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MND Local: 10 years of treehouses and farm-to-table food at Acre in Los Cabos

By
Chris Sands
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Acre Resort treehouse in Los Cabos
Treehouse accommodations are one of many attractions at Acre in San José del Cabo. (Acre Resort)

Acre Resort, Restaurant and Cocktail Bar offers, as its name suggests, a diverse vacation experience. Not simply a lodging known for its rustic yet elegant treehouses, or as a benchmark purveyor of farm-to-table food in Los Cabos, sourced from its 25-acre organic farm and prepared to sustainable standards that no less an authority than the Michelin Guide has approved of via the awarding of its coveted Green Star … it’s also the site of some of the area’s best cooking and mixology classes, home to a wellness spa, a dog rescue and adoption program, beekeeping and much more.

On the occasion of Acre’s 10th anniversary in San José del Cabo, I recently spoke to Emilio González, the resort’s accommodation director, who has been with Acre since he was a 21-year-old concierge, about the brand’s history and evolution, and what comes next.

The history

Emilio González, accommodations director at Acre Resort in Los Cabos
During his five years at Acre, Emilio González has risen from the position of concierge to become the resort’s accommodations director. (Acre Resort)

What led to the founding of Acre, and when did it first open? Who were the founders, and did they have a previous history with the area?

Our founders, Cameron Watt and Stuart McPherson, two Canadian hospitality entrepreneurs, came to Los Cabos for what was supposed to be a short vacation. Like so many people who visit the region, they fell in love with the destination and decided to stay. While exploring the area, they discovered a 25-acre parcel tucked into the foothills of San José del Cabo, where towering palms created a natural oasis. They immediately saw the potential and set out to create something entirely different from the traditional resort experience in Mexico. Acre Restaurant and Cocktail Bar officially opened in 2016, and this year we’re proud to be celebrating our 10th anniversary.

That was the foundation for the vision Cameron and Stuart had for the property, a place where incredible food, hospitality and the surrounding natural landscape came together to create a one-of-a-kind destination. Over the past decade, that original concept has grown into a luxury resort with acclaimed restaurants, event venues and real estate.

How was the property acquired, and was there a history of farming there?

Cameron and Stuart were drawn to the property’s natural beauty, particularly its lush palm groves and unique setting within the estuary’s natural footprint in the foothills of San José del Cabo. Originally a mango orchard with 102 trees cared for by a local family, they recognized the opportunity to unlock the land’s full potential while preserving its natural character. Today, that connection to nature remains at the heart of Acre.

The accommodations

What was the origin of the treehouses?

Acre Resort treehouse hotel accommodations
The 13 treehouse accommodations at Acre all feature king-sized beds and private terraces, but no televisions. (Acre Resort)

The treehouses were inspired by our founders’ childhood dream of having a treehouse of their own. They wanted to capture that sense of wonder while creating a peaceful, adults-only retreat immersed in nature. 

How many treehouses are there now and how difficult are they to build? What are the coolest amenities for those staying in them?

Acre currently has 13 treehouses, each thoughtfully designed to immerse guests in the surrounding palm canopy while offering all the comforts of a luxury stay. Perched above the property, they provide a truly unique overnight experience with sweeping views. Each treehouse features a king-size bed, an en suite bathroom, a private terrace with an open-air shower and a private balcony, creating a seamless connection between indoor comfort and the natural environment. One of my favorite details is that the treehouses intentionally don’t include televisions, encouraging guests to fully unplug and enjoy a true off-the-grid experience without sacrificing luxury. They have become especially popular with couples and solo travelers seeking a peaceful, memorable escape.

How many haciendas and villas do you have now, and are more planned?

Acre currently offers 10 haciendas and six jungle villas, all designed for families and groups looking for the comforts of home with the elevated experience of a luxury resort. 

Food and drinks

Los Cabos is famous for its farm-to-table restaurants, the most emblematic of which are Acre and Flora’s Field Kitchen. Besides quality, what are the differences and similarities, in your opinion, between these two iconic local businesses?

Checking the status of herbs in Acre's 25-acre orchard
Fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs for Acre’s Michelin Guide-recognized restaurant are sourced from its 25-acre farm. (Acre Resort)

Both restaurants have helped shape Los Cabos’ farm-to-table dining scene by celebrating fresh, seasonal ingredients and a deep connection to the land. At Acre, we bring that philosophy to life through globally inspired cuisine, produce harvested from our on-site farm and responsibly sourced meat and seafood from across Mexico. What also sets Acre apart is that the restaurant is part of a larger, immersive resort experience, where guests can pair exceptional dining with boutique accommodations, wellness offerings, art and culinary workshops and the property’s unique animal sanctuary.

What crops are grown on the 25-acre farm? Are they all organic?

Our working farm is truly the heart of Acre and supplies our kitchen with more than 60 varieties of organic produce. We grow everything from mangoes and citrus to tomatoes, peppers, root vegetables and fresh herbs, which inspire our seasonal menus throughout the year.

How do you source meat and fish?

We work with trusted producers and sustainable meat, fish, seafood and vegetable farms throughout Mexico, including Santo Mar, Santa Maria and Pat LaFrieda, to ensure we’re bringing the best ingredients to the table while supporting responsible sourcing practices.

Who is your current chef and how has the menu evolved?

Acre chef David Fajardo preparing fresh seafood
Acre grows its own organic crops and harvests its own honey, but sources seafood and meat from environmentally responsible producers. (Acre Resort)

Our culinary program is led by chefs David Fajardo and Maycoll Calderon, whose approach reflects Acre’s long-standing philosophy of creating globally inspired, locally sourced and seasonally driven cuisine. Over the past decade, while the menu has continued to evolve through the creativity and influence of many talented chefs, the foundation has remained the same.

Today, the culinary team continues to refine the menu with an emphasis on creativity and consistency while advancing responsible sourcing and waste-reduction efforts. We’ve also continued to expand what we grow on-site, including produce from our expanded farm, honey from our active beehives and mangoes from more than 150 trees across the property. These ingredients continue to inspire seasonal dishes that reflect Acre’s unique sense of place and commitment to sustainability. New experiences like Rústico also allow us to further explore culinary collaborations, including connections with chefs and hospitality professionals from Mexico and beyond.

Has Michelin Green Star recognition changed the way you’re perceived, or boosted reservations?

Receiving our first Michelin Green Star in 2024, and each subsequent year, has been an incredible honor because it recognizes something that has always been central to Acre: our commitment to sustainability. It has certainly reinforced our reputation as a destination for thoughtful, farm-to-table dining and highlighted the care that goes into everything from our on-site biodynamic garden and beehives to our responsible sourcing practices. For our guests, sustainable practices are just as crucial to them when deciding where to dine and stay as they are to us.

What makes mixology at Acre special?

Every cocktail begins with the land itself. Inspired by Baja culture and shaped by our on-site biodynamic garden, the cocktail program uses freshly harvested herbs, fruits, roots and vegetables to create drinks that are seasonal, expressive and deeply connected to their surroundings.

Perfect 10 cocktail at Acre
Mixology is a specialty at Acre’s bar, with offerings that include a 10th anniversary Perfect Ten cocktail. (Acre Resort)

Rather than relying on imported syrups or pre-made ingredients, our bar team lets what’s growing on the property guide the menu, so it naturally evolves throughout the year. Through our “Sips from the Orchard” program, we also embrace zero-waste techniques like fermentations, clarified juices, shrubs and repurposing fruit peels and leaves, giving ingredients a second life while creating cocktails that are both innovative and rooted in a true sense of place.

What’s the one thing that everyone who visits Acre should try?

If there’s one thing everyone should try during a visit to Acre this year, it’s The Perfect Ten cocktail. Created to celebrate our 10th anniversary, it captures everything that makes Acre special by showcasing ingredients grown and produced right here on the property. The cocktail features our limited-edition La Tierra de Acre mango mezcal, made with mangoes from our orchard, alongside on-site honey, a honey and turmeric shrub, and a touch of bubbles. It’s fresh, vibrant and reflects the connection between our farm, our bar and the land that has shaped Acre over the past decade.

Classes and special events

What are some of the coolest experiences or classes being offered right now?

There’s always something new happening at Acre, but one of the things that makes the property so unique is the variety of hands-on experiences available through Acre Academy. Guests and locals can enjoy everything from jewelry, candle, pottery and painting workshops to Huichol art, textile painting, organic cosmetics and incense-making classes. We also offer cooking classes with our chefs and mixology experiences led by our expert bartenders. Recently, we introduced monthly wellness days that invite guests to slow down and reconnect with nature through a full day of restorative experiences, including yoga, a cold plunge, massages, brunch at Acre Restaurant and Cocktail Bar and access to the property.

Cooking classes at Acre in Los Cabos
In addition to its popular cooking classes, Acre offers classes in a range of activities, from jewelry making to painting. (Acre Resort)

This summer, we’ve introduced several seasonal offerings, including a new eight-course Baja-inspired brunch with live music and craft cocktails, the return of our popular Taco Tuesdays with bottomless tacos, and a special mango-inspired menu in August celebrating fruit from our on-site mango trees. Guests can also enjoy a limited-time mango mezcal cocktail and our special-edition 10th anniversary mango mezcal.

How did the animal collection and dog adoption efforts come about?

Acre’s animal collection began in a very organic way, thanks to co-founder Cameron Watt’s daughter, Rachael. She started bringing in lost, abandoned and sometimes injured animals, and her ability to rehabilitate them quickly became known among the community. As the animals began to thrive, they became an important part of the Acre family and helped shape the unique spirit of the property.

This passion for animal care evolved into Acre Dogs, the on-site rescue and adoption program operated in partnership with Acre Animal Rescue. Since 2017, the initiative has rescued hundreds of dogs from the streets of Los Cabos and helped connect them with adopters across North America. Guests can spend time with adoptable dogs, take them on walks around the property and help socialize them during their stay.

What are the long-term plans for Acre and are there any new features or services in development?

Acre is always evolving, but the long-term vision remains focused on creating thoughtful, immersive experiences that connect guests with the property’s natural surroundings. This summer, we’re excited to introduce Tranquilo Spa, a new wellness offering featuring four treatment cabins, a signature wet room and an expanded menu of massages, body wraps, scrubs and beauty treatments. Many treatments will incorporate local ingredients from the on-site orchard, including the Nopal Detox, a two-hour ritual featuring organic Nopal cactus. We’ll also soon introduce Nido, a new intimate dining space for couples and small groups of up to six guests, featuring a special five-course tasting menu.

Are there any upcoming events or things which our readers might be interested in?

Goats climbing trees at Acre in Los Cabos
Acre is a sanctuary for lost, abandoned and injured animals, including several agile goats. (Acre Resort)

There are several exciting experiences on the horizon that we think readers would enjoy. In August, we’re celebrating National Dog Month with a special dog-friendly “Farm Dog Taco” on our popular Taco Tuesday menu, with a portion of proceeds benefiting Acre Dogs, our on-site rescue and adoption program.

This fall, we’ll also host a Halloween Dog Costume Contest on Oct. 31, featuring festive food, photo opportunities and plenty of fun for dogs and their owners. The following evening, on Nov. 1, guests can experience one of Acre’s most anticipated annual traditions: Día de Muertos, when the property is transformed with traditional altars, marigolds, papel picado, themed cocktails and other authentic celebrations of the holiday.

We’re also looking forward to welcoming guests back to Rústico when it reopens for the season in November. Located in the heart of our circular garden, it offers an intimate farm-to-table dining experience with a prix-fixe menu and cocktails inspired by ingredients grown just steps away. Rústico also serves as an authentic gathering space for private dining and events, which include a rotating series of various chef and winemaker pop-ups.

Chris Sands is a writer and editor for Mexico News Daily, and the former Cabo San Lucas local expert for the USA Today travel website 10 Best and writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook. He has also contributed to numerous other websites and publications, including The San Diego Union-Tribune, Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, Forbes Travel Guide, Porthole Cruise and Travel, and Cabo Living. 

Mexico is attracting more tourists — but they’re spending less

By
MND Staff
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tourists in Rosarto restaurant
While it's always nice to welcome visitors, the increasing trend toward more arrivals who spend less per capita than before is worrying analysts, given the tourism sector´s key role in the Mexican economy. (Cuartoscuro)

Although Mexico continues to receive a growing number of international visitors, tourists are spending less during their stay.

Confirming the higher volume-lower value trend, the consulting firm Gemes Consultores reported that international tourist arrivals increased by 5.3% between January and May compared with the same period of 2025, but tourism revenue fell 0.4% as average spending per visitor fell 4.9%.

Acapulco
Acapulco is a favorite getaway for Mexico residents but it’s also the type of beach destination that is popular with the higher-spending visitors who tend to arrive in the country by air. Current data indicates, however, that it’s precisely those air arrivals that are decreasing in number in favor of thriftier border-crossers by land.
(Carlos Alberto Carbajal / Cuartoscuro.com)

The firm cautioned that Mexico is increasingly becoming a mass tourism destination, rather than one focused on higher-spending visitors.

Another data source, the International Travelers Survey (EVI) conducted by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), broadly reflects the same trend. Mexico received 8.36 million international travelers in May, but total visitor spending fell 0.6%, while average spending per tourist slipped 4.9%, from US $626 to US $596.

“We are receiving a relatively larger number of low-spending tourists and, in relative terms, fewer high-spending tourists,” Gemes Consultores told news outlet Imagen Radio. 

Gemes Consultores attributed the change to the increase in border tourism which has taken ground away from air arrivals.

Air tourism — the highest spending sector at US $1,310.70 per person — accounted for 47.9% of visitors between January and May, down 58.1% compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, border tourism — which spends significantly less at US $117 —  increased its share from 39.5% to 44.8%.

In May alone, international air arrivals declined by 9.0%, driven largely by a U.S. market contraction of 12.4%, which Gemes identifies as the main driver behind the decline.

“This contraction is the primary factor explaining the overall performance of air arrivals during the first five months, with a 4.5% drop,” the company said.

This downward trend aligns with other recent indicators in the sector. Tourist hotspots like Los Cabos, Cancún, and Puerto Vallarta are facing a decline in high-spending tourism, amid reduced air connectivity, shifts in travel preferences and increased competition from destinations in Europe and Asia. 

The decline in international air arrivals has also generated concerns among airlines and industry analysts, since travelers arriving by air typically spend more than border visitors.  

“It is urgent to reverse this situation and implement effective strategies to reactivate the arrival of tourists by air,” Gemes Consultores concluded. 

Mexico News Daily

Morena rolls out anti-corruption screening for 2027 candidates

By
MND Staff
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Ariadna Montiel
The two checks, or filters, will seek to detect any criminal links potential candidates may have as well as determine whether they have committed any crimes, such as violence against women. (Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)

Morena, Mexico’s ruling party, will use a “double filter” to ensure that its candidates in the 2027 elections have no criminal links and have not committed any other offenses.

Morena President Ariadna Montiel announced the measure at a press conference on Tuesday, explaining that one check on potential candidates will be conducted by the party itself while another is set to be carried out by the federal government’s Security Cabinet, if it agrees to do so.

Montiel said that everyone vying to represent Morena at federal, state and municipal elections in 2027 will have to pass both checks in order to be ratified as candidates. That includes people seeking the office of governor, federal deputy, state deputy, mayor and other municipal positions, she said.

“Each and everyone” will have to pass the filters, Montiel said.

“We’re talking about just over 20,000 primary and substitute candidates,” she said.

The two checks, or filters, will seek to detect any criminal links potential candidates may have as well as determine whether they have committed any crimes, such as violence against women.

Montiel said that people selected as candidates by Morena will also be subjected to criminal checks undertaken by the National Electoral Institute (INE). For Morena candidates, that check will serve as a third filter. The Federal Attorney General’s Office and the Finance Ministry’s Financial Intelligence Unit will assist the INE in its review process. All political parties have the option of asking the INE to conduct checks on their potential candidates, in addition to carrying out their own internal processes.

Morena’s decision to use a double filter to assess the propriety of political aspirants comes almost three months after the unsealing of an indictment in which U.S. prosecutors accuse several Morena party politicians, including Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya and Senator Enrique Inzunza, of drug trafficking in league with the Sinaloa Cartel.

Enrique Inzuna Cazarez, a Morena senator who represents Sinaloa in federal Congress
Morena senator Enrique Inzunza Cazarez is accused of drug trafficking. (morena.senado.gob.mx)

How will Morena’s ‘double filter’ work? 

Montiel said that Morena will first use “open sources” to check whether potential candidates have engaged in criminal conduct or any other unbecoming behavior including “frivolities” that are incongruent with the party’s “principles.”

Those open sources include social media accounts of potential candidates.

“In open sources you can have access to … a good part of all of our lives,” Montiel said.

Morena officials will also examine letters that land on the desk of Montiel, who became national leader of the party founded by ex-president Andrés Manuel López Obrador in May.

“People send me little letters and one finds out about things that one probably wouldn’t find out about otherwise,” the Morena president said.

Regarding the second filter, Montiel said that Morena would ask the Security Cabinet, a group of top federal security officials, to “support us with the review.”

She said that review would be conducted “within the framework” of the Security Cabinet’s “powers” and in accordance with the law.

Montiel noted that there is an online “platform” with information on “everyone” who has been arrested and convicted of committing a crime.

She said that potential Morena candidates “already know” that their past and present conduct will be thoroughly examined. Any political aspirants considered unsuitable “won’t be candidates,” Montiel said.

If someone has done “improper things, he or she won’t be allowed to contest an election as a Morena candidate, she said.

Morena — which is Mexico’s dominant political party, governing at the federal level and in 23 of the 32 federal entities — and the federal Security Cabinet will have to carry out their checks of political aspirants relatively quickly as the formal “electoral process” for the June 2027 elections will commence in September.

With reports from Animal Político, El Heraldo de México and Milenio

Guelaguetza, Oaxaca’s world renowned ethnic festival, gets underway

By
MND Staff
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Guelaguetza
The opening day presentation of the statewide Guelaguetza festival featured performances from communities including Ciudad Ixtepec, San Juan Bautista Tuxtepec and Santiago Pinotepa Nacional. (gob.mx)

A packed house of more than 11,000 people was on hand Monday for the opening of the 94th edition of Oaxaca’s famous Guelaguetza festival.

The first Monday on the Hill kicked off what is widely considered Latin America’s largest ethnic celebration, with 13 delegations from across the state presenting dances, music and regional customs.

Guelaguetza
The opening Monday on the Hill show took place in the specially built outdoor amphitheater inaugurated in the 1970s and renovated 2008-2010. There will be another Monday on the Hill on July 27. (gob.mx)

The festivities took place in the Guelaguetza Auditorium, an open-air amphitheater built in the 1970s on the slope of Cerro del Fortín above Oaxaca’s historic center. 

Modernized and renovated from 2008 to 2010, the facility will also host a second Lunes del Cerro (Monday on the Hill) on July 27 — part of the closing stretch of the festival, even as side fairs and events continue.

As in 2025 and years past, the opening show focused on the traditions and music of Oaxaca’s 16 Indigenous peoples and Afro-Mexican communities.

Enid Azucena Torres Agustiniano — a nursing student, cyclist and activist for Afro-Mexican rights — was chosen by the state’s Ministry of Culture and Arts as the festival’s official ambassador, Goddess Centéotl.

The first Afro-Mexican woman to serve in that role, Torres is originally from Santiago Pinotepa Nacional in the Costa Chica area, a corridor on the coast of Oaxaca and Guerrero with some of Mexico’s highest concentrations of Afro-Mexican communities.

“Being Afro-Mexican is not something to hide,” Torres told the audience. “It is something to honor and live with dignity.”

Opening day featured performances from communities including Ciudad Ixtepec, San Juan Bautista Tuxtepec and Santiago Pinotepa Nacional. Signature moments included a sing-along of “Dios Nunca Muere” and closing dances that drew standing ovations.

“Oaxaca is a melting pot of our country’s cultures,” Federal Tourism Minister Josefina Rodríguez Zamora said in a press release. “Here, our history, our traditions and the pride of our people come alive.”

The festival traces its roots to a Zapotec ritual known as Daninayaaloani, or Hill of the Beautiful View, in honor of Centéotl, the corn goddess. As part of that ritual, people gathered over eight days to share offerings, eat and dance.

In the Zapotec language, “Guelaguetza” refers to reciprocal offerings — a tradition of giving and sharing within the community.

Officials said the current festivities, running throughout the month of July, include more than 140 events statewide, from fairs and parades to gastronomic and artisanal exhibitions.

Tourism officials said they expect about 149,000 visitors, an economic impact exceeding 668 million pesos (US $38.4 million) and average hotel occupancy of 83%.

With reports from Infobae, El Universal Oaxaca, Político MX and Reporte Indig

Guadalajara residents receiving contaminated water will get an 80% discount on their bills

By
MND Staff
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The 80% discount eliminates all charges for the supplying of water. The other 20% is for services such as sewage and drainage. (Claudio Schwarz / Unsplash)

Guadalajara households are eligible for an 80% discount on their water bills once they’re verified as having been affected by the contaminated water problem plaguing the state capital.

The discount, approved Monday by the Jalisco state Congress, will apply until December 15  to approximately 600 neighborhoods and as many as 750,000 beneficiaries supplied by the Intermunicipal System of Potable Water and Sewerage Services (SIAPA).

Congress will consult with the state Human Rights Commission to determine which neighborhoods have been affected, according to the president of the Finance Commission, Congresswoman Gabriela Cárdenas Rodríguez. 

The Human Rights Commission will report the neighborhoods from which it has received complaints during 2026, with areas being added to the list throughout the year upon their request and with the approval of the SIAPA governing board. 

The decision came after Guadalajara Morena party Councilman José María Martínez delivered a citizen petition to the local Congress on July 13, signed by 31,508 people and titled “If there is no clean water, no payment.” The measure aimed to support families who have not been provided with the water quality and hygiene standards they are entitled to by law.

The discount has been set at 80% because the remaining 20% of the user fee to SIAPA contributes to the operation of non-water services, such as drainage, sewage and other sanitary infrastructure.

To receive the discount, users must meet the following conditions:

  • Live in a neighborhood included in the list of affected areas.
  • Have been receiving poor-quality or cloudy water.
  • Have a monthly consumption of up to 25 cubic meters.
  • Be a residential or small business user.
  • Not belong to the industrial sector or be a large consumer.

During the same session, the Finance Committee approved another initiative to eliminate 100% of the late fees generated by outstanding water bills. 

Also, Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro has outlined an investment of 100 million pesos (US $5.7 million) for the use of portable water treatment plants, which will rotate across different areas of the city to provide clean drinking water to affected neighborhoods.

With reports from La Jornada, N+ Noticias and Eje Central

El Jalapeño: Hummingbirds lead a very ‘unhealthy’ lifestyle, says Mexico’s Health Ministry

By
El Jalapeno
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Hummingbirds are unhealthy and "unhinged" due to their poor diet, says a new report from Mexico's Health Ministry. (This image was generated using AI tools)

All stories in El Jalapeño are satire and not real news. This one was sent in by a reader.

In an unprecedented public advisory released Tuesday, Mexico’s Health Ministry condemned what it called “a reckless, sugar-fueled epidemic sweeping backyards, gardens and hanging feeders nationwide.” In other words, the hummingbird’s diet. This diet, officials said, places the birds at risk for what authors describe as “a lifetime of poor nutritional choices.”

When informed that hummingbirds have evolved over 42 million years to metabolize nectar at extraordinary rates, Dr. Elena Paloma, chair of the advisory panel, responded, “That’s exactly the kind of outdated thinking we’ve been trying to overcome.”

The hummingbird’s excessive intake of sugar is almost certainly why it beats its wings so fast, say health officials. (This image was generated using AI tools)

The 312-page report, “Hummingbirds: The Hidden Dangers of Nectar Dependency,” states that hummingbirds derive nearly 99% of their daily calories from sugar water and flower nectar while consuming “woefully inadequate amounts of kale, quinoa and lean poultry.”

“We’re done pretending this is ‘nature’ and not a public health emergency,” the report states.

The report also notes, with alarm, that a hummingbird’s heart can beat up to 1,200 times per minute. The Health Ministry attributes this not to one of the most extraordinary metabolic adaptations in the animal kingdom, but to “an all-carb diet finally catching up to them.”

Environmental groups expressed concern that the report unfairly stigmatizes hummingbirds. “They flap their wings up to 80 times a second,” said one ornithologist. “By lunchtime, they’ve burned enough calories to power a small drone.”

The advisory acknowledges this but notes that “exercise alone cannot compensate for poor dietary habits,” citing studies of office workers who occasionally use the stairs. Recommended interventions include: mandatory nutrition labels on nectar listing “added sugars” in bold red letters; a national campaign urging Mexicans to fill feeders with a “more balanced” ratio of sugar water, electrolytes and vitamins; and warning labels on flowers reading, “This bloom may contribute to excessive wing-flapping.”

Early field trials have yielded mixed results. “We filled our feeder with cucumber-infused electrolyte water,” said one volunteer. “The hummingbirds looked at it for about three seconds and then flew across the street to our neighbor’s house.”

Several violet-crowned hummingbirds observed near a patch of trumpet vine declined to comment, choosing instead to hover silently before accelerating from 0 to 30 miles per hour in approximately half a heartbeat.

Manufacturers of hummingbird feeders have pledged to cooperate by adding warning labels:

“Warning: Frequent consumption of sugar water may contribute to rapid wing movement, hyperactivity and an irresistible attraction to brightly colored tubular flowers.”

The Health Ministry said its next report will examine the dependence of monarch butterflies on milkweed, ocelots on tropical rodents and jaguars on peccaries, warning that “dietary diversity is essential, even when evolution strongly suggests otherwise.”

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Greer joins USMCA talks in Mexico City to push for stronger automotive rules of origin

By
MND Staff
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Jamieson Greer
Jamieson Greer is in Mexico from Wednesday, July 22, to Friday, July 24, to continue bilateral discussions related to the Joint Review of USMCA. (@USTradeRep/X)

The U.S. government, which announced on July 1 that it had declined to renew the United States-Mexico-Canada-Agreement (USMCA) in its current form, is seeking stronger automotive sector rules of origin (ROOs) in the North American free trade pact.

In a report submitted to U.S. Congress this month, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated that his office, the USTR, “intends to examine carefully the USMCA’s automotive rules of origin to identify areas where stronger rules can directly benefit U.S. manufacturers and workers.”

According to the USTR, the United States’ trade deficit in autos and parts with Mexico reached US $138.2 billion in 2024. (Cuartoscuro)

In the foreword of the same report — titled “Report to Congress on the Operation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement with respect to Trade in Automotive Goods” — Greer said that “the automotive industry remains a significant contributor to the U.S. and North American economies” and “the USMCA has had a positive impact on the global competitiveness of the regional auto industry.”

“… Yet, the United States has run a persistent, substantial, and growing trade deficit in autos and parts with Mexico for over 30 years,” the U.S. trade representative stated.

“In 2024, that deficit peaked at [US] $138.2 billion. In recent years, analysis indicates that the share of U.S. content within Mexico’s automotive exports to the United States has been declining, while the share of Chinese or other Asian content in those goods has been increasing.”

In the July 1 report, the USTR stated that the North American automotive industry “has faced external supply chain shocks, increased competitive pressures from China, and evolving U.S. trade policy.

“Further, evidence shows that U.S. content in vehicles produced in Mexico and Canada is declining, while automotive trade deficit with Mexico remains persistently large. The 2026 USMCA Joint Review will provide the United States the opportunity to assess and strengthen the USMCA automotive ROOs to incentivize the use of additional U.S. and North American content,” the USTR said.

“… In 2017, industry estimated 85 percent of the auto parts content for vehicles built in Canada originated in the United States, and more than 60 percent of the auto parts content of vehicles assembled in Mexico originated in the United States. But in 2024, industry reported that the estimated U.S.-origin content of vehicles built in Canada and Mexico dropped to 50 and 35 percent, respectively,” Greer’s office stated.

In an article published on Wednesday under the headline “U.S. insists on strengthening USMCA rules of origin,” the newspaper El Economista wrote that the USTR was seeking to bolster automotive ROOs in the three-way trade pact even though the rules are already “the strictest of any trade agreement in the world.”

In its report, the USTR noted that the USMCA “raised regional value content (RVC) requirements to 75 percent for passenger vehicles and light trucks, compared to 62.5 percent under the NAFTA,” the North American Free Trade Agreement that was superseded by the USMCA in 2020.

In accordance with the USMCA, clearing the 75% RVC threshold is one necessary condition for the tariff-free trade of vehicles within North America. However, U.S. President Donald Trump — who is determined to protect and grow the U.S. auto industry — last year imposed 25% tariffs on vehicles made in Mexico and Canada. The U.S. content in those vehicles — but not regional content — is exempt from the tariff, lowering the effective duty for most cars exported to the U.S. from Mexico.

Despite the United States’ decision not to extend the USMCA until 2042, the free trade pact remains in effect.

US tells Mexico it will not renew the USMCA trade agreement

However, it is now set to be reviewed on an annual basis until 2036, although the three signatories can decide at any time to extend it for an additional 16 years.

Mexico-US trade talks continue in CDMX 

The focus on possible changes to automotive ROOs in the USMCA comes as Mexican and U.S. officials engage in USMCA review talks in Mexico City. Mexico’s top USMCA negotiator, Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard, is already participating in the bilateral discussions, which began Monday, and Greer is set to join them.

“Ambassador Jamieson Greer will travel to Mexico from Wednesday, July 22, to Friday, July 24, to continue bilateral discussions related to the Joint Review of USMCA,” the USTR said in a statement last week.

“During the bilateral meetings, Ambassador Greer and Secretary Ebrard will discuss a range of topics including steel and aluminum and derivative products, automobiles, economic security, labor, agriculture, and electronic payment services,” the USTR said, noting also that Greer will meet with President Claudia Sheinbaum at the National Palace. That meeting is scheduled for this Thursday.

One of Mexico’s main aims in its negotiations with the United States is to secure the reduction — if not the elimination — of U.S. tariffs that currently apply to Mexican vehicles, steel and aluminum. Among the measures the Mexican government has taken that could help it secure concessions from its northern neighbor is the imposition on Jan. 1 of new and higher tariffs on imports from China and other countries with which it doesn’t have free trade agreements. The government reported on Monday that the new tariffs approved by Congress in December 2025 had reduced imports across 1,463 product categories by 23.2% between January and May. The most impacted country is China.

Underscoring the United States’ desire to strengthen automotive ROOs in the USMCA, Greer said on Wednesday that doing so was a “key objective,” according to reporting by the news agency Reuters.

However, the U.S. trade representative, who appeared before the U.S. Senate Finance Committee in Washington, D.C., before departing for Mexico, said that the resolution of the automotive ROOs issue would “take a little more time” and involve discussions with U.S. Congress “in the following year.”

However, Greer said he hoped to strike ​some interim trade agreements with Mexico and Canada this year, according to Reuters.

“We are moving with all due speed on this,” he said.

Reuters reported that Greer “did not specify what separate ‘potential interim arrangements'” with Mexico and Canada “would look like, but said he wanted ​to have options for Trump, Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to consider by the end of this year.”

Sheinbaum said last Thursday that at this week’s talks with the U.S., Mexico would be aiming to “reach some agreements that give us greater stability in the coming years.”

She has stressed that “at any time,” Mexico, the United States and Canada can agree to extend the USMCA for 16 more years, something that the Mexican and Canadian governments wanted to do this month but which the Trump administration rejected.

Mexico and the United States are each other’s largest trade partners, while Canada is the second-largest market for Mexican exports. Most trade between Mexico and the United States occurs tariff-free under the USMCA, which governs North American trade worth around $2 trillion annually.

With reports from El Economista and Reuters 

Cueva twins dominate Zapopan Diving Cup, cinching gold over China for the first time ever

By
MND Staff
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The 14-year-old Cueva twins are rising stars in the sport of synchronized diving.
The 14-year-old Cueva twins are rising stars in the sport of synchronized diving. (gob.mx)

Mexico has long excelled in diving, and the latest gold-medal triumph of the 14-year-old Cueva twins from the Bajío state of Jalisco demonstrates the country’s potential. 

Mexican divers finished their participation in the 2026 Zapopan Diving Cup, held between July 16 and 19, with 10 medals: three gold, four silver and three bronze. Mía and Lía Cueva Lobato defeated Chinese partners Shan Lin and Yiping Long to win gold in the synchronized 3-meter springboard final, marking the first time the duo had defeated Chinese competitors in an international competition. 

Mexico’s Rut Páez and Yunuen Parra finished in fourth place in the same event.  

“I felt very happy,” said Lía Cueva after receiving her gold medal. “It’s the first time we’ve beaten the Chinese, and it gives us a lot of motivation to do it again at the Olympic Games.”  

“We know we still have a lot of work to do, but I’m convinced that we will continue training very hard so that results like this… become more and more frequent and visible,” added Mía Cueva. “They can expect us at the Olympic Games.” 

The win followed previous success at the World Aquatics Diving World Cup in Jalisco’s capital of Guadalajara, held in April 2025, in which the Cueva twins took silver in the women’s 3-meter synchronized springboard final.

Meanwhile, Mexicans Randal Willars and Kevin Berlín delivered a strong performance on the men’s synchronized 10-meter platform, beating Great Britain and Colombia to take the gold medal, with a score of 414.72 points.

In the women’s 10-meter platform event, Mexico’s Suri Cueva took the silver medal, with 303.10 points, while Samantha Jiménez took bronze with 302.15 points. China’s Zhixin Qu took first place with 369.40 points.

The Metropolitan Aquatic Center hosted representatives from nine countries in preparation for the Santo Domingo 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games, to be held from July 24 to August 8. On Monday, President Sheinbaum presided over an official send-off for the more than 600 athletes who will compete across disciplines including diving, archery, gymnastics, boxing and more. 

With reports from Cronica and Grupo Animal

México state security strategy has slashed homicides in half: Wednesday’s mañanera recapped

By
MND Staff
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robocop Ceci
"Ceci" will support state police video surveillance, coordinated monitoring, facial recognition, license plate recognition, handling 911 calls and cases of violence against women. (Saúl López/Presidencia)

Sheinbaum’s mañanera in 60 seconds 

  • 📍Mañanera held in Toluca: President Sheinbaum took her Wednesday press conference to Toluca, capital of México state, Mexico’s most populous state with around 17 million residents.
  • 📉 Homicides down sharply in México state: National Public Security System chief Marcela Figueroa reported an average of 2.8 homicides per day in the state in June, a 58% drop compared to September 2024. She said a “unified command” strategy launched in 15 high-crime municipalities last year contributed to the decline.
  • 📅 Lowest homicide rate in 19 years: Figueroa said México state saw an average of 2.9 homicides per day in the first half of 2026, down 31% from 2025’s daily average and 68% below the 2013 rate.
  • 👮 Over 3,300 arrests since Sheinbaum took office: Security Minister García Harfuch said 3,367 people have been detained for high-impact crimes in México state since October 2024, alongside seizures of 1,219 kg of drugs and 819 firearms.
  • 🎯 No timeline on Iván Archivaldo Guzmán capture: Asked how close authorities are to detaining the Chapitos faction leader, García Harfuch declined to speculate, instead pointing to the recent killing of an alleged Culiacán plaza boss as a sign of progress against the faction.
  • ⛓️ El Mayo’s prison transfer uncertain: Asked whether Ismael Zambada could serve his life sentence in a Mexican prison, García Harfuch said that would depend on whether Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office pursues extradition, though a transfer appears unlikely.

Why today’s mañanera matters 

President Claudia Sheinbaum held her Wednesday morning press conference in Toluca, capital of México state.

Located in central Mexico, the state, commonly abbreviated as Edomex, is Mexico’s most populated with just under 17 million residents when the last census was conducted in 2020.

A good number of the state’s 125 municipalities are located in the greater metropolitan area of Mexico City. They include two municipalities that are among the 10 most populated in the country: Ecatepec (1.64 million residents in 2020) and Nezahualcóyotl (1.07 million).

México state is also home to popular tourism destinations including the Teotihuacán archeological site and the magical towns of Valle de Bravo and Malinalco.

Security in the state — Mexico’s fifth most violent in the first half of the year in terms of total homicides — was a key focus at today’s mañanera, with officials presenting the latest data on homicides and arrests.

Like the vast majority of Mexico’s 32 federal entities, México state has seen a significant reduction in its homicide rate this year. Thus, federal and state officials, including Governor Delfina Gómez, who attended today’s mañanera, have statistics to back up their argument that their security initiatives are working.

Sheinbaum standing next to a graph
There were an average of 2.8 homicides per day in the state in June, a 58% drop compared to September 2024. (Saúl López/Presidencia)

Beyond the presentation of the latest security statistics, Sheinbaum’s Wednesday morning press conference was significant as Security Minister Omar García Harfuch responded to questions about Iván Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar, a Sinaloa Cartel leader and son of convicted drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, and about Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a Sinaloa Cartel kingpin who on Monday was sentenced to life in prison in the United States.

Homicides decline significantly in México state   

National Public Security System chief Marcela Figueroa told reporters that the security strategy in México state has prioritized “intelligence, coordination and the territorial presence” of security forces.

She noted that a specific “unified command” strategy was implemented in 15 high-crime municipalities in eastern México state in March 2025, contributing to a reduction in homicides in the state that borders Mexico City to the north, east and west.

Figueroa presented data that showed that there was an average of 2.8 homicides per day in México state in June, a reduction of 58% compared to the daily average in September 2024, the final month of the presidency of Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

She also reported that the homicide rate in México state in the first six months of 2026 was the lowest in the past 19 years. There was an average of 2.9 homicides per day between January and June, a reduction of 31% compared to the daily average across 2025.

Compared to 2013, when there was an average of 9.1 homicides per day, the reduction in the first six months of this year was 68.1%.

Figueroa noted there was an average of 116.1 reported high-impact crimes per day between January and June, a reduction of 19% compared to 2025. Among the offenses classified as high-impact crimes are murder, kidnapping, extortion and violent robbery.

More than 3,300 arrests in México state since Sheinbaum took office 

At the start of his presentation, García Harfuch said that “México state is an example of how the coordination between the three levels of government yields results.”

The security minister also said that since the current government took office in October 2024, it has worked closely with the México state Attorney General’s Office and Security Ministry “to develop investigations, carry out joint operations and detain those who generate violence in the entity.”

“This coordinated work,” García Harfuch said, has resulted in the arrest of 3,300 people who allegedly committed high-impact crimes.

Data he presented showed that the exact number of people arrested between Oct. 1, 2024, and June 30, 2026, was 3,367.

In addition, authorities seized 1,219 kilograms of drugs and 819 firearms in the same period.

“These results reflect a strategy based on intelligence and investigation, but above all operational coordination that has allowed us to disrupt criminal structures, provide faster assistance [when crimes are committed], … detain priority targets and strengthen the safety of Mexican families,” García Harfuch said.

Are authorities closing in on Iván Archivaldo Guzmán?

A reporter for the newspaper Milenio noted that Milenio recently published a report stating that Iván Archivaldo Guzmán, leader of the Chapitos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, is in a “situation of tactical vulnerability and extreme isolation.”

“How close is the security cabinet to detaining Iván Archivaldo?” the reporter asked García Harfuch.

Iván Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar, another of El Chapo’s sons, is a top target of security operations in Sinaloa. (DEA)

“In order not to speculate and say how close or how far [we are from detaining Guzmán], I prefer to talk about the progress the security cabinet has made [in Sinaloa],” the security minister said.

García Harfuch noted that an individual nicknamed “El Texas” — an alleged plaza chief in Culiacán for the Chapitos — was recently killed in a clash with the army in the Sinaloa capital.

The slain man, identified in media reports as Cristhian Guadalupe Pérez Pérez, was one of the “main generators of violence in Culiacán and this entire area,” the security minister said, referring to Sinaloa.

“He was a key person for this organization, for this criminal leader,” he said, referring to Iván Archivaldo and the Chapitos.

García Harfuch said that federal security forces carry out operations in Sinaloa every week “to continue weakening” the Chapitos and “the other faction of the Sinaloa Cartel.”

He was referring to the Mayos faction, which is engaged in a long-running and extremely bloody feud with the Chapitos that intensified after Joaquín Guzmán López, another son of El Chapo, kidnapped El Mayo in July 2024 and forced him onto a private plane that flew him to New Mexico where he, and Guzmán López, were detained by U.S. authorities.

Could El Mayo be transferred to a Mexican prison? 

The same Milenio reporter highlighted that Zambada’s lawyer, Frank Pérez, said in an interview that his client wants to serve his prison sentence in Mexico. He asked García Harfuch whether a transfer to a Mexican prison was possible.

The security minister said that the Federal Attorney General’s Office would have to determine whether or not it would seek the extradition of Zambada, who was also wanted in Mexico when he was arrested in the U.S. two years ago.

A transfer of the 76-year-old drug trafficker to a prison in Mexico appears extremely unlikely.

Joseph Nocella Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said Monday that Zambada would “spend the rest of his life in a U.S. prison, exactly where he belongs.”

El Chapo, who founded the Sinaloa Cartel with El Mayo and others, escaped twice from prison in Mexico, once in a laundry cart in 2001 and again in 2015 via a tunnel that connected to his cell. He is now serving a life sentence in the Florence Supermax prison in Colorado.

By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)

MND Local: New annual report highlights Vallarta Botanical Gardens’ expanding conservation mission

By
Charlotte Smith
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Riverside setting at Vallarta Botanical Gardens
For more than two decades, Vallarta Botanical Gardens has been showcasing, and safeguarding via conservation methods, the natural flora and fauna of western Mexico. (Charlotte Smith)

The Vallarta Botanical Gardens (VBG) has pulled back the curtain on the work taking place beyond its walking trails and colorful displays with the release of its 2025 Annual Report, offering the public a comprehensive look at the organization’s conservation, research and education efforts.

While visitors know the VBG for its orchids, jungle trails and riverside setting south of Puerto Vallarta, the report paints a broader picture of an institution that’s grown into one of western Mexico’s leading centers for plant conservation and environmental stewardship.

The history and scale of Vallarta Botanical Gardens

Vallarta Botanical Gardens entrance south of Puerto Vallarta
The Vallarta Botanical Gardens welcomed nearly 60,000 visitors in 2025, with admission helping to fund its conservation efforts. (Charlotte Smith)

Founded in 2004 on what was then degraded cattle pasture and agave fields, the non-profit VBG was established with a mission to conserve and celebrate unique regional plant biodiversity. More than two decades later, that mission now extends across habitat protection, botanical research, environmental education and sustainable community development.

Among the report’s most striking figures is the scale of the living collection at VBG. More than 1,200 plant species and hybrids are cultivated on the property, making it one of the region’s most significant botanical collections.

Throughout the year, more than 1,000 species flower at different times, creating an ever-changing landscape while providing opportunities to study and preserve rare native plants. The collection includes around 30 species found only in Jalisco, representing roughly 10% of the state’s endemic flora.

As these plants are naturally grown nowhere else in the world, protecting them holds a special significance.

Conservation challenges

Conservation remains at the heart of the VBG mission.

According to the report, the institution maintains at least 60 plant species officially classified by Mexican authorities as being at risk. In addition, more than 250 species in its collection are listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered.

Peacock in Vallarta Botanical Gardens showing iridescent plumage
Protection of habitat and conservation of flora and fauna, both native and non-native, are among the primary missions for the VBG. (Charlotte Smith)

Maintaining these collections is about far more than display. By cultivating threatened species outside their natural habitats, botanical gardens provide an important insurance policy against extinction, preserving genetic diversity that could one day support habitat restoration or species recovery efforts.

Areas of research

For many plants native to western Mexico, collections such as these may become increasingly important as climate change, urban development and habitat loss continue to place pressure on wild populations.

Research is another major focus highlighted throughout the report.

Many native plants from western Mexico have never been extensively cultivated, meaning scientists have limited information about how to propagate and maintain them successfully.

Garden staff conducts ongoing research to understand these species better, developing cultivation techniques that can be shared with botanical institutions and conservation organizations both within Mexico and abroad.

That work has helped establish the Vallarta Botanical Gardens as more than a display garden. It functions as a living laboratory where horticulture, science and conservation intersect, generating knowledge that contributes to the long-term preservation of Mexico’s botanical heritage.

The VBG as an educational tool

Flowers and trees in colorful array at the Vallarta Botanical Gardens
Last year, more than 1,000 schoolchildren were introduced to the diverse flora and fauna of Jalisco by the VBG. (Charlotte Smith)

Education also forms a central part of the organization’s mission.

Each year, thousands of Mexican schoolchildren visit the VBG through environmental education programs designed to foster an appreciation for native ecosystems, biodiversity and conservation.

Hands-on experiences allow students to connect with the natural world while learning about the environmental challenges facing the region and the role they can play in protecting it.

The report also highlights ongoing work beyond the garden gates.

Conservation efforts within the Los Horcones River Basin include habitat protection, watershed conservation and projects aimed at preserving the ecosystems that support countless plant and animal species. These initiatives are made possible through partnerships with local communities, volunteers, members and donors whose support extends the impact of the VBG far beyond its cultivated landscapes.

Visitorship and its importance

Although conservation is its primary mission, the Gardens remain one of Puerto Vallarta’s most visited attractions, welcoming travelers from around the world. Visitor admissions, memberships and donations help fund scientific research, conservation initiatives and educational outreach, creating a model in which tourism directly supports environmental protection.

Vallarta Botanical Gardens priest gnome
Memberships and other forms of community involvement help to support conservation efforts for the VBG. (Charlotte Smith)

The report brings together these achievements in a single publication, offering supporters a clearer understanding of how the organization’s resources are being invested and where its priorities lie for the future. It also serves as an invitation for continued community involvement through memberships, volunteer opportunities and charitable giving.

For many visitors, the Vallarta Botanical Gardens are remembered for spectacular orchids, tropical flowers, hummingbirds and peaceful jungle walks. The 2025 Annual Report reveals another side of the institution. It’s one rooted in scientific discovery, conservation leadership and a long-term commitment to protecting the extraordinary biodiversity of western Mexico.

As environmental challenges continue to grow globally, the report underscores the increasingly important role botanical gardens play. Not simply as beautiful places to visit, but as living museums, research centers and conservation organizations working to safeguard plant life for future generations.

Charlotte Smith is a writer and journalist based in Mexico. Her work focuses on travel, politics and community. You can follow along with her travel stories at www.salsaandserendipity.com.

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