Inflation increased more than expected in December

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January 9, 2024

Market prices — Headline and core inflation remain high, another blow to purchasing power. (Cuartoscuro)

Mexico’s annual headline inflation rate rose for a second consecutive month in December to end the year at 4.66%, the national statistics agency INEGI reported Tuesday.

An annual increase of over 10% in the cost of fruit and vegetables was the biggest driver of the increase.

The annual headline rate increased 0.34 percentage points from a 4.32% reading in November. Month-over-month inflation was 0.71%, the highest level in 17 months.

Inflation was expected to tick up in the final month of 2023, but the annual headline rate was slightly higher than anticipated. The consensus forecast of economists polled by both Reuters and Citibanamex was 4.55%.

The Bank of Mexico — which raised its benchmark interest rate to a record high of 11.25% last March and left it unchanged since then — forecast in mid December that the headline rate would average 4.4% in the final quarter of 2023.

After its governing board decided once again to maintain the 11.25% rate, the bank said Dec. 14 that its reference rate “must be maintained at its current level for some time” in order to “achieve an orderly and sustained convergence of headline inflation to the 3% target.”

Victoria Rodríguez Ceja, Bank of Mexico Governor, has indicated that lowering of the benchmark rate will be “gradual” in the continued effort to slow inflation. (Wikimedia Commons)

Despite increases to headline inflation in November and December, the rate at the end of the year was significantly lower than the 7.82% reading at the close of 2022.

The headline rate declined for nine consecutive months between February and October before that streak was broken in November.

Mexico’s core inflation rate, which excludes some volatile food and energy prices, fell for an 11th consecutive month in December to end the year at 5.09%, the lowest level since September 2021. Core inflation was 5.3% in November and 8.35% in December 2022.

Annual inflation data in detail

INEGI data showed that fruit and vegetable prices rose 11.68% compared to December 2022, driving a 5.66% rise in the cost of agricultural products. Prices for meat rose by a much more modest 0.68% in annual terms.

Jason Tuvey, deputy chief emerging markets economist at Capital Economics, attributed the increase in headline inflation to the “spike in agricultural prices,” noting that the inflation rate for fruit and vegetables hit a two-year high in December.

Andres Abadia, chief Latin America economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, said that the “main driver” of the increase in headline inflation “was higher prices for non-processed food.”

Onion prices surged over 55% in annual terms in December, while nopales and tomatoes were almost 34% and just under 30% more expensive, respectively.

Vegetables at a market stall — Onion prices spiked 55% annually in December. (Cuartoscuro)

Processed food, beverages and tobacco were 6.25% more expensive in December than a year earlier, while prices for services rose 5.33%. The cost of air travel rose almost 16%, while tourism packages were over 6% more expensive.

The cost of goods in general, which includes processed food, beverages and tobacco, increased 4.89%. The other component of that category – non-food goods – recorded a 3.28% annual increase.

School fees rose 6.6%, while housing was 3.64% more expensive. Energy prices, including those for gasoline and electricity, increased 1.46% in annual terms in the final month of 2023.

The outlook for 2024

The increase in headline in inflation in December represented “a poor end to the year,” according to Abadia.

However, he noted that the general inflation outlook continues to improve “at the margin” and predicted that both headline and core inflation will decline consistently during the coming months.

The Bank of Mexico is forecasting that inflation will decline steadily this year. In its December monetary policy statement, the bank predicted an average headline rate of 4.3% in the first quarter, 4.1% in Q2, 3.8% in Q3 and 3.5% in Q4.

Analysts consider it likely that the bank’s board will make an initial cut to the 11.25% interest rate in the first half of 2024, if not the first quarter.

Bank of Mexico Governor Victoria Rodríguez – “central banker of the year” in the Americas in 2023, according to the British publication The Banker – said late last year that any rate cuts would be “gradual” and that the central bank “would not necessarily be looking at a cycle of continuous reductions.”

With reports from El Financiero, El Economista and Reuters

20 sickened after eating ‘poisoned’ enchiladas in Hidalgo

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MND Staff

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January 8, 2024

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ambulance — Authorities have been unable to locate the roving vendor who sold the enchiladas. (Protección Civil via Quadratín)

Around 20 people became ill on Sunday after eating enchiladas sold by a roving street vendor in a city in northeastern Hidalgo.

Residents of Huejutla and people from the neighboring state of Veracruz reportedly experienced symptoms such as stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, headache and dizziness after eating enchiladas sold by a woman in the center of the city, including at the bus station.

Many of those who fell ill soon after consuming the enchiladas had to be treated in hospital.

There were varying reports about the number of people who suffered symptoms of food poisoning, but the general consensus was about 20. Children were reportedly among those who became ill.

The Milenio newspaper reported Monday that it’s believed the enchiladas contained a “toxic substance.”

Adela Ramírez of Cerro Azul, Veracruz, told Milenio that her daughter, son-in-law and her two brothers were all in hospital.

“What I was told is that the cause [of their illness] was eating some poisoned enchiladas,” she said.

The director of the Huasteca Regional Hospital in Huejutla said in an interview that four people were being treated there and that a 24-year-old patient was in a “critical state.”

Armando Escudero said that the patients’ symptoms suggested the food poisoning may have been caused by organophosphates.

“Organophosphates are used as insecticides, medications, and nerve agents,” according to Wikipedia.

stretcher being loaded into an ambulance — Multiple people were hospitalized and one patient was reported to be in critical condition after the incident. (Leonardo Herrera/X)

Symptoms of organophosphate poisoning “include increased saliva and tear production, diarrhea, vomiting, small pupils, sweating, muscle tremors, and confusion.”

TV Azteca reported that initial clinical studies indicated that the food poisoning was caused by pesticide contamination of the enchiladas.

According to a report by the El Universal newspaper, authorities attempted to locate the woman who was selling the typical dish but had no luck. TV Azteca reported that nothing is known about the vendor.

Other popular Mexican dishes have been the cause of cases of food poisoning that have sickened a large number of people.

More than 30 people became ill after eating contaminated cochinita pibil — a marinated pork dish — at a market in Seyé, Yucatán, in 2022, while a similar number got sick after consuming bad barbacoa — a dish usually made with mutton or lamb — at a Mother’s Day event in San Sebastián Coatlán, Oaxaca, in 2019.

With reports from Milenio, El Universal, Quadratín and TV Azteca

‘Narco-blockades’ and shootouts follow arrests in Celaya

By

Cat Rainsford

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January 8, 2024

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962446_Ataque Armado Bomberos-4_impreso — Trucks were burned on the highways and fire crews attacked following the arrest of three alleged members of the Santa Rosa de Lima cartel. (Diego Costa/Cuartoscuro)

Shootouts and narco-blockades using burning vehicles rocked the city of Celaya, Guanajuato on Sunday, following the arrest of three suspected members of the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel (CSRL).

The arrests took place in the Laja-Bajío district on the outskirts of Celaya, during patrols by the Guanajuato Public Security Ministry (SSP). According to a ministry press release, a group of armed men in an SUV opened fire on a routine patrol, sparking a chase. Firearms, drugs and ammunition were also seized during the arrests.

Cartels blocked major roads with burning vehicles. (Dali MX/X)

Although the press release did not name the armed group involved, unofficial reports indicate that detainees included ‘El Monedas,’ a leading member of the CSRL.

Immediately after the arrests, armed clashes broke out in the communities of Santa Rosa de Lima, Pozas and San José de las Maravillas. On the Celaya-Juventino Rosas state highway, armed criminals hijacked civilian vehicles and set at least two on fire, blocking the road, as well as laying spikes to burst car tires.

Over the following hours, several cars, buses and cargo trucks were hijacked across urban Celaya and the surrounding municipalities of Juventino Rosas and Cortazar. Burning vehicles were reported on the road to San José de Guanajuato; the Celaya-Salamanca Pan-American Highway; the Cortazar-Salvatierra Highway; the Cortazar-Jaral del Progreso highway; and the Celaya-Apaseo el Grande section of the Pan-American Highway.

City firefighters attended seven vehicle fires in the communities of Plancarte, San Isidro de Trojes, Crespo 2nd District, López Portillo and Los Mezquites in Celaya, and on the Pan-American Highway. On the corner of Mutualismo and Constituyentes avenues, criminals opened fire on members of the Celaya Fire Department who were rushing to extinguish a blaze, killing firefighter Felipe Jiménez Sánchez.

Firefighter Felipe Jiménez was reportedly shot dead as he attended a burning vehicle in Celaya. (Alejandro Sánchez/X)

Despite the chaos, the SSP insisted on Sunday evening that they had managed to regain control of the situation and reopen the highways. Authorities have also deployed intensive ground and air patrols to reinforce security.

Local media continue to speculate about the identities of the three detainees. Some have claimed that the captured ‘El Monedas’ is the son or brother of José Antonio Yépez Ortiz, alias ‘El Marro,’ who led the CSRL until his arrest in August 2020.

Once a powerful oil-theft gang, the CSRL has steadily weakened over recent years, both before and after the capture of “El Marro.” However, it continues to operate in the Villagrán, Juventino Rosas, Cortazar, Apaseo el Grande and Celaya municipalities of Guanajuato, where its conflict with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) drives high levels of violence.

With reports from El Financiero and Infobae

Best vegan shopping tips from a vegan Mexican chef

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Montserrat Castro

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January 8, 2024

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anna-pelzer-IGfIGP5ONV0-unsplash — A short, fun list of tips to shop vegan in Mexico/brands to keep an eye out for. (Unsplash)

Following a plant-based diet outside your comfort zone might be difficult. Sofia Toraño, Mexican vegan chef, gave Mexico News Daily her favorite tips for shopping vegan in Mexico. “It’s less complicated if you think about what you can eat, as opposed to what you can’t eat,” is Sofía’s rule.

Remember that pre-Columbian Mexican food was plant-based, with an incredibly rich diversity of plants, grains, seeds, and nuts. Since 2010, the cuisine in the country has been recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage to Humanity.

Lentil omelet. (@plantasiacafe/Instagram)

Fungi and vegetables like corn, nopales, and tomatoes can be found in most traditional Mexican cuisine dishes. Some traditional dishes and garnishes that are originally 100% plant-based include:

Most salsas of any color and texture, including mole
Chilaquiles
Rice and beans
Horchata
Nopal salad
Stuffed chiles
Quesadillas with no cheese (as found in Mexico City)

Make the most out of local markets and stores, where you can always find fresh fruits and vegetables of great quality. Grocery shopping in Mexico is extremely accessible and cheap — especially in big cities, where it’s the norm to have a grocery store or market within walking distance from your home. Having these makes vegan shopping much more amiable, according to Sofía.

“When I became a vegan — which happens to most people who switch into a plant-based diet — I encountered a whole world I didn’t know existed. You find more vegetables than you used to eat, and once you start treating them like the main protagonist of your diet, a whole world of possibilities opens up before you, and you make the most out of all the flavors, colors, and textures available in plants,” she reveals.

Mushrooms and other fungi are great for replacing textures and can be cooked in an infinite amount of ways. (@wearelosloosers/Instagram)

Ingredient Staples:

Chickpeas, beans and lentils: Your base. These foods are high in protein, iron, and other minerals.

Fungi: In Mexico, there are around 200 species of edible fungi. Sofia thinks they are the “future” of sustainable nutrition. They need very little dirt and resources to grow and are extremely nutritious, delicious, and versatile. Mushrooms and other fungi are great for replacing textures and can be cooked in an infinite amount of ways (vapor, sealed, boiled, baked, etc). They are also part of Mexico’s pre-Hispanic heritage and a staple in both vegan and non-vegan Mexican cuisine.

Tofu: It can be found anywhere and in all its variety of textures and displays. It’s made out of soy, is high in protein, and is very healthy. Different tofu textures can be used for different things, which comes in useful when using it to replace animal foods.

Nooch (nutritional yeast): Don’t be set off by its name: Nutritional yeast is an inactive yeast that comes out of different fermented plants, like corn. It has a cheesy quality to it and is a delicious condiment that adds flavor and texture to any dish.

Brands to look out for in your grocery stores:

Tofutti: Great sour cream and cream cheese.
Goodcatch: Pre-prepared vegan seafood packages, such as salmon burgers and fish fingers.
Vio Life & Q Veggie: Great plant-based cheese brands.
Heura: Spanish meat substitutes, such as chicken and sausages made out of soy.

Read labels carefully. Keep in mind that animal products are still used as stabilizers, conservatives, thickeners, etc. in plenty of Mexican processed foods. A lot of the time they are hidden and used in non-intuitive places. For example:

Grenetina, gelatine: a protein extracted from animal bones.
- Substitute: ‘Agar-agar,’ a gelling agent made out of red algae.
Albúmina: a protein that can be found in egg whites and milk and is a word uncommonly used to refer to egg whites in products.

Keep an eye out for our next article on Sofia’s favorite quick vegan recipes, using these ingredients and tips.

If you live in or visit Mexico City, visit her favorite vegan restaurants:

Paxil Seafood: A small street food stand serving vegan seafood. @paxil.plantbasedseafood Colonia Roma Norte.

Plantasia: Plant-based dishes inspired by oriental flavors from Japan, China, Thailand and Indonesia. @plantasiacafe Colonia Roma Norte.

Los Loosers: The first mushroom-forward, plant-based restaurant in Mexico. Since 2011. @wearelosloosers Colonia Roma Norte.

Vegan Ramen Mei: Plant-based ramen. @veganramenmei Condesa.

Miga Vegana: Vegan sourdough bakery. @miga.vegana Roma Sur.

Goys Burgers: Plant-based burgers. Can also be found in Guadalajara. @goysburgers Polanco, Hipódromo Condesa, and Nápoles.

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

6 dead, 13 injured after gunmen open fire at Guerrero cockfight

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MND Staff

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January 8, 2024

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Pelea de Gallos-3.jpg — The massacre took place during a cockfight in the coastal town of Petatlán.(Diego Simón Sánchez/Cuartoscuro)

Gunmen killed six people and wounded 13 others when they opened fire at a cockfight in Guerrero on Saturday night, state authorities said.

Presumed members of one criminal group attacked alleged members of another at a cockpit in the coastal municipality of Petatlán, according to a statement issued Sunday by the Guerrero Attorney General’s Office (FGE).

Footage of the scene showed the extent of the gruesome massacre. (Screen capture)

The number of fatalities and injuries were revised from an initial report of five deaths and at least 20 people wounded.

Citing initial investigations, the FGE said that presumed members of a criminal group led by a “generator of violence” identified as “El Gavilán” (The Sparrowhawk) fired at members of a crime gang led by “El Ruso de Petatlán” (The Russian of Petatlán).

It said that the two groups are involved in a turf war for control of the Costa Grande region of Guerrero. Reports suggest that the two groups are in fact factions of the same criminal organization.

El Gavilán is Edilberto Bravo Barragán, a former leader of the Knights Templar Cartel who formed a criminal group called Guardia Guerrerense, according to a report by the news outlet Infobae.

Petatlán, on the Guerrero coast between Zihuatanejo and Acapulco, has been the site of recent conflict between cartels. (Soy Zanca)

El Ruso is Oliver Sánchez Coria, identified as Bravo’s brother in law, Infobae said. He was reported as dead in May 2022, apparently as the result of a gunshot wound he received at a clandestine cockfight in Zihuatanejo. However, it was subsequently reported that he wasn’t the man who died.

Citing “unofficial versions” of events, Infobae said that the feud between El Gavilán and El Ruso is related to their desire to gain absolute control over the Guardia Guerrerense, which is reportedly an ally of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

The FGE said that an investigation would continue until there is “total clarification” regarding what happened at the Petatlán cockpit and the perpetrators of the crime have been brought to justice.

It has been a violent start to the year in Guerrero, which recorded the seventh highest number of homicides among Mexico’s 32 federal entities in the first 11 months of last year.

At least five people were killed in an attack in the municipality of Heliodoro Castillo last Thursday, while three sisters were murdered in Chilapa on Saturday. Initial reports said that as many as 30 people were killed in Heliodoro Castillo, located in central Guerrero.

With reports from El País, Aristegui Noticias and Infobae

3 would-be political candidates murdered in first week of the year

By

MND Staff

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January 8, 2024

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The faces of three political candidates — David Rey González, Sergio Hueso and Alfredo Giovanni Lezama Barrera were all murdered last week in separate attacks. (Facebook/Gobierno de Cuautla)

Three men who were hoping to stand as candidates in municipal and state elections in June were murdered in separate incidents in three states in the first week of January.

Alfredo Giovanni Lezama Barrera, a councilor in Cuautla, Morelos, who aspired to become a National Action Party (PAN) deputy in the state Congress, was the first would-be political candidate to be murdered in 2024.

The 37-year-old was shot and killed by a lone gunman at a Cuautla gymnasium last Thursday.

His murder preceded the homicides of mayoral aspirants David Rey González, 54, and Sergio Hueso, 35, a day later on Jan. 5.

The Chiapas Attorney General’s Office reported that the former was found dead in Suchiate, a municipality on the southern border with Guatemala.

Rey González, president of a local landowners’ association who aspired to represent the PAN, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) and the Democratic Revolution Party (PRD) in the Suchiate mayoral election, had evidently been shot.

Sergio Hueso and Samuel García selfie — Sergio Hueso takes a selfie with Nuevo León politician Samuel García at a Citizens Movement rally in late November. (Sergio Hueso/Facebook)

Later on Friday, Hueso was shot dead in Armería, Colima, the municipality where he hoped to stand as the Citizens Movement party candidate in the June 2 mayoral election.

No arrests have been reported in any of the three cases. Another aspiring politician, Ricardo Taja, was murdered in Acapulco, Guerrero, on Dec. 21. He was hoping to represent the ruling Morena party in the lower house of federal Congress.

The murders of the three “pre-candidates” in the first week of the year came around five months before the June 2 elections, which will be the largest in Mexico’s history. Voters will elect over 19,000 people to federal, state and municipal positions.

In terms of homicides, the 2018 elections in which Andrés Manuel López Obrador won a landslide victory in the presidential race were the most violent in Mexican history with 48 candidates murdered. Scores of incumbent politicians were also murdered during the nine-month electoral period.

Writing in the newspaper Criterio Hidalgo, well-known journalist Eduardo Ruiz-Healy said that there is no doubt that “many politicians” and people close to them will be killed during the electoral period leading up to the June 2 elections.

“It remains to be seen whether the number of homicides and non-lethal aggressions will break the current record,” he wrote.

Xóchitl Gálvez, who will represent the PAN-PRI-PRD alliance Strength and Heart for Mexico at the presidential election, weighed in on last week’s murders at an event in Pachuca, Hidalgo, on Sunday.

Xóchitl Gálvez answers questions — Xóchitl Gálvez criticized the response of ruling party politicians to the killings. (Cuartoscuro)

“It’s serious and delicate that three opposition candidates have been murdered in recent days,” she said.

“… I’m going to tell the president that the opposition isn’t his enemy. What we want is a different country, a democratic country [where] it’s okay to think differently,” Gálvez said.

She claimed that her main rival for the presidency, ruling Morena party candidate Claudia Sheinbaum, “keeps quiet” and buries her head in the sand “like an ostrich” when “crimes against citizens and candidates occur.”

“She simply maintains that we’re fine, that the people are extremely happy, … when what we see is a bloodbath,” Gálvez said. “It’s a shame because I thought she was a woman with more guts.”

At an event in Mexico City on Sunday, Sheinbaum predicted a “peaceful election,” and said that the federal government is working to “deal with the insecurity problem” and would continue to do so.

Homicides declined in the first 11 months of 2023 compared to the same period of 2022, but murder numbers remained high at over 27,000.

With reports from Radio Fórmula, Proceso, La Jornada and El Universal

How many people have traveled on the Maya Train so far?

By

MND Staff

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January 8, 2024

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Maya train passengers — The Maya Train has served more than 15,000 passengers during the first three weeks of service, although some sections of the railroad are not yet complete. (Tren Maya/X)

The new Maya Train has transported over 15,000 passengers, the majority Mexican nationals, in its first three weeks of service.

According to director Óscar David Lozano Águila, the Palenque to Cancún line has so far made 144 trips, transporting 15,579 people since opening to the public on Dec. 16.

Maya Train tests in Campeche — The Maya Train, one of Mexico’s largest infrastructure projects in years, is finally transporting passengers around the south of the country. (Cuartoscuro)

The 1,554-kilometer-long railroad, which is designed to serve both tourists and residents in the southern states of Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche, Yucatán and Quintana Roo, has been inaugurated in stages. An initial 14 stations went into service on Dec. 16, with eight more stations opening on Dec. 31. The entire railroad and its 34 stations are expected to be operational by Feb. 29.

The round-trip routes with the highest demand are Campeche to Cancún and Campeche to Merida-Teya.

The Maya Train is one of President Andrés Manuel López Óbrador’s most important public works, as his administration seeks to revive passenger train service across the country.

Despite criticism from local groups over its environmental and cultural impact, passenger data reveals that 4,824 tickets were sold to local residents from Dec. 16 to Jan. 5, with 8,368 tickets sold to national tourists. Only 401 international tourist tickets were sold during this time period.

Tren Maya Tsimin K'aa station — Reviews for the new service have been mixed in its first weeks of operation, but President López Obrador has said that glitches are being resolved. (Mara Lezama/X)

Passengers have shared a range of reviews during the Maya Train’s first weeks of operation, celebrating the achievement and lamenting onboard menu mishaps and delays of up to five hours.

During his Friday morning press conference AMLO recognized that his flagship projects are still facing some obstacles to their optimal operation. “We are making sure that the Train, like the Mexicana airplanes, leaves on time, that it arrives on time, that it does not fail in any way,” the president said.

The president also stressed that the units used for the Maya Train are new, so “the technicians are there trying to make sure they don’t fail.”

“Everything will be corrected – that is the thing about starting ahead of time — it gives us time to get things right,” he added.

Once fully operational, the Maya Train expects to serve up to three million passengers annually.

With reports from El Financiero, Aristegui and El Diario

Got 1 min? Which Mexican city is on CNN’s best places to visit in 2024?

By

MND Staff

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January 8, 2024

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Merida — Mérida made the list thanks to its colonial charm and world-class cuisine. (Like Where You're Going)

A two-time winner of the American Capital of Culture award and winner of the Best Small City in the World recognition by Condé Nast magazine, Mérida is now included on CNN’s list “Where to go in 2024: The Best Places to Visit.”

It is the only Mexican destination included on the list.

Park in Mérida — Mérida boasts some of the best examples of early Spanish architecture in the Americas. (Martín Zetina/Cuartoscuro)

Known as the “White City” due to the predominance of white limestone in its historical buildings, Mérida in inland Yucatán is an “unexpected urban treat,” says CNN, in a state known for its sunny pristine beaches.

Founded in 1542 by Francisco de Montejo “el Mozo,” Mérida was built on the ruins of the ancient Maya city T’hó.

Considered one of the safest cities in Mexico, Mérida has a population of over 900,000 people today and is a modern, cosmopolitan destination with restaurants, shops, museums, art galleries and a wealth of historical buildings. Landmarks include the Cathedral of San Ildefonso — the oldest cathedral in Mexico and one of the oldest in the Americas — and the Paseo Montejo, “lined with historic mansions, museums, art galleries and local vendors,” CNN describes.

Located in the heart of the Yucatán Peninsula, the city is in close proximity to Maya ruins such as the ancient cities of Uxmal and Chichén Itzá, cenotes, and white sand beaches like Progreso, Pig Beach and Celestún (famous for its flamingo population).

The “White City” is also recognized for its cuisine, offering a varied array of regional dishes including the famous pork specialty, cochinita pibil (included on the TasteAtlas list of world’s best traditional dishes), sopa de lima (lime soup) and panuchos (fried tortillas stuffed with beans and topped with meat and vegetables).

“It is evident that Yucatán is currently witnessing a historic moment in terms of tourism,” the Yucatán government said in a statement acknowledging CNN’s list, noting that while 2022 was a record-breaking year for Yucatán, it “is likely that 2023 will break that record.”

Mexico News Daily

Swimming with whale sharks near Los Cabos

By

Chris Sands

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January 8, 2024

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Captura de pantalla 2024-01-08 142604 — Whale sharks can be as much as six to seven times the length of an average human up to 40 feet long. (Cabo Adventures)

Whale sharks, as their name suggests, are big. Enormous, really. Adults sometimes weigh as much as 60,000 pounds, and even those on the smaller side can weigh 20 tons or more. That’s almost as big as the humpbacks and gray whales that draw visitors to Los Cabos, Mexico each winter. But whale sharks aren’t whales. Despite the name, they’re the world’s largest species of fish. But yes, they’re sharks, too, with terrifying mouths that measure six feet wide and contain over 3,000 teeth.

Fortunately for the visitors who travel to La Paz, it’s only two hours by car from Los Cabos, to swim with them. And since whale sharks are filter-feeding plankton eaters, it’s perfectly safe to get up close and personal with these gentle giants, despite their gaping maws and endless rows of tiny teeth.

Whale watching season runs from mid-December through mid-April. (Cabo Adventures)

Why is swimming with whale sharks such a special experience?

Whales and whale sharks are both premier wintertime attractions in Baja California Sur, but the ways you can experience these aquatic animals varies significantly. Whales are viewed from boats, and because of legal restrictions tourists are unlikely to get within 200 feet of them. It’s still close enough to be awed by the size of these leviathans, but it doesn’t compare to the closeness you get with whale shark tours. The latter take place in the water, with small groups able to enjoy close encounters with these massive fish off the tip of the El Mogote peninsula in La Paz. This is one of only two areas in México where swimming with whale sharks is possible, the other being the Yucatán Peninsula.

It’s an amazing opportunity to get up close with one of the world’s largest creatures, and because whale sharks swim at the snail-like pace of around three miles per hour, side-by-side swims with them for extended periods are possible. The experience is often a humbling one, as whale sharks can be as much as six to seven times the length of an average human up to 40 feet long. But it’s also magical, and for most a once-in-a-lifetime adventure — although because whale sharks are capable of living for up to 100 years, it’s remotely possible that return visitors could see the same whale sharks on multiple occasions. Telling them apart takes a bit of practice, of course, but whale sharks’ spotting patterns are as unique as fingerprints.

When is whale shark season in La Paz?

The seasonal timeframes for whale and whale shark viewing are nearly the same, although whale shark season lasts a bit longer, running from October through May. Whale watching season, by comparison, runs from mid-December through mid-April. Still, there is enough overlap — four months in total — that tourists can easily plan to experience both bucket list experiences during the same trip.

The absolute best time for swimming with whale sharks is during the early part of the season, from October to February, as this is peak feeding period for the whale sharks. However, it bears noting that whale sharks are an endangered species, and if they aren’t present in sufficient numbers, tours may be suspended. It’s a rare occurrence, but it has happened, most recently in February 2023.

It is a unique opportunity to take amazing pictures. (Cabo Adventures)

Whale sharks don’t just visit Baja Sur to feed, however: they also come to breed. The Bay of La Paz is considered both a nursery and sanctuary for whale sharks, with over 500 individuals identified in the seasonal population since 2001. Where are they when they aren’t in La Paz? It’s a difficult question to answer, as the breeding and migratory patterns of whale sharks aren’t fully understood. But scientists know that they travel large distances. In 2011, for example, a female whale shark was tracked over 12,000 miles round-trip, from Central America to the Mariana Trench in the western Pacific. Previous studies have also traced whale shark migration from Mexico to the Marshall Islands.

Are there legal restrictions on swimming with whale sharks?

As with whale watching tours, there are regulations in place to ensure the safety of both tourists and the whale sharks themselves. These rules impact everything from boat sizes — no vessel over 36 feet — to the size of small groups for swim tours — 5 people max. Once in the water, there’s also a minimum distance that must be maintained with the whale sharks. No, you’re not permitted to touch them, and they’re unlikely to even acknowledge your presence. But swimmers can get quite close, so long as they maintain a safe six-foot distance from the whale shark’s head and ten feet from its tail.

Is it possible to swim with whale sharks in Los Cabos?

While it’s impossible to swim with whale sharks in Los Cabos’ waters, it’s quite easy to arrange round-trip transportation to La Paz with local activities companies. It’s about a two-hour drive each way, with the better Los Cabos adventure companies providing door-to-door service from resorts or a central meeting point. Cabo Adventures, for example, ferries tourists in comfort via Mercedes Benz vans from its location overlooking the Cabo San Lucas Marina. Given the transportation time, it’s a full-day experience, but lunch and snacks are provided, as are snorkeling equipment and professional photographers.

The latter is an important factor when booking whale shark tours from Los Cabos, as those swimming with whale sharks are not permitted to take photos with flashes, which can frighten the whale sharks. They also don’t like air bubbles, so scuba diving is likewise not an option. Boat tours are available, however, for those spending time in La Paz, either as a primary vacation destination or as a side trip from Los Cabos. Catamarans and other vessels will take visitors to the swim site in the Bay of La Paz, often with other amenities like food and drinks included with the snorkel gear.

How much do whale shark tours cost?

Given the travel involved and the full-day nature of whale shark tours originating in Los Cabos, these are among the most expensive seasonal activity options. Tours typically cost upwards of $200, with slightly lower prices available for kids.

Chris Sands is the Cabo San Lucas local expert for the USA Today travel website 10 Best, writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook, and a contributor to numerous websites and publications, including Tasting Table, Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, Forbes Travel Guide, Porthole Cruise, Cabo Living and Mexico News Daily. His specialty is travel-related content and lifestyle features focused on food, wine and golf.

Will Mexico’s Colmena robots make it to the moon? Peregrine’s motor trouble imperils mission

By

MND Staff

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January 8, 2024

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A rocket blasts off at night — The Peregrine moon lander successfully lifted off in Florida just after 2 a.m. local time, before suffering a "critical" fuel leak. (Nasa.gov)

A mission to the moon including five tiny Mexican robots was in jeopardy Monday after a privately built lunar lander developed a “critical” fuel leak just hours after a predawn launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

A “failure within the propulsion system” was threatening Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic Technology’s bid to make the first U.S. soft landing on the moon since the final Apollo landing in 1972.

Mexico is sending microbots to the moon, as part of NASA’s Artemis program. (UNAM/Cuartoscuro)

The problem arose about seven hours after Monday’s 2:18 a.m. EDT launch from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The liftoff of the Peregrine lander occurred via a new Vulcan rocket built by the United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin, and a successful separation followed shortly thereafter.

At first, Astrobotic said, Peregrine was unable to point its solar panel toward the sun to collect battery power.

About three hours later, Astrobotic posted on the social media site X that it had “successfully re-established communications” and that “the team’s improvised maneuver was successful in reorienting Peregrine’s solar array towards the Sun. We are now charging the battery.”

However, minutes later, Astrobotic issued another update: “Unfortunately, it appears the failure within the propulsion system is causing a critical loss of propellant. The team is working to try and stabilize this loss, but given the situation, we have prioritized maximizing the science and data we can capture. We are currently assessing what alternative mission profiles may be feasible at this time.”

A cylindrical space ship burns through the sky in space — The lander suffered a propulsion issue right after it separated from the rocket that blasted it into orbit. (Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares UNAM/X)

Peregrine’s touchdown around Feb. 23 was to mark the first-ever lunar landing by a private company. Only the United States, Russia, China and India have landed spacecraft on the lunar surface, and only the U.S. (five times) has put humans there.

Peregrine was the first private U.S. spacecraft to be launched as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program. It is carrying about 20 NASA and commercial payloads.

Included among that are five microbots created by a team of Mexican scientists and nearly 250 university students. They were developed in the Space Instrumentation Laboratory of the Institute of Nuclear Sciences (LINX-ICN), part of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).

“We have ‘our souls hanging by a thread’ because the ship #Peregrine, operated by the company #Astrobotic, appears to have a problem with a motor, which is now being attended to,” the UNAM’s Institute of Nuclear Sciences said in a Facebook post around 2 p.m. Central Standard Time (CST).

The Mexican microbots each weigh about 60 grams and are 12 centimeters in diameter — a tad smaller than a standard saucer for a coffee cup.

Once on the moon’s surface, the bots were to recognize one another, connect electronically and then assemble a panel that can generate energy. As per what the UNAM gazette reported in 2022, the robots would have then begun taking measurements that have never been taken before, including lunar plasma temperature and the size of particles floating just above the moon’s dusty surface.

The project, under the direction of the Mexican Space Agency (AEM), was dubbed “Colmena,” which means beehive in Spanish.

It is part of Mexico’s participation in the Artemis program, led by NASA in conjunction with six other space agencies around the globe. Formalized in late 2022, Artemis also includes emerging space programs in countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Brazil and Mexico.

With reports from AP and Reuters