Friday, July 18, 2025

Residential properties you can buy in Mexico for US $300,000

By
Sandra Gancz Kahan
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Elevate your lifestyle by acquiring a stylish pied-à-terre in the sought-after downtown area of San Miguel de Allende. (CDR San Miguel Forbes Global Properties)

Dreaming of your home in Mexico? Come on down! With its expat-friendly cities and captivating landscapes, Mexico has become a beloved destination for those seeking an affordable yet vibrant lifestyle. 

The current real estate market is experiencing a surge in interest. Fueled by comparatively affordable property prices and a welcoming atmosphere, Mexico has become an increasingly popular destination for those looking to explore, invest or retire. 

From beachfront properties along the Pacific and Caribbean coasts to charming mansions in beautifully preserved colonial sites, Mexico offers options for any preference. Your dream home may be more within reach than you imagine!

Let’s get a sense of what you can purchase for around US$300,000 if you are looking to invest in real estate in Mexico.

Mexico City:

If you’re all about that big city swagger, get ready to claim your piece of the capital skyline with a pre-sale loft at The University Tower on Mexico City’s coveted Reforma Avenue. This VIP club is so swanky, it’s nestled within its very own restored 19th-century mansion.

This architectural masterpiece is set to be the capital’s second-tallest residential skyscraper, and will measure over 660 feet upon its completion in 2025. With 525 residential units on 47 floors, these modern lofts average 399 square feet each. The tower will offer amazing city views, security, and luxury hotel services. 

When you’re not busy enjoying your stylish pad, you’ve got first-class amenities to indulge in. A gym and spa to keep you looking fabulous, a game room (because adulting is hard), a cafeteria for casually bumping into hot neighbors, a jacuzzi to soak away your worries, and a concierge to make you feel like Batman.

Loft on presale in Juárez The University Tower. (Sotheby’s International Real Estate)

Mexico City – Sotheby’s International Real Estate

Reforma 150 – US $327,900

Agent: Antonella Rivas

Mérida, Yucatán:

You can own a house in the only Mexican destination to make CNN’s “Best Places to Visit” list! 

Spanning 2619 square feet with two bathrooms and two bedrooms, this stunning property is conveniently located only 3 blocks from Parque Ermita and a 13-minute drive from Mérida’s International Airport. Meticulously remodeled by architect Victor Carrillo, this residence seamlessly blends modern features with original colonial charm. 

Indulge in the grandeur of lofty beamed ceilings, skylights, an interior courtyard, a rooftop deck for sun-soaking sessions and a covered patio to keep cool in the shade. The sumptuous interior sports hardwood doors, ceramic tile tops, and a meditation/garden room that’s practically begging to declare you the zen master of power naps.

Plus, this property boasts all new electrical, plumbing, kitchen, and bath systems installed in 2017 – and comes fully furnished with ceiling fans, appliances, and furniture, because who needs the hassle of decorating?

Sweet Colonial. (Mexico International Real Estate)

Mérida – Mexico International Real Estate

Sweet Colonial  – US $299,900

Agent: Mitchell Keenan

San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato

Elevate your lifestyle by acquiring a stylish pied-à-terre in the sought-after downtown area of San Miguel de Allende, a city ever-popular with the international community. 

This single-level residence, built on 552 square feet, boasts two bedrooms, one bathroom, and a seamless open concept encompassing the living room, dining area, and kitchen. The property provides a tranquil retreat within walking distance to the city’s finest restaurants and events. 

Modern architecture and minimalist décor create a peaceful sanctuary within a leisurely stroll of the city’s finest restaurants and events. This place is so central that you’ll be sipping lattes in the city’s hotspots before your GPS can say, “You have arrived at your destination.”

Casa Elefante. (CDR San Miguel Forbes Global Properties)

San Miguel de Allende – CDR San Miguel Forbes Global Properties

Casa Elefante – US $299,000

Agent: Laura Rodríguez and Eduardo Mora

Oaxaca, Oaxaca:

Explore this fabulous house for sale in Tlalixtac de Cabrera, Oaxaca, where you’re not just buying a home; you’re getting a front-row view of the picturesque Huayapam Dam.

The property showcases two well-appointed apartments. Apartment 1 boasts two bedrooms, a full bathroom, kitchen, living room, and dining room, while Apartment 2 offers three bedrooms, a full bathroom, kitchen, living room, and dining room. With a total of 5 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, this residence harmoniously combines comfort and style within 7056 square feet of land.

Feel the breeze in your hair as you step into a garden so spacious it makes other gardens jealous and a garage that can handle two cars with ease. The property also has its own water source from an on-site well. This is not just a house; it’s a lifestyle upgrade. Call it your own and get ready to be the talk of Tlalixtac!

La Salud. (Remax Oaxaca)

Oaxaca City – Remax Oaxaca

US $360,000

Agent: Gabriel Bourget Pietra Santa

Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco:

Dive into Pacific coastal vibes with this charming 805-square-foot condominium, where you can lounge on the generous wrap-around terrace to practice the most rewarding hobby on Earth: staring at the ocean. 

The newly remodeled kitchen provides panoramic views of the property’s swimming pool, as well as the enchanting sea and mountains of Puerto Vallarta.  This lovable abode is the best spot in town,  with air conditioning, private parking spot, security, and a pet-friendly policy so your furry friends can join the fiesta.

Puesta Del Sol Centro. (Coldwell Banker La Costa)

Puerto Vallarta – Coldwell Banker La Costa

Casa Puesta del Sol – US $289,000

Los Cabos, Baja California:  

Welcome to Cabo – where the sun is shining, the tacos are calling, and your condo feels like the crown jewel of the coast!

Boasting 1,229 square feet of living area, this furnished condo in boutique development La Mar is move-in ready and offers breathtaking ocean views. Ideally situated within walking distance of restaurants, a farmer’s market, and more, it provides easy accessibility to all of Cabo. Enjoy community amenities such as two pools, a BBQ area, gym, security, and the convenience of your own parking space. 

Elevate your living experience with a piece of this thriving Cabo community. This condo is your VIP pass to a life where the ocean views are as stunning as your wardrobe, and every day feels like a beachside party. 

Cabo Corridor. (2SeasLosCabo Forbes Global Properties)

Los Cabos – 2SeasLosCabo Forbes Global Properties

Cardinal Living – US $299,000

Agent: Ramiro Palenque Bullrich

Tulum, Quintana Roo:  

Get ready to own Tulum glam with this fully furnished residence! 

Spanning three levels and meticulously furnished, this residence screams sophistication and comfort. The open-concept design seamlessly integrates the living, dining and kitchen areas and creates a space so inviting, your long-lost relatives will be knocking at the door.

Three bedrooms (with their own bathrooms) are strategically placed on each floor for maximum privacy, while the master suite is an indulgent sanctuary. Head up to the rooftop terrace for the amazing panoramic views of Tulum’s natural beauty and your very own pool.

Situated in the heart of Tulum, this home is your front-row ticket to the city’s best in food and beaches. Whether you’re looking for a home, a vacation haven or an investment property, this place could be your piece of Tulum’s paradise.

Tulum. (Jungle Realtor Lux)

Tulum – Jungle Realtor Lux

Luxurious 3 BR house – US $296,283

Find professional services to help your Mexico real estate dream come true

If you’ve pictured your dream home south of the border, but worry that the language and cultural differences can pose challenges in navigating the Mexican real estate process, fear not! There are many skilled local real estate agents available to guide you.

Engaging a professional real estate agent when buying a house in Mexico is a wise choice for several reasons. These agents aren’t just experts; they’re your secret weapon to crack the code on neighborhood trends, property values, and all the legal mumbo-jumbo you’d rather not deal with alone. From legal tangos to bureaucratic waltzes, the right real estate agent will become your dance partner ensuring you have fun while staying compliant with the rules. Plus, they’ve got the contact list to help find contractors, notaries, and anyone else you might need. 

So, pack your sombrero and sunscreen, hop on over, and turn those property dreams into a reality. Mexico’s waiting, and it’s more than just a place, it’s a fiesta and siesta lifestyle.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. The writer and Mexico News Daily assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content on this site. Individuals should always consult with qualified professionals regarding investments in real estate. This article was independently researched and written by Mexico News Daily. It is not sponsored content, but some of the listings featured in this article are through Mexico News Daily advertisers.

Sandra is a Mexican writer and translator based in San Miguel de Allende who specializes in mental health and humanitarian aid. She believes in the power of language to foster compassion and understanding across cultures. She can be reached at: [email protected] 

Drivers plan national strike to protest highway insecurity

By
Cat Rainsford
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Armed security forces stand guard next to a busy highway
The security plan, scheduled to be announced next week, includes measures to increase highway security across the country according to Animal Político. (Dassaev Téllez Adame/Cuartoscuro)

A coalition of transport drivers from across Mexico is preparing a national strike on Feb. 5, to protest rising insecurity on national highways.

In a statement, the Coalition of United Organizations of Motor Transport called for an end to the violence suffered by industry workers and condemned the federal government for failing to tackle the issue.

Mexico’s highways can often be unsafe for transport drivers, with robberies and even murders becoming increasingly commonplace. (Margarito Pérez Retano/Cuartoscuro)

“We demand an urgent solution to the insecurity that threatens the life, integrity and freedom of people and drivers,” the statement said. “We are living in a crisis situation due to the insecurity that exists on the national road network, the solution to which cannot wait any longer.”

The group called on drivers of all forms of transport to join the strike, while apologizing to the citizens who would be affected.

In recent weeks, several industry bodies have highlighted alarming levels of insecurity on Mexico’s highways. The National Chamber of Freight Transportation (Canacar) recorded nearly 13,000 freight robberies in 2023, and the Confederation of Industrial Chambers (Concamin) reported that 85,000 trucks have been targeted in robberies during the five years of the Andrés Manuel López Obrador presidency, costing the economy over 7 billion pesos (US $415 million) per year.

Luis García López Guerrero, Director for Security Affairs at Canacar said that 10 states account for 93% of incidents, led by México State and Puebla, followed by Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Michoacán, Jalisco, Hidalgo, Querétaro, Tlaxcala and Veracruz.

The government has said that the National Guard will increase patrols along major highways in response to increased robberies. (Carlos Alberto Carbajal)

Fear of violence has led to a national deficit of 50,000 truck drivers, according to Canacar, despite driver pay averaging between 60 and 70 thousand pesos (US $3,463-4,040) per month.

Petroleum, chemical and clothing trucks account for more than 80% of total robberies.

The Mexico-Querétaro highway has become a particular flashpoint for cargo robberies, with three cases of violence against truck drivers reported in one week alone. One driver was killed, another wounded, and another forced to leave his vehicle and board a pickup truck, before being released a few kilometers away. Rising violence sparked a protest on the highway by the Mexican Alliance of Transport Organizations (Amotac) in October 2023.

When questioned about the crisis at his morning press conference on Monday, President López Obrador said that the issue was being addressed by increased surveillance by the National Guard.

“We implemented a system of permanent patrols along the entire stretch from Mexico City to Acapulco, which has given us good results,” said National Guard commander David Córdova. “That is the procedure we are going to carry out, to increase patrols.”

Police surveillance is still in place on the highways of Veracruz following an upsurge of robberies last year, and the highways around Acapulco, Puebla and Querétaro have also been identified as in need of heightened security. 

With reports from Vanguardia and El País

4 police officers charged with murder of young man in Veracruz

By
MND Staff
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0
Four policemen have been arrested in connection with the killing of a young man after he didn't stop when ordered by the officers. (Fiscalía General de Veracruz)

Four municipal police officers face homicide charges after a 27-year-old father was killed in Veracruz on Friday, provoking an angry response from locals.

The Veracruz Attorney General’s Office said that four male officers are accused of murdering Brandon Arellano Cruz in Lerdo de Tejada, a municipality about 100 kilometers south of Veracruz city.

Brandon Arellano Cruz was shot by police during a traffic stop. (Social media)

A judge ruled that the police must remain in custody as they await trial.

Arellano — who was reportedly mistaken for a thief — was shot after officers ordered him to stop his vehicle, according to the victim’s father. Delfino Arellano Ramírez, a teacher, said that his son continued driving before parking his car outside his grandmother’s house. Arellano Cruz was shot in the head and neck while he was still in his vehicle and died immediately.

“After having been chased by municipal police he arrived here to this address … and they shot him with two bullets,” Arellano Ramírez said, adding that his son was the father of a six-year-old boy and a two-year-old girl.

In light of the shooting, residents detained the officers and set two police cars on fire. They reportedly attempted to lynch the officers by beating them. But the officers weren’t killed and were eventually arrested and taken away by state police.

Angry residents set fire to a municipal vehicle in response to the killing. (Francisco Elvira/X)

Residents — who denounced frequent abuses of power by municipal police — later set the Lerdo de Tejada municipal palace and a local government vehicle on fire.

César Maldonado Ramírez, a local, told the El Financiero newspaper that residents are “tired” of the abuses committed by municipal police and that “the people need justice.”

According to residents, police frequently detain people and plant drugs on them before demanding an on-the-spot payment. Lerdo de Tejada locals also accuse municipal police of beating some residents.

Arellano Cruz was buried at the Lerdo de Tejada municipal cemetery on Sunday. His mother told the news website La Silla Rota that she now feared for her own life.

“If [municipal police] were capable of taking one piece of my life, they could take another piece of my life or put an end to my life. … I fear for my personal safety,” Érika Cruz said.

Veracruz Governor Cuitláhuca García announced Monday that the National Guard and the army had assumed temporary control of security in Lerdo de Tejada, a coastal municipality with a population of around 20,000.

With reports from Aristegui Noticias, La Jornada, El Financiero, López-Dóriga Digital and La Silla Rota

A ‘citizens’ victory’: giraffe Benito welcomed to new home in Puebla

By
MND Staff
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3
Africam already has a host of giraffes (seen here), and zookeepers are optimistic that Benito will be able to fit in quickly. (Mireya Novo/Cuartoscuro)

The much-anticipated transfer of Benito the giraffe from unsafe living conditions at a public park in Chihuahua to a spacious safari park in Puebla was completed on Tuesday morning.

Traveling across 10 states, in an epic 30-hour journey of 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles), Benito arrived at Africam Safari, an accredited zoo near the city of Puebla.

Benito was previously living in a public park in the middle of Ciudad Juárez, in terrible conditions. (Salvemos A Benito/X)

His new home is a far cry from Central Park in Ciudad Juárez, where Benito had lived alone since May of last year. At less than 1 acre, the virtually treeless corral was way too small for an animal that likes to roam and eat from trees, lacked shade in the scorching summer and was frigid in the winter. The park also lacked the proper staff to administer regular feedings or proper health care.

Seeing those conditions — and noting that the previous occupant, Modesto, endured the same harsh life for 20 years before dying in 2022 — sent people into action.

For eight months, environmentalists banded together in the “Save Benito” campaign to get the 3-year-old male transferred again; he had come previously from a zoo in Culiacán, Sinaloa.

Images on social media last year showing the 14-foot-tall Benito crouching under a small awning, and others showing his  living conditions raised the hackles of people across Mexico.

The much-worked-for transfer appeared to be imminent two weeks ago, but the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (Profepa) said it hadn’t given its approval and halted it.

Activists responded by initiating litigation against Profepa and  Ciudad Juárez’s Central Park, and a district judge in Chihuahua then issued a court order requiring the transfer.

Benito was transported by land in a temperature-controlled container under the care of specialists, with National Guard vehicles sometimes escorting alongside.

 

Soon he will be living with seven other giraffes.

“We arrived at Africam!” the park announced early Tuesday on its X social media account, adding a giraffe emoji. “ Welcome Benito!”

“He is in very good condition,” said Frank Camacho, director of Africam Safari. “He was very curious…because of all the things here that are new to him.”

For the first few days, Benito will be under protection in “a room specially designed for giraffes, where we can do any medical management, any zootechnical management.”

He will slowly be converted to a new diet — starting with branches of African acacia trees — and he has already met his handlers.

“They will be taking care of him for a long time,” Camacho said. “The keepers at Africam have a lot of experience with giraffes … They know perfectly how to handle them, how to read them, how to understand them.”

With reports from Reforma and Proceso

Kuka Home unveils US $150M plant expansion in Nuevo León

By
Cat Rainsford
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Governor Samuel García and state and Kuka Home officials inaugurate the Chinese manufacturer's plant expansion on Jan. 18. (Gobierno de Nuevo León)

The Chinese furniture manufacturer Kuka Home Mexico has inaugurated a US $150 million expansion of its plant in Nuevo León, which is expected to create more than 4,000 jobs.

Kuka Home first announced the expansion of its factory in the Interpuerto Monterrey industrial park in Salinas Victoria, just north of Monterrey, in 2022. It inaugurated the project on Jan. 18, in a ceremony attended by Nuevo León governor Samuel García and state Economy Secretary Iván Rivas Rodríguez.

Gov. García and others tour Kuka Home’s Nuevo León plant. (Gobierno de Nuevo León)

Rivas said that the plant will employ 1,000 people from first opening, rising to 2,500 by the end of the year. By 2026, the company hopes that the factory will have a production value of $115 million and employ up to 5,000 staff.

Kuka Home currently employs around 25,000 people worldwide, with factories in China, Vietnam and Mexico. Its general director, Daniel Zhao, said that “the Monterrey factory provides basic services to customers in the North American market,” which accounts for most of its furniture sales.

Governor García used his inauguration speech to emphasize Nuevo León’s benefits for companies looking to supply international markets from Mexico.

“We have done everything to connect Nuevo León with the world,” he said. “We’re aiming for expansion and a double runway at the Monterrey International Airport, we will have 40 non-stop international flights, and soon another international airport will be ready.” He added that Nuevo León is also building six new highways in the next two years.

García has long been a passionate advocate for nearshoring – the relocation of plants from Asia to Mexico to be closer to U.S. markets. In March 2023, he predicted that the phenomenon could spur annual growth of up to 10% in Mexico, and this month he announced new tax breaks for companies setting up in the Nuevo León border region.

“The entire section of Puerto Colombia [on the U.S. border] is going to be a free zone,” he said at the inauguration. “A free trade zone means zero taxes… If I were Kuka Home, I would already be buying land to have a transfer or a warehouse in this fiscal area; it’s zero taxes.”

Rivas added that Nuevo León already has a portfolio of projects from more than 100 countries, which are looking to invest up to $10 billion in the state. Major investment announcements in 2023 included a $15 billion Tesla “gigafactory” and a $5 billion industrial park to be built by Chinese construction company LGMG.

With reports from Mexico Industry and El Economista

Mexico could be at risk for more forest fires this year

By
MND Staff
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0
Dry conditions have created the perfect environment for a record wildfire season, warns Mexico's federal forest management agency. (Alejandro Rodríguez/Cuartoscuro)

Mexico’s National Forestry Commission (Conafor) is bracing for an active and potentially explosive wildfire season in 2024.

In the first 18 days of the year, there were already 55 forest fires reported around the country — as many as there were for all of 2020. And those 2020 fires consumed only 421 hectares (1,040 acres) all year compared to the 643 hectares that have already been consumed in only three weeks of 2024, according to data collected by Conafor.

January 2024 alone has already seen more forest fires than the entirety of 2020. (Crisanta Espinosa Aguilar/Cuartoscuro)

“We are seeing [this happen] because of how dry the mountains are, and the winds that are literally developing the fires,” Arturo Galindo Cabada, coordinator of Civil Protection in the northern state of Durango, told newspaper La Jornada.

The National Meteorological Service (SMN) reported that 55% of Mexico was in drought conditions at the end of 2023. Last year, the Defense Ministry (Sedena) and the National Water Commission (Conagua) even worked on “seeding” clouds near Mexico City in an attempt to create rain.

Durango is one of the states where dry and windy conditions prevail. Winds of up to 90 kilometers per hour were cited as a cause in some of the five forest fires that Galindo said Durango experienced in the first three weeks of January. Those conflagrations did force some parks to be closed, but overall the effects were minimal, Galindo pointed out.

In a similar time span, from Jan. 1-18, there were nine forest fires in México state, eight in Veracruz and seven in Jalisco, according to Conafor data. The January fires “are getting ahead of us,” Galindo said. “Last year, for example, they started at the end of February.”

The ‘cloud seeder’ that SEDENA has used in an attempt to force rain. (Cuartoscuro)

Last year saw 138 wildfires throughout Mexico that consumed 3,111 hectares (7,688 acres). In the past decade, only 2021 and 2017 had more wildfires, with 176 and 153, respectively. Jorge Israel García Ochoa, Minister of Environment and Territorial Development in Jalisco, attributed the early outburst of wildfires to the long duration of the dry season, even though there was above-average rainfall in the Guadalajara metro area at the end of 2023.

However, “the cold of January is creating a large amount of dry grass, because the cold affects primary vegetation, such as grasses and shrubs,” Valentina Davydova, researcher in the Environmental Sciences Department at the University of Guadalajara, told newspaper El Informador. “Starting in February, high temperatures begin to develop, especially in urban and suburban areas,” she added. “In February and March, we will have a high probability of forest fires.”

Authorities do add a caveat: Many of the wildfires are caused by human recklessness or arson, not necessarily climatic conditions. That’s not to say that climate patterns such as El Niño — a major cause of the decreased precipitation in Mexico last year — don’t play a role.

“If the El Niño phenomenon continues, we will have a prolonged spring, a late start to the rainy season and poor rainfall development within the Central-Western region of our country,” Davydova stressed. Mexico “will continue with drought problems and an increase in the probability of forest fires, and their presence can last throughout the spring period until the month of June.”

With reports from La Jornada, Informador and Meteored

Got 1 min? Tesla México picks CEO

By
MND Staff
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Teresa Gutiérrez Smith X account page
Tesla México's new CEO is Teresa Gutiérrez Smith, who most recently served as an executive at Rappi. (Teresa Gutierréz Smith/LinkedIn)

Teresa Gutiérrez Smith, a former executive with Colombian company Rappi, has been appointed as CEO of Tesla México, which is building an electric vehicle manufacturing facility in Nuevo León.

The Mexico City chapter of the Mexican Association of Women CEOs (AMMJE) announced Gutiérrez’s appointment on Tuesday.

A rendering of Tesla’s planned “gigafactory” in Nuevo León. (Tesla)

“We’re sure that this appointment marks the beginning of a new era for Elon Musk’s company,” said Zaira Zepeda, president of AMMJE in Mexico City.

She said that Gutiérrez, who was formerly Rappi’s CEO in Mexico, is a leader committed to “excellence, diversity, female empowerment and the vision of a sustainable future for the benefit of all.”

Musk, the world’s richest person, announced in March 2023 that Tesla would build a new “gigafactory” near Monterrey, the capital of Nuevo León. He said in October that construction of the initial phase of the plant would begin in early 2024.

Tesla’s investment in the plant could be as much as US $10 billion, according to the federal government.

On her LinkedIn profile, Gutiérrez says she aims “to contribute to Tesla’s mission of creating a greener Latin America.”

Musk said last month that Tesla would build its planned US $25,000 “next-gen” model at the Nuevo León plant, which will use recycled water.

Several reports said Gutiérrez is replacing Françoise Lavertu as Tesla’s CEO, or country manager, in Mexico, but, according to Lavertu’s LinkedIn profile, she hasn’t worked for the EV manufacturer for years.

The new Tesla México CEO has a degree in chemical engineering from the Ibero-American University in Mexico City and an MBA from IPADE, the business school of the Pan-American University.

Gutiérrez previously worked at several companies including toy company Mattel, as a media and digital marketing director, and food and drink multinational Nestlé as strategic planning manager.

Her replacement as CEO of Rappi in Mexico is Iván Cadavid Silva, a former senior vice president with the company.

With reports from El Universal 

Mexico wins appeal in lawsuit against US gunmakers filed in Boston

By
MND Staff
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The Mexican government's lawsuit is the first made by a foreign country against U.S. gun manufacturers and the Foreign Affairs Ministry estimates it could be worth as much as US $10 billion in damages. (Smith & Wesson Inc./Facebook)

A United States appeals court ruled Monday that a US $10 billion lawsuit filed by Mexico against U.S.-based gun manufacturers in 2021 can proceed, annulling a lower court’s dismissal of the case.

The Boston-based United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit overturned Judge F. Dennis Saylor’s dismissal of the case against gunmakers including Smith & Wesson, Barrett Firearms, Beretta and Glock.

John J. Moakley Courthouse in Boston, Massachussets
The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts had dismissed the lawsuit in 2022 and the Mexican government appealed. (UScourts.gov)

Mexico filed its lawsuit in August 2021, accusing seven gun manufacturers and one distributor of negligent business practices that have led to illegal arms trafficking and deaths in Mexico, where U.S.-sourced firearms are used in a majority of high-impact crimes.

In dismissing the case in September 2022, Saylor, chief judge of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, said that U.S. law “unequivocally” prohibits lawsuits that seek to hold gun manufacturers responsible when people use their products for their intended purpose.

He said that Mexico’s case couldn’t surmount a provision in the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) that protects gun manufacturers from lawsuits over “the harm solely caused by the criminal or unlawful misuse of firearm products … by others when the product functioned as designed and intended.”

Mexico appealed the decision, arguing that the PLCAA only prevents lawsuits over injuries that occur in the United States and does not protect gun manufacturers from liability over the trafficking of weapons to Mexican crime groups.

Alejandro Celorio at a press conference
Alejandro Celorio Alcántara is the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s legal counsel and he described the appeals court decision as a “great triumph for Mexico” in an interview on Tuesday. (Alejandro Celorio A/X)

The appeals court ruled Monday that “Mexico’s complaint plausibly alleges a type of claim that is statutorily exempt from the PLCAA’s general prohibition.”

“We therefore reverse the district court’s holding that the PLCAA bars Mexico’s common law claims, and we remand for further proceedings,” U.S. Circuit Judge William Kayatta said in a 60-page written ruling.

Kayatta said the appeals court found that “Mexico’s complaint adequately alleges that defendants have been aiding and abetting the sale of firearms by dealers in knowing violation of relevant state and federal laws.”

The appeals court ruled that the case must return to the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

Mexico’s reaction to the ruling

On the X social media platform, Foreign Affairs Minister Alicia Bárcena described the appeal court’s decision as “great news.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) said in a statement that “Mexico welcomes the ruling,” adding that the appeals court was “very receptive to the sophisticated arguments presented by our country in defense of its interests and those of its people.”

“Once the case returns to the lower court, Mexico will present evidence to demonstrate the defendants’ negligence and seek reparation for the damages, which will be determined by the judge,” the SRE said.

Mexican officials have estimated that damages could be as high as US $10 billion if the lawsuit is successful.

In its statement, the SRE noted that “Mexico’s lawsuit is the first brought by a foreign state against the gun industry in U.S. courts” and described the appeal court’s ruling as “unprecedented.”

Alicia Bárcena at a press conference
Foreign Affairs Minister Alicia Bárcena hailed the U.S. court’s decision to allow the lawsuit to proceed. (SRE/X)

In its lawsuit, the government alleged that gunmakers design weapons to appeal to criminal organizations in Mexico.

“Mexico is denouncing these promotional practices, along with other examples of negligence, like multiple weapons sales to a solo buyer, and the absence of background checks,” it said in a court document filed in 2021.

Steve Shadowen, a lawyer for the Mexican government, said Monday’s ruling is “an important step forward in holding the gun industry accountable.”

“It should now be clear that those who contribute to gun violence must face legal consequences, regardless of borders,” he said in a statement.

Jonathan Lowy, president of the U.S. organization Global Action on Gun Violence and co-counsel for Mexico along with Shadowen, said the ruling is “a huge step forward in holding the gun industry accountable for its contribution to gun violence, and in stopping the flood of trafficked guns to the cartels.”

“Not only did the Court recognize the right of another country to sue U.S. gun companies, it also pierced the unfair legal shield that gun companies have been hiding behind since 2005,” he added.

A blow for U.S. gunmakers 

The New York Times reported that the appeal court’s decision “is one of the most significant setbacks for gunmakers since passage of a federal law [the PLCAA] nearly two decades ago that has provided immunity from lawsuits brought by the families of people killed and injured by their weapons.”

Larry Keane, a top official with the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSFF), the United States gun industry’s main trade association, said on X that the NSFF disagrees with the decision and is reviewing its legal options.

Gun store
Gun manufacturers have denied any wrongdoing and assert that Mexico’s lawsuit does not adequately demonstrate an exception to their protections under the law. (bestpawntucson)

“Mexico should spend its time enforcing its own laws and bring Mexican criminals to justice in Mexican courtrooms, instead of scapegoating the firearm industry for their unwillingness to protect Mexican citizens,” he wrote.

Gunmakers have denied any wrongdoing. Their lawyers, Reuters reported “say Mexico’s lawsuit is devoid of allegations the gun manufacturers’ gun sales themselves did anything that would create an exception to PLCAA’s broad protections.”

Gun violence in Mexico 

In the 60-page appeals court ruling published Monday, Judge Kayatta acknowledged the plaintiff’s argument that “Mexico has strict gun laws that make it ‘virtually impossible’ for criminals to obtain firearms legally sourced in the country.”

“It has one gun store in the entire nation and issues fewer than fifty gun permits a year. Despite these strong domestic regulations, Mexico has the third-most gun-related deaths in the world,” he wrote.

“The number of gun-related homicides in Mexico grew from fewer than 2,500 in 2003 to approximately 23,000 in 2019. The percentage of homicides committed with a gun similarly rose from fifteen percent in 1997 to sixty-nine percent in 2021. The increase in gun violence in Mexico correlates with the increase of gun production in the United States, beginning with the end of the United States’ assault-weapon ban in 2004,” Kayatta said.

Soldiers with a confiscation of weapons
National Guard and members of the military with weapons and ammunition confiscated in Zacatecas in December. (Cuartoscuro)

In 2023, there were 29,675 homicides in Mexico, according to preliminary government data that will likely be revised upward. A majority of murders in Mexico are perpetrated with firearms and linked to crime groups, including powerful drug cartels such as the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and the Sinaloa Cartel.

Kayatta acknowledged that Mexico’s lawsuit “details a steady and growing stream of illegal gun trafficking from the United States into Mexico, motivated in large part by the demand of the Mexican drug cartels for military-style weapons.”

“For example, Mexico claims that between seventy and ninety percent of the guns recovered at crime scenes in Mexico were trafficked into the country from the United States,” he wrote.

Reducing the number of firearms smuggled into Mexico from the United States is a key focus of the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

However, at various times, the Mexican government has called on its U.S. counterpart to do more to stop the southward flow of weapons.

The government estimates that hundreds of thousands of guns enter Mexico illegally every year, while data from the Federal Attorney General’s Office obtained by the El Economista newspaper last August showed that the number of firearms estimated to have been brought into Mexico illegally since 2012 is more than 20 times higher than the number of guns seized by authorities in the same period.

With reports from Milenio and Reuters 

Hikes from Cancún for nature lovers

By
John Pint
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0
Río Secreto is a gorgeous cave where you wade in crystal-clear water, winding your way through shimmering stalactites. (Río Secreto)

Cancún is a planned city, developed by entrepreneurs as an alternative to Acapulco. At its inception in 1970, the 22-kilometer-long island had only three residents, all caretakers of a coconut plantation. The name Cancún means “full of snakes,” and there used to be 60 species registered on the island, though today they are all gone, and Cancún is now full of hotels, which, in turn, are full of tourists instead.

Well, and tourist guides.

One of Cancún’s coolest guides is Darío Ferreira, co-founder of the Nature Geek Squad: local experts in creating ecologically responsible, off-the-beaten-path adventures.

“Tell me a bit about hiking in and around Cancún,” I asked Ferreira. “What would you recommend for people who love nature?”

“There are places to go walking or cycling in Cancún.” he replied, “and they are working on creating parks, but for me, this is not senderismo (trail hiking). So I’m going to tell you about a few places I love to go to, not far from Cancún, where you can really appreciate nature.”

Punta Laguna: monkeys and more

The first place on Ferreira’s list is Punta Laguna, the gateway to the Otoch Ma’ax Yetel Kooh (Home of the Monkey and Puma) National Protected Area, a one hour 40 minute drive from Cancún.

Here you will find a vast array of plant species including sapodilla trees, which produce chicle (gum), and the ceiba, which the Maya believe is a pathway for souls to reach heaven, with its roots reaching into the underworld and its branches holding up the sky.

Punta Laguna also showcases deer, raccoons, armadillos, margays, coatis, agoutis, peccaries, and very elusive jaguars and pumas, but most people go to see howler and spider monkeys (which are an endangered species).

However, this park is also home to 158 species of birds, including the osprey, the great curassow, the toucan, and the very colorful ocellated turkey.

The park guides (whose services are highly recommended, but optional) all come from a nearby Mayan village which offers visitors a glimpse of a disappearing indigenous lifestyle,

The village is actually an ejido (rural co-op) called Najil Tucha and all revenue from tourism is divided among the families, all of whom speak Mayan. The guides say they are there to protect the environment from “human predators” who used to collect animals to sell them abroad. Some 35 families live in the village and since 1994 they’ve been monitoring the wildlife behavior and striving to preserve the environment.

Visiting hours are from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, but around 3 p.m. is the best time to see monkeys.

If you plan to visit Punta Laguna, you ought to bring comfortable, lightweight clothing, long pants, and good hiking boots. Biodegradable sunscreen and bug spray are recommended, but, says Darío, should be rinsed off before you get in the water. Here you can also kayak in a lagoon and visit a fascinating cenote, so don’t forget to bring a swimsuit.

If you want to stay overnight at Punta Laguna, you have two choices. You can camp on a platform near the lagoon or stay in a Mayan “hut.” Note that they do have bathroom facilities (eco-bathrooms) on site.

In conclusion, says Darío Ferreira: “Punta Laguna is an incredible place!”

Muyil: Unwind into a moving meditation

Another of Ferreira’s favorite sites is Muyil, at the edge of a lagoon in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Preserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located 153 kilometers south of Cancún. Here he and his fellow Nature Geeks have found wonderful places to hike and boat outside the established archaeological area.

“In the lush and tangled jungle,” explains Ferreira, “we begin with a boat ride through natural channels, slowing down to view intertwining mangrove roots eye to eye, home to nurseries of juvenile fish and host to many air plants such as orchids and bromeliads. Once we park the boat at a dock, we jump into one of the channels and let the natural current carry us through the magical mangrove tunnel. The water is fresh and just the right temperature, the shade of the trees is perfect and the calming sounds of birds and water allow us to let go and unwind into a moving meditation.”

Puerto Morelos Botanical Garden

Looking for blue butterflies? This morpho is waiting for you in the Puerto Morelos Botanical Garden. (Butterflieandmoths)

Only a 36-minute drive from Cancún lies the Puerto Morelos Botanical Garden –one of Mexico’s largest – where you’ll find two kilometers of trails introducing you to local orchids, bromeliads, ferns, palms, cacti, and Mayan medicinal herbs.

You’ll also find colorful birds and plenty of animals, including spider monkeys and iguanas.

Along your route, you’ll cross a 130-foot suspension bridge, and if you wish, you can climb a scenic lookout tower which will give you a great view of the jungle all the way to the sparkling waters of the Caribbean. 

You’ll also have a chance to visit a chiclero camp, which will take you back to the days when the sap of the chicle tree was extracted and boiled down into what we now call chewing gum.

The park is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The secret river

To this short list of outdoor sites near Cancún, allow me to add an underground attraction. Río Secreto is a gorgeous cave where you wade in crystal-clear water, winding your way through shimmering stalactites.

If you love nature and you’re heading for Cancún, I suggest you call Darío Ferreira – who speaks perfect English –  at +52 984 139 3271 (Whatsapp) or on his US number at 512 423 5975. He can organize a nature tour for you (including “a snake spotting hike”) but is also happy to give you tips at no charge about places you can visit on your own.

The writer has lived near Guadalajara, Jalisco, for more than 30 years and is the author of A Guide to West Mexico’s Guachimontones and Surrounding Area and co-author of Outdoors in Western Mexico. More of his writing can be found on his website.

Mexico is not beige: Colorful advice for your home from designer Maye Ruiz

By
Camila Sánchez Bolaño
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Casa Dominga, a project that conveys the design and color vision of Maye Colab. (Instagram)

In 2022, interior designer Maye Ruiz had the opportunity to choose the color of the year for 2023 with Comex, the most important paint brand in Mexico and Latin America. That solidified her as a color expert — and now people increasingly associate her with color. Just take a look at her Instagram account to understand what this is all about. 

Maye Ruiz is one of the most relevant and irreverent Mexican interior designers of our time. The designs created by her firm, MAYE, are rebellious and question social conventions, going beyond the soberness of beige, and flooding life and spaces with color.  “I love that gradually people are more open to the transformative power of color because color is a fantastic tool even if you don’t have a lot of budget.”

Space was conceptualized by Maye Ruiz and Mario Ballesteros, two of the creatives of Comex Trends 2022. (Instagram)

As a child, Maye delighted in decorating and rearranging her grandmother’s house in León, Guanajuato, and other spaces where she felt at ease. Later, she discovered she could turn her passion into a career and chose to study Environmental and Spatial Design at La Salle University. “I worked for a long time in León, so my early projects were related to footwear. Moving to Mexico City broadened my horizons, and I began to get involved in projects with a more global vision.” There, Maye learned that designing something beautiful is not enough; it must tell a story, and each element must have a purpose. “Spaces tell stories, and that is what gives projects relevance.”

Maye’s philosophy is rooted in the premise that interior design is an art that goes beyond trends and what is currently fashionable. “I’m obsessed with finding a balance between technical or ergonomic aspects, the client’s taste, and trends, which I believe are important to consider because ultimately your work has to position itself on a timeline,” says the interior designer, who, like a true Libra, always seeks balance.

For Maye, it’s not just about following trends; it’s more about “going to the root of trends and creating from there, applying your own filters and language,” says the designer, who has turned her own style into a personal brand: Clients who want color in their projects want Maye to create them.

Casa Coa is located in one of the most emblematic streets in San Miguel de Allende. (Instagram)

Color Specialist

“I remember a lot from when I was studying, visiting textile stores and exploring their catalogs. I mean, seeing a catalog with a thousand colors makes my heart beat faster. I’ve never understood why people choose beige when there’s all of this life in color.”

Her love for color is genuine, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t order. “Just like in a movie or a book, there has to be a main character, secondary character, extras, etc. In an interior, it’s the same; there have to be different shades and saturations, not everything can be on the same frequency,” says Maye, who has also taught at universities such as the Universidad Iberoamericana, Tecnológico de Monterrey, and the Mexico City arts institute CENTRO.

“I love the theme of remastering, of redoing something that already exists. When you see something that looks like what you do, it doesn’t mean they copied you; it’s just that we all draw inspiration from other things, and as Rosalía says, ‘here, God is the best artist.’ So, everything already exists, but everything can be remastered.”

We asked Maye about what specific projects, tips, and tricks might inspire your next interior design project:  

What feeds your creativity?

“I am very aware and open to receiving all external stimuli. But I think something super important in space design is context. For example, if I wanted to put a super new porcelain floor in San Miguel, it would look like a mistake because it completely breaks with the context of the city, and that is one of the most important points to consider when designing. Designing a space in San Miguel de Allende is not the same as doing it in Mexico City because they have different materials.”

Casa Dominga

“In 2021, I started my own studio, MAYE, and it was a year of many changes. I started, with my partner Daniel, the Casa Dominga project, which is our home. We began creating that space together, and I would recommend any creative person interested in the world of interior design to experiment in their own home.”

Casa Arca

“The house is located in a colonial house that someone bought in the 1920s and did a renovation inspired by Noah’s Ark. So, on the facade, there are animals. I can’t ignore the incredible story the house has. So, for this project, we used craft animal figures from Guanajuato and Michoacán. It’s an example of telling stories from the context you are in.”

Global Recognition

“My 2023 began with Casa Dominga on the cover of Architectural Digest Latin America. It was very interesting because we worked with a tile brand but in a different context – we made tile furniture. The result, I believe, was the best cover of 2023 for AD because you could feel the soul we put into the project.”

Best Restaurant Design

“We won the best restaurant design award from AD Latin America. It was my first award with my own studio, and it was incredible. In this project, I wasn’t just thinking about creating something beautiful that worked; I also wanted it to connect with people, and it succeeded so much that we got the award.”

Three tips for your interior design project in 2024

  1. This year is one of rebirth. Since 2020, it has been challenging, and I believe that in 2024, we are finally coming up for air. In fact, in different trend forecasts, the most significant palettes are warm – like peach fuzz. Here in Mexico, the two most relevant forecasting researches are reds and oranges. So this year we will see a lot of reds and peaches. So, in your project, color must not be missing, and for those who are afraid: Starting with warm colors is easier and feels better.
  2. You have to see interiors as a whole. You might think, I love this painting, but actually, you have to think about how it will combine with your walls, floors, your sofa, rug, etc. For a space, we don’t choose pieces that will be hung alone, like in a museum, everything you select is part of the same space.
  3. Being an interior designer is like being a curator, and liking something is not a filter; you have to know how to choose. I recommend thinking of spaces as a party, and everything you choose has to go to the same party. That is the art of being an interior designer: being able to detect what goes to the same party and what doesn’t.

Camila Sánchez Bolaño is a journalist, feminist, bookseller, lecturer, and cultural promoter and is Editor in Chief of Newsweek en Español magazine.

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