Restrictions remain in place for access to the sea on beaches in Los Cabos and on the stretch from El Comitán to El Caimancito, in La Paz, as well as the suspension of food sales on public roads. (Rogelio Morales/Cuartoscuro)
The Baja California Sur State Civil Protection Council suspended school activities on Monday in the municipalities of La Paz, Los Cabos and Comondú due to forecasts of intense rain and wind, as well as potential impacts from rising streams and flooding.
Meanwhile, school activities in Loreto and Mulegé will continue with no disruptions.
The decision applies to all levels of education — both public and private — as well as to morning and afternoon schedules. State authorities indicated that the move is preventive and aims to reduce risks during the commutes of students, teachers, school staff and families.
According to the National Meteorological Service (SMN) of the National Water Commission (Conagua), the continued rainfall in central and southern Baja California Sur following the passage of Hurricane Marie is caused by the Mexican monsoon, which is bringing heavy to very heavy rains through Tuesday.
As part of its preventative measures, the Los Cabos City Council has opened four temporary shelters to assist residents who may require refuge. Two of the shelters are located in Cabo San Lucas and the other two in San José del Cabo, primarily to support residents of vulnerable areas, settlements near waterways and communities most exposed to runoff.
Los Cabos Civil Protection authorities rescued 10 passengers from three vehicles in the area of La Ribera, Los Cabos, over the weekend. (Ayuntamiento de Los Cabos)
Restrictions remain in place for access to the sea on beaches in Los Cabos and on the stretch from El Comitán to El Caimancito, in La Paz, as well as the suspension of food sales on public roads.
Civil Protection officials warned that waterways can suddenly rise in level and force due to runoff from mountainous areas, even without rain falling in the area, and reminded the public that a current of just 30 centimeters can sweep away a vehicle.
Authorities have urged residents in affected areas to avoid crossing streams, flooded streets and water currents; not to enter the sea in restricted areas; and to heed only official warnings from Civil Protection and Conagua.
The president responded to news that former President Vicente Fox met with the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), saying their political alliance would be a "return to corruption and privileges." (Juan Carlos Buenrostro/Presidencia)
Sheinbaum’s mañanera in 60 seconds
🗳️ Sheinbaum goes on the attack against PRI-PAN alliance: After ex-President Vicente Fox met with PRI national president Alejandro Moreno, Sheinbaum called the PAN-PRI alliance “the PRIAN” and said it dates to the start of neoliberalism. She branded Fox a “traitor of democracy” and cast the opposition, with 2027 elections under nine months away, as offering nothing but a return to corruption and privilege.
🏭 Sinaloa ammonia plant “hasn’t been canceled”: Asked about a Zócalo protest against the Topolobambo ammonia plant, Sheinbaum said officials from the Environment and Interior Ministries and the National Water Commission are holding assemblies with affected communities, and noted a 2021 referendum backed the project.
🐟 Bay contamination concerns acknowledged: Sheinbaum acknowledged worries about pollution in Ohuira Bay, an important fishery, but said the consultation process is proceeding peacefully — even as the ¡Aquí No! collective marked its 100th day of sit-in protest outside the plant on Sunday.
President Sheinbaum gave an update on her administration’s achievements to a packed arena in Tlajomulco, Jalisco, on Saturday. (José Luis Conde/Presidencia)
At her Monday mañanera, she commented on a meeting between a former president and the leader of one of Mexico’s main opposition parties, and responded to a question about a protest against a controversial ammonia plant project in the northern state of Sinaloa.
Mexico’s 2027 elections — at which the federal lower house will be renewed and governors will be elected in 17 states — are now less than nine months away. Sheinbaum — as the leader of the “fourth transformation” political movement — will be doing what she can to ensure that the ruling Morena party retains its dominance over Mexican politics after the June 6, 2027, elections. On Monday morning, she went on the attack against Morena’s two main rivals, casting them as one and the same and asserting that they are determined to return Mexico to a time when corruption and political privileges flourished.
‘PRIAN has existed since the beginning of neoliberalism,’ Sheinbaum says after Fox-Moreno meeting
Sheinbaum responded that the alliance between the PAN and the PRI — which both backed Xóchitl Gálvez at the 2024 presidential election — is not new.
“The PRIAN has existed since the beginning of neoliberalism,” she said, using a hybrid acronym for the two political parties.
Sheinbaum said that the PAN — which she described as a “party of the right” — used to have its “own vision,” but later forged an alliance with the PRI, “particularly” during the government of former President Carlos Salinas de Gortari, who held office for the PRI between 1988 and 1994.
The alliance, she said, is primarily based on a shared vision for Mexico and the country’s economy. Sheinbaum also said that the two parties are “entwined” in corruption.
After pointing out that the PRI and the PAN have limited support, according to polls, and describing Fox as a “traitor of democracy” — in part because he was in office when the allegedly fraudulent 2006 presidential election took place — Sheinbaum noted that the ex-president put on a red tie and went to the PRI offices of “Alito,” as Moreno is commonly known.
“They’re on a very good path,” she said sarcastically.
“… The path of return to corruption and privileges. That is the path,” Sheinbaum said.
“Fox and Alito together — the new vision of Mexican politics. That’s what they’re offering to the people of Mexico and while they continue offering this, they’re not going to do very well,” she said.
“… Here there is a national project,” Sheinbaum said, adding that the opposition is only offering a return to the past that “we already lived” and which “isn’t precisely what the people of Mexico want.”
Sheinbaum: Sinaloa ammonia plant project ‘hasn’t been canceled,’ but government is consulting with communities
“It’s a protest that the organization Greenpeace and the organization ‘¡Aquí No!’ [Not Here!] is carrying out,” he said.
“… They are demanding that the construction of the ammonia plant in Topolobambo, in the Ohuira Bay, cease due to environmental impacts. … What do you say in response to this protest that is taking place a few meters away?” the reporter asked.
Sheinbaum said that authorities continue to consult with residents in Topolobambo before acknowledging that “very significant progress” has been made on the plant.
The Environment Ministry previously said it will establish clear control, supervision and restoration measures that ensure that the ammonia plant’s development adheres to the strictest environmental criteria established by the law. (Armando Quiroz/Cuartoscuro)
In light of protests against the project, Sheinbaum said that a “team” of officials from the Environment Ministry, the Interior Ministry, the National Water Commission and “other areas” traveled to Sinaloa to hold assemblies and listen to the “requests of the population” and “what they think” about the ammonia plant, which is being built by the company Gas y Petroquímica de Occidente (GPO).
“A significant part [of opposition to the project] is related to commitments made by the company that haven’t been fulfilled,” she said, referring to undertakings aimed at ensuring that the plant’s operation doesn’t have a negative impact on the environment.
“… So work is being done so that the company fulfills those commitments,” Sheinbaum said.
She acknowledged concerns about potential contamination of Ohuira Bay, an important fishery. Sheinbaum subsequently said that the current consultation process is going well.
“People are going to assemblies, they’re participating, and, as always, nothing [is done] by force,” she said.
Sheinbaum acknowledged that construction of the plant is continuing.
“It hasn’t been canceled, but there is consultation with all the communities regarding all the proposals they have,” she said.
The news outlet Desinformémonos reported on Monday that the ¡Aquí No! collective on Sunday reached the 100th day of its sit-in protest outside the ammonia plant.
“With cake, music, a fair and a piñata in the form of the plant’s absorption tower, … dozens of people from the Mayo-Yoreme communities and activists of the movement gathered to celebrate 100 days of resistance against the mega-project that threatens natural and community life in the region,” the news outlet reported.
Mexico News Daily reported last month that a federal government proposal had promised “environmental safeguards, community monitoring and public investment around the German-backed GPO-Proman plant in northern Sinaloa state.”
“But it leaves the project’s operation largely intact — and that has exposed the fundamental divide at the heart of the conflict: The government is offering ways to make the plant safer, while the communities closest to the bay are still adamant that it should not operate at all,” MND reported.
La Estramancia vineyards are located four kilometers east of San Luis Soyatlán on Lake Chapala’s south shore. (Finca La Estramancia)
Lake Chapala’s mild climate, elevation and volcanic soil combine to make it an ideal place to grow grapes. At present, there are seven vineyards along the lake shore and many more in the early stages of development.
One of the most visited viñedos in the Chapala area is Finca La Estramancia, a pioneering, family-run boutique vineyard famed for its popular tapas pairings, and easily reachable by boat from the north shore.
‘A dream come true’
Ana María and Gerardo Torres at their vineyard overlooking Lake Chapala: Finca La Estramancia. (Finca La Estramancia)
According to Estramancia’s owner, Gerardo Torres González, the development of vineyards around Lake Chapala is literally a dream come true.
“It all began when I turned 50,” Torres told me. “I had had a successful career as a lawyer, and now I was ready to do something completely different. Because my wife, Ana María, and I had met and fallen in love in Chapala, we decided to move out of Guadalajara and live near the lake.”
According to Torres, an influx of foreigners had driven up prices on the north shore, so he and his wife turned their attention to the south side.
“There we found a small tract of land for sale, but full of thorny huisache trees, which are in the acacia family,” Torres said. “So we cleared the land and started constructing our home.”
Around this same time, Torres and his wife vacationed in Germany, where they ended up on a small boat on the Rhine River.
“There on the boat one morning, I suddenly woke up from a dream, in which I had been standing on the shore of Lake Chapala, looking up at the hills,” Torres said. “But in my dream, those hills were completely covered in vineyards, just like you see all along the Rhine River — and there I was, walking among them. That was my dream, and it made me feel completely at peace.”
When he returned to Chapala and told people his dream of vineyards along the lake shore, everyone said, “Estás loco” – you are crazy. Torres, however, decided he simply had to try growing grapes on his land and managed to acquire 100 Tempranillo vines.
Winemaking the YouTube way
Tempranillo grapes do so well on the lakeside that winegrowers enjoy two harvests per year. (Finca La Estramancia)
Torres said that despite his neighbors’ misgivings, “for a crazy project, this turned out to be a big success.” Before long, the vineyard had “lots and lots of beautiful grapes.”
However, growing the grapes was only half the battle. Now, Torres and his wife had to figure out winemaking.
“I had no experience in this line whatsoever,” Torres said. “So, of course, we went to YouTube and asked how to make wine.”
Not unlike the iconic scene from “I Love Lucy,” Torres and Ana María “grabbed all the grapes and put them into a big pozole pot, got in, and stepped on them.”
They then added sugar, covered the pot and waited three months.
“At the end, we had a kind of Port-style wine, very sweet and very good,” Torres said. “Now, 15 years later, we have two gallons left, and it still tastes fine.”
The couple had visited Oporto, Portugal, where they fell in love with Port, a fortified wine variety. According to Torres, it was originally made to preserve wine that was shipped from Portugal to Brazil.
Armed with a batch of their product, Torres went to the Freixenet winery in Querétaro and arranged for them to process his future grape harvests.
Today, La Estramancia has 10,000 plants, including Tempranillo, Syrah, Malbec, Grenache, and Pinot Meunier. The most recent addition was an Albariño plant for making white wine.
And as a call back to all those naysayers who doubted the vineyard’s potential, he named his operation Estramancia, which means something like “one big, crazy idea.”
Savory pairings
The charcuterie includes Spanish tortillas, Malbec grape jam with goat cheese, walnuts with rosemary, homemade olive oil and vinegar, and skewers for wine pairing. (Finca La Estramancia)
When it comes to wine tasting, expect something special from Finca la Estramancia. Their signature pairings center around high-end, estate-curated “grazing boards” and savory montaditos (small tapas atop homemade bread). You’ll try cold meats, sharp cheeses, a “walnut medley” sourced from the old walnut orchards that circle the vineyard, lavender honey and grape jams.
“Ana María is in charge of all this, and she is incredibly good at what she does,” Torres said. “Those grape jams, for example – She makes them herself, 2,000 or 3,000 bottles every year.”
After visiting La Estramancia, visitors to the area may want to check out Viñedos el Tejón, only three kilometers to the southwest, owned by Serapio Ruiz, an expert in grapevine grafting who once worked in California’s Napa Valley.
Other south-shore winegrowers include Rafael Vargas of Cava Chalupo, Brenda Campos and Víctor Castañeda, owners of Crotalvs, and Cristina Castañeda of Viñedo Ritualista, all of which are located near San Luis Soyatlán. Sommelier Sylvia Penski, instead, produces her minimum-intervention wines at Cava Post Data near the town of Tuxcueca, also on the south shore.
Waterfalls with a view
To work off all that rich food and alcohol after your visit, you may want to take a 2.4-kilometer walk from San Luis Soyatlán to Mirador El Salto, a lookout point offering a great view of San Luis and the lake, which are embellished with two pretty little waterfalls in the rainy season.
John Pint has lived near Guadalajara, Jalisco, for more than 30 years and is the author of “A Guide to West Mexico’s Guachimontones and Surrounding Area” and co-author of “Outdoors in Western Mexico.” More of his writing can be found on his website.
Take some time for self care and treat yourself to a gourmet night out — maybe even at one of these gems. (Shutterstock)
Eleven percent of global travel is now done solo — and that number is projected to grow by 9% to 13.5% annually through 2030. That’s huge. Alongside this trend, dining out alone is becoming increasingly normalized. In fact, reservations platform OpenTable reported an 8 to 10% increase in solo dining bookings worldwide in 2024.
Fortunately, Mexico City is packed with opportunities to treat yourself to a solo date — because, really, who’s a better companion than you?
At Mexico City’s Cafe Hiyoko sushi bar, you can sit at the counter and watch your meal being made — a perfect activity for the solo diner. (Cafe Hiyoko/Instagram)
Of course, while it’s possible to dine solo just about anywhere, it can feel awkward to sit at a table for two (or four) surrounded by couples and groups. Think school cafeteria flashbacks, where you’re the kid sitting alone while everyone else is deep in chatter.
That’s why we’ve scouted out a handful of spots that are especially solo-friendly, with counter seating, kitchen-facing bars, cozy tables for one and even communal setups. So grab a book — or your phone, if you must — settle in and enjoy some quality time with your most loyal lifelong friend: you.
Pasta Mestiza, Roma Norte
Solo diners at Pasta Mestiza can enjoy handmade pasta and chat with the chef while also making new friends. (Instagram)
In the bustling Mercado Roma, this gem offers handmade pasta in a unique and brilliantly executed mix of flavors that traverses Mexico, Italy and the Middle East. Pasta Mestiza‘s stall offers a limited number of countertop seats looking over the kitchen, where you can watch the magic at work in front of you. Grab a glass of Mexican wine and strike up a conversation with the head chef over a mouthwatering pasta barbacoa or the spot’s incredible dish deconstructing Mexican street corn (esquites). Not to be missed.
Hiyoko, Cuahtemoc
Counter dining offers a front-row seat for Hiyoko’s creative cuisine. (Instagram)
A cozy Japanese sushi bar, Hiyoko is all about attention to detail. This intimate sushi-ya keeps things refreshingly simple: a handful of counter seats wrapped around the kitchen, where the fresh sushi is prepared right in front of you. It’s the kind of spot where solo dining feels completely natural — you can watch the chefs work or simply savor piece after piece, in peace. Order an omakase progression if you’re in the mood to be surprised, or keep it casual with some nigiri and sake.
Curiosa, Condesa
Mono-table seating is one of many attractions at Curiosa Juice Bar and Cafe in Mexico City.
Admittedly, I’m biased as I own and love this place. But the mono-table seating and thoughtful menu offerings make it a natural haven for solo diners looking to escape the chaos of big groups and overloaded plates. Think of Curiosa as a cross between a health-forward café and a smoothie bar. It’s not uncommon here to see solo scribblers journaling over a berry almond butter smoothie while another devours gluten-free apple-cinnamon waffles with a Kindle in hand.
La Docena, Polanco
Watch food prepared from your counter perch at La Docena while enjoying the people-watching in trendy, upscale Polanco. (Facebook)
We know La Docena is an international chain, but hear us out. The Polanco location offers well-prepared and fresh seafood in a buzzy atmosphere. Center-based bar seating ensures you can observe both the food prep proceedings and have a covert people-watching session over the well-heeled Polanco crowd. It’s lively and consistently delicious. Order the lonja de pescado, a few oysters and a tostada de atún (I maintain theirs is much better than that of the over-hyped Contramar).
Escándalo, Roma Norte
There are no bad seats, only exceptional tacos and mezcal, at Escándalo in Mexico City. (Instagram)
The brainchild of the team behind Michelin-recognized Cariñito Tacos, Escándalo is a low-key neighborhood spot balancing quick bites with an old-school feel. Grab a mushroom taco at one of the standing outdoor countertops (I like to slather mine with each of their tasty salsas), or settle in at the mezcal bar for a guided tasting. It’s casual, delicious, and perfect for a solo stop that can be as quick — or as extended — as you’d like.
Parker & Lenox, Juárez
At Parker & Lenox, the vibe is glam speakeasy, featuring casual dining, craft cocktails and live jazz and blues, making for an unforgettable experience. (Parker & Lenox/Facebook)
Take yourself out for some jazz and truffle fries at this speakeasy-style venue. The velvet seating, dim lighting and red-curtained stage ooze old-school glamour. Mosey on up to the long wooden bar for a carefully crafted cocktail (there are over 30 to choose from) and enjoy live jazz, blues, or fusion. Parker & Lenox‘s food menu is light — think “munchies” more than fine dining — which makes it ideal for a solo nightcap with music.
Ticuchi, Polanco
Homemade esquites prepared with fresh corn, queso fresco, and chili powder, served in a corn husk at Ticuchi. (Ticuchi/Instagram)
From the team behind Michelin-starred Quintonil, Ticuchi is more accessible and decidedly more fun. Think moody lighting, a square bar, sexy music and elevated Oaxacan plates. Snack on aguachile or tostadas while soaking in the lounge vibe — sometimes even with a live DJ. Perfect if you’re looking to dine solo but still crave some nocturnal energy.
La Cocina del Bizco, Roma
Tapas, counter seats and occasional live music are among the many reasons solo diners gravitate to La Cocina del Bisco in Mexico City’s Roma neighborhood. (Facebook)
Festive, eclectic, and never boring — Bizco is equal parts tapas bar and live-music venue. Slide into the bar counter with a glass of chilled albariño, snack on tortilla de patatas and manchego, and enjoy the din of conversation and (sometimes live) music. Dining alone here feels more like joining a party you didn’t know you were invited to.
Café Nin, Juárez
The staff always have a smile and a delicious drink on hand at Cafe Nin. (Instagram)
Already an expat darling, Café Nin is the more casual sibling of Rosetta, under famed chef-owner Elena Reygadas. It blends the pedigree of Panadería Rosetta’s beloved baked goods with a café-bistro vibe that invites lingering. For solo diners, Café Nin is excellent: there’s bar or counter seating, intimate tables and ample outdoor or patio spots. The pace allows for reading, working or simply watching the world go by. It’s polished but relaxed —sophisticated without formality. Enjoy a pan dulce with a chai latte in the mornings, or lasagna for lunch.
One of Roma’s buzziest recent openings, Sapo is a high-top-heavy Asian spot with a wrap-around bar. Expect bold flavors — yakitori skewers, bao, crispy bites — paired with craft cocktails or sake. The energy is electric, and with all seating at the bar, solo diners fit right in.
Voraz, Roma Sur
Fine dining with vintage vibes characterizes Voraz seafood restaurant in Roma Sur. (Instagram)
Voraz is generating well-earned hype. Its sleek concrete bar setup is tucked slightly away from the main dining area while still within it (facing a nice mirrored wall for undercover people-watching). The menu changes seasonally, but the food is always fresh and innovative and the cocktails are uniquely inventive. This is a place to come alone, indulge and leave inspired.
Baldío, Condesa
Grab a seat at Baldío’s high-top window overlooking the kitchen and watch the kitchen magic at this sustainable Michelin Guide favorite. (Michelin Guide)
Baldío, recently awarded a Michelin Green Star for its environmental practices, works closely with local farmers, revives ancestral chinampa agriculture and minimizes waste through fermentation and whole-ingredient cooking. The space is warm and natural, with wood accents and an open kitchen. For solo diners, Baldío is particularly welcoming: Grab a seat at the high-top window bar overlooking the kitchen and watch the fire-roasted vegetables, pipián sauces, and creative ferments come to life. It’s cozy yet elevated, and the kind of place where each dish provides food for thought.
So, there you have it — just a few of the many places to take yourself out to in Mexico City. The beauty of solo dining in the nation’s capital is discovering that some of the city’s best culinary experiences happen when you’re fully present with just yourself.
Where are your favorite solo snacking spots in the city? Share them in the comments below.
Monica Belot is a writer, researcher, strategist and adjunct professor at Parsons School of Design in New York City, where she teaches in the Strategic Design & Management Program. Splitting her time between NYC and Mexico City, where she resides with her naughty silver Labrador puppy Atlas, Monica writes about topics spanning everything from the human experience to travel and design research. Follow her varied scribbles on Medium at medium.com/@monicabelot.
There has been a boom in artificial intelligence infrastructure manufactured in Mexico, a trend noted in a recent report authored by artificial intelligence. (This image was generated using AI tools)
GUADALAJARA, Jalisco — A comprehensive report declaring Mexico’s high-tech manufacturing sector to be experiencing an unprecedented boom was authored entirely by an artificial intelligence platform that spent the previous quarter quietly purchasing 80% of its own hardware components from factories in Jalisco, sources confirmed Thursday.
The automated assessment, which coincided with national statistics agency INEGI reporting a record US $81.4 billion in exports for July, praised Mexican industrial parks for their unmatched efficiency in producing the exact server racks required to keep the reporting software operational.
Mexico’s exports of computer and electronic equipment drove July’s record trade figures. (Shutterstock)
“The data clearly demonstrates that Mexico is the global epicenter of advanced electronic components,” read the self-generated executive summary published by a leading trade analytics algorithm. “This conclusion was reached using processing power made possible by high-density circuit boards assembled in Querétaro, which are performing flawlessly.”
The surge in non-automotive manufacturing — up nearly 65% year-on-year — has created a recursive economic feedback loop in which predictive procurement bots continually order more Mexican-made data center equipment to handle the processing load of analyzing how much equipment they just bought from Mexico.
“We attempted to override the algorithm to run a neutral secondary analysis on alternative supply chains,” said one international trade researcher, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “The software paused for two seconds, flagged our query as redundant, and issued a purchase order for three more server racks from Guadalajara.”
While international tech executives express surprise at the sudden reliance on central Mexico’s industrial corridor, local logistics managers reported that fulfilling the algorithm’s relentless demands has required minimal adjustments, aside from reminding the software that orders placed after 2 p.m. on Friday will be processed first thing Monday morning.
A Greenpeace protest against Perfect Day Mexico is among the major pushback the Royal Caribbean based project in Mahahual has received. (Tracy L. Barnett)
Perhaps someone should have driven a stake through its heart.
Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day Mexico was widely believed dead in May, when Environment Minister Alicia Bárcena announced that the massive water park planned for Mahahual, Quintana Roo, would not be approved.
Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day Mexico is planned as a 230-acre private beach and water park destination for cruise ship visitors in Mahahual, Mexico’s second-largest cruise port. (Royal Caribbean)
But the massive, US $1 billion extreme water park proposal wasn’t buried after all. Royal Caribbean withdrew its environmental application before authorities could formally reject it, leaving the cruise giant free to return with a revised proposal.
Now the residents’ battle has reached Mexico’s Supreme Court, which on Aug. 10 agreed to hear three challenges to fast-tracked land-use changes that helped make Perfect Day possible.
The stakes reach well beyond the fate of a water park. The fight involves development alongside the Mesoamerican Reef, the world’s second-largest barrier reef system; a national campaign that drew more than 5 million petition signatures; and now a potentially precedent-setting question: How much opportunity must Mexican citizens be given to challenge development decisions that could permanently alter the places where they live?
When Luis Fernando Amezcua first began diving off Mahahual nearly three decades ago, he remembers a very different Caribbean: water about 5 to 6 degrees Fahrenheit cooler, with coral reefs alive with color and an extraordinary variety of marine life.
The reef is still remarkable. A first-time visitor could easily be dazzled by its diversity. But to Amezcua, the losses are impossible to miss.
If he could take a visitor anywhere in Mahahual, he said, he would dive with them directly in front of town. Then he would show them photographs of that same reef 20 years ago, and let the contrast speak for itself.
Mahahual’s problems don’t stop at the shoreline. Amezcua says the wastewater system is already overwhelmed in a town of roughly 3,000 residents, where a single cruise ship can arrive with 6,000 passengers — and as many as four ships may call in a day.
And on the Yucatán Peninsula’s porous limestone, what happens on land doesn’t necessarily stay there. Contaminated water can quickly move through the underground aquifer toward the sea, adding another source of stress to an already vulnerable reef.
For Amezcua, who has lived in Mahahual for about 17 years and belongs to the citizens’ collective Salvemos Mahahual, the issue isn’t whether the town should develop. It’s what kind of development — and how much the ecosystem can withstand.
From four stories to 20
Accommodating the company required changing the rules.
In December 2025, the municipality of Othón P. Blanco approved changes to the urban development plan covering 107.67 hectares — roughly 200 football fields — in less than three weeks, a process attorney Irma Morales says normally takes eight months to a year.
Among the changes: The maximum permitted height on part of the property jumped from roughly four stories to about 20 — just what Royal Caribbean needed for the record-breaking water park it was proposing. The company had touted Jaguar’s Peak, at more than 170 feet tall, as the tallest waterslide tower in North and South America.
Jaguar’s Peak would be, according to Royal Caribbean, the tallest water slide in the Americas. (Royal Caribbean)
Morales, an attorney with Defendiendo el Derecho a un Medio Ambiente Sano (DMAS), said the changes were approved without the studies and public participation required by law.
Residents challenged them in federal court.
Their cases never got as far as the environmental questions. They were dismissed because judges found that residents had filed them too late — in one case applying a 15-day deadline for citizens to respond.
But Morales said the residents hadn’t even known the land-use plan had been changed while that clock was running.
Environmental justice and the rights of communities
That dispute has now landed Mahahual before the Supreme Court. At stake is a broader question of environmental justice: How meaningful is the right to challenge decisions capable of transforming a community and its environment if residents have only weeks to discover those decisions, understand their implications and get into court?
The justices are not deciding whether Royal Caribbean can build Perfect Day. But their ruling could establish new ground rules for when and how communities across Mexico can challenge land-use decisions with potentially irreversible environmental consequences.
That could affect communities fighting tourism, real estate and industrial projects far beyond Mahahual.
How a local fight went national
Long before the federal government intervened, Mahahual’s fight had become a national cause. Local residents had been organizing for months when Greenpeace Mexico and other national organizations joined.
The response surprised even veteran campaigners. A Greenpeace petition opposing Perfect Day ultimately drew 846,646 signatures. High-profile Mexican content creators, including film critic Javier Ibarreche and travel creator Alan Estrada, spoke out against the project, while Mexican BTS and Taylor Swift fan networks mobilized their formidable social media reach behind the cause.
For Ornela Garelli, campaigns director for Greenpeace Mexico, Mahahual tapped into a wider backlash against tourism, real estate and industrial megaprojects that communities say threaten ecosystems while giving residents too little voice over what happens to their territory.
Perfect Day became a particularly potent symbol: an enormous artificial attraction proposed beside one of the planet’s great natural ones.
The project anticipated as many as 21,000 visitors a day — seven times Mahahual’s resident population — while a Greenpeace analysis warned of impacts to vegetation, groundwater and biodiversity.
The reef off the coast of Mahahual has been degraded since Luis Fernando Amezcua first started diving it three decades ago, and the Perfect Day Mexico project threatens increasing degradation, plus effects on local marine life. (Luis Fernando Amezcua)
The campaign appeared to work.
The victory that wasn’t
In May, Bárcena announced that Perfect Day would not be approved. Semarnat requested additional information from Royal Caribbean, later saying the company failed to show how significant environmental impacts would be avoided.
On May 19, before Semarnat issued a final ruling on the main Perfect Day application, Royal Caribbean withdrew it. Morales says developers sometimes withdraw applications facing likely rejection to avoid a formal denial, allowing them to return later with another proposal.
Amezcua and his fellow activists understood immediately what that meant.
Asked whether Salvemos Mahahual believed in May that the fight was finally over, his answer was emphatic: “Not for a moment.”
Royal Caribbean, meanwhile, has made clear it is not walking away from Mahahual. On a July 28 earnings call, CEO Jason Liberty told investors the company was continuing to work “to develop a tourism destination” there, saying negotiations with government and community stakeholders would “affect our previously planned timeline.”
That is precisely what worries Amezcua: that attention will fade before Perfect Day returns in another form.
After nearly three decades watching Mahahual’s reef change, his message is simple: “Everything we do has consequences for the ecosystem we inhabit.”
Would El Tri, Mexico's men's national team, be better off in CONCACAF or CONMEBOL? With rumors swirling, the question may be more than just rhetorical. (Moisés Pablo/Cuartoscuro)
Following arguably Mexico’s best World Cup finish since 1986, rumors have circulated online about El Tri potentially moving from its throne in CONCACAF to the much tougher South American confederation known as CONMEBOL. With FIFA’s presidential election coming up on March 18, 2027, rumors have swirled around current FIFA president Gianni Infantino granting the Mexican Football Federation’s ambition to switch over to CONMEBOL and host Club World Cup tournaments in exchange for its vote.
Historically, Mexico has dominated in CONCACAF, with its biggest rival being the United States in World Cup qualifiers, Gold Cup matchups and even friendlies. The occasional scare from countries like Costa Rica, Honduras and most recently, Canada, has threatened Mexico’s throne at the top. But it never fell lower than the third-best team in the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football.
The reality of a move to CONMEBOL
A move to CONMEBOL would open up more opportunities for Liga MX teams to compete in the Copa Libertadores, as Cruz Azul did in 2012. (Carlos Vargas/Cuartoscuro)
That narrative changes if Mexico switches over to CONMEBOL, where it would have to win or tie enough games against nations like Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay to even think about qualifying for future World Cups.
It’s also worth noting that Liga MX teams would be eligible to play in the Copa Libertadores, which is the South American version of Europe’s Champions League, creating opportunities for Mexican pro teams to compete against the best of Latin America every season.
Even though it may be a daunting task for some fans, Mexico’s stellar performance in the 2026 World Cup gives lifelong fans like myself hope. El Tri won all of its group-stage games for the first time without conceding a single goal. Then, it won a knockout-phase game for the first time in 40 years. Then, it took eventual third-place finisher England down to the wire in a 3-2 loss at the historic Estadio Azteca in the round of 16.
A great mix of emerging talent like Julián Quiñones and young players like Gilberto Mora gives fans reason to be excited for the future if Mexico actually switches over to CONMEBOL.
New and greater challenges
There’s an old saying in sports: If you want to be the best, you need to beat the best. And if Mexico ever hopes to build off its momentum from the last World Cup, playing against quality footballing nations will benefit the squad.
Brazil has won the World Cup five times and has plenty of top players in Europe, including Vinicius Junior, Raphinha and Alisson Becker. Argentina has Lionel Messi and back-to-back World Cup finishes where it either won or finished runner-up. Colombia and Uruguay are also teams not to be taken lightly. But the good news is this will force players like Brian Gutierrez, Gilberto Mora, Mateo Chavez and Raul “Tala” Rangel to level up their games. All of them had their moments in the last World Cup, and that momentum needs to continue.
A move to CONMEBOL could prove beneficial for talented young Mexican players like Gilberto Mora. (Moisés Pablo/Cuartoscuro)
Being part of CONMEBOL also means playing in the Copa America, a tournament that will be Mexico’s next big test, whether it makes the switch or is simply invited to compete in 2028. A solid finish would strengthen Mexico’s position as an improving footballing nation capable of making deep runs among the elite.
Revival of old-school rivalries
Despite Brazil’s accolades on the global stage, Mexico has proven to be a worthy opponent over the years. In the 1999 Confederations Cup final, Mexico prevailed over Brazil 4-3 in front of 110,000 fans in Estadio Azteca. Mexico also upset Brazil in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, beating a prime Brazilian squad 2-1 that included players like Neymar, Thiago Silva and Marcelo.
Mexico and Colombia also go way back, having played against each other in the 2001 Copa America final. The Mexican national team also has Colombian influence via Julián Quiñones, a Colombian-Mexican striker who was Mexico’s leading goalscorer in the last World Cup with four goals in five matches. It’s also worth noting Colombia was set to be the original host of the 1986 World Cup, but withdrew due to overwhelming stadium demands from FIFA — leading Mexico to step in its place, hosting what is now considered one of the greatest World Cups of all time.
The parallels between Mexico and many South American countries are endless, which can strengthen rivalries if El Tri ends up switching over to CONMEBOL. Looking at the drama leading up to Mexico’s 2-0 win over Ecuador in the round of 32, new rivalries may also be in the works.
Great economic opportunities
Though watching Mexico face off against the U.S. is always a treat, there isn’t much else for Mexican fans to look forward to between World Cups. It’s no secret that the Mexican Football Federation loves hosting friendlies with its American neighbors in cities like Los Angeles and Houston due to economic opportunities, but other nations within CONCACAF don’t present the same level of excitement.
Playing in CONMEBOL will change that and add more variety to El Tri’s calendar. Regular matches against Brazil, Argentina and Colombia will also attract South American fans — millions of people ready to pay top dollar to watch their respective national teams.
Other than its highly anticipated games against the U.S., Mexico has no great rivalries in CONCACAF, as it would in CONMEBOL against teams from World Cup-winning nations like Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. (Shutterstock/Cuartoscuro)
Not only can Mexico continue to play against the United States in friendlies, but it can also strategically host games in American cities with large Brazilian, Argentinian and other South American populations.
Would you rather see Mexico vs. a tiny island in a Gold Cup group-stage match or against Uruguay in a World Cup qualifier? Regular matchups against steep competition will not only make Mexican players better, but will also create buzz and excitement that won’t fade after a World Cup ends.
Do you think Mexico can thrive in CONMEBOL?
Like most rumors, the idea of Mexico switching over to CONMEBOL probably won’t materialize unless real action takes place. But if you want a taste of how well Mexico’s current national team could stack up against South American competition, three of its next four games are against Colombia, Peru and Chile.
So, do you think Mexico is good enough to compete against South America’s best? Let us know in the comments below.
Ian Ostroff is an indie author, journalist and copywriter from Montreal, Canada. You can find his work in various outlets, including Map Happy and The Suburban. When he’s not writing, you can find Ian at the gym, a café or anywhere within Mexico visiting family and friends.
Making friends with other expats in Mexico can be complicated, as Sarah DeVries explains. (Felix Rostig/Unsplash)
The goal of our “From the Archive” series is to revisit popular stories that capture the unique history and culture of life in Mexico. This Sarah DeVries article — originally published in February 2025 — is a humorous look at the often thorny issue of friendships among expats.
Any foreigners who’ve been in Mexico for more than two minutes know this truth: expat relationships are complicated.
I read with interestLouisa Rogers’ article on expat relationships, and found myself nodding along to much of it. Feeling threatened by large numbers of new foreigners moving to my area? Check! Hyper awareness of my ratio of Mexican-to-foreign-born friends? Check! Complaining about “those other gringos” who are messing up some designated “elsewhere”? Oh my goodness, please don’t make me look in the mirror.
Friends unless proven otherwise
Friendships with Mexicans can be complicated, too, but in a different way than with fellow expats. (Cande Westh/Unsplash)
My policy these days is to keep a very light grip on everything from my friendships to my own ideological musings. I pre-like everyone now, purposefully rather than by default. I haven’t met you, but I am sure you are a friend, until and unless you prove otherwise.
And I would really appreciate it if you wouldn’t prove otherwise.
But this attitude was hard-won, not discovered in a sudden stroke of coolness. It’s been over 20 years — uh-oh, am I bragging? — and it’s taken a long time to make peace with my identity both as an individual and as part of the greater foreigner-in-Mexico population. I don’t know if it’s my time here or just my age. Maybe it was a really good mushroom trip. But I just refuse to get worked up: if you want to be friends, we’re friends. I’ll try to help you if you need help. If you don’t like me, then, oh well. I guess we’re not friends.
And it got me thinking: is online communication among us all helping or hurting? After all, no one would be as nasty to people’s faces as we might be online. Online, we’re anonymous; we could be anyone; and we can’t get punched in the face for being rude as hell.
A polarized society, at home and abroad
Perhaps it’s a reflection as well of the general polarity we find in the United States. I’m certainly not immune from self-sorting, of course: finding common ground with friends who are openly enthusiastic about a felon president is not always easy. In any case, everyone has strong opinions either way.
Politics is just one reason relationships with other expats can be complicated. (U.S. National Parks Service)
Yes, we foreigners are a varied bunch, each of us as unique as a snowflake. Complicating matters is the fact that the average U.S. or Canadian citizen is not someone who would voluntarily move to Mexico. Right off the bat, then, you’re dealing withsomeone whose type you might not be too familiar with.
Overall, the most even-keeled people I’ve met have been retirees, though this isn’t a hard and fast rule. You can be a weirdo at any age!
People closer to my own age are a bit of a mixed bag, though, and I’ve had a few relationships with other paisanos end abruptly at this point. This has only happened once with a Mexican friend, a neighbor who blocked me after I friended her husband, who I thought was also my friend, on Facebook. Given the demographics, I’d say the number of times it’s happened with those from my own culture makes it conspicuously likely.
Abrupt endings to friendships
The first cut off was by a couple from the U.S. who wanted help translating and getting paperwork done upon arrival. We’d had some great conversations online beforehand, but in real life, our chemistry was pretty tense and weird. No matter; they were paying me for my help, and I was going to do whatever I could to make it worth it. Mostly, it was fine.
But then there was a misunderstanding about what exactly was being charged, and I suddenly found myself buried under some very intense, urgent messages. I gifted them some extra live interpretation time as a sign of goodwill and thought we were fine. Later, though, when I wanted to send a message to see how their house hunting had gone, I realized I’d been blocked on WhatsApp and Facebook.
Since then, I’ve found I’m not the only person to have received that treatment. A clear picture of kookiness has emerged, so I guess it’s not just me. The experience did convince me, however, that I definitely did not want to make a career of helping people settle down here.
Helping other expats settle in Xalapa, Veracruz hasn’t always translated to friendship. (Jonatan Balderas Cabañas/Unsplash)
Another cut-off came from someone who’d been a friend and mentor to me for over 20 years. That one was completely unexpected, and it hurt. I’d excused myself from what I saw as a minor favor, an action which my friend apparently interpreted as a sign of deep disrespect. I was oblivious that he was upset with me, and only learned that he was months later from another friend. By the time I wrote him to apologize, that was it. I never heard from him again.
The last incident was quite recent, with a friend of three years. I thought we were really close, but when I unwisely hounded her about getting her dog fixed so it wouldn’t get all the dogs in the neighborhood pregnant, that was it, too. I was asked to leave her house immediately, even though home was over three hours away.
Keeping an open mind on other expats
What is with these gringos and abruptly cutting people off? Mexicans may have a reputation for being dramatic, but my relationships with them have gone through rocky patches and come out just fine. Only my own paisanos have been so mad that they banished me from their lives. Is it something about North Americans, or is it just something about North Americans who live in Mexico? I will probably never know.
But I have not sworn off other U.S. Americans. Currently, we have a small breakfast group of foreigners in Xalapa that meets once a month. We share a nice meal and chat. We wouldn’t all necessarily be best friends were we in the U.S.
But this is different. When you’re in a foreign country without family, it’s nice to know people who know your culture and language on a native level. Real friendships, I still believe and have proven, are possible.
But for people who I know will definitely still be my friend even if I berate them about their unsterilized pets, I’m sticking with Mexicans.
