The Popocatépetl volcano released a large amount of steam on Tuesday, but Mexico City is not expected to be affected. (Webcams de México/X)
Popocatépetl, one of Mexico’s most active volcanoes, released a large plume or fumarole on Tuesday evening at 6:25 p.m; civil protection authorities have maintained a Phase 2 Yellow Alert.
A column of steam and volcanic ash, which rose over 1.5 km above the crater, was visible from the Valley of Mexico and surrounding regions.
As of Wednesday morning, the volcano continued to spew steam and gas with low levels of ash content, and had registered 27 exhalations and 939 minutes of tremors.
According to the alert system developed by federal authorities and the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), a yellow alert indicates increased activity and suggests that residents should remain vigilant and prepare for a potential evacuation.
To the south of the city of Puebla, ash is expected to fall in Angelópolis, Atlixco, Matamoros and the Mixteca region. Authorities have also warned of ashfall in parts of the states of Tlaxcala, Veracruz, Morelos and Guerrero.
It is unlikely that ash will reach Mexico City.
The areas immediately around the volcano in the state of Puebla, Veracruz, Morelos and Guerrero are all expected to see light ashfall as a result of the fumarole. (Fernanda Valerio/X)
Located about 70 km southeast of Mexico City, the Popocatépetl volcano is colloquially known as “el Popo” or “Don Goyo.”
In May 2023, Popo’s volcanic activity put the area on high alert after registering intense activity for over two weeks.
After the volcano’s activity diminished early in June, the state government of Puebla announced it would create a permanent action plan for those who live near the volcano.
If you've got a cool US $1 million, Mexico offers the chance to live a life of ultimate luxury. Here are our picks from some of the best properties on the market right now. (James Edition)
Thinking about investing in real estate? What you can buy for US $1 million in the United States is quite different from what you can buy for the same price in Mexico! In most of the U.S., that budget might land you a very nice home or condo, while in Mexico, $1 million can unlock the door to major luxury. Mexico offers an enticing array of options for buyers looking to maximize their investment and enjoy a high-end lifestyle.
Excited to dive in? Let’s take a thrilling tour of properties across Mexico, each boasting its own incredible character, and unique features. From lively beachfront condos to countryside hideaways, there’s a slice of paradise to fit every style.
We’ve curated a selection of outstanding properties in some of Mexico’s most popular expat destinations. (Unsplash)
San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato:
Escape to the beautiful countryside while enjoying the convenience of a mere 15-minute drive from the vibrant heart of San Miguel de Allende. Nestled on 6.2 acres of pristine land, this stunning single-level home was meticulously crafted by the architect for her parents.
Indulge in panoramic views of the Presa de Allende reservoir and the majestic Picacho Mountains from the comfort of your own personal haven. With six opulent en suite bedrooms and the potential for three more, Casa Terra could easily be transformed into the ultimate retreat center.
Each bedroom has a private terrace, elegant marble and tzalam hardwood floors, built-in closets and spacious bathrooms with granite countertops. Let the warm glow of well-engineered skylights, ample windows and breezeways envelop you without overheating, creating an ambiance of pure bliss.
The chef’s kitchen is equipped with state-of-the-art appliances, and the adjoining maid’s apartment includes its own living room, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom — because everyone in your entourage deserves to live in luxury.
Discover Casa Terra, with gorgeous views of the Presa de Allende reservoir and Picacho Mountains, all just a 15-minute drive from the heart of historic San Miguel de Allende. (CDR San Miguel)
Merida, Yucatán:
This meticulously renovated colonial compound boasts seven bedrooms and eight and a half bathrooms, seamlessly blending old-world elegance with modern comforts. Sprawled across a generous 12,300-square-foot lot, this luxurious home is overflowing with exquisite details, including colonial beamed ceilings, skylights, ornamental pasta-tile floors and shimmering crystal chandeliers.
Ideal for entertaining, the property features a fully equipped chef’s kitchen and covered terraces boasting their own bar and grill.
This stunner comes complete with a three-vehicle electric garage, water purification and pressure systems and mature gardens with fruit trees.
Now, hold on to your sombreros for the big reveal! This compound includes two independent suites, each featuring two-bed/two-bath setups and their own kitchens, providing an excellent opportunity to generate rental income. All that plus the 32 solar panels installed for energy efficiency means you can enjoy sustainable living while maximizing prosperity at the same time.
Nestled just moments from Mérida’s bustling downtown, yet tucked away to provide serenity and privacy, this property offers swift access to Avenue Itzaes so you can quickly reach the airport, local beaches and the nearby Mayan ruins.
A thoughtful and detailed renovation incorporates classic colonial features with flowing contemporary design and function to shape this sumptuous Merida home. (Mexico International Real Estate)
Mexico City:
Step into the spotlight with Casa Colima, a slice of history tucked away in the heart of Mexico City’s hip Roma Norte neighborhood. Built in 1920, this Porfirian-style townhouse is a statement of elegance spread across 2,200 square feet.
Picture yourself sashaying into the spacious living room, where high ceilings, original moldings, hardwood floors and large windows set the stage for your glamorous morning latte.
The kitchen is a scene straight out of a Mexican film from the Golden Age, while upstairs, three fabulous bedrooms and a full bathroom offer a sophisticated urban retreat. The crowning glory of this home is the rooftop terrace with an outdoor kitchen, half bathroom and shower, the ultimate spot for celebrating the good life with friends.
A dreamy Porfirian-style townhouse located on Colima street, one of the capital’s most sought after addresses. This beautiful property is a dream come true for any lover of early 20th century Mexican architecture. (Sotheby’s International Realty)
Los Cabos, Baja California Sur:
Welcome to Casa Adobe, where luxury and innovation come together in the heart of Los Cabos. With three bedrooms, three full bathrooms, and a further half bathroom on a 3,240-square-foot plot, this modular marvel adapts to your desires by dividing into two or three independent spaces as required, each with the high-end finishes of your choice.
Built within an exclusive housing community, the amenities include a jogging track for when you need to run off that extra taco, 24/7 security services, commercial spaces for all of your retail therapy needs and even jacuzzis to soak in style. There is even a rooftop garden, the ultimate spot for meditating on those breathtaking Cabo sunsets.
The amazing Punta Gorda view is just one of hundreds of reasons to snap up this incredible Los Cabos property. (Pose Knows Cabo)
Oaxaca City, Oaxaca:
This oasis in Tlalixtac de Cabrera, Oaxaca is a 7,300-square-foot masterpiece sitting on a 19,300-square-foot lot. Offering five bedrooms and five bathrooms spread across two floors, there’s room for everyone, including garage space for five cars!
This home comes ready to enjoy with all the bells and whistles, including tropical wood floors and walls, a large garden with fruit trees, a palapa with two bathrooms and a kitchenette, two ponds with waterfalls and a private water well.
Dive into your own shimmering pool, soak up the sun on the terrace, or unwind in the jacuzzi. When you’re done relaxing, whip up meals in the fully fitted kitchen to enjoy in the lush garden, or on the balcony overlooking your tropical paradise.
A spacious house with a large garden is unquestionably the best way to experience the magic of Oaxaca. (Remax)
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco:
This incredible investment opportunity is nestled in the heart of the stunning Zona Romantica, just two blocks from the coveted Playa Los Muertos in Puerto Vallarta. With seven bedrooms and six bathrooms, this home provides plenty of room to live your best life.
Be greeted by interior brickwork arches as you explore the first floor, where three spacious bedrooms and two bathrooms are the perfect setup for either renting out or calling home. Two private terraces perched above the street add an extra dash of prestige and come equipped with an outdoor bathroom for when you’re enjoying those alfresco moments.
The second and third floors host two studio suites on each level with their own bathroom, kitchen, terrace and private entrance. This fully furnished turnkey operation is primed and ready for entrepreneurial spirits.
This Puerto Vallarta home boasts amazing Mexican charm, with interior brickwork arches and inside windows giving it true Mexican flair. (Coldwell Banker La Costa)
Tulum, Quintana Roo:
This exclusive beachfront development boasts 21 unique villas with three bedrooms and three bathrooms spread across a spacious 2,400 square feet each. Your new home is nestled along the coast of the Riviera Maya – just minutes away from trendy Tulum – with lush jungles on one side and the soothing Caribbean on the other.
Step into luxury with a 24-hour concierge service that ensures your every whim is met. The on-site wellness center and spa promise extra pampering. Stay fabulous at the gym with personal trainers and massage therapists, then enjoy leisurely afternoons at the private beach club. With its own restaurant and bar, plus catering services, free WiFi, valet parking, and 24-hour security, you can indulge yourself in the Caribbean lifestyle without worrying about a thing!
Committed to environmental sustainability and preserving the local wildlife, this development is located next to the Tulum National Park, making it a haven for three species of turtles who call this coastline home – so if you’re passionate about nature, there’s no better place for you to do the same.
Tulum Apartment – $1,165,800 US (price listed as 19,885,122 pesos)
Tulum Apartments is located on the coast of the Riviera Maya, famous for its stunning natural landscape and proximity to world-class tourist areas. (James Edition)
Purchasing a $1 million property in Mexico allows foreigners to indulge in a luxurious lifestyle while enjoying the many perks of living in paradise. From tranquil beachfront villas to charming colonial estates, there’s a property to suit every preference. Take the plunge and let Mexico’s charm and beauty enrich your life.
Sandra is a Mexican writer and translator based in San Miguel de Allende who specializes in mental health and humanitarian aid. She believes in the power of language to foster compassion and understanding across cultures. She can be reached at: sandragancz@gmail.com
Dangerous weather conditions caused the climbers to lose their way on the way down from the 5,636-meter peak. (Pedro Valtierra/Cuartoscuro)
Authorities in Puebla have confirmed the death of a man who led an expedition to climb the Pico de Orizaba volcano last Saturday. The death of a woman was previously announced, while another man remains missing on the dormant volcano.
The Puebla Civil Protection agency said on the X social media platform on Wednesday morning that search and rescue teams had located the body of Luis Flores Gómez.
Guide Luis Flores was found dead on Tuesday night. (@chignahuapan_va/X)
He was the guide for a group of 11 mountaineers from Jalisco who scaled Mexico’s largest peak in cold weather last Saturday.
The death of a woman identified as Jessica N. was confirmed Monday.
The Civil Protection agency said that Flores’ body was found 4,600 meters above sea level on Tuesday night. Rescuers were unable to retrieve it due to a lack of light, but will bring the body off the mountain on Wednesday.
They will also continue searching for a mountaineer who remains missing five days after the expedition began. He has been identified as José Luis Díaz.
Led by Flores, the group of mountaineers reportedly lost their way due to bad weather when they were descending the 5,636-meter-high Pico de Orizaba last Saturday. Nine members of the group made it off the volcano on Sunday, although some of them had symptoms of dehydration and the early stages of hypothermia.
That left three of the group unaccounted for, two of whom have now been confirmed to have died.
The fatalities come just six months after four mountaineers fell to their death on Pico de Orizaba, which straddles the states of Puebla and Veracruz.
Also known as Citlaltépetl, the stratovolcano is the third highest mountain peak in North America after Denali (Mount McKinley) in Alaska and Mount Logan in Canada.
The military has been deployed previously to natural disaster zones to help clear highways; now they will be in charge of maintenance on some of the country's major roadways. (Cuartoscuro)
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has given the military yet another job: maintaining the nation’s highways.
At his morning press conference on Tuesday, López Obrador acknowledged that he had assigned the task of maintaining some federal highways to the Defense Ministry (Sedena).
He explained that the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport (SICT) previously contracted private companies to maintain highways.
“But they didn’t do the job well” and “there were swindles,” López Obrador said.
He said that he had informed the minister of infrastructure, communications and transport, Jorge Nuño Lara, that military engineers would assume responsibility for the highway maintenance program in the southeast of the country using machinery purchased for the Maya Train railroad project. Roads were damaged in the region due to their use by trucks transporting ballast for the railroad, according to the president.
It hasn’t been confirmed, but it appears likely that the military will also assume responsibility for highway maintenance projects in other parts of the country.
Mexico’s military has been given a wide range of tasks during the López Obrador administration, including public security and infrastructure construction. (Cuartoscuro)
López Obrador asserted that the army could do a better job fixing highways than private companies. He also said it could complete projects more quickly and at a lower cost.
The military engineers provide a “guarantee” that the government will fulfill its commitment to leave the nation’s highways in good shape when it leaves office in late 2024, he said.
The president has relied heavily on the armed forces since taking office in 2018, using the army and navy for a wide range of tasks including public security, infrastructure construction, the management of customs, ports and airports and the administration of public companies such as those responsible for the Maya Train railroad and the state-owned airline Mexicana.
López Obrador’s remarks about the new role he has assigned the army came after the Reforma newspaper and other news outlets reported Monday that he had ordered Sedena to take charge of maintaining the nation’s highways. Reforma’s reporting was based on a Jan. 20 letter from a military official to Nuño Lara in which the former seeks information about highway projects planned for this year so that the army can prepare to carry them out.
Earlier this month, the SICT canceled the government’s 2024 “highway conservation” program, which “had 559 tenders underway” and estimated funding of 11 billion pesos (US $644.6 million), according to Reforma.
The Mexican Chamber of the Construction Industry (CMIC) on Monday expressed its “profound concern” about the cancellation of the program given that “good maintenance of the national highway network is the basis for the development of the country’s economy.”
“The lack of investment in the maintenance and conservation of highways has been a constant for several years, which with it has brought a significant deterioration in the country’s transport infrastructure, affecting Mexico’s competitiveness,” the chamber said in a statement.
“A highway network in poor condition increases transport costs, reduces logistical efficiency, affects road safety, increases accidents [and] reduces investment, both national and foreign,” CIMIC said.
It was unclear how much of the canceled program’s funding will go to Sedena for highway maintenance, but the amount of government money the army manages will almost certainly increase as the result of the new task it has been assigned.
“The military manages at its discretion and in opacity a purse of 77 billion pesos, and now it will have the resources available for highway maintenance,” Reforma reported.
In addition to insufficient maintenance, insecurity is a major concern on Mexican highways.
Reconstruction of the stadium hosting next week's ATP tournament is 95% complete. (abiertomexicanodetenis.com)
The Mexican Open tennis tournament is less than a week away, and organizers in Acapulco are confident that post-hurricane reconstruction will be completed on time to host the ATP tournament.
The Pacific Coast beach resort was battered in late October by a Category 5 hurricane that destroyed the tennis courts and caused structural damage to the Arena GNP Seguros event complex, which has hosted the ATP tournament since 2022.
Hurricane Otis caused severe damage to the GNP Arena in Acapulco. (Cuartoscuro)
Event organizers said in December that they’d be ready to host the tournament in February, saying they hoped that the arena’s reconstruction – and the event itself – would contribute to Acapulco’s recovery process.
Thirty-five companies have been working since December to rehabilitate the Arena GNP complex as well as hotels in the area. The newspaper Milenio toured the grounds this week and reported that reconstruction of the installations was 95 percent complete.
The tour of the tennis courts revealed that the arena has been reconditioned and will capably host the thousands of fans, reporters and media expected to attend the tournament from Feb. 26 to March 2.
Although organizers declined to offer a precise figure, Milenio estimated the cost of the rehabilitation process at 200 million pesos (US $11.7 million).
Tournament Director Álvaro Falla called on Acapulco residents and tennis fans to unite to make the 31st Mexican Open a success. (abiertomexicanodetenis.com)
Tournament Director Álvaro Falla called on Acapulco residents and fans in attendance to unite to make the 31st Mexican Open a success. He did say that protests are to be expected, but hopes they will not tarnish the event.
“We have been working hard to host the [Mexican Open] with the goal of helping to reactivate Acapulco’s economy,” Falla said, expressing gratitude for the cooperation that has facilitated the reconstruction process and allowed the region to make early strides in the long road to recovery.
“These have been difficult days in Acapulco, so we might not see a packed house,” said Falla, acknowledging that local residents typically comprise a significant portion of fans in attendance.
Organizers are offering promotions and discounts to acapulqueños interested in seeing the tournament. Eleven of the Top 20 ATP players will be participating, including four ranked in the Top 10: Germany’s Alexander Zverev (No. 6), Denmark’s Holger Rune (No. 7), American Taylor Fritz (No. 9) and Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas (No.10).
Last year’s Mexican Open – just the second one ever held at the Arena GNP – set a tournament attendance record of over 90,000 fans.
Though not known for being a music festival, Irapuato's annual Strawberry Festival announced a major headliner on Tuesday. (Instagram)
The annual Feria de las Fresas (Strawberry Festival), held in Mexico’s top strawberry-producing region, has announced that Imagine Dragons will be the “surprise band” at the festival’s 2024 edition.
“The Strawberry Fair is consolidating its greatness,” Governor of Guanajuato Diego Sinhue Rodríguez Vallejo said when announcing the news on social media. “We are pleased to announce that Imagine Dragons will join us for our 2024 edition… Welcome to Irapuato, Guanajuato.”
The festival celebrates Irapuato’s strawberry tradition with concerts, shows – and of course – fresh berries. (Feria de las Fresas Irapuato/Facebook)
Similar to a large county fair, the Strawberry Fair (in its 128th year) is not an event you’d typically see on a music festival circuit. News of the fair’s “headliner” surprised fans and residents of Irapuato, who took to social media to share humorous memes as a sign of celebration.
Statements like “…Top things I never thought would happen,” or “I said surprise me, 2024, and it surprised me with this” were circulating on social media on Tuesday.
The fair will run from March 15 through 31 at the Inforum in the city of just over 450,000, with Imagine Dragons performing on March 29 at the Teatro del Pueblo.
The band is originally from Las Vegas and known for the hit songs “It’s Time,” “Believer,” “Enemy” and Grammy-winning “Radioactive.”
In addition to Imagine Dragons, the fair will feature 14 other performers, including U.S. singer and former Nickelodeon star Drake Bell.
Some of the Mexican artists that will perform at the fair include Julión Álvarez, Gloria Trevi, Carlos Rivera and sisters Hannah and Ashley, Ha*Ash.
Other activities at the fair include a food market, amusement rides and circus shows.
Tickets to the fair will cost 20 pesos per person from Monday to Wednesday, and 50 pesos per person from Thursday to Sunday. Toddlers, young children and certain other groups can attend the fair for free.
The ATP Los Cabos Open got underway earlier this week, bringing four of the world's top ten men's players to Baja California Sur. (Los Cabos Tennis Open)
The Los Cabos Tennis Open was already an important tournament, thanks to its status as one of only two Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) sponsored tour events held annually in Mexico. The ATP 250 series men’s competition should gain an even greater profile, however, thanks to both its calendar shift from August to February – the peak of Los Cabos’ high tourist season – and the fact that it serves as the lead-in for the Mexican Open in Acapulco.
The History of the Los Cabos and Mexican Open Tournaments
The Mexican Open has long been the nation’s most important tournament, dating back to the inaugural competition in Mexico City in 1993. The ATP 500 series event moved to Acapulco in 2001 and in the years since has been graced with legendary champions like Rafael Nadal, who has won the tournament on four occasions.
The ATP Los Cabos Open has only been held since 2016, but has risen rapidly in prominence since then. (Los Cabos Tennis Open)
The Los Cabos Tennis Open, by contrast, debuted in 2016. Although its tour level (ATP 250 events provide fewer ranking points than the 500 series) and prize money are lower than the tournament in Acapulco, it has continued to expand during its short eight-year history, rising steadily in terms of prestige, facilities and amenities.
The first tournament in 2016 was held at newly built facilities at the Delmar International School, a bilingual private education institution just outside Cabo San Lucas. By 2021, the action had shifted to the Cabo Sports Complex (CSC), a dedicated sports facility built across from the Solaz Resort Los Cabos (Carretera Transpeninsular Km. 18.5) in the Tourist Corridor that connects Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the new complex had no fans in 2021. But by 2022, the tournament reopened to the public, and over 30,000 spectators attended the 2023 tournament, won by Greece’s Stéfanos Tsitsipás.
Past champions at the Los Cabos Tennis Tournament include Ivo Karlović, American Sam Querrey, Fabio Fognini, Diego Schwartzman, Cameron Norrie and Daniil Medvédev, a Russian player who was ranked number one in the world when he won the tournament’s signature trophy, a colorful ball-shaped award created by talented Mexican Huichol artists.
Russia’s Medvédev with the traditional Huichol-inspired trophy. (Los Cabos Tennis Open)
The Dates and Location of the 2024 Tournament
The eighth edition of the Los Cabos Open will take place from Feb. 19 to 24, 2024 at the CSC in Los Cabos. It is a men’s hard-court event, with 32 singles players and 16 doubles teams competing for US $873,000 in prize money. Mexican bank Mifel and smartphone firm Telcel Oppo are the primary sponsors (this year’s tournament is alternatively known as the Mifel Tennis Open by Telcel Oppo). Other notable sponsors include Pepsi, Wilson, National Car Rental, Disney and ESPN.
Why the Tournament is Moving to February
In past years, the Los Cabos Tennis Open has been a summer showcase held in late July or early August. This will be the first year the tournament is held during winter.
Why the change? As the tournament organizers note, “It allows us to enjoy [tennis] with the perfect temperature.” This is not a trivial matter. Los Cabos in July and August is often blazing hot. During last year’s tournament, for example, the first day of play (July 29) saw temperatures of about 95 degrees Fahrenheit. The average daytime temperature in February, by contrast, is a glorious 80 degrees Fahrenheit. But it’s not just about the weather. February is right in the middle of high tourist season in Los Cabos, meaning there will now be a larger available pool of spectators.
The new date also means the Los Cabos Open will provide positive momentum via a direct lead-in to the Mexican Open in Acapulco (Feb. 24 to March 2). The latter is expected to provide an important economic boost as Acapulco recovers from Hurricane Otis, which devastated the city in October last year.
Los Cabos’ CSC complex will play host to the tournament this year. (Los Cabos Tennis Open)
Which Players Have Committed to the Tournament
Four players ranked among the top 10 in the world have committed to playing in 2024 at the Los Cabos Tennis Open, including last year’s champion, Stéfanos Tsitsipás. The 10-time ATP singles title winner and #5 ranked player in the world headlines an impressive lineup that includes Denmark’s Holger Rune (currently world #4), Norway’s Casper Ruud (ranked #9) and Germany’s Alexander Zverev (#10). Although none of them have won major championships, Ruud is a three-time majors finalist, Tsitsipás has made French and Australian Open finals and Zverev is a former finalist at the U.S. Open.
“There is no doubt that we will have one of the best lineups in the history of the tournament,” Tournament Director José Antonio Fernández told Los Cabos-based news outlet Gringo Gazette in October. “It is an event that has been consolidating over the years, and more and more players want to come live the experience of competing in Los Cabos. We are very excited about our new date during the winter. A new era begins for the organization and we hope it will be great for the fans. We are sure that it will be for the benefit of everyone.”
How to Buy Tickets
Tickets for the upcoming event can be purchased at box office locations in Los Cabos and Mexico City or online via the tournament website. For more information about purchasing tournament passes with all-courts access, as well as weekday and weekend passes and individual tickets, visit loscabostennisopen.com.
Chris Sands is the Cabo San Lucas local expert for the USA Today travel website 10 Best, writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook, and a contributor to numerous websites and publications, including Tasting Table, Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, Forbes Travel Guide, Porthole Cruise, Cabo Living and Mexico News Daily. His specialty is travel-related content and lifestyle features focused on food, wine and golf.
Mexicana's first customers are giving honest reviews of the airline after it resumed operations in December. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)
Two months after the military-run Mexicana de Aviación started operations, a journalist documented her journey on a Mexicana flight from the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) near Mexico City to Monterrey, for the newspaper Expansión.
While she reported no difficulties on the way to the northern city, she was not able to take the return flight home.
Booking a flight with Mexicana flight still feels a little like rolling the dice, according to a recent traveler. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)
No online tickets but fast check-in at counter
“Opting for a cheaper airline ticket may end up costing more in the long run,” reporter Diana Nava wrote in her story for Expansión.
The reporter’s ticket from AIFA to Monterrey was approximately 30% cheaper than the fares offered by Mexicana’s competitors. However, the airline does not provide online check-in, digital tickets or QR codes. This means that Mexicana passengers need to queue up at the counter to get a physical ticket, even if they don’t need to check any luggage.
But in Nava’s case, the queue wasn’t long because the Boeing 737-800, with a capacity of 180 passengers, was carrying less than half of its passenger capacity.
Nava took an afternoon flight on Monday with virtually no difficulties at AIFA, but Nava’s experience wasn’t the same when she attempted to board her return flight in Monterrey.
According to Nava, Mexicana does not provide terminal information in the confirmation email, nor do they offer a customer service number. Signage at Monterrey International Airport is limited and since online check-in is not available, Mexicana passengers need to locate the airline’s counter to initiate the boarding process.
The reporter later found out from the company’s manager that since Mexicana only operates two weekly flights at Monterrey airport, it still doesn’t have its own counter. The manager offered that information about the location of the airline in the airport is available on Mexicana’s Facebook and Instagram pages. When the manager tried to find the information himself, Nava reported that he couldn’t find it immediately.
The Mexicana representative also told Nava that she had arrived late for the boarding process and that the plane to Mexico City had left before the scheduled time, carrying only 28 passengers. Due to the low passenger traffic, the manager explained, the airline’s personnel left the check-in counter before the scheduled time to head to the boarding gate.
The manager, who remained anonymous, told Nava that she would get a call from Mexicana’s team to reach an agreement. He added he wasn’t sure she would get a refund for the missed flight.
At the time Expansión published the story, no one from Mexicana’s team had reached out to Nava.
Mexicana offers discounted tickets to flyers but does not offer online ticketing or check-in. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)
AMLO acknowledges difficulties in expanding the fleet
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador mentioned that it has been challenging for Mexicana to purchase airplanes due to the high international demand. He added that even companies that rent airplanes do not have availability.
“Indeed, there is a shortage in the market,” he said during a morning press conference. The company currently operates only five airplanes.
Despite the difficulties, López Obrador said they expected to acquire new airplanes by 2028.
Where does Mexicana fly?
According to Mexicana’s website, there are currently 17 routes operating out of AIFA in Mexico City.
The destinations include Acapulco, Campeche, Chetumal, Ciudad Victoria, Guadalajara, Ixtepec, Mérida, Monterrey, Mazatlán, Nuevo Laredo, Palenque, Puerto Vallarta, Tijuana, Tulum, Uruapan, Villa Hermosa and Ixtapa.
The Defense Ministry (Sedena) recently announced that Mexicana will soon start operating flights to Nuevo Laredo (Tamaulipas), Uruapan (Michoacán) and Ciudad Ixtepec (Oaxaca).
Former Finance Minister and politican Carlos Urzúa has died after a heart attack at his Mexico City home. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)
Carlos Urzúa, finance minister for seven months at the start of the current federal government’s six-year term, died of a heart attack at his Mexico City home on Monday.
His family issued a statement confirming his death, saying that “he leaves a significant mark on our family [and] friends and in the field of finance and economy.”
Urzúa served as President López Obrador’s first finance minister, but quit shortly into his term. (Moisés Pablo/Cuartoscuro)
Urzúa, who was 68, served as President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s first finance minister, but resigned on July 9, 2019 — just seven months and eight days after the government took office.
In his resignation letter to the president, Urzúa said that “discrepancies over economic matters” in the government “were plentiful” and “some of them were because … public policy decisions have been taken without sufficient foundation.”
He also said that the appointment of officials to his ministry who “have no knowledge of public finances” was “unacceptable,” adding that they were hired by “influential people in the current government with a clear conflict of interest.”
Most recently, Urzúa joined opposition candidate Xóchitl Gálvez as part of her campaign for the Mexican presidency this year. (X)
Born in Aguascalientes in 1955, Urzúa studied mathematics at an undergraduate level at the Tec. de Monterrey university and subsequently completed a master’s degree in the same subject at the National Polytechnic Institute. He later obtained a doctorate in economics from the University of Wisconsin System.
Before becoming federal finance minister, he worked as an academic and served as finance minister in the Mexico City government for a period of around 2 1/2 years when López Obrador was mayor in the early 2000s. Urzúa also worked as a consultant for international organizations such as the World Bank and the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.
After leaving the federal government, he returned to academia and more recently joined the campaign of opposition presidential candidate Xóchitl Gálvez. The day before his death, he attended the “March for Our Democracy” rally in Mexico City, which was organized by civil society groups that support or are affiliated with Mexico’s main opposition parties.
Gálvez said in a radio interview on Tuesday that Mexico had lost a “great Mexican.”
He was “a Mexican who had the acuity to tell you how things were and how they should be,” she added.
For his part, López Obrador conveyed his condolences to Urzúa’s family at his morning press conference.
“I’m very sorry about his death,” he said before acknowledging that there were “differences” between him and his former finance minister.
The iconic pyramid at Chichén Itzá will be examined by scientists using state-of-the-art technology, in the hope that it will yield new data about the structure.(INAH/Cuartoscuro)
A group of international scientists — including academics from Mexico’s National Autonomous University (UNAM) — will use cutting-edge technology to search for hidden chambers inside the iconic ancient pyramid of Chichén Itzá.
The target of this investigation is “El Castillo,” a 30-meter high stepped pyramid that dominates the Chichén Itzá archaeological site in the state of Yucatán and that is also known as the Temple of Kulkulcán.
UNAM’s Arturo Menchaca Rocha and Chicago State University professor Edmundo García Solís hope to discover hidden chambers within the pyramid. (UNAM/Cuartoscuro)
The study, which is set to take place this summer, will rely on a non-invasive process that uses cosmic-ray muon radiography to peer inside sealed off structures. The process, known as Non-Invasive Archaeometry Using Muons (NAUM), was used to get a clear image of a 30-foot corridor inside Egypt’s Great Pyramid of Giza last year.
The investigators — led by Arturo Menchaca Rocha, a former head of UNAM’s Institute of Physics, and Edmundo García Solis of Chicago State University — aim to get an accurate image of the inside of the pyramid in order to determine if there are secret chambers hidden inside the sub-structure.
Scientists will first map out the two known chambers inside “El Castillo” — known as “El Jaguar” and “Chac Mool” — to confirm the viability of the NAUM system. They will then proceed to produce a detailed examination of the entire pyramid.
The process is expected to take about six months.
What is muography?
Muography is a rapidly developing and non-destructive technology that uses cosmic ray muons, naturally occurring radiation from space. It tracks the number of muons that naturally pass through a target object to determine the density of the inaccessible internal structure.
The muon is one of the fundamental subatomic particles, the most basic building blocks of the universe.
García explained that muons are charged particles similar to electrons but that weigh more than 207 times as much. Due to their greater mass, they can penetrate deeper into matter when charged with energy.
In a bulletin, UNAM explained that the investigators will be using a detector with plastic scintillator sensors that convert energy into pulses of light, with results relayed to researchers via the internet.
Archaeologists will first scan two of the temple’s known hidden chambers as a means of testing the technology. (UNAM/Cuartoscuro)
The data gathered will help the investigators identify changes in density inside the pyramid which can produce a pattern indicating a void.
This technique was previously used to explore the famed Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacán.
Who is funding the study?
The investigation was approved by Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH),with funding from UNAM and the United States’ National Science Foundation.
Academics from the University of Virginia and Dominican University are also participating in the study, as is Fermilab, a particle physics and accelerator laboratory in the United States.
