During the bust, 149 vehicles, 25 containers, 17 storage tanks and 82,200 liters of hydrocarbons were seized or secured. (Shutterstock)
Federal authorities have dealt a major blow to an illicit fuel scheme in Veracruz, seizing more than 100 tank trucks as well as over 82,000 liters of petroleum products.
The Federal Attorney General’s Office (FGR) announced the bust in a statement last Thursday, reporting that 149 vehicles, 25 containers, 17 storage tanks and 82,200 liters of hydrocarbons were seized or secured at four properties in Minatitlán, home to Mexico’s oldest oil refinery. No arrests were reported.
#FGR integra carpeta de investigación por la probable comisión del delito de posesión ilícita de hidrocarburo, luego del cumplimiento de cuatro órdenes de cateo en el municipio de Minatitlán, Veracruz, donde se aseguraron un total de 149 vehículos, 25 contenedores, 17 tanques de… pic.twitter.com/wkVtbVBvSZ
The FGR said that it had begun an investigation into “the probable commission of the crime of illegal possession of hydrocarbons.”
It noted that the FGR, the army, the National Guard and state police were involved in the operations that resulted in the seizure of the vehicles, containers, tanks and fuel.
In a headline, the newspaper El Universal described the Veracruz bust as the dismantling of a “megarred de huachicoleo” (mega huachicol, or fuel theft, network).
The 4 raids
Authorities seized 52,200 liters of fuel at the first property they raided, according to the FGR. At the same property, they seized 66 vehicles, including 36 tank trucks, as well as fuel containers and storage tanks.
At the second property, authorities seized 66 additional vehicles, including 59 tank trucks, as well as fuel storage tanks.
Fifteen vehicles, including 10 tank trucks, as well as fuel storage tanks, were seized at the third property that was raided in Minatitlán, located in southern Veracruz inland from the Gulf coast port city of Coatzacoalcos.
At the fourth property, authorities seized 30,000 liters of fuel as well as containers, tanks and two vehicles.
Minatitlán is home to the Lázaro Cárdenas Refinery, which was founded in 1906, making it the oldest of Pemex’s seven refineries in Mexico.
Various petrochemical complexes also operate in southern Veracruz. As is the case in various states of Mexico, fuel theft — including via the perforation of Pemex pipelines — is a problem in Veracruz.
"Mexican cinema was neglected for a long time," Hayek said during her participation in the announcement. "Perhaps what we've been lacking is this president," the actress said, evidently in support of Sheinbaum. (Hazel Cárdenas/Presidencia)
The program offers a credit against income tax (ISR) equivalent to 30% of expenditures made in Mexico, with a limit of 40 million pesos (US $2.3 million) per project.
"Quizá lo que no teníamos era esta presidenta": Salma Hayek al celebrar incentivos al cine mexicano
Hayek, one of Mexico’s most famous actresses, praised the initiative during the announcement, noting that the film industry has grown despite little to no support from previous governments.
“I think Mexican cinema was neglected for a long time, and thanks to Mexican talent that never gave up, we haven’t just survived, but we’ve grown despite the complete lack of support,” Hayek told reporters.
“I want to tell you that I believe no one can compete with us. With this support, we are unparalleled. There is no country in the world, none, that has our diversity. Perhaps what we have been lacking is this president,” she said, gesturing toward Sheinbaum.
Sheinbaum explained that the initiative aims to boost Mexican cinema, particularly independent productions, while diversifying content, promoting works in Indigenous languages and ensuring more transparent use of resources.
“This incentive program includes a government commission that aims to support the development of productions that otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to exist,” Sheinbaum said.
She added that the incentive will be available for international productions as long as they employ Mexican talent, “so that an international production doesn’t just arrive with everything and leave, but rather develops all the talent we have in Mexico.”
The incentive requires that at least 70% of supplies — including services, talent and spending — are of Mexican origin, in an effort to curb international productions bringing everything to shoot in Mexico and then leaving. (Hazel Cárdenas/Presidencia)
To qualify, at least 70% of supplies, including services, talent and spending, must be of Mexican origin, ensuring benefits remain with Mexican companies.
Eligible projects include:
Feature-length fiction or animated films and series with a verifiable minimum expenditure of 40 million pesos (US$ 2.3 million);
Feature-length documentaries and series with a minimum expenditure of 20 million pesos (US$ 1.2 million); and,
Some animation, visual effects or post-production processes with a minimum expenditure of 5 million pesos (US$ 290,000) per process.
The incentive will be available to Mexican citizens, foreigners with permanent residence in the country and foreigners without permanent residence who carry out production through a Mexican resident.
The program also establishes an archiving policy to document, preserve, restore, digitize and disseminate Mexico’s audiovisual heritage collection.
The archaeological zone of Muyil in Quintana Roo recently reopened to the public as part of a beautification program aimed at improving the tourist experience at Maya heritage sites. (Sectur)
Mexico’s top cultural authorities are racing to ready dozens of landmarks before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with renovations to be carried out at 12 museums and 46 archaeological sites.
On Feb. 3, Culture Minister Claudia Curiel de Icaza (center) confirmed upgrades to two Mexico City museums with additional infrastructure investments planned for the Teotihuacán archaeological complex just outside of the metropolis. (@cultura_mx/X)
The 58 targeted sites are expected to draw millions of visitors during and around the 2026 men’s World Cup, scheduled for June 11 to July 19 in Mexico, the United States and Canada.
“We are focused on preservation, but at the same time providing functional conditions and better infrastructure for all tourists and visitors,” Curiel de Icaza said, announcing upgrades to the National Museum of Anthropology and Templo Mayor in Mexico City, and “all the tourist structures in the Maya world.”
The Templo Mayor archaeological zone contains remnants from the ancient metropolis of Tenochtitlán, the flourishing Aztec (Mexica) capital from the 1300s to 1500s on an island in Lake Texcoco where present-day Mexico City stands.
Teotihuacán, another one of Mesoamerica’s major pre-Hispanic cities, will be a centerpiece of the effort, with improvements to roads, services and signage in the next three months, along with training for the workers “who will attend to visitors and tourists from all over the world,” she said. The archeological site is about 50 kilometers northeast of present-day Mexico City.
México state officials told the newspaper La Jornada that discussions are underway to reopen the climb to the Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacán and revive nighttime light-and-sound shows in time for the 13 World Cup games in Mexico (five in Mexico City, four in Guadalajara and four in Monterrey).
INAH director Joel Omar Vázquez Herrera said the government has allocated 200 million pesos (US $11.7 million) for the projects, underscoring the pressure on aging infrastructure.
Last year, more than 11.5 million people visited INAH’s network of 165 museums, and about 10.5 million visited its 194 archaeological sites, for a total of slightly more than 22 million visitors, INAH said.
All of the nine people elected as justices on June 1 are affiliated with, seen as sympathetic to, or were at least tacitly supported by the ruling Morena party. (SCJN/Cuartoscuro)
President Claudia Sheinbaum asserted that the elections — the product of a 2024 judicial reform — were necessary to rid Mexico’s judiciary of corruption, nepotism and other ills.
But just over five months after the new judges were sworn in, Mexico’s court system is “in disarray,” and companies operating in the country are “increasingly steering clear” of it, Bloomberg News reported last Thursday.
The “in disarray” description, Bloomberg said, came from a dozen current and former judicial employees as well as business leaders.
The news agency’s Feb. 12 report depicts a court system plagued by backlogs and populated by inexperienced judges.
It refers to concerns about bias and incompetence in the new judiciary, and considers the impact of the status quo on investment at a time when Mexico is seeking to attract more foreign capital within the context of Plan México, an ambitious economic initiative that aims to make Mexico the world’s 10th largest economy by 2030.
‘Inexperienced judges, erratic rulings’ and ‘a newly politicized system’
Bloomberg reported that “companies operating in Mexico are increasingly steering clear of the courts, opting instead for arbitration or mediation as legal uncertainty clouds the country following a sweeping overhaul of the judiciary.”
“Others are rethinking investment plans altogether, wary of inexperienced judges, erratic rulings and what many see as a newly politicized system,” wrote the news agency, which didn’t mention any companies by name.
The Morena party’s reform of Mexico’s judicial system elicited multiple large-scale protests last year, often led by judicial branch employees. (Rogelio Morales/Cuartoscuro)
Bloomberg also reported that “decisions marred by glaring errors or perceived bias are discouraging companies from filing lawsuits, while some investments are being delayed or shelved amid doubts about whether contracts will be enforced.”
Longstanding concerns about the politicization of the judiciary due to the election of many judges seen as sympathetic to the ruling Morena party were heightened by an El Universal investigation that found that the “new” Supreme Court (SCJN) has handed down at least six rulings in favor of reforms and decrees promoted by former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO).
Published last month, the El Universal report said there hadn’t been any SCJN ruling against reforms or decrees sponsored by AMLO or Morena lawmakers.
“Is that an independent power? I don’t think so either,” he said.
Laynez: Businessmen are ‘extremely worried’
Bloomberg reported that “the growing unease over the courts” adds to Mexico’s challenges to attract investment. Insecurity, infrastructure bottlenecks, tariffs and trade uncertainty ahead of the USMCA review are already actual or potential hindrances to investment.
Laynez said that “businessmen don’t speak openly about” concerns related to legal instability as a result of the judicial reform, but added:
“Those I talk to are extremely worried. The reform weighs heavily on investor sentiment.”
Foreign direct investment in Mexico hit a record high last year, but other forms of investment have declined.
“The highly controversial reform of the judiciary and the perception of less independence in its rulings seem to have scared off investment, which is reflected in the decline in gross fixed investment,” Gerardo Trejo Veytia, vice president of sustainability at the Mexican Employers Federation (Coparmex), told Bloomberg.
The news agency reported that “Coparmex says investment levels are now as low as those seen during the pandemic.”
The Center for Economic Studies of the Private Sector (CEESP) also cited the judicial reform as a hindrance to formal job creation in a January 2026 report. (Unsplash)
Bloomberg also noted that “a central bank survey of economists found that ‘lack of rule of law’ rose from third to second place between 2023 and 2025 among the main obstacles to doing business in Mexico, trailing only crime.”
Before she took office in October 2024, Sheinbaum said that investors had “nothing to worry about” with regard to the judicial reform. She has consistently defended the reform put forward by her predecessor and political mentor, and described last year’s judicial elections as a “complete success,” even though turnout was just 13%.
In late 2024, Sheinbaum said that Mexico was “perhaps” the most democratic country in the world given that it would hold judicial elections in 2025.
Asked last month whether she saw “any bias” toward Morena in Mexico’s Supreme Court, the president said that the SCJN itself would have to respond, before pointing to the openness of its decision-making.
Learning to be a judge on Zoom
Bloomberg reported that courts across Mexico “are struggling with resignations, backlogs and rulings that legal experts describe as deeply flawed, as inexperienced judges grapple with complex cases.”
Citing reporting from Expansión, Bloomberg noted that at least nine newly elected judges have resigned, most without giving a reason for their decisions.
“Those who have stayed are often scrambling to learn the basics,” the news agency wrote.
Alejandra Ramos, an experienced former judge who failed to win a position at last year’s judicial elections, has stepped in to try and fill the void in knowledge via the teaching of the aforesaid basics to newly-elected judges over Zoom, the videoconferencing platform.
Most of the judges-cum-students to whom she delivered “lectures fit for a second-semester law school course,” according to Bloomberg, were “complete novices” when they logged on for Zoom classes late last year, said Ramos.
María Emilia Molina, a former federal judge, is not at all impressed with the new judiciary.
“The rulings are now horrendous, the legal grounds no longer exist,” she told Bloomberg.
“There are judges who don’t understand anything about the cases and end up asking the lawyers to reach an agreement,” Molina said, highlighting that some of the judges used to be primary school teachers or political activists — albeit ones with law degrees.
The problem of inexperienced and incompetent judges is not likely to disappear even if the current crop of new judges manages to get up to speed, over Zoom or by other means, as a second round of judicial elections is scheduled for 2027.
SCJN defends the judiciary
In a statement to Bloomberg News, the SCJN said that “the assertion that there is a widespread lack of experience” within the judiciary “does not correspond to institutional reality.”
“The judiciary has evaluation and control mechanisms in place to ensure that those who exercise judicial functions do so with responsibility and professionalism,” added Mexico’s top court, which is led by Chief Justice Hugo Aguilar Ortíz.
The SCJN also told Bloomberg that it has “worked to strengthen legal certainty and ensure strict compliance with the constitutional and legal framework.”
According to Bloomberg, the court added that it “has promoted ‘unprecedented dialogue’ with business chambers to hear their concerns, with the aim of providing certainty for the development of the economy.”
Deputy Olga Sánchez Cordero, a Morena lawmaker and former Supreme Court justice who served as interior minister during AMLO’s presidency, told Bloomberg that extensive training is taking place to make sure new judges can perform their duties competently.
“A lot of training is needed. They’re studying hard,” said Sánchez, who served as a SCJN justice between 1995 and 2015.
She also said that “it will take time for the judicial reform to mature and produce results across the board.”
Nearly 2,000 couples collectively got married in Tijuana at one of many "bodas colectivas" held throughout Mexico in celebration of Valentine's Day. (Omar Martínez/Cuartoscuro)
The states of Nuevo León and Mexico City led the way with 2,500+ and 2,378 partners tying the knot in their respective Valentine’s Day events.
Nuevo León Governor Samuel García and his wife Mariana Rodríguez witnessed the union of more than 2,500 couples in a ceremony held at the Nuevo León Gymnasium in the state capital of Monterrey.
During a brief speech, García emphasized the importance of marriage as “a life project based on companionship, respect, and commitment,” and affirmed that the state’s growth is a reflection of the daily efforts of its families.
In Mexico City, Mayor Clara Brugada told those assembled in the National Auditorium that her government supports those who “decide to build a life as a couple based on equality, respect and autonomy.”
“Today, 2,378 couples decided to unite their lives in this collective marriage … This government, like you, believes in the value of publicly declaring your love,” she said. “We believe in a loving city of rights.”
Elsewhere, 1,900 couples tied the knot in the state of Baja California, nearly 1,000 “exchanged vows” in México state and more than 500 got hitched in the state of Jalisco. Major cities in Oaxaca, Quintana Roo and elsewhere also took part, ratifying between 50 and 400 marriage certificates stamped Feb. 13 and 14.
Popularity of ‘collective weddings’ in Mexico
Only civil marriages are recognized by the government in Mexico, but the process can be time-consuming (filing of identification documents and providing up to four witnesses) and expensive.
Some estimates suggest that more than 50% of couples living together in Mexico do not have documented marriages. The national statistics agency INEGI reported last year that there are 5.4 marriages per 1,000 adult residents nationwide, while in Mexico City, there are only 3.4 marriages per 1,000 adult residents.
Collective weddings are organized by individual state and municipal Civil Registry offices to address this issue by providing a free official civil procedure and formally regularizing marriages. Additionally, a regularized marriage is beneficial for a couple’s children, allowing both parents to secure access to government services.
These events take place throughout the year. For instance, the state of Chihuahua will host a mass wedding on Feb. 19, the state of Coahuila will do the same on Feb. 27 and the state of Aguascalientes will celebrate a collective wedding ceremony on March 27.
Typically, participating couples are required to submit all official documents (e.g., birth certificates, proof of local address, legal ID) and register ahead of time.
Although there is no documented “first” collective wedding celebration in Mexico, such events have grown in popularity over the last 20 years, particularly as a way to provide free and legal certainty to spouses.
Hilda Palafox in front of one of her paintings at the Sean Kelly Gallery in New York City. (Instagram)
There is a sense of community, warmth, mystery and ritualism — a feeling of being embraced by the earth, flowers and volcanoes that invites contemplation of nature. All these elements come together in the first solo exhibition of Mexican artist Hilda Palafox at the Sean Kelly Gallery in New York, running until Feb. 21, 2026. The exposition features a series of paintings and cantera stone sculptures that evoke nature and the ancient whispers of knowledge linked to the earth and its secrets. Palafox has chosen the Spanish title “De Tierra y Susurros,” which translates to “Of Earth and Whispers.”
“This body of work was born as a visual anthology of the earth: a collection of stories that speak to the earth, its memory and what whispers to us from within,” she shares. This series of warm-toned paintings guides us into a state of contemplation and connection with nature.
These paintings in the ‘De Tierra y Susurros’ exhibit depict fire, femininity and nature. (Jason Wyche/Courtesy Sean Kelly, New York)
“I wanted the exhibition to remain within a warm color palette, which is almost monochromatic at times and directly linked to the earth as a primordial element. I was interested in discussing the natural world in terms of its absence and what remains. For me, these tones represent a violated territory that holds memories while still offering the possibility of transformation.”
For Palafox, it is essential to address the connection between human beings and nature, which she believes has become invisible, particularly regarding women. “In the context of the environmental crisis and the exhaustion of extractive models, revisiting this relationship is a way of recovering displaced knowledge, memories and practices of care.”
The importance of pausing
There are rhythms and natural cycles. The pace of the real world creates a sense of urgency, leading to constant consumption and anxiety. This is why we need to reconnect with our essence: “Pausing, listening, and paying attention becomes an almost political act, a form of resistance,” she reflects.
“De Tierra y Susurros” invites us to reconnect with what truly matters and opens a space for reflection on the urgent issues that need to be addressed. The exhibition includes paintings and sculptures that evoke the traditions of Latin America and their link to nature.
“I did not start from a specific legend or tradition, but some of the images engage with the beliefs, symbols and artifacts of Latin American cosmogony. I have always found these to be deeply beautiful and meaningful: rather than making direct references, these elements serve as visual echoes that permeate the work,” Palafox notes.
Nature and resilience
When we think about it, nature and resilience are deeply interconnected, as is evolution. Every living thing on this planet plays a role in preserving life through symbiosis and the deep connections among all living things. “These works are based on the idea that we are not separate from nature, but part of it,” she says.
Warm colors that evoke the essence of the earth are characteristic of Palafox’s paintings at the Sean Kelly Gallery in New York.(Jason Wyche/Courtesy Sean Kelly, New York)
“I view resilience as a force that runs through both humans and the natural world. It is not an attribute exclusive to women, but rather a shared capacity that manifests wherever rupture, wear, and tear or violence occur. For me, the cracks in the earth, in concrete, or in a landscape fragmented by human hands become places of possibility — points where something insists on staying alive.”
Palafox is often associated with Mexican muralists due to the large-scale figures in her work. She acknowledges their influence, having grown up in Mexico City, where powerful public art significantly impacted her perspective: “The environment was filled with murals, sculptures and images that were present even in my schoolbooks during childhood. I draw certain formal elements from that experience, such as the use of symbolism and monumentality.”
Furthermore, she is interested in bringing all these influences into the contemporary world from a female perspective, exploring themes ranging from the personal to the collective. In “De Tierra y Susurros,” she certainly succeeds in guiding us toward a state of contemplation and wonder as we engage with the universe of traditions, magic and nature.
Ana Paula de la Torre is a Mexican journalist and collaborator for various outlets, including Milenio, Animal Político, Vice, Newsweek en Español, Televisa and Mexico News Daily.
Because suggesting the Hunan would be just too mainstream, here’s our digest of the best Chinese restaurants in Mexico City. (Edgar Negrete Lira/Cuartoscuro)
February in Mexico City always has the feel of Rafael Bernal’s noir novels and the aroma of sweet and sour pork and fortune cookies. As always, the Mexican capital goes all out in its celebrations for theChinese New Year. We celebrate in grand style alongside the community of traditional restaurateurs who have created interesting fusions between their own culinary culture and that which they learned here, in the country we share.
Between dragons, fireworks and little red envelopes, the celebrations of the Year of the Fire Horse are just around the corner this month. So, get your hot-pot belly ready! Here’s our digest of the best Chinese restaurants in Mexico City to celebrate Chinese New Year in 2026.
El Dragón
El Dragón’s Peking duck is so good, every Chinese person in Mexico City can tell you about it. (Paul Tseng/El Dragón Restaurante Chino)
Nowhere in Mexico City will you find a better Peking duck. As you enter through the Chinese Imperial decorated gates, you can smell the scent of the duck quietly sizzling in the back of the room. As it is their star dish, they hired a person exclusively to take care of the roasted ducks — other than the chef, of course — which are left over the fire for at least 8 hours: it is as if he were a sentinel dedicated to ensuring the perfect lacquer.
The portions are generous, so we highly recommend booking a table for bigger parties. Besides the duck, the wonton soup is excellent, and ordering rice noodles to share is always a great idea.
Where? Hamburgo 97, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc.
Cantón Mexicali (廣東墨西加利)
If you’re looking for an edgy mix of Mexicali-inspired cuisine and the Chinese finest dishes, Cantón Mexicali is your choice. (Sergio Téllez/Cantón Mexicali)
After a large influx of Chinese immigrants to Mexicali in the northwestern state of Baja California in the early 20th century, a unique — yet fantastic — combination of coastal dishes and Chinese spices emerged in the region. Cantón Mexicali, located on the border between the Condesa and Roma neighborhoods, was also born from this clash of cultures.
Although the portions aren’t as large as in other traditional Chinese restaurants, it’s always worth sharing. The three-mushroom spring rolls served with oyster fried rice transport you straight to the Canton region in southern China, where dishes are steamed andnot as spicy as in other parts of the country.
Where? Av. Álvaro Obregón 264, Hipódromo, Cuauhtémoc.
Dong Zi Gongfu Te
There is no place in Mexico City with a better assortment of dim sum than the Dong Zi Gongfu Te. (VTM Matsueda/Gong Zi Gongfu Te)
Also referred to simply as “Hong Kong” among Colonia Narvarte dwellers, this is Mexico City’s dim sum sweetheart. As happens in several Chinese places in the neighborhood, the menu is written in Mandarin, and you often must ask for suggestions from the waiter. However! You can spot a fine Chinese restaurant when all its customers are, well, Chinese. When you dine at Dong Zi Gongfu Te, you seldom hear any Spanish. Or any Western language whatsoever.
Their sweet and sour chicken is simply spectacular, always with a side of wonderful fried rice with vegetables. If you’d like to try their specialized dim sum buffet, remember it’s a weekend special, and always try to arrive before noon. The service ends at 2:30 p.m. (officially, at least — diners usually gobble up everything before 1 p.m.). Also, please note that the restaurant does not accept credit card payments, so it’s best to bring cash or be prepared to make a bank transfer.
Where? Dr. José María Vértiz 692, Narvarte Poniente, Benito Juárez.
Hong King
The seasoned pork ribs, Chow Mein chicken and lotus soup are must-haves at this place, located in the heart of Mexico City’s Chinatown. (Lalo Padilla/Hong King at Barrio Chino)
And last, but certainly not least, we must make an honorable mention to this historic jewel in the heart ofMexico City’s Chinatown. The walls of this place hold the echoes of the first Chinese migration to Mexico City, back in the 1930s. Established in the 1960s, Hong King restaurant has established itself as a symbol of traditional Chinese food in the capital.
And how could it not? The founders came from the Canton region directly to Mexico City’s Chinatown to build a business that has been in the market for over 60 years now. With over 160 classic Chinese dishes, the food here tastes of tradition and the tireless work of generations who have passed the recipes from hand to hand. Although the place is famous for its Peking duck, don’t miss the Kung Pao chicken or the dumplings.
Where? Callejón Dolores 25 A, Centro Histórico, Cuauhtémoc.
Puerto Vallarta's best hotels are welcoming everyone in 2026. (The Westin Playa Vallarta)
Seasoned Puerto Vallarta travelers don’t need to be sold on the bay. They already know the deal: the misty blue silhouette of mountains behind the coastline, the golden-hour light at sunset, the quick hop between town and the north shore when you want a change of scenery.
What’s new for 2026 is the hotel roster itself, bringing more rooms and distinct personalities. This is the year Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit are courting points-savvy all-inclusive travelers, ultra-luxe guests and adults who want all-inclusive options just for them.
Here are the best hotels to book for 2026 in Puerto Vallarta and the Bay of Banderas.
The Westin Playa Vallarta, an All-Inclusive Resort (relaunching May 1)
Always a popular choice, the Westin Playa Vallarta is relaunching in May with more of a focus on luxury. (The Westin Playa Vallarta)
For years, the Westin has been a smart choice, especially for travelers who like being near the marina/airport side of Vallarta without giving up real beachfront. In 2026, The Westin Playa Vallarta, An All-Inclusive Resort becomes a much better story: The property relaunches as an all-inclusive on May 1 with a full redesign and a more “luxury resort” approach to the format.
This is the best pick for points-friendly travel. All accommodations have ocean views, and the setting keeps it feeling insulated, even though you’re a short drive from the airport. It’s also one of the most practical options for families, with the shallow family pool and a kids club/outdoor play area.
What’s worth watching for in 2026 is the refreshed suite mix, including swim-up and private plunge pool options, the Heavenly Spa, and the on-site food and drink program, including a botanical-forward mixology bar and a multivenue dining hub with plenty of alfresco seating.
Susurros del Corazón, Auberge Resorts Collection
Susurros del Corazón is one of the newer options at Punta Mita and already one of the best. (Susurros del Corazón, Auberge Resorts Collection)
Susurros del Corazón is one of the newer players on the Punta Mita peninsula. The resort sits comfortably alongside the area’s established luxury properties, offering a slightly more relaxed (but equally elegant) design-forward take on the Punta de Mita experience.
The arrival sets the tone immediately. There is no traditional front desk or formal check-in flow. Guests are met with a smoky, sweet cocktail (which can be infused with tequila or left without) and eased into the beautifully manicured property. Accommodations range from standard rooms and suites to multibedroom cases and residential-style villas, making the resort flexible for couples, small families or groups.
Interiors lean modern and coastal, with stone, linen and natural textures layered with locally sourced art. Many rooms open fully onto oversized terraces, and select suites include private pools that are more generous than typical plunge pools.
At the heart of the resort are three adjacent infinity pools — one adults-only, one family-friendly, and one designed for relaxation. The beach is a major draw, with wide, soft sand; easy access; and distinct zones for beginner surfing, swimming and paddleboarding.
Siari, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
Siari offers almost unparalleled luxury in Punta Mita. (Siari)
Siari, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve‘s headline stats matter because they shape the experience: a 920-acre setting with jungle and more than four miles of beach, plus a relatively limited room count (91 rooms and suites). This is the 2026 pick for travelers who want a self-contained luxury ecosystem.
It’s not isolated but designed so that the property is the main event. Dining is part of the draw — multiple venues with distinct angles, from Pacific-focused cooking to Asian-leaning raw and grilled dishes to wood-fired flatbreads — and the activity roster is substantial: guided hikes, snorkeling, cooking classes centered on Nayarit traditions and an impressive wellness center.
UNICO 20°105° Hotel Riviera Nayarit
Adults-only UNICO 20°105° Riviera Nayarit offers a very cool vibe, not to mention stylish accommodation. (UNICO 20°105° Riviera Nayarit)
UNICO 20°105° Riviera Nayarit is an adults-only all-inclusive with a noticeably smaller footprint than many resorts in the area. With 141 rooms, the property feels contained and easy to navigate, which makes a difference over a multiday stay — you’re not waiting on carts or shuttles, and it’s easy to move between the beach, pool, restaurants and rooms.
Guest rooms follow the brand’s established style carried over from its sister property in the Riviera Maya. The vibe swings modern and comfortable, with balconies that include deep soaking tubs. Ground-floor swim-up suites are popular for guests who plan to spend most of the day near the pool. One of the most-used spaces is the rooftop bar, Alto 20°105°, which overlooks the Bay of Banderas and tends to fill up around sunset for drinks and a swim as the day winds down.
This hotel is best suited for couples or groups of friends looking for an adults-only stay with good food, a social atmosphere and the convenience of an all-inclusive about 20 minutes north of the airport.
Garza Blanca Sanctuary Tower
Puerto Vallarta access plus a quiet stretch of beach: What’s not to like? (Garza Blanca)
Garza Blanca has always been the “best of both worlds” choice: PV proximity with a resort footprint and a quiet stretch of beach. Sanctuary Tower takes that and pushes it upward with a 20-story addition of 118 oceanfront suites, each with a balcony, Jacuzzi, and panoramic bay views. The suite variety is designed to widen the traveler mix: larger two-bedrooms for families, high-end penthouse options for couples and playful family-forward rooftop concepts.
Sanctuary guests still tap into the wider Garza Blanca ecosystem of restaurants, pools, beach, fitness and kids club, plus new concepts and rooftop-only spaces that skew more adult.
VidantaWorld BON Hotel
VidantaWorld has it all in terms of attractions, including the BON Hotel. (VidantaWorld BON Hotel)
BON Hotel is for travelers who think “resort” should mean range. The hotel itself is all-suite and intentionally simple in shared amenities because the broader VidantaWorld campus is the point: dozens of restaurants and bars, multiple golf courses, spas, a mile-long beach, enormous fitness facilities and family favorites like wave pools and a lazy river.
The practical nuance is that VidantaWorld is huge, and so BON guests should be comfortable budgeting extra time for transport. The tram system is essential; the app helps; and shuttles may require more coordination than a smaller resort.
This is for families, multigenerational groups and travelers who want an activity-rich vacation where every day can look different.
Rosewood Mandarina
Lush and luxurious, Rosewood Mandarina makes every day in residence feel like a special occasion. (Rosewood Mandarina)
Rosewood Mandarina is the quiet flex of the north: a luxury resort tucked into a bucolic bay.
The resort is organized into three zones across flatland, beach and mountain. Every suite includes a private plunge pool, and the design leans artisanal, from Indigenous craft references to custom furnishings.
The resort is also unusually strong for travelers who want to do more than lounge. There are equestrian experiences, zip lining excursions through the surrounding forest, golf and a spa complex built around a centuries-old parota tree.
This resort is for special-occasion travelers, serious resort people and families who want uncrowded luxury.
Meagan Drillinger is a New York native who has spent the past 15 years traveling around and writing about Mexico. While she’s on the road for assignments most of the time, Puerto Vallarta is her home base. Follow her travels on Instagram at @drillinjourneys or through her blog at drillinjourneys.com.
