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Portrayal of Mexicans in the US as violent is false, Sheinbaum says: Friday’s mañanera recapped
The presence of the Mexican flag at protests in Los Angeles and a social media post by United States President Donald Trump were among the topics President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke about at her Friday morning press conference.
She also considered the possibility of immigration agents detaining Mexicans at a soccer match in L.A. on Saturday.
The recent immigration raids and protests in California’s largest city were a dominant theme at the president’s mañaneras this week. At her press conferences earlier this week, she condemned violence during the protests, responded to a claim by U.S. Homeland Security Kristi Noem that she encouraged “violent protests” in Los Angeles, and provided updates on the number of Mexicans who had been detained in raids.
Here is a recap of the president’s final mañanera of the week.
Sheinbaum: Portrayal of Mexicans in US as violent is ‘false’
A reporter said that people have claimed on social media that they were paid to attend recent protests in Los Angeles against immigration raids and asked the president whether her government had any relevant information.
“We believe that these images of the Mexican flag in violent acts, particularly this image of a person with a Mexican flag on top of a burning police car, are a provocation,” Sheinbaum responded.
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“It has all the appearance of a provocation and of [wanting] to create a [bad] image of Mexico,” she said.
The president was apparently claiming that the person in the aforesaid photo had deliberately set out to portray Mexico and Mexicans — especially those in the United States — in a bad light.
In contrast, Sheinbaum continued, Mexico is a “great nation” and Mexicans in the U.S. are “hardworking men and women who have been there for years.”
“They’ve raised their families there, they work in the fields, in the service industry, in the factories,” she said.
“[They are] hardworking men and women of good faith who never seek violence,” Sheinbaum said.
“There are a lot of studies that show that the percentage of undocumented immigrants that commit illegal acts is minimal, compared to the illegal acts committed by United States citizens,” she added.
“So this image they want to promote of Mexicans in the United States being violent is false. It’s a set-up, it’s a provocation,” Sheinbaum said.
The president subsequently reiterated her call for Mexicans in the United States to protest peacefully. She also reiterated that her government is opposed to “these raids” carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“We’re always going to defend Mexicans, but we must be very clear that these violent actions are in fact a provocation. By who? We don’t know, but they’re an act of provocation,” Sheinbaum said.
President Trump claimed this week that “paid insurrectionists” or “paid troublemakers” had participated in protests in Los Angeles. He didn’t provide any concrete evidence to support his assertion.
Sheinbaum welcomes Trump’s assertion that ‘changes are coming’ in US immigration policy
A reporter noted that Trump said on social media on Thursday that he intended to make changes to his immigration policy.
“Our great Farmers and people in the Hotel and Leisure business have been stating that our very aggressive policy on immigration is taking very good, long time workers away from them, with those jobs being almost impossible to replace,” the U.S. president wrote on Truth Social.
“In many cases the Criminals allowed into our Country by the VERY Stupid Biden Open Borders Policy are applying for those jobs. This is not good. We must protect our Farmers, but get the CRIMINALS OUT OF THE USA. Changes are coming!” Trump said.
The U.S. president went back to old habits in a subsequent post, writing:
“I campaigned on, and received a Historic Mandate for, the largest Mass Deportation Program in American History. Polling shows overwhelming Public Support for getting the Illegals out, and that is exactly what we will do.”
Sheinbaum described Trump’s “changes are coming!” post as “good,” but added that she hoped that he would in fact act on his words.
“… It’s good that he recognizes that Latino migrants and particularly Mexicans contribute to the United States economy,” she said.
“California is the fourth or fifth largest economy in the world, and that’s thanks to Mexicans, the millions of Mexicans who live there, who have a very strong Mexican identity but also a very strong U.S. identity because they raised their families there, they work there every day, pay taxes and are very integrated in society,” Sheinbaum said.
“… I lived in the north of California for four years, I studied there, and there are entire towns that live from [the work of] Mexicans,” she said.
“More people from Aguililla, Michoacán, live in Redwood City in the north of California than in Aguililla, Michoacán, due to the historic migration there has been of entire families,” Sheinbaum said.
Aguililla — which has been plagued by cartel violence in recent years — and Redwood City are sister cities. “A number of Redwood City residents have immigrated from or are descendants of immigrants of Aguililla, Michoacán, México,” according to the city government.
Could ICE target Mexican soccer fans in LA?
A reporter asked Sheinbaum whether she would advise Mexicans not to attend Mexico’s opening match of the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup due to the possibility that ICE will carry out raids at or near the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. El Tri will play the Dominican Republic at the stadium on Saturday night.
Sheinbaum said that she didn’t think ICE would target soccer fans.
“Being a soccer match, we don’t believe there will be any action of Immigration and Customs Enforcement — we hope there’s not, we call on there not to be,” she said.
Los Angeles television station KTLA reported that “human rights groups warn the current climate could depress attendance” at both the Gold Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, “especially among Latino and immigrant communities that have long formed the foundation of U.S. soccer fandom.”
By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies ([email protected])
Mexico City hosts NASCAR’s first Cup Series race outside the US
The hugely popular U.S. sport of NASCAR auto racing is about to vroom into uncharted territory this weekend: a top-level Cup Series race at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City.
Expected to capitalize on Mexico’s motorsports fervor and attract 243,000 fans, the Viva México 250 on Sunday will mark the NASCAR Cup Series’ first points-earning race outside of the U.S. in the modern era.
La NASCAR Cup Series está en el Autódromo Hnos. Rodríguez a máxima velocidad!!#nascarmexico #NASCARMexicoCity pic.twitter.com/F9GcffnUYF
— Autodromo Hnos. Rodriguez (@autodromohr) June 13, 2025
NASCAR has staged exhibitions in Japan and Australia, and lower-level series events in Canada and Mexico.
But in the circuit’s 77-year history, there have been only two official top-level races outside of the U.S., both in Canada, most recently in 1958 — back when NASCAR’s Cup Series was called the Grand National Series.
The milestone race on Sunday, which was announced last summer, will see drivers tackling 15 turns over a 3.8-km course at an elevation of 2,285 meters (7,500 feet) — where the thin air will significantly impact engine performance and driver endurance.
The track includes a 1.1-mile straightaway in which cars exceed 200 km/h (124 mph), far from the top speeds of over 322 km/h (200 mph) the same stock cars can reach on superspeedways like Daytona and Talladega.
The three-day festival of speed in the capital started Friday with practice and qualifying in the morning and a NASCAR Mexico Series race in the afternoon.
On Saturday, a NASCAR Xfinity Series race tabbed the Chilango 150 is scheduled to begin at 11:45 a.m., with the main event Viva México 250 set for Sunday at 1 p.m.
Alongside all of the excitement heading into the weekend is news that multiple racing teams faced logistical travel hurdles en route to CDMX.
The situation emerged when two chartered flights from North Carolina were grounded Thursday due to mechanical issues. Some crews drove to Atlanta to catch commercial flights.
NASCAR announced it had adjusted the CDMX schedule, noting it had condensed Xfinity Series practice but spared Cup teams schedule changes.
A homecoming for Mexican driver Daniel Suárez
The Cup Series race on Sunday will mark a homecoming for Monterrey native Daniel Suárez, 33, the first Mexican-born driver to win at the Cup level: in 2022 at Sonoma Raceway in Northern California and 16 months ago at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
He also won the championship of the 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series, often described as NASCAR’s “minor leagues,” making him the first non-American and first graduate of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program to win a national series title.
Suárez heads into this weekend carrying the weight of a nation’s hopes — especially after back-to-back disappointing finishes by Guadalajara-born Sergio “Checo” Pérez in Formula 1’s Mexico City Grand Prix, including last place in 2024 and crashing out of the race on the opening lap in 2023.
This year’s F1 race in Mexico City is scheduled for Oct. 24-26.
Also weighing on Suárez’s mind is his unresolved contract situation with Trackhouse Racing. He is in the final stretch of his contract, and has acknowledged that negotiations are distracting.
“I’m super excited for the event. I’m super excited to live the moment because the first time is going to only happen once,” said Suárez, who arrived early to acclimate. “I’m really trying to be as present as possible, enjoy the moment and try to execute the best possible weekend that we can.”
From 2012 to 2014, Suárez won three Mexico Series races at the Hermanos Rodríguez track, and his No. 99 Chevrolet carries sponsorship from Mexican telecom giant Telcel.
Suárez is also expected to race in a different car in Saturday’s Xfinity Series race. There, he is expected to be joined by two drivers from Mexico City — Andrés Pérez de Lara, 20, and Rubén Rovelo, 37, whose status as chilangos will give the name of the race, the Chilango 150, a little extra punch.
NASCAR’s venture into Mexico was orchestrated by Ben Kennedy, the great-grandson of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. “Our biggest opportunity to grow as a sport is international,” he said. “Mexico City checked every box.”
The favorites for Sunday’s race include Americans William Byron (the current Cup Series standings leader) and Christopher Bell (fourth place) and New Zealander Shane van Gisbergen (who excels on non-oval tracks). Suárez is 28th in the standings.
Many tickets for Sunday’s race, which start at 1,000 pesos (US $52) on the backstretch and rise to 10,500 pesos (US $554) pesos in the main grandstand, have already been sold. TV coverage will be on Channel 5 and Fox Sports in Mexico and Amazon Prime Video in the U.S.
With reports from El Economista, Infobae and Associated Press
Amid raids and protests, Mexico’s national soccer team is set to play in LA. Will fans be afraid to attend?
Reigning Gold Cup champions Mexico are scheduled to face the Dominican Republic in Los Angeles in Saturday’s opening match of the regional tournament, but events off the soccer field are getting more attention than El Tri’s chances of defending its title.
Protests over U.S. government immigration raids in the area began last Saturday and, in response to the rising episodes of violence, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass issued a curfew for Downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday night.
On Friday, Mayor Bass confirmed that the curfew will remain in effect “for several days.” Kick-off for Saturday’s match is set for 6:15 p.m. local time, which means the final whistle will come after 8 p.m. The curfew is from 8 p.m. through 6 a.m.
Concacaf officials are monitoring the situation and are in “close and ongoing communication with local authorities, host venues and the participating national teams,” ESPN reported.
“The safety and well-being of all participants, fans, and stakeholders is [our] highest priority,” Concacaf said in a press release.
The Mexico national team was even forced to change hotels over security considerations. Originally scheduled to stay in downtown Los Angeles, the team relocated to Long Beach to avoid the unrest.
The protests are now a week old, rising in intensity since U.S. President Donald Trump federalized National Guard troops and then sent U.S. Marines to the city.
Since the immigration protests began, the Los Angeles Police Department had made nearly 400 arrests and detentions through Thursday, according to The Associated Press.
The volatile situation has fans and officials concerned.
Los Angeles has a large and passionate Mexican-American community that strongly supports the Mexico national team, according to a Los Angeles Times article.
And with Mexico looking to win its third consecutive regional tournament after also winning the Concacaf Nations League in March, the anticipation for Saturday’s match was sky-high. More than 50,000 tickets for Saturday’s game against the Dominican Republic were sold in the weeks after El Tri’s March 23 win over Panama, according to the newspaper Marca.
Typically, there is a festive atmosphere ahead of a Mexico match in Los Angeles, but the immigration raids have darkened the environment.
The fear of a raid around the stadium is causing some immigrants to rethink attending the match. Scalpers who typically might find buyers for tickets at US $400 are now letting ducats go for as little as US $20, Marca reported.
There were even rumors that Concacaf was considering changing the venue for the game, according to Marca.
One woman who had tickets for Saturday’s match told Marca that it was not worth risking everything over a 90-minute game.
“El Tri is my passion, but I don’t want my kids to be left without a mother,” she said.
Even Team Mexico practice sessions, which usually draw a boisterous crowd of supporters, have been sparsely attended, Marca reported.
After Saturday’s match in L.A., El Tri will face Suriname in Arlington, Texas, on June 18 and concludes its group-stage schedule in Las Vegas on June 22 against Costa Rica.
FIFA tournament faces similar worries in L.A.
On Sunday, L.A. is also due to host the first of six FIFA Club World Cup matches to be played at nearby Pasadena’s Rose Bowl over the next fortnight, three of which feature Mexican club Rayados de Monterrey.
The Rayados are scheduled to play Italy’s Inter Milan on June 17, Argentina’s River Plate on June 21 and Japan’s Urawa Reds on June 25, all at the Rose Bowl.
Fans association Football Supporters Europe (FSE) told BBC Sport it is “deeply concerned.”
“The current policing approach in the US is wholly unfit for international sporting events. The continued use of excessive force against peaceful protestors is especially alarming. FIFA must act now,” FSE said in a press release.
FSE urged FIFA, global soccer’s governing body, to use its influence to ensure that “the human rights and civil liberties of all attending fans are protected and respected.”
With reports from Marca, ESPN, BBC, Reforma and Los Angeles Daily News
Mexican home appliance manufacturers brace for even more US tariffs
A bevy of household appliances made in Mexico will soon have to contend with U.S. President Donald Trump’s expanded steel tariffs, according to a U.S. Commerce Department notice posted earlier this week.
Imports of eight product lines — combined refrigerator-freezers, small and large dryers, washing machines, dishwashers, chest and upright freezers, cooking stoves, ranges and ovens, food waste disposals, and welded wire racks — will be impacted as of June 23, the notice said.
This news comes as Mexico’s Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard is negotiating a deal to reduce or eliminate Trump’s 50% tariffs on steel imports up to a certain volume.
An industry source told Reuters that a likely outcome would include a quota arrangement, under which a specified volume from Mexico could enter duty free or at a reduced rate and any imports above that level would be charged the full tariff, now at 50%.
The Mexican government has yet to respond to the new Commerce Department notice.
This latest announcement is the second time that the Trump administration has expanded the list of “steel derivative products” subject to the tariffs on imported steel and aluminum that were imposed at 25% in March.
“The tariff imposed … will be assessed on these derivative products for the value of the steel content in each product,” a Federal Register posting said, according to Reuters.
The new tariffs of 50% have generated widespread concern for South Korean electronics giants Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics who sell a wide range of home appliances in the U.S. market, according to The Korea Herald.
While both companies produce appliances in the U.S., the bulk of their products sold in the U.S. market are produced outside of the U.S., in Mexico as well as at home in South Korea. Much of the steel used in these appliances is also sourced from outside the U.S., the Herald reported.
Both Samsung and LG set up production facilities for home appliances in the U.S. recently, primarily in response to Trump’s tariff policies during his first term in office (2017-2021).
The new tariffs appear to be bad news for Mexico, the Herald reported, as the two companies “are reportedly considering relocating some of its production in Mexico to its U.S. plants.”
“We are closely monitoring the situation in response to the tariffs,” one industry official told the Herald, speaking on condition of anonymity.
With reports from El Economista, Reforma, El País, The Korea Herald and Reuters
Authorities seize over 2 metric tons of illegal shark fins bound for China
Mexican authorities seized more than 2,000 kilograms of dried shark and ray fins bound for China early this month in what inspectors are calling “a historic bust.”
On June 11, the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) announced it had intercepted the contraband in collaboration with the Naval Ministry (SEMAR) after the shark fins were discovered during a port inspection.
🟩 Profepa asegura 2,433 kilos de aletas de tiburón que pretendían llevar a Shanghai.
🌊🚢🦈
Las exportación al mercado internacional de tiburón toro, tiburón martillo común y tiburón sedoso se encuentra regulada por la Convención sobre el Comercio Internacional de Especies… pic.twitter.com/4aTEf4j3Hw— PROFEPA (@PROFEPA_Mx) June 12, 2025
Federal regulation prohibits shark finning, meaning that the exclusive use of the fins of any shark species is illegal.
The incident occurred in the port of Ensenada, Baja California, on a ship bound for Shanghai, China, Profepa officials confirmed.
“On June 5, Navy personnel alerted Profepa … [and] upon arriving at the Strategic Precinct of the Port of Ensenada, Baja California, inspectors found a container containing 135 sacks of various weights containing shark fins,” Profepa said in its press release.
SEMAR and Customs personnel found total weight of the contraband fins to be 2,433 kilograms. The fins belonged to species including bull sharks, hammerheads and silky sharks.
Profepa reported that some of the species identified are listed on CITES Appendix II, and some of the shark fins were taken from juveniles and newborn sharks. CITES Appendix II refers to species that, while not currently threatened with extinction, could become so without strict trade regulation.
The export of such sharks to international markets is regulated by CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) and since the ship’s captain did not possess the corresponding CITES certificate, the fins were seized.
A 2022 Brookings Institution report indicated that Chinese markets “are thickly intertwined in Mexico’s illegal economies, such as drug and wildlife trafficking and money laundering.
As the predominant source of precursor chemicals for Mexican criminal groups, Chinese money traders and businesses increasingly launder money for Mexican cartels and Mexico-China wildlife trade is becoming a mechanism to transfer value in illicit economies and bypass anti-money-laundering controls in U.S. and Mexican banks.
Various animal and timber products — especially shark fins and totoaba swim bladders — are used by the cartels to pay for drug precursors. The Brookings report says the increasing role of this payment method could devastate biodiversity in Mexico, especially as the cartels “seek to legally and illegally harvest more and more of a wider and wider range of animal and plant species to pay for precursors.”
With reports from El Universal and Excelsior
Irregularities trigger recount in troubled Veracruz elections
June 1 is remembered as the date of Mexico’s first-ever judicial elections, but in a number of states they were combined with voting for local government posts as well. In one of those states — Veracruz — allegations of irregularities have led to an order for a recount, starting this week.
According to the Local Public Electoral Body of the State of Veracruz (OPLE) the official vote count that began on Monday revealed inconsistencies with the number of votes counted in the authorized municipal councils. Furthermore, intermittent periods when the server was unavailable forced many staff members to resubmit information, ultimately resulting in duplicates. The system barely functioned properly for an hour.
“In order to provide certainty and transparency to the results,” the OPLE said in a statement on Tuesday, the vote count will be restarted “no later than June 13.”
OPLE head Marisol Delgadillo said the problems have not affected the validity of the ballots, which will now be processed manually under the “vote by vote, polling station by polling station” system. There are 27 authorized municipal councils and more than 3,000 accredited observers who will be able to monitor the counting process.
Issues have also been reported in the mayoral elections. The national leader of the Movimiento Ciudadano party, Jorge Álvarez Máynez, who pulled off a major upset with a victory in 40 municipal seats, has reported irregularities in the vote count in Poza Rica and Papantla.
Some judicial candidates, such as Rosalba Hernández, who was leading the race to preside over the state’s Superior Court of Justice when the system collapsed, have expressed distrust over the possibility that these failures in the vote-count could ultimately manipulate or distort results.
Beyond the irregularities, the election in Veracruz has been troubled from the start. The lead-up to voting day was marked by an escalation of violence.
According to data from the Votar Entre Balas (Voting Between Bullets) observatory, Veracruz recorded 32 violent incidents during the electoral process, 17 of which were directed against pre-candidates or candidates, representing 53.1% of the total.
The violent events included the murder of Morena and Green Party mayoral candidate Yesenia Lara Gutiérrez and three of her supporters during a campaign event in Texistepec, a town and municipality in the south of Veracruz. Twelve days earlier, Germán Anuar Valencia, Morena’s mayoral candidate in the northern Veracruz municipality of Coxquihui, was shot dead.
With reports from El País and El Economista
10 must-do experiences for a perfect weekend in Tepoztlán
Tepoztlán: So close to the capital, yet so far from the urban bustle. With each visit to this charming Pueblo Mágico in Morelos, my dependency grows. Its perfect balance of spiritual energy and pueblo culture makes Tepoz, as it’s so fondly called by locals, a delightful escape from the city.
Tucked at the base of the towering Tepozteco mountain, there are just enough experiences here to fill a memorable weekend getaway: hiking to waterfalls, exploring ancient pyramids, purifying yourself in a traditional temazcal ceremony and wrapping it all up with a creative cocktail in a lush greenhouse-turned-restaurant. Whether you’re a Mexico City resident seeking mountain air or an international traveler wanting authentic culture, Tepoztlán is sure to deliver.
How to get to Tepoztlán from Mexico City
ADO’s OCC line runs up to 23 departures daily from the Taxqueña terminal, reaching Tepoztlán in 1.5 hours on a good day or up to 2 hours with traffic. Tickets start at 140 pesos. Rideshares are also an option — just let your driver know your destination and expect to pay tolls for both the ride there and the return trip.
When to visit: The best time for a getaway to Tepoztlán
Visit during the June-to-September rainy season for waterfall sightings — hike in the mornings for the best experience. The dry season offers perfect outdoor weather and clear mountain views. Any time works, but pack accordingly: layers and rain gear for wet season, light clothes and hats for dry season.
1. Hike to the Tepozteco pyramid
The classic Tepoztlán experience. This moderate 2-hour hike up the Tepozteco mountain rewards you with a 12th-century pyramid at the top and panoramic valley views. Start early to beat the crowds and heat. For something further off the beaten path, hire a local guide to take you to the “portal” — your guide will know exactly what you’re referring to when you ask for this undercover site.
2. Experience a traditional temazcal ceremony
This millennia-old traditional Mesoamerican sauna cleanses you in all the ways: physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Hostal de la Luz offers my preferred temazcal experience — ask for Andrés to lead you through the ceremony. It’s intense but transformative, perfect for those seeking a deeper connection.
3. Explore the New Tepoztlán Market
From the bright colors to the mouthwatering scents, this three-level market completed in 2024 is a feast for the senses. Start your meandering with a fresh fruit juice or a steaming espresso made using beans from Chiapas. Next, try itacates, Tepoztlán’s famous triangular fried masa, topped with everything from nopales to grasshoppers. The market perfectly captures this Pueblo Mágico’s blend of tradition and modern Mexican culture.
4. Sample authentic Tepoztlán cuisine
Tepoztlán’s cuisine extends beyond the charming markets. Around town, don’t skip a visit to Tepoznieves — a local ice cream shop with over 100 flavors — and a bite of cecina, the traditional dish of Morelos. These aren’t just tourist foods; they’re what locals actually eat. The flavors here reflect the town’s mountain setting and Indigenous heritage.
5. Visit the Museo de Arte Prehispánico Carlos Pellicer
This compact museum houses impressive ancient artifacts that tell the story of the region’s pre-Columbian cultures, once the private collection of poet Carlos Pellicer. It’s a great activity for a rainy afternoon or when the sun is at its peak, adding some cultural context to your Tepoztlán experience.
6. Relax at Amomoxtli
Book a day pass at what I call the Soho House of Tepoztlán. This hidden gem is tucked away among lush pine and tropical plants, offering spa treatments that incorporate ancestral techniques and local herbs harvested from the property’s onsite gardens. The service is top-notch and you won’t find a better spa experience in town.
7. Have cocktails at Margarita Concept Garden
This unique greenhouse-turned-restaurant has become the social hub for trendy visitors from Mexico City. The setting is Instagram-worthy, but the drinks, food and atmosphere are the real draw. Try the Ambar, a spiced martini of mezcal, Lillet and Ancho Reyes with a side of homemade gnocchi.
8. Wander the Historic Ex-Convent of the Nativity
This Unesco World Heritage site showcases 16th-century frescoes of fantastical creatures and detailed colonial architecture. It’s a peaceful contrast to the town’s bustling energy and offers insight into Tepoztlán’s layered history, and its artsy entrance made entirely of seeds gives it that unique flair you’ll soon come to expect in this part of the world.
9. Discover local street art and artisan culture
Tepoztlán’s murals and artisan shops reflect the town’s creative spirit. Wander the cobblestone streets to find handcrafted jewelry textiles and artwork that capture the region’s mystical energy. Paintings and lamps made from traditional amate paper, crafted from tree bark, are an ideal souvenir to take home.
10. Take a nature walk to Amatlán
This nearby village offers excellent hiking opportunities and a chance to explore beyond central Tepoztlán. Local guides can show you hidden waterfalls and share stories about the area’s spiritual significance. Amatlán is the alleged hometown of Quetzacoatl, the Mesoamerican feathered serpent god of wind, wisdom and creation.
Where to stay in Tepoztlán
Casa Fernanda: A 5-star boutique hotel for its breezy design, excellent restaurant and unpretentious pool. It’s like staying at your rich friend’s country villa with easy town center access.
Amomoxtli: Another luxury option with excellent service and the best spa in town, tucked among lush pine and tropical plants. Within its luxe garden property is the only Casa Dragones tasting house outside of San Miguel de Allende.
Hostal de la Luz: Perfect for spiritual seekers, this sprawling Amatlán property offers both traditional treatments, like temazcals, distinctive ones, like labyrinths and gamma chambers. The views are breathtaking.
La Buena Vibra Wellness Resort & Spa: A peaceful mid-range retreat with beautiful gardens, full-service spa and renowned Sunday breakfast buffet. Great wellness atmosphere at a more accessible price point.
Hotel Teocalli: Excellent budget choice near the center with relaxed vibes, pool, gardens and on-site massages. Clean, comfortable rooms in an ideal location for exploring on foot.
Tepoztlán has this way of sticking with you long after you’ve returned to the city. Maybe it’s the mountain air, the energy that locals swear by, or simply the fact that everything feels more manageable at a slower pace. Whatever it is, I keep finding excuses to go back. Pack your hiking boots, a swimsuit and an open mind: Tepoz is waiting to work its magic on you too.
Bethany Platanella is a travel planner and lifestyle writer based in Mexico City. She lives for the dopamine hit that comes directly after booking a plane ticket, exploring local markets, practicing yoga and munching on fresh tortillas. Sign up to receive her Sunday Love Letters to your inbox, peruse her blog or follow her on Instagram.
The most beautiful streets in Mexico City
One of the great joys of living in Mexico City is that its streets are still walkable — if you know how to dodge broken sidewalks and loose cobblestones. GuruWalk’s most recent ranking agrees with me: the capital beat Tokyo among the best walking cities in 2025. Sadly, that’s something you realize when you lose it. Growing up in the heart of Coyoacán, I took for granted that there would be a café or vintage bookstore on every corner and that churros and tarot readings were available just blocks away.
As a city that’s over 700 years old, the Mexican capital offers a unique variety of architectural styles and historical sites easily accessible on foot. Craving a colonial vibe? Chimalistac is your choice. Eager for a Porfiriato-era pedestrian street? The Historic Center is for you. How about a more Bauhaus feel? We’ve got plenty in the south of the city! After years of enjoying long walks in my hometown, here’s an insider’s digest of the most beautiful streets in Mexico City.
Avenida Francisco Sosa: Stroll like a hacendado
Running from Avenida Universidad to Calle Tres Cruces, Avenida Francisco was originally built in the 16th century as the main connection to the town of San Ángel when Coyoacán and San Ángel were separate municipalities.
After over 500 years of history, Francisco Sosa is today framed by old ash trees and offers magnificent baroque temples and colonial-era haciendas, as well as some of the best bakeries in town. One of my absolute favorites is Café Ruta de la Seda.
Although it’s not located exactly on Francisco Sosa, you can walk your way from Coyoacán’s zócalo to Calle Pino. If in doubt, search for Parque de la Aurora and you’ll find the spot on one of the park’s corners. Order a slice of Kyoto cake and thank me later. Also, try arriving early for breakfast, before 10 a.m., or expect a line of over an hour!
Calle Amargura: Stepping back into old San Ángel
With haciendas and convents gracefully built over centuries-old cobblestone streets, this is one of San Ángel’s most iconic streets. Gorgeous bougainvillea bushes frame the wooden doors that distinguish this southern neighborhood of Mexico City. Arched alleyways and Baroque churches can be found as you walk along Calle Amargura, offering interesting opportunities to appreciate the religious architecture of 17th-century Mexico.
If you’re free on a Saturday morning, do not miss the chance to visit the art market in San Ángel’s zócalo. After enjoying the exhibition offered by local artists that weekend, it is simply a joy to spend the afternoon walking through little streets like Amargura. Before you know it, you might find yourself on Plaza de los Arcángeles. Formerly the central piece of the San Jacinto Monastery, this baroque corner in San Ángel has three stone benches, each dedicated to an archangel: Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, alluding to the spot’s name.
Avenida Francisco I. Madero: The heartstring of the Historic Center
Often referred to simply as Madero, this avenue is currently the main access road to the Zócalo and one of the busiest pedestrian routes in terms of tourism and shopping in the entire capital.
If you’re an architecture nerd like me, do not miss the chance to visit Casa de los Azulejos, a luxurious example of how Talavera Poblana ceramics were once used to decorate the exteriors of Baroque buildings. Built in the 18th century, it is catalogued as one of the Mexico City’s “most spectacular” residential palaces, in the words of the city’s government.
Ever had breakfast at a Sanborns? This is your chance! With reasonable prices, you can enjoy traditional Mexican cuisine, with the restaurant’s special seasoning that feels like home. Having lunch at the Casa de los Azulejos’s Sanborns branch is like having grandma’s hot cocoa in a luxurious 300-year-old Baroque palace. On Madero, that’s actually possible.
Calle Isabel la Católica: Sor Juana’s old haunt
On the corner of Isabel la Católica and Avenida Cinco de Mayo, you’ll find a ceramic plaque: “This street was called Carreras (races), down which the conquistadors fled during the siege of Tenochtitlan.” Today, the street bears the name of the monarch who sent those conquistadors. Beyond the cultural breviary, Calle Isabel la Católica is dotted with wonderful cafes run by local chefs and baristas, often graduates of the Universidad del Claustro de Sor Juana.
When I was in high school, my mother taught business administration at the Claustro. Her students used to show me these trendy spots, and I learned to distinguish the taste of burnt coffee with them. Every now and then, I accompanied my mother to the university and enjoyed wandering around the Historic Center Center. That’s when I came across Museo del Estanquillo’s sky terrace. It’s easily one of the loveliest views downtown, where you can enjoy a nice cup of coffee and delve into what Italians call “dolce far niente”: the joy of doing absolutely nothing, watching passersby below.
Avenida Presidente Masaryk: For the couture connoisseur
Prada, Dior, Cartier, Louis Vuitton and other haute couture houses have found a home on Avenida Presidente Masaryk. As one of Polanco’s most walkable streets, with wide sidewalks and nice spots for brunching, the eyes can feast on Mexico City’s California-style architecture. Polanco screams expensive: the country’s most exclusive hotels and restaurants have thrived here, and people enjoy strolling across Masaryk on a Sunday morning.
If you want to dive into Polanco’s chic fantasy, do not miss the chance of brunching at Casa Portuguesa. You can walk from Masaryk to Avenida Emilio Castelar. Just in front of gorgeous Parque Lincoln, enjoy a wonderful croissant with jelly to start. Even though their specialty is bacalao, my personal favorite is their huevos cazuela. End your breakfast with a nice latte and rejoice in the neighborhood’s luxury.
Calle Colima: Where Roma Norte really lives
I think Calle Álvaro Obregón is overrated. Want to really dive deep into Roma Norte? Head straight to Calle Colima. Home to some of the capital’s trendiest fitness studios and bistros, this tree-lined median street could become the heart of your digital nomad era.
Just like the surrounding streets, Colima has textile design studios that combine traditional backstrap loom techniques with the latest fashion trends. In Roma Norte, not only can you wear fashion, but you can use fashion. Along with several vintage clothing stores, you can find designer houses in every specialty. Ceramics, candles, jewelry — the sky’s the limit.
So picture this: you just had the perfect yoga class on your perfect yoga mat in your perfect outfit, and you’re crave the perfect latte to finish the perfect morning. You walk across Colima and find Constela Café: a wonderful cafecito where you’ll order an iced coffee. You can also try their ceremonial grade matcha to go and enjoy the rest of the day walking around one of the most beautiful streets in Mexico City.
Andrea Fischer contributes to the features desk at Mexico News Daily. She has edited and written for National Geographic en Español and Muy Interesante México, and continues to be an advocate for anything that screams science. Or yoga. Or both.
