top five  “adrenaline-pumping adventures.”

Conanp collected its data using the open-access Global Fishing Watch and the A.I.-enhanced Skylight, two advanced digital platforms that monitor and analyze vessel activity at sea, particularly to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

Conanp said it documented at least eight unauthorized entries by the Red Rooster III since 2017.

Despite submitting evidence to Mexico’s Federal Attorney General for Environmental Protection (Profepa) and the Navy (SEMAR), no sanctions have been imposed, El País reported.

The national park protects a wide variety of species including whales, coral reefs, giant manta rays and migratory birds. (Octavio Aburto/Marine Conservation Institute)

Profepa has declined to comment, while SEMAR stated it “does not have any other type of information” beyond satellite alerts. Meanwhile, Conanp officials lament systemic gaps.

“We must act in accordance with international law, but what’s the point of protecting an area by decree if the law isn’t respected?” Benito Bermúdez, Conanp’s regional director, asked in El País.

A 2018 case involving a tourist vessel near Clarión Island ended without penalties despite evidence, highlighting recurring accountability issues.

“There’s no point in having technologies if the legal framework isn’t there,” Favoretto complained.

Experts, meanwhile, urge stronger interagency coordination, swifter legal action and transparency through platforms like Global Fishing Watch, which allow public tracking of vessel movements.

Moreover, Mexico’s government has pledged to update regulations and leverage international partnerships to address jurisdictional complexities involving foreign vessels, according to the El País report.

With reports from El País, Latin American Post and Telemax

Sheinbaum cancels Guerrero trip after protesters sack headquarters of rival teachers union

By
MND Staff
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2
material on fire
Masked rioters entered the SNTE headquarters, carried out files and other material, and set them on fire. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)

Members of a dissident teachers’ union who have been protesting in Mexico City for more than three weeks escalated their tactics Thursday, vandalizing public buildings, blockading two government pension offices and setting fires at a rival union’s headquarters.

The National Coordinator of Education Workers (CNTE) has been on strike since May 15, demanding a wage increase, pension reform and reinstatement of dismissed teachers.

Claudia Sheinbaum
President Sheinbaum called the striking teachers’ vandalism in Mexico CIty and Guerrero a “provocation,” prompting her to cancel a planned trip to Guerrero. (Victoria Valtierra/Cuartoscuro)

After pitching tents and occupying several blocks of downtown Mexico City, union members have regularly staged disruptive demonstrations, including toll booth takeovers, roadblocks on major thoroughfares and a lengthy blockade of the Mexico City International Airport.

On Thursday, members of the CNTE from the state of Guerrero took action, as protesters sacked the Mexico City headquarters of a rival teachers’ union — the SNTE — breaking into the building and sacking several offices. 

The masked rioters carried out files and furniture and set them ablaze in front of the building, before setting another fire inside the offices. The fire department arrived quickly on the scene to extinguish the flames.

Across town at the government pension headquarters, protesters took hammers and crowbars to the steel barricades surrounding the building. They were unable to get through, but blocked access for several hours. A siege was also undertaken at a separate pension office, lasting four hours.

These protests came a day after CNTE protesters — reportedly led by the radical Guerrero faction known by the acronym CETEG — vandalized the headquarters of the Interior Ministry, destroying several doors and windows of the iconic Cobián Palace. At least seven homemade fire bombs were tossed onto the grounds, according to the newspaper El Universal.

In separate statements, the Interior Ministry (SEGOB) and the Education Ministry condemned the vandalism, urging the CNTE to return to the negotiating table. SEGOB cautioned that violence and destruction are never a solution and decrease the chances of a timely resolution.

The attack on the SEGOB building occurred after Wednesday’s negotiation session ended with no agreement. CNTE leadership accused the government of intransigence, insisting on pension reform and the abrogation of the 2007 Education Reform that stripped the CNTE of powers and returned them to the federal government.

Several hours later, members of CNTE Section 22, a faction from the state of Oaxaca, announced it was leaving the Zócalo tent city. The move was described as a tactical retreat, but Thursday’s disturbances indicated the protest was not losing steam.

President Claudia Sheinbaum on Friday criticized the violent turn the protests have taken.

“We disapprove of these actions and never condone violence,” she said. “Protests should be peaceful and those who committed these acts of vandalism should be charged.”

Masked teachers union protesters march down a street surrounding a car with the letters CETEG spray painted on it
Guerrero teachers of the CETEG faction march back to the Zócalo after protesting at the Interior Ministry (SEGOB). (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)

Sheinbaum called the violence “a provocation” and said the SNTE has a right to take legal action.

Sheinbaum had been scheduled to make an official tour of Guerrero on Friday, but after Thursday’s violence in Mexico City and in Guerrero, and amid reports that CETEG was preparing demonstrations in its home state during the president’s visit, her agenda was altered. 

SNTE leader Alfonso Cepeda condemned the attack on his offices and said his union would be filing an official complaint.

After Cepeda criticized CNTE actions, saying “teachers don’t act with violence,” Section 22 issued a public statement calling the SNTE “a political arm of the state.”

The SNTE accepted the 10% pay rise offered by Sheinbaum on May 15, National Teachers Day, but the CNTE rejected the offer, declaring a strike in four states. The next day, thousands of CNTE members began their occupation of downtown Mexico City. 

With reports from La Jornada, El Sur de Acapulco, El Universal and Animal Político

Mexico City teen who developed AI medical app wins Harvard Book Award

By
MND Staff
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9
A young Mexican student wears a harvard sweatshirt
For Leonardo Gámez, science has been a constant motivation to create projects that not only advance technology, but also help improve society. (Courtesy photo via Tec de Monterrey)

Leonardo Gámez, a student at PrepaTec Mexico City, was recognized nationally with the 2025 Harvard Book Award.

The recognition is given out by the alumni of Harvard University to high-achieving students in 11th and 12th grade reading classes, from a pool of 2,000 high schools from around the world. 

stack of books
Leonardo credits astronomer Carl Sagan for inspiring him to pursue a career in science, quoting Sagan’s answer to a child who asked him why leaves are green: “I don’t know. Let’s find out.” (@ProfCarlSagan/X)

“I lack the words to express how grateful I feel and how surreal it feels to win an award like this,” Gámez said. 

At just 17, Gámez has said he’s always been passionate about science, with a permanent question roaming his mind: “Why does the world work this way?”

“Carl Sagan loved to work, and when a child asked him, ‘Why are leaves green?’ he said the most important thing was not to say ‘because they are,’ but rather ‘I don’t know, let’s find out,’” Gámez said. 

During the selection process for the award, he shared his life story, showing how science has been his constant motivation to create projects that not only advance technology, but also help improve the society around him.

As someone who is constantly developing science projects, he created ResQ AI, an application that uses Artificial Intelligence to optimize response times to medical emergencies and provide efficient solutions. 

This project took him to the Space Exploration Educators Conference in Space Center Houston, United States, last year. There, before a panel of NASA educators, he presented the potential of AI in space.

He also developed Love Warning, an app designed to help his friends detect when their relationships were becoming toxic. This app was selected to participate nationally in the National Autonomous University of Mexico’s PAUTA science fair.

Gámez, who is nearing the end of his fourth semester at PrepaTec, has expressed his dream to become an astronaut. With this goal in mind, he will conduct research in quantum physics at the Slovak Academy of Sciences in Bratislava, Slovakia. He also plans to take the SAT exam to pursue a degree in physics in the U.S.

Mexico News Daily

Mexico-China flight connectivity set to grow with new alliance between Volaris and Hainan Airlines

By
MND Staff
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1
A Hainan Airlines plane in the sky
The mid-sized Chinese airline Hainan is partnering with Volaris, betting on the demand for easier connections between Mexico and China. (Shutterstock)

Mexican budget airline Volaris is teaming up with China’s Hainan Airlines to significantly expand air connectivity between the two counties.

The two airlines announced a strategic alliance on Tuesday which will use the international airports in Tijuana and Mexico City as hubs.

A volaris aircraft in Toluca
With roughly 42% market share, the budget carrier Volaris is Mexico’s largest airline. (Crisanta Espinosa Aguilar/Cuartoscuro)

The agreement partners a full-service carrier, Hainan, with an ultra low-cost carrier (ULCC). Such partnerships are not common practice in the industry and typically rely on code-sharing, allowing the ULCC to use the full-service carrier’s brand and network to reach new markets.

Hainan offers more than 1,700 routes with destinations in Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania and Africa. Last year, the Chinese carrier began operating twice-weekly flights to Mexico, one to Mexico City and the other to Tijuana.

The Volaris-Hainan alliance will feature a codeshare agreement, making all flights available through Hainan’s sales channels.

Though still awaiting regulatory approval, the partnership is set to commence in the second half of 2025. It remains to be seen if loyalty integration and premium services will cross over.

Tijuana airport
Tijuana, the only Mexican airport that offers direct flights to China, will be a hub for the alliance, along with Mexico City International Airport (AICM). (Cross Border Xpress)

Once implemented, the plan will allow Hainan customers to access Volaris’ domestic network — comprising more than 50 destinations — without being required to make multiple reservations, streamlining the travel experience.

This integrated booking system is designed to streamline the travel experience from Asia to Mexico’s interior, allowing for a single reservation covering both segments.

In a press release, Volaris CEO Enrique Beltranen described the agreement as significant, saying the partnership strengthens Volaris’ commitment to providing accessible connectivity.

“We are proud to announce this alliance with Hainan Airlines, a highly prestigious international airline,” he said. “Its strong presence in China opens a wide range of opportunities for tourism and business between Asia and Mexico.”

The alliance represents a significant milestone for Volaris, establishing its first partnership with a Chinese carrier.

Travel Update magazine said the agreement could potentially lead to a reciprocal arrangement, which would offer Mexican travelers enhanced access to international destinations via Hainan’s expansive network.

Volaris’ existing codeshare agreements with Frontier Airlines and Iberia Líneas Aéreas appears to be part of a strategy to broaden the Mexican airlines’ international reach, potentially paving the way for further collaborations.

The agreement boosts Mexico’s international connectivity and, according to Aviación al Día magazine, reinforces Volaris’ position as Mexico’s leading airline in passenger numbers.

Volaris rival Aeroméxico has partnerships with China Southern and China Eastern.

With reports from El Economista, Expansión, Aviación al Día and Travel Update

Toast your upcoming June with these vintage Mexican wine festivals

By
Diana Serratos
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0
Red wine pours into a glass
Good news for wine lovers: June brings three major wine-centric events in Mexico City, San Luis Potosí and Guadalajara. (Gobierno de México)

The month of June means three different Mexican wine festivals celebrating local varietals: Zona Vino in Mexico City; the Fiesta Internacional del Vino in San Luis Potosi; and Fevino in Guadalajara.

Zona Vino

 

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Zona Vino has become a Mexico City tradition and its 10th edition promises to be one of its best. The event will take place at the headquarters of newspaper Reforma, a beautiful neoclassical building in Santa Cruz Atoyac, Benito Juárez. 

On June 7 and 8, starting at 11 a.m., the very best of Mexican and imported wine and gourmet cuisine will be presented in tastings and pairings. International labels such as Vinos Wagner, La Madrileña and La Castellana will be present alongside Mexican wineries like L.A. Cetto and Chateau Camou, among others. These wineries will offer the very best of their vast catalogs and provide an incredible opportunity for event goers to get to know new wineries. 

Tickets can be purchased online or on the day of the event on the premises. Event-goers with subscriptions to Reforma can take advantage of special discounts. 

Feria Internacional del Vino

¡FESTIVAL DEL VINO 12 EDICIÓN!

On June 6 and 7, San Luis Potosí will host the 13th Feria Internacional del Vino (International Wine Fair). With over 500 different wineries, this event is one of the region’s most important. The event will be hosted in the Centro de la Artes, built as a jail in the 1800s, which held famous inmates including revolutionary and future president Francisco I. Madero. 

The event is organized into 13 pavilions that each offer different experiences for attendees. In the Salon de Toneles guests will be led in wine tastings by a team of experts while next door at the Gastronomy pavilion delicious food will be available to accompany your wine. Take them both to go and you can have a picnic in one of the event’s outdoor green spaces. 

If you love mezcal there will also be opportunities to try various local brands — San Luis Potosi is famous for its mezcal — as well as mezcal brands from across the country.  Beer lovers haven’t been forgotten either. The fair will host booths dedicated to craft beer in addition to well-known international brands like Heineken, one of the event’s sponsors. 

All of this will be accompanied by live music as well as a space dedicated to circus arts. This festival is two days full of alcohol, food and art.  

The beautiful venue features sculptures scattered throughout, a reflecting pool, an old guard tower and a museum dedicated to surrealist painter and sculptor Leonora Carrington.

This year’s guest country is Argentina, so be sure to try some Argentine wines while you’re there. Among the industry stars in attendance is Alejandro Vigil, who’s become one of Argentina’s most lauded winemakers in the past several years. His time at the Catena vineyard definitely left its mark on the brand, as they are currently considered some of the best wines in the world. Vigil’s new project, El Enemigo, is making waves with its Cabernet Franc and is an absolute must to try at the festival.

Fevino: El Festival del Vino Mexicano

 Also on June 7 the annual Fevino festival will be back in Guadalajara, this time taking place in the Jardín Parque Ávila Camacho. More than 60 wineries will be in attendance including many from Jalisco; though  a newcomer in the Mexican wine industry, the state is producing extremely high-quality bottles. 

The Altos Nortes Vinícola, Cerca Blanca, Cava Post Data and La Estramancia wineries are all putting Jalisco on the map and the state even has its own wine route now that includes local cuisine, ceramics and stops for the spirit the state is most famous for: tequila. 

As the national wine industry continues to grow and expand, these three festivals will show you just how good a Mexican glass can be.

Diana Serratos studied at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) and UNCUYO in Mendoza, Argentina, where she lived for over 15 years. She specializes in wines and beverages, teaching aspiring sommeliers at several universities. She conducts courses, tastings and specialized training.

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