Here’s a range of destinations, from mountain peaks to glorious coastlines, that deserve a visit from you in 2025.

Mountains

Xalapa, Veracruz

Xalapa is the coastal state of Veracruz’s hidden gem. The city blends history, nature, and culture into an unforgettable experience. Dubbed the “Athens of Veracruz,” this mountainous college town enchants visitors with cobblestone streets, cloud forests and the tantalizing aroma of locally grown coffee. Begin with a lechero at La Parroquia before exploring the Anthropology Museum, home to awe-inspiring Olmec artifacts like colossal stone heads.

Xalapa’s culinary delights reflect its rich heritage. Savor mole xiqueño from the nearby town of Xico, local speciality fish dish huachinango a la Veracruzana or enjoy wood-fired enchiladas at Cerro Gordo. Botanists can take a stroll through the misty Clavijero Botanical Garden or visit Coatepec, Mexico’s coffee capital.

Beyond its attractions, Xalapa’s charm lies in its people, known for their warmth and hospitality. Engage in lively conversations at Parque Juárez or the bustling Mercado Jáuregui. Xalapa invites you to savor, explore and connect, offering discovery at every turn.

The city also boasts the highest number of Mexico News Daily contributors per capita in the world, so make of that what you will.

Why it’s easy to love Xalapa like Ulysses S. Grant

Oaxaca City, Oaxaca

OK, so this one is a road trip that takes you through several destinations, ending in what might be Mexico’s most authentic city. Weave through vibrant landscapes and rich culture in a journey inspired by the annual Guelaguetza festival, a week-long adventure through Mexico’s heartland that blends history, cuisine, and breathtaking sights.

Starting in Puebla, travelers can savor mole-making in a talavera-tiled kitchen before moving to Papantla’s ruins of El Tajín (chile not included) and its lively mercado. A stop in Veracruz’s historic port reveals Caribbean charm, fresh seafood and lively danzón performances. From there, the route winds through the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán biosphere, showcasing vast cactus forests and salt flats.

There is too much to mention about Oaxaca here, of course. Highlights include the vast and historically important Monte Albán ruins, the Textile Museum, and rooftop dining overlooking the illuminated Templo de Santo Domingo.

Of all the areas in Mexico, Oaxaca is the most unapologetically itself, which has rightfully earned it a reputation as a must-visit destination. Eager road trippers might also fancy a drive down the mountain to the Pacific coastal towns of Mazunte, Zipolite and Puerto Escondido, thanks to the new highway that has dramatically cut transit times.

From Mexico City to Oaxaca: a road trip to remember

Beaches

San Carlos, Sonora

Is San Carlos Mexico’s best secret beach destination?

Tucked away on the Gulf of California, San Carlos is a hidden gem, offering serene beaches, dramatic desert landscapes and a wealth of outdoor adventures. The town is far from the bustle of La Paz or Los Cabos and charms visitors with boutique hotels, cliffside villas and unspoiled beauty. Accessible via a 90-minute drive from Hermosillo, the journey is as picturesque as the destination.

Adventure seekers can dive into “the world’s aquarium,” as Jacques Cousteau called the Gulf of California, with activities like kayaking, diving and sailing. For land lovers, hiking and biking in the region’s lunar-like terrain are equally enthralling. Don’t miss the Mirador Escénico for breathtaking views of rugged canyons and the iconic Tetakawi peak.

San Carlos’ culinary scene is a seafood lover’s paradise. From fresh aguachile at Mesa Cortez to casual delights at Tortuga’s, every meal is memorable. Whether it’s vibrant sunsets or unparalleled tranquility you come in search of, San Carlos promises an unforgettable escape.

The northern location of San Carlos means it doesn’t suffer from the overtourism of other major beachside destinations in the area, like Mazatlán and the Riviera Nayarit — so you can have a taste of what Mexican oceanside life is really all about.

Bucerías, Nayarit

If San Carlos seems a bit too isolated, consider Bucerías, Nayarit, instead. A tranquil village on the Bay of Banderas, it offers a serene alternative to the bustle of Puerto Vallarta. Cobblestone streets, vibrant bougainvillea-draped houses, and a seemingly endless beach define this charming getaway. With boutique hotels, fresh seafood, and an emerging art scene, Bucerías embodies the magic of a classic Mexican retreat without the crowds.

A perfect weekend begins at Hotel Ysuri, known for its ocean-view rooms and relaxed elegance. Visitors can dine at La Negra, a lively eatery serving seafood tacos and killer margaritas, before catching a fiery sunset on Playa Bucerías. Saturday highlights include exploring the Bucerías Art District and savoring beachfront meals at Karen’s Place, followed by paddleboarding adventures. Dinner at Mar y Sol offers unforgettable seafood with ocean views.

Bucerías, Nayarit: A perfect weekend guide

Sunday invites treasure hunting at the bustling local tianguis market, before making your way conveniently back to Puerto Vallarta’s excellently connected international airport.

Holbox, Quintana Roo

Holbox is a slice of island paradise off the Yucatán Peninsula. The car-free island boasts stunning natural beauty, eco-conscious accommodations and a vibe reminiscent of Mexico decades ago. Arriving via ferry (or even by private plane), the journey feels like a passage into a simpler, more serene world — which it most certainly is.

Stay at funky hostels like Tribu, boutique gems like Casa Cat Ba with its zero-waste ethos and sunset views or the tranquil Las Hamacas Club de Playa for luxurious privacy. Dining is equally memorable — savor innovative fusion at Parador 33 or fresh avocado toast with Caribbean sunrises.

Why Holbox is Mexico’s perfect island paradise

Holbox isn’t just for lounging though — but it is perfect for that if that’s your jam — and activities like kiteboarding, swimming with whale sharks, and long beach swims keep active travelers happy. As you ferry back to the mainland, you’ll carry the island’s peaceful charm with you, already plotting your return.

Magic Towns

The Convent Route

Yucatán’s Convent Route is a history lover’s dream, blending Maya ingenuity with colonial charm in a day trip south of Mérida. Skip the crowds at Chichén Itzá and instead explore hidden gems like Acancéh, where ancient stucco masks of the sun god Kinich Ahau and a vibrant colonial church coexist. From there, Tecoh beckons with its pyramid-perched church and nearby Hacienda Sotuta de Peón, a glimpse into the historic henequen industry that made the Yucatán what it is today.

Further south, Mayapán, the ancient Maya capital, offers quiet ruins that are ideal for (responsible) climbing and reflection. Towns like Mama, Tekit, and Chumayel provide fascinating churches, including Mama’s bell-shaped dome and Chumayel’s ties to the legendary Maya Chilam Balam texts. Finally, the Pueblo Mágico of Maní enchants with its vibrant market, honey-based goods, and the haunting history of burned Maya codices. Don’t miss Poc Chuc at El Príncipe Tutul Xiu for a delicious finale!

Take a trip down the Convent Route to see the best of Yucatán

The route, which can take place in a single day or be spread out into a vacation in its own right, provides a window into the regions Maya history that other, more developed sites have now overlooked as they are consumed with mass tourism. Littered with Magic Towns, the route also offers visitors the chance to understand how the Maya community lives in the region today and what life is like for the descendants of those who constructed such magnificent monuments.

Cuetzalan, Puebla

Nestled in the misty hills of Puebla’s Sierra Norte mountain range, the sleepy town of Cuetzalan is a mass of vibrant culture and authentic charm. Cuetzalan is home to much of the region’s outstanding artisan industry, providing the town with a wonderful character all of its own. This character is made even cozier by the cobblestone streets, cascading waterfalls and a culture as rich as its landscapes.

If exploring the many workshops, colonial architecture and alleyways of the town isn’t for you, there are hiking trails, rappelling and the chance to get up close and personal with nature, before retiring for mouth-watering local dishes and delicious cocktails made with traditional regional herbs.

How a ‘girls trip’ to Cuetzalan showed me the real Mexico

Cuetzalan’s Sunday market showcases local coffee, textiles, and ceramics, epitomizing its artistic soul. Authentic, gritty and unforgettable, Cuetzalan promises a feast for the senses and a touch of magic that the major cities of the country struggle to offer.

The post Where to go in Mexico in 2025: 7 must-see destinations appeared first on Mexico News Daily

“Emilia Pérez” received 10 nominations, including for best musical/comedy film, best non-English film and best screenplay. Audacious French filmmaker Jacques Audiard, who based the 132-minute movie on an opera libretto that he wrote, is nominated for best director.

The film’s other nominations are Spaniard Karla Sofia Gascón for best actress in a musical/comedy film; Americans Zoë Saldaña and Selena Gomez, each for best supporting actress; best original score; and two entries in the best original song category.

“The Brutalist,” in which an architect grapples with his past, including Holocaust trauma, received the second most nominations with seven.

“Emilia Pérez” premiered last year at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won a Jury Prize and its four lead female actresses (the three above plus Mexican Adriana Paz) received a combined best actress award. The Times of London has declared it “one of the year’s best films.”

It also served as the opening night film in the Morelia International Film Festival in October and has already accumulated 55 awards and 149 nominations from various festivals and cinematic entities around the world.

Netflix acquired its distribution rights in North America and the United Kingdom, and since Nov. 13 has been streaming the film in those regions but not in Mexico.
According to reports, the film will open Jan. 23 in theaters in Mexico, where it has received the “Cinépolis Guarantee,” assuring moviegoers of the film’s quality. This, however, has led to debate in Mexico, with some social media users criticizing both the film (see below) and Cinépolis’ decision to support it.

“Emilia Pérez” follows the journey of four women in Mexico, each in search of their own happiness. The film is primarily in Spanish, although as this trailer reveals, several scenes feature English, notably those involving Gomez and Saldaña.

Gomez, born in Grand Prairie, Texas in 1992, is an American singer and former Disney Channel star whose father’s family is from Monterrey, Nuevo León. She has spoken often about her pride in her heritage, and she regularly celebrates her Mexican roots through her work and music (and by having learned to speak Spanish).

In “Emilia Pérez,” Gomez plays Lola, an influential friend to the lead character, the former cartel leader Emilia, after she transitions to a woman. Emilia, portrayed by Gascón, faces a rocky road as she navigates her identity and challenges as a woman.

Saldaña plays a lawyer that Emilia hires to help carry out her longtime plan to fake her death and undergo gender-affirming procedures.

The film is a musical odyssey set primarily in a vibrant, pulsating Mexico City. The soundtrack has been nominated for a Golden Globe, as have the songs “Mi Camino” and “El Mal.”

Because the film mixes the musical genre with gender identity and forced disappearances in Mexico, it has been criticized by some for its lack of sensitivity in addressing such delicate issues.

There also has been backlash because the main characters are not portrayed by Mexicans. Casting director Carla Hool has stated that although Mexican actresses were scouted, the best options proved to be European and American — a comment that generated social media accusations of racism and lack of representation.

Gascón fueled the criticism by calling the detractors “gatos,” which translates to “cats” but in this context is an insult, probably implying that the critics lack independent thought and are acting ignorantly.

In the category for best motion picture that’s a musical or comedy, “Emilia Pérez” will be competing against the box office smash “Wicked,” the sometimes funny drama “A Real Pain,” the dark romantic comedy “Anora,” the tennis-love triangle “Challengers” and the Demi Moore movie “The Substance.”

Winners will be chosen by 334 entertainment journalists from 85 countries.

The 82nd Golden Globes will be held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel and hosted by comedian Nikki Glaser for the first time. Paramount+ will livestream the ceremony, which will be televised in the United States by CBS starting at 7 p.m. Mexico City time.

With reports from Infobae, El Sol de México, Russh and Reuters

The post Musical crime comedy ‘Emilia Pérez’ nominated for 10 Golden Globes appeared first on Mexico News Daily

Jason Peña, 14, has been in a medically induced coma since he and three other members of his family were attacked on a highway on Dec. 27 in the northwestern state of Durango. Jason is the lone survivor of the attack.

On Thursday, Jason was flown on a private plane to Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston where he will receive treatment. “He is in critical condition in ICU and on life support,” his mother, Ana Cabral, said in a post on the fundraising site Spotfund.

Local authorities are investigating the attack, which has generated indignation in the Duranguense community in the Chicago area, according to the newspaper El Siglo de Durango.

A birthday celebration becomes a tragedy

Jason, his father Vicente Peña Jr. and his younger brother drove 3,000 miles from Chicago to the municipality of Santiago Papasquiaro in Durango, where they planned to celebrate Jason’s 14th birthday with family, according to Telemundo Chicago.

Family spokesperson and lawyer Julie Contreras said that two days before the birthday, Jason jumped into his father’s car as his dad, his uncle and a cousin left to buy food and drinks in Santiago Papasquiaro.

When the group had not returned after two hours, Vicente Peña Sr. — Jason’s grandfather — alerted the authorities.

Shortly thereafter, police located the vehicle, an SUV with Illinois license plates, along the Francisco Zarco Highway. All four occupants had been shot; the three adults — Vicente Jr., 38, Antonio Fernández, 44 (Vicente’s brother who flew from Chicago to join the festivities), and Jorge Eduardo Vargas, 22 — were pronounced dead at the scene.

Vicente Jr., Jason and Fernández were all U.S. citizens, Contreras said, and Jason was a student at Prairie Hills Junior High School in Markham, Illinois.

Jason was taken to a public hospital in Durango city, the state capital, but the hospital was not equipped to treat the severe brain injury. Cabral flew to Durango to be with Jason and her other son and began working to fly Jason to Houston for better care and to ensure his safety, Contreras said, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The U.S. State Department told USA Today that they had been in touch with the victims’ families and confirmed that Mexican authorities are conducting an investigation.

Contreras, through her NGO United Giving Hope, worked with the family to arrange for the private plane to carry Jason back to the U.S., while also alerting the public to a fake GoFundMe page that had been opened in Jason’s name.

The boy’s grandfather, Vicente Sr., spoke to Chicago television station WMAQ-TV in Spanish and said the shooting had wrecked their family.

“I feel very devastated because they wiped out my entire family,” he told the outlet. “It was a massacre … because my son was shot four times in the head and once in the shoulder.”

In the statement to USA Today, the U.S. State Department said “Durango, Mexico, has a Level 2 Exercise Increased Caution Travel advisory due to crime.”

The State Department lists Durango among the Mexican states with travel cautions, warning of violent crime and drug activity. Regions in western Durango, where the shooting occurred, are considered so dangerous that U.S. government employees are prohibited from traveling there.

With reports from El Siglo de Durango, Latinus, Chicago Tribune, Telemundo Chicago, USA Today and Fox News

The post U.S. teen transferred to Texas hospital after armed attack in Durango appeared first on Mexico News Daily

She also announced that a former governor would take over the leadership of one of Mexico’s energy agencies.

Mexico could receive non-Mexican deportees, Sheinbaum says

Sheinbaum reiterated that Mexico “is not in favor” of the mass deportations United States President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to undertake during his second stint in the White House.

“But if they happen … we’re going to receive the Mexicans that arrive in our country, and we’re going to ask the United States to, as far as is possible, send migrants who aren’t from Mexico to their countries of origin. And if they can’t, we could collaborate through different mechanisms,” she said.

Sheinbaum said last month that Mexico has an agreement with the Biden administration under which the United States sends deportees “of many nationalities” on direct flights to their countries of origin. She said that her government hoped to reach a deal with the incoming Trump administration so that most non-Mexican deportees continue to be sent to their countries of origin.

If Mexico were to agree to receive non-Mexican deportees, the federal government could limit acceptance “to certain nationalities or request compensation from the U.S. to move the deportees from Mexico to their home countries,” The Associated Press reported.

AP noted that “Mexico, like any other country, is not obligated to accept non-Mexican migrants, but it has agreed to do so in the recent past, especially from countries like Cuba and Venezuela.”

Those countries, the news agency added, “often refuse deportation flights from the United States, but may accept them from Mexico.”

Sheinbaum said Friday “there will be a time to speak with the United States government if these [proposed] deportations really happen.”

“But we will receive … [deportees] here and we will receive them properly. We have a plan that I said yesterday we would present in due course,” she said.

Sheinbaum explains objective of new tariffs 

Asked about the new tariffs on products imported via e-commerce sites, Sheinbaum said they are aimed at individuals or companies purchasing large quantities of goods to sell in Mexico.

“There are these [online] platforms where one can request any product. One thing is the individual arrival [to Mexico] of one piece, but what we detected is that in reality [the e-commerce sites] were being used to bring [products into Mexico] and then sell them in Mexico,” she said.

“And that requires the payment of taxes,” Sheinbaum said, apparently also referring to a new rule requiring foreign e-commerce sites to pay Mexico’s value-added tax.

“One person, an individual, requesting a piece is not the same thing as [many] pieces being brought in to be sold, right?” Sheinbaum added.

She said that many Mexican small businesses have closed down due to reasons that include the entry of products from countries with which Mexico doesn’t have trade agreements, such as China. Some of those products enter Mexico to be sold “widely” after they were purchased on e-commerce sites (such as Temu and Shein), Sheinbaum said.

Disincentivizing that practice is the objective of the new tariffs, she said.

Former Veracruz governor joins federal government 

Sheinbaum announced that former Veracruz Governor Cuitláhuac García will take on the role of director of the National Center for Natural Gas Control (Cenagas).

García, who completed his six-year term as governor of Veracruz last November, will start in the position next Monday, the president said.

“Few people know that Cuitláhuac is a mechanical and electrical engineer who studied at the Veracruzana University. He’s a very good engineer,” Sheinbaum said.

“He was studying his doctorate abroad and in 2006, if I’m not mistaken, or 2012, he took the decision to leave the doctorate to come to fight for the transformation of Mexico,” she said of the former Morena party governor.

Sheinbaum described García as an “honest” man “with a lot of technical knowledge” about energy.

“He will help us coordinate all the work at Cenagas related to the production, use and distribution of natural gas,” she said.

By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)

The post Mexico could once again receive non-Mexican deportees from US, Sheinbaum suggests: Friday’s mañanera recapped appeared first on Mexico News Daily

Fishing groups across the region blame the massive die-off on a lack of oxygenation in the water due to poor management at the Mexicana de Hidroelectricidad Mexhidro (Mexhidro) hydroelectric plant, located in the municipality of Cutzamala de Pinzón.

“For four days now, the tilapia has been dying in the entire dam; it is sad that neither the state nor the federal government pay attention. Who knows what they want us to do?” a local group of fishermen from the Guerrero town of La Dicha told the newspaper La Jornada.

Mexico’s National Water Commission (Conagua) constructed the El Gallo dam on the Cutzamala River in the northwestern part of the state of Guerrero to expand the irrigation system to the valleys of Cutzamala and Ciudad Altamirano.

In 2007, Mexhidro completed a hydroelectric plant to produce clean energy for the states of Morelos, Michoacán, Guerrero and México state.

Fishing groups say that the floodgates at the dam are not opened often enough, leading to a lack of water oxygenation, which then causes mass fish die-offs. The eight cooperatives operating in the region have reported similar experiences along the reservoir’s 30-kilometer length.

| Alertan por pérdida de unas 100 toneladas de tilapia en la presa El Gallo.
https://t.co/agH2S1jgGE pic.twitter.com/eHIOWaHd2z

— El Sur periódico de Guerrero (@elsurdeguerrero) December 31, 2024

The cooperatives have been reporting the issue since 2013 and are now calling on President Claudia Sheinbaum to intervene. Fishermen previously caught between 20 and 30 metric tons of fish a year in the region, supporting the supply of Mexico City’s famous La Viga fish market. However, this figure has fallen significantly in recent years.

Each metric ton of fish lost is valued at 50,000 to 60,000 pesos (US $2,420-2,905), according to reports from the news site Sur Acapulco.

Local fishing groups have threatened to protest if the government does not intervene.

Cutzamala: A key Mexican waterway

The Cutzamala River originates in the central state of Michoacán and ends in Guerrero. Dams on the upper part of the river provide water to Mexico City, via an aqueduct over the mountains known as the Cutzamala System.

The system is one of the world’s largest networks of dams, canals and pipes, supplying around 27% of the capital’s water. However, in recent years, water levels in the system have decreased due to drought and other factors, falling to a historic low of below 30% in May 2024, according to Conagua.

As Mexico City officials race to develop alternative water networks, Mayor Clara Brugada last week announced a plan to halve the capital’s reliance on the Cutzamala reservoir system for the next two years. The goal of cutting withdrawals is to allow the water levels of Cutzamala System reservoirs to recover from extended drought conditions, and any excess water could boost downstream reservoirs like El Gallo in Guerrero.

With reports from La Jornada, Sur Acapulco, The New York Times and Infobae

The post Mismanagement to blame for massive fish die-offs, Guerrero fishermen say appeared first on Mexico News Daily

Ranging from 17% to 19%, the tariffs entered into force the same day a new rule took effect requiring foreign e-commerce companies to pay Mexico’s 16% value-added tax (IVA) on products they export to and sell in Mexico.

Federal tax agency SAT said in a statement that the tariffs were being implemented to “continue strengthening the fight against abusive practices” of foreign companies that import products to Mexico.

SAT also said that surveillance of goods entering Mexico from Asia will be strengthened, which could lengthen delivery times.

Outlined in the General Rules of Foreign Trade for 2025 document that was published in the federal government’s official gazette earlier this week, the tariffs are as follows:

• All products imported via e-commerce sites and courier companies from countries with which Mexico doesn’t have a trade agreement are subject to a uniform 19% tariff. Mexico doesn’t have a trade pact with China, where Temu, Shein, AliExpress and other e-commerce companies are based.
• A 19% tariff also applies to goods valued at more than US $1 that are imported via e-commerce sites and courier companies from countries with which Mexico does have a trade agreement, with a couple major exceptions: Goods imported from the United States and Canada are exempt.
• Products entering Mexico via e-commerce sites and courier companies from the United States and Canada are subject to a 17% tariff if their value is greater than US $50 but doesn’t exceed $117. Goods from the U.S. and Canada — Mexico’s USMCA trade partners — are not subject to any tariff if their value doesn’t exceed $50.
• Products entering Mexico via e-commerce sites and courier companies from the United States and Canada are subject to a 19% tariff if their value is between US $118 and $2,500.

Previously, countries were not required to pay duties on goods of those values, according to a SAT spokesperson quoted by the Reuters news agency.

Media organization Merca 2.0 noted that “a decorative LED desk lamp purchased on Amazon and shipped [to Mexico] from China with a base price of $700 MXN would incur a 19% tariff equivalent to $133 MXN, bringing the cost to $833 MXN.”

The price of the lamp would be even higher if Amazon passed on the 16% IVA to the customer.

The implementation of the new tariffs and introduction of the new IVA rule come as Mexico is seeking to reduce its reliance on imports from China and other Asian countries. Chinese e-commerce sites (and brick-and-mortar stores in Mexico) sell a wide range of Chinese goods at prices that are significantly lower than those made in Mexico, raising concerns about the ongoing viability of various Mexican industries.

Last month, the federal government announced new tariffs on clothes and textiles imported from countries with which Mexico doesn’t have a free trade agreement. The stated aim was to protect the Mexican textile/clothing industry, which the Mexican government says is losing jobs due to, in large part, unfair competition from underpriced Chinese imports.

The El País newspaper reported that the objective of the 35% tariffs on imported clothes and textiles is to “kill three birds with one stone”: to encourage production in the Mexican textile industry; to increase tax collection in a country that has one of the lowest collection rates in the OECD; and to send a “conciliatory message” to the incoming U.S. government led by Donald Trump.

Mexican authorities have also raided stores in Mexico to seize counterfeit Chinese goods as well as products for which applicable import fees were not paid.

Obliging foreign e-commerce companies to pay IVA and tariffs on products they import to Mexico will create a more level playing field between foreign and Mexican businesses — and thus should make locally made goods more competitive.

With reports from Reuters, El País and Merca 2.0 

The post New e-commerce tariffs take effect, with Chinese imports paying some of the highest rates appeared first on Mexico News Daily

Canaco CDMX President José de Jesús Rodríguez Cárdenas reported that sales for the holiday are expected to exceed the figures reported in 2024 by 8.1%, when sales expectations were 3.6 billion pesos (US $174.9 million).

Kings’ Day (Día de los Reyes Magos) is a common celebration in Latin America and some European countries like Spain. On the morning of Jan. 6, children wake up to gifts brought to them by the three wise men Melchor, Gaspar and Baltazar, also known as the Three Kings.

Rodríguez said the three wise men are expected to bring toys to 1.78 million children in Mexico City on Kings’ Day, with an average spending per kid of 2,200 pesos (US $106).

Popular toys on the children’s wish list include video game consoles, cell phones, computer equipment, bicycles, tricycles, scooters, electric bicycles, mini-motorcycles, remote control items, dolls, action figures and balls. The most dynamic sales sectors will be toy stores, candy stores, bakeries, shoe stores, department stores, video game stores, technology stores and clothing stores.

Across the country, economic spending will amount to 24.2 billion pesos, up 10% compared to 2024, the Confederation of National Chambers of Commerce, Services and Tourism (Concanaco-Servytur) reported. Some 36 million children in the country expect the gifts from the three wise men home.

“Three Kings’ Day is not only a holiday for children, but also an opportunity for businesses to boost their activity, benefiting millions of Mexican families,” Octavio de la Torre, president of Concanaco-Servytur, said.

What’s the origin of Kings’ Day?

According to the biblical story, the three wise men followed a star to Bethlehem to worship and bring gifts to the baby Jesus. The Bible does not mention the men were kings or that there were three of them. However, tradition says they were three because the Bible mentions they offered three gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh.

The wise men appeared only once in the Bible. Still, they left behind a rich tradition.

How is Kings’ Day celebrated in Mexico?

In Mexico, Catholics celebrate the holiday by sharing a sweet, circular bread known as rosca de reyes. The oval shape of the bread symbolizes God’s eternal love, while the crystallized fruits on its surface symbolize the jewels in the crowns of the three kings. A tiny doll, symbolizing baby Jesus, is baked into the bread to represent how the holy family hid him from King Herod’s Massacre of the Innocents by fleeing to Egypt.

Whoever finds the baby Jesus in their piece of bread must provide tamales on Candlemas Day (Día de la Candelaria) on Feb. 2.

Kings’ Day is also known as the Feast of Epiphany, which celebrates the manifestation of Christ on Earth for the first time.

With reports from El Universal and Diario Del Yaqui

The post Parents, get out your wallets: Mexico City residents expected to spend 4B pesos on Kings’ Day gifts appeared first on Mexico News Daily

Lowrey’s body of work encompasses vibrantly colorful paintings and collages that lift the spirits of the viewer. Many incorporate lyrics, poetry, puns and elements of graphic design. They offer a provocative dose of irony or punchy humor, often with a Southern U.S. lilt. Some are abstractions featuring tactile explorations with paint, while others are explosions of geometry and still others are illustrative. At age 91, Lowrey paints for approximately four hours per day.

Building a dream home in Mexico

How did this couple, originally from Alabama and Tennessee, whose careers led them over the decades to various universities and artistic communities in the U.S. South, and who ultimately established themselves in Los Angeles, suddenly decide to move to Mexico?

“Lida had a friend who talked incessantly about a special Mexican town,” explains Lowrey. “We decided we had to see San Miguel de Allende. We came down in 2010 and immediately fell in love with the people, the architecture, the quality of the art scene and the sophistication of the design ethos here that we saw epitomized at YAM Gallery and Skot Foreman Fine Art. Within days, we bought a colonial-era house on Canal Street.”

“We named the house Casa de los Tíos in honor of the inheritance we had each received from beloved uncles, which enabled us to buy it.” The couple worked with Barboza Arquitectos to create a multiple-story, light-filled interior.

Then they set about building their dream home in the countryside on the outskirts of San Miguel. Working with another Mexican architect, Luis Sánchez Renero, they designed a truly spectacular house that would provide each of them with a gorgeous studio. The house consists of three glass pavilions connected by glass corridors. The stunning home has been featured in various international magazines, from Italy to Brazil.

“My parents were ahead of their time in the way they moved between the disciplines of art and design. They both had a profound, intuitive curiosity about the connections, overlap and points of mutual inspiration in the art and design worlds,” noted their daughter, artist Sheridan Lowrey, who has added numerous dramatic, intriguing art installations to the landscape surrounding the home. She uses locally-made tiles and displays Mexican vernacular pottery.

Making artistic connections in San Miguel de Allende

“I love L.A. and miss many things about the South — the waterfalls and mountains, the places I danced in my youth — but I have found fresh inspiration and beauty here in Mexico,” noted Lowrey. 

In San Miguel, the Lowreys discovered a thriving community of art- and design-oriented expats and found that noted L.A. artists such as Lari Pittman and Roy Dowell had homes here. San Miguel’s art scene has certainly evolved over the years. For decades, art students have come to study at the Instituto Allende and Bellas Artes. Now those storied institutions are somewhat less central to the scene, with many established artists working out of Fabrica la Aurora and creating their own studio spaces throughout the city and its environs.

Pilgrimages to San Miguel by Lowrey’s former art and design students

Lowrey received his undergraduate and graduate degrees at Auburn University in graphic design and fine art. He was a career professor of graphic design at the University of Georgia, Indiana State University and last and longest at North Carolina State School of Design.

In each place Austin and Lida lived, they established architecturally interesting live-work spaces for themselves. They did this in the university towns of Raleigh, North Carolina; Athens, Georgia; and Terre Haute, Indiana. In Terre Haute, for example, Lida bought an old church in a blue-collar neighborhood and turned it into a gallery and antiques store named Revival.

Eventually, they moved to San Pedro, the port of Los Angeles, where they became well-established in the local artist community. They had conjoined 3,000-square-foot spaces; Austin’s space was decorated with early American art pottery, flea market objects and outsider art and design, while Lida’s was a white cube gallery.

Lowrey’s students keep in touch with him, and a number have journeyed to San Miguel to visit him, including, most recently, the previous design director at Appalachian State University.

Lowrey even taught his daughter Sheridan at North Carolina State University. “My parents have always been my best friends,” she said, “because we share a love for art and design.”

Lowrey’s other daughter, Elizabeth, is an architect recently named one of Boston Magazine’s 50 Most Influential Bostonians of 2024.

Lida, who passed away in 2020, described herself as “a prolific artist, working in various paint and print media exploring both abstract and representational imagery with conceptual and technical vigor.” Her work, she wrote “is also knowingly referential and witty in subject matter and form.”

Debra Broussard, Lowrey’s current gallerist, noted that “Both the artist and his art are not only deeply sophisticated and moving but also approachable and welcoming.” Lowrey’s work may be viewed at the San Miguel Art Loft.

To learn more, visit sanmiguelartloft.com. To schedule a private viewing of Austin Lowrey’s work, contact Debra Broussard at info@sanmiguelartloft.com. 

Based in San Miguel de Allende, Ann Marie Jackson is a writer and NGO leader who previously worked for the U.S. Department of State. Her award-winning novel “The Broken Hummingbird,” which is set in San Miguel de Allende, came out in October 2023. Ann Marie can be reached through her website, annmariejacksonauthor.com.

The post Austin Lowrey: Still creating provocative art at 91 appeared first on Mexico News Daily

Who lives in Nápoles

Colonia Nápoles, in Mexico City’s Benito Juárez borough, is reeling from its recent years of revitalization and a growing interest from younger urbanites looking for fun-yet-affordable living areas. With an average resident age of 38, Nápoles attracts a diverse mix of professionals, creatives and entrepreneurs. 

Speaking of creatives, renowned Colombian artist Fernando Botero briefly resided on Calle Kansas in 1956. During his stay, Botero — whose works can be found at the Museo Tamayo and Museo Soumaya — immersed himself in Mexico’s thriving art scene, using this time as a period of intense intellectual exploration and artistic development.

A brief history of Nápoles

With its establishment in 1908, Colonia Nápoles quickly defined itself as a key player in the ever-expanding metropolis that was Mexico City. The neighborhood emerged from Rancho de Amores and Rancho de Nápoles, former agricultural estates primed for urban development. English women Francisca Julia Willie and her business partner Enrique Marcial Beale worked together to bring to life their envisioned “model town” with large lots and accessible routes to Mexico City. 

Pretty soon, California Colonial-style mansions started popping up and Nápoles was divided into two sections: the original and Ampliación Nápoles. Over time, Nápoles evolved from a residential area to a commercial hub, particularly along Avenida de los Insurgentes, with modern buildings replacing many of its original houses.

A guide to Nápoles today

Perhaps thanks to the World Trade Center complex, Nápoles offers a unique blend of international flair and local charm. This is evident most notably through its culinary scene, especially along Calle Nueva York, where you can sample bites ranging from Polish to French, Spanish to Indian, all within a few blocks. 

The neighborhood strikes an agreeable balance between the trendiness of areas like Roma or Condesa and a more authentic local experience. Nápoles is characterized by a cosmopolitan vibe that showcases street vendors and upscale dining options on its streets named after U.S. states. The location is strategic and well-connected, making it an ideal base for exploring or living. 

Nápoles is great if you love: A down-to-earth, non-curated neighborhood with a vibrance that could only exist in Mexico City.

What to do in Nápoles

Polyforum Siqueiros: A cultural landmark housing a giant mural, “La Marcha de la Humanidad,” this multifunctional space showcases humanity’s evolution through art. Check out a lineup of  diverse cultural events including theater and exhibitions, in its unique circular auditorium.

Pepsi Center WTC: A versatile, state-of-the-art venue is capable of hosting a range of events, from lectures to concerts by the likes of Bob Dylan and Alejandro Sanchez. It boasts modern amenities, exceptional acoustics and a prime location within the World Trade Center complex.

WTC México: One of the city’s premier event spaces is known for large-scale gatherings that run the gamut of spirituality expos to pharmaceutical conventions. Ideal for networking or accidentally bumping into potential clients. Check out the CETRO Mirador on the 46th floor in Torre 1 for sweeping views of the city.

Plaza México: Despite ongoing legal battles, the world’s largest bullring has resumed activity in the center of Nápoles. Plaza México is an architectural marvel that hosts bullfights and various cultural events, including concerts, serving as a symbol of Mexican heritage and a unique attraction for visitors.

Alameda Nápoles (Parque Alfonso Esparza Oteo): Nápoles’ main park features a distinctive clock tower that has become a symbol of the neighborhood. Enjoy green spaces, a small open-air forum for live performances and recreational facilities.

Parque Hundido: Located in neighboring Extremadura Insurgentes, this expansive urban park is a favorite for families and teenage Mexican couples looking for a place to make out. There are plenty of unique attractions here that you won’t find in other city parks, including the hard-to-miss sculpture of an Olmec head and a recognizable clock made of flowers. 

Things to eat in Nápoles

El Corazón del Mar: This popular seafood restaurant is known for a diverse menu and creative cocktails. The ambiance is relaxed and casual, with outdoor seating perfect for an outing with friends. Make sure to order the octopus or tacos al pastor.

 

Ver esta publicación en Instagram

 

Una publicación compartida por Hijos del Maíz – Antojería (@hijos_del_maiz)

Hijos del Maíz: Mexico is all about celebrating corn, and that’s the premise of this modern Mexican eatery. The menu is abundant in tamales, tlayudas and breakfast dishes like chilaquiles. Don’t miss the interesting mix of cocktails available, including virgin options. Try their flautas ahogadas for an authentic taste of Mexican cuisine.

Vainila Bar: Head here when you’re in the mood for breakfast with an artistic flair. Vainila’s “Brunching and Painting” series is an all-inclusive event, where you can choose a ceramic piece to decorate while enjoying a filling breakfast and unlimited coffee, tea or soft drinks. 

Mazurka: I loved knocking back chilled vodka in this surprisingly authentic Polish restaurant located inside a house with Polish-style furnishing. I can almost guarantee you’ll feel like a true aristocrat ordering from an endless menu boasting dozens of traditional dishes. The restaurant, a staple in Nápoles for over 40 years, is famous for its duck dishes and the “Pope’s menu” once served to Pope John Paul II. 

Goy’s Plant-Based Burgers: It ain’t easy being vegan in a meat-loving country, which might be why this lively and friendly plant-based burger joint is always busy. Goy’s attracts both vegans and meat-eaters to its menu of house-made burger patties that rival traditional burgers. Try their “chicken” burger, which customers claim is indistinguishable from the real thing.

Dulce Madero: This quaint pet-friendly restaurant, cafe and deli focuses on a health-conscious yet very hearty menu. There’s a little bit of everything, so whether you’re in the mood for a superfood smoothie and eggs or a crisp white wine and charcuterie, you’ll find what you’re looking for here. Patrons love the rustic feel and cozy outdoor patio.

Debarbas Nueva York – Tapas Bar: Want the beach but can’t quite swing a getaway to the coast? Come to Nápoles’s gourmet bebedero (drinkery), which features a fusion of Mexican and Italian cuisines, with dishes like tuna tostadas in ginger vinaigrette and bean-stuffed plantain croquettes. 

La Musa Coffee House: Vibey and hip with lots of character, La Musa draws locals in for more than just its good coffee. It’s the perfect spot for those seeking a trendy, local coffee experience with a side of creativity. Snack on lavender pound cake or an empanada with your coffee, or enjoy an afternoon mojito as a live musician strums his guitar.

One hidden gem

Far from hidden, any visitor to Nápoles should plan a visit to the Sunday tianguis. Considered one of the city’s best, spend the afternoon shopping a great variety of products that you can’t find at every tianguis: kitchen and home items, flea-market finds, fresh produce, prepared foods and everything in between. 

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.

The post Know your Mexico City neighborhood: Nápoles appeared first on Mexico News Daily

They were among the topics President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke about at her first morning press conference of 2025, held at the National Palace this Thursday Jan. 2.

Sheinbaum predicts exchange rate will stabilize after Trump takes office 

Sheinbaum noted that the peso has depreciated against the US dollar since she was sworn in as president on Oct. 1.

“Among other things, it’s due to uncertainty in the United States and the changes in the [interest] rate of the Fed,” she said.

“We expect that once President Trump takes office, we’ll enter a period of stabilization,” Sheinbaum said.

The president presented data that showed that the peso depreciated less against the US dollar in the final three months of 2024 than several other currencies including the Japanese yen, the euro, the British pound and the Canadian dollar.

The data showed that the peso depreciated 5.8% against the greenback in the period, while the yen fell 9.5%, the euro declined 7.5%, the pound dropped 6.8% and the Canadian dollar dipped 6.3%.

“Look at the depreciation of other currencies so that you don’t say it’s a Mexico issue. It’s an international issue,” Sheinbaum said.

The peso is “among the currencies that had the lowest depreciation,” she added.

The Bank of Mexico’s closing USD:MXN rate on Thursday was just under 20.62.

Mexico ‘still the 12th largest economy in the world’

Sheinbaum also presented 2023 World Bank data that showed that Mexico was the 12th largest economy in the world, behind the United States, China, Germany, Japan, India, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Brazil, Canada and Russia.

“We’re still the 12th largest economy in the world, … above Spain, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, Netherlands, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Switzerland,” she said, mentioning the countries ranked 13th to 20th based on the size of their economy.

The data Sheinbaum presented showed that Mexico had a GDP of US $1.789 trillion in 2023, equivalent to 1.7% of global GDP.

Plan to receive deportees during second Trump administration is ‘ready,’ says Sheinbaum 

Asked about the progress that has been made in terms of preparing for the possible mass deportation of Mexicans from the United States during Donald Trump’s second term as U.S. president, Sheinbaum said that the government already has a “very elaborate plan.”

“… We already have it ready,” she stressed, adding that the government is waiting to see what happens vis-à-vis deportations before presenting the plan.

“But everything is prepared,” Sheinbaum said, adding that states all over the country will have a role in the plan’s execution.

The government is not just working with the border states but with entities all over the republic, she said.

“If a compatriot arrives to Mexico at the border, it’s very probable that he or she will want to go to their place of origin,” she said.

Government seeks to debunk NYT fentanyl report 

Three days after Sheinbaum declared that a New York Times report about fentanyl production in Sinaloa “is not very credible,” no fewer than three other government officials sought to explain why the report is not grounded in truth.

A central focus of the officials — the director of health agency IMSS-Bienestar, the director of health regulator Cofepris and a precursor chemicals specialist with the Mexican Navy — was the Times’ suggestion that fentanyl cooks could develop a tolerance to the synthetic opioid.

Referring to a conversation with two alleged fentanyl cooks at a Sinaloa Cartel lab in Culiacán, reporters for the Times, who said they wore “gas masks and hazmat suits” to the lab, wrote:

“While one sniff of the toxic chemicals could kill us, they explained, they had built up a tolerance to the lethal drug.”

Cofepris director Armida Zúñiga Estrada told reporters on Thursday that “there is no evidence of tolerance of this substance.”

Similarly, navy chemicals analyst Juana Peñaloza Ibarra said “there is no scientific evidence that supports the idea” that a person can build up a “tolerance to the lethal drug.”

For his part, IMSS-Bienestar director Alejandro Svarch Pérez said that if cooks shown in the Times’ report had really been producing fentanyl, they would have fallen down unconscious in 30 seconds due to “the vapors” emitted from “the synthesis of fentanyl.”

The cooks were wearing face masks but were not using any professional protective equipment.

To produce fentanyl, “a laboratory where the conditions of exposure can be controlled is required,” Svarch said, adding that “specialized equipment” and “professional ventilation systems” are also needed.

Fentanyl can’t be made in “a domestic kitchen, as the report shows,” he said.

“It is not possible to make fentanyl in the way referred to in the article,” Svarch added.

Sheinbaum said on Monday that fentanyl is not produced in the way the Times’ photographs demonstrate, and suggested that the cooks were actually making methamphetamine.

On Thursday she said that “if there was [such a thing as] tolerance to the lethal drug, there wouldn’t be the deaths due to fentanyl that there [currently] are in the United States.”

In pointing out alleged falsehoods in The New York Times report, Sheinbaum said that the government was “defending the right to information, to veracity” and committed her administration to “denouncing” inaccurate reporting in the future.

After the president questioned the credibility of the Times’ article earlier this week, the newspaper said it was “completely confident” in its reporting on fentanyl production in Mexico.

Sheinbaum’s rejection of the newspaper’s reporting continues a practice of her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who was an outspoken critic of the Mexican and international press during his presidency.

Whether the Times’ Dec. 29 report really shows fentanyl cooks in a fentanyl lab or not, the fact remains that large quantities of the synthetic opioid are made in Mexico (using precursor chemicals from China) and illegally shipped to the United States.

The Mexican government’s willingness and capacity (or lack thereof) to reduce the flow of fentanyl — and migrants — to the United States looks set to be a defining factor in the health of the Sheinbaum administration’s relationship with the U.S. government led by Trump. In November, the president-elect pledged to impose a 25% tariff on all Mexican and Canadian exports on the first day of his second term due to what he called the “long simmering problem” of drugs and migrants illegally entering the U.S. from the country’s southern and northern neighbors.

By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)

The post Sheinbaum disputes NYT fentanyl report: Thursday’s mañanera recapped appeared first on Mexico News Daily