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Chocolate adventures in the Yucatán Peninsula

By
Peggy Sijswerda
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Yucatán chocolate
What happens when you mix Yucatán travels with a love of chocolate? Delicious adventures await. (Gobierno de Mexico)

I’m in the jungle, and a beautiful young woman approaches me and bows. Her name is Asti, and she tells me to sit on a soft cushion and gives me a gentle footbath with lemongrass and clove oil. Next Asti invites me to lie face down on a table, draped in chocolate-colored sheets. She begins covering me, systematically, limb by limb, with a mixture of chocolate and honey, followed by a sugar scrub — soft, silky, scratchy and wonderful. 

I turn over and Asti continues to slather my body. Soon, I am covered neck to toes in a gooey mess. A purifying steam bath melts the chocolate away and detoxifies at the same time. My skin feels transformed: firm yet buttery to the touch. 

massage in Yucatán
Beginning your choco-adventures at Banyan Tree Mayakoba in the Yucatán Peninsula is never a bad idea. (Banyan Tree Mayakoba)

Then the massage begins. Again, I lie face down, and Asti asks permission to use some Balinese techniques. What follows is completely new. Asti climbs up on the table and, using her body weight, applies pressure to my back, arms and legs. The pressure is deep, and the work she does on my spine and lower back is revelatory. 

After my bespoke spa treatment is over, I am enveloped in the scent of chocolate, and I feel 10 years younger. Welcome to choco-heaven.

Rainbow of flavors

My husband, Peter, and I have come to Banyan Tree Mayakoba, a luxury resort in Quintana Roo, Mexico, to begin a choco-vacation in Mexico and Belize. We are on a quest to learn as much as we can about the cacao bean, its history and traditions, as well as culinary and medicinal uses. Who knew chocolate could be so healthy? 

Chocolate workshops
Chocolate workshops in Xcaret will teach you more than you thought possible about the process of making chocolate. (Blog Xcaret)

The following day, we attend a chocolate workshop at Xcaret Park, where we meet Pablo, a friendly young man, whom Leo, our guide, calls an “old soul.” On our hands and knees, we crush the cacao beans into a paste, using metates. It’s surprisingly hard to do, but Pablo helps me and then adds sugar, dried vanilla, pepper and Chile. 

The result is a yummy, mud-like concoction that will harden into a tablet to be melted in hot milk for authentic Maya hot chocolate. Pablo says the people of Chiapas, where he’s from, use cacao beans in many healing remedies. I wish I had time to find out more.

In nearby Cozumel, Peter and I snorkel in turquoise water and see a huge lobster, speckled rays, elegant coral, and fluorescent fish in colorful hues. In town at the KaoKao Chocolate Factory, we witness the chocolate-making process — from tree to bar — and taste luscious samples of KaoKao’s chocolate.

A rainforest paradise

Our second destination is an eco-resort in the jungles of Belize. We drive south in our rental car, crossing the border with ease, to The Lodge at Chaa Creek, located just east of the Guatemalan border. 

This destination resort nestles in a tropical rainforest with lush vegetation, exotic birds (we see a toucan moments after we arrive), monkeys and iguanas, luxurious villas (ours is in the treetops overlooking the river), outdoor activities, tours, incredible cuisine, an infinity pool and friendly staff. When you add chocolate to the mix, you’ll never want to leave. 

The owners, Mick and Lucy Fleming, are a lovely couple who have spent their lives carving this unique eco-resort out of the jungle. From its early days as Chaa Creek Cottages, which opened in 1981, it’s grown into a full-featured resort and welcomes guests from around the world. We spend three days here and love every minute. 

Horseback riding and spa bliss

Chaa Creek resort
Carved from the jungle, Chaa Creek is a chocolate lover’s paradise. (Chaa Creek)

One of my favorite activities is our horseback ride — two hours of muddy fun. After some trotting and cantering, we stop for a rest in an ancient, overgrown Maya square. As we walk around, the site feels peaceful and holy — even the horses seem calmer. There are so many secrets under this ground.

What better way to relax after an exhilarating horseback ride than at the Spa at Chaa Creek? The staff customizes a special package for me featuring five choco-licious spa treatments: a scrub, therapeutic massage, soothing facial, pedicure and body wrap. My favorite is the choco-massage, which I enjoy on the spa’s veranda with views of the jungle and the sounds of nature lulling me into a dreamy euphoria. 

One evening, Peter and I experience a romantic dinner in the poolside tiki hut lit with glowing candles — just the two of us. We begin with choco-martinis: cool, refreshing and delicious. Everything on the menu except the soup features chocolate. A salad of chicken, pineapple and cacao nibs is next. For my entrée, I try lobster with mole sauce — it’s divine. Peter loves his beef tenderloin cooked in cocoa butter. The fairytale setting, completed with a brief tropical rain shower, makes our dinner that much more magical. And I’m still not tired of eating chocolate!

A chocolate trance

Our last destination is Mérida, the capital of Yucatán. We stop about an hour south of the city at a new attraction beside the ancient ruins of Uxmal. Choco-Story is an interactive museum that explores cacao. We join a small group and watch a Maya ceremony honoring Chaac, the rain god. Priests gather around an altar, beat on drums, blow conch shells, chant in ancient Mayan languages and parade by in a somber ceremony.  

Afterwards, we view exhibits in tiki huts about ancient rituals performed on Maya temples, many of which involve human sacrifices. One exhibit describes how people would go into a trance after eating chocolate and volunteer to be sacrificed.  A chocolate trance sounds nice, but not the other part. 

After roaming around Uxmal, we head north to Mérida, where we stay at Rosas & Xocolate, a romantic boutique hotel created from two restored colonial mansions. High ceilings, authentic architectural touches, a cozy restaurant with outdoor seating, even a rooftop bar — combine to create a unique fusion of historic and modern, traditional and contemporary. 

Rosas & Xocolate
Relaxation is synonymous with Rosas & Xocolate in Mérida. (Rosas & Xocolate)

In the morning, after a deliciously spicy Mexican breakfast, Peter and I borrow the hotel’s bikes for a ride down the Paseo de Montejo, lined with elegant mansions and upscale businesses. Traffic on Montejo is heavy, so Peter and I turn down a side street and cycle through a peaceful neighborhood instead.

‘A storm of chocolate rain’

After our bike ride, it’s time for my Rosas & Xocolate Experience at the hotel’s cozy spa. When I arrive, the receptionist offers tea and a dish of nuts and dried fruit covered in gooey chocolate. Sweet! Next, I’m taken to a darkened room, where dozens of candles glow and exotic scents fill the air. My journey to chocolate heaven begins. 

After a sensual cacao and oil scrub, I am toweled off. Then the fun begins. Two therapists start covering me in chocolate goo, and they don’t just smear me with chocolate. They sling it all over my naked body: a storm of chocolate rain. I feel like a Jasper Johns painting. 

Next, I’m wrapped up in a chocolate cocoon while my therapist gives me the most amazing head massage. After being unwrapped, I shower and then a different therapist appears to give me a full-body massage. I am in a chocolate trance. All told, the Rosas & Xocolate Experience is one of the best spa treatments I’ve ever had. I only wish I could remember it better.

All good things must end, however, so after relishing one last flavorful breakfast at Rosas & Xocolate, we stopped by the Grand Museum of the Maya World in Mérida. The state-of-the-art attraction tells the story of the Maya culture, and we only have time for a taste. This choco-vacation has left me with a hunger to know more — about Maya culture and the tantalizing cacao bean.

Peggy Sijswerda is a freelance writer who divides her time between San Miguel de Allende and the Netherlands. She writes about travel, food, culture and wellness, and is the author of “Still Life with Sierra,” a travel memoir. Find her on Substack at @peggysijswerda.

Magnicharters, specializing in beach trip packages, abruptly cancels all flights citing ‘logistical issues’

By
MND Staff
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magnicharters aircraft
Founded in Monterrey nearly 30 years ago, Magnicharters serves tourists to Mexican beach resorts, offering all-inclusive packages. The problem that grounded its planes and stranded its passengers remains unclear. (Magnicharters)

Magnicharters, the commercial airline focused on tourist flights to beach destinations in Mexico, unexpectedly suspended all operations for two weeks over the weekend, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded as the extended Holy Week vacation period came to an end.

In a notice issued to its passengers on April 11, the airline cited “logistical issues” and indicated that all flights scheduled for the next two weeks would be canceled. Passengers in Cancún, Huatulco and Mérida were particularly affected as many were already at the airport when they were informed of the cancellations. 

“Due to logistical issues, flights scheduled for the next two weeks will not be able to operate. We want to inform our customers that we are addressing this situation with due diligence to resolve it,” the airline stated.

Users stranded at various airports reported closed counters, staff unable to provide clear information, and passengers having to buy last-minute tickets on other airlines, paying up to 7,000 pesos (US $400) per person.

Following the mass cancellation of flights, local authorities, in collaboration with the federal government, activated an emergency operation in Cancún to assist affected passengers and facilitate their return to their destinations. 

“We are working to rebook passengers on other flights, subject to availability,” Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama said in a statement Sunday night. 

Low-cost airlines Viva and Volaris, as well as Mexico’s flagship airline Aeroméxico, said they will serve affected passengers. Authorities have said that those affected should head to these airlines’ counters to receive assistance. 

Founded in Monterrey, Nuevo León, nearly 30 years ago, Magnicharters is a niche airline and one of the smallest in Mexico. Still, it serves more than 200,000 passengers annually and is known for offering all-inclusive packages — including hotels, transfers and checked-in luggage — aimed at the family vacation market in Mexico. 

Ángel Domínguez, head of the Pilots’ Association, told the newspaper La Jornada that airlines in Mexico can suddenly stop flying without consequence.

“In the last 30 years, the industry has seen between 20 and 25 airlines go bankrupt,” Domínguez said. “In the last four years alone, two have gone bankrupt or suspended operations: Interjet and Aeromar.” 

In Mexico, he said, victims of these sudden stoppages have little recourse. 

“Unfortunately, Mexico has not yet developed a public policy that protects not only passengers, but also those who invest their money in this industry and the professionals in the sector,” he added. 

Although Magnicharters has said that they “deeply regret this situation,” the company has not shared any details regarding refunds or flight rescheduling. Nor has it answered the question of why it stopped flying, other than to cite “logistical issues,” which is essentially restating the question.

With reports from Por Esto, El Financiero, La Jornada and Quadratín Quintana Roo

Sheinbaum inaugurates first ‘Economic Well-Being Hub’ in Tlaxcala

By
MND Staff
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Polo de Bienestar inauguration
President Sheinbaum and local authorities celebrate the inauguration of the first Well-Being Hub (Polo de Bienestar) in the state of Tlaxcala on Sunday. (Gabriel Monroy/Presidencia)

President Sheinbaum celebrated on Sunday the launch of the First Economic Development Hub for Well-Being (Podecobi) in Huamantla, in the central state of Tlaxcala, with a US $540 million investment. 

The investment-attracting project falls within the administration’s flagship Plan México initiative and will be developed across 53 hectares of land. It is expected to create over 5,000 direct and indirect jobs. Funding will come from public and private sources.

Ebrard en Huamantla
Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard shares a selfie moment with residents of Huamantla in the state of Tlaxcala during a visit last August to discuss the location of the first Well-Being Hub in that city, which became a reality on Sunday. (Alain Hernández/Cuartoscuro)

“Mexico imports many products, and many of those products could be produced in Mexico,” Sheinbaum said. “That’s why we have the ‘Made in Mexico’ brand. The goal is to generate more national and foreign investment in Mexico that will allow us to achieve greater development.”

Last June, Sheinbaum signed agreements with 14 governors to establish the first 15 Podecobis across the country, eight of which will be situated in Mexico’s south-southeast region. This inaugural hub in Tlaxcala is not far from Mexico City.

Tlaxcala Governor Lorena Cuéllar Cisneros stressed that business confidence continues to grow in her state, which she credits largely to government support.

Upon the launch of the first Podecobi, Sheinbaum emphasized the importance of shared prosperity, echoing the Morena catchphrase “for the good of all, the poor come first.”

“What we want is for… public resources to be invested in the people,” said Sheinbaum.  

Sheinbaum plans for the Podecobis to be sited in urban areas that already have basic services, such as housing for workers, schools, water and transportation, making them more attractive to investors for further development, benefiting more people.  

The government will provide the Podecobis with economic incentives and waive certain taxes during the initial years of operation to help accelerate investment. 

At least seven companies have already committed to establishing operations in the first Podecobi, according to Alejandro Espinosa de los Monteros, the general manager of the Xicohténcatl Industrial City Trust (Fidecix) in Tlaxcala. He added that the infrastructure needed for companies to begin operations immediately has already been developed. 

Jaime Adolfo Juan Martínez, the director of Neuse México, believes that the arrival of international companies in Tlaxcala will help strengthen the local economy, promote specialized training and facilitate knowledge transfer, thereby enhancing the state’s competitiveness. 

With reports from La Jornada

Authorities find narcotunnel leading to the US in Sonora

By
MND Staff
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narcotunnel
The 79-meter-long border tunnel was unfinished without any apparent exit, but it was assumed to be meant for transporting illicit goods, including human beings, from Mexico to the United States. (Gabinete de Seguridad de México)

Authorities credited recently increased federal security operations in Sonora and neighboring states, as well as smoothly coordinated intelligence collection, for their ability to discover and seal off a tunnel in Nogales leading into Arizona.

One individual was arrested during last week’s operation, according to a joint statement from the Navy, Security and Defense Ministries that attributed their success to inter-agency cooperation with assistance from the Federal Attorney General’s Office (FGR) and the Sonora Security Ministry.

authorities after decommissioning narcotunnel
The discovery of the narcotunnel and detention of a suspect were the latest examples of multi-level security cooperation, with federal and state agencies working together both to gather information and carry out the operation. (Gabinete de Seguridad de México)

As a result of investigations conducted in the office and in the field, a property in the Centro neighborhood of Nogales was linked to a criminal group. After fixed and mobile surveillance provided solid evidence of the suspicion, a search warrant was granted by the local presiding judge.

Upon entering the property, agents located a rudimentary excavation 4.5 meters deep and 79 meters long, leading toward the U.S. border though with no apparent exit. The property was sealed and remains under police custody.

Along with the detained suspect, 21 live rounds of ammunition were seized.

The suspect — identified as Luis Fernando Garduño — was turned over to the FGR and faces charges of illegal surveillance, smuggling and human trafficking. He is said to be a member of the “Los Salazar” criminal group, which is known to engage in illegal operations in the region.

The online newspaper Infobae reported that the tunnel was allegedly intended for the illegal crossing of migrants into the United States, though it had not yet been completed.

In a social media post, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson praised the Mexican government for its commitment to keeping border communities safe.

“This action by the Mexican authorities demonstrates that our countries offer no respite to criminal networks,” he said. 

This is the second border tunnel discovered in the past 15 months.

On Jan. 16, 2025, U.S. authorities closed a clandestine tunnel discovered under the bed of the Rio Bravo, on the border between Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, and El Paso, Texas.

The underpass — attributed to the crime gang known as “La Línea” — was approximately 40 meters long, featured ventilation and lighting and was connected to El Paso drainage systems. It was sealed shut with concrete on the U.S. side.

With reports from Infobae, El Universal and Dossier Politico

International arrivals to Mexico up 9.3% in first 2 months of 2026

By
MND Staff
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Tourists at the beach in Cancún, Quintana Roo
Foreign visitors generated US $6.75 billion in foreign exchange earnings during the two-month period, a 2.2% uptick from the same stretch in 2025. (Elizabeth Ruiz/Cuartoscuro)

Mexico received 16.85 million international arrivals between January and February 2026, a 9.3% increase compared to the same period last year, Mexico’s Tourism Ministry (Sectur) announced this week.

Of that total, 8.17 million were classified as international tourists — overnight visitors rather than day-trippers or cruise passengers — representing a 6.5% year-over-year rise, according to INEGI’s International Traveler Survey (EVI).

February alone brought in 8.01 million international visitors, up 8.5% from February 2025. International tourists in February reached 3.88 million, a 4.2% annual increase.

Foreign visitors generated US $6.75 billion in foreign exchange earnings during the two-month period, a 2.2% uptick from the same stretch in 2025. February alone brought in $3.27 billion.

“The fact that more and more people are choosing to visit Mexico reflects confidence in the tourism experience our country offers,” Tourism Minister Josefina Rodríguez Zamora said in a press release, describing Mexico’s offering as diverse, high-quality and continuously improving.

The strong numbers arrive as Mexico gears up for what could be a landmark summer.

The country is co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside the U.S. and Canada, with games scheduled in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey.

Deloitte report: Mexico’s economic benefits from hosting World Cup could reach US $2.25B

Rodríguez is projecting an additional 5.5 million tourists above average due to the tournament, along with nearly US $3.2 billion in extra revenue. Destinations beyond the host cities, like Los Cabos, are actively marketing themselves as “second stop” getaways for World Cup visitors seeking a luxury beach escape after the final whistle.

Sectur said it will continue efforts to diversify source markets and strengthen regional tourism development, describing tourism as a driver of shared prosperity across the country.

Mexico News Daily

Mexico’s new foreign minister meets with US ambassador in first days on the job

By
MND Staff
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Ambassador Johnson shaking hands with Foreign Affairs Minister of Mexico Roberto Velasco
Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on social media on Saturday that Minister Velasco and Ambassador Johnson met to discuss "the various issues on the shared agenda." (SRE)

Foreign Affairs Minister Roberto Velasco is prioritizing the bilateral relationship with the United States in his first days in the job. In addition to speaking by phone to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Velasco met with U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ron Johnson in Mexico City last week.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) said on social media on Saturday that Velasco and Johnson met at SRE headquarters to discuss “the various issues on the shared agenda.”

“Within this framework, they reiterated their mutual commitment to continue strengthening cooperation and collaboration based on the principles that guide the bilateral relationship in order to bring well-being and prosperity to both sides of the border,” the SRE said.

President Claudia Sheinbaum frequently highlights that the Mexico-U.S. relationship is based on principles such as respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as mutual trust. She has maintained a cordial relationship with Donald Trump even as the U.S. president threatened to launch strikes against cartels in Mexico and accused his counterpart of being “very scared” of the cartels.

Responding to the SRE post via his own X account, Johnson said that he and Velasco discussed “the shared priorities of our countries and the importance of continuing to work together to strengthen our historic cooperation and ensure it continues to deliver results for both our nations.”

The ambassador also wrote that he had congratulated the new foreign affairs minister on his appointment and “wished him every success in his tenure, as we continue advancing this partnership under the leadership of” Trump and Sheinbaum. Johnson frequently acknowledges Mexico’s efforts to combat crime and touts the high levels of bilateral security cooperation. 

Velasco’s nomination as foreign minister was approved by the Senate last Wednesday. Sheinbaum nominated him for the role after Juan Ramón de la Fuente decided to resign for health reasons earlier this month. Velasco is well-versed in the various aspects of the Mexico-U.S. relationship, having served as deputy foreign affairs minister for North America prior to succeeding de la Fuente.

His early focus on Mexico’s relationship with the United States is not surprising given that the two countries are each other’s largest trade partner and share a range of challenges, including in the areas of security, biosecurity and migration. A mandated review of the USMCA — the North American free trade agreement that also includes Canada — is taking place this year against a backdrop of increased U.S. protectionism against all countries around the world, including the United States’ southern and northern neighbors.

Velasco: ‘We must translate diplomacy into prosperity for the people of Mexico’

In an address on Thursday directed to SRE officials and Mexican diplomats abroad, Velasco said that “foreign policy is, in essence, the external expression of a national project” — i.e., the “fourth transformation” political project led by Sheinbaum and the Morena party.

“Our task is not limited to representation; we must transform,” the foreign minister said, according to an SRE statement.

“We must translate diplomacy into prosperity for the people of Mexico, into effective protection for those far from home, and into tangible opportunities for our country’s development,” Velasco said.

The 38-year-old foreign minister is an Ibero-American University-trained lawyer and earned a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Chicago in 2017. According to media reports, Velasco is Mexico’s first openly gay cabinet minister.

With reports from EFE

Search groups plan pick-up soccer matches to keep Mexico’s disappeared in public eye

By
MND Staff
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Members of several search groups on Sunday organized pick-up soccer matches at the Glorieta of the Disappeared on the iconic Paseo de la Reforma avenue in Mexico City.
Members of several search groups on Sunday organized pick-up soccer matches at the Glorieta of the Disappeared on the iconic Paseo de la Reforma avenue in Mexico City. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)

Groups searching for missing persons in Mexico say they will take advantage of the presence of international press during the World Cup to expose the problem of disappearances in the country.

As a first step to build awareness of the situation, members of several search groups on Sunday organized pick-up soccer matches at the Glorieta of the Disappeared on the iconic Paseo de la Reforma avenue in Mexico City.

At a press conference, Jorge Verástegui, who has been searching for his brother and nephew since 2009, described the groups’ “Let’s make it happen. Until we find them” initiative as an effort to break the information blackout they allege the government’s discourse is creating.

“The government intends to use [the World Cup] as a showcase of normality,” he said. “We, the families of the missing, will take to the streets to remind them that Mexico ought not to be a sports venue while it remains a clandestine grave.”

The groups said they will stage a demonstration on June 11 in the vicinity of Mexico City’s Banorte Stadium — site of the inaugural World Cup match. In the meantime, they will stage informal soccer games on Sundays in the streets of Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey, Mexico’s three World Cup host cities.

A spokesman denounced “institutional abandonment” and “the systematic attempts by each administration to downplay the figures and manage the suffering. We will no longer accept these charades.”

Members of several search groups on Sunday organized pick-up soccer matches at the Glorieta of the Disappeared on the iconic Paseo de la Reforma avenue in Mexico City.
“We, the families of the missing, will take to the streets to remind them that Mexico ought not to be a sports venue while it remains a clandestine grave,” said Jorge Verástegui, who has been searching for his brother and nephew since 2009. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)

Those in attendance also expressed support for the recent U.N. report on Mexico’s “disappeared,” which President Claudia Sheinbaum and the National Human Rights Commission rejected.

Liliana Meza, founder of the Luz de Esperanza search collective in Jalisco, said the families searching for their missing loved ones “find it very difficult to hear the president … say these forced disappearances don’t exist … [acting like] her goal is to lower the numbers, not by finding people, but by fudging all the state and federal data.”

Héctor Flores, whose son disappeared in 2021, said he was eager for the crisis to be brought before the U.N. General Assembly, told the newspaper El Financiero that he believes this “would show the world the reality that the Mexican government has refused to see.”

“In Mexico, people disappear every day … torture, murder and crimes against humanity occur every day,” he said.

The Glorieta of the Disappeared was renamed as such in 2022 when the city government was forced to replace the palm tree that had given the roundabout its previous name.

With reports from El Financiero, La Jornada and Proceso

MND Local: Jalisco’s skyrocketing measles cases and updates on Guadalajara’s new bus line construction

By
Dawn Stoner
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Children in silhouette playing on a bright day by a fountain in the historic center of Guadalajara, Mexico.
Children playing in Guadalajara's historic center. (Galo Cañas Rodríguez/Cuartoscuro)

Construction teams are now in a race against time to complete key mass transit initiatives to connect the Guadalajara International Airport to the metro area’s existing infrastructure network, with the World Cup kicking off in less than eight weeks.

In other news, state fines went up a bit if you’re caught using a mobile device while driving, Zapopan’s Centinela Forest may get environmentally protected status and federal authorities have reported that Jalisco is the state with the highest number of total measles cases in 2026.

A bus with the Mi Macro rapid transit system in Guadalajara traveling in traffic in the Guadalajara metro zone
Guadalajara’s rapid transit bus system is getting a new line that will connect Guadalajara’s metropolitan zone to the international airport. But the million-dollar question is, will it be ready in time for the arrival of the 2026 FIFA World Cup games happening here? (Siteur/Wikimedia Commons)

Construction update on new transport lines to GDL airport 

This spring, significant progress has been made on the new Line 5 of Guadalajara’s Macrobús, known as the Macro Airport line, running along the Chapala highway. However, there is still severe traffic congestion around the entrance to the Guadalajara International Airport, especially during peak hours.

Last October, the Secretary of Infrastructure and Public Works of Jalisco, David Zamora Bueno, confirmed that the Guadalajara International Airport station for Line 5 of Guadalajara’s light rail system would be located on the airport grounds and not on the Chapala Highway, as initially planned.

Moving the station onto airport property was intended to ensure that visitors could transfer from the platform to the terminal quickly and safely. But this plan required building an overpass from the Chapala Highway dedicated to buses.

Work on this new overpass is still a long way from being finished. Lately, it’s been the main cause of traffic delays heading into the Guadalajara airport. About 500 meters from the airport’s entrance, traffic has been reduced from six lanes to three, causing backups that can stretch for kilometers on weekdays.

As of last weekend, when this reporter surveyed the progress in person, there were a few pylons in place, a dirt ramp and little else to suggest a future overpass. 

Off airport grounds, six of the eight planned bus stations along the Chapala Highway are nearly finished, including La Gigantera, La Piedrera, San José del 15, and Montenegro. This piece of the work, which is integral to the Line 5 project, has a committed delivery date of the end of April. 

Further north, where the Chapala Highway meets the Periférico (Guadalajara’s ring road), another overpass is under construction and causing a separate bottleneck for vehicles headed south from the city. This new structure will eventually connect Line 5 to Mi Macro Periférico transit service.

Authorities are increasingly coy regarding the expected completion date of the entire project, saying in recent weeks only that it “could be” completed before the World Cup starts.

Jalisco’s measles cases accelerated sharply in 2026

Despite Jalisco’s efforts to expand vaccination access, the state’s measles infection rate has accelerated sharply in 2026 compared to last year. 

Through April 10, Jalisco has recorded three deaths from measles this year, and 5,282 confirmed cases, according to the Federal Health Ministry. For all of 2025, Jalisco had 665 confirmed cases. 

A look at the top five states for total measles cases in 2026. Jalisco has taken the unenviable top spot away from Chihuahua, thanks to a major reduction in the northern state’s cases. (Hover over a state’s bar to see numbers not visible.)

The most recent death, on March 24, was a 24-year-old Tonalá man who was not vaccinated. He was the first adult to die from measles here since the outbreak began last year.

While Mexico’s earliest measles cases occurred in the northern state of Chihuahua, the disease has since spread to all of Mexico’s 32 states. Jalisco has now become the Mexican state with the highest number of infections, accounting for 60% of Mexico’s total cases per 100,000 inhabitants. 

The virus typically infects unvaccinated children and adults, as well as people with weakened immune systems. An infection typically starts like many other viral infections, with a high fever, nasal congestion, red eyes and cough. If not treated promptly, it can progress from a severe rash to life-threatening complications. 

Given the escalating problem, local health officials are stepping up their statewide vaccination campaign, urging citizens to get the shots, and conducting epidemiological surveillance to identify and contain new cases.

Zapopan’s Centinela Forest may gain protected status

The Environmental and Sustainability Commission of the Jalisco State Congress voted a few weeks ago to designate the 254-hectare El Bosque Centinela a Natural Protected Area (ANP). The Zapopan City Council presented the initiative in an effort to protect the public park from development. 

During the session, Tonantzin Cárdenas, a legislator from the state political party Futuro, highlighted the importance of protecting this still-wooded area of Zapopan, as well as other valuable green spaces that lack protection, like Parque Eca Do Queiroz along Avenida Patria.

“The El Centinela and Cañadas forest… represent a vital lung for Jalisco. It borders the Nixticuil Forest, which, unfortunately, has been lacerated and sacrificed for green and real estate development,” he said.

But the effort is not yet a done deal. For El Bosque Centinela to become a Natural Protected Area, it must still be voted on in a plenary session of the state Congress.

Fines rise for improper cellphone use while driving 

A woman in a car, driving one-handed in traffic, which is in bokeh around her in the photo, while her other hand is holding a Samsung cell phone to her ear.
The fine for getting caught driving while on a mobile phone in Jalisco is now even costlier. (Breakingpic/Pexels)

Following the introduction of fines last year for the use of mobile devices while driving, the state government has increased the penalties by roughly 3.7%.

The increase, which took effect on February 1, is based on an update of Mexico’s  Unit of Measurement and Update (UMA), a federally determined value used by governments to calculate fines, taxes and other civil charges. The UMA is currently 117.31 pesos, up from 113.13 pesos last year. 

The new penalties for using a cell phone while driving range from 1,759 to 2,932 pesos, depending on the severity of the offense. 

According to Jalisco Traffic Police Commissioner Jorge Alberto Arizpe García, approximately 27,706 drivers were sanctioned for mobile use while driving in 2025. Through February 2 of this year, more than 2,400 additional fines have been assessed.

Which behaviors can earn drivers a fine? Any of the following:

  • Holding the phone in your hand to talk, text or use an application (social media, GPS, etc.). 
  • Interacting with the device even when not talking, e.g. texting or touching the screen.
  • Using any electronic device not integrated into the vehicle that requires touch.

These activities are not only a violation when driving but also when the vehicle is stopped at a traffic light or stop sign. Drivers may still use mobile devices with a headset, through integration with their vehicle or when fully parked.

MND Writer Dawn Stoner is reporting from Guadalajara.

Pemex activates emergency protocols after diesel spill at Deer Park refinery in Texas

By
MND Staff
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Deer Park refinery
Pemex acquired full control of the Deer Park refinery in 2021 after buying Shell’s 50% share in the facility for US $600 million. (Shell/Facebook)

State oil company Pemex said Monday that a diesel spill at the dock of its refinery east of Houston, Texas, had been contained.

In a statement, Pemex said that the spill at the dock of its Deer Park refinery on Sunday was caused by an “interaction” — i.e., a collision — between two private vessels, one of which was carrying diesel and the other of which had delivered a load of an unspecified material and “was heading to the channel’s exit.”

The refinery is located on the Houston Ship Channel, which includes Buffalo Bayou, a slow-moving river.

Pemex said that “specialized personnel” at the Deer Park refinery contained the diesel spill.

“The Deer Park refinery immediately activated its protocols and informed the community and the relevant authorities through a level 3 CAER (Community Awareness Emergency Response) message,” the state oil company said, adding that it was estimated that the full cleanup would take approximately two days.

Pemex also said it was in close contact with the U.S. Coast Guard, and declared that there is “currently no impact on the navigation channel.”

In its CAER message on Sunday, Pemex said that the leak site had been “isolated” and that its oil spill team was “working to deploy oil booms to contain the spill.”

In another CAER message on Monday morning, the state oil company said “the diesel spill at our dock area remains fully contained, with no impacts to the surrounding community.”

Pemex acquired full control of the Deer Park refinery in 2021 after buying Shell’s 50% share in the facility for US $600 million. Last October, a gas leak at the refinery claimed the lives of two workers and hospitalized 13 more.

Sunday’s diesel spill at the refinery’s dock came three days after a fire broke out at Pemex’s Olmeca Refinery on the Tabasco coast. There were no injuries or fatalities last Thursday, but another fire just outside the refinery in March claimed five lives.

Pemex is Mexico’s largest company by revenue, but has debt in excess of US $80 billion. The state oil company operates seven oil refineries in Mexico in addition to the Deer Park facility.

With reports from López-Dóriga Digital and ABC 13

Michoacán town makes Guinness World Record-breaking guacamole

By
MND Staff
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A giant vat of guacamole weighing 7.2 tonnes with volunteers scattered around it
The guacamole weighed over 7 tonnes. (Michoacán Tourism Ministry)

The city of Tancítaro in the state of Michoacán — the world’s largest exporter of avocados — earned a Guinness World Record after whipping up the world’s largest serving of guacamole on Friday, weighing 7.2 tonnes. 

The feat was achieved by 800 volunteers that included students and administrative staff of the Tancítaro campus of the College of Scientific and Technological Studies of Michoacán (Cecytem), in a mashing and mixing session that lasted approximately two and a half hours.

During the event, participants mixed fresh avocados in hundreds of containers while attendees witnessed the guacamole grow in real time on screens installed across the venue. Its final weight, including the container, was 7.2 tonnes, though its qualifying weight was recorded at 6.8 tonnes.

Cecytem Principal Luis Enrique Toscano Servín noted that the students’ and staff’s participation reflected the strong commitment and sense of identity of Tancítaro.

“Our students demonstrated teamwork, dedication and pride in their hometown,” Toscano said. “We also recognize the support of the teaching and administrative staff who coordinated and guided this important activity.” 

In addition to avocados, the guacamole included massive amounts of onion, tomatoes and cilantro. Some images of the experience also show the participants adding large containers of lime juice to the mix. 

This extraordinary achievement took place during the 13th edition of the Avocado Fair, an event that brings together producers, buyers and the public in general to celebrate the region’s most famous produce.

At the end of the event, the record-breaking guacamole was distributed among the attendees, who were able to taste this emblematic dish smeared on tostadas, thus closing a historic day for Tancítaro and for Mexico’s culinary scene. 

Known as the “avocado capital,” Tancítaro consistently ranks as the largest avocado exporter in Michoacán, representing around 30% of the state’s total avocado exports. 

With this achievement, Tancítaro gained the world record which previously belonged to the municipality of Peribán, another large avocado producer in Michoacán, which made 4,972 kilograms, or nearly five tonnes, of guacamole in 2022.

With reports from Quadratín, La Jornada and Eje Central

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