According to the Chinese company's Mexico director, the proposed BYD EV plant would generate 10,000 jobs. (BYD México)
BYD’s proposed operations in Mexico will create around 10,000 jobs, the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer’s local chief told Bloomberg.
Jorge Vallejo, the general director of BYD México, told the news agency last week that the company is in final negotiations over the location of its planned EV plant in Mexico.
Jorge Vallejo, the general director of BYD México, told Bloomberg that the planned BYD EV plant in Mexico would create 10,000 jobs. (BYD México)
He said that an official announcement on the facility is expected in the coming months.
Bloomberg reported that Vallejo didn’t say how many of the approximately 10,000 workers would be directly employed by the BYD plant in Mexico and how many would work for the automaker’s contractors and suppliers.
It noted that a plant with 10,000 workers would employ more people than the facilities of some automakers with an established presence in Mexico.
The country’s largest automotive plant — Volkswagen’s facility in Puebla — employs 6,100 assembly line workers, 5,000 supervisory employees and thousands of other people who handle parts assembly, according to Bloomberg.
Puebla’s Volkswagen manufacturing plant, which has been in operation for 55 years. (Volkswagen México)
Vallejo said that 23 of Mexico’s 32 states have attempted to lure BYD with proposals to host the company’s plant. He said the company has narrowed its options to three states.
Federal officials told Reuters in April that pressure from United States authorities had led the Mexican government to refuse to offer incentives such as low-cost public land and tax cuts to Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers planning to invest in Mexico.
In February, when BYD confirmed it would open a plant in Mexico, Vallejo said that the company was looking at parts of the country where there is already an established automotive sector. He said the automaker was seeking the location with the “best conditions,” taking things such as local infrastructure and the availability of labor into account.
BYD Americas CEO Stella Li told Reuters in February that the Shenzhen-based company would make 150,000 vehicles per year for the Mexican market at its proposed plant.
BYD launched its first hybrid pickup truck model (Shark) in Mexico last month. (BYD México)
“Our plan is to build the facility for the Mexican market, not for the export market,” she said.
Vallejo told Bloomberg that BYD is on track to sell 50,000 vehicles in Mexico this year. In the last quarter of 2023, BYD overtook Tesla as the world’s largest EV manufacturer by sales, but most of its customers are in China.
President-elect Sheinbaum confirmed her support for military control of the country's top civilian security force during the inauguration of new National Guard facilities in Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán, Oaxaca.(lopezobrador.org.mx)
President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum has reiterated her view that the National Guard should be part of Mexico’s military.
At an event with the president on Sunday to inaugurate new National Guard facilities in Oaxaca, Sheinbaum said that starting Oct. 1, it was up to her government to “continue strengthening and consolidating the National Guard as part of the Defense Ministry with the constitutional reform that is before the Congress.”
She will be sworn in as Mexico’s first female president on Oct. 1, while the new Congress — in which the ruling Morena party and its allies will be in a strong position to pass a range of constitutional reforms proposed by AMLO — will commence on Sept. 1.
Therefore, it is possible that recently-elected lawmakers will have approved the proposal to put the National Guard under military command by the time Sheinbaum takes office. To do so, the Morena-led coalition will require the support of a few opposition senators as it fell just short of a two-thirds majority in the Senate.
President-elect Sheinbaum accompanied President López Obrador and military officials at the event Sunday in Oaxaca. (lopezobrador.org.mx)
Sheinbaum said Sunday that the National Guard, “in just five years, already has the recognition of the people of Mexico,” although insecurity remains a problem in various parts of the country and homicide numbers, while declining, are still very high.
She also said that the National Guard, which has more than 130,000 members, “has the objective of … looking after the people of Mexico with discipline, honesty and dedication, [while] providing justice and peace.”
“… Thank you to everyone who is part of this noble institution. Long live the National Guard,” Sheinbaum said during her address at the event held just south of Oaxaca city.
The president-elect, who has previously indicated support for all of the constitutional reform proposals AMLO sent to Congress in February, is committed to maintaining the current government’s security strategy, under which employment and welfare programs seek to address poverty, lack of opportunity and other root causes of crime.
Though the National Guard is not currently under military command, the two security forces regularly work hand-in-hand. (Cuartoscuro)
López Obrador, who has argued that the National Guard needs to be under the control of the military to prevent corruption and guarantee the force’s professionalism, said Sunday that he was very pleased to hear Sheinbaum’s commitment vis-à-vis the security institution his government created.
“You can imagine the pleasure it gave me to hear … the president-elect of Mexico, the soon-to-be constitutional president and commander of the armed forces, announcing a moment ago that the National Guard is going to form part of the structure of the Ministry of National Defense, as it should,” he said.
“It’s very good news,” added the president, who has relied on the military for a broad range of tasks including public security, infrastructure construction and the management of customs, ports and airports.
Amnesty International warned before the National Guard was put under military control in 2022 that doing so would lead to more human rights violations. Opposition parties also opposed the move.
The National Guard, which effectively replaced the now-defunct Federal Police, has been criticized for lacking the capacity to investigate crimes, and the conduct of some of its members has been the subject of criminal investigations. Guardsmen have been accused of a range of crimes including sexual assault, kidnapping and murder.
The peso began to recover this week from its value dipped following Trump's tariff threats. (Shutterstock)
The Mexican peso appreciated to below 18 to the US dollar on Monday morning after data showed that inflation was higher than expected in the first half of June.
Bloomberg data shows that the peso reached 17.88 to the greenback at 11:45 a.m. Mexico City time just hours after the national statistics agency INEGI reported that annual headline inflation in Mexico was 4.78% in the first 15 days of June, up from 4.59% in the previous two-week period and 4.69% across May.
A stubbornly high inflation rate helped boost the peso, as it seems likely the Bank of Mexico will maintain its 11% key rate. (Cuartoscuro)
The currency, which closed at 18.11 to the greenback on Friday, also benefited from a slight general weakening of the dollar.
The inflation rate in the first half of the month is 0.05 percentage points higher than the 4.73% median forecast of analysts surveyed by Bloomberg.
The higher-than-expected reading increases the probability that the Bank of Mexico board — which is targeting 3% inflation — will vote to maintain the central bank’s official interest rate at 11% at its monetary policy meeting this Thursday.
Such a decision would benefit the peso as it would not narrow the differential between the Bank of Mexico’s benchmark interest rate and that of the United States Federal Reserve, currently set at a 5.25%-5.5% range.
The peso has been trending stronger since Sheinbaum announced her cabinet picks last week. (Cuartoscuro)
The peso has benefited for an extended period from the wide gap between official interest rates in the two countries, but it took a hit after the results of the June 2 elections in Mexico put the ruling Morena party in a strong position to approve a package of constitutional reform proposals President Andrés Manuel López Obrador sent to Congress earlier this year.
High prices for fresh produce and services fuel inflation
INEGI data shows that inflation for fruit and vegetables, and services, remains stubbornly high.
Fruit and vegetables were 17.28% more expensive in the first 15 days of the month than in the first half of June 2023.
Annual inflation for agricultural products more broadly was 8.99%. That figure was tempered by the comparatively low 2.46% inflation rate for meat.
The price of some fresh produce increased significantly compared to the previous two-week period, as drought continues to have an impact on food prices.
Chayotes, for example, were 79% more expensive than in the second half of May, while prices for oranges increased 19% and lettuce and cabbage were 15% dearer. Banana prices spiked 11%, while avocados were almost 8% more expensive.
Meanwhile, annual inflation for services was 5.19% in the first half of June, while processed food, beverages and tobacco were 4.28% more expensive.
Electricity prices including gasoline increased 4.74%, while non-food goods were 2.18% more expensive.
The closely-watched annual core inflation rate, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, was 4.17% in the first half of June, up from 4.11% in the second half of May, but down from 4.21% across last month.
Some taco stands are now serving tacos “sin cilantro” due to inflation pushing up the cost of the herb. (Cuartoscuro)
The rate was slightly lower than the 4.18% median forecast of analysts surveyed by Bloomberg.
Jessica Roldán, chief economist at the Finamex brokerage, said that the headline inflation rate was “worse than expected because the reported increase in the fruits and vegetables component was much greater than anticipated.”
The impact of those prices on inflation could “last for longer not only because of the prolonged period of dry weather that we’ve seen, but because in the future other factors — such as stronger rains in parts of the country — could also affect crops,” she said.
Recent depreciation of the peso will also influence Banxico’s rate decision
In addition to inflation — which has been on the rise since March — the Bank of Mexico (Banxico) “must now also consider the upside risks to inflation from the peso’s depreciation,” Bloomberg reported.
Kimberley Sperrfechter, an emerging markets economist at London-based Capital Economics, wrote in a note that “the continued strength in core services inflation in Mexico in the first half of June, combined with the post-election slump in the peso and heightened political uncertainty, means that Banxico is unlikely to restart its easing cycle at Thursday’s Board meeting.”
Gabriela Siller, director of economic analysis at Mexico’s Banco Base, believes that a majority of the central bank’s board will vote to maintain the 11% interest rate due to factors including the recent depreciation of the peso.
“The quick depreciation of the peso could generate inflationary pressures, but they’re not always of the same magnitude, so it would be prudent to wait and see,” she said.
“Going forward, we think … [the Banxico board is] going to cut twice more in the year, but toward the end of the year, when conditions are better,” Siller said.
An incident involving USDA employees on June 14 prompted inspections to be paused in Michoacán. (Juan José Estrada Serafín/Cuartoscuro)
The governor of Michoacán Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla and U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar confirmed on Monday that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will resume inspections of avocado and mangos in the state after a ten-day suspension following an incident that threatened two USDA employees.
Governor Ramírez also said that officials from both governments had agreed on a new security model for the avocado export sector.
The suspension cost local avocado growers approximately US $52 million. (Juan José Estrada/Cuartoscuro)
Why did the USDA suspend avocado and mango inspections?
Two USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) inspectors were reportedly detained and/or attacked during a road blockade in Aranza, a town in the municipality of Paracho, Michoacán on June 14. In response, the USDA paused avocado and mango inspections and the State Department reissued its Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory for the state.
When will inspections resume?
On Friday, Salazar issued a statement saying APHIS employees would gradually return to packing plants in Michoacán.
“It’s still necessary to make progress to guarantee the safety (of the health safety inspectors) before we can achieve full functioning,” Salazar said in his Friday statement.
Salazar traveled to the state capital of Morelia on Monday to meet with Governor Ramírez Bedolla and private sector representatives to discuss the security issues, concluding with a press conference announcing the lifting of the suspension.
Michoacán Governor Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla downplayed the incident cited by the U.S. government, in its decision to pause avocado inspections, saying that the two inspectors were caught up in a civil demonstration and were never in real danger. (Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla/Twitter)
Mexico’s Agriculture Minister Victor Villalobos thanked Salazar in a post on X, saying that “this reflects what can be achieved working together for a common goal: the well-being of producers, workers and inspectors, their families and communities; as well as the environment and its natural resources.”
AMLO weighs in on the suspension
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador criticized the suspension during his Monday morning press conference.
“We’d prefer that the U.S. government avoid unilateral actions. We’re on good terms … that’s not the way to handle things,” López Obrador said. “Why such high-handedness? We could have talked this through instead of halting exports.”
The president dismissed the alleged attack as a minor incident but said he respects the way the U.S. government works. Despite complaining that “this sets a poor precedent,” he did express gratitude toward Ambassador Salazar for working to resolve the issue quickly.
How much have avocado and mango producers been affected?
Representatives of the avocado export industry said the suspension — which didn’t affect fruit exports already in transit, but did halt other exports — cost growers approximately US $52 million, according to the newspaper La Jornada.
Exporters claim that the damage was particularly severe since demand for avocados increases ahead of the July 4 U.S. Independence Day celebrations, even more so than for the annual NFL Super Bowl game in February.
Avocados are a top Mexican agricultural export to its northern neighbor worth billions of dollars each year. The state of Michoacán is Mexico’s No. 1 avocado producer and exporter.
Mango producers say they lost roughly US $30 million, claiming that about 5,000 tonnes of mango were affected.
Producers in Michoacán say the security concerns are not limited to U.S. inspectors. Farmers in the state have long dealt with extortion rackets perpetrated by powerful organized crime groups seeking to profit from the lucrative trade.
Is Mexico now the obvious choice for anyone considering dental work? Two industry professionals spoke with Mexico News Daily to share their views on orthodontics in the country. (Pexels)
Tatiana Rivera Kubert resides in Tijuana, Baja California. For the past 22 years, she has dedicated her career to working as an odontologist specializing in Restorative Dentistry. She describes her profession as her passion. “I really care about my patients, about making them feel happy and comfortable, about giving them back their self-confidence, making them smile again: making them feel that we are going to solve their problem together,” she says. Riviera currently works at the Smile Forever clinic in Tijuana, Baja California.
Javier Muñiz Pérez is also a dentist, located in nearby Los Algodones, Mexicali, a region known for having one of the highest concentration of dentists per square meter. “You can find up to 300 dental clinics within 2 blocks,” Muñiz told Mexico News Daily.
Tatiana Rivera Kubert specializes in Restorative Dentistry and has 22 years of experience in the field. (Smile Forever)
With 16 years of experience in dentistry, Muñiz’s journey began with a degree from California State University. Presently, he serves as the director of Sani Dental Group in Los Algodones.
Both Rivera and Muñiz spoke with Mexico News Daily to delve deeper into why Mexico is an ideal destination for dentistry and how it offers high quality, service, technology, and more.
Why Mexico is an ideal destination for dentistry
Mexico has become a top destination for patients looking for high quality, affordable dental care. (Caroline Lm/Unsplash)
As reported by the Mexican newspaper El Economista in 2023, Mexico secured the second position in global dental tourism due to its competitive pricing and quality services. The cost of treatment in Mexico is between 50% and 70% lower than that in the United States, Canada or Europe. In 2019 alone, Americans spent over US $5 billion on dental procedures abroad, a number that continues to rise.
The proximity of Mexico to the United States and Canada is not the only reason for this upsurge. The quality and technology utilized by Mexican dentists is globally recognized, and service in the country is often perceived as more friendly and personal.
“The quality is on par, if not better [than in the United States] with prices sometimes three times lower than in the U.S. The warmth of the care provided is notably different compared to the U.S.,” explains Rivera.
She continues: “In the USA, you are greeted by multiple staff members who attend to various tasks at different times, with the dentist only spending about 5 minutes with you. There is limited direct communication with the dentist, whereas, in Mexico, we have much more interaction. I believe the care is more human and comprehensive right from the start; it is a more individualized approach.”
Muñiz agrees. “In Mexico, we offer a comprehensive range of dental services with consistent technical excellence. We have access to all necessary supplies, and our dentists are highly skilled due to the exceptional academic standards,” he adds.
When it comes to technology and education, Mexico’s dentists “receive excellent training and Mexico’s universities uphold high academic standards. We have access to cutting-edge materials and modern technology that can rival any in the world,” Rivera says. “Our educational quality, materials, and resources are on par with international standards; many materials are sourced from Europe and Japan. The dental sector remains current with numerous conferences, courses, and certification programs available in Mexico.”
Recommendations for choosing your dentist or clinic
Javier Muñiz believes that in Mexico, educational quality, materials, and resources are on par with international. standards (Sani Dental Group)
It is always important to ensure you select a location that prioritizes quality. It is also crucial to verify references. “Online reviews are highly valuable as they offer objective insights that can guide your decision making process,” Rivera emphasizes.
Muñiz underscores the significance of confirming that the clinic possesses the necessary documentation. “Ensure that they have their accreditations, including the general dentistry and specialist certificates. Each clinic should prominently display its operation notice and have a designated health officer. Additionally, professionals need to stay current with ongoing education and certifications, which are typically renewed every four years and can be requested by patients.”
Regarding professionalism and honesty, both professionals emphasize the importance of conveying seriousness and confidence. “It is crucial that the proposed treatment plan is not just what you want to hear but what you genuinely need. A good dentist will always prioritize what is best for your health. You should feel confident that the recommended solution is truly the best for you, not necessarily the most expensive or extensive option. They should communicate effectively, explaining the procedures, reasons behind them, the root cause of your dental issues, and presenting treatment plan options,” Rivera explains.
Both agree that Mexico provides a level of personalized attention that is highly valued by foreign patients. “Here, we dedicate ample time to each patient, ensuring a detailed explanation of their needs and associated costs,” Riviera proudly states.
Have you had a positive experience with dental treatment in Mexico? Let us know in the comments!
Ana Paula de la Torre is a Mexican journalist and collaborator for various outlets including Milenio, Animal Político, Vice, Newsweek en Español, Televisa and Mexico News Daily.
People often have questions once they find out you live in Mexico. Here are some of the answers to the most common concerns. (Pexels)
It turns out that living in Mexico exposes you to some frequently asked questions by curious acquaintances. While on a recent flight from San Francisco to Chicago to visit my sister, I mentioned to my seatmate, a 40-something accountant, that my husband and I divide our lives between Guanajuato, a city in central Mexico, and Eureka, on California’s North Coast.
“Don’t you worry about the violence in Mexico?” she asked me.
It’s easy to forget that those who haven’t experienced the magic of Mexico first hand might not understand what it is like to live there. (Jorge Gardner/Unsplash)
“No, I don’t,” I said. “I mean, I’m careful, of course, to avoid getting robbed. But otherwise no.”
I kept going. “Of course there’s violence in Mexico, but it’s very different than in the States. The chance that I’d be randomly killed in a mass shooting in a Mexican church, school or a Walmart is next to zero.” (To be fair, the chances in the U.S., though higher, are not very high — but the awareness and anxiety among the public as a whole is dramatically more). I went on to explain that narcotraficos mostly target other cartels, rarely tourists.
Frequent concerns about living in Mexico
She nodded, seemingly satisfied by my explanation. I didn’t keep going, because who wants to put up with a lecture on an airline flight? But in case you need data the next time you’re talking to a Mexico skeptic, there’s more: The violence in Mexico is partly caused by U.S. drug policy and ever-growing consumption of illegal narcotics and the half million traced weapons (between 70% and 90%) smuggled into Mexico every year from the U.S.
Mexico has highly restrictive laws regarding gun possession, and it also takes months of paperwork to purchase a gun legally. To my amazement, there are only two gun stores in the entire country,one near Mexico City and one in the northern state of Nuevo León.
Violence in Mexico is by no means the only issue people raise. Some ask questions that sound a bit negative; others appear concerned for me.Here’s how I respond to the most common questions:
What about personal crime?
Mexicans are very security conscious, so people lock their doors and are careful with their valuables, wallets, and credit cards. On our street in Guanajuato we have a Whatsapp group that alerts fellow neighbors if someone looks suspicious.
But there’s a lot of machismo, right?
While femicide remains a horrifying problem for women in Mexico, the country is significantly safer and less macho than popular media might lead some to believe. (Crisanta Espinosa Aguilar/Cuartoscuro)
Yes, unfortunately, and the statistics around violence against women are truly awful. Three percent of Mexican murder victims are classified as femicide, one of the highest rates in the world.
However, the country is unrivaled in its commitment to gender inclusion and equality. In 2019, Mexico passed a constitutional amendment setting a goal of gender parity in elected and appointed senior positions in the judicial and executive branches of government. The chief justice of the Supreme Court, the leaders of both houses of Congress, and the director of Mexico’s Central Bank are all women. There is no other country that has this kind of requirement — and certainly not the United States.
In addition, Mexico just elected its first female (and Jewish) President, Claudia Sheinbaum, who holds a PhD in energy engineering. If Mexico can elect a female president, you’d think the U.S. could.
Are there a lot of homeless people?
There are some homeless people, naturally, but nowhere I’ve visited are they visible. While in the U.S., and especially on the West Coast, homelessness has become the norm, I have never seen a homeless encampment anywhere in Mexico. The reason is that for the most part, Mexico’s poor live in slums, which can indeed be squalid — but some, surprisingly, have electricity. Even a flimsy structure provides a roof, and a slum is more permanent, with a potentially higher quality of life, than a homeless encampment.
Is it crazy hot?
Rarely, but more than in the past. Certain areas can get very hot and humid. Oddly, April and May have higher temperatures than July and August, because summer is the rainy season when, in theory, afternoon thunderstorms cool things off. However, as with everywhere else in the world, the climate crisis has brought extreme heat and drought to cities that are usually just moderately warm. Since houses are rarely air-conditioned, many expats leave in April and May to avoid the heat.
Is the health care affordable?
All Mexicans have access to universal health coverage thanks to Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social. Private options are also highly affordable when compared to the United States. (IMSS)
Absolutely! Long before the Affordable Care Act, Mexico offered several tiers of subsidized health care. AllMexicans have access to universal health coverage, but reliable health care is limited in remote, rural areas. Even when you pay, though, your bill is dramatically less than in the US, not to mention the fact that you don’t have to contend with the Byzantine system of figuring out what you’re paying for and what the esoteric coding means.
Can you get by without Spanish?
Depends on where. In highly touristic areas, yes, but even there, I wouldn’t advise it.Even a few basic phrases go a long way in earning appreciation and respect from Mexicans.
Do you have decent internet?
It’s much better than in Eureka! Our fiber optic in Guanajuato is super-fast, whereas in remote Eureka (five hours north of San Francisco), it’s slower.
Do tourists get sick from street food?
Moctezuma’s Revenge might be an infamous consequence of eating bad street food, but a little common sense and it is easily avoided. (Instagram)
Not if you do what full-time foreign residents do: follow the locals, who not only know which are the tastiest food puestos (stalls), but also the healthiest.
People who don’t know Mexico, or know it only superficially, often ask insightful questions, and can be very interested in an in-depth conversation. Unfortunately, strangers who don’t know me can assume negative things about the country, making me want to sigh inwardly. But since my goal is to help them come away with a better understanding of Mexico, I do my best to answer respectfully. It can be a challenge, but as we say in Spanish, así es.
Louisa Rogers and her husband Barry Evans divide their lives between Guanajuato and Eureka, on California’s North Coast. Louisa writes articles and essays about expat life, Mexico, travel, physical and psychological health, retirement and spirituality. Her recent articles are on her website, https://authory.com/LouisaRogers
Izamal is everything that is best about the Yucatán and the perfect magic town for day trippers and serious travelers alike. (All photos by Bel Woodhouse)
The other day I was telling a friend about how visiting Izamal, Yucatán was my favorite trip to a pueblo mágico. “Where is this golden city?” she asked.
Travelers and frequent Mexico visitors have likely heard of these amazing magic towns. This is because of their special historical and cultural importance. There are 177 of them throughout Mexico. They’re rich in traditional arts and crafts and are full of beautiful, friendly locals. Plus, they have great food. Which, for a foodie like me, is important.
They are the real Mexico. Mexico’s lesser-visited regions. These smaller, more rural towns are full of welcoming locals, great hospitality, and a million smiles.
These magic towns can be found in every state, and in the Yucatán region, where I live, we’re lucky to have nine — no, ten. Cozumel Island has been named a Pueblo Mágico. So far, I have visited six out of the ten, live in one, and have plans to see the last three as soon as I can.
Out of these ten, Izamal is easily my favorite.
Where is Izamal?
Izamal sits on the Yucatán Peninsula in southeastern Mexico. It is only 45 miles (72 kilometers) east of Mérida, the capital. At less than an hour’s drive and is a popular day trip.
I’ve visited a couple of times and have plans to return again with a friend. Once again, I want to walk the town bathed in the golden glow cast from the saffron-coloured streets. Izamal, Mexico is a photographer’s dream. Being a photographer (my friend is as well), I can’t wait to show her one of the most beautiful towns I’ve ever seen.
She’s going to go bananas over this place (hahaha bananas are yellow, too)!
What’s so great about Izamal?
Where do I start? Every time I arrive in Izamal, something inside me rejoices. The canary-yellow town radiates joy, like looking into the cheery face of a sunflower. But on a town-sized scale.
But it’s more than the elegance of the golden Spanish colonial architecture trimmed in perfect white. It’s a feeling. Like the color can somehow make you happy on the cloudiest of days. Then add in the friendly people. I swear they radiate warmth as well.
What is there to do in Izamal?
I love nature, history, and photography. So, I climbed the pyramid. I explored the San Antonio de Padua Convent, with its stunning architecture. Then, I spent hours wandering the streets taking enough photos to rival a Japanese tourist.
The pyramid, Kinich Kak Moo is Mayan for “the fire macaw with the sun face”. It’s the most important Mesoamerican pyramid located on the edge of town. The plaque is written in Spanish, Mayan, and English.
It’s dedicated to a Sun God. According to legend, he appeared as a fire macaw. He descends daily to collect offerings from the limestone pit, which is now enclosed by the pyramid. Something about this story captures my imagination. Standing on top of the pyramid with Izamal lying at your feet, I can almost see a giant gliding fire macaw soaring the skies. Yes, you can still climb the pyramid, but it’s steep and the view is good from the bottom, too. If you do climb it, make sure to do so with care and take your time.
The church, the San Antonio de Padua Convent, is the crowning glory of the center of town. I love the symmetry of its massive atrium. Golden arches stretch in long lines, revealing impressive scale and grandeur. Fun fact: This atrium is second in size only to the Vatican. Wowsers.
Izamal’s town square is right at the base of the stairs. Here you’ll find small stalls selling souvenirs, great food to grab lunch on the go, or a snack, or my favorite, an ice cream. Along the side, you’ll find a line of horse and carriages. The horses wear fun hats, waiting to take you on a tour of the town. Great if you have mobility issues or don’t feel like walking.
But for me, that’s the magic of Izamal, Mexico. Walking the streets. Smiling back as locals ride past on bicycles, waving like you’re a long-lost friend. Watching the beautiful street lamps flick on at dusk. To see the cheery sunflower of the buildings deepen into an earthier yellow ochre. Day or night, the charm of the architecture gets me every time.
If you visit this gorgeous golden town, please tell me in the comments. I’d love to hear what you liked best about visiting Izamal.
Mexico Correspondent for International Living, Bel is an experienced writer, author, photographer and videographer with 500+ articles published both in print and across digital platforms. Living in the Mexican Caribbean for over 7 years now she’s in love with Mexico and has no plans to go anywhere anytime soon.
Life is better when you have a dog with you. Here's how to make that happen while in Mexico. (Monica Belot)
In many Mexican Cities, a weekend walk through the park will bring you face-to-face with a sight guaranteed to pull at the heartstrings of even the grumpiest of grinches. Pets up for adoption flank the walking paths, meowing, yapping, and napping alongside their brothers and sisters. Several older dogs wear signs saying “Adopt me!” in Spanish. The presence of these hopeful pets in public spaces is a concerted effort by the multitude of rescue organizations in Mexico to match an increasing number of homeless pups with loving owners.
Indeed, many travelers to Mexico have returned home with a canine buddy after falling in love with a friendly stray during a trip. Among them is British actress and activist Emma Watson, who recently shared her positive experience adopting her puppy Sofia from Mexico, calling the pup “an angel, not a dog.”
Sofia became Mexico’s most famous rescue, after being adopted by Harry Potter star Emma Watson. (Emma Watson/Instagram)
Why you should adopt a dog from Mexico
The Wild at Heart Foundation of Mexico estimates over 23 million stray dogs roam the country. In Mexico City alone, authorities have reported capturing and euthanizing a heartbreaking 20,000 dogs per month. Additionally, the lack of comprehensive anti-cruelty laws in the country allows for commonplace neglect and violence towards dogs.
Data from the State of Pet Homelessness Project reveals over 96,000 pups seeking refuge in shelters across Mexico. With one of the highest numbers of homeless animals globally, Mexico significantly surpasses figures in many other nations. Adopting a dog helps save canine lives and enrich our own too.
Mexi-Canine Friends for Everyone
These distressing numbers are not the only reason to consider adopting a pup from Mexico. The sheer number of adoptable dogs in the country allows for a vast variety tailored to one’s lifestyle, needs, and preferences. Options include hairless breeds for those with allergies, high-energy dogs for active families, or calmer temperaments for more laid-back owners.
Due to the abundance of dogs, Mexico is also home to a diverse range of breeds and mixes less commonly found elsewhere. Adopting a dog from Mexico often allows owners to find a truly unique companion with distinct characteristics.
What It’s Like: Adopting Atlas
Meet Atlas. (Adopta MX/Instagram)
My own experience adopting my puppy Atlas from a Mexican rescue has provided useful insights. I’ve learned firsthand that raising a puppy is challenging but rewarding work. It’s a significant responsibility, so ensure you’re well-prepared. Street dogs, in particular, may need time to adjust, but with sufficient love and stability, they can become irreplaceable, adoring family members.
After attending puppy adoption events and browsing Instagram accounts of Mexican rescues, my partner and I came across an Instagram post from @adopta.mx featuring an irresistible Silver Lab mix pup (then called Luke). We instantly fell in love and reached out to the organization to ask about the next steps. They had us complete an application and conduct a brief interview where we demonstrated our preparedness and commitment to raising a puppy. We were approved within a few days.
The Pick-Up
In our case, since we lived in Mexico City, we were able to grab an Uber and head to a small residential town about 45 minutes outside of the city. When we received our pup, he was tiny, skinny, and shaking. He peed on my lap during the ride home.
The following weeks were an anxious whirlwind as first-time puppy parents. We fretted over every detail, wondering if we were providing the proper care. Atlas suffered bouts of diarrhoea, nipped incessantly (as puppies do), and swallowed anything on the floor he could fit in his mouth. In one particularly harrowing incident, I rushed him to the vet in a panic after finding one of my candy colored earplugs in his stool. Despite our worries and with our vet’s guidance, Atlas has grown into a healthy, friendly, and feisty little guy.
Warning: May attempt to eat anything in sight. (Darinka Kievskaya/Unsplash)
The Basics of Adopting a Dog From Mexico – Step by Step:
While there may be some variations, the general process for adopting a dog from Mexico is similar across most rescues. These tips will help guide you through the key steps.
Finding Your Furry Companion:
The process typically begins by finding a credible rescue organization through online searches, social media, or word-of-mouth recommendations. Adoptist, Adopta.mx, Alamos Dog Foundation, Pets.Yuri, and Caravana Canina are good starting points. Thoroughly vetting the rescue is crucial and reputable organizations should have details on the animal’s medical history and behavior, and be able to guide you through the adoption and travel process. If adopting while abroad, select a rescue experienced with sending pets to your country, as they can assist with all the required paperwork, vetting, crates, airport protocols, and customs procedures.
If you’re searching for a pet while outside of Mexico and are unable to meet the pet in advance, be sure to gather as much information as possible to carefully vet whether the dog is the right fit for your family. Ask the rescue for additional details like videos, information on the parents, and behavioral notes.
In cases where you find and fall in love with a stray dog while in Mexico, the requirements differ slightly but adopting is still fairly straightforward. Take the stray to a local veterinarian to have its health assessed and begin the vaccination process. If possible, try partnering with a local rescue to assist with the process or temporarily care for the animal until it can travel to its new home.
Ensuring your new friend has all their vaccinations and is in good health is a vital first step on the road to adoption. (Karlo Tottoc/Unsplash)
Interviews and Paperwork:
Many rescues will require you to fill out a form with questions about yourself and the dog’s future home to ensure it is being placed in a safe environment. They’ll assess if you’re a good fit by asking about previous pet ownership, your preparedness for the responsibility of a dog, reasons for adopting, and your commitment to keeping the pet for life. Other common questions include whether you can provide a comfortable sleeping area and if you are financially stable to care for a dog. Many rescues also request a future commitment to spaying/neutering if the dog is not already sterilized. Some organizations conduct phone or video call interviews, offering an opportunity to ask your questions and demonstrate your readiness to adopt.
Documentation requirements often include an adoption fee or requested donation for a small amount.
Vaccinations and Checkup Requirements:
Most countries mandate a rabies vaccine and health certificate from a veterinarian before entering. Be sure to give yourself enough time to get any vaccines if needed. The health certificate required is typical, similar to a canine’s yearly “physical.” Oftentimes, the veterinarian will give you something called a “carnet” or a passport-like book with a record of the dog’s vaccinations. Be sure to have the original and make an extra copy.
If traveling to the U.S., you’ll need a certificate showing the rabies vaccine was given within 12 months but over 30 days before the flight. Once you show this document, your dog will also need to pass a physical exam.
Bringing Your Dog Home
If adopting a puppy, aim for them to be at least 4 months old to ensure they’ve completed their initial round of vaccinations. Driving is the easiest to avoid the complexity of air travel, but if flying, book the most direct route possible to minimize stress for your canine companion. For most airlines, small dogs may fly in-cabin if their total weight with the carrier is under 20 lbs, otherwise, they’ll ride in a specially allocated cargo space. Be sure to check your airline’s pet policies and your country’s regulations regarding quarantines (which are rare, but sometimes happen).
If you’re adopting a dog from outside of Mexico and cannot pick it up yourself, work with the rescue to arrange a “flight angel” escort. Many rescues have volunteers who assist by accompanying animals on their journey to the new home. You’ll be responsible for covering the airline’s pet fee, any applicable import taxes, and meeting the volunteer escort at your arrival airport to welcome your new furry family member.
Enjoy and Love:
Finally, be sure to enjoy your new canine companion. Let us know about your experience adopting a dog from Mexico in the comments below!
Monica Belot is a writer, researcher, strategist and adjunct professor at Parsons School of Design in New York City, where she teaches in the Strategic Design & Management Program. Splitting her time between NYC and Mexico City, where she resides with her naughty silver labrador puppy Atlas, Monica writes about topics spanning everything from the human experience to travel and design research. Follow her varied scribbles on Medium at https://medium.com/@monicabelot.
Sayulita, Nayarit might just be the perfect weekend break - if you know how to plan it right. (Playa Escondida)
The flap of pale pink, yellow, and turquoise flags cast fluttering shadows on the sandy cobblestone street. Leathery, barefoot surfers meander down sun-drenched sidewalks, surfboards in one hand and fish tacos in another, while straw fedora-clad influencer wannabes in flowing sun dresses pose for “the shot” for Instagram. A cacophony of sputtering golf carts, Spanglish, and banda music fills the air. It’s a crazy melange of cultures, travel styles, and tax brackets in this pocket-sized village. Somehow it’s equal parts laid-back and chaotic here — lovely and messy all at once. This is the weekend guide to getting the most from Sayulita.
Sayulita, a Pueblo Magico on the coast of Riviera Nayarit, is a rite of passage for anyone coming to the Puerto Vallarta area. This once-sleepy fishing village was long a haven for surfers, bohemians, artists, and those looking to venture slightly off the beaten path. Things look a little different these days as Sayulita has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the entire country, a reputation that has brought a mixed bag of results. Business is booming, but the tiny town has suffered from overcrowding, pollution, and overdevelopment.
People might argue over how Sayulita has developed, but it steadfastly remains a sunset surf paradise. (Sally Sees)
Still, Sayulita is a bucket list Mexico experience and an important part of the fabric that makes up the Pacific coast of Mexico. There are ways to do it just right. So, if you’re looking for the perfect insider’s guide to a weekend in Sayulita, you’ve come to the right place.
Friday
To do Sayulita correctly these days, you have to embrace it for what it is — different from how it used to be. Pacific Mexico diehards remember the days when Sayulita was heaven on earth: a small stretch of beach backed by a sandy grid of streets, one main plaza, and a handful of casual beach restaurants and taco stands, quiet evenings, and tons of privacy. Today’s Sayulita is trendy, and, sometimes, overwhelmingly so. You may need to invent another word to describe what Sayulita is today.
Still, to do Sayulita correctly, I recommend booking a room at Aurinko Bungalows. One of the last vestiges of the Sayulita of yore, this dreamy surfer hotel is a collection of humble rooms, some with outdoor kitchens, others with patios and hammocks, just a few blocks from the beach. The modest hotel is also one of the best deals in town, particularly for its location.
Of course, you can always go more high-end in Sayulita, like Villa Amor, a collection of one-, two-, and three-bedroom villas overlooking the beach. Yogis love this for the on-site studio while sun worshippers bask next to the two-level swimming pool. Villa Amor is also more removed from the buzzy downtown, offering a bit more tranquillity.
After settling in, make your way into town, which abuts the beach. The tangle of streets feels bursting at the seams with restaurants, coffee shops, bars, boutiques, and souvenir shops. Head straight for the beach to Don Pedro’s Restaurant & Bar. Old Sayulita still thrives at this beachfront icon. Overlooking the main beach, Don Pedro’s is the perfect spot to drink it all in, from the views to the frosty beers and potent margaritas.
Cold beer, powerful margaritas and the beach. Is there anything more perfectly Mexican? (Don Pedros/Facebook)
You can eat here for dinner, or you can head to Tacos Al Pastor Diaz, a locally loved street-side stand churning out the best tacos in town. Order tacos al pastor or a volcan. You won’t regret it. After dinner, grab a cocktail at Escondido Bar and say hello to the more modern side of Sayulita. This tiny bar swings industrial chic and specializes in craft cocktails. The Penicillin #2 is a fan favorite, made with mezcal, tequila, ginger, lime, and honey.
Saturday
Morning
Breakfast in Sayulita is an event, and you’ll be spoiled for choice with great breakfast places. ChocoBanana is one of the original breakfast spots in town, serving everything from salsa-slathered eggs to fluffy pancakes or hearty bowls of fruit. There’s also YAH-YAH Sayulita Cafe, just around the corner from ChocoBanana, serving vegan and gluten-free dishes, as well as bagel sandwiches, pastries, and yummy smoothie bowls.
Wherever you decide to eat, make sure you’re fueled up for a day of activity, because an active lifestyle is one of the pillars of Sayulita living. No matter what outdoor adventure speaks to you, you’ll find it in Sayulita.
I recommend either signing up for a surf lesson or taking a yoga class. Surf culture and yoga culture intersect in Sayulita, and you’ll find an abundance of opportunities to do both. Sandbar is the perfect surf break for beginners, but if you’re looking for something more advanced, then head out to The Cove. For yogis, Hotelito Los Suenos has a weekly schedule of yoga classes, with at least one session per day and sometimes multiple sessions. You can also come to Sayulita strictly for a yoga retreat at locations like Haramara or La Joya.
Afternoon
Shop for local crafts and designer gems or just soak up the alternative vibes to be found in abundance. (Sayulita Beach)
Surely, by now, you’ve worked up an appetite again, and since Sayulita is overflowing with restaurants, you won’t have a problem finding a spot for lunch. Burrito Revolution is the perfect spot to replenish calories after a workout. Casual to the core, this burrito connoisseur’s Mecca serves overstuffed burritos at a few streetside tables.
Afterward, you can head to the beach for a much-needed nap or hit the cobblestones for retail therapy. Sayulita is a shopping paradise, with high-end boutiques, souvenirs, galleries, and Huichol art shops.
Evoke the Spirit is one of the most famous, known for its signature yarn-painted skulls whose roots lie with the Wixarika culture that is active in this part of Mexico. For something slightly more practical (and splashy), Pinche Mexico Te Amo sells T-shirts, hats, and accessories. Manyana is a sleek, contemporary clothing boutique that is more evocative of the new Sayulita. The locally sourced products, from clothing and ceramics to sunglasses and beyond, are made within the state of Nayarit.
Evening
If you still have an appetite, you’ll want to make a reservation at Tukari, one of the loveliest restaurants in town. Snuggled away behind sleek, white walls, the central dining garden gives off a boho chic vibe. The menu is a fusion of Mediterranean and Mexican. After dinner, meander over to Hula Sayula for a rooftop cocktail and a roster of spinning DJs.
DJs, cocktails, the beach and sparkling Sayulita meet at Hula to give guests a great time. (Hula Sayula)
Sunday
It may be your last day, but you’ll make the most of it. Visitors can do so many excursions from Sayulita, whether it’s a whale-watching tour or a trip up the coast to the smaller beachfront towns like San Pancho or Lo de Marcos.
If you’re going the whale-watching route, La Orca de Sayulita is one of my favorites because it is truly dedicated to learning about the majestic humpback whales that migrate past Sayulita each year. Other boat tours from Sayulita can be fun, too, but typically they feature open bars and are more focused on a party vibe. La Orca de Sayulita, however, is led by biologists and has a maximum capacity of eight passengers per departure.
After your morning tour, return to Sayulita for one final (and fabulous) meal at Bichos, a creative taco restaurant set within a garden. Order the tacos adobada if you’re a carnivore, or. the mushroom tacos if you prefer plant-based. Cheers to a successful Sayulita weekend with a delectable margarita.
Meagan Drillinger is a New York native who has spent the past 15 years traveling around and writing about Mexico. While she’s on the road for assignments most of the time, Puerto Vallarta is her home base. Follow her travels on Instagram at @drillinjourneys or through her blog at drillinjourneys.com.
Mexico News Daily CEO Travis Bembenek reflects on MND’s future in a world of media giants. (Courtesy)
I would like to take a moment to thank all of our readers and reflect on 10 years of Mexico News Daily.
Over these past 10 years, MND has published over 16,000 articles on news, business, politics, culture and more, to give you a front-row seat to Mexico. Our team is deeply committed to helping positively contribute to the future of Mexico. We believe in the very bright future of the people and the country, and we are certain that we can have an important impact on that future by providing balanced news and information and inspiring informed and objective debate.
This will bring better economic and political decisions, which in turn will bring more investment and confidence in the country. And that will lead to better outcomes for everyone — better education, better healthcare, better infrastructure, etc.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 65% of new businesses fail by their tenth anniversary, and in Mexico, reportedly 75% of small businesses fail within two years of launching. I am sure that the percentage is even higher for media companies like MND. So with that backdrop, our team wants to celebrate this milestone and take a moment to share with you why we think what we do is more important and more relevant than ever.
We are living in dynamic times — to say the least. We are all struggling with an information overload, and the frustrations of having to sort through a highly polarized and often ultra-opinionated news feed. As I spend an average of 4-5 hours per day reading news from throughout Mexico, the U.S. and the world, I must say I am increasingly shocked and saddened by the state of the news today. Most mainstream media outlets don’t even attempt to present an unbiased, balanced perspective in their coverage of Mexico.
To make matters worse, it has become far too easy to scroll our way through Facebook, Instagram or X feeds to get our “news.” The problem is, as we know, it often is not news, but opinions — and usually highly divisive ones that we get “fed.”
We increasingly don’t even understand why we are even being shown the stream that we get.
Just recently, Jack Dorsey, the remorseful founder of Twitter, expressed how conflicted he felt about his creation and said: “Five companies are building tools that we will all become entirely dependent upon. And because they’re so complicated, we have no idea how to verify the correctness, we have no idea how to verify how they work, or what they’re actually doing.”
He went on: “Because people have become so dependent on it, it’s actually changing and impacted the agency we have. We can resist it all we want, but it knows us better than we know us, because we tell it our preferences implicitly and explicitly all of the time, and it just feels super dangerous to continue to rely on that.”
We at Mexico News Daily are deeply concerned about the world Dorsey describes, which arguably is one we already live in.
We are a team of 50+ passionate, motivated and inspired professionals committed to Mexico — committed to providing our readers with the best platform to learn about this country and its people.
Our team has a culture of doing the best we can to bring you objective reporting on the news and allow you, the reader, to come to your own conclusions.
We are not perfect at this, but it’s important for you to know that we take the issue very seriously and work very hard at it.
I guess you could think of us a little bit in a Star Wars context…we are The Resistance. The Resistance to being told what to think. The Resistance to being told how to think. The Resistance to being told what to read. The Resistance to media outlets that prioritize click-bait over real news. The Resistance, as Dorsey said, “to being programmed” by the media giants.
Here’s to another 10 years of MND and beyond! We feel that we are just getting started and have lots of great improvements coming soon. Thank you for being a reader and please support us by becoming a paid subscriber.
Travis Bembenek is the CEO of Mexico News Daily and has been living, working or playing in Mexico for over 27 years.
