Legendary Mexican architect Diego Villaseñor believes that his designs are an extension of their natural surroundings. (Ana Paula de la Torre)
This was not your typical interview. Speaking with Diego Villaseñor, the architect, was the most special interview experience I have ever had. This legend, considered one of the 100 best living architects, invited me to visit one of his most recent works in Amatlán de Quetzalcóatl, Morelos. After walking down a gorgeous, winding road lost in the woods, I arrived at a house that seemed to be a continuation of the surrounding trees, with a terrace that seemed to float among them.
Villaseñor sat with an edition of four books containing pictures of some of his greatest works among the more than 100 he has created in his 84 years. He took the time to convey to me the essence of his architectural philosophy, which he views as a tribute to beauty, emotion and nature.
For Villaseñor, design can only be viewed within the context of nature. Does nature exalt the work? Does it create an emotional response in the viewer? (Ana Paula de la Torre)
The architect spoke about his work as if he were seeing it for the first time, feeling surprised, passionate and in awe of a creation he admired. The most extraordinary aspect is that in every picture of his work, nature is the protagonist. His passion is evident in his designs, which are created to exalt nature.
The importance of emotion and beauty in feeling alive
Villaseñor was born in Tlaquepaque, Jalisco. He was friends with Luis Barragán and artists like Chucho Reyes. For Villaseñor, architecture is about using beauty to create emotional states that bring out the best in humanity. He sees the home as an extension of nature: “I am a framer of the landscape,” he says.
“Humans should have the right to beauty,” he notes, becoming emotional as he expounds. For him, feeling accomplished is important, and we can achieve that state through the spaces we inhabit. “We need to eat so our bodies function, and similarly, we need to feel in harmony to give our best.” In this sense, spaces are crucial in bringing us to states of contemplation, gratitude and plenitude through beauty.
Villaseñor believes that visual chaos is an aggression because it strays from our true nature. However, the beauty he creates, with nature as the main factor, is also inspired by daily life. During our interview, he mentioned popular songs, poems, and traditional clay or pre-Hispanic kitchens, such as the tlecuil — the traditional Mexican stove or brazier — as sources of inspiration.
Many of his masterpieces can be attributed to a curious mind. He is interested in all forms of life, as well as ideas from philosophy and science. “It is important for human beings to feel moved. When you are moved, you connect with something greater — you are no longer just an individual. Beauty that stirs the emotions gives life more meaning and creates moments of fulfillment.”
Architecture as a tribute to nature
Diego Villaseñor’s architecture is not merely about including nature; it blends harmoniously with it. In fact, his work highlights the area’s natural beauty and views. Additionally, his buildings prioritize the use of local natural materials, such as stone and wood crafted by Mexican artisans.
Like the frame for a beautiful painting, natural backdrops give the frame of reference and the “spectacle” that illuminates the quality of a given design, says Villaseñor. (Ana Paula de la Torre)
Moreover, when he designs a house in a natural landscape, he creates a shape that respects the surrounding vegetation, causing minimal disruption. His main goal is to honor nature while promoting the well-being of its users, so he incorporates current weather conditions, temperatures, winds and light into the design.
For Villaseñor, the journey to a house is as important as the house itself. This is why arriving at one of his creations is like a trip through nature. “How you feel throughout the process of finding a home is very important,” he claims. To him, a house is a natural extension of the landscape, a place that protects and nurtures our well-being.
Regarding the challenges facing young architects today, Villaseñor — who has been building with wooden blocks since the age of six — is clear: “Provide local solutions to local problems.” He believes that appreciating and utilizing local culture, rather than chasing global trends, is essential for creating practical designs in harmony with the environment. For him, it is also a powerful way to honor a region’s cultural richness.
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.
Could this be our new home? Seekers of a new Mexican city, Charlotte and Omar, give Guanajuato high marks. But the search isn't over yet. (Jorge Gardner/Unsplash)
One of the things I’ve enjoyed most about writing this series is that it has made Omar and me look at familiar places through a completely different lens. Guanajuato isn’t somewhere we’ve just stumbled across. In fact, I should probably admit from the outset that it has a slight advantage over some of the other places we’ve considered. It’s one of my favorite cities in Mexico.
We’ve visited several times over the years, and we’ve even made the journey from Puerto Vallarta on our motorcycle, Dora. And that’s no small ride, let me tell ya! Until now, though, we’ve always arrived as visitors.
Could Guanajuato be our new home?
Charlotte and Omar’s quest to find a new place to move to in Mexico from their current home near Puerto Vallarta is ongoing. (Charlotte Smith)
This latest trip felt different. Instead of planning which museums to visit or deciding where to have lunch, we found ourselves imagining what an ordinary Tuesday might look like. Where would we buy our groceries? Which café would become our regular spot? Would we still wander the colorful callejones months later, or would they simply become the route home?
That’s really what this series is about. It’s not about finding Mexico’s prettiest city. It’s about asking whether somewhere could become somewhere we’d love to call home.
If first impressions counted for everything, Guanajuato would already have won. The colorful houses spilling down the hillsides, the grand colonial buildings, the hidden plazas and the maze of narrow alleyways somehow feel both timeless and full of life. Around almost every corner there’s another view that makes you stop; another little street that begs to be explored. Even after several visits, we still find ourselves discovering corners we had never noticed before.
What I’ve always loved most, though, isn’t the architecture. It’s the atmosphere. Unlike some beautiful colonial cities that can feel as though they’re preserved primarily for tourists, Guanajuato has a heartbeat of its own.
The cultural vibrancy of Guanajuato
Thanks to the university, there’s a youthful energy that keeps the city vibrant throughout the year. Students fill the cafés, musicians gather in the plazas and there always seems to be something happening, whether it’s a concert, a theatre performance or simply groups of friends lingering in the Jardín de la Unión long after sunset.
It feels like a city that belongs to the people who live there. That matters more than I realized.
Guanajuato is a culturally vibrant city, with great art, museums and festivals. So for residents, there’s always something new to see or do. (Charlotte Smith)
When you’re thinking about relocating, it’s easy to focus on practicalities like healthcare, shopping and housing costs. Those things are obviously important, but so is finding somewhere that still feels alive once you’ve unpacked the boxes. Somewhere that encourages you to leave the house because there’s always another exhibition to visit, another café to try or another street musician worth stopping to listen to.
I don’t think we’d ever be short of things to do here.
Guanajuato is packed with museums, galleries and historic sites, from the famous Mummy Museum to the former home of Diego Rivera. The city hosts the internationally renowned Cervantino Festival each autumn, but even outside festival season there’s a cultural richness that feels woven into everyday life rather than staged for visitors.
How does it rate for comfort and convenience?
One of the things Omar and I both enjoy every time we visit is how little we think about the car. We spend hours wandering with no particular destination in mind, discovering another tucked-away restaurant, another hidden square or another alley we’d somehow never noticed before. It reminded me how much I value places where walking isn’t something you make time for. It’s simply how you experience the city.
Of course, Guanajuato makes you earn those walks!
The city climbs almost as much as it stretches, and before long you’re tackling another steep street or another staircase. During a visit, I find it part of the charm. But because this series is about imagining everyday life rather than a holiday, I couldn’t help wondering how I’d feel carrying shopping home or making a quick trip into town on a hot afternoon.
Hilly streets filled with steps look cool, but would you want to carry your groceries up and down them? This is one of the factors under consideration. (Charlotte Smith)
Then again, maybe that’s simply the trade-off. Places with this much character rarely come wrapped in convenience, and I’m not entirely convinced I’d want them to.
The city’s famous tunnel system only adds to its personality. Built beneath Guanajuato in former riverbeds, it’s unlike anywhere else we’ve experienced in Mexico. I’m sure we’d still miss a turn now and then, but I’d happily take a little confusion over endless traffic lights any day.
Climate and cuisine
The climate is another point in Guanajuato’s favor.
Living in Puerto Vallarta has made us become very familiar with humidity. Guanajuato offers something quite different. Days are generally warm without being oppressive, evenings cool enough to enjoy sitting outside and there are actual seasons. You might even find yourself reaching for a jacket at night … something that still feels like a novelty after living on the coast.
I found myself imagining long evenings in one of the city’s plazas with a coffee or a glass of wine, comfortable enough to sit and watch the world go by without looking for the nearest fan.
And then there’s the food!
Guanajuato’s climate and cuisine both passed the “new home” test with flying colors. (Charlotte Smith)
Every time we’ve visited, we’ve come away with a list of restaurants we’d happily return to. The city doesn’t have quite the same international dining scene as somewhere like Puerto Vallarta, but what it does have feels authentic and wonderfully varied. Traditional Guanajuato cuisine sits comfortably alongside modern Mexican restaurants, cozy cafés and enough hidden gems that I suspect we’d still be discovering favorites years after moving here.
For me, that’s always a good sign. If a city’s food scene keeps surprising you after multiple visits, it’s probably somewhere you could happily settle for the long haul.
Practical considerations
As always, though, we found ourselves looking beyond the romance and thinking about the practicalities. After all, choosing somewhere to live isn’t just about finding a place that excites you. It’s about finding somewhere that works.
Healthcare is one of those things we’ve become increasingly conscious of as we’ve imagined putting down roots somewhere new. Guanajuato has good healthcare for everyday needs, with specialists and modern facilities in the city itself. For more complex procedures or specialist treatment, León is only around 30 minutes away and offers some of the best medical facilities in the Bajío region.
That’s reassuring because, whether we like it or not, it’s the sort of thing you have to think about when you’re planning for the long term rather than the next holiday.
Airport access
The same goes for transport.
The Guanajuato International Airport, also known as the El Bajío International Airport, is strategically located in the economically growing El Bajío region of Mexico. (Guanajuato International Airport)
One thing that surprised me the first time we visited was just how well connected Guanajuato is. Guanajuato International Airport, near Silao, is roughly half an hour away, making domestic travel straightforward and offering direct flights to several cities in the United States, plus destinations across Mexico. Living near Puerto Vallarta, we’ve become used to having a good airport nearby, so it was nice to realize we wouldn’t be sacrificing that convenience.
Shopping is another consideration that probably doesn’t cross your mind when you’re visiting somewhere for a few days.
Markets and shopping
The historic center has plenty of markets, bakeries, fruit and vegetable stalls and small neighborhood shops that make daily errands feel pleasantly local. For larger supermarkets, home improvement stores or those inevitable trips to stock up on things you can’t find in the Centro, León and the commercial areas around Guanajuato have everything we’d need.
It struck me as a nice balance. We’d still be able to support local businesses for most of our day-to-day shopping, without feeling isolated from the conveniences of modern life.
Although the historic center is wonderfully walkable, I don’t think we’d want to be without a vehicle altogether. Not because we’d need it every day, but because one of the biggest advantages of living in Guanajuato would be exploring everything around it. We’d almost certainly find ourselves taking spontaneous drives to Dolores Hidalgo for lunch, heading over to San Miguel de Allende to catch up with friends or spending weekends discovering small towns we’d never heard of before. Having that freedom is something we’d miss if we relied entirely on public transport.
Cost of living and lifestyle factors
Affordability was another pleasant surprise. Compared with some of Mexico’s other well-known colonial cities, particularly San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato still feels relatively attainable. Housing prices have certainly risen, as they seem to have almost everywhere. But the city still offers excellent value if what you’re looking for is history, culture and quality of life rather than exclusivity.
Even in the city’s unique underground tunnel system, Guanajuato is the type of place where you always feel part of a larger community. (Charlotte Smith)
That’s something we kept coming back to. There are places in Mexico that feel as though they’ve been discovered to the point where locals and newcomers are competing for an increasingly limited housing market. Guanajuato didn’t give me that impression. It still feels like a Mexican city first and foremost, and that extends to the international community.
There are certainly foreigners here, enough that newcomers wouldn’t feel completely alone, but they don’t dominate the city in the way they do in some destinations. Personally, I found that appealing. Part of what we’ve loved about living in Mexico has been feeling immersed in Mexican life rather than living in an international bubble, and Guanajuato seems to offer exactly that balance.
Crime and safety concerns
Then there’s the question everyone asks. What about safety?
The state of Guanajuato regularly appears in national headlines because of organized crime in certain regions, and we’d be doing ourselves a disservice if we ignored that entirely. At the same time, one thing we’ve learned from living in Mexico is that statewide statistics rarely tell the whole story.
Talking to people who actually live in Guanajuato paints a much more nuanced picture than reading headlines from hundreds or even thousands of kilometers away. Residents acknowledge the challenges facing parts of the state while also describing a city where daily life continues much as it always has.
That doesn’t mean dismissing legitimate concerns. It simply means doing what we’ve tried to do throughout this series: look beyond the headlines and ask what everyday life is actually like. For us, that means speaking to locals, returning more than once, exploring neighborhoods instead of just tourist attractions and trusting our own experiences alongside the data.
Will Guanajuato open its colorful doors to Charlotte and Omar as new residents? The answer seems to be yes, even as the search continues. (Charlotte Smith)
So, could we live here? I think we could. In fact, of all the places we’ve written about so far, Guanajuato might be the one that’s been hardest to assess objectively simply because I already love it.
Is this our new home?
Would we miss the coast? Without question. Would we occasionally regret choosing a city built on hills? Probably while carrying groceries. But every place we’ve considered has involved compromise. Some offer convenience but little personality. Others have stunning scenery but don’t quite feel alive once the visitors go home.
Guanajuato strikes a balance that very few places manage. It has history without feeling stuck in the past, culture without feeling contrived and enough everyday life to make it feel like somewhere we’d genuinely belong rather than somewhere we’d simply admire.
As Omar and I continue wondering where the next chapter of our lives might take us, Guanajuato remains firmly on the shortlist. Maybe that’s because we’ve known it for years. Maybe it’s because every visit reveals something we hadn’t noticed before. Or maybe it’s simply because, even after all this time, it’s still one of the few places that makes us ask not, “When can we come back?” but, “What if we never really had to leave?”
The search continues …
I’m still not sure where we’ll eventually end up. But if this series has taught me anything, it’s that finding the right place isn’t about discovering somewhere that’s perfect. It’s about finding somewhere whose imperfections you’re happy to live with.
Guanajuato’s imperfections might just be part of its charm.
Charlotte Smith is a writer and journalist based in Mexico. Her work focuses on travel, politics and community. You can follow along with her travel stories at www.salsaandserendipity.com.
President Sheinbaum shakes hands with visiting Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino during a welcoming ceremony at the National Palace in Mexico City Wednesday. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)
After a meeting in Mexico City on Wednesday with Panamanian President Juan Raúl Mulino Quintero, President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed the Mexican government’s support for the Panama Canal neutrality protocol.
Her remark during a joint press conference with Mulino at the National Palace comes after U.S. President Donald Trump’s repeated threats to retake control of the canal, which was formally transferred to Panama on Dec. 31, 1999. Two weeks ago, Trump said that the United States wouldn’t let China take control of the Panama Canal, a vital shipping route that connects the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
Mulino, a center-right president elected in 2024, noted that Panama and Mexico are both “bridge nations,” in that Mexico links North America to Latin America and Panama is the connection between North and South America. “We are, because of our vocation and geography, countries that unite,” he said. (Matio Jasso/Cuartoscuro.com)
On Wednesday, Sheinbaum said: “As I stated in the bilateral meeting we had, we support the Panama Canal neutrality protocol.”
The protocol is attached to the 1977 “Treaty concerning the permanent neutrality and operation of the Panama Canal,” whose first article states that “[t]he Republic of Panama declares that the Canal, as an international transit waterway, shall be permanently neutral in accordance with the regime established in this Treaty.”
Sheinbaum also spoke about the importance of “respect for the sovereignty” of nations. As she is staunchly opposed to any kind of foreign intervention or interference in Mexico, the president makes it clear she also objects to foreign meddling in the domestic affairs of other countries. Just as she has spoken out against the United States embargo against Cuba, Sheinbaum would almost certainly resist any serious attempt by the U.S. to retake control of the Panama Canal.
On Wednesday, Mulino thanked Sheinbaum for her support of “national sovereignty” and of the Panama Canal as a “neutral tool of world trade.”
‘A new stage of cooperation, trust and friendship’
Early in her press conference remarks, Sheinbaum said that Mulino’s visit to Mexico reconfirms the “solid friendship” between Mexico and Panama.
She subsequently said there is a “shared willingness” to build an even closer relationship based on “mutual respect, dialogue and cooperation.”
At the end of her address, Sheinbaum thanked the Panamanian president for his willingness to “continue writing together with Mexico a new stage of cooperation, trust and friendship between our peoples and nations.”
In earlier remarks, she said that “Panama and Mexico are two nations deeply united by history, culture, and a shared vision of the role that Latin America and the Caribbean should play in the world.”
“We share the conviction that the great challenges of our time can only be addressed through collaboration, understanding, and the strengthening of our sovereignties and our institutions,” Sheinbaum said.
Referring to commonalities between the two countries, the president highlighted that both Panama and Mexico have an “interconnection” between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Panama has the Panama Canal while Mexico has a modernized railroad across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec between Salina Cruz, Oaxaca and Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz.
Sheinbaum also noted that there is Panamanian investment in Mexico and Mexican investment in Panama.
In addition, she thanked Panama for its “extraordinary cooperation” on efforts to eradicate the New World screwworm, whose presence in cattle in Mexico led the United States to shut its border to Mexican livestock.
“Every week we receive pupas from this plant … in order to develop the flies that are going to address the serious screwworm problem,” she said.
“We recognize the technical experience of your country, so … we have the idea of continuing with the exchange of information and the relationship on all agro-industry issues,” Sheinbaum said.
She also said that her meeting with Mulino, president of Panama since 2024, would allow Mexico and the Central American nation to “deepen and relaunch our cooperation in strategic areas” such as trade, investment, infrastructure, security, tourism, culture, education and innovation.
“Mexico recognizes the strategic role that Panama plays as a crossroads between continents and oceans, as well as its contribution to regional and international trade,” Sheinbaum said.
“We are living in a time when the world is facing profound economic and geopolitical transformations. In this context, cooperation between our countries takes on renewed importance.”
Mulino: Panama and Mexico are ‘bridge nations’
After arriving in Mexico on Tuesday with his wife, Maricel Cohen, and members of his cabinet, Mulino was given an official reception at the National Palace on Wednesday.
At his joint press conference with Sheinbaum, the Panamanian leader said it was an “honor” to be in Mexico, a country he described as an “economic, productive and cultural power of our continent.”
He went on to say that “Panama and Mexico are two bridge nations.”
“Mexico is the bridge between North America and Latin America. Panama is the bridge between two oceans and between the two halves of this continent,” Mulino said.
“We are, because of our vocation and geography, countries that unite,” he said.
After thanking Sheinbaum for her support of Panamanian sovereignty and the neutrality of the Panama Canal, Mulino said he spoke to the Mexican president about the importance of more countries in the region supporting Panama and adhering to the Panama Canal neutrality protocol.
“Current events demonstrate — as I have mentioned to the president — that these types of instruments provide protection against uncertainty and safeguard assets that not only belong to the state where they are located, but also serve the world and the international supply chain,” he said.
Mulino also talked up Panama as an investment destination, including for Mexican companies.
“Panama today is an investment-grade economy with projected growth of around 4% this year,” he said, adding that the country is a well-connected logistics, aviation and finance hub.
“We have a special [tax] regime for headquarters of multinational companies, under which more than 190 global companies already operate,” Mulino said.
“Of those, only two are Mexican. Hopefully the Mexican presence increases,” he said.
“… This afternoon I will meet with Mexican businesspeople and I’ll do it with genuine enthusiasm,” Mulino said.
“I’m a natural-born promoter. I’ve promoted my country my entire life, because governments sign agreements, but those who create jobs, move freight and build prosperity are investors and companies,” he added.
The Panamanian president, a center-right politician who served as security minister between 2010 and 2014, also weighed in on security issues.
“I would like to address an important issue, namely regional security,” he said.
“In this regard, Madam President, I would like to congratulate you, as well as your government and the army, on the operation carried out in Guadalajara last February,” Mulino said, referring to the operation targeting Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, who was actually fatally shot by soldiers well south of Guadalajara in the municipality of Tapalpa, Jalisco.
The CJNG moves drugs through Panama and sends narcotics to Europe and other destinations from the Central American nation that adjoins Colombia, a major cocaine producer.
Mulino said that together with the Organization of American States, he is planning a regional security meeting in Panama aimed at “coordinating actions and strengthening intelligence systems in order to stop the growth of [the flow of illicit] goods, violence and drug trafficking resources.”
“Mexico must be an important actor at that meeting,” he said.
“I reiterate the invitation so that, once a date is set, this beloved country is represented,” Mulino said.
Elsa Aguirre (1930-2026) is often grouped with Silvia Pinal, Dolores del Río and María Felix as the leading female legends from Mexico's Golden Age of Cinema. (Margarito Pérez Retana /Cuartoscuro.com)
Film icon Elsa Aguirre, known for her striking beauty and acting talent during the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema in the 1940s and 1950s, has died at 95.
The National Association of Actors (ANDA) confirmed her death, calling her “one of the most iconic and emblematic actresses” of her era. No cause of death was disclosed.
President Sheinbaum took time out from her mañanera press conference Wednesday to acknowledge the death of the Mexican cinema icon Elsa Aguirre, sharing a personal photo taken with her. (Mario Jasso / Cuartsocuro.com)
She starred in more than 40 films, often sharing the screen with legends such as Pedro Infante and Jorge Negrete, and is often highlighted alongside other female luminaries of the era such as María Félix, Dolores del Río and Silvia Pinal.
President Claudia Sheinbaum paid tribute during her Wednesday morning press conference, describing Aguirre as “a symbol” for Mexico.
“Our condolences to her family,” Sheinbaum said. “A woman, a symbol of Mexico’s Golden Age of Cinema and a joyful woman. And with a voice … one of those deep, very beautiful voices.”
Born Elsa Irma Aguirre Juárez in 1930 in the city of Chihuahua, Aguirre began her career after winning a beauty contest at age 14 organized by Clasa Films Mundiales.
She made her debut in 1945 and went on to appear in dozens of films across genres.
Known for her versatility, she portrayed both ingénues and complex leading women in films such as 1949’s “La mujer que perdí” (“The Woman I Lost”) and 1954’s “Cuidado con el amor” (“Beware of Love”).
Aguirre worked alongside many of the era’s biggest stars, including Infante, Negrete, Luis Aguilar, Pedro Armendáriz and “Cantinflas” (Mario Moreno).
After deciding to gradually withdraw from movie sets to pursue holistic well-being, she appeared occasionally on Mexican television. Her most notable recurring roles were in the 1990s in the telenovelas “Acapulco, cuerpo y alma” (“Acapulco, Body and Soul”) and “Mujeres engañadas” (“Deceived Women”).
#LoVisteEnVentaneando ✨ Elsa Aguirre: Una estrella que brillará por siempre. Despedimos a una de las máximas leyendas de la Época de Oro del cine nacional. Más allá de su innegable talento y belleza, Elsa Aguirre nos deja un legado de pasión, disciplina e historias que seguirán… pic.twitter.com/XAjjZX0tAD
Aguirre said she had followed a vegetarian diet since the age of 33, and later became a fervent practitioner of yoga. After overcoming bronchopneumonia in 2023, she said in subsequent interviews that her health had improved and that she took daily walks.
Her personal life brought both high-profile relationships and hardships, among them a brief romance with Negrete and the death of her only child, a son named Hugo, in 1996. She was married three times.
In later years, Aguirre withdrew from public life, settling in Cuernavaca, Morelos. She retired from television acting in the early 2000s; her final film appearance came earlier, in 1980’s “Albur de amor” (“Love’s Gamble”).
Aguirre’s death comes about a year after the death of her sister, actress Alma Rosa Aguirre, with whom she sometimes collaborated.
The Golden Age of Mexican Cinema roughly spanned the 1930s to 1950s and produced many of the country’s most enduring films and stars.
Will Chipotle actually compete with any existing authentic Mexican restaurants? Let us know what you think in the comments. (Chipotle)
Travis Bembenek: I think Chipotle opening in Mexico is a great thing.
I can’t lie, I love Chipotle. I have never considered myself a foodie (I’m from Wisconsin, need I say more?) but I think it’s impossible to argue that Chipotle does not hit the rare restaurant trifecta of fast service, good food and good price. Most restaurants struggle to give you two of those things, but Chipotle is one of those special places that gives you all three.
I think it’s important to point out that Chipotle does not go out of its way to try to convince you that it is “authentic Mexican food.” They don’t have pictures of Mexican ruins or cities or waterfalls on the walls and don’t play Mexican music on the sound system. The logo and store design don’t play off of the Mexican flag or its colors and there is no chihuahua marketing to you in broken Spanish. The menu doesn’t have any authentic Mexican-sounding product names — no Chimichanga, Chalupa or Gordita there. About the only “Mexican” thing about the place, other than the food, is the somewhat tacky, industrial-looking Mayan sculpture art (if you can call it that) on the walls.
And hence, I don’t think my Mexican friends south of the border should be offended by the arrival of Chipotle to Mexican territory. No, President Sheinbaum, it is not an invasion of Mexican sovereignty. You see, Chipotle has positioned itself, and its food, as an entirely unique genre: kinda Mexican, but kinda not Mexican. In my 30+ years spending time in Mexico, I have only had probably half a dozen burritos, and none of them have been anything like a Chipotle burrito. Most Mexicans I know don’t really eat burritos, and when they do, they are different.
A few months ago, not having been in the U.S. for a while, I was craving one and dragged my Mexican colleagues in San Miguel to the only real burrito place I know of in town. My colleagues quickly ordered and then I struggled my way through my order. Not because of language, but because this was no Chipotle menu. My very frustrating ordering experience took about 10 minutes as I tried to convince the cashier to allow me to custom order something similar to a Chipotle burrito. It did not go well, ended up being nothing like a Chipotle burrito, cost a whopping 340 pesos (nearly $20 USD) and took them over 15 minutes to make. Neither they nor I were satisfied with the final product.
The bottom line: Chipotle is not going to compete with any existing authentic Mexican restaurants here any more than McDonald’s, Shake Shack or Tim Hortons do. It’s a different product, a different experience and a different level of service. In fact, I think that Chipotle will have a positive effect on the industry as a whole. They will bring good service, fair pricing, a consistent quality of food, quality fountain drink soda (very sorely lacking at most restaurants here) and clean bathrooms. They will bring competition, and fair competition is a good thing. They will help raise the bar of expectations that many diners expect from a restaurant.
I look at their arrival in Mexico in a similar light to how I saw multinational companies coming to Mexico. The companies coming in were certainly disruptive to local established companies, but they also brought with them different management styles, new work cultures, employee training programs and environmental sustainability practices. In many cases, they quickly became an employer of choice for many workers.
I am willing to bet that many Mexicans will ultimately be won over by Chipotle and end up becoming customers. Not because they have more authentic Mexican food than what they are eating today, but because they will appreciate the speed, quality, and affordability of the experience. They will appreciate the quality bathrooms, good air conditioning, and bright, clean eating environment. I have seen this with other international restaurant chains in Mexico and I expect it to be no different with Chipotle.
The choice of the first location, Monterrey, says a lot to me. They are not targeting vacationing gringos in Cancun. They are not targeting digital nomads in Condesa in Mexico City. They are targeting Mexicans in a distinctly Mexican city. We will see how it goes. I wish them well.
María Meléndez: Chipotle in Mexico? Fine. Travis not eating real Mexican food? Now THAT’S the scandal.
Travis, as we say in Mexican lands, “híjole.” That’s what we say when we genuinely don’t know where to begin.
I’ll admit I felt a small pang of professional betrayal reading this. Are you telling me that all the effort I’ve put into my Taste of Mexico series was for nothing? How does the inauguration of a Chipotle excite you more than eating a fresh tuna or a pitaya straight off the cactus? I can’t believe this. Sacrilegio, Travis. Sacrilegio. (Please, read it in a “novela” voice).
But let’s set aside the fact that I apparently failed to turn you into a foodie, and get to the sentence that actually matters here: Chipotle calls itself a “Mexican grill,” and as you yourself pointed out, it’s everything but Mexican. We could argue it’s more Tex-Mex, but even the purists would push back on that — as you said, a “real” burrito looks nothing like Chipotle’s newborn-sized version.
Now, a confession. Not only have I eaten at Chipotle — I’ve done it willingly. Worse: I’ve enjoyed it. The circumstances, in my defense, were dire. I’d spent the previous ten hours wandering the San Marcos Outlet, fooling myself like many other whitexicans into believing we were beating the system with a Ralph Lauren shirt at 40% off (the discount we always convince ourselves is a steal). I was high on shopping and mildly hallucinating. My second Chipotle experience was at the Atlanta airport, and that baby burrito tasted like heaven. This surprised me. I expected it to be fine, but it was better than fine — and I could rest easy knowing I’d found the one thing chain restaurants can actually guarantee: consistency.
And that’s where we land on some common ground. Alsea is the Mexican-born giant, founded right here in Mexico City, that quietly operates practically every international chain you’ve eaten at across 12 countries: Starbucks, Burger King, Domino’s, Vips, Chili’s, P.F. Chang’s, The Cheesecake Factory and now, Chipotle. Alsea knows exactly what it’s doing, and I completely agree with you: this isn’t an attack on our sovereignty — nor, I’d add, on our culinary history — but let’s not pretend it’s nothing, either.
What we’re watching is the continuation of the Americanization of our street food culture, one air-conditioned, brightly-lit franchise at a time. Remind me to tell you the story of the first McDonald’s in Mexico sometime — it’s a better parable for this debate than either of us has given it credit for. As you said, Chipotle chose Monterrey, where buying groceries across the border is practically a weekend ritual and most people have already had the real thing. Its arrival won’t extinguish the taquero on the corner.
It’ll generate a few months of hype, and then quietly take its place alongside Shake Shack, Burger King, McDonald’s, Domino’s, Starbucks and Little Caesars — all franchises that, in their moment, were also accused of coming for our soul and instead just… became part of the landscape. What troubles me, though, is that where some people used to choose a fondita or the taquero on the corner, now they reach for a quick fix at one of these fast food joints instead — and that is definitely changing eating habits in our cities.
May we all find some equilibrium between the fonditas, the street tacos, Chipotle, Sanborns and everything in between. Travis, I’m still hurt that you’d choose a Chipotle burrito over a real one. All my efforts to turn you into a proper Mexican foodie, straight to the trash can. I don’t know if this friendship survives.
What do you think about Chipotle invading Mexico? Let us know below!
Travis Bembenek is the CEO ofMexico News Daily and has been living, working or playing in Mexico for nearly 30 years.
Maria Meléndez writes for Mexico News Daily in Mexico City.
Chipotle chose the Monterrey area for its first restaurant in Mexico, based on its proximity to the U.S. and presumed familiarity with its Tex-Mex version of Mexican food. (Chipotle)
The U.S. fast food chain Chipotle will open its first restaurant in Mexico this week, the company announced on Monday.
The first store will open on Thursday in the upmarket Monterrey suburb of San Pedro Garza García in the border state of Nuevo León. It forms part of a wider rollout across Mexico, with Chipotle’s first store in Mexico City planned for 2027, according to the company.
Predictably, the very idea of a U.S. restaurant chain offering Mexican food in Mexico, especially a fast-food version, provoked much mockery on social media. But the Chipotle leadership is convinced there’s a market for it and is planning more restaurants in the north as well as in Mexico City. (Chipotle)
Chipotle recently partnered with the restaurant group Alsea, which operates brands like Starbucks in Latin America.
“We are entering Mexico with deep respect for the country’s culinary heritage and a commitment to delivering the Chipotle experience with excellence,” Chipotle’s CEO Scott Boatwright said in a statement. “Our research has reinforced our belief that there is strong interest in high-quality, freshly prepared food served with the customization and convenience that Chipotle offers.”
Chipotle has ambitious expansion plans, aiming to add 350 to 370 new restaurants this year to its more than 4,100 stores worldwide. It currently has 3,900 in the U.S. and others in markets such as the Middle East and Europe.
Monterrey’s “strong economy, growing population and status as one of [Mexico’s] leading business and innovation hubs” made it attractive for Chipotle’s Mexico launch, according to the firm.
Some have criticized the company for trying to bring its own interpretation of Mexican food into Mexico. One social media user said the opening of Chipotle in Monterrey was “like the dog teaching a duck to fly”.
The newspaper The Guardian shared several critiques shared by social media users:
“Next up, Panda Express opening its first mainland China location,” wrote one user, in reference to the U.S. Chinese fast-food chain. “Let’s support what’s local,” wrote another. “The earnings of Chipotle will go to the USA; they won’t stay in Mexico.”
A Chipotle competitor, Taco Bell, has tried to enter the Mexican market several times but failed due to a lack of interest in its offerings.
Chipotle may appeal to those who embrace Tex-Mex food because of Monterrey’s proximity to the United States, Inés Carrasco, who writes the blog Crónicas de San Pedro, was reported as saying in The Guardian. However, typically “U.S. franchises don’t succeed in Monterrey,” she added.
Nevertheless, Chipotle’s chief business development officer, Nate Lawson, is optimistic, explaining, “This first location will serve as an important proof-of-concept, giving us the opportunity to better understand local consumer preferences as we thoughtfully grow in Mexico.”
Chipotle has had a successful year after a previous sales decline due to higher burrito prices.
Pereida, a former federal and municipal security official, died at the scene of the attack, while Quijada was reportedly taken by ambulance to the border with the United States before being flown by helicopter to Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego. (Facebook)
A municipal councilor in Tecate, Baja California, was hospitalized in the United States on Tuesday after she was severely wounded in an armed attack in which her husband was killed.
Morena party Councilor María de Jesús Quijada and her husband Jesús Pereida came under attack Tuesday afternoon while traveling in a vehicle in Tecate, a city of around 110,000 people on Mexico’s northern border.
The couple’s 15-year-old daughter and a bodyguard were also wounded in the attack, perpetrated by a group of armed men, none of whom was immediately arrested. The perpetrators fled the scene in a white vehicle, according to local authorities. The vehicle was subsequently set alight, the newspaper Reforma reported.
Pereida, a former federal and municipal security official, died at the scene of the attack, while Quijada was reportedly taken by ambulance to the border with the United States before being flown by helicopter to Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego. The couple’s 15-year-old daughter, who was reportedly on her way to a school graduation with her parents, was also hospitalized.
The councilor was reportedly shot at least once in the head. Later on Tuesday, Quijada’s father told reporters he had been notified that his daughter and granddaughter were “out of danger.”
The motive for the crime was not immediately clear. Attacks on municipal officials are fairly common in Mexico, especially in parts of the country where there is a strong organized crime presence.
During the term of the current government, which took office in October 2024, 13 mayors have been murdered, Uno TV reported this week.
Among the victims are Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo, who was assassinated during a Day of the Dead event last November, and Joel Ángel Bravo Martínez, a mayor in the Mixtec region of Oaxaca who was killed last month.
Sheinbaum signed on Wednesday ahead of its submission to Congress, where it is likely to pass. (Gabriel Monroy/Presidencia)
Sheinbaum’s mañanera in 60 seconds
⚖️ Femicide prevention bill presented: Legal adviser Luisa María Alcalde unveiled a proposed general law aimed at standardizing femicide investigation nationwide. The proposed law seeks to establish 10 “reasons of gender” for the crime and set a uniform penalty of 50 to 70 years imprisonment, with 19 aggravating circumstances able to increase punishments further. Attempted femicide would carry sentences as high as 45 years imprisonment.
🚫 No more “suicide” reclassifications, Sheinbaum says: The president said some state prosecutors’ offices still classify violent deaths of women as suicides, and the new law aims to standardize how all Attorney General’s Offices handle femicide cases. She said the goal is “zero impunity,” noting that most femicides are committed by a partner or ex-partner.
💊 Sheinbaum dismisses DEA chief’s cartel remarks: Responding to DEA Administrator Terry Cole’s claim that the Mexican government and cartels are “one and the same,” Sheinbaum called the statement baseless and more political than substantiated. She argued the DEA should focus more on drug production, sales and money laundering inside the United States.
Why today’s mañanera matters
At today’s mañanera, the federal government presented a bill aimed at preventing femicides and ensuring that there is no impunity when the crime is committed. The presentation of the proposed law lent significant weight to the presidential press conference, held, as usual, at the National Palace in the historic center of Mexico City. The bill is expected to be passed by Congress later this year.
The proposed general law, if approved, would obligate all states across Mexico to investigate femicide in the same way. (Gabriel Monroy/Presidencia)
Violence against women is a major problem in Mexico, but President Claudia Sheinbaum — the country’s first female president — is determined to do all she can to combat it.
The bill presented at her Wednesday morning press conference is the latest manifestation of that commitment.
The government reported on Tuesday that femicides declined 10.7% annually in the first half of 2026, but there is still plenty of work to be done.
According to official data cited in an El Universal newspaper report, there were 6,440 femicides in Mexico between January 2019 and January 2026. The real number of victims is certainly higher than official data indicates, given that, as Sheinbaum pointed out at today’s mañanera, not all femicides are classified as that crime.
Alcalde presents femicide prevention bill
At the start of her press conference, Sheinbaum announced that the government would present a proposed law on femicide, whose full title is set to be the General Law to Prevent, Investigate, Sanction and Compensate for the Crime of Femicide.
“Remember that we made a modification to the constitution so that femicide could be investigated in the same way in the entire country through a general law,” she said.
“This initiative was approved by all political forces in Congress,” Sheinbaum said.
The proposed general law, if approved, would obligate “all states” to investigate femicide in a uniform manner, she said.
Luisa María Alcalde, the president’s chief legal adviser, told reporters that a general law on femicide is needed as Mexico’s 32 federal entities “regulate” femicide in different ways and there are “deficiencies” in processes to investigate the crime.
Alcalde said that the proposed law — which Sheinbaum signed on Wednesday ahead of its submission to Congress — will standardize the definition of femicide. She explained that femicide will be defined across Mexico as the act of killing a woman (or girl) for “reasons of gender.”
Alcalde said that “10 reasons of gender” will be established including “signs of sexual violence”; a “crime motivated by stereotypes or prejudices”; “history of violence against the victim”; and “contexts of power asymmetry.”
Aggravating circumstances, such as if the victim was a girl, an adolescent, a journalist, a human rights defender, a migrant, elderly, pregnant or had a disability, will increase offenders’ prison sentences. (Gabriel Monroy/Presidencia)
She also said that the proposed law will establish a uniform national penalty for femicide of 50 to 70 years imprisonment. Alcalde also said the law will establish 19 “aggravating circumstances,” which — if applicable — would increase the sentences given to perpetrators of femicide.
Offenders’ prison sentences would increase if their victim was a girl; an adolescent; a journalist; a human rights defender; a migrant; elderly; pregnant; or had a disability.
Among the other “aggravating circumstances” is one in which perpetrators of femicides use acid or flammable substances during their attacks.
Alcalde also said that the proposed law will establish standardized penalties for attempted femicide. People found guilty of that crime could face prison terms in excess of 45 years.
Among the other aspects of the proposed law is a prohibition on the presentation/consideration of extenuating circumstances in cases of femicide.
Sheinbaum: ‘I assumed the responsibility to protect women from violence’
After signing the proposed femicide law, Sheinbaum told reporters that “as the first woman president [of Mexico], I assumed the responsibility to protect women from violence.”
Regarding femicides in Mexico, Sheinbaum told reporters that some state Attorney General’s Offices “continue classifying the violent death of a woman as suicide.”
“… What this [proposed] law does is guarantee that all Attorney General’s Offices work in the same way regarding the crime of femicide,” she said.
Sheinbaum asserted that the law will do everything possible to avoid femicides being classified as suicides.
She subsequently highlighted that the majority of femicides in Mexico are committed by a person close to, or formerly close to, the victim, such as a partner or ex-partner.
Sheinbaum said that among the aims of the proposed law is to have “zero impunity” in cases of femicide.
Sheinbaum rejects remarks by DEA chief
A reporter asked the president about the claim on Tuesday by U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator Terry Cole that there is a “deadly connection” between the Mexican government and drug cartels.
Reuters reported that Cole said on Tuesday that the Mexican government and cartel networks were “one [and] the same” and the DEA’s “number one priority.”
⭕️Luego de que Terrance Cole, titular de la DEA, dijera que el @GobiernoMX y el crimen organizado “son uno mismo”, la presidenta @Claudiashein rechazó los señalamientos y le pidió que continúe colaborando con México de manera respetuosa. pic.twitter.com/eQ4iINhNaS
Sheinbaum said she considered Cole’s statement “unfortunate for several reasons.”
“First because it seems to me to be more of a political statement than a statement that is supported,” she said.
“What he’s saying is baseless,” Sheinbaum said.
“Secondly, I think the DEA has a lot of work in the United States. Normally, the DEA focuses most of its work outside the United States, but there is a lot of work [to be done] in the United States and the DEA should be mainly focused on work inside its country,” she said.
“… There is production of methamphetamine and other drugs in the United States,” Sheinbaum said, adding that drug sales are greater in the U.S. than anywhere else in the world.
“Who sells it? How do they sell it? How do they distribute it? How do they launder the money? That is something that the DEA should be investigating,” she said.
By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)
From microphone staging to flag and fern placement, arranging this joint press conference took longer than the actual operation to make arrests. (This image was generated using AI tools)
MEXICO CITY — A landmark bilateral press conference announcing a major cross-border blow to organized crime was delayed by more than six hours yesterday, as diplomatic delegations from the United States and Mexico deadlocked in intense, high-stakes negotiations regarding the physical placement of their respective officials on the presentation stage.
The standoff, which required three separate drafts of a stage floor plan map, centered entirely on preventing any visual implication that either nation had compromised its national sovereignty, or, conversely, that either nation had done any actual work.
The assembled press were likely not aware of the high-stakes maneuvering that extended to who was seated by whom. (This image was generated using AI tools)
According to sources close to the negotiations, the gridlock began over the placement of the microphones. U.S. representatives initially insisted on using a single, centralized microphone podium, which would naturally position the American federal agent in the middle of the frame. Mexican diplomats immediately rejected this proposal, noting that an American standing 12 centimeters closer to the center of the room would violate Article 89 of the Mexican Constitution regarding foreign intervention. A counter-proposal to use two separate podiums separated by a small, neutral potted fern was briefly entertained before being abandoned over fears that the fern leaned slightly toward the north.
“We respect our American counterparts, but we cannot allow the visual narrative to suggest that Mexico is taking cues on podium placement from Washington,” said an unnamed official from Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE), who spent most of the afternoon measuring the distance between the backdrop logos with a digital laser level.
“Sovereignty is not negotiable, especially when there are cameras from Televisa present. If the U.S. agent gets to stand in front of the blue curtain, our general must have access to at least 60% of the mahogany paneling.”
The American delegation was equally unyielding. Sources indicate that representatives from the U.S. Department of Justice refused to proceed until they could guarantee that the American flag in the background displayed at least two more visible folds than the Mexican tricolor, thereby projecting a subtle air of logistical superiority. A brief crisis emerged at hour four when it was discovered that the shadow cast by a Mexican general’s cap partially obscured the badge of a DEA regional director, prompting a formal recess and an emergency intervention by a lighting technician.
A compromise was finally reached at 8:45 p.m. under a highly complex “Bi-National Proportional Geometry Accord.” The agreement dictated that the lead officials would step toward their respective microphones at the exact same microsecond, maintain identical posture angles, and deliver their remarks in a manner that allowed neither side to appear as the primary author of the operation.
A study by the National Business Council (CNET) and the Advanced Research Center for Sustainable Tourism Anáhuac Cancún (STARC) estimates that Mexico welcomed only around 175,000 additional international tourists for the World Cup. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)
The majority opinion is that Mexico’s experience as World Cup host deserves a heartfelt thumbs-up. But in terms of meeting the rosy expectations of a financial windfall, it’s turning out to be a huge disappointment, at least according to preliminary reports.
New studies indicate that the World Cup benefits fell short of expectations for tourism, hotel occupancy, airline passengers and financial gain.
The most notable shortfall was in the number of visitors to the country.
For more than two years, Mexican government authorities, the Mexican Football Federation and even FIFA representatives anticipated that the tournament would bring up to 5.5 million additional tourists during the World Cup.
The business consulting firm Deloitte and the economy rater Moody’s later injected some reality into the picture by putting the numbers between 800,000 and 836,000 new visitors, less than 20% of the official predictions.
Now, a study by the National Business Council (CNET) and the Advanced Research Center for Sustainable Tourism Anáhuac Cancún (STARC) estimates that Mexico welcomed only around 175,000 additional international tourists for the World Cup — no less than 5.3 million short of what the public was led to believe.
“We would have to ask the government where they got that data, but it was certainly too high,” head of CNET Antonio Cosío said at a press conference on July 9, four days after Mexico held its last World Cup match.
Airline passenger traffic also fell short of expectations. In a radio interview with Imagen, head of Mexico City International Airport (AICM) Admiral Juan José Padilla Olmos said that the airport handled 3.55 million passengers in June, the first month of the tournament — down 10% to 15% from the figure registered last year, without a World Cup. In fact, it was the slowest June for AICM passenger traffic in the last three years.
Hotel occupancy was also down — not only from World Cup forecasts but from last year as well. The CNET and STARC Anáhuac report revealed that hotel occupancy decreased compared to June 2025 in all three Mexican World Cup host cities.
At the very least, several thousand Colombia fans chose Mexico to celebrate the 2026 World Cup. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)
Hotel occupancy in Mexico City, which hosted five games, was reported at 56.5%, 2% lower than the same period last year. Meanwhile, hotel occupancy in Guadalajara, the site of four games, stood at 56%, down 7% compared to last year.
Finally, in Monterrey, which hosted four games, hotel occupancy reached 53.5%, 5.8% lower than in the same period of 2025.
Experts attributed part of the decline to habitual business travelers who avoided host cities due to potential disruptions caused by the matches. However, Bloomberg reported that hotels managed to increase their revenue via rate hikes of between 39.8% and 46.7%.
Money did flow into Mexico during its World Cup hosting season, but less than hoped. According to the Confederation of National Chambers of Commerce, Services and Tourism (Concanaco Servytur), the World Cup generated an economic impact in Mexico of between US $2.57 billion and US $2.86 billion.
Although the economic impact wasn’t as high as expected, a FIFA representative expressed to the news source EFE the association’s satisfaction with the tournament’s organization in Mexico.
Moreover, head of STARC Francisco Madrid said that despite the disappointing figures his organization has provided, the greatest legacy of the World Cup might not be in the number of tourists or dollars, but in the enormous international exposure that Mexico gained as a tourist destination after several years with limited federal investment in tourism promotion.
