If we love trains, we need to love train expertise
A train track runs through both entrances to the colonia where my daughter goes to school. For a while, I took aerobics classes at a gym right in front of it after dropping her off; more days than not, a train would pass by, going pretty quickly.
Because there are only two entrances (and exits) to the colonia, things can get pretty congested. As vehicles wait on narrow streets for lights that will let them get back onto the main road, it’s common for a car to be waiting right on top of the tracks. We’re scrunched up, and people are impatient to get out of there. To make matters more dramatic, the lights for going straight or turning left are incredibly short; if not everyone’s paying attention, it’s perfectly possible for only three cars to make it out at a time.
In case you’re wondering, let me put your mind at ease: no, there are no railway crossing gates. There might be a sign somewhere that indicates there’s a track there, but honestly, if there is it doesn’t stick out enough to be memorable.
Wait, I found it!
So how do you know a train is barreling down the tracks? Well, they’re usually pretty good at blowing the train whistle when they know they’re about to pass a highly-trafficked area. Also, you might see it if you turn your head. Those two indicators are about it.
Like many countries in the Americas, passenger train service was a big deal in the 19th and 20th centuries in Mexico. In 1937, President Lázaro Cárdenas nationalized Mexico’s train service, creating the Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México (the Mexican National Railroad).
Alas, the automobile increased in popularity and affordability as the 20th century wore on, and passenger trains became less and less utilized.
Regular passenger train service ended in Mexico with the 1995 Constitutional Railway Reform. According to Infobae, “The scarcity of public resources…and the conviction that state ownership did not guarantee better management of the sector” were the main arguments in favor of privatizing the railways. Private companies would improve the now pretty decrepit rail infrastructure in ways the government couldn’t (or wouldn’t) afford to. Those private companies, however, were only interested in maintaining freight service. It was the final nail in the coffin for passenger service.
Those students of more recent history, though, know that one of former President López Obrador’s (2018-2024) biggest goals was reviving passenger train travel. His two biggest signature projects in this area were of course the Maya Train and the Interoceanic Railroad.
Now, I’m on Team Train. Anything that helps get us to a point where more public transportation is available is, to me, a good idea. In a place absolutely stuffed to the brim with individual vehicles, it’s nice to know that the government is prioritizing opportunities to travel efficiently and quickly around the country. Every person on a train or a bus, after all, is one less stuck in traffic (well, a bus can get stuck in traffic, but you know what I mean).
How are the trains doing? Well…
Let’s set aside the recent derailment for a moment (we’ll get to it later, I promise).
The Maya Train is working, after having gone over budget and facing backlash from environmentalists and local communities. Well, what’s new? Most big projects in most places in the world take longer than they’re meant to and cost more than originally estimated. That part gets a resounding shrug from me. And of course, any project is always going to have its detractors; things will be lost when a big project that requires land comes to town. I’m not here to argue whether it’s a “net good” or a “net bad,” for now. It needs more evaluation time.
Is it making money? No, and likely won’t for a couple of decades. But you know, sometimes you just have to build it and hope they’ll come. After several decades of Mexicans having zero access to passenger train travel, it’s going to take a while for them to start considering it a real option. I mean at this point, a couple of generations of Mexicans have never been on a train at all. It could take some time to get people using it.
It could especially take people a while to start using it if they think they might die when they’re on it.
I’m speaking now, of course, of the terrible end-of-year tragedy on the Interoceanic route that killed 13 people. (It was certainly not the only train-related accident of late. As Mexico regrows its railway system, accidents with other vehicles have been increasing).
We still don’t know exactly what happened. We do know, though, that some passengers perceived the train as going “extra fast” as it approached the curve. Was that it? I’m literally on the edge of my seat waiting for those results.
I have my suspicions, of course. Like many government projects — especially the “incorruptible” Morena ones — corners get cut and questionable decisions are made. (For some good reporting on how exactly, check out El País’s articles on irregularities both with the Maya Train and the Interoceanic Train.)
Sometimes it seems that asking Mexican politicians to not engage is corrupt behavior is like asking toddlers to hang out unsupervised in a candy shop and not eat anything. Really, what do we think is going to happen?
Also, can someone tell me what the freaking Navy knows about trains? Serious question.
So if we want trains to regain their footing (or railing, as it were), what do we need to do? At least regarding this accident, Sheinbaum promised to “…look for the best certification body so that, if they make recommendations on what needs to be done about these curves or … to make the route safer, we can take them into account.”
Okay, good. Good start. Certification body. Might I suggest a certification body from…China? Japan? France? Really, just anywhere where they already have admirably functioning train systems in place? And then could they stick around and help us build out the system once what’s here already is fixed? At the very least, how about an exchange program: we send Mexican railroad engineers to China for a few years to learn from the best.
Because you can’t get people to trust you unless you prove yourself trustworthy. And unfortunately at this point, even those of us who really, really want to see these train projects succeed would be hesitant about boarding.
And for God’s sake, can we please get some of those automatic railway crossing gates? Maybe it’s just me, but I think drivers should be told pretty dramatically if they’re in danger of getting run over by a train. Then there are the bozos who think they’re Speedy Gonzalez and can outrun it that need to be physically stopped.
Passenger trains could be all over Mexico. But to get people to actually use them, they’ve got to have a reasonable assumption that getting close to or on them will not lead to death.
Sarah DeVries is a writer and translator based in Xalapa, Veracruz. She can be reached through her website, sarahedevries.substack.com.
Is Mexico’s Supreme Court biased? Friday’s mañanera recapped
President Claudia Sheinbaum held her Friday morning press conference in the port city of Veracruz, the largest city in the state of the same name.
During her engagement with reporters, Sheinbaum was asked about the alleged political leanings of the Supreme Court, while Security Minister Omar García Harfuch fielded questions related to the training a group of Mexican security personnel is currently undertaking in the United States.
Here is a recap of the president’s Jan. 23 mañanera.
A biased Supreme Court?
A reporter noted that the newspaper he works for, El Universal, reported this week that the “new” Supreme Court (SCJN) — whose bench is now made up of nine justices elected in Mexico’s first ever judicial elections last June — has handed down at least six rulings in favor of reforms and decrees promoted by former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
He also stated that in the almost five months since the new justices were sworn in, the SCJN has not handed down any ruling against reforms or decrees sponsored by López Obrador or Morena, the party AMLO founded.
The reporter subsequently asked Sheinbaum whether she saw “any bias” toward Morena in Mexico’s Supreme Court, whose nine justices are affiliated with, seen as sympathetic to, or were at least tacitly supported by the ruling party in last year’s judicial elections.
The president responded that the Supreme Court itself would have to answer “those questions.”
She subsequently highlighted that the SCJN now holds “public sessions,” allowing Mexicans to get to know justices’ arguments in support of their rulings.
In the past, Sheinbaum added, decisions were taken “in the dark.”
The president also highlighted that the “previous court” — i.e. the SCJN before the justices elected last year were sworn in — “voted against everything,” a reference to various rulings it handed down against government initiatives during López Obrador’s presidency.
Published on Thursday, El Universal’s report could be cited by government critics as proof that the election of Supreme Court justices in a vote promoted by Sheinbaum — and largely boycotted by the opposition — has led to the elimination of a vital check on executive and legislative power, as they warned would occur.
However, one person who posted the article to social media opined: “Does the Supreme Court have to rule against the government to create justice?”
García Harfuch: Mexican security personnel were invited to undergo training in US
Six days after Mexican security personnel boarded a U.S. military plane at Toluca Airport to fly to the United States to undergo training, a reporter asked García Harfuch to comment on the kind of drills in which they would be participating.
The security minister first stressed that Mexican security personnel’s participation in training in the United States is not a new phenomenon, but rather something that has occurred for “many years.”
He said that the training takes place either after an invitation from a U.S. authority or upon the request of the Mexican government.
“It’s always been like that,” García Harfuch said.
He said that “in this case,” the United States Northern Command extended an invitation to Mexican security personnel to participate in “courses” focusing on “tactical specializations,” including “shooting” and “investigation.”
García Harfuch said that the Security Ministry personnel would stay in the U.S. for around 40-45 days.
Asked whether they were at a military base in the U.S., he responded: “Yes, it’s a base in Mississippi, I think.”
The arrival of the U.S. Air Force plane at Toluca Airport last Saturday came at a particularly sensitive time in the Mexico-U.S. security relationship as U.S. President Donald Trump said earlier this month that the United States would begin targeting Mexican cartels on land. In addition, The New York Times reported on Jan. 15 that the United States was “intensifying pressure” on Mexico “to allow U.S. military forces to conduct joint operations to dismantle fentanyl labs inside the country.”
On Monday, Sheinbaum stressed that the U.S. Air Force plane wasn’t carrying U.S. troops or weapons. She assured reporters that the arrival of the plane in Toluca wasn’t in any way sinister, but rather a routine part of bilateral security cooperation.
However, the president did concede that it would have been better for the Mexican security personnel to have traveled to the United States on a Mexican Air Force plane rather than a U.S. one.
By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)
Former Olympic snowboarder, wanted in US for trafficking, arrested in Mexico
Former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding, a reputed cartel-linked drug boss accused of overseeing a vast cocaine pipeline and dozens of murders, has turned himself in to authorities in Mexico.
After more than a decade on the run, Wedding, 44, was arrested Thursday night in Mexico City and flown to California, U.S. officials said.
A member of the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, Wedding was sanctioned in November by the U.S. Treasury Department, which, along with other U.S. agencies, has collaborated with the Mexican government on the case.
Labeled an “extremely violent criminal,” he was said to be hiding in Mexico. At the time, a reward leading to his arrest and conviction was raised from US $10 million to US $15 million.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed this week’s arrest, saying Wedding faces charges that include drug trafficking, money laundering, murder and the killing of a federal witness.
Federal prosecutors say he ran a transnational network that moved semitrailer loads of cocaine from Colombia through Mexico to the United States and Canada — at times under the protection of Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel.
“This is a huge day for a safer North America, and the world, and a message that those who break our laws and harm our citizens will be brought to justice,” Patel wrote Friday morning on X.
At a news conference Friday in Ontario, California, he described Wedding as a “modern day Pablo Escobar” and “modern-day El Chapo” who “thought he could evade justice.”
Mexican officials said Wedding’s capture capped years of cooperation as authorities tracked his operations and his lavish life in hiding.
Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch wrote on X that Patel visited Mexico City on Thursday for meetings with federal security and prosecutorial agencies and then departed “taking with him two priority targets.”
The other person was referred to by Patel only by his last name, Castillo. According to law enforcement sources, that would appear to be fugitive Alejandro Castillo, another man among the FBI’s 10 most wanted for the 2016 murder of his ex-girlfriend in North Carolina.
Taken into custody in the state of Hidalgo, he allegedly crossed into Mexico two months after the murder but as of Friday was labeled as “captured” on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list.
As for Wedding, U.S. and Mexican authorities say he lived in Mexico for more than a decade while directing a network that allegedly imported about 60 tonnes of cocaine a year into Los Angeles and supplied an estimated $1 billion in cocaine annually to Canada.
FBI Director Kash Patel announces the capture of Ryan Wedding, a former Olympian and accused drug lord, after years on the run.
“Just to tell you how bad of a guy Ryan Wedding is, he went from an Olympic snowboarder to the largest narco trafficker in modern times,” Patel said.… pic.twitter.com/GZgAFQqvd5
— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 23, 2026
Investigators say he did so while enjoying a “colorful and flashy” lifestyle, protected by cartel allies and supported by front companies and luxury assets scattered around Mexico City.
Mexican officials announced in December that they had seized about $40 million in high-end racing motorcycles linked to Wedding, along with luxury vehicles, artwork, drugs and two Olympic medals in raids across the capital.
Earlier, U.S. authorities had impounded a rare 2002 Mercedes CLK‑GTR hypercar valued at roughly $13 million.
Patel said the operation was the result of “tremendous cooperation and teamwork with the Government of Mexico,” singling out President Claudia Sheinbaum, García Harfuch and U.S. Ambassador Ron Johnson.
García Harfuch said the joint work, grounded in “respect and shared responsibility,” will continue to target violent groups affecting both countries.
Wedding, who competed in the parallel giant slalom at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics and finished 24th, is expected to appear Monday in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
Authorities say he also faces separate Canadian drug trafficking charges dating to 2015.
With reports from El Universal, Associated Press and BBC
Opinion: Mexico could lose out as Canada risks USMCA with bet on ‘new world order’
Canada is betting against American dominance and Mexico may pay the price.
In the past week, Canadian Prime Minister Carney has struck “strategic partnerships” with China and Qatar and delivered explosive remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
The consequences could be far-reaching.
At stake is the critical $1.9 trillion USMCA free trade deal. The continental free-trade agreement, which replaced NAFTA in 2020, undergirds much of North America’s economy.
This year, it has come up for review. With official negotiations slated to launch imminently, any action could derail the deal.
As USMCA review nears, Canada branches out
Carney’s whirlwind week began with a trip to Beijing, the first in nearly a decade by a Canadian Prime Minister. There, he announced a “landmark” trade deal with China — unfreezing relations with a country he called “Canada’s biggest security threat” last spring.
The deal, though limited in scope, is a symbolic shot at the U.S.
Canada will lower tariffs on electric vehicles, set in tandem with the U.S. two years ago, in exchange for agricultural market access as well as energy purchase and auto investment discussions.
More important than the deal, however, is its framing.
Carney called his trip to China the “foundation of a new strategic partnership” for the “new world order” — a phrase Chinese officials often use themselves to reference what they consider is American decline. “The multilateral system has been eroded,” he went on to say, and “coalitions of like-minded countries” with “focused areas of cooperation” can replace it.
He followed that with the announcement of another strategic partnership with Qatar, before delivering a forceful speech at Davos. Without naming U.S. President Donald Trump, Carney referenced American hegemony and accused “great powers” of using economic integration as weapons. The rupture, he said, in the “rules-based international order” will “not be restored.”
Leaders from around the world gave a standing applause.
Mark Carney in Davos: This is the speech of a statesman – a riposte to Trump and to western defeatism pic.twitter.com/57ptXIiDrD
— Lionel Barber (@lionelbarber) January 20, 2026
Having received advance notice of the China deal, Trump reacted immediately, first saying that the USMCA is “irrelevant,” then that the U.S. “doesn’t need Canadian products.” He didn’t walk back either comment.
A divorce seems unlikely for the U.S. and Canada: 75% of Canada’s exports still go to the U.S., while China is a distant second at 4%. However, any breakup’s collateral damage is likely just beginning.
Bad timing for Mexico
For Mexico, the timing couldn’t be worse. With the imminent launch of the USMCA review, the U.S., Canada and Mexico are set to renew, renegotiate, immediately terminate or sunset the free trade agreement.
Though it’s early days, a fifth option seems increasingly plausible: The current three-way agreement could fracture into bilateral deals.
While the USMCA is critical to all three countries, Mexico — both the most export-dependent and U.S. market-dependent, with 81% of all exports going to the U.S. — has the most to lose if the pact splinters. About 85% of all Mexican exports enter the U.S. duty-free because of the USMCA.
By comparison, 30% of all U.S. international trade is from the USMCA. For the United States, this does not amount to as much as Mexico; just 11% of U.S. GDP comes from exports. U.S. business leaders argue that exports alone fail to capture the USMCA’s value; for them, the supply-chain cost savings and integrated continental infrastructure create a major economic advantage for the United States.
Referencing this support among the American business community, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has so far remained optimistic on the deal’s review. “Those who most strongly defend the [USMCA] are American businesspeople,” she said.
Still, it may not matter.
Trump and his U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer have mulled breaking the USMCA into bilateral agreements since last year. The rationale is clear: Bilateral deals hand the U.S. significant leverage — even at the risk of costly supply-chain disruption.
Recognizing this, Canada is diversifying. Beyond China and Qatar, Carney has accelerated trade negotiations with ASEAN, Mercosur and at least 10 other countries. On offer are the energy superpower’s rich mineral resources, large domestic market with high per-capita spending, scaled logistics infrastructure, and a ready-to-invest coffer of funds.
Mexico lacks these advantages. American market access is a key pillar of Mexico’s value proposition, especially in a friend-shoring global investment environment. Capitalizing on this, Mexico has carefully aligned itself closer to the U.S. in recent years.
Those close U.S. ties may now backfire for Mexico.
What are Mexico’s options?
As Canada builds itself out, Mexico is finding itself increasingly locked in. After years courting Chinese manufacturers — notably BYD’s now-postponed $2 billion plant — Mexico raised tariffs on non-free-trade agreement countries (including China) up to 50%. Meanwhile, security cooperation with Washington continues to intensify.
As the USMCA review begins, expect the U.S. — flush with leverage — to demand more investment screening mechanisms, expanded security operations, stricter rules-of-origin, invasive labor provisions and even foreign policy alignment.
Mexico is now the top buyer of U.S. goods, beating out Canada
Already, the USMCA limits certain foreign policy moves; Article 32.1 restricts free trade deals with “non-market countries” — code for China. But newer U.S. deals go further, introducing “poison pills” that transform agreements “from purely commercial instruments into tools for managing partner countries’ broader foreign policy orientation,” according to analyst Simon Evenett of Global Trade Alert.
At Davos, Carney offered a framework for escape from this dynamic. “Middle powers must act together because if we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu,” he said. “When we only negotiate bilaterally with a hegemon we negotiate from weakness. We compete with each other to be the most accommodating.”
“This is not sovereignty,” Carney concluded. “It’s the performance of sovereignty while accepting subordination.”
Mexico’s choice will be binary: Accept these sovereignty-limiting demands or lose American market access. While Canada can credibly threaten to walk away, Mexico cannot.
The tradeoff goes unstated. Does deeper U.S. integration bring greater prosperity? President Sheinbaum argues yes — North American unity is essential to “compete with China.”
Still, her rhetoric may not be enough.
“Remember, Mark,” Trump said on Wednesday, “Canada lives because of the United States.” Carney’s moves could still invite retaliation; the risks, for both Canada and Mexico, are sky-high.
As Carney walks his tightrope between Washington and Beijing, Mexico may find its options narrowing. The question is no longer if middle powers can chart their own course, but whether Mexico still has the choice.
Logan J. Gardner is a Wharton-educated content strategist, writer, photographer and filmmaker based in Mexico City. Sign up to receive his newsletter, Half-Baked, peruse his blog or follow him on Instagram for more.
Winter weather alert: Cold, high winds and heavy rain coming to northern Mexico this weekend
The National Meteorological Service (SMN) on Friday issued a winter weather alert for residents of northern Mexico as the third winter storm of the season is expected to bring cold temperatures and heavy rain to the region.
The border states of Baja California, Sonora and Chihuahua, as well as Durango state, were put on alert due to “a significant drop in temperatures, strong winds and heavy to very heavy rainfall … and possibly snow or sleet.”
At the same time, Cold Front No. 30 will drift over the northeastern part of the country where it will be reinforced by an Arctic air mass by Friday evening. The SMN report said moisture coming in off the northern Gulf of Mexico will combine with the remnants of Cold Front No. 30 to generate rain and showers there.
The phenomenon in northern Mexico is the westernmost edge of the potentially historic winter storm that is expected to impact the United States this weekend, prompting extreme weather alerts from the Texas Panhandle to the Northeastern Atlantic states.
The rejuvenated cold front is also expected to produce northerly winds gusting up to 70 km/h (42.5 m/h) in northeastern Mexico. Residents of northern Coahuila are being advised of the possible formation of whirlwinds or tornadoes.
In the Northern Plateau and the Central Plateau, including the Valley of Mexico, cold to very cold conditions will produce fog banks in the morning and persist throughout the day. Minimum temperatures could dip as low as minus-5 C (23 F) in Hidalgo, México state, Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz and Oaxaca. Mexico City’s low is projected to reach 0 C (32 F).
🥶❄️⛈️ Hoy se prevén #Lluvias muy fuertes y caída de #Nieve o #Aguanieve en regiones de #BajaCalifornia, #Sonora, #Chihuahua y #Durango. Más información en ⬇️https://t.co/agFhcoEB8W pic.twitter.com/9scC2Tri7D
— CONAGUA Clima (@conagua_clima) January 23, 2026
In response to the winter storm conditions, the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) reported that it has sufficient capacity available to maintain the supply of electricity across the country.
The CFE said it is coordinating with the Energy Ministry to establish strategic actions to protect the continuity of the electricity supply. The CFE also activated its Emergency Response Steering Group, which will remain in permanent session to monitor the evolution of the storm.
The National Coordination of Civil Protection also issued an advisory, urging residents across the country to take preventative measures throughout the weekend.
“To mitigate the effects of these weather systems and safeguard physical safety and property, specific recommendations are issued. If using gas heaters or fireplaces, maintain adequate ventilation to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning and turn them off before going to sleep; protect and insulate external pipes to prevent frost damage and secure sheet metal roofs, windows, awnings and objects that could be dislodged by wind gusts exceeding 60 km/h (37.3m/h).”
Elsewhere, the Regional Hydrometeorological Center in the state of Yucatán forecast stable weather conditions, warm temperatures up to 34 C (93 F) and isolated showers in coastal Quintana Roo, eastern Yucatán and southern Campeche, with wind gusts of up to 40 km/h.
With reports from El Universal, La Jornada and El Diario de Yucatán
World Cup warm-up vs. Panama ends with an awkward win for Mexico
A makeshift Team Mexico line-up escaped Panama’s Rommel Fernández Stadium with a fluky 1-0 victory, presenting coach Javier Aguirre his first win since July.
A stoppage-time own-goal by Panamanian defender Richard Peralta was all El Tri was able to muster, taking some of the sting out of 90 minutes of frustration.
“México”
Porque venció por 1-0 a Panamá en un amistoso falopa que se jugó en este mes. Decían que llegaban mal al Mundial y acá tienen la prueba de que no, ganaron con el equipo C. Imaginen con los titulares. Alta putita Panamá.
pic.twitter.com/y7pdpaeKXX— Tendencias en Deportes (@TendenciaDepor) January 23, 2026
Mexico dominated possession (72%), but managed only nine shots, just three of which were on target (not including the winning goal, which was the result of a deflected centering pass) in what can best be described as an insipid display of attacking football.
As this is not an official FIFA break, club teams are not required to release their players to the national team, so El Tri was playing with a lot of new faces. Aguirre took advantage to look at prospects — including the two former U.S. players whose switch to Mexico was approved this week.
The two converts — Richard Ledezma and Brian Gutiérrez — both started and both impressed.
Ledezma, a right back, should earn an extended look in upcoming training camps as he showed tremendous two-way talent while playing the entire match.
Gutiérrez, a lanky midfielder, looked sharp in winning back possession and nearly curled in a free kick from 26 meters, but had trouble connecting with the attack.
Aguirre is using Thursday’s game and Sunday’s friendly in Bolivia to evaluate players as he continues to shape his 26-man roster for the upcoming World Cup. Mexico’s opener against South Africa is just 140 days away.
Of interest to Mexico fans was the performance of striker Armando González, who looked dangerous during his 23 minutes on the pitch. González — the reigning Liga MX scoring champ at just 22 years of age — gave Panama defenders fits, nearly scoring in minute 90 with an acrobatic header.
Two minutes later, González drifted wide left of the goalie box, then slipped a pass between two defenders to Alexis Gutiérrez at the top of the box. Gutiérrez one-timed a through ball into the box to Jesús Gallardo and Gallardo’s cross for Charlie Rodríguez ricocheted off the unfortunate Peralta’s leg and into the net.
Two other newcomers — midfielder Obed Vargas and defender Eduardo Águila — showed promise. Vargas, like Ledezma and Gutiérrez, switched allegiance from the U.S. back in 2024 and this was his third appearance wearing a Mexico shirt. For Águila, Thursday’s match was his first game for El Tri.
Air Europa will open a new direct flight from Guanajuato to Madrid
Guanajuato Governor Libia Dennise García on Thursday announced that Air Europa airline will establish direct flights from Madrid to her state’s primary international airport this year.
García — in Spain on a working tour as part of her participation in Madrid’s International Tourism Fair, FITUR 2026 — said the new Bajío-Madrid air link is the result of an agreement her government signed with Air Europa.
“We are very pleased, particularly that it will be a direct flight,” she said after her meeting with Richard Clark, Air Europa’s CEO. “This contributes to the effort we are making to promote Guanajuato as a world-class destination.”
The Bajío International Airport — located in Silao about 45 kilometers from the state capital, Guanajuato city — is the state’s main international airport.
The frequencies and dates for the new route have not yet been determined, but García indicated that the goal is for the flight to begin operating this year.
“This will strengthen the state’s international connectivity, boost European tourism and generate economic benefits for various productive sectors,” she said.
This new air flight is expected to strengthen economic activity in sectors such as hotels, restaurants and services, consolidating the state as a strategic hub in the global tourism and business network.
In a social media post, García said the agreement is “the result of the work we are doing here at [FITUR 2026], knocking on doors, building alliances and demonstrating that Guanajuato is an international-caliber destination, with identity, vibrant culture and a lot of heart.”
During the current tour, García presided over the signing of the Framework Agreement of Understanding between the state of Guanajuato and the Spanish region of Castilla-La Mancha. The goal of the FAU is to promote tourism, cultural exchange and bilateral collaboration.
“We continue to strengthen our ties with the world,” she said. “Today we have a full agenda here at FITUR, and what we see is that there is a large European market for traveling to Guanajuato.”
With reports from Quadratín Bajío, Milenio and Guanajuato.Travel
Spanish royals visit Mexican tourism delegation in Madrid
Mexico’s delegation at FITUR 2026, one of the world’s largest tourism fairs, welcomed some very special guests on Thursday: Felipe VI and Letizia, king and queen of Spain.
The monarchs visited Mexico’s pavilion at FITUR, hosted in Madrid this year, following their inauguration speech. They were greeted by Mexico’s Tourism Minister Josefina Rodríguez Zamora, Mexico’s Ambassador to Spain Quirino Ordaz, as well as other Mexican officials and cultural representatives.
For the fair’s 46th edition, Mexico has been featured as FITUR’s partner country, presenting a historic program that includes tourist destinations in all 32 states. Boasting the largest stand space in the America’s section, Mexico aims to speak to a global tourism market by emphasizing the essence of Mexican culture.
During her Thursday morning press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum referred to the monarch’s visit to Mexico’s pavilion as “symbolic.”
“They were accompanied by representatives of the Indigenous communities. It’s symbolic,” Sheinbaum said. “It seems symbolic that the king and queen of Spain have come to recognize the Indigenous peoples of today [at FITUR] … We will insist on the importance of this recognition, because it heals wounds.”
The monarchs greeted the large Mexican delegation on a stage decorated for the occasion and reportedly showed great interest in Mexico’s proposals during a friendly conversation with Mexican officials.
The Spanish royals have not had contact with Mexican officials since 2019, when former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador demanded an apology in 2019, for abuses faced by Indigenous peoples during the conquest of Tenochtitlán in 1521, preceding to Spanish colonization.
Spain “vigorously” rejected the request. While economic, social and cultural ties between the two countries run deep, political ties turned frosty after the falling out.
Meanwhile, Tourism Minister Rodríguez said she appreciated the royal’s appearance at Mexico’s pavilion amidst the tragedy that recently hit the country after a passenger train derailed in the province of Córdoba, killing dozens of people.
“I was deeply grateful that they came to visit us in spite of this situation,” she said. Rodríguez told the king and queen about the role the Indigenous communities play in Mexico’s tourism industry, she said, and how tourism can be “a source of prosperity for communities.”
With reports from El Heraldo de México and La Jornada
Is it cheaper to build or buy in Mexico? The answer may surprise you
For many people considering property in Mexico, one of the first questions is whether it makes more financial sense to build a home from scratch or buy an existing one. On paper, building often appears to be the less expensive option. Labor costs are lower than in the United States or Canada, and construction estimates per square meter can look appealing when compared to the asking prices of finished homes.
In practice, the decision is rarely straightforward. While building can be cheaper in certain circumstances, real-world experience shows that unexpected costs, delays and disputes are common. Buying an existing home, by contrast, often offers greater predictability, but it is not without its own risks.
Why building looks cheaper on paper
Early comparisons typically focus on construction cost per square meter versus the sale price of completed homes. This approach leaves out a range of expenses that tend to emerge only once a project is underway.
One of the most common surprises involves site preparation. A lot may appear ready to build, only for excavation to reveal extensive rock, large stones or unstable soil. Removing rock or cutting into bedrock requires specialized equipment and additional labor, costs that are rarely included in initial estimates. In several projects, unforeseen site preparation has added weeks to construction timelines and significantly increased overall budgets.
Land services are another frequent source of unexpected expense. Buyers may assume water and electricity connections will be simple, only to discover that trenching, transformers, permits or negotiations with neighbors are required. In some cases, fees are collected for services that are delayed or never fully provided, leaving buyers to resolve issues after construction has already begun.
Disagreements over finishes are also common once a budget is set. Initial estimates often assume basic finishes, while buyers expect higher-quality materials once construction is underway. Tile, cabinetry, windows and fixtures that appear standard to a contractor may not meet a buyer’s expectations. Resolving these differences usually means upgrading materials mid-project, which can quickly push costs beyond the original budget and create tension between owners and builders.
Design and permitting can introduce further complications. A project that appears simple may require revisions to comply with local regulations or structural requirements. While permit fees themselves are typically modest, delays during this phase can halt progress for months. During these pauses, material prices may increase and contractors may take on other work, extending timelines even further.
Time is often the most underestimated factor. Construction schedules frequently extend beyond original projections due to weather, holidays, labor availability and supply delays. In some cases, projects expected to take less than a year extend far beyond that. During this time, funds are tied up in construction while owners may continue paying rent or maintaining another property.
The advantages and limits of buying an existing home
Buying an existing home might involve a higher upfront price, but it offers clarity. The purchase price is known, utilities are already connected and permits are in place. The property can be evaluated as a complete package before committing to the purchase.
However, buying a finished home does not guarantee the absence of surprises. Hidden defects such as drainage problems, aging electrical systems, plumbing issues or structural concerns may not be immediately visible. Even with inspections, some problems only become apparent after living in the home through different seasons or weather conditions.
Renovations, if needed, are typically easier to plan than a full build. Even major remodels tend to have clearer scopes and timelines. Improvements can often be completed in phases, allowing costs to be spread over time. In many cases, owners can live in the home while renovations are underway.
So which option makes sense?
Building can be deeply rewarding when done well. Buyers who work with a well-respected architect and a proven construction team — particularly professionals experienced in working with foreign clients — often report positive outcomes. Clear contracts, detailed specifications and realistic budgets can significantly reduce misunderstandings. Many people have built homes in Mexico that meet or exceed their expectations and are genuinely thrilled with the results.
At the same time, building requires patience, involvement and a tolerance for uncertainty. Buying an existing home generally offers a faster path to occupancy, but it does not eliminate risk. Hidden defects and unforeseen repairs can still arise.
The more useful question is not whether building or buying is inherently better, but which approach aligns best with a buyer’s expectations, risk tolerance and level of involvement. Both paths can lead to excellent results when approached with realistic assumptions and the right professional support.
Glenn Rotton is a real estate agent with eight years of experience in San Miguel de Allende. Originally from Seattle, he has lived in Mexico for twelve years with his husband, Kiang Chong Ovalle, and their dog, Angus. Read more about Glenn here.
