Mexico’s week in review: Sovereignty debate reaches boiling point as Trump ramps up pressure on cartels
As Mexico entered the second week of January, President Claudia Sheinbaum navigated a relentless back-and-forth with U.S. President Donald Trump while marking the first anniversary of Plan México, her ambitious economic development package.
From Monday’s proactive diplomatic outreach following Trump’s threats of military strikes to Wednesday’s defense of the USMCA trade pact, the week showcased the delicate balancing act between managing U.S. demands and defending national sovereignty — a skill Sheinbaum has demonstrated on numerous occasions.
Breakthroughs in the murder of Uruapan mayor Carlos Manzo and the takedown of a Tren de Aragua outpost offered tangible evidence of her security cabinet’s competence, which is becoming more critical by the day for the continued stability of the United States relationship.
Didn’t have time to read this week’s top stories? Here’s what you missed.
National security strains and accomplishments
Mexico opened the week on the defensive after President Trump declared on Jan. 8 that the United States was “going to start now hitting land” regarding cartels, asserting that “the cartels are running Mexico.”
Sheinbaum rules out US military action in Mexico after Trump call
In response, President Sheinbaum proactively reached out to Trump on Monday morning for what she characterized as a “very friendly” 15-minute call. Sheinbaum firmly ruled out U.S. military intervention in Mexico, telling reporters that Trump “understood” Mexico’s constitutional opposition to foreign military operations on its soil. She said she informed Trump about her government’s concrete security achievements, including the arrest of over 40,000 suspects and the dismantlement of almost 2,000 drug labs over the past 15 months.
The week then brought further evidence of Mexico’s security efforts. The Navy announced the destruction of three clandestine methamphetamine laboratories in Michoacán, Durango and Sinaloa, seizing over 700 kilograms of finished drugs along with 12,000 liters and two tonnes of chemical precursors. Additionally, authorities arrested six members of Tren de Aragua in Mexico City and four alleged Jalisco New Generation Cartel members in Jalisco and Nayarit.
These arrests drew public praise from U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ron Johnson, who posted twice on social media Tuesday acknowledging Mexico’s efforts. Johnson’s recognition provided a diplomatic boost for Sheinbaum’s government amid mounting pressure, though tensions remained. By week’s end, The New York Times reported that the U.S. continues to pressure Mexico to allow American troops to fight cartels, even as some U.S. lawmakers seek to block such actions.
On Friday, Sheinbaum defended her government’s security record, pushing back against characterizations of narcoterrorism while acknowledging ongoing challenges.
Economic pressures build for Mexican households
Mexican households are feeling the squeeze as data revealed that the cost of the basic food basket rose 4.4% in urban areas in December 2025, outpacing the nation’s overall inflation rate of 3.69%. The basket, which includes 24 essential items from oil and rice to tortillas and soap, now costs approximately 2,467 pesos per month in urban regions versus 1,855 pesos in rural areas. The increase adds pressure to household budgets already strained by broader economic uncertainty.
In a surprising turn, capital flight that had plagued Mexico since April 2025 showed signs of slowing at year’s end. Foreign investors purchased $1.322 billion worth of Mexican bonds in December, though this barely dented the $7 billion that exited throughout 2025. Analysts attributed the outflows not to a financing crisis but to global risk aversion and portfolio rebalancing, noting Mexico still maintains relatively solid macroeconomic fundamentals.
The World Bank projected Mexico’s economic growth would slow to under 1% for 2026, citing uncertainty surrounding tariffs and the upcoming USMCA review rather than immediate policy changes. The projection underscored how Mexico’s economic trajectory remains tightly bound to North American trade dynamics and U.S. policy decisions.
Uncertainty deepens over USMCA
By Wednesday, Sheinbaum again had to respond to inflammatory comments by Trump, but this time about USMCA. During a Michigan factory tour, President Trump declared he doesn’t “even think about USMCA,” calling the trilateral free trade pact “irrelevant” and claiming it provides “no real advantage” to the United States. Trump’s dismissive comments stood in stark contrast to his 2019 assertion that USMCA would be “the best and most important trade deal ever made by the USA.”
President Sheinbaum responded by emphasizing the deep integration of North American economies and noting that U.S. businesses are among the strongest defenders of the trade agreement. She expressed conviction that Mexico’s trade relationship with the United States would continue despite Trump’s rhetoric.
At Thursday’s morning press conference, Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard reinforced Mexico’s position, stating that the country is ready to negotiate and expressing confidence that the U.S. will ultimately value the relationship. Major automakers, including Tesla, Toyota and Ford, have urged the Trump administration to extend USMCA, highlighting its crucial role in enabling regional competitiveness.
The uncertainty around USMCA negotiations had real consequences for Mexico’s heavy-duty vehicle industry. Production fell nearly 29% and exports are down 28.6% compared to 2024, marking the sector’s worst year since the pandemic.
The peso continues to defy all odds
Against expectations of continued volatility, the Mexican peso hit its strongest level against the dollar in over a year, closing Thursday at 17.65 to the greenback.
The currency marked its fifth consecutive day of gains, appreciating nearly 2% over that period and continuing its defiance of analyst predictions. Experts attributed the strength to dollar weakness globally, favorable interest rate differentials for carry trade operations, and rising silver prices. Notably, the peso strengthened even as Trump questioned USMCA’s future, with analysts suggesting markets recognize that dismantling the trade pact would carry significant costs for U.S. competitiveness.
Mexico’s creative and athletic spirit flourishes
Mexico celebrated multiple achievements in culture, sports and academics this week. Mexico City’s National Museum of Anthropology broke its all-time attendance record, welcoming over 5 million visitors in 2025 compared to 3.78 million the previous year. The surge solidified the museum’s status as one of Latin America’s most-visited cultural venues, though it comes alongside a 119% increase in admission fees for 2026.
On the athletic front, President Sheinbaum led a flag-bearing ceremony for four Mexican athletes heading to the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Figure skater Donovan Carrillo returns for his second Winter Games, while cross-country skiers Allan Corona and Regina Martínez prepare to compete, with Martínez making history as the first woman to represent Mexico in her event. Alpine skier Sarah Schleper will make her seventh Olympic appearance.
The week also brought recognition for Mexican talent in emerging fields and the performing arts. Veracruz student Valeria Palacios, 19, won the World Education Medal for using artificial intelligence and robotics to address social and environmental problems in her community. Meanwhile, Macario Martínez, the former Mexico City street sweeper who became a viral sensation with his song “Sueña lindo, corazón,” announced his first major solo concert at the León State Fair on January 28, sharing the bill with Latin Grammy winner Paloma Morphy.
Looking ahead
Tourism data continued to reflect positive trends for Mexico’s hospitality sector, with the National Museum of Anthropology’s record attendance mirroring broader increases in international visitors. In November 2025, the number of international tourists increased by 15.6% compared to the same month in 2024, totaling 8.7 million foreign tourists for that month alone. Aeroméxico, the nation’s leading air carrier, actually called for a third terminal at Mexico City International (AICM) due to increasing congestion.
The momentum suggests Mexico’s tourism industry remains resilient despite global economic uncertainties and ongoing security concerns in certain regions. Looking ahead, Mexico enters the latter half of January with key diplomatic and economic challenges on the horizon, including bilateral security negotiations with the United States and continued uncertainty about USMCA’s future.
Looking for Mexico’s previous week in review? Read about it here.
Mexico News Daily
This story contains summaries of original Mexico News Daily articles. The summaries were generated by Claude, then revised and fact-checked by a Mexico News Daily staff editor.
The Mexico they don’t show you: Confidently Wrong interviews Servant Steve
As we point out in each weekly episode of Mexico News Daily’s “Confidently Wrong” podcast, there is an abundance of people who are confidently wrong about Mexico. The media narrative and social media algorithms reward viral (and often incorrect) information, serving only to reinforce the inaccurate, incomplete or misleading perceptions that already exist.
Our mission at Mexico News Daily is to be the most balanced and complete source of news and information about Mexico. Day in and day out, we are waging a constant battle against those who are in the “misinformation for clicks” business. Occasionally, we run into someone else trying to show the “real Mexico,” only to find out that the real motivation behind the curtain is to sell real estate, health supplements or something worse. It seems like just about everyone these days is trying to get your attention about something, only to sell you something else.
I get it, it’s the world we live in. But it does highlight the need to make us as consumers (or scollers on social media) more aware. I guess you could say it’s the modern-day version of being offered something free in return for listening to a timeshare presentation. It sounds good at first, but then quickly turns into: Let the buyer beware!
It is with that backdrop that we were intrigued by Steve. Servant Steve lives in Mexico with his family and posts on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. He creates short videos in which he tells stories about what he sees in Mexico that “they don’t show you” back home. His stories hit a chord with us as they seemed genuine, heartfelt and true. He highlights the preconceived notions of topics as broad as family, faith, raising children, the definition of middle class and personal safety — just to name a few. His message resonated with us as he — like our team at MND — is inspired to show the Mexico they often don’t tell you about. So we reached out to him.
Click on the link below to watch the latest episode of “Confidently Wrong” in which we interview Steve. His story, his motivation, his message and his passion are fascinating. Check it out and get inspired!
"The Mexico they don't show you" - Confidently Wrong interviews Servant Steve
Travis Bembenek is the CEO of Mexico News Daily and has been living, working or playing in Mexico for nearly 30 years.
Mexico’s economy isn’t growing. What can be done? A perspective from our CEO
Mexico’s economy is stuck. After sharp contraction in 2020 followed by a post-COVID bounce-back, the economy has slowed to near 1% growth for the past two years. This is significantly below the global growth rate of over 3% and especially troubling given that there are no real external shocks that can be blamed for it.
Mexico’s previous president, AMLO, inflated growth rates during his term in part with significant federal government spending. From new airports in Mexico City and Tulum, to the new Maya and Interoceanic trains, to the Dos Bocas mega-refinery, the federal government was doing more than its part to prop up growth. The big question many had about these projects was, “Are they one-time growth spurts, or are they medium or long-term growth enablers that will help fundamentally improve future growth prospects for the country?” Infrastructure projects, if well-thought-out, should be medium/long-term growth enablers. But they do take time, and most certainly these projects are not yet helping to provide a pick up in economic growth.
Foreign direct investment announcements continue to hit record highs, but they also take time to impact the economy and sometimes don’t happen at all. The recent increase in the amount of “new” investment dollars in FDI (versus pure reinvestment of profits) has been an encouraging sign. Tourism numbers are up 13% year-to-date (with spending up over 6%), which is great news. But tourism is not big enough to significantly move the country’s total GDP numbers yet.
In the past, exchange rate devaluations of the Mexican peso would often provide a consistent growth spurt. Over a 25 year period and up until the COVID pandemic, the peso has averaged an annual devaluation versus the US dollar of roughly 10%. Given Mexico’s relatively low inflation and low wages, this consistently helped ensure that the cost of doing business or investing in Mexico kept getting cheaper, at least in dollar terms. This could be counted on year after year, and provided a good base case for making investments in the country. But given that the peso has actually strengthened while costs have increased now for five years, the certainty around that long-held assumption is over. So while a significant devaluation of 20% or more in the peso would most certainly provide a growth injection, there have been no indications that one is likely. In fact, the peso has continued to strengthen lately, with it recently hitting 18 month highs against the USD.
With the Trump administration making new and ever-changing tariff threats towards Mexico on a near weekly basis, what is Mexico to do? How can the economy get growing again at or above its potential?
1. The most impactful (albeit not very likely) scenario that could get the economy growing again would be a quick and favorable (for Mexico) outcome on the USMCA negotiations. This would provide clarity for businesses and investors on the role of Mexico in the North American supply chain. Too many companies right now do not have certainty as to whether Mexico going forward will have free trade with the U.S., low tariffs, or perhaps even higher tariffs compared to other countries. With that degree of uncertainty, it seems unlikely that Mexico’s economy can get growing upwards of 3% again.
2. Another scenario would be for President Sheinbaum to push through reforms allowing for more foreign investment in the areas of energy extraction, production and distribution (current monopolies held by PEMEX and CFE). These economic segments could and should be significant growth drivers of the economy, yet are currently doing nothing to help. If Sheinbaum was able to use her popularity to push through reform in these areas and demonstrate that Mexico is “open for business” in shale gas production, oil extraction, energy production and distribution (natural gas, solar, wind) — it would spark a massive inflow of investment. Given Mexico’s long history of protectionism in these areas, it would not be an easy task. But given her nearly 70% popularity, if anyone is up to it, it’s Sheinbaum.
3. Governments often look for “shovel-ready” infrastructure projects that can get started right away and quickly impact the economy. Sheinbaum has some of these already started with a significant nationwide highway improvement plan. She is also doubling down on passenger train investments throughout the country. Both are good productivity enablers over the medium term, but will not have a meaningful impact in the short term.
4. Public education continues to be a big issue in Mexico, as I have previously written about here. This in turn impacts labor productivity growth and ultimately is a drag on the economy. Sheinbaum needs to prioritize this issue, perhaps by announcing some public-private partnerships that could accelerate education attainment and results. A real commitment in this area would likely be matched by private investment that could provide increased training programs in higher skill jobs that require the ability to use AI and robotics.
5. Tax policies are often used to accelerate investment and growth. Sheinbaum could announce initiatives ranging from accelerated depreciation of capital equipment investments, special tax treatment for AI and robotics investments, and tax incentives for companies that add new hires and invest in training and upskilling their workforce. All of these would steer private capital into areas that could quickly make an impact on the economy.
6. The Sheinbaum administration could create special incentives and economic development areas to further accelerate the growth of Mexico’s service sector. As I have previously written here, I think that Mexico has tremendous untapped potential in many segments of the service economy. New initiatives, new tax policies, and accelerated government approvals in service sectors like education, senior centers, housing (for Mexicans and expats), health care, wellness and tourism would further diversify the economy away from manufacturing and oil. With the right support, all those sectors could be hitting double-digit growth.
Of course, none of these options are easy. But if Mexico is serious about sustainably growing its economy at or above 3%, and in turn serious about improving the lives of its citizens — not only with minimum wage increases but also actual economic growth — it will have to tackle most of them.
Travis Bembenek is the CEO of Mexico News Daily and has been living, working or playing in Mexico for nearly 30 years.
Is Frida Kahlo overrated?
In September 2025, Casa Roja in the south of Mexico City opened to the public. Managed by descendants of Frida Kahlo’s relatives, the museum — meant to complement Coyoacan’s Casa Azul — is a display of objects, photographs and stories highlighting the artist’s family life and upbringing. As a result, for those of us living in Mexico City, our Instagram feeds are flooded with Frida.
There is a clear obsession with Frida Kahlo in North America — that is to say, the North America that lies north of the Mexican border. Her recognizable unibrow is plastered on bags, keychains and prints you can buy for US $5 off Facebook and frame yourself (guilty). Art fans and Mexaphiles are well-versed in her tumultuous love affairs and traumatic health issues. It’s obvious what the general public thinks of her: a media magnet, worthy of her own blockbuster movie and Barbie doll.
The concept of “Fridamania” first appeared as far back as the early 1990s; the Los Angeles Times published a commentary entitled “Fridamania — Where Will It All End?” in 1992. This term would appear in several more respected publications throughout the years, including Emory International Law Review’s 2021 critique of the cult phenomenon “Owning Frida Kahlo.”
What do Mexicans think?
The problem with Frida’s popularity is that it generally overlooks not only her art — “Is it that good?” — but also what Mexicans actually think of her. It’s a rare day when one sees a chilango donning a graphic tee with Frida’s face awash in neon colors. In fact, the odds of seeing Frida on a tote bag in New York City are higher than in the Mexican capital — unless, of course, it’s hanging off the shoulder of a visiting New Yorker.
Ever wondered if Frida Kahlo is as popular a figure in her homeland or if she’s simply a product of excellent marketing? Well, the answer is both clear and nuanced.
MND took to the streets. Not literally, but we reached out to 24 born-and-raised Mexicans from Mexico City to Puebla to Guadalajara between the ages of 26 and 51 for their opinions on the Frida Kahlo craze.
Each respondent works in a different career and is from a class sector that ranges between middle-class and wealthy. Among some of their professions were in the arts, hospitality, education, e-commerce, medicine and tech.
We used the curated set of questions below to find out what a sampling of Mexicans thinks.
Question 1: Is Frida Kahlo overrated as an artist?
In terms of her actual art, responses were split down the middle, revealing a fundamental tension in how Frida’s creative legacy is viewed. On one side, there’s recognition of genuine talent; on the other, a belief that her work’s market value has been unnecessarily inflated. Andrés, whose professional background includes art analysis, captured the essence of this duality:
“I think she is a bit overrated as an artist, especially regarding the prices her work has reached on the market. This is because there are artists who I believe have the same merit but haven’t been valued economically like she has.”
Rosa, an educator, was even more blunt.
“Totally [overrated]. Her painting is quite basic compared to all the drama that’s been created around her life and that artificial feminism her fans attribute to her. Artists like Remedios Varo and Leonora Carrington were much more creative and had much more interesting proposals.”
But hospitality expert Gael, who also dabbles in art dealing, pushed back on the question.
“I don’t think she’s overrated. It seems to me that she reflects the essence of Mexican culture to the world, and people are willing to pay for her works at the same prices as great international artists.”
The results of a social media poll we did on this question mirrored this divide: 58% of respondents said yes, Frida is overrated, while 42% said no.
What emerges is less a consensus on Frida’s talent and more a critique of the forces at work around her that created a pathway to fame.
“I think artistic talent alone is not enough to access the international art market,” Gael noted. “There must be other aspects that stand out to position oneself as Frida Kahlo did.”
Question 2: How does Frida compare to other Mexican artists?
When asked to place Frida within the pantheon of Mexican artists of her era, respondents consistently named the same titans: Diego Rivera, Rufino Tamayo, José Clemente Orozco and David Alfaro Siqueiros. While it appears most agree that Frida belongs in this conversation, so do many others who haven’t achieved her level of global recognition, many said.
Andrés was quick to acknowledge her legitimacy.
“Without a doubt, Frida is one of the best Mexican artists of the 20th century, on par with Diego Rivera himself, Clemente Orozco, Rufino Tamayo and/or Leonora Carrington,” he said. “And, yes, I feel she reflected so much of our country and its idiosyncrasies.”
Yet in the same breath, he also noted, “Probably Rivera, Tamayo or Orozco would have at least the same artistic merit as Frida, even though they didn’t have the international reach that she did.”
Gael framed her fame within a broader artistic movement.
“Frida Kahlo forms part of an intellectual and artistic current of Mexico from that era, along with the great muralists and other artists of international stature.”
Question 3: Which other Mexican figures deserve recognition?
Beyond those aforementioned, the most telling response came from Sara and María, both marketing professionals.
“There are thousands, and we don’t even know their names. Perhaps that’s also because all the other women (artists) are undervalued.”
Beatriz, a tourism professional and writer, pointed to figures outside the art world entirely.
“I think there are others, like Antonieta Rivas Mercado, who did great things for Mexico, like promoting the secretary of education or creating the symphony orchestra of Mexico.”
Has an entire ecosystem of female talent been overshadowed by Frida’s star power? A UNAM study seems to support it: Women artists were marginalized in teaching posts and exhibitions during the entire first half of the 20th century, despite a pool of comparable painters within the Kahlo circle, including María Izquierdo, Aurora Reyes and Nahui Olin. Yet, while Frida Kahlo’s paintings top the US $50 million mark, Izquierdo’s highest sale closed at less than half a million.
Question 4: When did Frida start appearing everywhere?
Nearly everyone agreed: They learned very little about Frida in school. Beatriz recalls that “in school she appeared as part of the official discourse,” as more of a link to cultural nationalism than as one of Mexico’s artistic greats. What everyone interviewed remembers is her sudden ubiquity, and exactly when that happened.
“About 25 years ago, she started to become popularized as part of Mexican culture,” Lucia, an e-commerce expert, stated.
Andrés pinpointed the same era.
“While she was always present in Mexican culture, I think she had a radical surge, caused in part by North Americans, at the end of the 20th century.”
This coincides with the 2002 Hollywood movie “Frida,” starring Salma Hayek, which Ana, a public relations agent, noted as the reason Frida “took on importance and relevance. She became more fashionable.”
Rosa remembers the frenzy building even before the film’s release.
“For me, the international boom arrived with the movie, or even before, when Salma Hayek and Madonna were vying to bring ‘Frida’ to the screen.”
The timeline reveals Frida’s current iconography as neither long-standing nor organic. It’s recent, manufactured and heavily influenced by forces outside Mexico.
Question 5: Is Frida overrated as a pop culture icon?
The answer, overwhelmingly, was yes — but with an asterisk attached.
“Few have seen her work; she’s more a pop culture symbol,” Lucia said plainly.
The sentiment was repeated by David, an AI developer.
“Her history is fascinating, but she’s become too cliche.”
Maria and Sara drew a comparison that landed like a punch.
“It’s clear that it’s very different for foreigners than for Mexicans. It’s like Cinco de Mayo.”
The analogy is apt: In Mexico, May 5 is a relatively minor holiday, not even a federal one requiring a day off for workers. In the United States, however, it’s become a commercialized celebration of “Mexican culture” that often bears little resemblance to actual Mexican traditions.
Is Frida also a symbol co-opted, commodified and sold back as something it never was? Rosa thinks so.
“She went from being a supposed socialist icon to the merchandise of cultural capitalism. Today, Frida functions the same as Che (Guevara) on a T-shirt: a depoliticized symbol, comfortable and ready to sell.”
Beatriz, however, sees both sides.
“She’s been put on a pedestal as if she had made great reforms or influenced movements,” she said, adding that while Diego Rivera did influence movements and portray many aspects of everyday Mexican life in his murals, he is hardly the pop icon Frida is today. “Still, I’m grateful to Frida that, thanks to her, Mexico receives a lot of attention and more cultural appreciation.”
Conclusion: The paradox
So is Frida Kahlo overrated? The answer depends entirely on what you’re rating.
As an artist, the majority of Mexicans I spoke with placed her firmly among the greats of her generation — but no greater. As a pop culture phenomenon? Wildly overrated, a product of media machinery and North American fascination that has little to do with her actual contributions to art. The 24 Mexicans we surveyed suggested that Frida’s international role as a symbol of female strength, Mexican identity and dramatic suffering doesn’t resonate the same way in her homeland.
The late Mexican Nobel laureate Octavio Paz once questioned whether Frida Kahlo could be both a great artist and “a despicable cur.” Today, the question might be: Can someone be both a great artist and an overhyped brand?
Yes, both things can be true. But what Mexicans understand that many foreigners do not is that while Frida Kahlo may be extraordinary, she’s certainly not unique.
Bethany Platanella is a travel planner and lifestyle writer based in Mexico City. She lives for the dopamine hit that comes directly after booking a plane ticket, exploring local markets, practicing yoga and munching on fresh tortillas. Sign up to receive her Sunday Love Letters to your inbox, peruse her blog or follow her on Instagram.
Los Cabos shopping: Ánima Village and the Cabo del Sol revival
Architectural firm Sordo Madaleno has a distinguished history in Los Cabos, dating back to its iconic arch-like design for the Westin Los Cabos, which opened in 1993. In recent years, Sordo Madaleno has also designed the luxury resort Solaz Los Cabos and served as lead architect on the Park Hyatt Cabo del Sol, one of several exciting new projects at Cabo del Sol, a 1,800-acre luxury resort and residential community six miles outside Cabo San Lucas.
Sordo Madaleno is also responsible for the newest eye-catching design to arrive at Cabo del Sol: a boutique shopping destination for over 80 luxury brands.
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Ánima Village opens in Los Cabos
The first phase of Ánima Village premiered at Cabo del Sol in early December 2025, with over 1,500 guests showing up to celebrate the opening. Already open are more than two dozen shops featuring brands such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Guess, Hugo Boss, Lululemon, the Mac Store and Nike. More upscale brands are on the way in the next phase, scheduled for later this year, including Cartier, Dior, Prada, Valentino and Louis Vuitton.
When complete, Ánima Village will be by far the most sophisticated shopping destination in Los Cabos. In addition to its anticipated 84 luxury brands, it will feature diverse dining options, art exhibitions, open-air walkways with botanical gardens and a range of regular events and programs.
“Art and culture are central to Ánima Village’s identity,” notes SOMA Group, the Mexican real estate development company led by members of the Sordo Madaleno family that operates Ánima Village. “The project features Arte Abierto, a dedicated gallery space that hosts rotating exhibitions, permanent installations throughout public areas, and an active cultural program. This initiative invites visitors to engage directly with the creative process, making them part of the ongoing artistic narrative.”
Of course, given Sordo Madaleno’s architectural reputation, this aspect, too, is first-class. Buildings “rise and fall in volumes ranging from 6 to 9.5 meters, creating a dynamic rhythm reminiscent of a coastal village. This stepped geometry not only frames shifting views of the landscape but also incorporates passive climate strategies — terraces open to public plazas, while shadows and landscaping provide comfort and shade, encouraging visitors to pause and enjoy the environment.”
And all visitors are welcome: Ánima Village is open to the public daily between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.
The history of Cabo del Sol
Cabo del Sol owes its existence to the visionary foresight of legendary Los Cabos developer Don Koll. During the mid-1980s, the Southern California real estate heavyweight made a series of moves that would forever change the landscape of Los Cabos. In 1985, he purchased the land for what would become Cabo del Sol in partnership with Robert Addison Day from Bud Parr, another Los Cabos pioneer. The next year, Koll bought the landmark Hotel Palmilla (now One&Only Palmilla) and brought in Jack Nicklaus to design golf courses for both, the first world-class layouts in the area.
“Koll knew from time in the area developing Palmilla Hotel resort that this property [Cabo del Sol], with its gradual sloping terrain and two miles of pristine ocean frontage, was the best property in Cabo,” Day told Cabo Living Magazine in 2019. “Anywhere you put your finger on the map, you had an ocean view from the property. So Don and I struck a deal to buy the property in a joint venture between our two companies. Don took the role as operator and lead developer in those years, leveraging the expertise and team they already had in place at Palmilla and immediately began adding value.”
Two parcels were sold off to hotels for capital: the Sheraton Hacienda del Mar (now the all-inclusive Hacienda del Mar) and Grand Fiesta Americana, both of which opened in 1999. Accompanying these early Cabo del Sol tent poles were Jack Nicklaus’ stunning Cabo del Sol Ocean Course (now the Cove Club), which opened to acclaim in 1994, and Tom Weiskopf’s Desert Course, which followed in 2001.
Koll may have been the visionary, but Day was, practically speaking, the most important figure in Cabo del Sol’s history. The grandson of William Myron Keck, founder of Superior Oil Company — later sold to Mobil for US $5.7 billion in 1984 — Day made his own fortune, selling the Trust Company of the West, which he founded in 1971, for $2.5 billion. The Oakmont Corporation, which he began in 1980 and for which he served as CEO, would later buy out Koll for ownership of Cabo del Sol and oversee its development for decades before Day passed away in 2023.
Cabo del Sol’s revival
Cabo del Sol’s golf courses were designed to sell the accompanying real estate, which they have been doing for 40 years and counting. But over the last few years, a series of luxury resort openings, along with Ánima Village, have ushered in what can only be called a resurgence. This has been led by the arrival of several properties from big-name hospitality brands that not only provide stylish accommodations to visitors but also amenities like restaurants and spas that residents can enjoy.
The first to open was Four Seasons Resort and Residences Cabo San Lucas at Cabo del Sol, which premiered in May 2024 with 96 guest rooms and 61 branded residences, the latter including luxe villas and estates. The following year, saw the announcement that Hacienda del Mar would transition to an all-inclusive resort, as well as the opening of Park Hyatt Los Cabos at Cabo del Sol, with its 163 guestrooms and enormous 59,000-square-foot fitness and wellness center, the largest in Los Cabos.
This year, trendy Soho House will open its first phase at Cabo del Sol, showcasing 15 bedrooms, 12 casas and three spacious casonas, along with a branded Soho Health Club. Phase 2, still to come, will feature 45 private residences, ranging from two-to four-bedrooms and five villas with three and four-bedrooms. Yes, Soho House, too, is being designed by Sordo Madaleno.
This flurry of openings, combined with the arrival of Ánima Village, has established Cabo del Sol, 40 years after its birth, as the most impressive resort and residential community in Los Cabos. Interestingly, perhaps, given this ascendance, Oakmont Corporation sold a controlling interest of 51% in Cabo del Sol holdings to RLH Properties, a Mexico City-based asset management company in September 2025.
But that doesn’t change the resort inventory or the many real estate offerings still available. Or the location of the best new shopping destination in Los Cabos.
Chris Sands is the former Cabo San Lucas local expert for the USA Today travel website 10 Best and writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook. He’s also a contributor to numerous websites and publications, including Tasting Table, Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, Forbes Travel Guide, Porthole Cruise, Cabo Living and Mexico News Daily.
Mexico isn’t immune to the seduction of the smartphone
It’s New Year’s Eve, and I’ve just clicked on two articles. One is called, “How to break free from your phone.” The other is, “Want more self-control? The secret isn’t willpower.“
Can you see a pattern here? I sure do.
I’m hooked, you’re hooked, we’re all hooked. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that the dude driving the train that went off the rails in Oaxaca was scrolling on his phone in the minutes before (victims so far have simply commented on the speed with which a sharp turn was approached.)
I’ve been musing lately with my partner that the only way to make an interesting movie lately is to set it in the “before times” — you know, before we had powerful, fast smartphones with the whole of human knowledge and entertainment at our fingertips. Some plots cause the characters to lose their phones for some reason, while others simply pretend they haven’t taken over our collective attention spans. Hallmark and Lifetime-type movies especially tend to create a special world where people practically forget they have smartphones in the first place. A phone rings, they pause as if trying to figure out what’s making the sound, and then fish it out from the bottom of a bag? Please.
Lots of movies and shows these days are set in the past, I think, to get around this problem. Why? With everyone walking around with their eyes glued to a tiny computer, there’s just less novel activity to notice.
What does this have to do with Mexico?
Well, Mexico’s being swept up in the same technology as the rest of the world is. As of 2024, over 80% of the Mexican population were internet users, with most of them accessing the internet on their phones.
Uh-oh.
The internet, of course, is not in and of itself bad. It’s a tool, and there’s a lot of great things to be found — like this website, for example! Smartphones are also a tool, as are computers, as is the much-hyped but fairly brain-smoothing Artificial Intelligence. And as much as I gripe about too many screens, I still got my kid a new iPad for Christmas (in my defense, I can control app use and screen time).
Perhaps it’s the ability to take these “tools” with us everywhere that’s the problem. When I arrived in Mexico in 2002, cell phones were still a relatively new thing. Some people had radio-like “Nextels” instead, actually. They were really noisy and made the users sound super important.
I had access to the internet back then, but I had to go to the internet café across the street to use it. I’d write some emails and maybe chat on MSN Messenger for a bit — the preferred platform then — and then go about my business. I’d do that maybe once or twice a week. These days, it’s nearly impossible, and not a little panic-inducing, to even think of going an entire day without my phone. What if something happens?
Most often, of course, nothing happens, and the phone serves as simply a distraction device. I have conversations on WhatsApp and check my email. And though I’ve long since removed the “slot machine” apps from my phone (goodbye, Facebook and Instagram!), I still find myself reaching for it in times of boredom or anxiety, simply as something to do. Does the fact that I mostly use it to read news articles make it any better? [Editor’s note: Yes, if it’s MND] Maybe for my brain, but certainly not for my social skills.
To make things more complicated, we actually miss out on a lot of important things without it. How many locals do you know, for example, that you can get a hold of by any means besides WhatsApp? Banks require smartphone verifications, and essential communication for our jobs happens over an array of messaging platforms.
You could give them a ring, except for the fact that most people don’t even answer their phones anymore. Extortion by phone is so rampant, and landlines are becoming a thing of the past. The option to simply ignore your phone is really just a privilege. We’re expected to be forever available on it, while expectations for in-person availability have plummeted.
In the end, the feeling now is that the tech overlords have simply won. We’re addicted, and now we’re so addicted that we can’t do much to stop them. All of us, I believe, have a hunch that it can’t be good for us, the way smokers must have before there was actually hard evidence of the damage smoking caused.
Shortages of available land and water for AI? Oh yes, that does sound very bad! We’ll think of what to do about it as soon as we’re done watching this TikTok.
And that right there — I mean, it was a joke, but still — is our whole problem. Look up while sitting in a café or the park these days and I guarantee you’ll see at least half of everyone, workers included, with their heads bent toward their phones. No more chatting in public transport; everyone’s in their own private world now. For introverts, it’s likely a welcome change. For me, it’s scary and sad.
And then there’s our poor little atrophying brains.
Like Travis said, AI particularly has the real potential to make us dumber. And like the insidiousness of smartphones themselves with their unlimited endless scrolls, I fear that by the time the majority of us realize we need to do something about the damage they cause, especially to kids, it will be too late. For all the hype of AI, most people are using it as simply another distraction.
Mexican companies are mostly using it to be “more productive,” which, as far as I can tell, is code for saving money on writers and translators [Editor’s note: see me].
Maybe there are some good things coming as a result. I mean, murder and crime are down, no doubt in part because would-be criminals are too busy watching funny YouTube shorts.
But when we go along with the rest of the world in allowing our phones and endless scrolls and unlimited access to both the real and the AI-generated distract us, we lose something. Casual chats in lines and on buses disappear. Opportunities to hang out, to convivir. We don’t learn each other’s languages.
Being social is a skill, and one that Mexicans have traditionally excelled so much at that they’re famous for it. But Mexicans aren’t immune to the technology that’s seducing us all. I hope we can get a handle on it before we’re all zombies.
Sarah DeVries is a writer and translator based in Xalapa, Veracruz. She can be reached through her website, sarahedevries.substack.com.
How Sheinbaum plans to reshape Mexico’s elections: Friday’s mañanera recapped
President Claudia Sheinbaum held her Friday morning press conference in Ecatepec, one of Mexico’s largest municipalities by population.
Governor Delfina Gómez and other officials from México state, where Ecatepec is located, joined various federal functionaries at the mañanera.
“Presidenta, your presence [here] strengthens us,” Gómez said in an introductory address.
Later in the press conference, Sheinbaum responded to questions on a range of topics including the electoral reform proposal she is expected to soon present to Congress, and the earthquake that activated the Seismic Alert System in Mexico City at around 12:40 a.m. Friday.
She also defended her government’s record on security, after the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs said in a social media post that the United States has “made clear” to Mexico that “incremental progress in facing border security challenges is unacceptable.” (Read Mexico News Daily’s story on Sheinbaum’s remarks here.)
Sheinbaum discusses electoral reform proposal
During her Q&A session with reporters, Sheinbaum outlined the “central elements” that “the people” are asking for with respect to electoral reform in Mexico.
The president — who in the coming weeks is expected to present a wide-ranging electoral reform proposal to Congress — said that the Mexican people (and her government) are seeking a reduction in costs related to holding elections, and an electoral system in which proportional representation (plurinominal) candidates are not selected by party chiefs.
“There are deputies who have been plurinominal deputies their whole lives, senators [as well]. The objective of the reform is that the people also decide about proportional representation,” Sheinbaum said.
She also said that the reform proposal she will submit to Congress will aim to increase “citizen participation” in various facets of Mexico’s democracy.
“People should express their opinions and participate, that’s democracy,” said Sheinbaum, who also said that her reform proposal would aim to make it easier for Mexicans abroad, especially those in the United States, to “exercise their right to vote.”
On Thursday, she asserted that the National Electoral Institute — the authority responsible for organizing elections in Mexico and the nation’s electoral umpire — will not lose its autonomy as a result of the reform, as opposition politicians have claimed.
Indeed, opposition lawmakers have dubbed Sheinbaum’s proposed reform — which has not yet been drawn up — the “Ley Maduro,” or “Maduro Law,” after ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, to whom the National Electoral Council of Venezuela awarded the 2024 presidential election even though he is widely believed to have lost.
On Thursday, Sheinbaum said: “We don’t have the proposal yet [but] they’re already calling it Ley Maduro.”
She subsequently asserted that the aim of the reform is “the strengthening of democracy.”
“We’ve always fought for democracy,” Sheinbaum said Friday, referring to herself and her colleagues in the “fourth transformation” (4T) political movement she leads.
‘The transformation isn’t a political party, … it’s a decision of the people of Mexico’
Later in her press conference, Sheinbaum was asked to respond to claims that the 4T now control’s Mexico’s judiciary in light of the election at last year’s first ever judicial elections of many judges, magistrates and Supreme Court justices seen as supporters of, or at least sympathetic to, the Morena party.
Referring to the 4T, she responded that “the transformation is not a political party,” but rather “a decision of the people of Mexico in 2018 to change the regime of corruption and privileges.”
In 2018, Andrés Manuel López Obrador was elected president and the party he created, Morena, took office at the federal level for the first time.
Sheinbaum asserted that the “fourth transformation” is not represented by “la presidenta,” or a political party or groups of deputies or senators, although she acknowledged that “we are part” of the movement.
Rather, the 4T is “a collective desire to build a new country free of corruption and privileges, for the well-being of the people, with security and justice,” she said.
[It’s about] advancing toward what has always been the hope of the people: a better, more democratic, fairer, freer, sovereign country,” Sheinbaum said.
She added that the 4T is also about “the recovery or the rescue of our values” and acknowledgement of the people and “great civilizations” of the past, “the history of Mexico, our great heroes and heroines” and “the dignity of the people.”
“That’s the fourth transformation — a new model of development for the country. The transformation of the Supreme Court has to do with this new model, with this new vision of more justice for Mexico, of a true rule of law,” Sheinbaum said.
‘Fortunately, nothing happened,’ Sheinbaum says after 5.0 magnitude earthquake
Asked about the earthquake that occurred just after 12:40 a.m. Friday, Sheinbaum responded that “fortunately, nothing happened.”
“… There was no major damage,” she said.
The National Seismological Service said that the earthquake, whose epicenter was near San Marcos, Guerrero, was an aftershock of the 6.5 magnitude earthquake on Jan. 2. The epicenter of that temblor was also near San Marcos, located in the Costa Chica region of Guerrero.
Sheinbaum acknowledged that some homes were damaged in the Jan. 2 quake, and said that the federal government is working with authorities in Guerrero to support the affected homeowners.
By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)
Aeroméxico calls for adding a third terminal to the Mexico City International Airport
Mexico’s legacy airline Aeroméxico has proposed building a third terminal at the Mexico City International Airport (AICM) to solve the frequent congestion issues of Terminals 1 and 2.
“The airport has room to build a new Terminal 3 that would be larger than Terminal 1 and 2 combined” Aeroméxico CEO Andrés Conesa Labastida said in a podcast appearance this week. “It would increase capacity from 50 million passengers per year, to some 70 or 75 million.”
According to Conesa, Terminal 3 would be built adjacent to Terminal 2, which would require relocating Aeromexico’s maintenance and repair workshops. Building it next to Terminal 1 would not be possible, he said, since the site currently houses fuel farms and certain infrastructure that would be difficult to relocate.
“I hope that this project could be studied, because it will be very good for the city and the country,” Conesa said.
Conesa added that his proposal must be supplemented in operation by the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) near Mexico City, and the Toluca International Airport in Mexico state, creating a combined capacity of more than 100 million passengers per year in the Valley of Mexico.
“This would be more than enough for the next decades,” Conesa stated.
This is not the first time the AICM’s congestion problem has been addressed, and that a third terminal has been proposed. In 2019, Gerardo Ferrando, CEO of the Mexico City Airport Group, announced a master plan for a third terminal was being drawn up and predicted that it would be inaugurated in 2020. At that time he said a fourth terminal was being analyzed as well.
Even then, Luis Felipe de Oliveira, director of the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association, said that a third terminal wouldn’t be enough to solve the AICM’s structural issues.
“A third terminal would help but it won’t solve the problem,” Oliveira said then.
During former President Enrique Peña Nieto’s administration (2012-2018), the master plan for a new airport had been approved to be built in Texcoco, near Mexico City, designed by renowned architect Norman Foster. That partially built new airport was canceled and the AIFA was built instead.
Currently, the AICM is undergoing major renovation works to improve the passenger experience ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will take place in Mexico, Canada and the United States.
With reports from A21
