Growth in auto sector exports and the timing of the Easter holidays were two factors that boosted Mexico's export revenue in April. (Shutterstock)
Significant growth in auto sector export revenue helped Mexico record an 11.4% annual increase in export earnings in April, preliminary data shows.
Mexico’s exports were worth US $51.32 billion last month, national statistics agency INEGI reported Friday.
The newspaper El Economista said that the double-digit annual increase in export revenue was partially due to the fact that the Easter holiday period was in March this year while last year it fell in April. Mexico’s export earnings actually fell 2.6% in April compared to the previous month.
In April, auto sector export revenue surged 27.7% annually to $16.47 billion, or almost one-third of Mexico’s export earnings for the month. It was the largest year-over-year percentage-terms increase for auto sector exports since July last year.
Manufacturing exports, including auto exports, increased 12.9% to $45.97 billion, or almost 90% of the revenue total.
Non-auto manufacturing exports increased by 6.1% to just under $29.5 billion.
Mexico’s agricultural and manufacturing exports both increased in April, driving up export revenue. (Cuartoscuro)
Revenue from the export of agricultural products also spiked in April, increasing 22.6% to $2.4 billion.
The only export categories for which revenue fell last month were oil and mining.
Oil revenue declined 17.5% to $2.11 billion, while mining earnings fell 3.5% to $830 million. The drop in oil export revenue coincided with a decline in national crude production to its lowest level since 1979.
Meanwhile, the value of Mexico’s imports increased 15.4% in April to $55.06 billion. Mexico was thus left with a trade deficit of $3.74 billion last month.
Imports of non-oil consumer goods surged 48.7% to $7.32 billion last month, while incoming shipments of capital goods — things such as machinery, tools and heavy equipment — increased 32.5% to $5.82 billion.
Imports of non-oil intermediate goods increased 14% to $38.71 billion, while oil imports including ready-to-use fuel fell 28.2% to $3.2 billion.
Mining and oil were the only export categories to dip in April. (Cuartoscuro)
Mexico export revenue up more than 4% between January and April
INEGI also reported that Mexico’s export earnings totaled $194.84 billion in the first four months of the year, a 4.1% increase compared to the same period of 2023.
Agricultural exports increased 10.7% in the period, while auto exports increased 10.4%.
The value of imports also increased between January and April, rising 4% to $201.29 billion.
Mexico thus recorded a trade deficit of $6.45 billion in the first four months of 2024.
The agricultural sector showed the strongest year-over-year growth in March. (SADER/Cuartoscuro)
Mexico’s economy grew 3.3% in annual terms in March, a trend driven by the agriculture and service sectors. However, annual economic growth hit just 1.9% in the first quarter (Q1) of the year, according to data from national statistics agency INEGI.
The GDP of the primary or agricultural sector increased 4% annually in March while the tertiary or services sector grew 3.8%.
The GDP of the secondary or manufacturing sector also increased on a year-over-year basis but by a more modest 2.1%.
Compared to the final three months of last year, the economy grew 0.3% in the first quarter.
Mexico’s economic growth shows signs of wavering
The 1.9% annual growth rate between January and March is slightly lower than INEGI’s preliminary estimate of 2%. It is also 0.6 percentage points lower than the 2.3% rate recorded in the final quarter of 2023.
The El Economista newspaper reported that Mexico’s annual growth rate has now declined during six consecutive quarters.
The service sector grew 3.8% in March compared to the same month last year. (File photo)
The best performing sector in Q1 was the tertiary sector, which recorded 2.4% annual growth. That figure, however, was the lowest year-over-year growth rate for any quarter since Q2 of 2022.
The secondary sector grew 1.5% in the first quarter while the primary sector expanded 0.7%. Within the secondary sector, construction activity increased 10.7% compared to a year earlier.
Q1 growth remains high for the construction sector
Pamela Díaz Loubet, Mexico economist at BNP Paribas, said that the construction sector has been buoyed by government spending on infrastructure projects and private sector spending on facilities for companies relocating to Mexico as part of the nearshoring trend.
While impressive, the 10.7% construction sector growth figure in Q1 is well below the sector’s 24.4% annual growth in the second quarter of last year, and thus a sign that the construction boom is slowing.
Commenting on the economy as a whole in light of the latest data, the chief Latin America economist for Pantheon Macroeconomics, Andrés Abadia, said that “stricter financial conditions” and “difficult external conditions” are among the factors that have recently limited growth in Mexico.
The Bank of Mexico set its benchmark interest rate at a record high of 11.25% for a year until it made a 25-basis-point cut in March.
The International Monetary Fund is currently predicting a 2.4% expansion this year, while the consensus forecast of more than 30 banks, brokerages and research organizations recently surveyed by Citibanamex is that the Mexican economy will expand 2.2% in 2024.
The Thursday afternoon “non-supercell” tornado in the México state capital of Toluca knocked over a fence that fell on top of two pedestrians and killed them. The fence also crushed a vehicle near pedestrians but the driver survived.
The twister, which was accompanied by intense rain and hail, also felled at least 30 large trees, many of them in medians of the Toluca-Palmillas highway.
Images circulating on social media showed how the tornado lifted tin roofs from homes and businesses, and tossed rooftop water and gas tanks to and fro. It knocked down telephone and light poles, and damaged many homes and vehicles. In one area, a warehouse collapsed.
The Toluca city council confirmed that one of the tornado victims was of American origin and said it was in communication with personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City. As of noon Friday, the victim’s identity had not been released.
One day earlier in the metropolitan area of Monterrey, Nuevo León, a stage at a rally for dark-horse presidential candidate Jorge Álvarez Máynez collapsed due to strong winds, killing at least nine people and injuring scores of others, state authorities said.
Photos and videos of the funnel cloud were posted to social media on Thursday.
The phenomenon in Toluca was a funnel cloud and electrical storm, with surface winds of approximately 100 km/h, according to officials with the meteorological observatory of the Autonomous University of México State.
According to SkyAlert, the funnel reached a maximum height of 150 meters and was classified as a non-supercell tornado — meaning it was thinner, of shorter duration and didn’t pack as much power and wind intensity as a supercell tornado.
Continuing strong winds predicted for central Mexico
More strong winds in México state — with gusts up to 50 to 70 km/h — and potential whirlwinds and/or dust storms have been predicted for Friday and Saturday by Mexico’s National Meteorological Service. The agency is also predicting heavy rains in the area.
Zooming out, at the national level the agency forecasts wind gusts up to 40-70 km/h and possible whirlwinds for all 31 states in the country, along with Mexico City.
According to Mexico’s National Disaster Prevention Center, tornadoes occur in certain parts of the country, mainly between March and August and mainly in the north.
In May 2015, a tornado touched down in the northern border city of Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila, and killed at least 13 people.
More recently, in November 2023, there was a tornado in western Michoacán that wreaked havoc on several avocado groves but didn’t claim any lives. Residents reportedly “attacked” the tornado with hail cannons to prevent it from reaching the town of Peribán.
A strong gust of wind caused a stage to collapse into the crowd at a campaign event in Monterrey on Wednesday. (Gabriel Pérez Montiel/Cuartoscuro)
The death toll from the collapse of a stage at a campaign event in Nuevo León on Wednesday remains at nine, but a number of people are still in the hospital, including two patients in serious condition, Governor Samuel García said Friday.
García provided an update on the situation in a post to his X account shortly after 6 a.m. Mexico City time.
People captured the moment of the stage collapse and ensuing chaos with their cell phones. (Cuartoscuro)
“Thank God there are no more deaths but we have two people hospitalized in serious/stable condition,” he wrote.
According to the governor, a total of 192 people were hospitalized after sustaining injuries when the roof of a concert-style stage collapsed due to strong wind at a Citizens Movement (MC) party event on Wednesday night in the municipality of San Pedro Garza García, outside of Monterrey.
García said in another X post on Friday morning that 147 are now at home.
“I am infinitely grateful to all the doctors and nurses for looking after so many patients immediately and effectively,” he wrote.
Nuevo León Governor Samuel García announced the compensation for the families of the victims on Thursday. (Samuel García/X)
García announced on Thursday that the Nuevo León government would provide 400,000 pesos (US $24,000) in compensation to the families of each of the nine people killed.
“We know at this time nothing can make amends for their loss, but we will do all that we can to support them and accompany them in their pain,” he wrote on X.
The governor told a press conference that the state government was also paying the funeral expenses of the deceased.
García said that those unable to work due to injuries they sustained will receive 100,000 pesos (US $6,000).
He noted that some of those still in hospital are female heads of households who could remain hospitalized for weeks and subsequently face a period of rehabilitation. State authorities will provide food, transport and other support to families that need it, the governor said.
In addition, psychological help will be offered to the 10,000 people who attended the political rally and witnessed the tragedy, García said.
The event was organized for Lorenia Canavati, MC’s mayoral candidate in San Pedro and was attended by some of the party’s other candidates, including presidential aspirant Jorge Álvarez Maynez, who was not injured.
He was on the stage when a powerful gust of wind swept through, causing a large screen emblazoned with the MC logo to lift off. Álvarez Máynez and other candidates and officials reacted quickly, running for their lives.
A short time later, the roof of the stage — including metal lighting trusses — collapsed onto the stage platform and into the crowds of people, killing nine and trapping and/or injuring more than 100 others.
Why aren't Mexicans taking advantage of their paid vacation days? The answer isn't so straightforward. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)
Mexican workers take less vacation time than any other Latin American labor force — even less than they are legally entitled to — according to a recent survey.
The newspaper El Economista reported Friday that the “Work in Progress” survey published by Buk, a human resources development company headquartered in Chile, revealed that the average Mexican employee took just six vacation days in the past year.
Hard work is a virtue in Mexican culture, which may be why many Mexicans do not view vacation as a valuable use of their time. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)
The Buk survey found that Peruvians took seven vacation days, Chileans enjoyed eight vacation days and Colombians stepped away from work for nine days a year. The study also found that only 13% of Mexicans surveyed took a two-week vacation, whereas across the rest of Latin America, 32% of employees took a two-week vacation.
Prior to the historic legislation, the Mexican Constitution granted workers just six paid vacation days in their first year on the job. The Federal Labor Law now entitles new employees to at least 12 days of paid leave from the outset, with an additional two paid vacation days added onto each of the next three years.
Thereafter, an additional two vacation days are earned for each five-year period of service. The law also allows workers to take their vacations over two consecutive weeks.
Despite the new law, the Buk survey suggests that the Mexican workforce has not changed its approach to vacation days — or that employers are not fulfilling their labor obligations.
Yunue Cárdenas, a psychologist who works for Spanish consulting firm Affor Health and the Workplace Wellness Council, attributes this to Mexico’s work culture.
“Often, we don’t know what to do with this free time,” Cárdenas told El Economista. “The idea is that when one is working, there is meaning to life. In our culture, time off — even though it is a right — is not valued, and in some organizations, taking vacations is not viewed positively, particularly in small and medium-sized businesses.”
The Mexican workforce may hesitate to take their legally mandated vacation time because employers frown upon it, or because they feel obligated to save vacation days for childcare obligations, for example, when a child is sick at home.
A recent survey by travel company Expedia found that 69% of Mexicans work from six months to a year between days off. The Buk survey also found that 6 in 10 employees who are on vacation attend to office matters while on leave.
According to 2022 data compiled by the OECD, the average Mexican worker works 2,226 hours per year, much above the OECD average of 1,752 hours and second only to Colombia (2,405 hours per year in 2021).
Orión Hernández had been abducted by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. (Social media)
Israel’s military announced the recovery of the bodies of three hostages taken to Gaza by Hamas on Oct. 7, including that of Mexican man Orión Hernández Radoux.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on social media on Friday that the bodies of Hernández, Israeli-Brazilian man Michel Nisenbaum and Israeli man Hanan Yablonka were “rescued overnight” during a joint IDF and Israeli Security Agency operation in Jabaliya, located near Gaza City in the north of Palestine.
Orión Hernández Radoux with his girlfriend Shani Louk, who was found dead on Oct. 30. (Social media)
The IDF said that the bodies were “brought back to Israel.”
It said that all three men “were murdered during the October 7 Massacre” in Israel “and were abducted to Gaza by Hamas terrorists.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on X that “we have a national and moral duty to do everything we can to return our hostages — the living and the deceased — and that is what we are doing.”
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a group formed by the families of people abducted by Hamas on Oct. 7, said in a statement on Friday that Hernández was a “resident of Mexico, and father to a young daughter.”
“[He] was taken hostage from the Nova Festival, which he attended with his partner, Shani Louk, and their friend Keshet Casarotti, both of whom were also murdered by Hamas terrorists,” the group said.
“Orión, who had a deep love for music and dancing, worked as a music producer and visited music festivals around the world,” the statement added.
Mexican Foreign Minister Alicia Bárcena said on X that she was “deeply saddened” by the news of the death of Hernández, who was in his early 30s.
She said that he died “at the hands of Hamas whose actions we unequivocally condemn.”
Bárcena said she was in contact with the man’s father, Sergio Hernández, and that the government was providing him with support.
Mexico “never stopped” in its efforts to secure the release of Hernández, she added.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador acknowledged at his Friday morning press conference that the man’s body had been found in Gaza.
“I send a hug to his relatives, to his father who lives, I am told, in Chile,” he said.
The discovery of Hernández’s body comes almost six months after a Mexican woman who was taken hostage by Hamas on Oct. 7, Ilana Gritzewsky Camhi, was released from Gaza.
More than 250 people were taken hostage by Hamas when gunmen attacked Israel last October, killing around 1,200 people. According to Israeli authorities, there are still around 130 hostages in Gaza.
Two other Mexican women were trapped in Gaza amid Israel’s retaliatory strikes on the coastal enclave. However, doctors Michelle Ravel and Bárbara Lango, both of whom had been living in Gaza for some time and were not taken hostage, crossed into Egypt in early November.
At least 35,800 Palestinians — the majority women and children — have been killed in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry.
Worried about hurricanes affecting your travel plans? Here's everything you need to know about hurricane season in Los Cabos. (NOAA)
It’s fair to say Los Cabos locals spend a lot more time thinking about hurricane season than do vacationers. The former, after all, must consider the prospects of property damage and extended power outages. These aren’t concerns for visitors. Los Cabos’ hotels are the safest structures in the destination and their generators are larger and longer-lasting than those of the most prepared residents. But that doesn’t mean hurricane season shouldn’t factor into vacation planning. Los Cabos is expensive, even with off-season discounts, and if there’s no sunshine and the beaches and marinas are closed for a few days, that will likely impact your overall experience.
When is hurricane season in Los Cabos?
Pacific hurricane season begins on May 15 and annually extends through the end of November. That’s almost half the year, but it bears noting that tropical storms are uncommon in all but three months: August, September, and October. Hurricanes – storms with wind speeds over 74 miles per hour – are even rarer.
Projection data for tropical storms and hurricanes during the 2024 hurricane season. (Servicio Meteorológico Nacional)
According to Mexico’s Servicio Meteorológico Nacional, the Pacific Ocean is projected to see 15 to 18 named storms this year, of which 4 or 5 may reach hurricane strength, with 3 to 4 achieving major hurricane status (Categories 3, 4, and 5; with wind speeds 111 mph and higher). However, that’s for the entire Pacific region. It’s not guaranteed that any of these potential storms will affect Los Cabos, although traditionally, at least one or two will.
What is the history of hurricanes in Los Cabos?
From a historical perspective, almost all of the most powerful storms ever to hit Los Cabos happened during September. La Inundación de 1939 and Hurricane Odile in 2014 occurred on the same day: September 14. Flooding from the former destroyed the few homes then built in Cabo San Lucas, an event memorably described in C.M. Mayo’s travelogue Miraculous Air: Journey of a Thousand Miles Through Baja California, the Other Mexico. The latter was the worst storm ever to hit Los Cabos, a Category 4 hurricane that caused more than a billion dollars in damage.
Other noteworthy storms like Hurricane Liza in 1976 and Hurricane Paul in 1982 were also in September. In more recent years Hurricane Juliette in 2001 and Tropical Storm Lidia in 2017 took place the same month. Thus, this is the one month when vacationers should expect tropical storms to be a distinct possibility. This is borne out by average rainfall amounts in September (127 millimeters, or 5 inches), which accounts for over 44% of the average annual rainfall in Cabo San Lucas.
Storms in August and October are much less frequent but do happen. Just last year, for example, Hurricane Norma made landfall in Los Cabos on the late date of October 21, knocking out power for many residents for the better part of a week. But there’s a reason that Cabo San Lucas’ biggest fishing tournaments are held in October. Not only are the conditions right to catch marlin, but the weather is typically hot and sunny.
The Pacific coast sees several hurricanes every year, but most never get as far north as Los Cabos. (Guillermo Perea/Cuartoscuro)
How do potential storms affect hotels, beaches, and activities?
In the rare event of a hurricane or strong tropical storm, several wrenches can be thrown into one’s vacation plans. The first is that the beaches can be closed, eliminating one of the most popular vacation activities. Not that you’d want to go anyway in such poor weather. The second is that the Cabo San Lucas Marina can be closed. As this is the locus of most area sailing, snorkeling, and fishing tours, these activities are likewise curtailed. For those taking Mexican Riviera Cruises with port calls in Cabo San Lucas, this could mean cancellation of one’s scheduled visit. Many outdoor restaurants will close, too, and the streets will probably also flood, as they almost always do during heavy rains since Los Cabos lacks adequate drainage.
Travel insurance generally covers money lost from missed flights and misplaced luggage. It may be a good investment if you’re visiting during September when storms are most likely. Signing up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, meanwhile, is always recommended during hurricane season in Los Cabos. It’s free and lets you share your trip details with the U.S. Embassy. In return, you’ll get updates on safety and potential weather advisories or other emergencies.
You’ll want to activate international roaming for your cellphone before traveling so that in the event of a hurricane, you can tell friends and family that you’re safe and having a more adventurous vacation than you bargained for. You won’t need the same emergency kit assembled by residents, but a waterproof bag to protect passports and other travel documents is a good idea. Your hotel or resort will take good care of you, with generator service in the event of power outages and Wi-Fi to post social media updates.
Los Cabos International Airport may also be affected in the event of a hurricane. Don’t worry though, it will reopen once the weather improves. (Guillermo Perea/Cuartoscuro)
There’s a U.S. Consulate office in Los Cabos, at The Shoppes at Palmilla, an upscale shopping center at Km. 27.5 in the Tourist Corridor. If you have questions during your trip, contact them at (624) 143-3566, or after business hours call 1-800-681-9374. To report an emergency, dial 911, like you would in the U.S.
Is it worth the risk to visit in September?
Although September is the only month when tropical storms are a relatively common occurrence in Los Cabos, there are reasons why this can still be a good time to visit. Hotel rates are typically lower. Thanks to seasonally warm water temperatures and high visibility, September is also peak diving season at sites like Cabo Pulmo. Fishing conditions are also excellent, for billfish like black, blue, and striped marlin and game fish like tuna and dorado (aka mahi-mahi).
How can you monitor potential storms?
The National Hurricane Center monitors storm activity year-round for the Eastern Pacific region, of which Los Cabos is a part. This is the go-to source for updated information on storm tracking.
Chris Sands is the Cabo San Lucas local expert for the USA Today travel website 10 Best, writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook, and a contributor to numerous websites and publications, including Tasting Table, Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, Forbes Travel Guide, Porthole Cruise, Cabo Living and Mexico News Daily. His specialty is travel-related content and lifestyle features focused on food, wine and golf.
The new Puerto Vallarta-Guadalajara highway allows travellers to take in the best of Jalisco and Nayarit (Zstock/Shutterstock)
It’s about to get much easier to dive deeper into the state of Jalisco. This Pacific coast state in Mexico is best known for its two most popular destinations: Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta — one is rich with cosmopolitan and cultural energy, and the second is one of the beach capitals of Mexico. Rarely are the two put together on one itinerary, as the distance between them has made travel back and forth both time-consuming and costly. However, that’s all about to change with the completion of the brand new, high speed highway.
The high speed highway connecting Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta has been in the works for more than 10 years. Originally intended for completion in 2014, the final date for completion is expected a full 10 years later in July 2024. Currently, the majority of the highway is complete from Guadalajara to Las Varas. What remains is the final stretch connecting Bucerias to Puerto Vallarta.
Driving from Guadalajara to Puerto Vallarta will allow your trip to end in paradise – on a beach, drink in hand with a stunning Pacific sunset. (Secrets Vallarta Bay Puerto Vallarta)
The highway is a significant development for the tourism landscape in the states of Jalisco and Nayarit. Covering more than 86 kilometers, the modern roadway includes 45 bridges, seven interchanges, three tunnels, and three viaducts. It is expected to handle 6,000 vehicles a day. The cost between Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta is roughly $1,000 pesos each way, which may seem steep, but saves valuable expenses if traveling with the family.
Once completed, the highway between Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta will shorten the trip to about two and a half hours, shaving the original drive time nearly in half. This opens up a world of possibilities when it comes to exploring the state of Jalisco, as well as the interior and coastline of the neighboring state, Nayarit.
Travelers can start their journey in either direction, but I recommend starting in Guadalajara first. There’s something appealing about starting with the culture, history, and cosmopolitan energy of one of Mexico’s most dynamic cities before ending a scenery-packed road trip by lounging on a beautiful beach on the Pacific coast.
Guadalajara: The Soul of Jalisco
Your journey begins in the vibrant metropolis of Guadalajara, a city pulsating with cultural energy, rich history, and fantastic cuisine. It’s considered the “Silicon Valley” of Mexico, which has drawn a tech-savvy, forward-thinking culture, resulting in a funky arts scene and cafe culture. Still, Guadalajara is deeply rooted in its history and is known as the birthplace of some of Mexico’s most significant cultural icons like Mariachi, charrería, and tequila.
The Teatro Degollado, Guadalajara is one of the city’s most striking buildings and wouldn’t look out of place in Europe. (Román López/Unsplash)
Highlights
Historic Center: Explore the historic heart of Guadalajara, home to architectural marvels such as the majestic Guadalajara Cathedral, the ornate Government Palace, and the iconic Hospicio Cabañas.
Mariachi Plaza: Soak up the lively atmosphere of Mariachi Plaza, where traditional mariachi bands serenade visitors with soul-stirring melodies and vibrant performances.
Tlaquepaque Artisan Village: Indulge in a shopping spree at Tlaquepaque, a charming artisan village renowned for its exquisite handicrafts, colorful markets, and authentic Mexican cuisine.
Tequila: Spirit of Mexico
Continuing on your journey, the town of Tequila beckons with its aromatic fields of blue agave and rich heritage deeply rooted in Mexico’s cultural fabric.
Tequila. Beyond the obvious, the town offers stunning natural vistas and colonial architecture. (Austin Curtis/Unsplash)
Highlights
Tequila Tastings: Embark on a sensory journey through the world of tequila with guided tastings at renowned distilleries such as Jose Cuervo and Casa Sauza.
Agave Landscape: Explore the picturesque agave landscape surrounding Tequila, where rows of blue agave plants stretch towards the horizon against the backdrop of the Tequila Volcano.
National Tequila Museum: Dive into the fascinating history and production process of tequila at the National Tequila Museum, where interactive exhibits and guided tours offer insights into this iconic spirit.
Compostela: A Glimpse of Mexican Magic
A large chunk of the highway passes through the state of Nayarit — a state rich in mountain villages, indigenous communities, coffee culture, and a spectacular coastline. Make a stop in the enchanting town of Compostela. Tucked away amidst lush greenery and rolling hills, Compostela exudes an irresistible charm, earning its status as one of Mexico’s Pueblos Mágicos.
Th Pueblo Mágico of Compostela is an unassuming gem in quiet Nayarit. (Pueblos Mágicos)
Must-See Sights:
Nuestra Señora de la Asunción Church: Admire the exquisite colonial architecture of the Nuestra Señora de la Asunción Church, a cultural and historical landmark dating back to the 16th century.
Plaza Principal: Immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of Plaza Principal, where locals gather to socialize, shop, and enjoy traditional street food.
Cerro del Sangangüey: Hike up Cerro del Sangangüey for panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, including lush forests, rolling hills, and the iconic Nayarit countryside.
Puerto Vallarta: Where the Pacific Meets Paradise
The journey ends on the palm-fringed beaches of Puerto Vallarta. A fusion of relaxation, adventure, and buzzy nightlife, it’s the perfect place to end the journey.
If you’ve already tried parts of the Puerto Vallarta — Guadalajara highway, let us know how you found it.
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.
International Court of Justice President Nawaf Salam, who read the ruling Thursday in a proceeding at The Hague, said that the ICJ's decision not to grant Mexico's request regarding the Mexican embassy in Quito was a unanimous one. (Frank van Beek/ICJ)
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has rejected Mexico’s request that the ICJ order Ecuador to protect the Mexican Embassy in Quito, amid an ongoing dispute between the two Latin American countries.
Former Ecuadorian vice president Jorge Glas, seen here in white, was arrested in a raid on the Mexican Embassy in Quito on April 5, which led Mexico to break diplomatic relations with Ecuador. Mexico had offered Glas refuge from Ecuadorian authorities in the embassy. (National Police of Ecuador)
After the raid, Mexico promptly broke diplomatic relations with Ecuador, describing the attack on its embassy in Quito as a “flagrant and serious violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.”
Many other countries also condemned Ecuador’s storming of the embassy in Quito.
On April 11, the Mexican government filed a lawsuit with the ICJ against Ecuador in which it asked the court to award compensation and suspend Ecuador from the United Nations until it issues “a public apology recognizing its violations to the fundamental principles and norms of international law.”
It also asked the ICJ — one of the six principal organs of the UN — to take “appropriate and immediate steps to provide full protection and security of [its] diplomatic premises” in Quito, including the residences of diplomats, in order to prevent any further raids.
In a ruling on Thursday, ICJ presiding judge Nawaf Salam said that pledges already made by Ecuador to protect the Mexican embassy in Quito, both in a letter to the ICJ and in public hearings last month, “encompass the concerns expressed by Mexico” and therefore the ICJ “considers that there is at present no urgency” to issue a directive to Ecuador.
Andrés Terán Parral, Ecuador’s ambassador to the Netherlands, expressed satisfaction with the ruling.
Ecuador’s ambassador to the Netherlands, Andrés Terán Parral, said that his government had already assured the ICJ that it will protect the Mexican embassy in Quito. Terán has, however, defended Ecuador’s April 5 raid on the embassy. (Frank van Beek/ICJ)
“The court highlighted, among other things, that Ecuador has given repeated assurances that it would provide full protection and security to the premises, property and archives of the Mexican Embassy in Quito. Ecuador stands by its assurances,” he told reporters at the ICJ in The Hague.
Terán has defended Ecuador’s raid on the Mexican Embassy during hearings at the ICJ, telling judges that it acted to arrest “a common criminal.”
Ecuador’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday that the court’s rejection of Mexico’s request “confirms the unnecessary character of the request.”
“The court recognizes that the good faith of Ecuador should be presumed and makes clear that the present circumstances do not present any risk to the rights of Mexico,” the ministry added.
In a press release announcing that it had rejected Mexico’s request, the ICJ also noted that in a legal document it issued on Thursday it “emphasizes ‘the fundamental importance of the principles enshrined in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.'”
“In this respect, [the court] states, as it has previously noted, that ‘there is no more fundamental prerequisite for the conduct of relations between States than the inviolability of diplomatic envoys and embassies,'” the ICJ said.
The Mexican government interpreted that statement as a “victory for Mexico.”
In a post to the X social media platform, the spokesperson for President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said that the ICJ had “declared that Ecuador is obliged to respect Mexico’s embassy.”
“It didn’t issue provisional measures because Ecuador legally committed to do it. This is a victory for Mexico,” Jesús Ramírez said in a post that was “reposted” by Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE).
Alejandro Celorio Alcántara, legal advisor for the SRE, said that the ICJ’s position on the inviolability of diplomatic envoys and embassies is “of the utmost importance for Mexico, for Ecuador and the whole world.”
Alejandro Celorio Alcántara, legal advisor for Mexico’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, emphasized the importance of preserving diplomatic inviolability, not only for Mexico but for all nations. (Frank van Beek/ICJ)
Mexico’s broader lawsuit against Ecuador is likely to take months if not years to be resolved.
Ecuador last month filed its own complaint against Mexico with the ICJ over what it claimed was an illegal move to grant political asylum to Glas, who has been convicted twice of corruption and faces fresh charges.
Reuters reported that Glas — who served under presidents Lenín Moreno and Rafael Correa — faces charges of misusing funds collected to aid reconstruction of the coastal province of Manabí after a devastating 2016 earthquake.
Mexico granted the former vice president asylum just before he was arrested at the embassy by Ecuadorian police.
AMLO: Four conditions must be met before Mexico reestablishes relations with Ecuador
At his morning press conference on Thursday, President López Obrador was asked about Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa’s statement that he is willing to engage in dialogue with Mexico.
In a recent social media post, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa said that he’d be open to resolving the differences between his country and Mexico but stressed that “justice is not negotiable,” apparently referencing his government’s raid on Mexico’s embassy in Quito to arrest Jorge Glas. (Daniel Noboa Azin/Facebook)
“We’re not seeking dialogue with the person who didn’t respect the sovereignty of our country,” López Obrador responded.
He noted that the dispute between the two countries about the raid on the Mexican embassy is before the ICJ and declared that that is where it will be resolved.
After a reporter said that there was no indication from Ecuador that it was prepared to release Glas despite some international pressure to do so, López Obrador declared that Mexico wouldn’t consider reestablishing relations with the South American nation “if they don’t offer a public apology, in the first case.”
He also announced three other conditions that would need to be met for Mexico to reestablish relations with Ecuador:
That the Ecuadorian government promise to respect the right to asylum
That it commit to never again breaking into a foreign country’s embassy
That — as López Obrador put it — “any government that acts like Ecuador did should be expelled from the United Nations”
“It’s as clear as that,” López Obrador added.
The International Court of Justice, seated in The Hague, also has before it a broader suit from Mexico against Ecuador regarding Ecuador’s April 5 raid on the Mexican embassy in Quito. This petition merely sought a formal ICJ directive to Ecuador to protect Mexican diplomatic property in the country. (ICJ)
The president acknowledged the ICJ’s ruling on Thursday but noted that Mexico’s broader case has not been resolved. He said he didn’t have a lot of confidence that the Ecuadorian government would uphold its promise to protect Mexico’s diplomatic premises in Ecuador but claimed that the Ecuadorian people would “help to look after Mexico’s assets” in the country.
“We don’t trust the government, but we do trust the Ecuadorian [citizens] because we’re brotherly peoples,” López Obrador said.
“This is not a matter of differences with the people of Ecuador, it’s an issue with an authoritarian government that ignores international law, is disrespectful and which violated our sovereignty and attacked our diplomatic representatives,” he said.
The Calgary-based airline WestJet will soon connect Canadian cities in the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario with flights to Tulum. (Westjet)
Canadian airline WestJet has announced two new direct Canada-Tulum flights To Tulum’s new international airport that will begin operation in November.
Starting Nov. 9, WestJet will begin its new series of flights with a once-weekly flight to Tulum’s Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport from Calgary as well as three arrivals per week to the beach destination from Toronto. Both flights will run until April 27, 2025.
The Tulum airport is bringing a surge in tourism to the already-popular region. (Mara Lezama/X)
Jorge Molina Pérez, director of Tulum’s Tourism and Economy Department, said the new Canada-Tulum flights can strengthen Tulum’s image as a sunny beach destination steeped in Maya culture, an image that should be promoted to travelers from Canada, the United States and Europe, he said.
“Calgary and Toronto are cities that are home to travelers with good purchasing power, and they are accustomed to taking seasonal vacations to escape the cold weather,” Molina said.
“We must welcome this new airline that will be flying 737 airliners to Tulum,” he said. “WestJet is betting on broadening its market, and so it is incumbent on us here in Tulum to learn more about the Canadian visitors who will arrive thanks to this new announcement.”
In conjunction with the new Canada-Tulum flights, WestJet Vacations is offering flight and accommodations packages to 35 major hotels close to the airport, the airline reported.
WestJet also introduced several new flights to hot destinations from various airports across Canada, including two additional destinations in Mexico.
The Calgary-based airline will offer a once-weekly direct flight from Winnipeg to Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, beginning on Nov. 9 and wrapping up on April 26, 2025.
The airline will also offer once-weekly flight service from Kelowna, British Columbia, to the Pacific coast city of Mazatlán from Dec. 13 through April 18, 2025.
