Mexico won't see another total solar eclipse until 2052. (Justin Dickey/Unsplash)
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador revealed on Monday that he’ll be in Mazatlán for the solar eclipse on April 8.
So will thousands of others.
The metropolis on the coast of Sinaloa happens to be one of the best places in the world to experience the upcoming phenomenon — which is why thousands of eclipse-chasers, amateur astronomers and even NASA officials will be there along with the president.
And come mid-morning on April 8, the city and nearby areas will be plunged into darkness for 4 minutes and 17 seconds as the eclipse first hits land on a path that will continue northeasterly over Torreón, Coahuila; then Dallas, Texas; then Cleveland, Ohio; and eventually Maine and Canada.
López Obrador made his plans known during his Monday mañanera, or morning press conference, noting that Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya invited him.
“It will look very good,” AMLO said of the eclipse in Mazatlán. “A very good experience — like seeing a comet.”
Mazatlán, Sinaloa, is in a prime position for viewing the eclipse. (Great American Eclipse)
According to NASA, the United States’ National Aeronautics and Space Administration, “The Great Mexican Eclipse” — as the Mexican media have taken to calling it — will be the last full eclipse in the region until 2044.
After starting over the Pacific Ocean, the eclipse will begin at 9:51 a.m. in Mazatlán, where they are on Pacific Daylight Time. In much of Mexico, the time will be one hour later, 10:51 Mountain Daylight Time.
The total eclipse in Mazatlán, with the sun at its apex, will be from 11:07 to 11:11 a.m. PDT.
According to the Institute of Geophysics of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), other excellent viewing areas in Mexico include Durango city in the state of Durango, and Torreón and Monclova in Coahuila, although the period of darkness will be slightly shorter than in Mazatlán.
Weather permitting, people in these areas will be able to see the sun’s corona, or gaseous outer ring, which is usually obscured by the star’s brightness.
Most of Mexico will see the phenomenon as a partial eclipse. In Mexico City, for example, the moon will cover 79% of the sun.
Wherever you are, NASA warns that it is not safe to look directly at the sun without specialized eye protection.
Experts say eclipse glasses are a must for safe viewing. (Wikimedia Commons)
Sinaloa tourism officials have said they are expecting 120,000 visitors and an economic influx of more than 500 million pesos (US $30 million) for the eclipse. Last week, they were reporting April 8 occupancy of nearly 100% in Mazatlán’s 300 main hotels.
Moisés Ríos, deputy director of Sinaloa’s Tourism Planning and Development office, said two nights at double occupancy in four- and five-star hotels had been going for 35,000 to 40,000 pesos (US $2,100 to $2,700).
With Easter break also in full swing, it should be quite a financial boon for Mazatlán.
“At the end of Holy Week [this week], Easter Week begins, and at the end of that, the eclipse will arrive,” Ríos said. “Mazatlán will be busy like never before.”
The train derailed near Tixkokob station in Yucatán. (Screenshot)
A single car of a train operating on the Maya Train railroad derailed in the state of Yucatán on Monday. No injuries were reported, but the service was suspended and passengers were forced to backtrack to the Teya station near Mérida on another train.
The derailment occurred Monday morning near the Tixkokob station, located east of Mérida, the state capital. The Maya Train service departed Campeche at 7 a.m. and was headed to Cancún, the resort city on the northeast coast of the state of Quintana Roo.
🚨🔴 Reportan el descarrilamiento de cuando menos un vagón del #TrenMaya en inmediaciones de la estación ubicada en la localidad de #Tixkokob, Yucatán, cuando se dirigía de Campeche a Cancún. No se reportan lesionados. 📹@barrazzazpic.twitter.com/uPMiTbDmlx
A video posted to social media showed that some of the wheels of the final car of a train left the tracks near a railway junction.
The Maya Train, which is government-operated, said in a press release the derailment occurred as the train passed over a change of tracks near the entrance to Tixkokob station, at a velocity of 10 km/h. A committee has been organized to investigate the cause of the incident and to determine steps to prevent similar issues in the future, the press release stated.
The Tixkokob station is located on Section 3 of the Maya Train, one of three sections on which operations began in December. Sections 1-4 of the 1,554-kilometer-long railroad and the northern part of Section 5 between Cancún and Playa del Carmen in Quintana Roo are now open. It is thus possible to travel from Palenque, Chiapas, to Playa del Carmen by train.
The southern part of Section 5 from Playa del Carmen to Tulum, as well as Section 6 from Tulum to Chetumal and Section 7 from Bacalar, Quintana Roo, to Escárcega, Campeche, are slated to begin operations later this year.
Journalist Sharyn Alfonsi talked with the president in the National Palace for an interview broadcast by CBS on Sunday.(Screenshot)
The border wall. The migration crisis. His doxing of a foreign journalist. The fight against organized crime. The production of fentanyl. United States politicians’ use of Mexico as a scapegoat.
They are among the issues President Andrés Manuel López Obrador discusses in an interview with 60 Minutes, the long-running CBS program that dubs itself the United States’ “most watched newsmagazine show.”
Broadcast on Sunday, the interview was conducted by journalist Sharyn Alfonsi, who met with the president commonly known as AMLO in the National Palace, Mexico’s seat of executive power. Here is an overview of the key points.
The border wall, Donald Trump and the Mexico-U.S. relationship
López Obrador dismissed Trump’s declarations that he will proceed with the construction of a wall on the Mexico-United States border as mere campaign rhetoric, asserting that if he wins the election he won’t follow through because of the close economic ties between the two countries.
“We signed an economic, a commercial agreement that has been favorable for both peoples, for both nations. He knows it. And President Biden, the same,” he said, referring to the USMCA trade pact, which superseded NAFTA in 2020.
AMLO said Trump would not follow through on continued border wall construction if he wins a second term. (Omar Martínez/Cuartoscuro)
López Obrador also asserted that the border wall “doesn’t work,” and recalled a telephone conversation he had with Trump during which he spoke about the former president’s pet infrastructure project, despite an agreement to not discuss it.
“I told him, ‘I am going to send you, Mr. President, some videos of tunnels from Tijuana up to San Diego, that passed right under U.S. Customs.’ He stayed quiet, and then he started laughing and told me ‘I can’t win with you,’ said AMLO, whose remarks were broadcast in English.
In a “60 Minutes” addendum to the main interview package, López Obrador said that Trump was “respectful” of Mexico’s sovereignty, and that current U.S. President Joe Biden is as well.
The United States and Mexico have “had differences,” but the two nations “have been able to put first the general interests of both peoples,” he said.
“And we would like to continue that way, because we need each other,” he said.
How Mexico helped curb migration into the United States in early 2023
Asked what Mexico did “between December and January” to precipitate a 50% reduction in border crossings by migrants, López Obrador responded:
“We were more careful about our southern border. We spoke with the presidents of Central America, with the president of Venezuela and with the president of Cuba. We asked them for help in curbing the flow of migrants.”
He said that the strategy adopted by Mexico “is a short-term solution” and reiterated that the federal government wants “the root causes” of migration “to be attended to.”
The president said Mexico will cooperate to reduce numbers of migrants trying to cross the northern border, but that what is really needed is to address the driving factors that lead migrants to leave their homes. (Cuartoscuro)
AMLO said that Mexico will continue to implement actions to curb northward migration, but stressed that “the flow of migrants will continue” unless the root causes — things such as crime and lack of opportunity — are addressed.
López Obrador — who has urged the United States Congress to approve a US $20 billion “plan of cooperation for development and well-being” in Western Hemisphere countries — added that Mexico will cooperate on migration even if the U.S. doesn’t increase its funding for regional projects as the bilateral relationship “is very important.”
The president’s disclosure of a New York Times’ journalist’s phone number
“It looks like you were threatening that reporter,” Alfonsi said to AMLO.
“I didn’t do it with the intention of harming her. She, like yourself, are public figures, and I am as well,” López Obrador responded.
The president sparked a minor scandal when he publicly shared Times journalist Natalie Kitroeff’s phone number at a press conference. (The New York Times)
After Alfonsi noted that Mexico is a dangerous country for journalists and that “threats often come in text and phones,” AMLO said that all he was doing was responding to the “libel” published by the Times.
“Imagine what it means for this reporter to write that the president of Mexico has connections with drug traffickers. … And without having any proof. That is a vile slander,” he said.
The government’s ‘hugs, not bullets’ security strategy
López Obrador declared that his security strategy that favors addressing the root causes of crime over confronting cartels is working out “very well,” although — as the interviewer pointed out — there were still close to 30,000 homicides in Mexico last year.
He disagreed that “very few” homicides are prosecuted and that “lawlessness” prevails in Mexico.
“Of course we prosecute .. [homicides]. There is no impunity in Mexico. They all get prosecuted,” AMLO said.
When Alfonsi countered that only “a small percent” of murders are in fact prosecuted, López Obrador said that the figure is higher “than before.”
“What you have to do with the criminals is apply the law. But I’m not going to establish contact, communication with a criminal, the president of Mexico. … You cannot negotiate with criminals,” he said.
President López Obrador asserted that fentanyl production isn’t just happening in Mexico, but also in the U.S. and Canada. (FGR/Cuartoscuro)
When Alfonsi asked whether United States authorities were wrong to say that Mexican cartels are mass producing fentanyl and that most fentanyl in the U.S. comes from Mexico, AMLO responded:
“Yes. Or rather, they don’t have all the information, because fentanyl is also produced in the United States. … Fentanyl is produced in the United States, in Canada, and in Mexico. And the chemical precursors come from Asia.”
López Obrador also reiterated his view that there is “very little” drug use in Mexico, attributing violence in the country to “drug trafficking” rather than the consumption of narcotics.
AMLO responds to U.S. politicians’ disparaging attitude toward Mexico
Asked to comment on United States House of Representative’s Speaker Mike Johnson’s recent assertion that he told President Biden that “Mexico will do what we say” with regard to immigration policy, López Obrador responded:
“No. No. The legislator is disrespectful. We are an independent, free, sovereign country. We are not a colony. We are not a protectorate of any foreign country. We have a very good relationship with the United States, but not one of subordination.”
AMLO accused certain U.S. politicians of using Mexico as a scapegoat for “the migration problem” and other bilateral issues.
The Texas National Guard reinforces barriers in the border city of Eagle Pass, part of a strategy designed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott and condemned by President López Obrador as a political ploy. (Gov. Greg Abbot/X)
“The governor of Texas, in order to make propaganda, because I think he wants to be a candidate for the vice presidency of the United States, goes to the Rio Grande and puts barbed wire and makes a spectacle. That is opportunism. With all due respect, that is cheap politicking. That is not serious,” López Obrador said.
The Tokyo-based Yokohama Rubber Co. is one of the oldest companies in Asia's automotive sector. (Shutterstock)
Foreign investment in Mexico continues to arrive as tire manufacturer Yokohama Rubber announces a US $380 million investment to build a passenger car tire plant.
The new plant, located in the northern city of Saltillo, Coahuila, is expected to begin construction in Q2 of this year and production in Q1 of 2027, with an annual output of 5 million tires.
“This is a clear signal that Yokohama is committed to the North American market,” said Jeff Barna, president and CEO of Yokohama Tire Corporation, the company’s North American branch. “The increased production capabilities will supplement existing global capacity for tires destined for our region,” Barna added.
The new plant will reportedly have access to a major rail line and highway, enabling the timely supply of tires to customers across North America. It will be built on a 610,000-square-meter site, Alianza Industrial Park, and allow for future expansions.
Yokohama Rubber’s new three-year (2024 to 2026) medium-term management plan, Yokohama Transformation 2026, focuses on maximizing the sales of high-value-added tires by expanding the global sales of its flagship brands: Yokohama, Advan, and Geolandar (designed for pickup trucks).
Saltillo, Coahuila, is a popular destination for foreign manufacturing companies looking to establish operations in Mexico. (Sachavir/Wikimedia)
Additionally, the plan includes “Regional and Product Strategies” to enhance the development, supply, and sales of tires tailored to specific trends in each regional market.
Yokohama Tire Corporation is the North American manufacturing and marketing arm of The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., based in Tokyo, Japan. The company has been a global manufacturing and sales leader in premium tires since 1917. It is one of the oldest companies in the automotive sector in Asia and is the result of a joint venture between Yokohama Cable Manufacturing and B.F. Goodrich.
With an extensive sales network throughout the U.S., the company’s product line includes tires for high-performance vehicles, light trucks, passenger cars, and commercial trucks and buses.
A rendering of the Royal Caribbean International Beach Club which is supposed to open in Cozumel in 2026. (Royal Caribbean International)
Royal Caribbean International announced an expansion of its Royal Beach Club Collection with plans to build a beach club in Cozumel, Quintana Roo, scheduled to open in 2026.
Royal Beach Club Cozumel will feature swimming pools, private cabanas, swim-up bars, various restaurants, a market, and experiences like kayaking, snorkeling, tequila tastings and cooking classes for cruise passengers. The company will invest over US $75 million in developing the club, according to a post on X by the governor of Quintana Roo, Mara Lezama.
The world’s largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, docked in Mahahual – another Quintana Roo port – in January. (Cuartoscuro)
Located about 20 kilometers east of the coast of the Yucatán Peninsula in the Caribbean Sea, Cozumel is Mexico’s third-largest island and a major destination for cruise ships, receiving nearly 4 million cruise passengers last year, 43.89% more than the year before. In February, Cozumel was awarded the Pueblo Mágico recognition and is known for its reefs, white sand beaches, crystal-clear waters and pre-Columbian ruins.
“Cozumel is an incredible destination, and the beach club will perfectly complement everything the island offers as an experience that combines familiar touches of Royal Caribbean with the energy of Mexico, along with amenities and activities for every type of vacationer,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International in a statement.
The Royal Beach Club collection also includes a 17-acre beach club on Nassau’s Paradise Island, set to open in 2025.
Governor Mara Lezama said the state is “very proud” to be home to Royal Caribbean International’s new destination.
“These types of projects reaffirm our commitment to continuing to be the main port of call in Latin America,” she said.
With 50 years on the market and featuring 300 destinations in 80 countries across all seven continents, Royal Caribbean has been voted “Best Cruise Line Overall” for 21 consecutive years in the Travel Weekly Readers’ Choice Awards.
Mexico City Diablos Rojos pitcher Trevor Bauer opens the game against the New York Yankees. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)
Though the vast majority of the 59,471 fans at the game were in their corner on Sunday night, the players on the Mexican men’s national team were unable to stop the United States from achieving a three-peat.
Team USA took down Mexico 2-0 for its third straight championship in the Concacaf Nations League — a competition for teams in North America, Central America and the Caribbean.
Mexico entered the final at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on a high, a 3-0 win over Panama in the semifinals on Thursday, but the match against the U.S. turned out to be more of the same.
Mexico leads all-time with 36 wins, 17 draws and 24 losses, but the U.S. has a 19-8-9 edge since 2000.
Team USA entered the game ranked 13th and Mexico was 15th in the FIFA world rankings, but the difference looked a bit more pronounced. The U.S. outplayed Mexico, had better offensive bursts and continually denied Mexico good scoring opportunities.
U.S. midfielder Gio Reyna makes a run for the ball during the Nations League final on Sunday. (Concacaf)
A booming goal from more than 30 meters out by Tyler Adams in the 45th minute of the first half propelled the U.S. to the win. Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa dove perhaps a millisecond too late and the surprising, curling blast just eluded his right hand. Eighteen minutes into the second half, the U.S. added another goal by Gio Reyna.
Mexico didn’t play terribly for head coach Jaime Lozano, and though his job appears to be safe — never a certainty after Mexico loses a big game — Claro Sports after the game was quick to post the headline “Should Jimmy Lozano continue leading the Mexican team?”
Late in the second half, the match was suspended twice by Canadian referee Drew Fischer because of homophobic chants from the crowd. He stopped play in the 88th minute, restarted it, then halted it eight minutes later; play restarted 90 seconds after that and the game ended.
Last year, a Nations League semifinal in Las Vegas was halted four minutes early because of “puto” chants from Mexican fans, who for years have yelled the slur when the opposing team takes a goal kick.
The North America, Central America and Caribbean Football Association (Concacaf) issued a statement after the game saying that it “condemns the discriminatory chanting” and that “security staff in the stadium identified and ejected a significant number of fans.” It noted that its “What’s Wrong Is Wrong campaign,” launched in 2021, has “consistently urged fans to cease the chant, with regular digital communications and significant in-stadium messaging before and during all Concacaf events.
“It is extremely disappointing that this matter continues to be an issue at some matches, particularly in the context of the next two years presenting such a tremendous opportunity to grow the sport in our region,” Concacaf said.
Though the Nations League finals took place in the U.S., most attendees came out for Mexico’s El Tri. (Selección Nacional/X)
Next up for Mexico will be Copa America, an intense competition involving men’s national teams from South America and the top six finishers in the Nations League. The tournament will be held June 20 to July 14 in the United States.
New York Yankees visit Mexico City
An enthusiastic crowd of 20,735 packed Mexico City’s Alfredo Harp Helú Stadium to watch the visiting New York Yankees play the Mexico City Diablos Rojos in a spring training game on Sunday afternoon.
The Yankees, who left most of their star players back in Florida for an additional exhibition game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, were defeated 4-3 in the contest, the Yankees’ first in Mexico City since the days of Mickey Mantle in 1968.
Tickets for both games sold out a month ago in less than an hour, and for Sunday’s game, prices in the resale market ranged from US $130 in the bleachers to US $2,000 behind home plate.
It was a full house at Harp Stadium on Sunday afternoon, as fans packed in to see the Diablos Rojos face off against the Yankees. (Diablos Rojos/X)
“To me the price is reasonable,” said Armando Arce, a 45-year-businessman who bought a $250 ticket for Sunday’s game. “It’s not every day that you can watch your two favorite teams playing against each other.”
Both teams will open their regular seasons soon, the Yankees on Thursday at Houston, and Mexico City on April 11 at Puebla in the Mexican League (LMB).
Major League Baseball (MLB) will return to Harp Helú Stadium on April 27 and 28 for two regular-season games between the Houston Astros and Colorado Rockies.
Last year, the San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres met in Mexico City for a pair of regular-season games, with the Padres winning both, 16-11 and 6-4 before a combined attendance of over 39,000.
‘Checo’ Pérez places fifth in Australia
When his teammate, three-time defending world champion Max Verstappen, had to leave Formula 1’s Australian Grand Prix on Sunday after sustaining a fiery mechanical failure on lap four, Sergio “Checo” Pérez of Mexico seemed to have a golden opportunity.
Checo Pérez’s teammate Max Verstappen led the first lap but was quickly sidelined by engine problems. (Formula 1/X)
The practically unbeatable Verstappen had won nine races in a row, and 19 of his last 20, and Pérez hadn’t won in a long 11 months.
However, the 34-year-old Guadalajara native finished in fifth place after starting the race in Melbourne from sixth on the grid.
Afterward, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner explained that Pérez’s car suffered slight damage from Verstappen’s mishap, which hindered his efforts to pass other drivers.
Not seeing Red Bull on the podium was a rarity. Verstappen had won the first two races of the 2024 season, and Perez was second in both, in the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian grands prix.
The Melbourne winner was Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz followed by teammate Charles Leclerc, giving Ferrari its first 1-2 result since the start of the 2022 season. McLaren’s Lando Norris was third.
Early symptoms of Guillain-Barré Syndrome are tingling in the arms, feet and face. The disease can advance to include muscle weakness and coordination problems. (Shutterstock)
Tlaxcala state officials on Monday reported a third death attributed to acute flaccid paralysis linked to Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a rare disease whose cause is not fully understood.
The state Health Ministry also reported that 35 additional patients diagnosed with GBS are currently hospitalized, eight of whom are in critical condition and remain in intensive care. Nine of the 35 patients are deemed cured but remain in hospital under observation as of Monday morning.
The ministry has confirmed 76 GBS cases in the small state northeast of Mexico City, with 38 patients having been treated and released.
The ministry made a public plea to state residents to take preventive measures, urging regular washing of hands with soap and water, while also taking all hygienic precautions handling and preparing foods, especially meats.
A World Health Organization (WHO) fact sheet on GBS explains that the disease typically appears after an infection due to a virus or bacteria. This prompts the immune system to attack the body itself and this “can affect the nerves that control muscle movement as well as those that transmit pain, temperature and touch sensations. This can result in muscle weakness, loss of sensation in the legs and/or arms, and problems swallowing or breathing.”
Most victims of GBS recover without long-term neurological complications.
Of 76 patients identified so far, 35 remain hospitalized. (IMSS)
Symptoms, which include tingling sensations often beginning in the legs but advancing to the arms and face, typically last a few weeks.
The symptoms can advance to include weakness in legs, arms and torso, soreness similar to muscle cramps, loss of motor coordination which can lead to falls, and blurred vision. Severe symptoms include paralysis, low blood pressure and cardiac arrhythmia.
The WHO recommends hospitalization of victims exhibiting such symptoms so they can be monitored closely. Cases become life-threatening when affected individuals have difficulty speaking and swallowing.
On March 22, Social Security Institute (IMSS) hospitals across Tlaxcala received an extra supply of antibody mixtures for use in immunoglobulin therapy. Human immunoglobulins are blood derivative substances with a high immunomodulation power and they are used to treat severe antibody deficiencies.
Though there is no known cure for GBS, immunotherapy treatments can modulate symptoms and shorten its duration.
Traditional Mexican music fused with modern genres like hip-hop, trap and electronica, have begun to dominate the global music scene. (Edgar Negrete Lira/Cuartoscuro)
The broad collection of styles that make up the nebulous “Mexico Regional” genre of music have rocketed from traditional mainstays of Mexican grandparents to chart-topping super hits. With a massive 400% growth in the last five years, Mexican music is enjoying its time in the limelight, and artists across the world — especially in the United States — are rushing to cash in on what has suddenly become the most popular sound of the moment.
The road to success, however, has not necessarily been a direct one. In 2016, Luis Fonsi, a man who enjoyed a successful career in the Latin music space, released the first single from his upcoming album, Vida. The lead single, “Despacito,” did well — becoming a crossover hit reminiscent of “Livin’ La Vida Loca” by fellow Puerto Rican Ricky Martin 15 years before. The 1999 hit peaked at #44 on the Billboard 100, (although it ruled the Spanish-focused Latin Hot chart).
While “Despacito” was a hit, it wasn’t until the track was picked up and remixed by Justin Bieber that it really ascended to the level of ubiquity that it enjoys today. The tune was a behemoth, spending 16 weeks at #1. It was even banned in Malaysia after irritated radio listeners called the government in protest over hearing it so many times.
Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee had a hit with 2017’s “Despacito,” but it took the involvement of Justin Bieber to catapult the song into international success. (YouTube)
It was the first Spanish-language song to top the Billboard charts since the viral success of the Macarena in 1996 — but it needed the assistance of an established English-speaking artist in order to do that.
That all changed last year though, with the breakout of Mexican Regional music, an umbrella term that describes everything from Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma’s “Ella Baila Sola” to Gera MX and Christian Nodal’s country-esque “Botella tras Botella” (and straighter bands like Grupo Frontera in between). The wave of Mexican Regional music hitting the U.S. charts has been the defining trend in the U.S. throughout 2023 and into 2024, and audiences — both Spanish- and English-speaking — are loving it.
While the early rise of Spanish-language music was driven by Puerto Rico, and a handful of major Latina acts from outside the U.S. such as Shakira and Juanes in Colombia and Spain’s Father-and-son superstars Julio and Enrique Iglesias, recent developments have a decidedly more Mexican tinge.
No longer is the genre staidly tied to tradition — while the title is all-encompassing, bands and artists under the label of Mexican Regional experiment with elements of hip-hop, trap, rap and electronica, while incorporating the more typical elements of Mexican folk music.
Gabito Ballesteros is amongst a host of new Mexican talent set to release new music in 2024. (Gabito Ballesteros/Facebook)
Billboard Magazine found that 35 Mexican Regional tracks made the U.S. Hot 100 in 2023. The most successful, “Ella Baila Sola,” made it into the top five. The song held the top spot on the Global 200 chart for six weeks, and Peso Pluma became the face of the genre. The Jalisco-born singer became the most streamed artist on YouTube that same year.
Once again, the English-speakers have returned, hoping to find their “Despacito” amongst the newcomers to the scene. Major labels have jumped in to sign Mexican regional artists. Fuerza Regida and Yahritza y Su Esencia (who controversially played during last year’s independence celebrations) have secured major label deals. Record companies as large as Interscope and Sony are hunting for their Mexican groups, as the quest for new chart topping Mexican artists intensifies.
Streaming platform Spotify’s Uriel Waizel told Billboard that he believes Mexican Regional has found success because of its willingness to adapt to listeners’ tastes. “The biggest lesson regional Mexican music has taught is that the ‘traditional’ format had to make concessions to impact the U.S. and global charts,” he explained.
This is not unlike the meteoric rise of Afrobeats, Waizel feels, the last non-U.S. genre to dominate the charts. “[This] is what we saw happen with Rema and Selena Gomez [with “Calm Down”]. It’s a great example of music that becomes more digestible for global audiences.”
Washington’s Yahritza y Su Esencia are second-generation Mexican Americans and have caused a stir with their rejection of some elements of traditional Mexican culture. (Yahritza y Su Esencia/X)
This transformation is most obvious in the way that the genres have absorbed more urban U.S. genres — little surprise for two genres that often cover similar lyrical themes. It goes beyond the obvious however, with recent more pop-oriented offerings like Karol G and Peso Plumas “Qlona” and Fuerza Regida and Marshmello’s “Harley Quinn,” which more closely mimic regular U.S. chart offerings, while remaining true to their Mexican roots.
This success has produced a mixed reaction in Mexico. Some states have banned popular artists accused of glorifying violence, particularly bands affiliated with the wildly popular narcocorrido scene, which idolizes Mexico’s brutal cartel violence in much the same way U.S. rap idolized gang culture in the 1990s.
Some of these artists have been accused of betraying their Mexican roots, as happened with Yahritza y su Esencia, despite being invited to play to Independence Day crowds in Mexico City’s Zocalo. Yahritza herself, the daughter of immigrants from Michoacán had said “I just don’t like Mexico,” during an interview in the United States, and the country was not impressed (she later clarified that she meant Mexico City). Even worse, the band suggested that Mexican food in their home state of Washington was superior to the food available in Mexico.
With roughly 25% of Gen Z Americans now of Latin descent, this changing of the guard, from immigrants to the children of immigrants is likely to result in increased popularity for the music of their parents’ homeland. However, whether or not that music pleases Mexicans on both sides of the border is up for debate.
What cannot be argued though, is the huge success that these songs are having. Now even established Latin stars from outside of Mexico, including Bad Bunny, Shakira and Becky G, artists who once eclipsed the Mexican music scene, are rushing to record their own Mexican Regional tracks. This coming year is set to be a big year for Mexican artists with hotly anticipated new music from 17-year-old Chino Pacas, Gabito Ballesteros, Kenia Os, Xavi and Yng Lvkas all set to release albums.
No matter the reason for the sudden increase in the popularity of Mexican influenced music in the U.S. or the controversy surrounding it, it seems unlikely that 2024 will be anything other than another year of absolute dominance for the genre.
When is a "jugo" not a jugo? Fear not, Monica Belot is here to explain. (Zlatko Duric/Unsplash)
I was desperate. After weeks of practically living in Mexico City cafes and restaurants, devouring countless guava rolls, cheese-filled tortillas, and meaty tacos, washing it all down with flat whites and sugary cocktails, my taste buds were delighted, but my brain felt sluggish and dull. My stomach groaned, bloated and heavy. Enough was enough. I needed a reset. I needed… green juice.
I fumbled for my phone, plugging “jugo verde” into Google Maps. Relieved to see a nearby option with the reassuring word “Natural” in the restaurant name, I texted a friend to join me and hurried over, vowing to consume nothing but cold-pressed juices and nourishing smoothies for the next several days.
Mexico City has no shortage of refreshing juice-based drinks, but they may not be exactly what you’re expecting. (María José Martínez/Cuartoscuro)
“Jugo verde, por favor,” I rasped to the waiter, shoving the menu filled with temptations out of sight. I was determined to fully detox my overloaded system and exercise restraint for the foreseeable future.
As the waiter approached with my beautifully green and foamy beverage, I licked my lips in anticipation. I brought the drink to my mouth, envisioning glowing skin and the bloat receding from my belly with every sip. I closed my eyes and gulped… and nearly spit it out.
Confused, I looked at my Venezuelan friend who had lived in Mexico for 5 years. I sloshed the chunky liquid in its glass. “What is this?” I asked. “A juice,” he answered, perplexed.
But…how?
Knowing the difference between jugos, licuados and smoothies is an essential piece of insider knowledge. (Sevenbuddhasmx/Instagram)
This green liquid was room temperature, very sweet, watered down, and filled with sloshy particles. This was not what I had expected. Yet this is the traditional juice (jugo) in Mexico, which – except for some pressed citrus juices – typically consists of fruits and vegetables blended with water.
Taking a second look at the menu multiplied the confusion. There were licuados, batidos, smoothies, malteadas, aguas frescas, jugo exprimido, jugo prensado, extractos, and more, leaving me breathless just thinking about it.
Fear not, friends, here is an easy-to-reference glossary for understanding what’s what:
Jugos: Fruits or vegetables blended with water and lightly strained.
Licuados: Fruit-based drinks blended with yogurt, water, or milk, served cold or at room temperature.
Smoothies: Similar to licuados, but may include a wider range of health-focused ingredients like vegetables, nuts, seeds, or powders. Served cold or frozen.
Batidos: Milkshakes made with milk and flavored syrups or fruits.
Malteadas: Milkshakes with malted milk added for a unique flavor.
Aguas frescas: Fruit-blended waters, often sweetened with added sugar.
Jugo exprimido: Freshly squeezed juice from fruits or vegetables.
Jugo prensado: Cold-pressed juice extracted using a hydraulic press for maximum nutrient retention.
Extractos: Concentrated extracts or shots for efficient consumption of specific nutrients or flavors.
Caution: Asking for juice may not net you actual juice. The results, like these “aguas frescas” may be just as delicious though. (Margarito Pérez Retana/Cuartoscuro)
Finding the juicy gems
For those of us accustomed to cities where cold-pressed juice, salad bars, and superfood smoothies abound, finding healthy food options like the ones we’re used to can be slightly more challenging in Mexico. Particularly for individuals like yours truly, who had spent the last few years living in Los Angeles – the bougie, health-obsessed land of Pressed, Kreation and Erewhon – juices and smoothies had become a dietary staple, quickly nourishing, cleansing, and resetting the body.
Yet despite the abundance of beautiful juice stands and blended drinks in Mexico City (and I encourage you to make use of these delightful little outposts), sometimes it’s rather nice to chug a crisp, veggie-infused cold-pressed liquid or sip on a post-workout smoothie with the perfect superfood additions tailored to your body’s needs. While the health-conscious consumer movement seems to be steadily making its way to Mexico, navigating the options to find healthy and tasty drinks designed to invigorate the body and mind can still be challenging. Placebo effect or not, sometimes you just need that green juice fix.
Fortunately, there are options. Delicious ones, for when you need everything from a detox from going too hard, to a post-workout smoothie. Here are 4 spots around CDMX to satisfy your juice and smoothie fix.
As Happy as Larry – Condesa, Juarez, Roma Norte, Santa Fe
All hail As Happy As Larry, the new king of the capital’s juicing scene. (As Happy As Larry)
Covering the bases in four different areas of the city, “As Happy as Larry” is inspired by the English version of Mexico’s expression “feliz como una lombriz” or “happy as a worm”. While this writer is unfamiliar with the range of a worm’s emotional depth, the juices and smoothies certainly hit the spot. Checking off the juice bar necessities, the spot offers signature recipes for smoothies, juices, and cold-pressed shots, focusing on ingredients meant to strengthen the immune system through superfood combinations. It offers the standard cold-pressed juice selection including an array of green juices, beet and carrot combos, and several juices organized by their functional benefits (Detox C, Immunity). As Happy as Larry also offers “cleanse packs”, ranging from 1-day resets to 18-day programs.
As its name suggests, this minimalist spot serves up healthy basics in a comfortable, modern space. It has all of the essential pressed juice rockstars, including celery-based green juice (Verde Que Te Quiero), a carrot-based cutie cleverly named Sweet Carrotline, and a beet-forward juice mix (Let it Beet). The menu also features single-ingredient pressed juices, nutrient-rich shots, and smoothies with innovative add-ins like svetol (green coffee bean extract), hyaluronic acid, novel vitamin combos, and protein powder. As a bonus, the Roma location doubles as a great workspace for sipping your healthy beverages while nose-deep in emails.
Mora Mora – Colima, Santa Fe, Polanco, Condesa, Roma, Jardines del Pedregal, Interlomas, Insurgentes
From the TV screen to the Mexico City health scene, Mora Mora is the capital’s latest healthy spot. (Jugos Locos/Unsplash)
Featured on Mexico’s version of Shark Tank in 2022, Mora Mora is a plant-based, healthy, and sustainable chain taking Mexico City by storm. With locations spanning juice bars and grocery markets for healthy goods, Mora Mora makes it easy to get your fix of high-quality smoothies, juices, and wellness shots. Menu highlights include the nutrient-packed Green Warrior juice, brimming with celery, cucumber, citrus, leafy greens, herbs, wheatgrass, ginger, and a kick of cayenne. The El Azul smoothie is another standout, blending blackberry almond milk, banana, pear, maca, hemp, vegan protein, and brilliant blue spirulina. Mora Mora also bottles its cold-pressed juices for grabbing on the go. For those looking for a full-body reboot, Mora Mora offers 1-day detox kits meant to purify and help eliminate toxins. With so many creative and clean plant-based options, Mora Mora is leading the charge for healthy eating in Mexico City.
Ojo de Agua – Practically in every neighborhood in CDMX
This trusted Mexican chain, located across many cities, offers a reliable array of smoothies and licuados, and basic, single-ingredient juices (jugos extractos). Bear in mind, while the “super jugos”, “jugos funcionales”, and “jugos sencillos” on the menu sound intriguing, these are the traditional fruit and veggie blends with water. Where Ojo de Agua truly excels is with its smoothie selection, featuring several fancy superfood options. The chain has recently stepped up its game by incorporating novel ingredients like functional mushrooms (lion’s mane, reishi) and spirulina at several locations. For a trusted healthy option with a superfood smoothie twist, Ojo de Agua delivers.
Honorable mentions include Espiritu Sano (Condesa), Serena Wellness Lab (Lomas), Amamba (Roma Norte), Brek & Shake (Polanco, Santa Fe), and Seven Buddhas (Condesa).
Mapping the scene
As Mexico City’s healthy food scene continues to flourish, this guide aims to highlight some of the top spots for finding revitalizing, nutrient-packed juices and smoothies. However, new destinations are constantly emerging across the capital. For Mexico News Daily readers, here’s a Google Maps list with the curated juice and smoothie spots gathered so far, which will be updated as more gems are discovered.
Of course, this is just a sampling of CDMX’s ever-evolving juice and smoothie scene. Did we miss your go-to oasis for a cold-pressed green juice or superfood-loaded smoothie? Let us know your favorite must-visit juice bars and smoothie joints in the comments below!
Monica Belot is a writer, researcher, strategist and adjunct professor at Parsons School of Design in New York City, where she teaches in the Strategic Design & Management Program. Splitting her time between NYC and Mexico City, where she resides with her naughty silver labrador puppy Atlas, Monica writes about topics spanning everything from the human experience to travel and design research. Follow her varied scribbles on Medium at https://medium.com/@monicabelot.
The investment will go toward increasing production and distribution capacity, digitization and more, Arca said. (Arca Continental)
Arca Continental, one of the largest Coca-Cola bottlers in the world, announced it will invest 17 billion pesos (just over US $1 billion) in a variety of operations across its Latin American and U.S. facilities this year.
In a press release, Arca revealed the funds will target increased production and distribution capacity, as well as promoting the use of digital tools, strengthening new categories of beverages, and expanding shared value projects in the communities it serves in Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina and the United States.
Mexico will receive more than half of the investment with the remaining 45% going to South America and the United States. Arca has plants in 14 Mexican states while other bottlers, including beverage/retail giant FEMSA, handle bottling operations in the rest of Mexico’s states.
The announcement was made during last week’s annual shareholders meeting in Monterrey in which company CEO Arturo Gutiérrez and Chairman of the Board of Directors Jorge Santos Reyna lauded Arca’s record results last year.
Arca set a new all-time high in consolidated volume — nearly 2.5 billion unit cases (a unit case is a unit of measurement that equals 5,678 liters) — and reported annual sales in excess of 213.6 billion pesos (nearly US $12.8 billion). The sales total represented a 2.8% increase over 2022 whereas net income grew by 12.9% over 2022, climbing to 17.5 billion pesos (US $1.05 billion).
Gutiérrez reaffirmed the company’s commitment to consolidating a long-term strategy that promotes the integral growth of the entire value chain. The planned investment demonstrates that this commitment is real and the 2023 results prove the strategy is effective, he said.
Arca Continental handles Coca Cola bottling operations in 14 of Mexico’s 32 states. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro.com)
“[Last year’s] positive results in all markets where we operate reaffirm our path of profitable and sustainable growth, driven by the continuous improvement of operational and commercial capabilities,” he said.
Among the improvements is the AC Digital app by which Arca has digitized nearly 60% of its distribution and supply chain as of December. Shopkeepers are able to place and track orders more efficiently, and take advantage of exclusive promotions, the news publication Vanguardia reported.
For his part, Santos Reyna highlighted Arca’s vision of generating long-term shared value and the company’s commitment to being an agent of positive change.
In addition to the production, distribution and marketing of Coca-Cola products in Mexico, Arca does the same for snacks under the Bokados brand.
