Governor Rubén Rocha said that all areas of the state where violence is occurring are a "priority" for his government, particularly the city of Culiacán. (José Betanzos/Cuartoscuro)
The violent fallout from the arrest of alleged Sinaloa Cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada García continues.
A soldier was killed and two other people were found dead in Culiacán, Sinaloa, on Monday morning, authorities said.
Five men were found murdered on a street in southern Culiacán on Sunday morning. (José Betanzos/Cuartoscuro)
The deaths came after at least 36 people were killed and more than 30 were abducted in Culiacán and nearby municipalities in the seven days to Sunday. Seventeen of those killings occurred on Saturday and Sunday. Three armed men were killed in a shootout with soldiers on Saturday.
Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya told reporters that a soldier was killed Monday morning in a clash with armed men in the La Campiña neighborhood of the state capital.
The state Security Ministry said on social media shortly after 7 a.m. that it had received reports of gunfire in La Campiña.
“It’s an attack on military personnel by armed civilians,” the ministry said.
El Mayo has accused Guzmán López, an alleged Sinaloa Cartel leader and one of the sons of convicted drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera, of kidnapping him in Culiacán and forcing him onto a plane that delivered him into the hands of U.S. law enforcement authorities. He is currently in custody in New York, while Guzmán López is behind bars in Chicago.
The main cause of the recent violence in Culiacán is believed to be Sinaloa Cartel infighting between the “Los Chapos” and “Los Mayos” factions of the powerful criminal organization.
Sinaloa government targeted in cyberattack
“Cowards it would be better that you f*** off and don’t come back. More death is coming in Sinaloa.”
Those were the ominous words that appeared on the website of the Sinaloa Tax Administration Service (SATES) website on Sunday afternoon.
The message was signed “Nuevo Virus,” or New Virus.
Durante algunos minutos, la página web del Sates y del Cobaes fueron hackeadas y colocaron un mensaje en contra del Gobernador Rubén Rocha Moya; el hackeo fue confirmado por el Gobierno de #Sinaloa
👉https://t.co/Y8nEWLssx5pic.twitter.com/XINZZfVGrD
A similar message specifically directed at Governor Rocha appeared on the website of a state government school, the Colegio de Bachilleres del Estado de Sinaloa (Cobaes).
“Governor Rocha Moya. Here is not the land of cowards. It would be better that you f*** off and don’t come back. More death is coming in Sinaloa,” the message read.
Both the SATES and Cobaes websites couldn’t be reached when Mexico News Daily attempted to view them on early Monday afternoon.
The social communication department of the Sinaloa government said that the cyberattacks were detected “immediately” on Sunday, security systems were activated and the situation was brought under control in “approximately 10 minutes.”
Rocha, a representative of Mexico’s ruling Morena party, was asked on Monday whether the threats posted online came from a criminal group.
“It could be from anyone,” he said.
“It could be from [political] opponents who are taking advantage of the situation politically,” the governor said.
Rocha said he hadn’t increased his personal security detail in light of the threat, but revealed that he had asked the federal government for additional support to confront the high levels of violence in Sinaloa.
“It would be better that we had a little bit more support — I already requested it from the federal government,” he said, adding that he specifically asked for more planes to assist the fight against crime.
As Mexico and the world turn a new page, what's in store for 2025? (Cuartoscuro)
Take a visual tour of Mexico’s celebrations of Independence Day around the country — from the Mexico City zócalo to the border with the U.S. in Tijuana.
Mexico City
Thousands gathered on Sunday for President López Obrador’s final “Grito de Independencia” as president in Mexico City. (Cuartoscuro)The zócalo or main square in Mexico City’s historic center was lit up with fireworks and lighting displays on Sunday night. (Cuartoscuro)
San Bartolomé Quialana, Oaxaca
In San Bartolomé Quialana, Oaxaca, an Indigenous Zapotec community, a parade is held every year to celebrate Mexico’s Independence Day. (Cuartoscuro)
Tijuana, Baja California
On the morning of Sept. 15, the “binational race” was held in honor of Mexico’s Independence Day, a half-marathon starting on the U.S. side of the border in San Diego and ending on the beach in Tijuana. (OMAR MARTÍNEZ/ CUARTOSCURO.COM)
Toluca, México state
A crowd gathered to watch the “Grito de Independencia” in the capital city of México state, Toluca, on Sunday night. (Cuartoscuro)
Zacatecas, Zacatecas
A crowd watches the fireworks display to celebrate Mexico’s Independence Day in the city of Zacatecas. (Cuartoscuro)
Canelo Álvarez is 11-2-1 against previously undefeated opponents.
(@premierboxing/X)
Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez has now gone six straight fights without knocking anyone out, but the Guadalajara native showed he’s still one of the best in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
With a packed T-Mobile Arena decked out in green, red and white and rollicking with excitement on Mexico’s Independence Day weekend, the 34-year-old Álvarez dominated a younger Edgar Berlanga to retain his three super-middleweight championship belts.
“It’s an honor for me to represent my country and my people on Mexico’s Independence Day,” Canelo said. (@premierboxing/X)
Álvarez looked like he might have ended the fight when he sent Berlanga to the canvas with a sharp left hook to the chin in the third round. Although the 27-year-old got up and made it through all 12 rounds, he was unable to prevent Álvarez from improving his record to 62 wins, two losses and two ties.
Of the wins, 39 are by knockout, but none since a technical knockout (TKO) of Caleb Plant in November 2021.
Berlanga, born in New York and of Puerto Rican heritage, was handed his first loss and is now 22-1. Álvarez is 11-2-1 against previously undefeated opponents.
In the lead-up to the 168-pound confrontation, Berlanga stated that he’d be the first to knock out the Mexican — which the influential boxing magazine The Ring labeled “absurd” — while Álvarez himself promised he’d finish off Berlanga by knockout.
The highly pro-Álvarez crowd of 20,312 didn’t get to see either, but with their boxer in control, strutting around the ring with confidence, they certainly had a lot to cheer about.
Oftentimes, they were in a frenzy, shouting “Me-xi-co! Me-xi-co!” or “Ca-nel-o! Ca-nel-o!”
For a fifth straight time, Álvarez defended his super middleweight titles of the World Boxing Association (WBA), the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and the World Boxing Council (WBC). He was stripped of his International Boxing Federation (IBF) belt in July after opting to take on Berlanga rather than the IBF’s mandatory challenger, William Scull.
The three judges scored it 117-110, 118-109 and 118-109 in favor of Canelo, indicating the bout was not close.
Even though his height (5’7″) and reach (70½ inches) didn’t match up to Berlanga (6’1″ and 73 inches), Álvarez closed as a -1,600 favorite at the BetMGM Sportsbook — meaning a bettor would have had to wager US $1,600 on Álvarez to win just $100.
“I did well,” Álvarez said. “Before, they said I [only] fought older fighters. What are they going to say now? That I only fight young fighters? They always talk, but I’m the best fighter in the world.”
“It’s an honor for me to represent my country and my people on Mexico’s Independence Day,” he added. “I feel proud about it.”
The fight started off hot, with both men exchanging words and illegal blows.
“I admit I got a little angry with his tactics, but I’m Mexican, man” Canelo said. “My experience and my talent made the difference.”
Álvarez entered the ring to the sounds of the “Billete Grande,” a narcocorrido by Fuerza Regida that praises the Los Chapitos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel and “the street mafia” of Culiacán.
The fight was part of a huge night of combat sports in Sin City. Just three miles down Las Vegas Boulevard, the Sphere hosted its first Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event. The immersive, high-tech venue allowed for an array of amazing Mexican–themed video presentations, such as a tribute to Mexican independence and an ode to the Day of the Dead.
Álvarez’s next fight, which will likely take place around Cinco de Mayo again,will be against an opponent to be determined.
“I’m gonna rest, I’m gonna enjoy my family and then we’re gonna decide,” he said.
The Melipona honey bee is a natural, stingless, wonder. While they are endangered in modern Mexico, traditional Mayan beekeepers still maintain dozens of hives. (All photos by Bel Woodhouse)
Okay, I’m geeking out hard right now. Why? Because I think I’ve fallen in love. I am learning about my local stingless bees and stingless bee honey. Are stingless bees real? Yes, stingless bees are real. Of the 46 species in Mexico, 16 are found in Yucatán, where I live. Isn’t that amazing? Melipona beekeeping is a way of life here and the history of the craft goes back centuries.
“Yucatán is one of the most biodiverse stingless bee areas worldwide.” Russell, the beekeeper at the Mayan Bee Sanctuary, told me. This has opened up a whole new world for me. It is a fascinating world of healing jungle honey with potent medicinal properties. And melipona honey is used for beauty treatments too.
A guardian Melipona bee in a natural hive. The stingless bees have fertilized the plants of the Yucatán peninsula for centuries.
This is all thanks to the small but mighty Melipona. Or should I say, the Royal Lady Bee, named after her namesake, Xunan Kab — the Maya goddess of Meliponas, bees, and honey. See why my inner nature nerd is loving this little bee?
Why do I want a hive?
Talking with Russell, the head beekeeper at the Mayan Bee Sanctuary, and learning about the tiny but mighty Melipona beechii’s race against extinction stole my heart. Plus, they are very relaxed, docile, and stingless. This means no harm to myself or my pets, so it’s about as perfect as it gets, in my eyes.
Something you should know about me — I’m a culture vulture, a nature nerd, and a Batty Botanist. I love learning about the environment around me. Ever since moving to the Riviera Maya seven years ago, I’ve been fascinated with Maya culture. But learning about the special relationship between Maya and Melipona is hands down my favorite thing so far.
My other big loves are natural history, conservation, and preservation of native flora and fauna. So, learning about the history of meliponas in the region is delightful. I’m also passionate about natural treatments and holistic living harmoniously within an environment. A passion that the ancient Maya and their modern-day descendants share.
That’s why I want a hive, or two, or three. Meliponas are the perfect starter bee for this budding beekeeper!
Are Melipona bees endangered?
Yes, their numbers are dwindling at an alarming rate. Back at the height of the Maya civilization, there was evidence of beekeeping with thousands of hives. The Maya, it’s estimated, kept as many as 2,000 hives each at the time. Nowadays, most beekeepers keep less than a dozen hives.
The Mayan Bee Sanctuary offers visitors the chance to experience these amazing creatures in the wild.
Because these little bees only produce a couple of liters of honey annually. In comparison, the European honey bee produces up to 30 liters. So, the popularity of the Apis bee species in Mexico has swung in favor of the greater producers.
There is a big difference in the honey as well. Mayas have been using this concentrated jungle honey as medicine for thousands of years. That’s another great reason I want a hive. And to learn how to keep them the Maya way.
A natural way within the environment so the bees are happiest. Placing the hive in consideration of the cardinal points North, East, South, and West for optimal honey production. Placed correctly, the hives can last decades, if not centuries.
Where do stingless bees live?
The inside of a jobon hive.
In a hollowed-out log or tree, stingless bees build their hives, called jobon. Russell says “a steady temperature is one of the most essential things when keeping a jobon healthy,” so the wood has to be over an inch thick. But you can also keep them in a box, making harvesting the honey easier.
So natural log jobon for tradition, or a box for convenience? That is the question. Which would you choose? I’m leaning towards a jobon. Because I like the natural look of a log. Plus, I can always use a large syringe to extract the precious healing honey from those fat little pots inside.
Stingless bee honey.
I learnt that for optimal stingless bee honey production you need to create the right environment. Russell kindly shared a guide to keeping meliponas the traditional Maya way. So far, here’s what I’ve learned.
The most important thing is flowers. Meliponas need tropical flowers. Without them, the hive will perish. Once you have a flower-rich environment, place a hive taking into consideration:
Location
Orientation
Protection
Roof
Shelves – Materials and height from the floor for temperature control.
Maya take Meliponas to the next level.
According to the Maya, the cardinal points North, East, West and South all need to be taken into consideration in locating a hive. Each direction represents something vital to the bees.
The Maya cared for Melipona hives long before the arrival of the Spanish. (Asheville Sister Cities)
North is the place where the bees went to collect resins.
East is the place where the honey originated;
South was the place where the bees gathered to collect pollen.
And the West indicated the place where the brood comes from.
This idea intrigues me. Thankfully, Russell explained the meanings. To pick the right place it needs shade so they don’t overheat. Thick walls to help them thermoregulate the hive. Lastly, place the entrance facing East, towards the sunrise.
“Facing the sunrise, they will produce more honey. They wake early and leave as the sun rises because they need to see it’s clear before they start work.”
So, when am I getting my hive?
Well, I still need a bit more education first. Russell says “To start keeping these bees you need knowledge.” It is the key to the survival of the hive. So, watch YouTube videos, join groups, talk to beekeepers in other regions or even from other countries.
And that folks, is why I’m geeking out so hard right now. I’ve disappeared down the rabbit hole of Melipona stingless beekeeping. It’s wonderful and I’ll happily be ready to adopt the next hive that needs rescuing. Those magic little Meliponas can come and live with me any day.
Mexico Correspondent for International Living, Bel is an experienced writer, author, photographer and videographer with 500+ articles published both in print and across digital platforms. Living in the Mexican Caribbean for over 7 years now she’s in love with Mexico and has no plans to go anywhere anytime soon.
On-site taxi companies are available for curb-side pickup at Mexico City International Airport. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)
The Mexico City International Airport (AICM) announced new restrictions on the use of ridesharing applications at its two terminals last week, prompting frustrated responses from travelers.
On Wednesday, the AICM posted a brief message on X announcing that ridesharing apps like Uber, Cabify and Didi could no longer pick up passengers within the terminal grounds.
The response from the public was swift and negative, even as airport officials insisted the decision would improve security and traffic flow within the terminal.
While some criticized the inconvenience of the change, or expressed security concerns, others complained about the high prices and inefficiency of on-site taxi companies.
Among the responses:
“You really think we are going to walk such a long distance with suitcases while also risking getting mugged?”
“This is the service and security you are offering?”
“If you’d like, maybe I should just walk all the way home.”
One TV news reporter covered the announcement by posing the question “Should I kiss the Uber driver when I get in?” (to make the authorities think it’s a family member picking someone up).
Uber also demanded that the airport respect the injunction and called on the authorities to respect the rights of tourists to choose the transportation options they prefer.
The AICM did not respond to Uber’s claim but it did announce hefty penalties for ridesharing vehicles that violate the new restrictions.
Fines could range from 43,440 pesos (US $2,254) to 130,320 pesos (US $6,762) and offending vehicles could be impounded, adding additional costs for ridesharing companies that violate the new rule.
For its part, Didi said it was willing to adhere to the new rule, according to a statement posted by journalist Pamela Cerdeira.
“At Didi, we are always open to collaborating with authorities, taxi groups and private drivers to ensure that airport users in the country have different mobility alternatives. We are convinced that joint and coordinated action will make a difference and contribute to the creation of a better environment for everyone.”
Former President López Obrador signed the judicial reform bill into law shortly before leaving office, despite a judicial injunction. (Lopezobrador.org.mx)
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador on Sunday promulgated the federal government’s judicial reform, setting the stage for thousands of judges, including all Supreme Court justices, to be elected by Mexican citizens starting next year.
Mexico City lawmakers celebrating their legislature’s ratification of President López Obrador’s judicial reform bill after it passed in the federal Congress. (Andrea Murcia Monsivaís/Cuartoscuro)
In a video posted to social media, the president, seated alongside President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum, said he was signing the reform into law “with the intent of improving the judicial power because we need justice to get to everyone.”
Among the other aims of the reform, he said, are to eliminate corruption in the judiciary and for judges, magistrates and Supreme Court justices to apply the law equally to all.
“We should have an authentic, a true rule of law, not a crooked one,” said López Obrador, who asserts that many judges are corrupt and has been angered by court decisions handed down against his government’s projects and policies.
“The simulation must end because it was said we lived in a democracy but we didn’t. An oligarchy dominated. Those right at the top were the ones who were in charge, a minority with the facade of democracy,” he said.
Claudia Sheinbaum has expressed full support for President López Obrador’s constitutional reforms. (Cuartoscuro)
“There was simulation. Now it’s different, now it’s the people who rule, the people who decide,” López Obrador said.
He described Sunday — the eve of Mexico’s Independence Day — as an “historic day,” considering the publication of the judicial reform decree in the government’s gazette.
Sheinbaum, the president’s “witness of honor,” applauded the president after he uttered three words — “voy a firmar,” or “I’m going to sign” the decree.
She will be sworn in as Mexico’s first female president on Oct. 1, and will immediately have immense power as a coalition led by the ruling Morena party has a supermajority in the lower house of Congress and a near-supermajority in the Senate.
Under the reform, all federal judges including the Supreme Court justices (seen here) will be elected from a pre-selected pool of candidates. (SCJN)
The president promulgated the judicial reform despite a court in Colima ruling against its publication in the government’s gazette.
Morena Senator Ernestina Godoy, who will serve as legal counsel to Sheinbaum, asserted Friday that the court order was not valid given that two-thirds of lawmakers in both houses of Congress had approved the judicial reform.
“One power can’t do that to another power,” she said.
The most controversial aspect of the judicial reform is the provision to allow citizens to directly elect all members of the judiciary, including Supreme Court justices and other federal judges.
In accordance with the reform, thousands of judges — approximately half of the nation’s judiciary — will be elected in “extraordinary elections” on June 1, 2025. Another round of elections will be held in 2027 at the same time midterm congressional elections take place.
The judicial reform bill has generated controversy and protests around the country for weeks. (Cuartoscuro)
The National Electoral Institute will be responsible for organizing the judicial elections.
Critics of the judicial reform argue that judges sympathetic to Morena will come to dominate the judiciary as the president and the Congress will nominate candidates.
We all want a piece of the good life in Los Cabos - but how do you get it on a budget? (Los Cabos Tourism Board)
In recent years, Los Cabos has repositioned itself as a luxury destination, a process helped by a slew of newly opened properties from high-end hospitality brands. Not surprisingly, as the quality of available vacation experiences has risen, so have the attendant costs for visitors — including an average daily hotel room rate north of US $500. That’s not to say, however, that it’s not still possible to enjoy a budget friendly travel in Los Cabos. Some people still do. But it’s not as easy as it used to be.
The good news is that many of the best things about Los Cabos — the beaches, for instance — don’t cost a thing… unless you want the frills. A lounge chair in a roped-off area, for example, and a waiter to bring you seafood and margaritas. If that’s what you want, more power to you. It’s a vacation, after all. But implicit in the experience is deciding which things you’re willing to pay — or pay extra — for and which you’re not.
Art and culture might not be in short supply in Los Cabos, but many other activities can become expensive, and fast. (Los Cabos Tourism Board)
With that in mind, here are a few tips on spending less for your Los Cabos vacation. Finding budget-friendly airline fares is a good start. Southwest — which flies to Los Cabos from 10 U.S. cities — is one of several airlines that offer a low-fare calendar that allows you to shop for the best fares in any given month. The differences in prices are often striking and number in the hundreds of dollars.
But that’s a bonus tip. The real savings start when you decide where to stay.
Choose a reasonable hotel in an appropriate location
The location of your hotel or resort matters — a lot. The average daily room rate at resorts in the 20-mile-long Tourist Corridor in May was US $656. In San José del Cabo, for comparison’s sake, the average was US $383. In Cabo San Lucas, it was only US $316. If you surveyed accommodations only in the downtown area of Cabo San Lucas, that number would be even lower, as many of the best budget-friendly hotels are located there.
There are over a dozen budget-friendly inns and boutique hotels in downtown Cabo San Lucas where you can stay for less than US $200 per night — and a handful where you can find a room for under $100. Airbnb rentals offer even more options in the latter category, but hotels are usually a significant step up with amenities, service, and responsiveness.
For the best hotel rates, contact the properties directly. Third-party hotel booking sites lure you in with great rates, but by the time taxes and fees are added they’re seldom better than the ones the local hotel owners would happily provide.
Take advantage of free activities
Swimmable beaches are among Los Cabos’ best free attractions. (Los Cabos Tourism Board)
If there’s one thing Los Cabos has no shortage of, it’s beautiful, free beaches. No other municipality in Mexico has more blue-flag beaches — meaning they have been certified to meet certain standards for sustainability and services like informational signs, bathrooms and handicap access. Blue flag beaches don’t welcome pets outside of service animals, but they’re a great place to spend time.
They may be perfect not just for sunning, but swimming and snorkeling, too. However, a qualifier is necessary as not all Los Cabos are swim-friendly, and some on the Pacific Ocean are dangerous due to strong rip currents. As a guide, the following popular beaches are all swimmable: Lovers Beach and Playa El Médano in Cabo San Lucas; and Chileno, Santa María and Palmilla beaches in the Tourist Corridor. The middle two of these are also excellent snorkeling spots. So don’t forget to pack your mask and fins. Otherwise, you’ll have to rent them.
Sightseeing, of course, is likewise free, and museums are nearly so. Todos Santos and La Paz are wonderful in this regard, although you’ll need to rent a car or take a bus to get to these regional destinations. San José del Cabos is a better local option, particularly on Thursday evenings from November through June, when its lovely downtown area and historic Art District come alive for Art Walk. But its picturesque downtown area is worth visiting any day.
Don’t dine or drink in tourist traps
A good adage to remember regarding food and drinks is that the farther the establishments that serve them are from the ocean, the cheaper they will be. It’s not foolproof. There are exceptions. But generally speaking, the most popular — and expensive — bars and restaurants for tourists are on or near beaches and feature ocean views. It stands to reason, right? But you’re paying more for the great views because the bars and restaurants in these locations pay a lot more in rent.
The most popular — and expensive — bars and restaurants for tourists are on or near beaches and feature ocean views. (Los Cabos Tourism Board)
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t occasionally splurge on a great meal. It’s just a reminder that some of the most enjoyable food is found at taquerías and locals’ favorite restaurants — and these, for the reasons given above, are rarely located near the water. So where should you eat? In Cabo San Lucas, try chicken or ribs — or both via a combo meal — at Pollo del Oro, seafood at Las Tres Islas and fish tacos at Los Claros. Ask the nearest local if or when you ever exhaust your appetite for these reliable comfort food pleasures.
You’re in Mexico: Use pesos!
Everyone in Los Cabos will accept American dollars. However, that doesn’t mean you should use them as currency. Each local business establishes its own exchange rate to effect transactions, and guess what? If you use dollars, you’ll lose money every time.
Let’s say the actual exchange rate is 19 pesos to the dollar. But the restaurant where you’re dining has a posted rate of 18 to 1. It may not sound like much, but paying a few dollars extra for every meal adds up quickly. Use pesos exclusively. They’re best gotten at your bank before you even leave home.
Credit cards have similar issues since you’ll likely be charged for the conversion rate if you pay in pesos. And, as noted, if you pay in dollars you’re not getting the best value.
Much of Los Cabos accepts dollars, but you’ll get the most bang for your buck by paying in pesos. (Spanishandgo)
Avoid taxis and airport shuttles
It’s not just resort room rates that have been steadily rising. The price of everything in Los Cabos has gone up. For more than a decade, it was possible to get a shared airport shuttle for about US $20 per person. Now it’s skyrocketed to US $85 and up from Cabo San Lucas. Taxis, of course, have always been expensive in Los Cabos. So both are best avoided for those on a budget.
Except for walking, buses are invariably the most cost-effective way to get around Los Cabos. It bears noting there are several kinds of buses. Ruta del Desierto’s purple buses will take you — quite cheaply — from Cabo San Lucas to San José del Cabo and all the parts in between. Autobuses Aguila is the best bet for trips to Todos Santos and La Paz — US $10 and $18 per person, respectively. If you want to get to and from the airport, meanwhile, take Uber. It will save you at least $30 over taxis coming and going from Cabo San Lucas. Or rather, the peso equivalent.
Any more advice for budget friendly travel in Los Cabos you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments below!
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.
From the shores of Guerrero up to the bustling town of Manzanillo, a different type of beachside living can be yours in this week's MND Where to Live in Mexico Guide 2024: Mid-Pacific trio. (Expedia)
Once upon a time, vacationers to Mexico patronized a string of Pacific destinations, each with its own personality and vibe. Collectively known as the Mexican Riviera, five places garnered nearly all of Mexico’s international tourism receipts: Mazatlán, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo and Acapulco. Daily nonstop flights from the Western U.S. and Canada filled these places with beach-starved, beer-guzzling northerners who came for the trappings of the classic Mexican beach vacation: golden sand, blue waters, beach vendors, parasailing, seafood and — maybe — an outing to get some “culture.” It’s here that we make our latest stop in the MND Where to Live in Mexico Guide 2024, with a look at our Mid-Pacific trio.
All-inclusive resorts were not the thing — with the exceptions of Club Maeva and Club Med — and a vengeful Montezuma lurked behind every salad bar or street food stall. People were out and about, shopping and dining were robust enterprises and visitors collected Pacific Mexican destinations like badges, hopping down year after year, remembering their favorite bartenders, bellboys and waiters. It was, in some ways, a time of tourism’s infancy and innocence. Few big corporate lodging players were in the space, Mexicana de Aviación ruled the skies and the Tourism Ministry and Fonatur poured mountains of pesos into marketing and advertising.
Fishing boats in Acapulco bay are one of the few parts of the traditional city thave have remained the same. (jimmyweee/CC-BY-SA 4.0)
The resulting success slathered upon the Mexican Riviera begat the emergence of two new poles of development, Baja Sur and Quintana Roo, which would come to eclipse and leave in their wake a trio of once-renowned destinations that most vacationers today would be hard pressed to find on the map.
With Mexico’s “open skies” bilateral agreement bringing new international air routes and carriers, the band wagon moved on and left Colima and Guerrero with a bad hangover and an almost total disappearance of airline support. The resulting “domestication” of tourism — aided by new highways from the highland to the coast — recast these places in ways you might find a refreshing twist on beach living: a truer, “real Mexico” experience.
Acapulco
Once home to Hollywood stars and global jet setters, Acapulco has had a chequered recent history. The recovery of the city post-Hurricane Otis has helped revitalize the one world-famous gem, however. (Expedia)
It’s fitting to start where it all began. No other resort city in the Western hemisphere has lived the triumph and tragedy of a tourism town’s lifespan as dramatically as Acapulco. From inventing our concept of a beach vacation in the 1930s with discos, swim-up bars and cliff diving to a crescendo of celebrities in the 1950 through to the 1970s and a long slope off to obscurity in the following decades, Acapulco has seen it all.
As the airlines stopped flying here and cruises found new ports, the 1993 opening of the Autopista del Sol highway shortened travel time from Mexico City, and Acapulco lost its jet-set cachet. Waves of domestic tourists reclaimed the Bay as the quintessentially Mexican place to play, party and be seen. Arriving too were waves of narco violence, Mexican military taking to the streets, devastating hurricanes in 1997 and 2023 and falling resort investment.
It’s still a remarkable natural setting and one of the world’s most beautiful natural harbors. The very urban resort area is divided into three parts: the west end of the bay and beyond is the traditional area of beach coves, marina, cliff-divers and original hotels; the main part of the bay known as the Zona Dorada, the site of fine beaches, high rises and hillside homes, where the rich and famous were once seen; and down the coast, Diamante, which lies outside the main bay and close to the airport, hosting golf courses, an events center and long flat beaches.
While locals are still recovering from Hurricane Otis, living here as a foreigner can bring nostalgia to the nouvelle: “old” Acapulco has scenic bay views, 1950s architecture and a semblance of neighborhood. Most anyone else with the grit and determination to live here as a foreigner has likely given up on the Bay and found a paradise of golf, box stores and a less urban pace in the Diamante area. You’ll be surrounded by Mexicans who love Acapulco for what it has become: an escape from Mexico City for big concerts, sporting events and nightclubs.
Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo
Ixtapa’s Playa El Palmarnis popular with vacationers from across the world. (FEE International)
Up the coast is Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, “the one place that’s two places at once,” as the promo slogan of the past century recounts. Living here is pitch-perfect for foreigners wanting two side-by-side settings: the modern” resort of Ixtapa — built from nothing in the 1970s around a marina and fine golf course with all high-rise hotels— and, just a short 10 minutes away, Zihuantanejo, one of Mexico’s most picturesque coastal towns. Put these two together and this duo can be your quiet, affordable and well-heeled beach living option: nothing too fancy, and a tempo driven by weekend visitors coming from Mexico’s central highlands via a modern toll road. Although you really don’t need a car living here, this highway also gives residents a quick way to escape for visits to cultural magic in places like Michoacán and Guanajuato.
Only 14,000 people live in Ixtapa, complimented by a small but loyal snowbird flock who drop in from October to March. It’s beach living: open ocean surf and waves with a smattering of retail. Zihuatanejo is a burgeoning town — population 130,000 — of cobblestone streets around hill-backed bays. Though occupied for centuries, there are no historic buildings and only a single museum. Hardly the village it once was, it’s still familial and friendly. Locals lament some street and narco crime boil-overs and residents adapt to the change that’s coming: some fast food, box stores, traffic and strained city services. Rentals are cheap: low season two-bedroom condos start at US $400 per month, and ocean view units can go as little as $600 a month. Expect to pay more — and find fewer options — from November through March.
You can, of course, volunteer, take classes at the Casa de la Cultura, become a watersports aficionado, take part in the excellent fishing or learn to shop a lo mexicano at dailytianguis options or a Saturday organic market. Playa la Ropa and Playa Las Gatas are two marvelous beach hang-outs. As one blogger puts it, “Ixtapa is the beach vacation. Zihuantanejo is Mexico.”
Manzanillo
Manzanillo is first and foremost a commercial port, but don’t let that catch you out – it’s also a genuinely great destination for expat living. (Fernando Macías Romo/Shutterstock)
The industrial port city of Manzanillo, up the coast in Colima state, is for the heartiest of Mexico beach lovers. It won’t lure you with amenities commonly found in other Pacific Mexico locations. You’ll be hard-pressed to find year-round social connections with either foreigners — most of whom return north after March — or Mexicans, unless your Spanish is quite good and you live in a non-resort residential setting. The city’s commercial-port-first personality drives how most Mexican residents live and work. Multicultural neighborhoods include Club Santiago and the Las Hadas area.
You may find a truer calling up the coast of Colima and southern Jalisco, in places like Barra de Navidad, Melaque and La Manzanilla, all more rustic settings with quieter coastal living. Manzanillo earns our lowest year-round rating — sorry, Fred. It’s inexpensive, yes. But finding purposeful living will take some imagination.
Speaking of imagination, the place that put Manzanillo on the tourism map is the singularly unique resort hotel, Las Hadas. It was once the hedonistic mothership for Hollywood royalty and private jet escapes in the 1970s and ’80s. Its whimsical, Mediterranean and Arabic-inspired architecture, themed suites, micro-spaces and bayfront setting are still standing. The movie “10” was filmed here. A generation ago, Las Hadas was Mexico’s leading pleasure palace.
During a time before the Baja California and Yucatán peninsulas rose to resort stardom, Colima and Guerrero were on the short list of Mexico getaways. But the bandwagon moved on, leaving heartier, beach-loving expat with this trio of once’famous places. Today, they’re all still here, without their reputations or almost any air connectivity, but looking forward to a new — if somewhat faded — future.
Author Greg Custer lives in Mexico. He’s worked for over 40 years in international tourism, educating travel advisors around the world about Mexico and other Latin American destinations. He helps folks explore Mexico for living at www.mexicoforliving.com.
Tex-Mex cuisine is often what foreigners think of as Mexican food itself. How did "outside" influence come to dominate Mexican cuisines so strongly? (BOSTON66/CC-BY-SA 4.0)
Many of us raised north of the border grew up eating what we believed to be authentic Mexican food. Remember those “taco” lunches? We feasted on crispy hard shells filled with bright yellow shredded cheese and crumbly beef marinated in an unidentifiable red sauce. Still, they felt like a more exotic option over the other questionable dining choices.
It turns out, what we were served under the guise of Mexican food was a case of mistaken identity that’s been simmering since the 19th century.
Chimichangas, a classic Tex-Mex dish, may have been invented in Arizona. (jeffreyw/CC-BY-SA 4.0)
A tale of two cultures
The histories of Texas and Mexico are closely intertwined. For thousands of years, Indigenous peoples inhabited the area now known as Texas. In 1519, the Spanish arrived, annexing the region during their colonization of Mexico. Their reign over New Spain lasted until 1821, when Mexico gained independence and claimed Texas as its own.
Mexican Texas was inhabited by a mix of inhabitants, primarily Tejanos, or Mexican Texans, and Indigenous nations including the Comanche and Apache, whose numbers had dwindled significantly due to colonization and European-introduced disease. Despite being weakened, Indigenous peoples still posed a threat to Mexico, and in 1824, the government began to bring in Anglo-American settlers to exert more control over the land.
Despite initial cooperation, tensions grew between the Anglo-American majority and the Mexican government. In 1836, Texas declared its independence, becoming the Republic of Texas until its annexation by the United States in 1845.
Fajitas were invented by Mexican ranch hands working in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley. (Miansari66/CC BY 1.0)
The birth of Tex-Mex
The blend of Tejano culinary traditions with ingredients available in the United States reflected the mix of Anglo-American and Tejano culture in the area. The result was a new, hybrid cuisine that had only a slight resemblance to the rich food culture of Mexico.
Tex-Mex emerged out of necessity and creativity, combining Mexican staples like corn tortillas and chili peppers with American ingredients including ground beef, cheddar cheese and wheat flour. These dishes were created to adapt to the limited resources available to Tejano communities, evolving into a unique culinary identity that was hearty, flavorful and distinct from that found in central Mexico.
What was originally a regional adaptation began to gain traction beyond the Southwest, as Tex-Mex restaurants began popping up across the United States in the mid-20th century — think places like Chili’s. This is when the lines began to blur, and the American impression of Mexican cuisine took on a broadly Tex-Mex conception. Enchiladas smothered in melted yellow cheese, fajitas sizzling on a platter and those infamous hard-shell tacos became the standard-bearers of Mexican cuisine in the U.S. By the mid-20th century, Tex-Mex had firmly implanted itself in American dining culture, a symbol of the larger trend of Americanizing foreign cuisines.
Nachos, invented by a Mexican chef for American diners in Coahuila, is a quintessential borderlands dish. (jeffreyw/CC-BY 2.0)
Mexico auténtico
But for those who’ve had the pleasure of dining in the heart of Mexico, the difference is as stark as night and day. Authentic Mexican cuisine is a centuries-old blend of flavors and textures, rooted in the traditional use of fresh, local ingredients, vibrant spices and time-honored techniques.
Each region of Mexico has its own specialties—from the rich, complex moles of Oaxaca to the fresh, citrusy aguachiles of Sinaloa—a reflection of the country’s flavor diversity and heritage. The roots of Mexican cuisine stretch back thousands of years, a mix of Indigenous ingredients and techniques and later European, African and Asian flavors brought over during colonization.
The difference starts with the ingredients
Tex-Mex cuisine is unapologetically American in its use of yellow cheddar cheese, an ingredient hardly ever found in Mexican kitchens, which favor white cheeses like queso fresco and cotija.
Tex-Mex shares important similarities with the food traditions of Northern Mexico. In Texas and the U.S. Southwest, for example, beef is common, a result of the region’s cattle-ranching history, a feature it shares with Mexican states like Nuevo León. In southern and central Mexico, in contrast, pork is a more frequently used meat. Specialties like seafood and edible insects common in other regional cuisines of Mexico are absent from Tex-Mex as well. Another contrast: Tex-Mex and Northern Mexican food both use tortillas made from wheat flour, whereas in Mexico, corn tortillas are a staple, a reflection of the country’s Indigenous roots. Perhaps most importantly, Tex-Mex often incorporates canned tomatoes and beans, whereas the cooking styles of Southern and Central Mexico favor fresh ingredients.
In the realm of spices, Tex-Mex cuisine relies heavily on chili powder and cumin, whereas heartland Mexican cuisine uses herbs like cilantro and epazote, and fresh chili peppers to create nuanced dimensions of taste. While both cuisines can be spicy, Tex-Mex often caters to American tastes, which skew towards milder flavors.
Outside of Mexico, chili con carne is perhaps THE Mexican dish that everybody recognizes, despite not enjoying much popularity inside the country. (All recipes)
Different recipe books
Salsas are an important point of contrast. Tex-Mex salsas often include ingredients like black beans and corn, while traditional Mexican salsas focus on fresh tomatoes, onions and various chili peppers. The variety of Mexican salsas is astounding, from fiery smoked tomato habanero to fresh green varieties and crunchy nut-and-seed-filled options.
If you’ve ever dipped a chip into queso or ordered nachos, you’ve indulged in Tex-Mex. The cuisine’s heavy use of melted cheese, fried tortillas and ground beef is quintessentially American. Dishes like chili con carne, chimichangas and hard-shell tacos are beloved in the United States but almost never seen in Mexico.
In contrast, a trip through Mexico might offer you tacos filled with cochinita pibil, enchiladas bathed in homemade chili sauce or perfectly steamed tamales. And then there’s mole, a complex sauce made from chili peppers, spices and chocolate, served over tender meat — a dish that speaks to the heart of Mexico’s culinary heritage.
The global significance of Mexican food
Tex-Mex is more than just a cuisine; it has become a cultural symbol, a blend of Mexican and American identities and an essential part of Texan and Tejano culture. It’s comfort food for many Americans, and a staple in diners and chain restaurants across the United States.
But when it comes to cultural heritage, what we call traditional Mexican cuisine stands in a league of its own. Recognized by Unesco as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, it speaks to the country’s rich history, diverse regions and the long-standing influence of Indigenous traditions.
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.
What's next for the Mexican peso? Mexico News Daily CEO Travis Bembenek analyzes what factors could affect it in the near term. (Shutterstock)
I have seen a lot of movements in the Mexican peso exchange rate over the years, starting with the peso devaluation at the end of 1994 and 50% depreciation of the currency against the US dollar in 1995.
It’s been a rapid weakening that has caught some by surprise after a few years of steady appreciation. So where does the peso go from here? And what should we keep an eye on?
Predicting foreign exchange movements is not an exact science, especially in the short term.
It’s important to remember that currencies move based on both economic and non-economic factors. Let’s step back for a moment and remember what the key economic drivers are that determine how one currency moves versus another.
Experts tend to look at three indicators to try to predict where one currency will go versus another: inflation rates, GDP growth rates and interest rates.
Inflation
If the inflation rate of Mexico is higher than that of the United States (as is the case currently), all else being equal, we would expect the Mexican currency to depreciate by the difference in the inflation rate between the two countries.
For example, if annual inflation is 5% in Mexico and U.S. inflation is 3%, we would expect the Mexican peso to depreciate 2% annually versus the US dollar.
Based on annual headline inflation rates, despite the fact that both Mexico and the U.S. are seeing their rates continue to decline from pandemic levels, there is still a difference of over 2 points between the two countries. This would imply that the Mexican peso will depreciate slightly versus the US dollar going forward.
GDP growth
If one country is growing faster than another, all else being equal, we would expect that country’s currency to appreciate versus the slower-growth country.
Last year, Mexico’s real annual GDP growth outpaced the U.S., at 3.2% versus 2.5%, but the latest IMF forecasts for 2024 project the U.S. economy will grow 2.6% and Mexico’s economy will grow 2.2% (though this may be optimistic based on a recent Bank of Mexico forecast). Therefore, the Mexican peso would be expected to depreciate slightly against the US dollar.
Interest rates
Currency predictions tend to be based on the movement of rates, the difference in rates between countries, and the difference between a country’s interest rates and its inflation rate, more than on the actual interest rates themselves.
For example, Mexico’s current key rate is 10.75%, while the U.S. Federal Reserve has held its benchmark rate at 5.25-5.5% since July 2023. The large difference between the two countries’ rates has attracted investor interest in the peso.
Also, the fact that Mexico’s annual headline inflation is currently at just under 5% (resulting in a relatively large difference between the interest rate and inflation rate) has strengthened the Mexican peso.
Looking backward over the past few years, when we saw appreciation in the Mexican peso, we can point to the economic factor of interest rates as one of the primary reasons the country saw an appreciation of its currency, despite higher inflation than the U.S. Some economists also point to the excitement around nearshoring having an impact.
But dramatic movements in currencies often occur due to non-economic events.
When the peso rocketed to above 25 to the US dollar in 2020, the cause was of course the COVID-19 pandemic. The recent move of the peso from around 16 to over 20 was also triggered by a non-economic event: Mexico’s elections in June and their aftermath.
Given the economic factors discussed above, we would expect the peso to continue a slow depreciation of 3-5% in the next 12 months, meaning we could see 21 pesos to the US dollar within a year.
However, it is the volatile non-economic news that will likely drive significant currency movements in the future, as has often been the case in the past.
A few examples of non-economic issues that could affect currency rates: U.S. election campaign negative rhetoric toward Mexico (likely a peso depreciation), U.S. tariff policy against Mexico (likely a peso depreciation), USMCA discussion complications (potentially a peso depreciation), or increased global tension in Ukraine or Israel (potentially a peso depreciation).
What might cause the peso to actually strengthen again?
A few examples could be the incoming Sheinbaum administration taking investor-friendly positions on renewable energy and foreign direct investment in the energy sector, increased U.S.-China tensions causing Mexico’s trade standing to improve, or improved dialogue between the incoming Mexico administration and the next U.S. administration.
Predicting currency movements is not for the faint of heart as there are many variables — both economic and non-economic — that we need to keep our eyes on to help guide our understanding.
Mexico News Daily will continue to be your front-row seat to the economic and geopolitical winds of change in Mexico.
Travis Bembenek is the CEO of Mexico News Daily and has been living, working or playing in Mexico for over 27 years.
