Airline and airport employees celebrate Thursday's inaugural flight. (FL360aero/X)
After nearly four months of anticipation, the first international flight arrived at the Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport in the Caribbean resort city of Tulum on Thursday morning.
Tulum’s new airport — inaugurated on Dec. 1, 2023 — and its ground crew welcomed the nearly 600 travelers who arrived from Dallas on American Airlines flight 1131 at 11 a.m. with a water salute.
The airport is expected to bring a surge in tourism to the already-popular region. (Mara Lezama/X)
The terminal was kept busy as additional inaugural international flights arrived from Atlanta, Charlotte and Miami, with airport officials eagerly anticipating more than 6,100 passengers per week in the next few months. United Airlines service to Tulum from Newark, New Jersey, Chicago and Houston will begin on Sunday.
Reporting from Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina, Forbes noted that leisure travelers filled the airport there. America’s Charlotte hub features 30 destinations in Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America.
Ralph Lopez Massas, American Airlines senior vice president for Charlotte, told Forbes that all three of the airline’s Tulum inaugurals from Charlotte, Dallas and Miami were booked full.
The new international airport in Tulum is considered a welcome alternative to the crowded Cancún airport and Tulum itself is a popular destination that offers Maya ruins, a picturesque landscape and white sandy beaches.
American Airlines flight 1131 from Dallas, the first international flight to land in Tulum, receives a water salute. (FL360aero/X)
The new routes add up to 22 weekly flights to the Tulum airport and that’s great news for the tourism sector in the state of Quintana Roo.
Officials from the state Tourism Ministry (Sedetur) told El Financiero that there are nearly 550,000 tourists registered in the Caribbean state with current hotel occupancy exceeding 80% in the region, including 89% in Cancún and nearly 88% in Cozumel. Sedetur expects upwards of 1.2 million vacationers this week, fueled by U.S. college students traveling to the state’s beach resorts for spring break.
JetBlue will begin operating flights to Tulum from New York’s JFK International Airport in June and Spirit Airlines intends to start flying to Tulum from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, beginning this summer. Air Canada will begin operating flights from Toronto and Montreal to Tulum in May, and the first direct flights from Europe are expected to begin arriving in Tulum in December.
Jesus carries the cross, in a scene from the 2023 Iztapalapa Passion Play. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)
More than 500,000 people reportedly attended the beginning of the multi-day Passion Play in Iztapalapa, a borough on the eastern outskirts of Mexico City where a re-creation of Jesus’ trial, suffering and death is a tradition that dates back 181 years.
During Holy Week, the center of Iztapalapa is transformed into a biblical Jerusalem that serves as a grand stage for the performances, which included hundreds if not thousands of “Nazarenes” hauling crosses through the streets to the site where the crucifixion is reenacted.
Although Jesus is portrayed by an actor, the Nazarenes are mostly Iztapalapa residents and people from select nearby communities — and according to figures provided by the borough mayor’s office, more than a few of them needed medical attention for injuries to their bare feet.
In all, according to the mayor’s office, 76 people were treated on Thursday night for foot injuries, hypoglycemia and hypertension. The mayor’s office also provided the figure that half a million people were in attendance at 9 p.m.
The annual Passion Play of Iztapalapa is one of the oldest and most elaborate such events in Latin America. Though rooted in strong religious connotations, the event has also become a symbol of municipal pride for a densely populated and high-crime borough that has been referred to as the “dumpster” of Mexico City.
It has also become a major tourist attraction, reportedly drawing up to 4 million spectators over the week in pre-pandemic times. When the play returned in 2022 after being closed to the public for two years, it drew 1.5 million people to the area, borough authorities said.
— Fuerza Informativa Azteca (@AztecaNoticias) March 29, 2024
A live-broadcast news reel depicts the final stages of the crucifixion. (Azteca Noticias/X)
The reenactment of Jesus’ final hours includes various scenes related to Holy Week, such as Jesus leading the Last Supper and washing the feet of the 12 apostles on Maundy Thursday.
His trial at the hands of Pontius Pilate, his martyrdom and his killing are also portrayed, the latter occurring at “Mount Cavalry,” said to be the site of Jesus’ crucifixion — this one re-created at the top of Iztapalapa’s Cerro de la Estrella.
Jesus this year is being played by Christopher Gómez, 22, of Iztapalapa, and he will actually be bound to the cross and remain there for 20 minutes on Friday at 3 p.m., said to be the time at which Jesus was crucified.
“To be Jesus requires great physical effort,” declared the athletic Gómez, who began his preparation for the role months ago. “We started running, then we added the cross, which weighs 80 or 90 kilos. We also carried a log to lose feeling in our right shoulder.
“We also did push-ups, since in one of the falls I have to get up with a push-up because the cross falls on me.”
On Thursday, in the main plaza of Iztapalapa dressed up like Jerusalem, the big crowd did its best to follow the proceedings, helped along with loudspeakers and giant screens.
The night ended with Jesus (Christopher) — followed by the “Nazarenes” and their crosses — heading to the Cerro de la Estrella version of Gethsemane, a garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives in East Jerusalem where Jesus underwent the agony of temptation and was apprehended.
That left everything in place for the crucifixion, which will be reenacted on Friday just as it has been in Iztapalapa every year since 1843.
Nine of Puerto Vallarta's 20 beaches were closed as of Friday morning. (Protección Civil Jalisco/X)
Civil Protection officials in the Jalisco resort town of Puerto Vallarta closed nine of the area’s 20 beaches to swimmers due to strong ocean currents that prompted a rescue operation on Thursday.
Authorities came to the rescue of five tourists who were snorkeling in Mismaloya cove — a fishing village about 15 minutes south of Puerto Vallarta. The snorkelers were carried by the undertow out beyond the reef before lifeguards and Civil Protection agents came to the rescue by boat.
In addition to the undertow, high waves induced officials to order red flags raised on nine beaches: Gemelas, Palmares, Olas Altas, Burros, Camarones, Garza Blanca, Hilton, Malecón and Holi beaches were closed on Thursday. Olas Altas had a second flag, a purple one, after a crocodile was spotted in the area.
“We have slightly elevated waves along Vallarta’s beaches as a consequence of afternoon winds,” Blanca Becerra, second-in-command at the State Civil Protection and Firemen’s Unit (UEPCBJ), told Quadratín Jalisco on Thursday. “There are big gusts of wind exceeding 14 kilometers per hour.”
The UEPCBJ also issued an alert to the Easter Week vacationers: “Please heed the warnings and recommendations of the authorities.”
A Civil Protection graphic explains the meaning of beach warning flags: green signals safety and yellow means enter the water with caution and pay attention to directions from officials. Red means entering the water is prohibited, purple indicates the presence of dangerous marine life and black signals that the beach is closed due to highly dangerous conditions. (Protección Civil Jalisco)
Becerra said the undertow was a significant issue, especially in areas where rocky outcrops in the water posed risks for swimmers.
The ocean currents are a real concern in Puerto Vallarta. In January, a 29-year-old from the state of Puebla went missing after going into the ocean. His companion was able to fight the current, return to shore and alert the authorities.
Officials launched a rescue effort using boats, jet skis and divers, but were unable to find the missing swimmer. Others patrolled the beaches in case the victim’s body washed up on the beach. Officials did not reveal if the body was ever found.
The UEPCBJ was maintaining a presence along the red-flagged beaches and officials said they were not sure when tourists might be allowed back into the ocean at those nine beaches.
Becerra urged visitors to consult with lifeguards at yellow-flagged beaches to find out what areas were considered safe and to avoid going into the water under the influence of alcohol. Yellow flags indicate visitors should use caution when entering the water.
Amazon continues to expand its presence in Mexico with another shipping warehouse in Apodaca, Nuevo León. (Shutterstock)
Amazon Mexico this week announced it will open a new shipping warehouse in the northern state of Nuevo León.
The new center, known as MTY2, will be located in the municipality of Apodaca, in the northeastern sector of the Monterrey metropolitan area, and is projected to employ more than 500 people.
“We are very excited about this next step for Amazon in Nuevo León,” Jesús Elizondo, regional director of operations for Amazon Mexico, told newspaper El Economista. “We want to continue contributing to the local economy … as well as the personal and professional development of our employees by providing a safe, diverse and inclusive work space that allows them to cultivate their talents and continue growing.”
The multinational technology and e-commerce giant opened its first facility in Apodaca in 2020, investing 1.5 billion pesos in the state and creating 1,500 jobs to date. In addition to the existing shipping center in Apodaca, Amazon has another warehouse, three delivery stations, a recruitment center and an Amazon Web Services (AWS) office.
The new shipping center will also work to support small- and medium-sized businesses — known as PyMEs in Spanish — across Nuevo León so as to increase e-commerce sales.
Nuevo León, Mexico City, Chihuahua, Querétaro and Jalisco are the entities with the highest percentage of Amazon vendors per inhabitant.
Nuevo León governor Samuel García at another Amazon shipping warehouse in the state in 2022. (Government of Nuevo León/Facebook)
Last September, Amazon opened a new delivery center in Mexico City, its largest in all of Latin America, coming in at 30,000 square meters. At the time, Amazon said it had invested 52 billion pesos (US $3 billion) and employed roughly 40,000 people — 8,000 directly and 32,000 indirectly — in Mexico since launching here in 2015.
Last month, the company revealed that AWS would invest more than US $5 billion in a cluster of data centers in the central state of Querétaro.
ALMA is a signature development with a premium yet understated edge that calls to those seeking a balance of nature and modern architecture. (Photos by ALMA Huatulco)
This article is brought to you together with ALMA.
If you’re thinking about investing in Mexico, ALMA, a new nature integrated development situated in the heart of abundant nature atop the Pacific Ocean cliffs and a four-minute drive from downtown Huatulco, Mexico, presents a one-of-a-kind opportunity. This distinctive development encompasses a truly unique lifestyle designed by two of Mexico’s foremost modern architects. Imagine visionary and modern Mexican architectural language, offering luxury living that blends with the host environment – that is ALMA.
ALMA is the first luxury, sustainable, modern community residence of its kind in Huatulco and occupies an area of land on the edge of a recently designated National Park, close to downtown Huatulco, La Crucecita, with shops, restaurants, and culture. Its significance lies in its creative, respectful conception and design, brought to fruition by the masterful eye of renowned Mexican architects Jose Juan Rivera Rio (JJRR), who has enjoyed recent success at the Venice Biennale and whose design maxim is “listen to the land and it will tell you what to do”, and Modica-Ledezma.
ALMA is part of a low-density community that prioritizes care for the landscape and climate-responsive design.
Noemie Bourdin-Habert and Frederic Baron, founders of Esencia Desarrollos, are entrepreneurial French developers with an extensive worldly background in renewable energies and real estate, who share a passion for architecture and a deep respect for nature.
Why Choose ALMA, a residence nestled in the heart of preserved nature?
Huatulco is booming. The city, brimming with culture, nature, clean air, and safe streets, has recently welcomed a new highway which has reduced travel time to Oaxaca City to three and a half hours and boasts an international airport that serves daily flights to CDMX, Oaxaca and Dallas, seasonal flights to major U.S. cities, and several flights per week to Guadalajara and Monterrey. As one of the largest biodiverse environments in Mexico, offering bountiful forests, beautiful beaches, marine flora and fauna, and 10,000 ft mountains, Huatulco is the ideal location for this one-of-a-kind residential project, ALMA.
As construction is projected to commence over the late summer, the value of any one of the forty-six bespoke condos and villas is projected to increase tremendously. Indeed, Huatulco is witnessing a property boom, with an average of 42% increase in value during the construction of high-end residences, and with some values even doubling since the pandemic.
“Architecture is a major art form,” comment Noemie and Frederic, “and our chosen architects are both artists and engineers,” believing that an intelligently conceived holistic environment can elevate your lifestyle radically.
Saltwater pools, wellness center, or concierge service, ALMA has everything you need.
Huatulco’s density regulations are tightly controlled. ALMA’s tallest building only reaches 32 ft, while the tallest trees reach 50 ft, thus keeping the building line well below the tree line and blending into the landscape. The sleek, clean, light structures with abundant glass boast terraces that are masterfully shaded by overhanging green roofs, and the overall design evokes a sense of the landscape’s harmonious flow into the interior spaces.
Setting ALMA apart: what makes ALMA unique in Mexico?
After almost 15 years of working with renewable energy companies in China, Noemie drew a good part of the vision for ALMA from her experience of working to protect the environment. Frederic’s fifteen years of experience in the real estate industry in France saw him work with major brands Bouygues, Vinci, George V, Eiffage, Kaufman & Broad. Their mutual love of the visual arts and the language of form and space have created their combined distinctive architectural eye.
After leaving France, the couple scouted the world for two years, searching for locations that would tick all the boxes for the creation of ALMA. Many locations were overpopulated and overdeveloped, but after traveling through Mexico, they decided instantly that Huatulco presented the perfect framework and conditions for ALMA. “It was the right time and the right space for ALMA to come to life,” Frederic says. Huatulco is also unique in that it offers 90% of its electricity through renewable energies, has one of the cleanest water treatment systems in the country, and 50% of its territory is protected by way of National Parks.
“We have both witnessed the possible pitfalls of eco-design in our careers. Solar panels alone are not enough; you need a strong commitment and a collaboration between architects and engineers that promote intelligent design and artistry for an exceptional daily living style, combined with a visionary local governance.”
The picturesque Huatulco coast is the perfect location for those looking to live in harmony with Mexican nature.
ALMA prioritizes nature and sustainable living
ALMA sits amidst a stunning topography of canyons and hills sloping towards the Pacific Ocean, with south-facing views. It grants each property its own distinctive view and ambiance. ALMA’s creators emphasize the importance of a low-density, year-round living experience. “More than that,” says Noemie, “we want our residents to feel happy and peaceful here beyond one season.” Having lived in Huatulco for over three years themselves, they are familiar with the climate, season after season, and the particularities of the region, so have worked carefully with the architects around these criteria.
Living deeply connected to nature, ALMA has alternatives to air conditioning artfully factored into its design. Whilst air conditioning is available, natural cooling features (cross breeze, cooling green roofs, shade and materials) allows for choice, and the reduction of electricity consumption. Luxury amenities and materials co-exist with sustainable design to offer large terraces with integrated greenery and a fresh saltwater pool in each villa. Abundant light, a source of happiness in the home, and temperature versatility is also catered to by well-shaded floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors and mosquito screens, essential in these latitudes.
Parking spaces integrated into each lot foster privacy and provide greater convenience than a large community parking lot, common to a residential complex. “From every angle, we wanted each property to feel separate and unique, whilst benefiting from the amenities and services of communal living,” Noemie tells us.
Additionally, they have designed two stunning floating infinity pools, 82 and 108 feet respectively, which skim the cliff’s edge and boast magnificent ocean views, as if merging with sky, ocean, and forest simultaneously.
ALMA is an intimate development, allowing you to truly connect with Huatulco’s abundant nature and blur the boundary between the indoors and outdoors.
ALMA: safety, privacy and a glimpse into the community
ALMA has so far attracted residents who possess an appreciation for architecture and nature but who are also looking for security, privacy, exclusivity, amenities, and services. Noemie tells us, “We are so thrilled to have welcomed a resident base, 25% of which are Mexican, 25% American, 25% Canadian and 25% European – which include younger entrepreneurs, families and retirees.” Residents tend to embrace an active, outdoor life and may work locally, but that hasn’t excluded the international crowd or part-time legacy investors, “although we are definitely seeing a trend towards full-time living,” Noemie continues.
ALMA’s entrance through a low canyon pass sets the inviting ambiance with its discreet, cacti-covered security fence. A concierge service offers 24-hour security, a private beach shuttle service, access to private chefs and information about local excursions and services. ALMA’s wellness center offers a cool environment amidst greenery, with massage services, sauna, a jacuzzi, a cold plunge pool, and a sizable gym. Proximity to Huatulco means shops and restaurants are an easy trip, while in the other direction, nature’s beauty is easily accessible: National Park, mountains, virgin beaches and bays, mangroves and smaller towns and villages.
Investing in ALMA: Projections on Value Increase and Real Estate Potential
It’s a perfect time to invest in this stunning and innovative low-density community. Huatulco is more of a hot spot than ever in its history, yet still at a fraction of property values in Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, or Los Cabos.
Starting at US $675,000 for a two-bedroom condo to around $1.7 million for the four-bedroom grand villa, ALMA presents a distinctive modern vision for living, as low density architect-designed communities and single family homes are commonly seeing a better increase in property value than other types of residences. Noemie and Frederic note, “Buying at this earlier stage of the project, you’re looking at the highest increase in property value.”
“ALMA’s success has been contingent on its setting within Huatulco, which has the right DNA for it,” Noemie and Frederic conclude. Whilst its design may not be unique in the world, it is certainly rare to find this standard of sustainable luxury anywhere, and the creative dream team hopes to set a precedent in the market and a lifestyle example in Mexico to follow.
North America's 50 Best Bars is a celebration of all that is great about mixology. The 2024 awards will take place April 23rd at Rosewood San Miguel. (Zapotebar/Instagram)
The world of gastronomy has long been celebrated, but what about the realm of cocktails and bars? Get to know North America’s 50 Best Bars, a prestigious ranking that shines a spotlight on the continent’s most exceptional drinking establishments.
We enjoyed chatting with Emma Sleight, Head of Content for North America’s 50 Best Bars, to uncover the story behind these illustrious awards and the vibrant bar scene they celebrate. This year’s award ceremony will be held in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.
For the second consecutive year, the 50 Best Bars in North America contest will be held in San Miguel de Allende. (North America’s 50 Best Bars)
How did the Best Bars Awards start? What prompted the focus on drinks and bars?
The 50 Best brand is a leading authority in global gastronomy and the international drink scene. It aims to showcase worldwide trends and highlight amazing places to eat and drink, reaching all corners of the Earth. North America’s 50 Best Bars came later, launched in 2022, as a relatively new ranking. It was created to celebrate the best of the region’s drinks industry and spotlight its talent and innovation. North America is undoubtedly a first-class cocktail destination, and the expansion into this region was a testament to the creativity and skill emerging from its drinks industry.
Mexico City’s Rayo Bar obtained 17th place in the 2023 list. (Rayo CDMX/Instagram)
How is the process of choosing the 50 best bars conducted?
The annual ranking is based on the votes of the academy, consisting of 270 gender-balanced anonymous bar industry experts across seven regions within North America. These experts include bartenders, bar managers, drinks consultants, brand ambassadors, drinks writers, historians, and cocktail aficionados. Voting occurs across regions such as the USA Northwest, USA Midwest, USA West, USA South, Canada (East and West), Mexico, and the Caribbean. Each region has its own panel of voters selected by Academy chairs, chosen for their knowledge and reputation in the drinks industry.
Why choose San Miguel de Allende for the Awards ceremony again?
San Miguel de Allende was selected for its burgeoning reputation as a cocktail lover’s destination and thriving hospitality scene. While perhaps less familiar than Mexico City, San Miguel de Allende offers a rich scene of culinary and drinking experiences, perfectly aligning with the ethos of 50 Best to spotlight both renowned and lesser-known destinations. As a UNESCO World Heritage City, it provides the perfect backdrop for celebrating excellence in bars and cocktails.
How does winning this award impact bars and individuals in the industry?
Winning a spot on the list, especially the number one ranking, undoubtedly has an immediate impact on the visibility and reputation of the bar. However, beyond the accolades, the 50 Best Awards aim to foster a sense of community within the industry. Bartenders forge lifelong relationships and friendships through our events, and the awards serve as a platform to champion talent and celebrate the contributions of individuals to the drinks industry.
Can you share more about the upcoming Awards ceremony?
The Awards ceremony will be held on the 23rd of April in San Miguel de Allende. While the list remains confidential until the night of the ceremony, we will live stream the event on our Facebook and YouTube channels, allowing people worldwide to join in and discover the best bars in North America. Last year, we saw a strong representation of Mexican bars on the list, showcasing the diversity and richness of the country’s cocktail culture beyond its capital city.
Handshake Speakeasy, in Mexico City, came third in 2023. (Handshake Speakeasy/Instagram)
As North America’s 50 Best Bars prepares to honor the continent’s top drinking establishments, the excitement is palpable. From the bustling streets of Mexico to the hidden gems of Canada, the bar scene awaits exploration, inviting enthusiasts to raise a glass and celebrate the artistry of mixology. Join the ceremony on the 23rd of April as they will toast to the best in the business and uncover the secrets behind North America’s finest bars.
Camila Sánchez Bolaño is a journalist, feminist, bookseller, lecturer, and cultural promoter and is Editor in Chief of Newsweek en Español magazine.
An employee at work in a factory near Guadalajara. (Gobierno de Jalisco)
Mexico’s unemployment rate fell to its lowest level in almost a year in February, dropping to 2.45% from 2.85% in January.
Data published by the national statistics agency INEGI on Wednesday showed that the economically active population (PEA) was made up of just under 60.9 million people in February and 1.49 million of that number were unemployed. The PEA refers to people in work or looking for work.
The 2.45% unemployment rate was the lowest reading since March 2023, when just 2.4% of the PEA was jobless. The unemployment rate for women was 3.1%, while 2.4% of economically active men were jobless last month.
At 2.58%, the seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was slightly higher than the unadjusted rate. However, that rate was the lowest since INEGI began publishing seasonally-adjusted figures in 2006.
The total number of unemployed people in February was more than 235,000 lower than the figure recorded in January.
Many of the people who entered the workforce in February found employment in the informal sector, which added far more jobs than the formal sector.
Job loss in the agricultural sector was offset by growth in the manufacturing sector. (Tomas Castelazo/Wikimedia)
Last month, some 32.4 million Mexicans were employed in the informal sector, in which workers don’t pay taxes and don’t have access to benefits such as health care and paid holidays. That figure equates to 54.5% of all workers.
The percentage of workers in the informal sector declined one point compared to February 2023, INEGI said, but rose 0.4 points compared to January and 0.9 points compared to December.
Jesús Anacarsis López, deputy director of analysis at Banco Base, said that reducing the informality rate is “one of the most significant challenges of the Mexican labor market.”
INEGI also reported that 3.8 million people in jobs were underemployed in February, meaning that they wanted or needed to work more hours. That figure accounts for 6.5% of all Mexicans workers, down from 7.6% a year earlier.
Which sectors added the most jobs in February?
The manufacturing sector added more than 631,000 positions in February, while the services sector workforce increased by almost 433,000 people.
Which sectors lost the most jobs in February?
More than 398,000 jobs were lost in the agriculture sector last month, while the construction sector shed almost 141,000 positions.
Looking ahead
Janneth Quiroz, director of economic analysis at the Monex financial group, said that unemployment will “possibly” continue to fall in the first half of 2024.
She noted that the upcoming elections will create additional opportunities for temporary work, and unemployment could decline as a result.
Do you know the difference between a Michelada and a Chelada? With summer on the way, it's time to brush up on how to order a refreshing beer. (T. Tseng /Flickr)
Micheladas and cheladas are both popular beer cocktails — but what’s the difference and which one should you order?
In Mexico, it is common to play with words and sounds, creating new terms to refer to something that previously had an official designation. This linguistic creativity also extends to drinks, and there are various regional terms used to refer to beer, such as chela, cheve (more common in the north of Mexico), cheva (in Michoacán) or quigua (Veracruz).
A classic Michelada served with a slice of lemon. (Cesar Cabrera/Unsplash)
As you may have guessed, the words “michelada” and “chelada” are derived from “chela” and refer to a mixture of beer and other ingredients. Regarding the word “michelada,” sources such as Guido Gómez de Silva’s Short Dictionary of Mexican Idioms and the Real Academia Española (RAE) agree that its roots are in a Mayan word “chel,” which was used to describe white and blond people. Later, the word “chela” was specifically used to refer to a blond woman with blue eyes. Over time, “chela” came to be associated with the blond appearance of light beer.
To make things more complicated though, the ingredients in a “chela” and “michelada” vary from region to region in Mexico! Don’t worry though, we have you covered with our guide to exactly what to order, depending on where you are in Mexico.
CDMX and México state
Michelada
In Mexico City and surrounding areas, a michelada is a beer mixed with lemon and salt. The glass is usually completely chilled, and the salt is placed on the rim of the glass (this salted rim is called escarchado).
Chelada
The chelada in these regions is more elaborate. The classic chelada is mixed with salt, lemon, Clamato (a concentrated tomato juice with sugar, spices, dried clam broth, and monosodium glutamate), and sometimes Worcestershire sauce and Maggi seasoning. The rim of the glass is garnished with chile powder and sometimes spicy chamoy sauce.
Other Mexican states
The rest of the country differs from Mexico City and its surrounding areas. Here is the most common way to order these drinks in most of Mexico:
Michelada
In many places, a michelada includes a variety of sauces: Clamato, salt, lemon, and often Worcestershire and Maggi sauces.
Chelada
A classic (outside of Mexico City) Chelada with lemon juice, rather than a slice. (Addison Berry/Flickr)
Far from the capital, a chelada is a beer mixed with lemon and salt. The salt is placed on the rim of the glass (the escarchado).
The great variety of micheladas
Over time, the variety of micheladas has become quite impressive. Some may find it odd, while others may find it absolutely delicious.
Here are some options for micheladas from different regions of the country.
Camaronchela: Cooked shrimp, cucumber, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, Maggi seasoning, and lime juice in a glass rimmed with chili powder.
Pichachelada: Served in a pineapple and accompanied by pineapple slices, liquid chamoy, chili powder, and tamarind candy with chili.
Michelada endiablada: Lime juice, salt, Tabasco sauce, and tequila in a glass rimmed with salt and chili powder.
Gomichela: An unholy union of beer and candy that is rumored to instantly induce diabetes in anyone who attempts to consume it.
The gomichela. Perfect for those with the palate of a young child, but an unquenchable thirst for beer all at the same time.(Bebidas y Cocteleria Chimal)
Chamochela: Maggi sauce, Worcestershire sauce, lime juice, and liquid chamoy at the bottom of a glass rimmed with liquid chamoy and chili powder.
Michelada campechana: Clamato, Worcestershire sauce, Valentina sauce, Maggi seasoning, chili powder, cooked shrimp, olives, cucumber, and tamarind candies.
What other types of micheladas have you seen in your area?
Ana Paula de la Torre is a Mexican journalist and collaborator for various outlets including Milenio, Animal Político, Vice, Newsweek en Español, Televisa and Mexico News Daily.
Cayo Culebra is the last untouched private island in the Riviera Maya, and it's for sale. It's reachable only by private plane or boat. (IAD)
If you’ve ever fantasized about owning a private island in Mexico, now is your big chance. Cayo Culebra, the last untouched island of the Riviera Maya, is up for sale at a reported price of US $68 million, or more than 1.1 billion pesos.
The 36-hectare island is located in Ascensión Bay, off the coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, and is part of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
It is an uninhabited “natural paradise” with abundant birds and plant life, according to newspaper El Financiero.
Mexico has designated Cayo Culebra as a Protected Natural Area (ANP) for more than 30 years. IAD Group, the European real estate network selling the property, specifies that the National Commission for Protected Areas (Conanp) will retain control over the island and whoever buys the island can build on only 10% of it and any construction will be limited to cabins, bungalows and palapas.
Still, IAD assures, Cayo Culebra offers potential buyers “great profitability perspectives” by attracting a “high-end clientele looking for a unique and nature-friendly experience.”
Located 12 kilometers off the coast at its nearest point to land — and 56 kilometers south of Tulum, Quintana Roo — the island is reachable by private plane or boat. The shortest boat trip would be from Punta Allen, but it can also be reached via water from Playa del Carmen, Tulum or Bacalar.
In Spanish, culebrarefers to a snake, particularly a small, non-venomous one. Cayomeans “cay,” often spelled “key,” which is a low-lying island formed on top of a coral reef.
“If you’ve always dreamed of investing in an ecological tourism project while enjoying the splendors of the Riviera Maya, Cayo Culebra is an opportunity not to be missed!” the site says.
Despite its restrictions, IAD is promoting Cayo Culebra as a golden opportunity for development.
“With all permits and documentation in order, the island is ready to welcome thousands of tourists annually, as it is possible to build on 10% of the island’s surface, to develop, for example, hotels or bungalows on stilts.”
One of three tunnels the Guadalajara-Puerto Vallarta highway will have when it's complete. (SICT)
A shorter drive to the coast. That’s what everyone who lives inland wants, right?
And that’s what the people of Aguascalientes, Zacatecas, Guanajuato, Jalisco and surrounding states now have, thanks to the opening of another section of roadway to the Riviera Nayarit Corridor.
The newly-opened stretch of highway provides the final link (the blue line) to connect highway 15D in Jala, Nayarit (see the red pin), and highway 200 in Las Varas, Nayarit, which drivers take to Puerto Vallarta. Besides cutting down some of the driving time, using the new stretch reroutes drivers around a dangerous section of Route 200 that has been the site of numerous accidents near the town of Mesillas, Nayarit (circled in yellow). (Google Maps)
The newest portion of the Guadalajara–Puerto Vallarta highway, which stretches from Compostela to Las Varas, opened Wednesday, shortening the journey between the two Nayarit cities by about 50 minutes. That is, provided traffic is moving at a good pace, almost an impossibility at the moment amidst an abundance of people in their cars on Holy Week getaways.
One more 32-kilometer section remains to finish, after which, officials promise, the drive between Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta will have been reduced from 4 hours, 30 minutes to 2 hours, 30 minutes. Estimated travel times, however, vary depending on which Mexican newspaper one is reading.
“A special effort was made to finish the work [before an April deadline] to benefit users during the holiday period,” the construction firm Mota-Engil México noted on its website. “Starting [Wednesday] at 2:30 p.m., it will facilitate the journey of more than 1 million tourists who are expected on the beaches of the Riviera Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta.”
According to the news outlet Informador, the project to shorten the drive was announced in 2011 and was intended to be completed in 2014.
The final section of the highway to be built, which will connect Las Varas to Puerto Vallarta and provide a an alternate route to the Puerto Vallarta International Airport through San Vicente. (Fonadin)
“But 10 years later is when its conclusion has begun to become a reality,” the paper added.
The newest section is seen as perhaps the most important of the route because it avoids a dangerous area of mountain curves on Route 200 near the town of Mesillas that has been the site of many accidents.
The final section, connecting San Vicente with the Puerto Vallarta International Airport will reportedly be ready in August.
The entire route will be 86.5 kilometers of new or improved highway, benefitting 17 communities and costing 10.6 billion pesos (US $637.7 million), according to the Tribuna de la Bahía newspaper.
The paper said that the finished work will have 45 bridges, seven interchanges, three tunnels and three viaducts, and that it will serve 6,000 vehicles a day
In addition, the paper added, the project would generate 1,500 direct jobs and 14,000 indirect jobs.
“This work is synonymous with tangible transformation since the state’s infrastructure guarantees the progress of Nayarit,” Nayarit Governor Miguel Ángel Navarro said.
