¡Hola amigos! This week, Sheinbaum is drawing a line on foreign agents operating in Mexico, the Supreme Court is set to weigh in on a landmark assisted suicide case, and rising tomato and potato prices are driving up the cost of food across Mexico.

Plus, what you need to know before buying a used vehicle in Mexico, the country's most beautiful excuse to put down your phone, and the Irishman who may have inspired the legend of Zorro. 

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❓México Trivia

What prized Mexican delicacy appears for just a day or two each year and is collected before sunrise after the first summer rains?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

📣 México News Roundup

🛂  President Sheinbaum said foreign agents entering Mexico must be formally accredited and comply with Mexico's National Security Law.

🇺🇸 President Sheinbaum declined to respond to U.S. drug czar Sara Carter's warning that the U.S. could pursue cartels and corrupt officials if Mexico fails to cooperate.

⚖️ Mexico's Supreme Court will review a case involving euthanasia and assisted suicide this week. 

🍅 Tomato prices in Mexico are up 99% from a year ago, while potato prices have jumped 79% since December 2025.

👷 Mexico's unemployment fell to 2.6% in April 2026, down from 2.8% in March.

🛢️ Europe replaced the Americas as PEMEX’s largest crude oil export market.

🏭 Mexico's industrial production increased in April, marking its largest monthly increase since March 2021.

💰 Mercado Libre to invest US$4.6 billion in Mexico and create 8,500 new jobs.

🚧 Mexico's CNTE teachers union warned of more protests after President Sheinbaum signaled no new talks are planned for now.

⚽ FIFA blamed Guadalajara's empty-looking stands on fans mingling in stadium food and drink areas. President Sheinbaum disagreed, saying World Cup ticket prices are out of reach for many Mexicans.

🦆 A duck named Merlin has become the World Cup's unofficial mascot after going viral in Mexico's national team jersey (and the cutest socks you’ve ever seen). Watch Merlin strut his stuff.

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📍Immigration Essentials

Buying a Used Vehicle in Mexico: What You Need to Know

One of the most common mistakes people make when buying a used vehicle in Mexico is assuming that if the sale goes through, the vehicle can be registered.

Not always.

Missing documents, an incomplete ownership history, registration issues, or problems with imported vehicles can make registration difficult – or in some cases impossible.

Before purchasing a used vehicle, verify that the seller can provide:

• Original factura (bill of sale)

• Current registration documents (tarjeta de circulación)

• Matching VIN/NIV on the vehicle and all paperwork

• Proof that annual fees and required taxes have been paid

• Proof that any required Baja de Vehículo (vehicle deregistration) process has been completed if the vehicle is being transferred from another state

• Original pedimento if the vehicle was imported or nationalized

The original factura is especially important. It should remain with the vehicle for its lifetime and include endorsements from previous owners documenting the chain of ownership. Without it, registration may be difficult or impossible.

If the vehicle was imported or nationalized, confirm that the process was completed legally. Vehicles with improper documentation may not be eligible for registration and could be subject to confiscation.

Before buying, check the vehicle in REPUVE, Mexico's public vehicle registry. The free database allows you to search by VIN/NIV, license plate, or registration certificate number to review theft reports, legal status, and registration information.

If the vehicle is registered in another state, additional steps may be required before it can be registered where you live, including deregistration, inspection, and payment of applicable taxes and fees. 

If the previous registration is not properly cancelled, taxes, fees, and penalties may continue to accrue in the original state.

One final consideration: purchasing a vehicle and registering a vehicle are not the same thing.

In most states, registering a Mexican-plated vehicle requires Temporary or Permanent Residency and a CURP. Because tourists generally do not have a CURP, they may not be able to register a vehicle in their name. Requirements vary by state, so confirm local rules before purchasing.

🧩 Life in México

The Exchange Rate Is Either Working For You or Against You

The peso doesn't care about your closing date.

It doesn't care that you've been planning this purchase for two years, or that you've already signed a contract, or that your budget was set when the rate was 18 to 1.

It just moves. Sometimes 10%, 15%, 20% in a matter of months. And if you're not protected, that swing comes straight out of your pocket.

If you're planning to buy or build in Mexico within the next 6–18 months, understanding how to manage exchange-rate risk could save you thousands of dollars.

On June 18th, join real estate advisor Karla Ruiz and MexEdge founder George Reavis for a live presentation and Q&A to learn how to protect yourself from exchange-rate swings.

Here's what they'll cover:

• Why your bank can't protect you from rate swings – and what to use instead

• How forward contracts work in plain English – no finance background required

• What it actually costs to lock in your rate (less than you think)

The webinar is FREE and takes place Thursday, June 18 at 5:00 PM (Mexico City time).

Register here 

🇲🇽 Viva México

The Irishman Who Wanted to Free Mexico

More than 170 years before Mexico won its independence, a man living in Mexico City was already calling for freedom from Spanish rule.

The surprising part?

He wasn't Mexican.

Born in Ireland in 1611, William Lamport was a gifted scholar with an unruly streak. After studying in Wexford, Dublin, and London, he was pushed out of England by anti-Catholic tensions. He set out for Spain, but on the way, he’s said to have spent time with pirates sailing the seas between Britain and Europe.

Once in Spain, Lamport reinvented himself.

Fluent in several languages and skilled in law, politics, and military affairs, he caught the attention of powerful figures at the Spanish court. He adopted the name Guillén de Lampart and became connected to some of the most influential people in the empire.

In 1640, he crossed the Atlantic to New Spain.

He was supposed to observe colonial affairs and report back to Spanish officials. But Mexico changed him. Lamport saw the rigid caste system, the exploitation of Indigenous communities, and the enslavement of Africans. 

He began secretly drafting plans for an independent Mexico founded on equality and justice. New Spain would become independent. Indigenous lands would be restored. Enslaved Africans would be freed. 

So Lamport began secretly drafting an audacious plan: An independent Mexico where all people would be equal before the law.

By day, he was a loyal crown observer; by night, he was a clandestine insurgent.

The vision was ambitious and so was Lamport. He claimed royal blood – at one point suggesting he was the illegitimate brother of King Philip IV – and imagined himself ruling the new nation.

But the plan never got off the ground. His challenge to Spanish rule led to his arrest.

He pulled off a daring prison break, but didn’t run. Instead, he plastered Mexico City's walls with proclamations denouncing the Inquisition and calling for political change. He was quickly recaptured and spent nearly two decades in prison before being executed in 1659.

Today, a statue of Guillén de Lampart stands inside Mexico City’s Angel of Independence monument. His life had everything: secret identities, pirates, prison breaks, political rebellion, and a fight against injustice.

No wonder many believe this Irish rebel in colonial Mexico helped inspire the legend of Zorro.

🪷 Viva Wellness

The Summer Spectacle That Forces You to Unplug

Every summer, Mexico creates one of the best digital detox experiences in the country.

As thousands of fireflies gather in the protected forests of Tlaxcala, Puebla, and the State of Mexico during breeding season, visitors flock to witness one of the country's most remarkable natural spectacles.

Among them is Photinus palaciosi, a species known for a remarkable behavior: synchronizing its flashes during mating season. Instead of individual insects blinking randomly, thousands pulse together across the forest in coordinated waves, transforming the darkness into something that feels almost otherworldly.

But what makes the experience truly remarkable isn't just the fireflies.

It's what you're forced to leave behind.

Because these insects are extremely sensitive to artificial light, visitors aren't allowed to use flashlights, camera flashes, or phone lights inside the sanctuaries. The forests become unusually quiet. Screens disappear. Notifications stop. Conversations soften to whispers.

For a few hours, the modern world fades into the background.

Instead, you're walking slowly through a dark forest, paying attention to something beautiful unfolding right in front of you.

The wellness benefits may come from something surprisingly simple: darkness, silence, nature, and uninterrupted attention.

Studies have linked time spent in forests to lower stress levels, reduced blood pressure, and improved mood. Psychologists have also found that experiences of awe can help quiet mental chatter and create a greater sense of perspective.

In a world designed to keep us connected 24 hours a day, Mexico's firefly season offers a rare invitation to disconnect for an evening…and that may be exactly what many of us need.

🎉 ¡Vamos! Events

Fútbol 2026: Annie Leibovitz – Now–August 30, Mexico City
One of the world's most influential photographers, Annie Leibovitz, takes over the National Museum of Anthropology with a World Cup-themed exhibition. Visitors can see her iconic images from Mexico '86 alongside new portraits of some of football's biggest stars. The show also explores connections between the modern game and Mexico's ancient ballgame traditions. More info here.

Kocufest 2026 – June 20–21, Zapopan, Jalisco
The Parque de las Niñas y los Niños becomes a showcase for Korean culture during this free two-day festival. Visitors can enjoy live music, workshops, exhibitions, gastronomy, and cultural activities, with K-pop band W24 headlining the program. The event welcomes both devoted K-pop fans and curious newcomers. More info here.

Feria Nacional de San Pedro Tláhuac 2026 – June 20–July 4, Tláhuac, Mexico City
A highlight of this 70-year-old celebration is the Procession of Trajineras, when flower-decorated boats travel through Tláhuac's historic canals carrying offerings to San Pedro Apóstol in a tradition rooted in the area's chinampa culture. The festival also features religious celebrations, concerts, food stalls, carnival rides, and community festivities honoring the patron saint of Tláhuac. More info here.

Dalí: Scenography of a Dream – June 25–August 31, Mexico City
The artist who once described Mexico as “more surreal than my paintings” takes center stage at the Palacio de la Autonomía this summer. Featuring more than 80 original works, the exhibition explores Dalí’s surrealist world and his collaboration with Alfred Hitchcock, including a monumental 10-meter canvas created for Spellbound. More info here.

Certamen Diosa Centéotl – June 26–27, Oaxaca City
The Certamen Diosa Centéotl, or Selection of the Corn Goddess, marks the start of festivities for Oaxaca's biggest cultural festival. Participants compete for the honor of serving as the cultural ambassador of the Guelaguetza festival. The winner is chosen for their knowledge of local traditions, languages, and customs. More info here.

Vendimia de Apertura at Puertas de la Peña – June 27, Bernal, Querétaro
Set near the iconic Peña de Bernal monolith, this wine harvest celebration combines traditional grape stomping, wine pairings, food, live music, and flamenco performances. Activities run from afternoon into the evening, with experiences spread across the vineyard, including tastings, workshops, and harvest-season festivities. More info here.

Feria Patronal de San Pedro y San Pablo – June 28–30, San Pedro Tlachichilco, Hidalgo
This patron saint celebration takes place in San Pedro Tlachichilco, an Indigenous community in Acaxochitlán where Otomí is still spoken. Its most distinctive ritual is the blessing of children with San Pedro’s keys, believed locally to bring protection, health, and help young children begin to speak. Music, processions, dances, and fireworks round out the three-day celebration. More info here.

Festival Internacional de Jazz Querétaro 2026 – July 2–5, Querétaro
Querétaro's International Jazz Festival returns for its 16th edition with performances by local, national, and international artists across multiple venues in the state. The festival aims to bring jazz to new audiences while highlighting the genre's diversity through a program that encourages artistic exchange and showcases a wide range of musical styles. More info here.

💡 Say It in Spanish

¿Está retirado?
Translation: Is it far away?

Most Spanish learners know lejos means “far.” But in Mexico, you'll also hear retirado used to describe something that's a good distance away.

This is a useful phrase when you're taking a taxi, planning a day trip, meeting friends, or checking how far that "must-visit" restaurant actually is.

• ¿Está retirado? – Is it far?

• Sí, está algo retirado. – Yes, it's a bit far.

• No, está cerquita. – No, it's pretty close.

If you're trying to improve your Spanish, I recommend Easy Spanish Step-by-Step. It's simple, practical, and one of the easiest ways to build a solid foundation.

🎯 Trivia Answer

A: Chicatanas

After the first heavy rains of the season, something remarkable happens across southern Mexico.

Across southern Mexico, particularly in Oaxaca, Chiapas, and Guerrero, giant leaf-cutter ants known as chicatanas emerge from underground nests in enormous swarms. The spectacle may last only a day or two each year, sending families out before sunrise to collect them by hand.

This annual phenomenon is often described as a "rain of ants" and has been part of Mexican food culture since pre-Hispanic times.

The ants are toasted on a comal, their wings removed, then ground with chile, garlic, and salt in a molcajete to create salsa de chicatana, a smoky delicacy prized throughout southern Mexico.

While chicatanas are found across several states, nowhere is the tradition more celebrated than in Oaxaca, where the arrival of the first swarms is eagerly anticipated each year. Miss the rain, and you'll miss one of Mexico's most unusual seasonal harvests.

See what a "rain of ants" looks like. Check out this video.

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¡Hola amigos! The World Cup finally arrives this week, and opening day comes with protests, roadblocks, political drama, and the debut of Mexico's first homegrown electric vehicle. Never let it be said this country doesn't know how to multitask.

Plus, despite pushback against Mexico's new cell phone registration law, the government says the June 30 deadline is firm, and what you need to know about the new ban on dogs entering Mexico from any U.S. state.

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❓México Trivia

What record will Mexico set in 2026 that no other country has ever achieved?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

📣 México News Roundup

⚖️ Mexico’s National Action Party (PAN) asked the International Criminal Court to investigate former President López Obrador, alleging his security policies allowed drug cartels to expand their power across Mexico.

🛣️ Mexico to invest MX$69 billion in road infrastructure, including repairs and upgrades to 18,000 kilometers of roads.

🚗 President Sheinbaum unveiled Olinia, Mexico's first domestically developed electric vehicle. See it here.

🚧 Families of missing persons, truckers, and farmers plan protests in Mexico City and roadblocks across the country on June 11, the day the 2026 World Cup opens in CDMX.

⚽ CNTE teachers, Ayotzinapa families, and other activist groups plan a torchlight march to Estadio Azteca on June 10 ahead of the World Cup opener.

🚨 On Monday, police seized 59 homemade explosive devices from buses carrying Ayotzinapa students headed to Mexico City to join CNTE demonstrations.

📉 Private-sector economists cut Mexico's 2026 growth forecast for the third straight month, lowering expected GDP growth to 1.1%. 

🛒 Mexico signed a new agreement with tomato growers in 18 states aimed at bringing down prices for consumers.

🌊 Thousands gathered on Paseo de la Reforma to attempt the world's largest Mexican Wave, but Guinness said the effort fell short. See highlights here.

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📍Immigration Essentials

New Ban on Dogs Coming From the U.S. to Mexico

Confusion erupted this week after both Mexico and the U.S. announced new animal movement restrictions following several confirmed New World screwworm cases in Texas and New Mexico.

Here’s what we know: 

June 7: Mexico's animal health authority, SENASICA (Servicio Nacional de Sanidad, Inocuidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria), announced an immediate suspension on imports of several animals from all U.S. states, including pet dogs, cattle, horses, sheep, goats, swine, ferrets, and certain birds.

June 8: The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) responded by halting exports of those same animal categories from the U.S. to Mexico.

What about dogs coming from Mexico to the U.S.?
At this time, dogs may still enter the U.S. from Mexico, provided they meet existing CDC and USDA screwworm inspection and certification requirements.

What about Canada?
Canada is not banning pet dogs from entering, but is strongly advising pet owners to inspect their animals for screwworm symptoms if they've been in Texas.

Because the situation can change rapidly, it is highly recommended to check for real-time updates through official agricultural and veterinary channels.

🧩 Life in México

What's Going On With Mexico's Cell Phone Registration Law?

Mexico's mandatory cell phone registration deadline is just 21 days away.

By June 30, all mobile phone lines are supposed to be linked to the CURP (Mexico's national identification number) of their owner. The government says the measure will help combat extortion, fraud, and anonymous criminal activity.

To register, users generally need to provide their name and CURP; companies use an RFC, while foreigners may register with a valid passport or temporary CURP.

But with the deadline approaching, questions remain about both compliance and effectiveness.

Recent reports suggest only about 49.5 million mobile lines have been registered so far, representing roughly 31% of Mexico's estimated 161 million active lines. That leaves more than 114 million lines still unregistered. 

Telecommunications operators and industry groups are questioning whether official figures accurately reflect what's happening on the ground, particularly in Mexico's massive prepaid market, which accounts for roughly 80% of all mobile lines. AT&T reported that only 17.3% of its prepaid customers had completed registration as of early May.

The current registry is Mexico's third attempt at creating a national phone database.

In 2008, Mexico launched RENAUT, a registry intended to reduce extortion and other crimes. Instead, the database was compromised, and reports later alleged that records containing millions of phone numbers and personal details were being sold for as little as $500 USD. The program was eventually abandoned.

More recently, a biometric registry known as PANAUT was struck down by Mexico's Supreme Court in 2022 over privacy concerns.

Digital rights organization R3D has long argued that phone registries create privacy risks while doing little to stop sophisticated criminals.

Those concerns gained new attention on January 9, the very first day registration began, when cybersecurity journalist Ignacio Gómez Villaseñor discovered a vulnerability in Telcel's registration platform that exposed users' names, birth dates, CURP numbers, RFC tax IDs, and email addresses.

According to security researchers, the information could be accessed simply by entering a phone number. The vulnerability was later patched, but only after the exposure had already been publicly documented.

Then, in late May, journalists documented active SIM cards being sold in Mexico City under other people's identities for as little as 200 pesos — precisely the kind of loophole critics warned about from the start.

The current pushback extends beyond privacy advocates. 

Telecommunications companies argue the program could cost operators more than 4 billion pesos while doing little to stop criminals who simply find ways around the system. Even Carlos Slim has questioned whether the registry will ultimately achieve its intended goals.

For now, the registry is moving forward. The government has repeatedly stated there will be no extension.

Beginning July 1, unregistered phone lines will be suspended. Users will lose the ability to make or receive calls, send text messages, or access mobile data until they complete the registration process. Lines left inactive for an extended period could eventually be canceled altogether.

How Much of Your Mexico Property Budget Is at Risk?

Most buyers never calculate the impact exchange rates can have on their purchase. The ones who do often uncover risks that could cost them tens of thousands before closing.

MexEdge's free 3-minute Currency Risk Assessment analyzes your purchase timeline, transfer plans, and overall exposure to show you where you stand.

See Your Risk Score

🇲🇽 Viva México

The 9,000-Mile Trade Route That Changed Mexico Forever

Long before Mexico City had luxury boutiques, it had something even more exotic.

A massive marketplace called El Parián once stood on part of what is now the Zócalo, selling silk from China, spices from the Moluccas, gemstones from India, and luxury goods from across Asia.

Most arrived through Manila in the Philippines before crossing the Pacific aboard the legendary Nao de China.

Despite the name, it wasn't a single ship. It was a trade route that connected Manila and Acapulco for 250 years, from 1565 to 1815.

The journey was extraordinary.

At nearly 9,000 miles, it was the longest regular maritime route in the world at the time. Months at sea separated Acapulco from Manila, yet every year merchants eagerly waited for the ships to arrive.

And what they carried seemed almost magical.

The galleons arrived loaded with silk, cloves, cinnamon, pepper, nutmeg, sandalwood, precious stones, ivory carvings, and luxury goods gathered from across Asia. For many people in New Spain, these products offered their first glimpse of a world they would never see.

When the ships finally reached Acapulco, the port exploded into activity.

The annual trade fairs attracted merchants from across New Spain, all hoping to secure a share of the cargo. 

For weeks, Acapulco became one of the most important commercial centers in the Americas before the goods continued inland toward Mexico City and eventually Europe.

Many of those treasures ended up in El Parián, the famous market that once occupied part of today's Zócalo. Before the Zócalo became the vast open plaza we know today, it was home to a bustling two-story marketplace filled with exotic imports that dazzled colonial society.

The influence of this trade can still be seen today.

Historians credit Asian ceramics brought on the galleons with helping inspire the distinctive blue-and-white designs that became Puebla's famous Talavera pottery.

The Manila Galleon trade came to an end during Mexico's War of Independence in the early 19th century.

But by then, the connection between Mexico and Asia had already left a permanent mark on the country's culture, crafts, and history.

🪷 Viva Wellness

Garambullo: Mexico's Most Underrated Seasonal Fruit

Tiny but mighty, garambullo is a deep-purple berry that grows wild on cactus in central and northern Mexico, especially in Guanajuato, Querétaro, and San Luis Potosí.

Though it looks like a blueberry, garambullo brings a uniquely Mexican blend of nutrients and wellness benefits.

Sweet, tart, and slightly earthy, garambullo tastes like a cross between a blueberry and a cranberry.

The juicy purple pulp can stain your tongue a deep red, thanks to natural pigments called betalains. Alongside anthocyanins and flavonoids, these powerful antioxidants help support cellular repair, reduce inflammation, and promote overall vitality.

A single handful of berries is loaded with vitamin C, calcium, and iron – nutrients that support healthy skin, strong bones, and overall wellness. Garambullo also contains potassium, zinc, and magnesium, minerals that support everything from cardiovascular function to oxygen transport and sustained energy levels.

Garambullo holds a special place in traditional Mexican food culture. Indigenous communities, especially the Otomí and Hñähñu, have used the berries (and the flowers) in recipes passed down for generations.

Mexican healers have traditionally used garambullo to soothe the digestive system, support healthy blood sugar levels, and aid liver and kidney function. Externally, the soft pulp has also been applied to minor cuts and scrapes for its soothing properties.

Today, garambullo remains one of Mexico's most underrated seasonal fruits. Keep an eye out for it in mercados during June and July. Enjoy it fresh, in hearty salsas, jams, ice cream, and even tepache de garambullo.

🎉 ¡Vamos! Events

Festival del Mar 2026 – Now–June 25, Veracruz & Boca del Río, Veracruz
Celebrating Veracruz’s deep connection to the sea, Festival del Mar brings a month of free maritime, cultural, and sporting events to the waterfront. Highlights include an Expo Marítimo Portuario, sailing and paddling competitions, beach cleanups, and public activities tied to Día de la Marina and Día de la Gente de Mar. More info here.

Festival Fantástico BCS 2026 – June 12, La Paz, Baja California Sur
The La Paz malecón becomes an open-air gallery during Festival Fantástico BCS, where towering “Tewales” sculptures inspired by local nature, culture, and environmental themes take center stage. Created by artists and community groups using largely recycled materials, the monumental works culminate in a public parade and celebration along the waterfront. More info here.

Festival Internacional de las Artes Saltillo (FINA) 2026 – June 14–July 25, Saltillo, Coahuila
Saltillo marks its 449th anniversary with six weeks of concerts, exhibitions, performances, and public events across the city. Highlights include a traditional callejoneada through the historic center and the Saltillo 449 videomapping show, alongside a program featuring nearly 4,000 artists from Mexico and abroad. More info here.

Expo Jersey MX 2026 – June 20–21, Guadalajara, Jalisco
Vintage football jerseys, World Cup sticker albums, collectibles, and trading opportunities take center stage at this gathering for collectors and fans. More than 50 shops from across Mexico, along with special guests from Argentina and Colombia, will take part at Salón Fiesta Guadalajara. More info here.

Expo Gastronómica 2026 – June 25–27, Mexico City
More than 700 brands, chefs, sommeliers, and food industry insiders gather at the World Trade Center for three days of cooking shows, tastings, barismo competitions, and culinary networking. The expo also features kombucha, craft drinks, and a Pabellón Bar & Drinks dedicated to cocktails and spirits. More info here.

Guapea Fest 2026 – June 25–27, Mazatlán, Sinaloa
Mazatlán’s Guapea Fest returns with three days of salsa, bachata, kizomba, and Afro-Latin dance events overlooking the Pacific coast. The festival brings together dancers, DJs, live orchestras, workshops, beach parties, and late-night socials, turning the city into one of Mexico’s biggest summer gatherings for Latin dance culture. More info here.

Stars & Stripes 2026 – June 25–28, Los Cabos, Baja California Sur
Fishing, golf, pickleball, and nightly headline concerts come together at this four-day charity fundraiser at Hilton Los Cabos. Organized by the Stars & Stripes Children’s Foundation, the event supports youth-focused organizations and has expanded since its beginnings in 1996. More info here.

Marcha del Orgullo LGBT+ CDMX 2026 – June 27, Mexico City
One of Latin America’s biggest Pride celebrations returns to Mexico City as thousands march down Paseo de la Reforma from the Ángel de la Independencia to the Zócalo. This year’s edition overlaps with the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with organizers promoting a “global pride” atmosphere expected to draw international visitors alongside massive local crowds. More info here.

💡 Say It in Spanish

¿Va a tardar mucho?
Translation: Is it going to take long?

Whether you’re waiting on the Telmex technician, a haircut, or your tacos al pastor – this is the golden phrase you want to keep in your back pocket.

“¿Va a tardar mucho?” is the polite (but subtly strategic) way to nudge things along when “ahorita” could mean five minutes…or sometime next Tuesday. 

It’s non-confrontational, respectful, and often gets you a more realistic answer – or at least a smile and a shrug.

Bonus tip: Add a friendly “gracias” and a smile and you’ll sound less like an impatient gringo. 

🎯 Trivia Answer

A: Mexico is the first country ever to host three FIFA Men's World Cups, having previously welcomed the tournament in 1970 and 1986.

The country's iconic Estadio Azteca will set a record of its own. When the tournament kicks off Thursday, June 11, it will become the first stadium ever to host matches in three different World Cups.

Want to watch the World Cup through your preferred streaming service? Bypass geo-restrictions here.

Want to reach globally minded readers living in Mexico? Advertise with us. Click here to see if we’re a good fit.

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¡Hola amigos! This week, Sheinbaum delivered her strongest rebuke yet of U.S. interference, teachers are digging in for an indefinite strike in Mexico City, and the threat of an air traffic controllers' strike isn't off the table just yet.

Plus, what happens when you move your car to another state, why some Canadians are paying thousands more for property in Mexico, and the Women's World Cup that drew 110,000 fans to Estadio Azteca but FIFA refused to recognize. 

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❓México Trivia

Q: Which Mexican city claims to be the birthplace of the Mexican Revolution, even though historians still debate whether that’s true?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

📣 México News Roundup

✈️ Mexico’s air traffic controllers said they will wait for the government’s response to salary and staffing demands before deciding whether to move forward with a strike.

🚨 Protesting CNTE teachers attempted to break through police barricades surrounding Mexico City’s Zócalo on Monday, leaving one person injured.

📚 CNTE teachers declared an indefinite strike on June 1 and vowed to continue protests in Mexico City until their pension demands are addressed.

✈️ Aeroméxico strike averted after flight attendants approved a new wage agreement.

🇺🇸 At her two-year anniversary rally, President Sheinbaum delivered her strongest rebuke yet of U.S. interference, criticizing the DOJ’s indictment of 10 Mexican officials, including a sitting governor.

🤝 The U.S. and Mexico launched new USMCA negotiation rounds ahead of the July 1 joint review deadline.

🇪🇸 Iberia’s new direct flights between Monterrey and Madrid begin today, June 2.

🛩️ Oxfam México has called for new taxes on private jets, luxury yachts, and high-end vehicles.

💰 Mexico’s federal government spent MX$351 billion less than budgeted between January and April, according to the Finance Ministry.

☕ Starbucks México will distribute more than 800,000 coffee plants to farmers in Chiapas, Puebla, and Veracruz as part of an effort to strengthen Mexico’s coffee industry.

⚽ President Sheinbaum gave her World Cup opening match ticket to a 21-year-old athlete from Veracruz who won a national soccer skills competition. Watch the moment here. 

Don't Let Borders Decide What You Can Watch

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📍Immigration Essentials

Changing Plates When You Move between States in Mexico

When moving to a new state in Mexico, you’re not automatically required to change your license plates. Some states – like Guanajuato – allow you to keep your existing plates as long as you continue paying the annual vehicle tax. There’s no expiration as long as payments are up to date.

However, not all states make it that easy.

Others require annual re-plating or issuing a new circulation card, which may involve returning in person to your previous state to complete the process.

If you choose to officially register your vehicle in your new state, it’s critical to cancel your previous registration first. Each state operates independently, and if your plates remain active in your former state, taxes will continue to accrue. Some foreigners have been hit with back taxes of 10,000–15,000 pesos because they didn’t cancel plates properly before registering elsewhere.

To cancel plates, you'll need to do what's called an “administrative cancellation” in your old state. If you can't go in person, you can authorize someone to act on your behalf using a notarized carta poder (power of attorney), along with your ID, their ID, and two witness signatures.

If you’re re-registering, bring:

• Your original invoice (factura) or title

• Proof of payment for taxes and tenencia

• Circulation card and cancellation certificate (if applicable)

• Residency card or license

• Proof of address in your new state

• Customs documents (pedimento) if the car was imported

Driving between states with mismatched paperwork? You’ll need a temporary permit to legally transport the vehicle – these now last one to three days and must be issued by your local transit office.

While there’s no official deadline for updating your registration, it's best to handle it promptly to avoid tax penalties and headaches down the road. Check with your state for specific regulations.

🧩 Life in México

Why Canadians Buying Property in Mexico Are Paying More

Most conversations about foreigners buying property in Mexico focus on the US dollar versus the peso.

But that's not the currency risk many Canadians should be paying attention to.

In many popular real estate markets throughout Mexico, properties are priced in US dollars. And when the CAD/USD exchange rate moves significantly between signing and closing, the impact can be substantial.

One Canadian buyer recently saw the cost of a property increase by more than $23,000 CAD before closing, even though the property price never changed.

If you're buying, building, or planning a property purchase in Mexico, this is a risk worth understanding.

Read More

🇲🇽 Viva México

The World Cup FIFA Refused to Recognize

Just one year after hosting the men's 1970 World Cup, Mexico gave women's football one of the biggest stages the sport had ever seen. 

In 1971, Mexico hosted Copa 71, a tournament that drew some of the largest crowds in women's sports history. 

More than 110,000 fans packed Estadio Azteca for the final – a crowd larger than many men's World Cup matches and still one of the largest ever recorded for a women's sporting event. 

But FIFA refused to recognize the tournament because women played it.

Known today as the "Forgotten World Cup," the tournament brought six national teams to Mexico. In England, women had been banned from playing on official football grounds for 50 years. In Brazil, the sport remained illegal.

In Mexico, the players became stars.

Crowds surrounded team buses. Fans lined up for autographs. Some teams needed police escorts just to get through the crowds.

FIFA tried to stop the tournament and pressured clubs and associations not to support it. The organizers ignored them.

Instead, they secured two of the country's biggest venues: Estadio Azteca in Mexico City and Estadio Jalisco in Guadalajara.

The gamble paid off.

Fans embraced it. Mexico opened with a 3-1 victory over Argentina in front of around 100,000 spectators. By the time Mexico reached the final against Denmark, the country was gripped by a football frenzy. Denmark ultimately won 3-0.

The tournament drew unprecedented crowds and media attention, but despite this, the tournament was never officially recognized.

FIFA would not organize an official Women's World Cup for another twenty years.

The footballers paid a price for their success. Members of England's team were suspended; Denmark's championship-winning squad was disbanded; and in Mexico, support for the home heroes quickly evaporated.

Today, thanks in part to the 2023 documentary Copa 71, these pioneering footballers are finally receiving recognition for changing the game, even if history took more than 50 years to catch up.

🪷 Viva Wellness

Why Mexicans Put This Herb in Their Beans

Few herbs divide opinion in Mexico quite like epazote (Dysphania ambrosioides). Its deeply distinctive aroma is polarizing; in fact, its original Nahuatl name, epazōtl, translates to “skunk sweat,” a nod to its intense, musky scent.

Despite this pungent reputation, the herb's flavor is surprisingly complex, with sharp herbal and citrusy notes.

If you've ever had a bowl of traditional beans, you've probably tasted epazote. The herb helps make legumes easier to digest, reducing bloating and gas. This makes it a fantastically functional pairing for frijoles.

Across central and southern Mexico, it's also considered essential in dishes like esquites, quesadillas, and caldo tlalpeño.

But its benefits run much deeper than a comfortable stomach. Beyond the kitchen, healers have traditionally used it to ease menstrual cramps and help calm inflammation associated with respiratory illness.

It is also one of Mexico's oldest remedies for eliminating intestinal parasites. Epazote contains an active compound called ascaridole. This compound gives the herb its distinctive aroma and has long been associated with the herb’s traditional use against intestinal parasites.

It’s also surprisingly nutrient-dense. Epazote is a source of folate (B9), fiber, calcium, and manganese, nutrients involved in digestion, bone health, metabolism, and overall wellness.

In many homes, it's still a go-to tea, brewed up for seasonal colds and upset stomachs.

Be warned: Because concentrated ascaridole can be toxic, medicinal doses and essential oils should be avoided by pregnant women and young children.

🎉 ¡Vamos! Events

Feria Simojovel 2026 – June 8–14, Simojovel, Chiapas 
San Antonio de Padua is celebrated across Mexico on June 13. But in Simojovel, the festivities grow into one of the region’s major annual fairs. Expect concerts, marimba, carnival rides, street food, and a lively family atmosphere throughout the week. More info here.

Classic Truck Norawa – June 12–13, Creel, Chihuahua
Classic trucks and vintage cars roll into the Sierra Tarahumara town of Creel for this relaxed, family-friendly gathering. The two-day event features exhibitions, prizes, and plenty of polished chrome in one of northern Mexico’s most atmospheric mountain towns. More info here.

Gloria Trevi: Celebration – June 12, Guadalajara, Jalisco
Mexican pop royalty Gloria Trevi returns to the new Arena Guadalajara with “Celebration”. Expect a high-energy night packed with her biggest hits, theatrical staging, and full-scale pop spectacle. The show promises more than two hours of singing, dancing, and unapologetic diva energy. More info here.

Desfile de los Locos 2026 – June 14, San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
One of San Miguel de Allende’s most colorful annual traditions, the Desfile de los Locos turns the historic center into a day-long street party filled with music, dancing, masks, face paint, and participants dressed as superheroes, clowns, devils, and cartoon characters. More info here.

Expo Gastronómica 2026 – June 25–27, Mexico City
More than 700 brands, chefs, sommeliers, and food industry insiders gather at the World Trade Center for three days of cooking shows, tastings, barismo competitions, and culinary networking. The expo also features kombucha, craft drinks, and a Pabellón Bar & Drinks dedicated to cocktails and spirits. More info here.

Guapea Fest 2026 – June 25–27, Mazatlán, Sinaloa
Mazatlán’s Guapea Fest returns with three days of salsa, bachata, kizomba, and Afro-Latin dance events overlooking the Pacific coast. The festival brings together dancers, DJs, live orchestras, workshops, beach parties, and late-night socials, turning the city into one of Mexico’s biggest summer gatherings for Latin dance culture. More info here.

💡 Say It in Spanish

¿Todavía alcanza?
Translation: Can we still make it? / Are we still on time?

This is one of those phrases that doesn't translate literally.

It comes from alcanzar, a verb that usually means to reach or to catch up. But in Mexican Spanish, it often means to make it in time or still have a chance.

It's a useful phrase to know, especially when you're traveling, because the answer can mean the difference between making it in time...or missing your chance.

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🎯 Trivia Answer

Valladolid, Yucatán.

In the early morning hours of June 4, 1910, armed rebels rose up in Valladolid, attacked government forces, removed railway tracks connecting the city to Mérida, and briefly took control.

Federal troops were sent in days later. After several assaults, the uprising was crushed, leaving dozens dead in the streets of Valladolid.

Over time, the revolt became known as La Primera Chispa de la Revolución – “The First Spark of the Mexican Revolution.” Supporters argued the bloodshed helped ignite the revolutionary movement that would soon spread across Mexico and contribute to the fall of Porfirio Díaz.

But there’s a twist. Some historians argue the uprising was less a national revolution than a local political revolt tied to rival Yucatecan elites and regional power struggles.

More than a century later, Valladolid still commemorates June 4 as the day the first spark was lit.

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¡Hola amigos! This week, Moody’s downgraded Mexico’s credit rating just days after S&P’s warning while Mexico’s tech sector grew 27x faster than the national economy. Labor tensions are rising across the country and Mexico is rolling out health screenings for travelers ahead of the World Cup.

Plus, alternative ways to qualify for residency, insurance plans built to solve a human problem, and the polite way to make sure everyone’s on the same page.

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❓México Trivia

Which Mexican state declared independence from Spain before deciding whether it even wanted to join Mexico?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

📣 México News Roundup

🇨🇦 Puerto Vallarta International Airport will add new direct flights from Edmonton starting November 3 and Calgary beginning December 10.

🛫 After a decade-long suspension, Aeroméxico plans to resume direct flights between Mexico City and Caracas in October 2026.

🩺 President Sheinbaum said Mexico will implement epidemiological health screenings for travelers arriving from countries with contagious disease outbreaks ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

✈️ Mexico’s air traffic controllers union formally initiated strike proceedings over staffing shortages, unpaid overtime, and deteriorating infrastructure.

🚨 Riot police blocked CNTE teachers union protestors on Monday from entering Mexico City’s Zócalo ahead of a planned national strike and protest camp scheduled to begin June 1.

📉 A week after S&P Global Ratings revised Mexico’s credit outlook to negative, Moody’s downgraded Mexico’s sovereign rating from Baa2 to Baa3, placing the country one notch above speculative-grade status. The credit rating agency also revised its outlook from negative to stable.

🏦 A day after Mexico’s sovereign downgrade, Moody’s also downgraded BBVA México, Banorte, Banamex, Santander México, and Banco del Bajío from Baa2 to Baa3.

💻 Mexico’s information and communication technologies (ICT) sector grew 27x faster than the 0.2% increase reported for the national GDP during the same period.

🤝 On May 22, Mexico and the European Union signed a modernized trade agreement that's projected to boost commerce by 35% over the next five years.

🚗 General Motors will move production of its Chevrolet Aveo and Groove models from China to Mexico starting in 2027.

🏟️ President Sheinbaum said her May 31 progress report may move from the Zócalo to the National Palace, with the event also set to be broadcast in public squares across all 32 states.

🚂 The Maya Train received a 15-year permit to transport diesel as the megaproject expands into freight operations and fuel logistics across southeastern Mexico.

⚽ President Sheinbaum confirmed Mexico will host Iran’s World Cup training base in Tijuana.

🎶 Monterrey’s FIFA Fan Festival announced paid concerts featuring Chayanne, Imagine Dragons, Grupo Firme, and Enrique Iglesias during the World Cup.

🍎 Your Health Pulse

Does Your Insurance Get You Home?

Many people assume medical evacuation means being transported back to the U.S. or Canada during a serious emergency. But many travel and international health insurance policies only cover transport to the nearest suitable hospital, not necessarily the hospital you would choose, or one near family. Where you ultimately recover often isn’t part of the equation.

Most policies are designed to solve a medical problem. 

Dedicated medevac plans are designed to solve a human one.

In a major medical crisis, the real issue often isn’t just treatment. It’s where you recover, who can reach you, and whether you have any control over the process. Many evacuation decisions are made by the insurer’s medical team and based on what they consider medically necessary.

Some dedicated medical evacuation memberships work differently, providing bedside-to-bedside transport to the hospital of your choice once you are medically stable to travel, including hospitals in your home country.

The best time to understand your coverage is before you ever need it.

Need help understanding what your policy includes? A vetted broker can walk you through medical evacuation options and explain where coverage gaps may exist.

Find your broker here

📍Immigration Essentials

Alternative Ways to Qualify for Residency in Mexico

Last week, we covered how most residency applicants qualify through monthly income or savings/investments (check it out here).

But Mexico’s immigration system also offers several alternative pathways for people who do not meet the standard “economic solvency” requirements.

Marriage to a Mexican National or Foreign Resident
If you are married to a Mexican citizen or legal foreign resident, you may be eligible to apply for residency from within Mexico by exchanging a visitor permit for residency.

Common-Law Partnership
Mexico also recognizes common-law partnerships (“concubinos”), including same-sex partnerships. Requirements for proving the relationship can vary by immigration office or consulate.

Family Ties in Mexico
Certain family connections may qualify you for residency in Mexico, including a Mexican spouse or common-law partner, Mexican parentage, or a Mexican-born child.

If Your Baby Is Born in Mexico
If your child is born in Mexico, both parents immediately become eligible to apply for legal residency directly through an immigration office in Mexico.

Residential Property Ownership
You may qualify for Temporary Residency if you own residential property in Mexico valued at approximately MXN $10,758,500 pesos or more. The property must be located in Mexico, free of liens or mortgages, and titled in your name.

Capital Investment
Mexico also offers a Temporary Residency pathway through qualifying investment in a Mexican-owned business or approved investment structure. The minimum investment amount is approximately MXN $5,378,664 pesos. These applications are generally more complex than standard income or savings applications.

Humanitarian Grounds
Some residency applications may qualify on humanitarian grounds, although these cases are reviewed individually through local immigration offices.

Most residency applications must begin at a Mexican consulate abroad, although some Family Unit applications may be processed from within Mexico.

Requirements, documentation, and procedures can vary depending on the consulate or immigration office handling the application.

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🇲🇽 Viva México

The Corn Fungus Mexico Turned Into a Delicacy

Around most of the world, farmers destroy it on sight. In Mexico, chefs serve it in quesadillas, soups, and upscale restaurants as a delicacy known as huitlacoche.

Also called cuitlacoche, the fungus grows naturally on corn during the rainy season, swelling the kernels into bulbous silver-gray growths. 

While most countries treat it as a destructive crop disease, Mexico became one of the only places on earth to embrace it as cuisine. Some farmers now intentionally infect corn so it can be harvested year-round.

Nicknamed “the Mexican truffle,” it has a deep, earthy flavor somewhere between black truffle, shiitake mushroom, and roasted corn. 

It’s delicious folded into tortillas with Oaxaca cheese and epazote. It’s also commonly cooked in soups, tamales, sauces, and quesadillas.

Beyond its culinary appeal, it is highly nutritious. The fungus is packed with protein, fiber, antioxidants, and lysine, an essential amino acid that ordinary corn lacks. When eaten with corn tortillas, the combination creates a more complete amino acid profile.

In the past, it was believed that huitlacoche was a prized pre-Hispanic food. However, modern historical research suggests Indigenous communities originally viewed it simply as damaged, blighted corn. 

During the colonial period, rural and Indigenous communities began incorporating the fungus into everyday cooking, driven in part by food scarcity.

Over centuries, that resourcefulness evolved into a culinary art form, turning a crop blight into one of Mexico’s most sophisticated gastronomic treasures.

🪷 Viva Wellness

Beyond the Aphrodisiac: The Roots of Mexico’s Damiana

Damiana has long been known as Mexico’s “love herb,” but its traditional uses go far beyond its reputation as an aphrodisiac.

Known scientifically as Turnera diffusa, damiana is a drought-resistant perennial shrub with bright yellow flowers found in hot, semi-arid climates throughout Mexico, Central and South America, and southern Texas.

The leaves have a slightly sweet, floral flavor with subtle citrus notes and hints of blackberry and licorice. When brewed, damiana releases a rich herbal fragrance often compared to chamomile.

While damiana is best known for libido and sexual wellness, communities in Mexico have long used the plant to support digestion, menstrual comfort, and general wellness. It is used as a calming herb associated with relaxation, stress relief, and emotional balance. 

Researchers are currently studying damiana for its antioxidant and other plant-based compounds, and early findings suggest potential links to digestion, blood sugar regulation, and mood support. 

Today, damiana is commonly found in tinctures, herbal blends, and teas throughout Mexico. 

In Baja California Sur, damiana has become part of the region’s desert identity. It’s still used in traditional remedies, but these days it’s also become a recognizable flavor in Baja’s cocktail scene. You’ll now find it in herbal liqueurs and botanical drinks poured everywhere from beach bars to boutique hotels across the peninsula.

🎉 ¡Vamos! Events

Día de la Música 2026 – June 6, Mazatlán, Sinaloa
Mazatlán’s free, open-air Día de la Música returns with nine stages spread across the Centro Histórico and Olas Altas, filling the city with live performances from afternoon through late evening. The annual festival blends boleros, banda, rock, orchestral music, and karaoke, drawing locals and visitors into the streets of the historic center. More info here. 

Torneo de Aguas Abiertas Día de la Marina 2026 – June 6, Acapulco, Guerrero
This open-water swimming competition brings athletes to Acapulco for races ranging from 1.25 to 5 kilometers across the bay. Held as part of Día de la Marina celebrations, the event also supports local food drives. More info here. 

Aldea Global 2026 – June 9–21, Bosque de Chapultepec, Mexico City
Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Chapultepec Forest will host this large-scale cultural festival featuring international food, music, art, and country pavilions inspired by participating nations. The free event also includes live performances, themed exhibitions, plus fan zones to watch World Cup matches in the park. More info here.

Festival del Pescado y el Marisco 2026 – June 14, Ensenada, Baja California
Ensenada’s classic seafood festival returns to the gardens of the historic Riviera Cultural Center with tastings, Baja wines, craft beer, live music, and cooking competitions. First launched in 1978, it celebrates the region’s fishing traditions with local chefs, producers, and restaurants. More info here. 

World Naked Bike Ride Guadalajara 2026 – June 13, Guadalajara, Jalisco
Guadalajara’s annual World Naked Bike Ride returns with hundreds of cyclists expected to take part in the peaceful protest promoting cyclist safety, environmental awareness, and respect for people who commute by bicycle. More info here.

YogArte Fest 2026 – June 15–21, San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí
This weeklong wellness festival brings together yoga classes, alternative therapies, art, music, and a conscious-living marketplace in San Luis Potosí. Alongside yoga sessions and workshops, visitors can browse handmade jewelry, organic products, vegan food, essential oils, and local wellness brands at the festival’s open-air market. More info here.

Art Toy Con 2026 – June 20–21, Mexico City
Designer toys, street art, vinyl collectibles, and contemporary illustration come together at Centro Cultural Universitario Tlatelolco for this growing convention focused on Latin America’s urban art and collectible culture scenes. The two-day program features exhibitions, workshops, limited releases, and independent artists from across the region. More info here.

💡 Say It in Spanish

¿Sí quedó claro?
Translation: Does that make sense? / Is that clear?

This is the polite way to make sure everyone’s on the same page — whether you’re explaining something to your gardener, housekeeper, contractor, or the guy fixing your internet for the third time.

It comes from quedar, the same verb behind:

• ¿Ya quedó? – Is it done?

• Quedó bien – It turned out well

But here, ¿Sí quedó claro? is less about the task and more about whether the message landed.

It’s softer (and way more natural) than bluntly asking ¿Entendió? (Did you understand?)

🎯 Trivia Answer

Chiapas.

When Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821, Chiapas did not automatically become part of the new nation. At the time, the region was still governed under the Captaincy General of Guatemala, and after declaring independence from Spain, Chiapas suddenly faced a complicated question: should it join Mexico, become part of Guatemala, or remain independent altogether?

The debate deeply divided the region. The city council of Ciudad Real pushed to join Mexico, while Tuxtla favored Guatemala. Other towns supported the idea of an independent Chiapas entirely.

At the time, Chiapas was geographically isolated, economically struggling, and culturally distinct from much of Mexico. Its strong Indigenous identity – and long political ties to Guatemala – made the decision far from obvious.

To settle the dispute, Chiapas held a public plebiscite in 1824. The vote ultimately favored joining Mexico, and on September 14, 1824, Chiapas officially became part of the Mexican Federation.

But even then, not everyone agreed. The Soconusco region near the Guatemalan border refused to fully commit and remained politically neutral for nearly two decades before Santa Anna formally reincorporated it into Mexico in 1842.

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¡Hola amigos! Just when it seemed tensions between Mexico and the U.S. couldn’t escalate further, they did.

This week, officials warn the USMCA review could drag on far longer than expected, more labor strikes are on the horizon, and Sheinbaum insists S&P was wrong after the agency downgraded Mexico’s outlook, saying the economy is doing well.

Plus, what Mexico actually requires for residency income and savings, the tax realities of living abroad, and the Mexican president who held a full state funeral for his amputated leg.

And now, an emotional support animal before we discuss presidents preserving body parts.

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❓México Trivia

Which lagoon in Mexico is home to one of the planet’s rarest living ecosystems?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

📣 México News Roundup

📉 Standard & Poor’s (S&P) revised Mexico’s credit outlook from stable to negative, warning the country could face a sovereign downgrade within the next 24 months. 

🏛️ President Sheinbaum said S&P “got it wrong” after the ratings agency lowered the outlooks for Mexico, PEMEX, and CFE from stable to negative.

🇺🇸 The New York Times dropped a bombshell report that the U.S. Justice Department instructed federal prosecutors to build criminal cases against Mexican officials using anti-terrorism laws. 

🕵️ President Sheinbaum dismissed risks to Mexico after former Sinaloa officials Gerardo Mérida and Enrique Díaz surrendered to U.S. authorities last week.

🚛 Transporters, teachers, pensioners, and families of the disappeared are planning a massive protest march in Mexico City on May 20 to demand better security and government support. 

📚 President Sheinbaum said her government will negotiate with the teachers union (CNTE) after it announced a national strike and Zócalo sit-in starting June 1 that could disrupt FIFA Fan Fest events.

📦 Mexico’s Economy Minister said the USMCA review won’t likely be resolved by the July 1 deadline, warning the trade pact could face 10 years of annual reviews instead. 

🏦 On Monday, President Sheinbaum confirmed Mexico’s UIF froze the bank accounts of former Sinaloa governor Rubén Rocha after U.S. authorities issued arrest warrants for 10 people tied to the case. 

⚖️ A Mexican judge ruled that owners of Azteca Stadium’s VIP boxes can still use, rent, and resell them during the World Cup despite FIFA control of the venue.  

👑 Spain’s King Felipe VI has accepted President Sheinbaum’s invitation and will attend Spain’s World Cup match against Uruguay in Guadalajara. 

🍎 Your Health Pulse

The Healthcare Reality of Moving around Mexico

When relocating to a new city, or even renting somewhere for a month or two, it’s worth understanding the local medical landscape before you need it.

Healthcare in Mexico can vary dramatically depending on where you are. In larger cities like Mexico City, Guadalajara, or Puerto Vallarta, you’ll find a range of private hospitals, specialists, imaging centers, and advanced emergency care.

It can be a very different story in smaller towns.

Some may only have a basic Centro de Salud with limited hours, minimal equipment, or no ambulance coverage. Others may not have critical emergency tools, such as defibrillators, immediately available. 

Before settling somewhere new, it’s worth asking:

• Where is the nearest hospital?

• Is there a private hospital nearby?

• How well stocked is the Centro de Salud?

• What ambulance service covers the area?

• Where do residents actually go during emergencies? 

Especially in smaller towns, having the direct number for local police, Protección Civil, the ambulance service, or nearby hospitals can save valuable time.

Before you need care, ask questions, join local Facebook or WhatsApp groups, and learn where residents actually go during emergencies.

Visit the facilities ahead of time or at least know where they’re located.

Whether you’re in a major city or a pueblo, understanding the local healthcare landscape ahead of time can make an enormous difference during an emergency. 

📍Immigration Essentials

Income vs. Savings: Understanding Mexico’s Economic Solvency Rules

When applying for residency in Mexico, foreigners are typically asked to prove economic solvency through either monthly income or savings/investments. (There are exceptions and alternative pathways, which we’ll cover next week.)

Mexican consulates calculate these financial requirements using UMA (Unidad de Medida y Actualización), a government benchmark used for official calculations in Mexico – not actual living costs.

That means the income requirements for residency are often much higher than what many people actually spend living in Mexico.

Applicants must qualify under ONE financial route. You cannot combine income and savings to meet the requirement.

For Temporary Residency in 2026, applicants generally need either:

• MXN $79,771 / month / around $4,62 USD in monthly income, OR

• MXN $1,344,373 / around $77,712  USD in savings/investments

For Permanent Residency, applicants generally need either:

• MXN $133,733 / month / around $7,731  USD in monthly income, OR

• MXN $5,378,664 / around $310,922 USD in savings/investments

Savings can include more than cash in a bank account. Depending on the consulate, qualifying assets may include savings accounts, investment accounts, retirement accounts, trust funds, and some other investment funds.

Cryptocurrencies and precious metals do NOT qualify.

Financial requirements can also vary slightly by consulate, usually because each consulate may apply a different exchange rate when converting UMA-based figures into local currency.

You can review the official Mexican residency financial requirement regulations here.

🧩 Life in México

Can Americans Really Pay Zero Tax Living in Mexico?

For Americans living in Mexico, taxes are rarely as simple as just leaving the U.S.

The reality is more nuanced, and depending on how you structure things, it can either save you a lot of money…or create a major headache later.

We recently partnered with Savvy Nomad on a new video breaking down:

• When Mexico may consider you a tax resident

• How the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion actually works

• What happens with Social Security and retirement income

• Why domicile and state taxes still matter for Americans abroad

It's one of the clearest breakdowns we’ve seen on this topic for Americans building a life in Mexico.

Watch the full video here

🇲🇽 Viva México

The Mexican President Who Held a State Funeral for His Leg

Antonio López de Santa Anna served as president of Mexico so many times that historians still argue over the exact number. 

In a career defined by spectacle, ego, and political theater, one episode stands above the rest: in 1842, Santa Anna staged a state funeral for his amputated leg.

Santa Anna lost his left leg during the 1838 French intervention, better known as the Pastry War, after cannon fire struck him while defending Veracruz. The injury helped rebuild his reputation after the disastrous loss of Texas, transforming him into a wounded national hero.

At the time, Mexico was still a young nation trying to create patriotic rituals, civic celebrations, and larger-than-life national heroes – and Santa Anna was more than willing to place himself at the center of that mythology.

At first, his leg was buried at his hacienda, Manga de Clavo, in Veracruz. But after returning to power, Santa Anna ordered it exhumed and brought to Mexico City for a far more elaborate ceremony.

The leg traveled in a glass case through the capital in a military procession attended by soldiers, government officials, and cheering supporters.

An enormous monument was built to house the leg, complete with plaques, military symbols, an eagle, and a ceremonial sarcophagus typically reserved for national heroes.

Supporters treated the leg like a patriotic relic, with speeches comparing Santa Anna’s sacrifice to that of the nation’s greatest heroes. Pocket-sized replicas of the monument were even sold around the city as souvenirs.

Critics mocked the entire spectacle, writing satirical poems and denouncing it as the ultimate symbol of his ego. 

And after all that spectacle, Santa Anna did not attend the main ceremony, arriving only after the public festivities had ended.

But whatever patriotic reverence once surrounded the leg did not last.

Just two years later, after Santa Anna fell from power, an angry mob stormed the cemetery, dug up the leg, and dragged it through the streets of Mexico City.

As for Santa Anna’s wooden prosthetic leg, U.S. troops found it abandoned after he fled the Battle of Cerro Gordo in 1847. It remains on display today at a military museum in Illinois.

🪷 Viva Wellness

The Mexican Fruit That Smells Like Cheese

Nanche season has arrived. These small golden fruits, about the size of a large cherry, have a sweet-and-tangy flavor and a pungent aroma often compared to aged cheese. 

Despite the scent, the flavor is bright, fruity, and slightly acidic. Most commonly found in Mexico’s tropical and subtropical regions, especially along the Pacific coast and in warmer lowland areas.

Peak harvest season runs from late spring through summer, when local mercados begin filling with the fruit. Nanche is still mostly gathered from wild or backyard trees rather than commercial farms.

Known scientifically as Byrsonima crassifolia and locally as nanche, nance, or changunga, this small fruit packs impressive wellness benefits.

Nanche contains vitamins C, E, and K, along with minerals like magnesium and calcium that support immune function, circulation, and bone strength.

The fruit’s bright golden skin color comes from carotenoids, antioxidants linked to eye health, reduced inflammation, and protection against cellular damage. Its natural mix of fiber and carbohydrates provides steady energy while also supporting digestion.

Traditional uses of nanche go beyond the fruit itself. In some communities, infusions made from the fruit are used to support digestion, while teas prepared from the bark are commonly used as home remedies for colds and seasonal discomforts. The leaves are also valued for their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.

Fresh nanche is commonly eaten by the handful, but it also appears in aguas frescas, jams, atoles, and frozen desserts during peak season.

And, in parts of Guerrero and Oaxaca, nanche is also used to make traditional fruit liqueurs.

🎉 ¡Vamos! Events

Guanajuato ¡Sí Sabe! 2026 Grand Final – May 30–31, Irapuato, Guanajuato
Traditional cooks from across Guanajuato gather in Irapuato for the final round of this statewide culinary showcase, serving regional dishes, ancestral recipes, and local specialties. Alongside the food, visitors can expect artisanal drinks, local products, and a chance to explore the diversity of Guanajuato’s traditional cuisine in one place. More info here.

Gumball 3000: Miami to Mexico City – June 5–10, Multiple Cities Across Mexico
Part road rally, part celebrity-driven supercar festival, Gumball 3000 arrives in Mexico for the first time with 100+ supercars traveling from Miami to Mexico City. The 27th edition includes stops in Monterrey and San Miguel de Allende, finishing with a free public festival in Mexico City during the opening week of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. More Info here.

Salsa Fest 2026 – June 12–14, Boca del Río, Veracruz
Veracruz’s big summer salsa festival returns to the Salsódromo of Boca del Río with three nights of free, open-air concerts in a coastal setting. The lineup brings together leading salsa performers from across Latin America, while this year’s edition also includes a tribute to Celia Cruz – the late Cuban singer widely known as the “Queen of Salsa” – performed by Lucrecia and her orchestra. More Info here.

Desfile de los Locos 2026 – June 14, San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
One of San Miguel de Allende’s most colorful annual traditions, the Desfile de los Locos turns the historic center into a day-long street party filled with music, dancing, masks, face paint, and participants dressed as superheroes, clowns, devils, and cartoon characters. More info here.

Festival Antojos 2026 – June 13–14, Chihuahua City, Chihuahua
Chihuahua’s popular street food festival returns with more than 100 local vendors serving tacos, burgers, hot dogs, elotes, montados, craft beer, regional wines, and other northern Mexican comfort food favorites. The nighttime event also includes live music across multiple stages, chef demonstrations, and a lively downtown atmosphere built around Chihuahua’s growing food scene. More info here.

Mezcal Fest Monterrey 2026 – June 19–20, Monterrey, Nuevo León
Part tasting event, part World Cup watch party, Mezcal Fest Monterrey brings together more than 30 mezcal houses for two days of unlimited tastings, live music, DJs, food, and guided catas at Casa Vecchia in central Monterrey. The festival will also screen international football matches throughout the weekend, making it an easy place to spend an afternoon between World Cup games. More info here. 

💡 Say It in Spanish

Ahorita le aviso
Translation: I’ll let you know in a bit.

This is one of those phrases that sounds immediate, but may or may not be.

You’ll hear it from contractors, receptionists, delivery drivers, your landlord, and basically anyone who doesn’t have an answer for you quite yet.

Sometimes it means five minutes. Sometimes tomorrow. Sometimes…well, gently lower your expectations.

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🎯 Trivia Answer

Lake Bacalar.

Famous for its brilliant “Seven Colors” of blue, Lake Bacalar is home to living stromatolites – rare microbial formations built by cyanobacteria. Stromatolites as a life form date back around 3.5 billion years, making them some of the oldest known evidence of life on Earth, predating humans, dinosaurs, and even plants.

At first glance, they look like pale underwater rocks or giant cauliflower formations. But they’re actually living structures formed by microorganisms called cyanobacteria, which slowly trap sediment and minerals layer by layer over thousands of years.

Stromatolites now exist in only a handful of places worldwide. These rare formations preserve ancient environmental history and help remove carbon from the atmosphere – much like trees do on land.

But they’re fragile. Tourism, pollution, sunscreen, and physical contact with the formations can permanently damage the organisms.

See these ancient living formations for yourself.

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¡Hola amigos! This week, Sheinbaum is hitting back at Trump over the latest threats of U.S. intervention, Mexico just locked in a major new trade deal with the EU, and in a plot twist straight out of Narcos, authorities uncovered a fuel theft tunnel connected directly to Pemex facilities. 

Plus, what documents you need to show at immigration checkpoints, why Mexico is suddenly slashing red tape for major investments, and the adorable 2,000-year-old ceramic dogs of Colima.

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❓México Trivia

What event pulled Mexico into World War II after years of neutrality?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

📣 México News Roundup

⛽ Mexican authorities uncovered an “El Chapo”-style fuel theft tunnel connected to Pemex facilities in Nuevo León that was used to steal more than 205,000 liters of fuel.

🇲🇽Sheinbaum rejected Trump’s latest threats of U.S. intervention against Mexican cartels and demanded evidence for accusations against Mexican officials.

✈️ Ejido members blocked major access roads to Mexico City’s AIFA airport Monday over a long-running land dispute and warned the protests will continue without a government response.

⚡ Mexico announced a MX$140 billion plan to modernize its natural gas pipeline network through 2030.

📚 After major backlash, Mexico’s Ministry of Education scrapped plans to end the school year a month early for the World Cup and confirmed classes will still end on July 15 in most states.

🇺🇸 The U.S. State Department is reviewing all 53 Mexican consulates across the U.S.

🇪🇺 All 27 EU member states approved a modernized trade pact with Mexico that could boost bilateral commerce by 35% over five years.

🏦 Mexico’s central bank cut interest rates to 6.50% and signaled its rate-cutting cycle may be coming to an end.

🦬 A wild American bison calf was born in Sonora for the first time in more than 200 years. Her name is Lista.

🚨 Between 800 and 1,000 families fled Indigenous communities in the rural mountains of Guerrero after cartel attacks involving drones, explosives, and heavy weapons.

🐖 Mexico suspended U.S. pork imports after Iowa pigs tested positive for Aujeszky virus antibodies.

📍Immigration Essentials

Stopped at an Immigration Checkpoint? Know This before You Travel

Mexico’s immigration law requires foreigners to prove their legal status when requested by immigration authorities. 

But what happens if you don’t have your documents with you?

Under Mexico’s Ley de Migración, foreigners must present proof of their legal status and identity when requested by Instituto Nacional de Migración officers (Article 16). Only INM agents may request or retain your documents. Police or the Guardia Nacional generally cannot request immigration documents unless they are formally assisting INM operations (Articles 17 and 96).

If you don’t have your residency card or passport with you, INM may verify your status through an administrative review process rather than a criminal proceeding.

Under Article 68, immigration agents can take you to the nearest INM office to verify your immigration status. This process, known as a presentación administrativa (administrative presentation), allows INM to hold you for up to 36 hours while your status is verified. It is considered an administrative process rather than a criminal arrest.

What Counts as Proof? 

By law, your valid immigration document is the only official proof of legal stay.

• Residents must carry their residency card.

• Tourists must carry their passport with either their FMM tourist card (still issued at some land borders) or proof of lawful entry issued electronically at the airport, along with the entry stamp in their passport.

The law still does not explicitly address digital copies, which continues to create inconsistencies in real-world enforcement. Some INM agents accept digital scans of residency cards, while others require the original documentation.

There is nothing in the law that requires temporary or permanent residents to show a passport along with their residency card. However, some readers continue reporting roadside checkpoints where agents request both documents. Despite explaining to agents that both documents weren’t legally required, a few people who emailed us said they were pulled into secondary inspection and fined.

As with many things here in Mexico, there’s what the law says and what actually happens on the ground.

If you want the smoothest possible experience while traveling, it’s best to carry your original physical documents whenever possible. And know the law, which you can read here.

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🧩 Life in México

Plan México: Why Mexico Is Suddenly Slashing Red Tape

When President Claudia Sheinbaum introduced Plan México in January 2025, the administration outlined an ambitious strategy to position Mexico as a top destination for manufacturing, infrastructure, and industrial investment.

The plan aims to attract roughly $277 billion USD by 2030 and push investment above 25% of Mexico’s GDP.

Its broader goal is to expand infrastructure, strengthen energy capacity, create jobs, and make Mexico more competitive as companies move supply chains closer to the United States.

But Mexico’s economy has faced growing pressure.

The country’s economy contracted 0.8% during the first quarter of 2026, while uncertainty around U.S. tariffs and the upcoming USMCA review has weighed on investment.

That brings us to May 4, when President Sheinbaum announced immediate actions under Plan México aimed at cutting red tape and accelerating investment approvals.

One major change is a fast-track approval system for projects tied to semiconductors, automotive manufacturing, electronics, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and energy.

Projects larger than 2 billion pesos or located in designated “Polos del Bienestar,” government-backed industrial development zones, may now receive authorization within 30 days.

For other projects, federal procedures must generally be completed within 90 days.

If agencies fail to respond, approvals could automatically move forward under “afirmativa ficta.”

The government is also creating:

• A Presidential Investment Office

• A national digital investment platform

• A unified foreign trade portal combining 132 procedures

• Faster approvals from COFEPRIS, Mexico’s federal health and sanitary regulator

Officials say COFEPRIS reduced procedures from 340 to 125 and cut approval times from 100 days to 24 days.

Energy and infrastructure are also central.

Mexico says it plans to add 32 gigawatts of new electrical capacity by 2030 and increase renewable energy generation from 24% to 38%. The government also announced more than 523 billion pesos in highway and road projects expected to generate roughly 1.4 million jobs.

Supporters say the reforms could help Mexico become more competitive as companies expand manufacturing and logistics operations across North America.

Critics and analysts say the biggest challenge will be execution.

Many goals require coordination across federal agencies, regulators, state governments, and private investors– areas where Mexico has historically struggled. Others question whether agencies can enforce the new timelines while maintaining oversight nationwide.

🇲🇽 Viva México

The Sacred Dogs of Ancient Colima

They’ve got round bellies, pointed ears, and curled tails, and some even sport a happy-looking grin. 

These charming ceramic pups are known as Colima Dogs.

Created roughly 2,000 years ago in what is now the western Mexican state of Colima, these figures were modeled after native dogs, especially the Xoloitzcuintli. 

While some were hollow with spouts (likely used for ritual liquids or offerings), many Colima Dogs were buried in shaft tombs beneath family homes as spiritual companions for the dead.

In ancient belief systems, the Xoloitzcuintli guided souls across the river to the underworld, the land of the dead. A faithful companion meant no one had to make the journey alone.

The pottery itself is unmistakable. Colima artists became famous for their smooth, hollow ceramic figures, finished with a polish and coated in a rich reddish slip. Many of the dogs appear delightfully plump, symbols of abundance and the comforts of home.

One famous pair, known as the “dancing dogs,” looks as if they’re caught playfighting on their hind legs. Some scholars believe the dogs’ lively, animated wrestling symbolizes the soul’s passage between the living world and the afterlife.

What makes these ceramic dogs so special is how alive they feel. Unlike many funerary objects, they look playful, expressive, even affectionate. More than 2,000 years later, they still don’t feel like relics.

🪷 Viva Wellness

Oaxaca’s Highlands Maybe the Reset Your Body Needs

If the summer heat in your part of Mexico is becoming relentless, head for the hills.  Oaxaca’s highlands offer fresh breezes, shaded trails, and magnificent views. 

Get outdoors, refresh, and reset with these cool summer escapes.

Sierra Norte (Pueblos Mancomunados): More than 60 miles of trails connect Zapotec mountain villages through pine forest, rivers, and cloud forests. Moderate to challenging terrain, with some routes climbing above 10,000 feet. Community-run cabins and local guides support overnight and multi-day hikes while offering a closer look at the distinctive Zapotec culture of Oaxaca’s Sierra Norte villages.

Santiago Apoala: Waterfalls, emerald rivers, caves, and natural rock pools perfect for cooling off after a hike. Located in Oaxaca’s Mixteca region, trails pass terraced hillsides and landscapes shaped by centuries of Mixtec history. Access is managed locally; just check in at the community ecotourism office in the village center to pay the modest entry fee and meet your local guide

Lachatao: Lachatao offers both shorter half-day hikes and longer 5–6 hour routes winding through pine and oak forests along paths used by Zapotec communities for generations. The Sendero de la Virgen trail passes orchids, rivers, agave, and old stone bridges connected to local religious traditions still celebrated today.

San José del Pacífico: Perched high in the Sierra Sur at roughly 8,200–9,200 feet elevation, San José del Pacífico is known for cool temperatures, shaded pine forest trails, and sweeping mountain views. The area offers several shorter forest hikes ideal for a half-day outing. After hiking, roadside comedores serving wild mushrooms, hot chocolate, and Oaxacan coffee are part of the experience.

The appeal of Oaxaca’s highlands goes beyond cooler air, with forested landscapes, mountain village culture, and the restorative benefits of time spent in nature.

🎉 ¡Vamos! Events

Fiestas del Pitic 2026 – May 21–24, Hermosillo, Sonora
Hermosillo’s flagship cultural festival returns for 4 days of free concerts, performances, and public programming marking the founding of the city in 1700. The program spans multiple venues across the historic center with a mix of music, dance, and theater featuring national and international artists. More info here.

Rosarito Art Walk 2026 – May 23–24, Playas de Rosarito, Baja California
The Rosarito Art Walk marks its 15th anniversary with two days of exhibitions and opportunities to meet participating artists at CEART Playas de Rosarito. More than 80 artists and exhibitors are expected to participate across disciplines including painting, sculpture, photography, design, and folk art. Free admission. More info here.

Más Japón en el Bajío 2026 – May 29–31, León, Guanajuato
For fans of Japanese food and culture, this three-day festival at Poliforum León brings together traditional culture, gastronomy, technology, and special exhibitions. The event runs daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., with an earlier 7 p.m. close on the final day. More Info here.

Feria de Corpus Christi 2026 – May 30–June 7, Papantla, Veracruz
Papantla’s annual Corpus Christi celebration returns with more than a week of concerts, cultural programming, regional food, carnival rides, and community events tied to the festivities in this Pueblo Mágico. Highlights include the Festival Xanath, showcasing Totonac culture through danzantes, Voladores traditions, poetry, and regional performances, alongside a traditional mole festival and free public entertainment throughout the fairgrounds. More info here.

Gumball 3000: Miami to Mexico City – June 5–10, Multiple Cities Across Mexico
Part road rally, part celebrity-driven supercar festival, Gumball 3000 arrives in Mexico for the first time with 100+ supercars traveling from Miami to Mexico City. The 27th edition includes stops in Monterrey and San Miguel de Allende, finishing with a free public festival in Mexico City during the opening week of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. More Info here.

💡 Say It in Spanish

¿Quién sigue?
Translation: Who’s next?

You’ll hear this at pharmacies, butcher counters, doctor’s offices, food stalls, and anywhere there’s a loose line with no numbers being called.

Instead of a formal queue system, someone simply asks: ¿Quién sigue?

If you’re studying Spanish (or want to), I highly recommend getting a copy of Easy Spanish Step-By-Step. Check it out here. 

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🎯 Trivia Answer

The sinking of the Mexican oil tanker Potrero del Llano.

At the start of World War II, Mexico had remained neutral and many believed the conflict would stay far from Mexican shores.

However, late on the night of May 13, 1942, a German U-boat torpedoed the Mexican tanker near the coast of Florida while it was carrying oil to the United States. The ship was clearly marked as Mexican and was sailing with its lights on. 

The explosion split the ship in two, killing 14 Mexican sailors. Survivors later described the vessel turning into “a pot from hell” as flames spread across the water.

Just one week later, another Mexican tanker, Faja de Oro, was also sunk by a German submarine.

Days later, President Manuel Ávila Camacho declared war on Germany, Italy, and Japan, officially bringing Mexico into WWII. Two years later, Mexico sent Fighter Squadron 201 – known as the Aztec Eagles – to fight alongside Allied forces in the Pacific.

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¡Hola amigos! This week, President Sheinbaum is pushing back after the U.S. indicted Mexican officials on drug charges, Mexico is set to host its first EU summit in over a decade, and the economy is sending mixed signals as growth forecasts tick up while GDP slips.

Plus, what you need to know about leaving Mexico with residency, a heads up on this week’s national earthquake drill, and a 1,500-year-old purple dye tradition still alive in Oaxaca.

And a big feliz Día de las Madres to all the moms holding it down out there!

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❓México Trivia

Which library in Mexico became the first in the Americas to open to the public and houses some of the oldest printed books in the world?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

📣 México News Roundup

📱Mexico’s cell phone earthquake alert failed to sound during a 5.6 quake in Oaxaca on May 4 due to maintenance ahead of the May 6 national drill.

✈️ Aeroméxico has launched a new stopover program allowing international travelers connecting through Mexico City’s AICM to stay for up to 7 days at no extra airfare.

🇲🇽 President Sheinbaum pushed back after the U.S. indicted 10 Mexican officials on drug trafficking charges, with Mexico saying there were no grounds to grant a provisional detention request and reaffirming that sovereignty is “non-negotiable.”

⚖️ Morena says it will block 2027 candidates if the party determines there is evidence of corruption, even if they win party polls. 

🏛️ President Sheinbaum denied meeting with former president López Obrador during her weekend trip to Palenque and dismissed rumors she was seeking political guidance amid the Sinaloa controversy.

🇪🇺 Mexico will host its first EU summit in 11 years on May 22 aiming to advance a new strategic agreement and deepen economic ties.

🕵️ Mexico’s federal prosecutors will question 50 people over an unauthorized operation in Chihuahua involving the CIA.

📉 Mexico’s GDP fell 0.8% in Q1 2026, with all sectors declining. Farming and resource industries were hit the hardest.

📊 The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (CEPAL) raised Mexico’s 2026 growth forecast to 1.5%, up from 1.3%.

🚗 Mexico fell from 5th to 7th place among the world’s top auto producers after vehicle production declined 2.6% in 2025.

⚽ Mexico City will host 18 free World Cup fan festivals during the tournament, featuring live match screenings, food, and cultural events – all alcohol-free.

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📍Immigration Essentials

Leaving Mexico for Too Long? What It Means for Your Residency

There’s no official limit on how long you can stay outside Mexico, but your obligations differ depending on whether you hold temporary or permanent residency.

One key rule applies to everyone: when you return to Mexico, you must enter using your residency status and present your residency card. Entering as a tourist instead can jeopardize your residency.

Temporary Resident: You can leave Mexico for the entire validity of your permit (1 to 4 years). There’s no official limit on how long you can stay outside the country while your temporary residency is valid.

However, any renewals or required updates to your status must be completed inside Mexico, so extended time abroad can create issues if your card is close to expiring.

Always make sure your residency card is valid before returning, and plan travel carefully if you’re nearing a renewal window.

Permanent Resident: For adults, permanent residency has no expiration and no official limit on time abroad. You can live overseas and still return to Mexico, as long as you enter using your resident status.

You’re still required to report certain changes (such as address, marital status, nationality, or employment) from within Mexico, which may require you to be physically present.

If you’re planning to apply for Mexican citizenship down the road, time spent outside the country matters. You’ll need to show at least 18 months of physical presence in Mexico during the two years immediately before applying.

🧩 Life in México

Heads up: Earthquake Drill this Week

Mexico will activate the seismic alert system this Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. (Central time) as part of a large-scale drill simulating an 8.2 magnitude earthquake.

Alerts will sound on cell phones and loudspeakers across multiple states, including Estado de México, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Morelos, Puebla, Tlaxcala, and Michoacán.

In Mexico City, the drill goes a step further. Authorities will simulate a full-scale emergency centered at the Monumento a la Revolución, testing evacuation routes, emergency response teams, and coordination across city services.

If your phone goes off or sirens start blaring…it’s a drill.

🇲🇽 Viva México

Oaxaca’s 1,500-Year-Old Purple Dye Tradition

The fabric might eventually disintegrate, but this vibrant purple will never fade. They call it tixinda in Mixtec, a brilliant violet dye produced by a small sea snail.

Among the Mixtec, the color is considered sacred – part of a tradition that stretches back more than 1,500 years.

For centuries along the Oaxacan coast, tintoreros or dyers have worked at low tide, looking for the caracol púrpura (Plicopurpura pansa). Reaching these shores wasn’t simple. They made an eight-day journey on foot from inland villages, then camped for weeks, working in rhythm with the tides.

Each snail is located and gently lifted from the rock. With gentle pressure, the snail releases a small amount of liquid, a natural defensive response that is harmless to human skin.

The drops are gathered directly onto cotton thread wrapped around the harvester's hand. Then the snail is put back on the rock, alive, to recover. This is one of the only known dyeing traditions in the world that does not kill the animal producing the color.

The secretion comes out colorless, but in sunlight, the thread oxidises, turning first yellow, green, blue, then finally an indelible purple. It can take roughly 300 snails to dye a single skein of thread, making this color as rare as it is permanent.

The process is so painstaking – and dangerous. Dyers climb slick, wave-battered rocks where a single misstep can be fatal. 

The dye-harvesting season runs from October to March, with dyers returning in rhythm with the lunar cycle, allowing the snails time to regenerate. Snails are left undisturbed during their breeding season.

This tradition continued unbroken for centuries – until the 1980s, when foreign textile companies came looking to capitalize on the deep, durable color and began harvesting commercially, killing the snails by the thousands. 

In 1994, the Mexican government placed the species under federal protection, restricting harvesting rights to Mixtec dyers. But the purpura pansa population never fully recovered and is still under threat from poaching and coastal development. 

Today, only a small number of dyers continue the practice, preserving a fragile tradition that has endured for more than a millennium.

🪷 Viva Wellness

The Coconut Drink That Won’t Taste the Same Twice

As the hot, hazy days of summer kick in along Mexico’s Pacific coast, vendors appear carrying large gourds on a pole. They’re selling a chilled, cloudy-white drink topped with chopped apple, strawberry, and salted peanuts known as tuba.

Tuba comes from the coconut palm, but not from coconut milk or coconut water. It’s made from the sap. 

Before dawn, tuberos climb the palms, making precise cuts at the base of the flower stems to draw it out. See how it’s done.

Fermentation begins on its own, almost immediately, giving the morning pour a little sweetness and barely a trace of alcohol, something like a mild cider. By midday, it turns lightly fizzy, with a gentle tang and a low alcohol content.

Tuba is meant to be enjoyed fresh. It’s highly perishable, and fermentation keeps evolving throughout the day – so the flavor (and kick) can shift fast. Earlier is sweeter and lighter, while later pours become tangier and more fermented.

That same-day zero-processing is part of Tuba’s appeal. It contains live cultures from fermentation, along with natural acids and enzymes, that support digestion and gut balance. Along the coast, it’s been a go-to for an upset stomach.

Coconut sap is naturally rich in minerals and natural sugars that help replenish energy. It also restores fluids and nutrients lost on hot, humid days.

Nearly 500 years ago, Filipino sailors arrived along the transpacific trade route carrying coconuts and the knowledge to turn palm tree sap into fermented drinks.

Some researchers believe that knowledge, along with unique stills, was later applied to agave, helping shape the early development of mezcal and tequila in the region.

🎉 ¡Vamos! Events

Tinto Bajío 2026 – May 16–17, León, Guanajuato
Now in its 11th edition, this wine and gastronomy festival brings together wineries from across Mexico for two days of tastings, food, and live music set in the gardens of Academia Renacimiento. Expect more than 200 wine labels, a tasting program, and a mix of gourmet products. More info here.

Ixtapa–Zihuatanejo Triathlon 2026 – May 16–17, Ixtapa–Zihuatanejo, Guerrero
One of Mexico’s oldest triathlons marks its 40th anniversary with a full day of races on Saturday, including sprint and Olympic-distance formats, duathlon categories, and elite competitions. Events take place on May 16, with a children’s race on May 17. More info here.

Fiestas del Pitic 2026 – May 21–24, Hermosillo, Sonora
Hermosillo’s flagship cultural festival returns for 4 days of free concerts, performances, and public programming marking the founding of the city in 1700. The program spans multiple venues across the historic center with a mix of music, dance, and theater featuring national and international artists. More info here.

Fiestas del Mar de las Cabras 2026 – May 21–25, Escuinapa, Sinaloa
Now in its 122nd edition, this traditional seaside festival brings crowds to Las Cabras beach for live music, food, and cultural events. Celebrations begin with a parade in Escuinapa before moving to the coast, where temporary palapas line the beach and families gather for concerts and festivities. More info here.

Noche Blanca 2026 – May 22–23, Mérida, Yucatán
Mérida’s all-night arts festival returns for its 20th edition, turning the city into a multi-kilometer cultural route with more than 200 activities across galleries and public spaces. Programming begins Friday with a preview, followed by the main Saturday route from La Ermita to the Monumento a la Patria, with music, dance, visual arts, and gastronomy throughout the night. More info here.

Festival del Viento 2026 – May 22–24, Bucerías, Nayarit
This kiteboarding festival brings international riders to the beaches of Bucerías for three days of competition, including freestyle and downwind events. One of Mexico’s largest kiteboarding gatherings, it draws more than 300 athletes. More info here.

💡 Say It in Spanish

¿Ya quedó?
 Translation: Is it done? / Is it ready?

This is what you ask when you’re waiting on your car at the mechanic, your takeout order, a home repair, or paperwork at an office.

It comes from quedar, a verb you’ll hear all the time in Mexican Spanish – usually when talking about whether something is finished or how it turned out. 

For example: 

• Quedó bien – It turned out well

• Quedó listo – It’s ready

• ¿Ya quedó? – Is it done?

🎯 Trivia Answer

Biblioteca Palafoxiana in Puebla

In the 1640s, Puebla’s bishop Juan de Palafox y Mendoza donated more than 5,000 books from his personal collection with one condition: they had to be available to anyone who could read, not just clergy or scholars.

At the time, that was a radical idea. Most libraries were restricted to religious or elite circles, making this the first true public library in the Americas.

Step inside, and it doesn’t feel like a library at all. With vaulted ceilings, carved wooden shelves, and a gold-covered altar at the far end, the space looks more like a cathedral than a place for books.

The collection has grown to include tens of thousands of volumes, including rare works from the earliest days of printing in the 15th century.

Take a look inside.

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¡Hola amigos! This week, everyone’s wondering what the CIA is doing in Mexico, lawmakers want to push judicial elections back to 2028, and Mexico is scrapping gas station card fees starting May 1.

Plus, the step-by-step guide to booking your INM appointment online, what’s changing with electricity rates this week, and Frida Kahlo’s contemporary who made history in the U.S. but was pushed aside in Mexico.

And don’t forget: Día del Niño is Thursday and Día del Trabajo on Friday kicks off a long weekend. 

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❓México Trivia

Which Mexican state was so overrun by pirates that entire coastal towns were abandoned and its capital had to be moved inland? 

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

📣 México News Roundup

🇺🇸 President Sheinbaum ruled out a conflict with the U.S. after two officials killed in a Chihuahua crash were identified as CIA agents not authorized to operate in Mexico.

🚆 A new train connecting Mexico City to AIFA airport is now up and running, expected to carry 57,000 passengers daily and cut travel time to about an hour.

⚖️ Morena lawmakers want to delay Mexico’s next judicial elections to 2028 after a chaotic 2025 vote, proposing stricter candidate screening and new rules to fix low turnout and unqualified candidates.

⛽ Mexico will eliminate gas station card fees, saving about 7.45 pesos per credit card transaction as part of efforts to lower fuel costs and push digital payments.

🛢️ Japan will import 1 million barrels of crude oil from Mexico with delivery set for July 2026.

🏗️ The U.S. has opened the door to cutting tariffs on Mexican steel and aluminum, offering potential relief for Mexican suppliers.

⛏️ The fourth and final miner trapped in the Sinaloa mine collapse was found dead 33 days following the disaster.

🐝 Mexico is launching a national strategy to protect bee populations critical to more than 80% of its crop production.

🍎 Your Health Pulse

What Happens If You End Up in a Mexican Hospital without Insurance?

Most people assume they can just pay out of pocket if something happens.

That assumption can get expensive fast.

Private hospitals in Mexico often require upfront payment before treatment – sometimes MXN 20,000 or more just to get started.

And if it turns into something more serious?

A single emergency can run upwards of MXN 468,000 (~$27,000 USD) out of pocket. If you don’t have residency, public healthcare (IMSS) isn’t an option. 

We’ve all seen or heard of foreigners here:

• Maxing out credit cards

• Relying on crowdfunding

• Cutting their time in Mexico short because they can’t afford treatment 

Health insurance isn’t just about coverage. It determines where you can go, how fast you’re treated, and what options you actually have in an emergency.

📍Immigration Essentials

Booking Your INM Appointment Online: What to Know Before You Start

Last week, we broke down which immigration procedures can and can’t be scheduled online (read it here). A few of you asked what’s required to book and how the process works.

Booking an appointment through the INM system is a multi-step process, and you won’t be able to access the calendar until each step is completed.

First, you need to create an account in the INM portal. If you’re creating a new account, note that the activation link sent by email is only valid for 72 hours. From there, you must generate a “pieza” (your application request), which produces a reference number required to schedule an appointment.

Once you have the pieza number, you’ll select your immigration office. Note: the system will show available dates at the immigration office tied to your registered address.

Appointment availability varies by location. Dates are typically offered one to three weeks out and open on a rolling basis depending on demand.

Once your appointment is booked, you’ll receive a confirmation by email.

There are also a few system rules to be aware of:

• You have 10 minutes to confirm your appointment after selecting a time

• Confirmed appointments must be canceled at least 24 hours in advance

• You must bring original documents and your appointment confirmation to be admitted

If the information entered doesn’t match your application exactly, the system will not allow you to book. If there’s an error in your application, you’ll need to cancel the appointment and generate a new request (pieza) before booking again.

If your procedure is eligible for online booking, setting up your account and generating the pieza in advance can make the scheduling process much smoother.

See the full INM guide to booking appointments here. 

🧩 Life in México

Electricity Rates in Mexico Are Changing May 1

Electricity costs in Mexico shift starting May 1 as seasonal summer rates take effect.

These rates do not apply uniformly across the country. They are based on regional climate classifications.

As temperatures rise, the federal government increases subsidies on residential electricity to help offset higher usage from air conditioning and cooling systems. 

The subsidy went into effect April 1 for Sonora. However, starting May 1, it expands to other regions where average temperatures reach at least 33°C. 

Under this system, households remain on subsidized residential tariffs (1, 1A–1F), which offer lower electricity rates up to a defined consumption limit.

Those limits vary by region and climate, but monthly thresholds generally range from 250 kWh (Tarifa 1) up to 2,500 kWh (Tarifa 1F).

If your average consumption exceeds your tariff’s limit, your household is automatically reclassified by the CFE into Tarifa Doméstica de Alto Consumo (DAC), a higher-cost category for high-usage residential customers.

CFE calculates the DAC using your average electricity usage over time – typically:

• 12 months for monthly billing, or

• 6 billing cycles for bimonthly service

This is based on an average – not a single high bill. But one high-usage period can affect your rate for several cycles.

Once in DAC:

• You lose the government subsidy entirely

• You pay a higher fixed rate per kWh

• Your electricity bill can increase significantly – often 4x higher than subsidized rates

Once you enter DAC, it can take multiple billing cycles of lower usage to return to a subsidized rate.

To find out your current tariff:

• Check your most recent CFE bill

• Look for the section labeled “Tarifa” (usually below the payment summary)

• If it shows DAC, you are no longer receiving a subsidy

• If it shows 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, or 1F, you are still subsidized, but may be approaching the limit

🇲🇽 Viva México

The Woman Who Painted Mexico Differently

Frida Kahlo might be Mexico’s most recognizable female painter, but María Izquierdo was her brilliant but lesser-known contemporary. 

Being a fiercely self-determined woman with Indigenous heritage was not a combination welcomed by post-revolutionary Mexico's art world. 

Izquierdo’s style blended modernism, surrealism, and deep-rooted Mexicanismo. While the popular muralist movement featured grand political themes, she painted ofrendas, circus performers, clay pots, market fruit, and quiet domestic moments.

She had a tough start in life. Born into modest means, her father died when she was five, and she was married off at fourteen years old.

It wasn’t until she moved to Mexico City in the early 1920s that she began to change the course of her life. She divorced her husband and enrolled at the Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes.

But even there, she faced an environment dominated by powerful male artists like Rivera, Orozco, and Siqueiros. 

While these figures painted Mexico’s heroic struggles on public buildings backed by government funding, Izquierdo focused on the everyday lives of women. Her work was often sidelined in favor of a more masculine vision of the nation.

In the 1930s, she collaborated with anti-fascist groups and the League of Revolutionary Women Writers and Artists to call out inequality. In her essays, she declared, "It is a crime to be a woman and have talent." 

Around this same time, her work was gaining international recognition. She made history as the first Mexican woman to exhibit in the U.S., and French writer Antonin Artaud later championed her work in Paris, calling it more authentically Mexican than the state-sponsored murals.

In 1945, Izquierdo was awarded a major government mural commission. But before she could begin, it was taken away from her. Influential muralists Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siqueiros argued she wasn’t qualified – effectively blocking her from completing the project.

In her later years, she suffered a stroke that left her partially paralyzed, and she died in 1955 with much of her work still underrecognized.

Izquierdo broke barriers and refused to be silenced by the male establishment, securing her place as a defining feminist voice in Latin American art.

Check out some of María Izquierdo’s work here

🪷 Viva Wellness

Mexico’s Magic Blue Brew

Palo Azul, or "blue stick," isn’t just another herbal tea…it’s a centuries-old Mexican remedy with a mesmerizing twist. Brew it right, and it glows electric blue in your cup.

But the real magic? What it does for your body.

Used by Aztec healers and Indigenous communities for generations, Palo Azul is revered for its powerful diuretic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. It’s known to support kidney and liver health, as well as digestion.

Packed with flavonoids and polyphenols, studies suggest it has up to 4x more antioxidants than spirulina and has even outperformed vitamin C in neutralizing free radicals. 

Read more

🎉 ¡Vamos! Events

Festival Cultural de Mayo 2026 – May 7–29, Guadalajara, Jalisco
Guadalajara’s leading annual arts festival returns with a multi-venue program spanning music, dance, visual arts, and circus, with performances and exhibitions across spaces including Teatro Degollado and the Instituto Cultural Cabañas. More info here.

Feria de Santa Rita 2026 – May 14–31, Chihuahua, Chihuahua
Chihuahua’s largest annual fair returns for 18 days of concerts, rodeo, food, and family-friendly attractions honoring Santa Rita de Casia, the city’s patron saint since the 18th century. The program includes shows at the Teatro del Pueblo and Palenque. More info here.

Expo Cerveza Guadalajara 2026 – May 15–17, Guadalajara, Jalisco
This 3-day beer expo brings together brewers and enthusiasts for tastings, workshops, and conferences focused on craft beer, with a wide range of styles and producers from across Mexico and Latin America. More info here. 

Tinto Bajío 2026 – May 16–17, León, Guanajuato
Now in its 11th edition, this wine and gastronomy festival brings together wineries from across Mexico for two days of tastings, food, and live music set in the gardens of Academia Renacimiento. Expect more than 200 wine labels, a tasting program, and a mix of gourmet products. More info here.

Vallarta Pride 2026 – May 17–24, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco
Puerto Vallarta’s annual Pride celebration returns for a week of events across the city, with the main parade on May 21 and peak festivities over the long weekend. Now in its 13th edition, events take place across multiple venues, with key activities along the Malecón and in Zona Romántica. More info here.

Fiestas del Pitic 2026 – May 21–24, Hermosillo, Sonora
Hermosillo’s flagship cultural festival returns for 4 days of free concerts, performances, and public programming marking the founding of the city in 1700. The program spans multiple venues across the historic center with a mix of music, dance, and theater featuring national and international artists. More info here.

💡 Say It in Spanish

¿Me lo puede apartar?
Translation: Can you set it aside for me?

This is what you say when you find something you want, but you’re not ready to pay for it just yet.

Use it at markets, small shops, pop-ups, even garage sales – anywhere things move fast and you don’t want someone else to grab it first.

Need a break from high interest?

The right card can give you time—and real savings. Take advantage of 0% intro APR on purchases for an extended period and 0% intro APR on balance transfers for up to 21 months, so you can focus on paying down your balance without added interest.

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🎯 Trivia Answer

Tabasco

During the 17th and 18th centuries, Tabasco became a prime target for English and Dutch pirates operating out of Caribbean strongholds. These weren’t isolated raids –  they were sustained attacks over decades. 

The threat became so constant that entire coastal communities fled inland, leaving large parts of the region effectively empty. Earlier coastal settlements were abandoned entirely as residents moved inland to safer locations.

Spanish authorities attempted to defend key areas, even constructing fortifications to protect against ongoing attacks, but it wasn’t enough.

In 1677, after a devastating pirate attack on the Villa de San Juan de Villahermosa, Spanish authorities made a drastic decision: they relocated the colonial government inland to Tacotalpa for protection – where it remained for more than a century.

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¡Hola amigos! This week, Pemex is under fire after officials were caught hiding details tied to the Gulf oil spill, President Sheinbaum is once again requesting approval for U.S. special forces to enter Mexico, and get ready for a lot more roadwork as the country ramps up major infrastructure projects.

Plus, what you can and can’t schedule online with immigration and what you need to know about Labor Day pay requirements.

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❓México Trivia

Which cenote in Mexico is so deep it took a NASA robot to finally reach the bottom?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

📣 México News Roundup

🛢️ Pemex discovered that three officials hid information about a pipeline leak tied to the Gulf oil spill.

🪖 President Sheinbaum requested Senate approval for U.S. special forces to enter Mexico for joint training between August 1 and October 15, 2026.

🤝 The U.S. and Mexico have set their first formal USMCA negotiation meeting for the week of May 25 in Mexico City.

🛣️ Mexico is accelerating an $18.1 billion federal highway plan with major construction already underway nationwide.

📉 Mexico’s economy is expected to stay near stagnation in 2026 with growth under 2% and elevated inflation.

⛽ President Sheinbaum warned gas stations charging too much for diesel could face tax audits. Nearly half are over the price cap.

🚛 Mexico has blocked imports of used tractor trailers to support the heavy vehicle industry and stabilize the domestic market.

⚠️ A gunman opened fire at the Teotihuacán pyramids, killing a Canadian tourist and injuring several others.

🚨 President Sheinbaum is demanding answers after U.S. and Mexican officials died in a crash in Chihuahua following a drug lab operation she says the federal government was not informed about.

🛍️ Mexico’s retail market is projected to reach nearly $700 billion by 2034. 

🍎 Your Health Pulse

📍Immigration Essentials

Online Immigration Appointments: What You Can and Can’t Schedule

Not every immigration procedure in Mexico can be scheduled online – and even when it can, it depends on whether your local office uses the system.

Larger INM ((Instituto Nacional de Migración) offices typically offer online appointments, while smaller regional offices still require you to show up in person to request a date or same-day service.

Procedures that can be scheduled online include:

• Exchange of a Residency Visa sticker issued in your passport at a Mexican consulate to a Residency Card.

• Applications for residency via Family Unit.

• Change of status to temporary or permanent resident on humanitarian grounds.

• Change of status from Temporary Student to Temporary Resident.

• Change of status from Temporary to Permanent residency.

• Renewals of existing residency cards.

• Replacement of lost/damaged residency cards.

• Notifications (change of address, marital status, employment, nationality)

Notifications of changes (such as address, marital status, employment, or nationality) can be scheduled online, but you must attend the appointment in person.

Regularization procedures are not included in the online system and must be handled directly at an immigration office.

The system also limits you to the office tied to your registered address, so you won’t be able to book appointments in other locations. 

🧩 Life in México

Labor Day Pay Rules and Closures

Labor Day in Mexico is observed on May 1 and is a mandatory day of rest under the Ley Federal del Trabajo. This law comes from Articles 74 and 75, which establish May 1 as a mandatory rest day and require double pay for any work performed on that day.

If an employee does work that day, the law is explicit: the employer must pay the worker their ordinary daily salary plus double pay for the services rendered – resulting in triple pay in total.

The law applies to part-time or full-time household staff, such as your maid and gardener. So if you plan on having your maid come in on May 1, you are legally required to pay 3x their daily rate.

Because May 1 falls on a Friday this year, and most institutions are already closed on weekends, many services will remain shut from Friday through Sunday.

This includes:

• Banks (under CNBV closure regulations)

• Government offices such as SRE and SAT

• Public schools under the SEP calendar

Most in-person services will not resume until Monday, and tax deadlines falling on May 1 are typically extended to the next business day.

If you need to handle banking, official paperwork, or administrative tasks, it’s best to plan around the three-day closure window.

Just Arrived in CDMX? This Saves You Hours

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Browse over 240+ live listings — from apartments to everyday essentials — so you can get settled faster.

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🇲🇽 Viva México

The Day Veracruz Was Invaded by the U.S.

On April 21, 1914, U.S. forces landed in Veracruz, Mexico’s most important port.

The invasion was triggered by a diplomatic crisis days earlier in the oil port of Tampico, where Mexican soldiers briefly detained a group of American sailors. The men were quickly released, but the incident escalated tensions between the two countries.

To understand how this happened, it helps to step back.

By early 1914, Mexico was deep in revolution.

General Victoriano Huerta had seized power in a coup, ordering the assassination of President Francisco Madero and installing a harsh military rule.

In the U.S., Woodrow Wilson took office shortly after Madero’s murder. Appalled by the political executions, he refused to recognize the new regime. President Wilson moved to weaken Huerta by preventing a major arms shipment from reaching his government, ordering U.S. forces to seize the port of Veracruz.

What began as a landing operation quickly escalated into days of fighting, and U.S. forces remained, turning the mission into an occupation. U.S. leadership believed the move would pressure Huerta’s regime, but instead, many Veracruz residents saw a foreign military taking control of their port.

Even Huerta’s opponents rejected foreign interference, and the invasion sparked widespread resistance and fighting across the city.

With seasoned soldiers tied up on other fronts of the Revolution, the defense of Veracruz fell to its people.

As U.S. forces moved into the city, resistance formed street by street. Naval cadets, many still teenagers, were among the first to respond, joined quickly by armed civilians.

Among the fighters was José Azueta, a young naval officer, who was gravely wounded.  He refused medical treatment from U.S. doctors, an act still remembered as a symbol of national dignity.

Across Mexico, opposition to the intervention crossed rival factions, even as the Revolution continued.

The occupation lasted until November 23, when mediation by Argentina, Brazil, and Chile finally pushed U.S. forces to withdraw.

The U.S. occupation left a lasting mark on U.S.–Mexico relations and Mexico’s sense of sovereignty. In Mexico, the defense of Veracruz is remembered not for victory, but for resistance – when cadets, civilians, and a divided nation stood against foreign intervention.

🪷 Viva Wellness

Chaya: The Mayan Leaf Powering Modern Wellness

Chaya (Cnidoscolus aconitifolius) is often called tree spinach for a very practical reason: it looks like spinach, growing on a tall, woody shrub.

Native to southern Mexico, especially the Yucatán Peninsula – chaya grows easily in backyard gardens and home plots.

Since pre-Hispanic times, the Maya have used chaya in both traditional medicine and everyday cooking, including infusions and dishes like tamales and stews.

Chaya is traditionally used to support everything from inflammation and circulation to blood sugar, kidney health, cholesterol, and digestion.

Gram for gram, it delivers more iron than spinach, plus vitamin C to help your body actually absorb it. Chaya has calcium levels you’d normally associate with dairy, and more protein than you’d expect from a leafy green. It also contains fiber, potassium, and essential amino acids, making it a highly nutrient-dense addition to everyday meals.

The plant’s botanical name, Cnidoscolus, literally means "nettle thorn" in Greek. While cultivated varieties are smooth, their wild relatives carry stinging hairs. This biological defense is why some locals still greet the shrub with a polite "Con su permiso, madrecita Chaya" before harvesting; lore suggests that if you ask nicely, the plant won’t hurt you.

When preparing it, there are two non-negotiables: cook it, and avoid aluminum. 

Raw chaya contains naturally occurring compounds that can release small amounts of cyanide when the leaves are damaged, but a rolling boil of 10–15 minutes renders it safe to eat. Aluminum can react with the plant’s natural compounds, so keep it out of pots, bowls, and even foil.

In everyday Mexican kitchens, chaya shows up in everything from scrambled eggs and soups to refreshing green aguas frescas, often blended with pineapple or lime. Its flavor is mild and similar to spinach.

Chaya is commonly passed from garden to garden through cuttings. If someone gives you a stem, you’re holding a plant that may have been shared hand to hand for generations.

🎉 ¡Vamos! Events

Festival FYJA 2026 (Festival Flores y Jardines) – April 30–May 3, Mexico City
Polanco transforms into an open-air showcase of garden design and nature as Festival FYJA returns with ephemeral garden installations, landscape architecture, and creative interpretations of the Mexican garden. More info here.

Festival Vallarta Azteca del Folclor Internacional 2026 – May 3–9, Puerto Vallarta
Now in its 20th edition, this weeklong folklore festival brings together dance groups from across Mexico and international delegations for performances across Puerto Vallarta, from the Malecón to Teatro Vallarta and neighborhood cultural spaces. Expect performances, parades, and open-air shows highlighting traditional music and dance, most free and spread across multiple venues. More info here. 

Dog Festival by Pooff – May 3, Monterrey, Nuevo León
A pet-friendly day at Parque Rufino Tamayo brings together grooming, photo sessions, and training classes alongside contests, games, and dog-focused brands. Expect a relaxed atmosphere with music and food. Free entry. More info here.

Desfile Cívico-Militar del 5 de Mayo 2026 – May 5, Puebla, Puebla
Puebla’s main civic-military parade returns to its traditional route along Boulevard 5 de Mayo, restoring a more accessible, city-centered format after recent years. The procession brings together more than 10,000 participants, including students, military units, and civic groups, alongside floats and ceremonial displays. More info here.

Festival Internacional del Arte, Queso y Vino 2026 – May 7–24, Tequisquiapan, Querétaro
Marking its 50th edition, this long-running festival takes over central Tequisquiapan across multiple venues with wine and cheese tastings, regional food, concerts, cultural programming, and family-friendly activities. More than 30 wineries participate, with free-entry events running over several weekends along the Ruta del Queso y el Vino. More info here. 

Festival Cultural de Mayo 2026 – May 7–29, Guadalajara, Jalisco
Guadalajara’s leading annual arts festival returns with a multi-venue program spanning music, dance, visual arts, and circus, with performances and exhibitions across spaces including Teatro Degollado and the Instituto Cultural Cabañas. More info here.

Torneo Internacional de la Pesca del Pez Vela 2026 – May 8–10, Zihuatanejo, Guerrero
Now in its 41st edition, this long-running sport fishing tournament draws national and international anglers to the coast of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo for three days of open-sea competition centered on sailfish, with additional prize categories including marlin and dorado. More info here. 

💡 Say It in Spanish

¿Le puedo transferir?
Translation: Can I transfer you the money?

This is what you’ll hear when it’s time to pay – especially with contractors, cleaners, deliveries, or small businesses… and no one has cash.

If you’re asking a friend, keep it casual: ¿Te puedo transferir?

🎯 Trivia Answer

El Zacatón cenote

Located in the state of Tamaulipas, El Zacatón is the deepest water-filled sinkhole in the world, reaching a depth of about 335 meters (over 1,100 feet).

For years, no one could find the bottom. Divers pushed deeper and deeper, setting records, but still came up short. One expedition in the 1990s reached over 280 meters without touching the floor, reinforcing its reputation as “bottomless.”

The mystery wasn’t solved until 2007, when NASA deployed an autonomous underwater robot called DEPTHX. Designed to explore oceans on distant moons, the robot mapped the cenote’s depth and structure, finally revealing how deep it truly goes.

Unlike the crystal-clear cenotes of the Yucatán, El Zacatón is something else entirely. Its warm, mineral-rich waters give off a slight sulfuric smell, and floating islands of grass drift slowly across the surface – giving the cenote its name, from zacate, meaning grass.

What makes it even more fascinating is how it formed. While most cenotes are created by collapsing limestone, El Zacatón likely developed through underground volcanic activity, where acidic waters gradually carved out a massive vertical shaft over thousands of years.

Take a video tour straight down into El Zacatón.

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¡Hola amigos! This week, the government is back to putting up “don’t fill up here” banners at gas stations charging above the government-set price, electoral reform finally passed, and President Sheinbaum is now open to fracking. Oh, and guac just set a world record.

Plus, what to do if you’re in a medical accident in Mexico, how to protect yourself from increasingly convincing phishing and text scams, and toll roads just got more expensive.

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❓México Trivia

Which Mexican state has stood in for the American Wild West in dozens of Hollywood films?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

📣 México News Roundup

⛽ The government resumes a program allowing Profeco to put up “Don’t fill up here” banners at gas stations charging above the government-set price.

🛢️ President Sheinbaum backs fracking (after previously opposing it) as a way to boost gas production and reduce reliance on U.S. imports.

🏛️ Mexico’s electoral “Plan B” reform passed last week after approval by Congress and 20 state legislatures.

🕒 Mexico’s Senate approved the 40-hour workweek with a phased rollout from 2027 to 2030. The bill advances to the Chamber of Deputies to establish a phased transition.

✈️ Air Canada Cargo has expanded operations at Aeropuerto Internacional Felipe Ángeles (AIFA) to six weekly flights from Toronto.

⛏️ A miner was found alive after nearly two weeks trapped in a flooded mine in Sinaloa. Watch the moment of his rescue.

🥑 Tancítaro, Michoacán set a Guinness World Record with a 6,800 kilo batch of guacamole made by over 800 volunteers.

🦠 Mexico’s measles cases surpass the total reported in 2025 despite a nationwide vaccination push. 

🚨 Pemex says it contained a diesel spill at its Deer Park refinery in Houston after it was reported Sunday, with no impact to the community or navigation in the channel.

🍎 Your Health Pulse

What to Do If You Have a Medical Accident in Mexico

A tumble on uneven cobblestones, a car accident, or a fall in your own home – everyday accidents can turn complicated fast in Mexico.

Handling a medical emergency isn’t always as straightforward as calling an ambulance and heading to the hospital.

For foreigners living in or visiting Mexico, the process can turn into a nightmare fast. Emergency services work differently here, insurance rules can trip you up, EMS cannot enter your home without consent, and language barriers add another layer of challenge.

Click here for a breakdown of what you need to know before something happens.

That Message Might Not Be Real

Scams used to be easy to spot. Poor grammar. Weird email addresses. Obvious red flags.

Not anymore.

Now it’s unclear if that WhatsApp is from a delivery service or if that Amazon email is legit. 

Cybercrime is exploding globally, with total costs expected to reach $23 trillion by 2027, driven in part by increasingly sophisticated AI-generated scams.

Phishing scams now play a role in over 40% of global data breaches, and mobile users are three times more likely to click malicious links sent by text or messaging apps.

That’s where ScamRank comes in.

ScamRank is a scam detection tool that checks suspicious texts, emails, URLs, social media messages, and even screenshots, then gives you a simple Trust Signal: safe, warning, or danger.

Paste in the message that feels off, and ScamRank looks for the same things scammers rely on – urgency, impersonation, suspicious links, and other common red flags.

Try ScamRank for free

📍Immigration Essentials

Family Unit Residency: Who Qualifies (and How It Works)

Mexico’s Family Unit pathway lets you apply for residency based on a qualifying family relationship with a Mexican citizen or a foreigner who already holds valid temporary or permanent residency – often without leaving the country.

In most cases, foreigners must apply at a Mexican consulate abroad. But under Family Unit rules, some applicants can enter Mexico on a visitor permit (FMM) and apply directly at an INM office.

Who qualifies depends on your relationship:

Temporary Residency may be available for:

• The spouse or partner of a temporary or permanent resident

• The parent of a temporary resident

• The minor child (under 18) of a temporary resident

• The minor child (under 18) of the spouse of a temporary or permanent resident

Permanent Residency may be available if you are:

• The spouse or partner of a Mexican citizen

• The parent of a Mexican-born child

• The parent of a permanent resident

• The minor child (under 18) or sibling (under 18) of a permanent resident or Mexican national

• The minor child (under 18) of the spouse of a permanent resident or Mexican national

Financial solvency is typically not required when applying through Family Unit at an INM office in Mexico.

If you apply in Mexico, you’ll generally need to arrive as a visitor (FFM), file in person at INM before your stay expires, and bring the qualifying family member with you. 

If you apply from a consulate abroad, you’ll receive a visa sticker in your passport and must exchange it for a residency card within 30 days of arrival in Mexico.

Key requirements:

• Proof of relationship

• Valid passport and application forms

• Sponsor’s ID or residency card

• Foreign documents apostilled and translated into Spanish

Family Unit is one of the most accessible paths to residency, but only if your relationship fits the categories recognized under Mexican immigration law.

🧩 Life in México

Driving in Mexico Just Got More Expensive

As of April 13, CAPUFE (Mexico’s federal toll road authority) increased tolls by 4.7% across its network of highways, impacting more than 40 toll roads across 24 states.

The increase applies to all vehicles – cars, motorcycles, buses, and trucks – and affects many of the country’s most heavily traveled routes.

States impacted include: Mexico City, State of Mexico, Puebla, Querétaro, Morelos, Guerrero, Veracruz, San Luis Potosí, Coahuila, Tamaulipas, Baja California, and Baja California Sur, among others.

Updated tolls on key routes include: 

• México–Querétaro: Cars 226, Motorcycles 113 pesos

• México–Cuernavaca: Cars 156, Motorcycle 78 pesos

• México–Puebla: Cars 226, Motorcycles 113 pesos

• Córdoba–Veracruz: Cars 282, Motorcycles 141 pesos

• Chamapa–Lechería: Cars 69, Motorcycles 34 pesos

• Cuernavaca–Acapulco: Cars 670, Motorcycles 335 pesos

• La Rumorosa–Tecate: Cars 108, Motorcycles 54 pesos

• Durango–Mazatlán: Cars 820, Motorcycles 410 pesos

For anyone driving regularly or planning longer trips, these increases can add up quickly, especially on routes with multiple toll booths.

See the full list of updated toll prices.

🇲🇽 Viva México

The Engineering Marvel of Xochimilco’s Chinampas

For many visitors, Xochimilco’s ancient waterways feel like a floating fiesta. Mariachis serenade passengers aboard brightly painted trajineras drifting through canals lined with lush “floating gardens.”

But there’s a deliberate design to this scenery: an ingenious system of agriculture rooted in centuries of Indigenous knowledge.

Long before the Valley of Mexico’s vast lake system was mostly drained, the Xochimilca and Mexica were caught in a geographic trap. 

They lived on marshy islands. With no natural farmable land, they had to find a way to feed a booming population.

Their answer? Create it.

They might look like islands, but these chinampas, or raised agricultural plots, are carefully engineered, artificial terrain. 

Farmers wove dense fences from reeds and branches, and staked them in the muddy shallows. 

Into this rectangular frame, they packed alternating layers of sediment and decomposing vegetation, building it up until the surface rose above the water.

The key innovation was the use of the ahuejote (Salix bonplandiana), a native willow whose roots grow deep into the lakebed. Planted along the edges, these trees anchored each plot in place as they grew.

These gardens are constantly fed by nutrient-rich sediment drifting in from the surrounding canals. This process naturally replenishes the soil. 

There’s no need for synthetic fertilizers. Irrigation is also unnecessary. Nature handles it all.

This exceptionally fertile land can support multiple harvests a year – allowing farmers to grow crops year-round, regardless of the dry season. It's a remarkably efficient, self-sustaining system.

Today, this ancient infrastructure is under pressure as urban expansion and pollution encroach on the remaining canals. 

However, the chinampas have endured for over a thousand years, and there are renewed conservation efforts to scale up protection and preserve this legacy and safeguard their future.

Arca Tierra alone has restored 10 plots, and is now supplying top Mexico City restaurants like Pujol and Rosetta. With initiatives like Colectivo Ahuejote and a growing “Chinampera Label” for chemical-free produce, this ancient system is quietly proving its relevance all over again.

🪷 Viva Wellness

Why Mexico’s "Oregano" Is Actually a Super-Shrub

They share a name, but the resemblance between orégano mediterráneo and orégano mexicano ends there.

Mediterranean oregano (Origanum vulgare) belongs to the mint family. Mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens) is something else entirely; it’s actually a member of the verbena family.

A woody, drought-loving shrub, Mexican oregano grows across Mexico and Central America in warm, dry climates, often in rocky soils and open scrubland. Its leaves are small, oval, and highly aromatic, and it produces delicate white (sometimes pale pink) blooms during its growing season.

The flavor is just as distinct. Where Mediterranean oregano is earthy and mildly herbaceous, Lippia graveolens is bolder, citrusy, and slightly peppery, with subtle notes of anise.

Mexican oregano is usually added early in the cooking process. Its oils are slowly released into long-simmered dishes such as stews, moles, and salsas.

Those same oils are far more than flavor.

They are highly concentrated in carvacrol and thymol, compounds with proven antimicrobial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. Studies have shown strong antimicrobial activity, including against certain resistant bacteria and fungi.

Together, these compounds, along with antioxidants like luteolin, quercetin, and rosmarinic acid, support respiratory health, aid digestion, and help reduce inflammation at a cellular level.

Mexican oregano also delivers a dense load of vitamins B complex, C, K, and E, plus calcium, iron, and magnesium.

For generations, it has been used in traditional herbal practices across Mexico.

For congestion, the same leaves are used for steam inhalation to clear the airways. For stomach upsets or lingering resfriado misery, a strong té de orégano – dried leaves steeped for 15 minutes – is the traditional go-to. 

🎉 ¡Vamos! Events

Feria Nacional de San Marcos 2026 – April 18–May 10, Aguascalientes
Mexico’s biggest annual fair returns for its 198th edition with concerts, cultural programming, gastronomy, sports, and traditional events across the city. A major draw is the Foro de las Estrellas, which hosts free concerts throughout the fair, including international acts such as Andrea Bocelli. More info here.  

Feria de Puebla 2026 – April 23–May 10, Puebla
This annual fair returns with concerts, cultural presentations, and multiple pavilions featuring technology, traditional cuisine, and family-friendly attractions. Highlights include the Expo Ganadera, food areas, live performances, and interactive experiences across Puebla’s main fairgrounds. More info here.

Festival FYJA 2026 (Festival Flores y Jardines) – April 30–May 3, Mexico City
Polanco transforms into an open-air showcase of garden design and nature as Festival FYJA returns with ephemeral garden installations, landscape architecture, and creative interpretations of the Mexican garden. More info here.

Feria Nacional del Café Coatepec 2026 – April 30–May 10, Coatepec, Veracruz
Held in one of Veracruz’s main coffee-growing regions, this long-running fair (dating back to 1948) highlights local coffee culture with tastings, barista competitions, and producer showcases, alongside concerts, traditional events, and food pavilions at the town’s fairgrounds. More info here.

Festival Cultural de Mayo 2026 – May 7–29, Guadalajara, Jalisco
Guadalajara’s leading annual arts festival returns with a multi-venue program spanning music, dance, visual arts, and circus, with performances and exhibitions across spaces including Teatro Degollado and the Instituto Cultural Cabañas. More info here.

💡 Say It in Spanish

¿Cuánto le debo?
Translation: How much do I owe you?

This is what you say when it’s time to settle up – whether it’s a contractor at your home or a friend who put dinner on their credit card.

When speaking to friends, use the formal ¿Cuánto te debo? 

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🎯 Trivia Answer

Durango

Often called Mexico’s “land of cinema,” Durango has been used as a stand-in for the American frontier for over 70 years.

Hollywood chose Durango because its landscapes closely resemble the American West, allowing filmmakers to shoot multiple settings without leaving the region.

Filming took place across the region, not just in the capital. Sets like Chupaderos and Old West Town, just outside Durango City, were built for movies and still stand today as part of the state’s cinematic legacy. Since 2001, Old West Town has also operated as a theme park, where visitors can watch live cowboy shows, staged shootouts, and Western-style performances on the original film sets.

Classic films like The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, True Grit, and The Treasure of the Sierra Madre were all shot there. Directors like John Ford filmed in Durango, and actors including John Wayne and Charlton Heston became closely associated with the area. In fact, Wayne grew so attached to Durango that he built his own home there: Rancho de la Joya.

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¡Hola amigos! This week, road blockades are wreaking havoc across Mexico, the government just rolled out a weeklong fuel subsidy to keep prices down, and tensions are building over everything from oil spills to Mexican artwork heading abroad. Oh, and Mexico is now self-sufficient in beans!

Plus, what renters in Mexico need to know before signing (or renewing) a lease, key residency rules for minors, and a few Spanish words you definitely don’t want to mix up…unless you’re ready for a very awkward conversation. 

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❓México Trivia

Which little-known animal found in Mexico is one of only three of its kind in the world —and has a reputation far more dangerous than reality?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

📣 México News Roundup

⛽ Mexico increased fuel subsidies for April 4–10 as the government covers over 80% of diesel costs and boosts support for regular and premium gasoline to keep prices down.

🚛 Truckers and farmers blocked major highways across 20 states in a nationwide strike on Monday, disrupting access to Mexico City and key U.S. border crossings.

🎨 Mexican artists are protesting plans to send 160 artworks including 18 Frida Kahlo paintings from a Mexican-owned private collection to Spain through 2030.

🌱 Mexico declares it has reached bean self-sufficiency after production surpasses the government’s target. 

🛢️ The government says a Gulf oil spill contaminating over 630km of coastline came from three sources. While it was publicly acknowledged at the end of March, satellite data shows it may have begun as early as February 6.

🛢️ Mexico launched the Permanent Observatory for the Gulf of Mexico using satellites and predictive models to prevent future oil spills.

🛑 President Sheinbaum rejected a report from the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances, saying it relies on outdated data and ignores Mexico’s recent progress.

🌾 Mexican farmers push the government to remove duties on Chinese fertilizers to lower rising costs. 

💧 President Sheinbaum rejected including Mexico’s water dispute with the U.S. in the USMCA review, saying the issue is already covered by a technical agreement.

🏪 Walmart Mexico plans to invest MX$43 billion across Mexico and Central America in 2026 to expand and upgrade stores and strengthen its supply chain.

🍎 Your Health Pulse

Health Insurance When Your Health History Isn’t Perfect

If you smoke or have a history of substance abuse, you can still qualify for international health insurance, but expect stricter terms and higher premiums.

For smokers, coverage is typically available, but insurers apply premium loading – an added cost to offset higher health risks. Premiums may increase 20–50%, depending on your insurer.

This applies to all tobacco use, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, vapes, chewing tobacco, and nicotine gum and patches. Even if you’ve smoked within the past 12 to 24 months, it will be factored into your rate.

If you already have health conditions linked to smoking – such as heart or lung disease – your application may be denied altogether. That’s why it’s essential to be completely honest about your health history when applying. Your broker can often flag potential issues before you submit your application.

For those with a history of drug or alcohol dependency, honesty is also critical. Concealing this information can result in immediate policy cancellation and make you uninsurable elsewhere.

If your substance use is in the distant past (typically more than 5–10 years ago), you may still qualify, though your plan will likely include exclusions. Common exclusions include hepatitis C, HIV, liver disease (such as cirrhosis or fatty liver), and pancreatitis.

Recent recovery can also mean premium loading, along with exclusions for anything related to substance use. However, your policy would still cover new illnesses, accidents, cancer unrelated to substance abuse, and general primary care.

Smoking or past substance use doesn’t automatically disqualify you, but it does change how insurers evaluate your risk. The key is knowing how to navigate it.

A good broker can help you understand your options, avoid costly surprises, and match you with a policy that actually fits your situation.

Talk to a licensed broker about your options.

Tired of Facebook groups and endless WhatsApp threads?

Expatio brings everything into one place so you don’t have to piece it together yourself. It’s built for foreigners in Mexico City who want an easier way to find rentals, buy and sell items, and connect with locals.

Download Expatio for free

📍Immigration Essentials

Residency Rules for Minors in Mexico

If you have dependents under 18 living with you in Mexico, special rules apply to their residency cards:

Children under 3 years old are issued temporary or permanent residency cards that are valid for one year at a time. These must be renewed annually in Mexico.

Children aged 3 to 17 years can receive temporary or permanent residency cards for up to four years at a time. These must be renewed in Mexico within the 30-day window before the card expires.

Children under 18 holding permanent residency must follow the renewal rules described above. Once they turn 18, their permanent residency becomes indefinite, meaning the card no longer expires and future renewals are no longer required.

Renewals for minors must be filed in person at a local immigration office in Mexico by a parent or guardian, and the child must also be present.

🧩 Life in México

Renting in Mexico? Know Your Rights

Tenant rights in Mexico are stronger than many foreigners realize – and landlords don’t always have the upper hand.

Lease agreements are binding, as long as they comply with the state’s Civil Code under Mexico’s civil law system. Whether you’re month-to-month or locked into a year-long contract (or more), the terms you sign matter more than precedent.

Security deposits? There’s no fixed legal cap, but one month is typical. Landlords are generally required to return deposits within about 30 days—unless they can prove damages or unpaid bills. Disputes are handled through civil legal channels.

Evictions aren’t quick or simple. Tenants are often entitled to advance notice, and in some states, a failure to terminate properly means your lease automatically renews into an indefinite term. Notice requirements vary by contract and location, so always check your agreement.

And rent hikes? Rent increases are often capped based on metrics like the National Consumer Price Index (INPC) or a percentage of the minimum wage increase —depending on what your lease specifies. Always make sure the terms are clearly stated in your contract to avoid surprises.

Rental laws vary by state. What applies in Guanajuato isn’t always the same in Jalisco or Yucatán. 

For those in Mexico City, new rules are now in effect. Annual rent increases are capped at the previous year’s inflation rate, and lease agreements must be registered in a government-managed digital system. These changes were upheld by Mexico’s Supreme Court in 2026.

If you’re renting now (or planning to renew) know your state’s rules. Read the full breakdown of tenant and landlord laws in Mexico.

🇲🇽 Viva México

The Emperor France Planted in Mexico

On April 10, 1864, Maximilian of Habsburg accepted the Mexican crown, formalizing an empire engineered years earlier through debt, diplomacy, and military force.

The path began in 1861, when President Benito Juárez – fresh out of a brutal civil war – suspended payments on Mexico’s foreign debt. In response, Britain, Spain, and France formed a joint intervention and sent forces to Veracruz to demand repayment.

But the alliance quickly fractured. Britain and Spain negotiated settlements and withdrew. France did not.

Napoleon III had a broader vision: to establish a French-aligned monarchy in the Americas, one that could counter U.S. power. With the U.S. consumed by its Civil War, Mexico presented a rare geopolitical opening. By 1862, French troops had landed, and 30,000 soldiers were deployed in an attempt to secure control.

This ambition was reinforced by a powerful idea emerging in Europe. French intellectuals had begun using the term “Latin America,” framing the region as culturally tied to Catholic Europe.

Inside Mexico, conservative elites aligned with the French. They supported the creation of a monarchy, believing a European Catholic ruler would restore stability, protect the Church, and legitimize their power after years of conflict.

With French troops occupying Mexico City in 1863, a provisional government offered the crown to Maximilian, a Habsburg archduke with royal pedigree but limited prospects. The choice was deliberate: a European prince with dynastic legitimacy, yet politically available.

Maximilian did not immediately accept. He hesitated, wary of ruling a distant and unstable country, but was ultimately persuaded by his ambitious wife, Carlota, who saw Mexico as their chance to build a lasting monarchy.

He accepted, arriving in 1864 to rule a country still at war.

His empire depended on French military support and never achieved full legitimacy. Republican forces under Juárez maintained resistance, and when the United States emerged from its Civil War, pressure on France intensified.

By 1867, French troops withdrew. Without them, Maximilian’s rule collapsed. He was captured, court-martialed, and executed.

🪷 Viva Wellness

Mexico’s Gut-Friendly Pineapple Drink

Tepache might look like just another refreshing drink, but there’s more going on beneath the surface.

This lightly fermented pineapple beverage contains probiotics that support gut health through fermentation, along with bromelain – an enzyme linked to digestion and inflammation support – and vitamin C to help support immune health. It’s tangy, slightly fizzy, and made from pineapple rinds, turning food waste into something surprisingly good for your body.

Read more

🎉 ¡Vamos! Events

Guanajuato Medieval Festival 2026 – April 10–12, Guanajuato
Step into the Middle Ages at this open-air festival at the Alhóndiga de Granaditas, featuring medieval music, performances, artisans, and cultural activities celebrating life from the 5th to 15th centuries. Free entry. More info here.

Guadalajara International Film Festival (FICG) – April 17–25, Guadalajara
One of Latin America’s most important film festivals returns for its 41st edition, showcasing Mexican and Ibero-American cinema alongside international productions, industry events, and screenings across multiple venues in Guadalajara. More info here.

Water Lantern Festival – April 18–19, CDMX
Set at Lago Acitlalin in Xochimilco, this lantern festival invites guests to personalize and release lanterns onto the water at sunset, creating an illuminated display on the lake. The experience also features music, performances, food, and local artisans. More info here.

Maratón Puerto Vallarta 2026 – April 19, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco
The 7th edition of this race starts and finishes at the Malecón, offering marathon, half marathon, 10K, and 5K distances on a certified course recognized by World Athletics, AIMS, and FMAA. More info here.

Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race – April 24–26, Ensenada, Baja California
The 78th edition of this offshore race sails from Newport Beach to Ensenada, where events and activities take place downtown following the race. Held since 1948, it remains one of the longest-running yacht races on the West Coast. More info here.

Feria de Puebla 2026 – April 23–May 10, Puebla, Puebla
This annual fair returns with concerts, cultural presentations, and multiple pavilions featuring technology, traditional cuisine, and family-friendly attractions. Highlights include the Expo Ganadera, food areas, live performances, and interactive experiences across Puebla’s main fairgrounds. More info here.

Festival FYJA 2026 (Festival Flores y Jardines) – April 30–May 3, Mexico City
Polanco transforms into an open-air showcase of garden design and nature as Festival FYJA returns with ephemeral garden installations, landscape architecture, and creative interpretations of the Mexican garden. More info here.

💡 Say It in Spanish

Some Spanish words sound almost identical, but a tiny shift in sound or an accent, and things can get awkward fast.

Año vs. Ano

• Año = year

• Ano = anus

Feliz Año Nuevo matters more than you think.

Casa vs. Caza

• Casa = house 

• Caza = hunting

One is where you live. The other is what you do in the woods.

Papa vs. Papá

• Papa = potato

• Papá = dad

Just one accent, completely different conversation.

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Download your free guide.

🎯 Trivia Answer

The Mexican beaded lizard

The Mexican beaded lizard (Heloderma horridum) is one of only two venomous lizards in the world, alongside the Gila monster.

It’s found along Mexico’s western coast in Sonora, Sinaloa, Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima, Michoacán, Guerrero, Oaxaca, and Chiapas.vTheir range also extends into the dry valley of the Río Motagua in Guatemala.

For generations, local folklore claimed it could cause lightning strikes or even harm someone just by looking at them – none of which is true. In reality, it’s a sluggish, ground-dwelling hunter that feeds mainly on eggs and small animals.

Despite its intimidating appearance, the beaded lizard is not aggressive and rarely bites humans. Its venom is primarily used for defense. Unlike snakes, it doesn’t inject venom with a strike. Instead, it chews, allowing venom to flow along grooves in its teeth.

What makes this creature even more fascinating is its unexpected connection to modern medicine. Compounds derived from the venom of related species have been used to develop treatments for diabetes, turning one of Mexico’s most feared reptiles into a surprising contributor to human health.

See this fascinating creature in its natural habitat.

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¡Hola amigos! It’s a lighter issue this week with Semana Santa in full swing, but there’s still plenty happening. Volaris approved its merger with Viva, a major new infrastructure law is set to unlock billions in investment, and get ready for more government surveillance with AI-powered cameras. Oh, and Andrea Bocelli is giving a free concert in the Zócalo.

Also, how U.S. citizens can vote from abroad, the precision and tradition of escaramuza, and Spanish phrases that will save you in packed Semana Santa crowds.

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❓México Trivia

Which ancient treasure, considered a symbol of Mexican identity, has sparked a decades-long international dispute over where it belongs?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

📣 México News Roundup

✈️ Mexico City International Airport (AICM) is preparing to deploy AI-powered surveillance with 3,629 cameras ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

✈️ Volaris shareholders approved a merger with Viva Aerobus to form Grupo Más Vuelos.

🛡️ Since President Sheinbaum took office in 2024, Mexico’s prison population has surged 11% as authorities ramp up arrests under a new security strategy.

🏗️ Mexico’s lower house approved a new infrastructure law to unlock MX$722 billion in private investment for energy, rail, and road projects.

⚖️ China warns of retaliation after Mexico imposes tariffs of up to 35% on imports from China.

📉 Mexico’s central bank cut its benchmark interest rate to 6.75% last week as it resumes efforts to support a slowing economy.

⛽ Mexico will require gas stations to issue new digital invoices starting April 24 to track fuel origin and crack down on illegal gasoline sales.

🎤 Andrea Bocelli will perform a free concert in Mexico City’s Zócalo on April 18 at 7pm, with a surprise guest expected to join him on stage. 

📍Immigration Essentials

The 30-Day Rule After Getting Residency in Mexico

If you’ve been approved for residency, the Mexican Consulate puts a visa sticker in your passport that gives you one-time entry into Mexico as a legal resident.

It is typically valid for up to 6 months, and you must enter Mexico before it expires.

When you enter Mexico, you’ll be admitted as a resident (not a tourist), and your entry stamp will be marked for “canje” (exchange). You cannot enter as a tourist and activate the visa later. Also, once the visa sticker is in your passport, you cannot enter Mexico as a visitor, leave, and return later to begin the exchange process – you must enter as a resident and start the canje process upon arrival.

Once you arrive, the clock starts.

You have 30 calendar days from your entry date to begin the process of exchanging that visa for your residency card (el canje). This must be done at your local immigration office. 

Note: you do not need to complete the process within 30 days, but you must start it within that window. If you don’t start the process within that timeframe, the visa becomes void – and you’ll need to restart the process at a Mexican consulate abroad.

Here’s what the exchange process involves:

• Completing an online application

• Writing a request letter (in Spanish)

• Visiting a local INM office

• Providing fingerprints and photos

• Paying the residency fee

This step must be completed in person in Mexico, and your residency is not finalized until the card is issued.

Many people choose to work with an immigration facilitator to handle the paperwork and appointments. But whether you do or not, the timeline is strict and missing it means starting over.

🧩 Life in México

In Case You Missed It

• You could be overpaying up to 9%+ every time you use your card in Mexico. It’s called dynamic currency conversion, and most people don’t realize it’s happening. Here’s how to avoid it.
  

• Mexico’s new phone registration rule is now in effect and scammers are already sending fake messages asking you to “verify” your number. Here’s what to watch for.
  

• In Mexico, hospitals rely on a replacement donor system – meaning if you need blood, family or friends are expected to replace it. This can become a serious issue in emergencies. Here’s how it works.

Tired of news that feels like noise?

Every day, 4.5 million readers turn to 1440 for their factual news fix. We sift through 100+ sources to bring you a complete summary of politics, global events, business, and culture — all in a brief 5-minute email. No spin. No slant. Just clarity.

Join for free today!

🇲🇽 Viva México

The Art of Escaramuza Charra

Eight women. Eight horses. A whirlwind of colorful skirts, intricate choreography, and split-second timing. 

This is Escaramuza Charra, one of the most demanding disciplines in charrería, Mexico's national sport.

Riding sidesaddle, teams execute mirrored formations and daring crossovers. The most treacherous is the abanico (the fan), a spinning 360-degree turn in which horses and riders pass so close their stirrups sometimes clink. 

Performances also feature puntas, individual full-speed gallops ending in a dramatic sliding stop. While it’s an impressive show of precision today, the origins were tactical.

Escaramuza traces its roots to Las Adelitas, the soldaderas who fought alongside men in the Mexican Revolution. Known for their bravery and skill on horseback, their movements are often associated with the fast, agile riding used during the conflict. 

Escaramuza literally means skirmish.

And that legacy doesn’t just live in the riding, it’s stitched into every inch of the handmade uniform. Escaramuza attire is a living archive, strictly governed by the Federación Mexicana de Charrería. Zippers are forbidden; only bone or wood buttons are allowed. 

High-collared blouses feature ornate embroidery, while a starched crinoline gives the colorful skirt its dramatic volume on horseback. The sombrero charro, secured with a barbuquejo (chin strap) for high-speed maneuvers, completes the look.

Beyond the aesthetic, turnout is part of the score. Judges assess not only the riders’ timing and posture, but also the team's visual uniformity, down to matching saddles, cinches, and whips.

[You have to see this short escaramuza charra compilation – these ladies are amazing!]

The discipline was developed in the 1950s. What began as a mixed-gender performance before evolving into the all-female competition it is today. It remains a breathtaking blend of glamour, grit, and tradition shaped by generations of fearless riders.

Want to see escaramuza live? Check the Vamos Events section below for upcoming events across Mexico.

🪷 Viva Wellness

Mexico’s Go-To Remedy for Healing Skin

Tepezcohuite (Mimosa tenuiflora), known as the “skin tree,” has been used in traditional Mexican medicines for generations. It grows in southern Mexico as a small, thorny tree with fern-like leaves, delicate white flowers, and a deep reddish-brown bark.

Though modern science is still exploring its full potential, Tepezcohuite has long been valued for its ability to support the skin’s natural healing process.

It first gained national attention in 1984, when the Red Cross used it to help treat more than 5,000 burn victims after a major gas explosion in Mexico City. Since then, it’s been a go-to remedy in natural medicine cabinets across the country.

Tepezcohuite bark contains a powerful mix of plant compounds – including tannins, flavonoids, and saponins – that may:

• Promote skin regeneration and tissue repair

• Protect wounds from infection with natural antibacterial properties

• Reduce inflammation and soothe pain or redness

• Minimize scarring as skin heals

You can find Tepezcohuite in ointments, balms, and healing creams throughout Mexico. It's often applied directly to cuts, burns, abrasions, and post-surgical areas to support recovery and reduce long-term skin damage.

🎉 ¡Vamos! Events

Escaramuza events

Feria del Caballo – Now through April 12, Texcoco. Estado de México
The Lienzo Charro del Recinto Ferial hosts lively competitions, big crowds, and some of the most historic escaramuza lineages in the country. Expect plenty of energy, tradition, and edge-of-your-seat riding. More info here. 

104th Anniversary Asociación de Charros de Morelia – April 17–19, Morelia, Michoacán)
A historic celebration at one of Mexico’s most respected charro associations. Expect traditional charreada events, skilled escaramuza teams, and a more intimate, authentic atmosphere than the big ferias. It’s a fantastic opportunity to experience the heart of charrería in a setting that feels deeply rooted in tradition. Free entry. More info here. 

Feria Nacional de San Marcos – April 18–May 10, Aguascalientes
This is one of the biggest spring stages for escaramuza in Mexico. Arena San Marcos, a fully covered state-of-the-art lienzo, will host major national tournaments from April 22–30, drawing elite teams from across the country. If you want to see top-tier riders, high-stakes competition, and the sport at its most polished, this is the place. More info here. 

General Events

Semana Internacional de la Moto – Apr 8–11, Mazatlán, Sinaloa
Considered the most important motorcycle event in Mexico and Latin America, this four-day rally brings 25,000+ motorcyclists to Mazatlán for concerts, the massive biker parade, parties, races, and gatherings across the city, with major programming at the Mazatlán International Center. More info here.

Guanajuato Medieval Festival 2026 – April 10–12, Guanajuato
Step into the Middle Ages at this open-air festival at the Alhóndiga de Granaditas, featuring medieval music, performances, artisans, and cultural activities celebrating life from the 5th to 15th centuries. Free entry. More info here.

LIV Golf Mexico City 2026 – April 16–19, CDMX
World-class golf returns to Club de Golf Chapultepec as 57 of the world’s top players compete in this global LIV Golf event, blending elite competition with a high-energy team format and live music performances. Expect big crowds, big names, and a full weekend of sport and entertainment in the heart of CDMX. More info here.

Guadalajara International Film Festival (FICG) – April 17–25, Guadalajara
One of Latin America’s most important film festivals returns for its 41st edition, showcasing Mexican and Ibero-American cinema alongside international productions, industry events, and screenings across multiple venues in Guadalajara. More info here.

Water Lantern Festival – April 18–19, CDMX
Set at Lago Acitlalin in Xochimilco, this lantern festival invites guests to personalize and release lanterns onto the water at sunset, creating an illuminated display on the lake. The experience also features music, performances, food, and local artisans. More info here.

💡 Say It in Spanish

With Semana Santa in full swing, you’ll likely find yourself in packed plazas, processions, and restaurants. Here are a few phrases that come in handy as you move through it all:

¿Sí cabemos?  Do we fit? / Is there room for us?

¿Me permite pasar?  May I pass?

¿Me permite sentarme aquí?  May I sit here?

These are simple, polite, and incredibly useful when things get crowded.

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🎯 Trivia Answer

El penacho de Moctezuma (Moctezuma’s headdress)

One of the best-known surviving objects from the Aztec world isn’t in Mexico — it’s in Vienna, at the Weltmuseum.

The feathered piece is associated with Moctezuma, though there is no proof he ever wore it. Its formal name, the “Quetzal Feather Headdress,” comes from the rare, iridescent feathers used to create it. Objects like this were used by rulers, priests, warriors, and gods in the Mexica world, and featherwork was among the most prized art forms in Mesoamerica. Quetzal feathers were especially valuable.

The penacho likely dates to the early 16th century. No one knows exactly how or when it arrived in Austria, but it was listed in a 1596 inventory at Ambras Castle in Innsbruck.

Over time, the object was identified as everything from an apron to a military banner before being recognized as a headdress. Its original shape also changed. What survives today is a flattened, fan-like form made of hundreds of feathers and gold ornaments.

Mexico has sought its return for decades. But after restoration work by Austrian and Mexican specialists, it was determined that the piece is too fragile to transport.

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¡Hola amigos! This week, Mexico sends Navy special forces to Mississippi for training, reinstates fuel tax incentives as costs climb, and, take a deep breath, makes big moves to go cashless.

Plus, who actually decides where you go in a medical emergency, what to do if your residency card expires, and what’s really going on with Sheinbaum’s “Plan B” electoral reform.

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❓México Trivia

Which museum in Mexico City receives visitors from around the world, but isn’t open to the public without special military approval?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

📣 México News Roundup

🔥 Mexico’s Senate approved sending 60 Navy special forces members to the U.S. for training in Mississippi.

⚡ Mexico and Canada are working to expand cooperation in energy and joint projects focused on sustainable development under USMCA. 

🏗️ Mexico moves to impose tariffs on steel from China and Vietnam. 

💳 Mexico plans to make digital payments mandatory at gas stations and highway tolls in 2026 as part of a push to reduce cash use.

🚗 President Sheinbaum said Mexico is pushing for zero tariffs on auto industry steel and aluminum ahead of USMCA talks to restore pre tariff trade conditions.

🚕 After taxi protests last week, Mexico City’s airport opened a new pickup zone for Uber and DiDi about an 8 minute walk from terminals to ease tensions. 

⛽ Mexico reinstated fuel tax incentives last Friday as regular (Magna) gasoline prices remained relatively stable while diesel and premium continued to rise.

🦖 Scientists in northern Mexico identified a new species, a 6 meter apex marine predator with powerful jaws that ruled the oceans 70 million years ago.

🏥 Mexico fined major oxygen suppliers nearly MX$800 million for using exclusive hospital contracts that blocked competition and drove up costs.

🍎 Your Health Pulse

Who Decides Where You Go in a Medical Emergency?

Medical evacuation can be a lot more complicated than most people realize.

It’s not just about cost – it’s about who decides where you go, how far you’re transported, and what your coverage actually includes.

Many policies only move you to the nearest suitable hospital, not necessarily where you’d choose to receive care. And that’s where the fine print starts to matter.

This guide breaks down the most common questions — from what’s covered (and what’s not) to who needs this type of protection.

Before you assume you’re covered, it’s worth a closer look.

Read more 

📍Immigration Essentials

Expired Residency Card? Here’s What to Do

If your Mexico residency card expires, what you can do next depends on a few key factors and how quickly you act.

If you’re inside Mexico, less than 55 days have passed since expiration, and you have under 4 years of temporary residency, you may be able to reapply at an INM office. This is not a simple renewal…you’ll need to re-prove income and resubmit supporting documents (apostilled and translated into Spanish).

If you’re outside Mexico, within 55 days of expiration, and have under 4 years of temporary residency, you may be able to renew your card.

If you re-enter Mexico with an expired card, you may be able to renew only if:

• You have under 4 years of temporary residency

• You go to INM within 5 days of your arrival date

Two key situations where renewal is not possible:

• More than 55 days have passed since your card expired

• You have already accumulated 4 years of temporary residency. In this case, not only can you not renew, but you also cannot apply to exchange the expired card for Permanent Residency.

In either case, you generally must restart the residency process, typically through a Mexican consulate abroad – unless you qualify under family unit rules.

Deadlines are strict, and options narrow quickly once they pass.

🧩 Life in México

What’s Going On with Plan B Electoral Reform?

On March 11, President Claudia Sheinbaum’s proposed constitutional electoral reform failed in Congress after falling short of the required two-thirds majority.

In response, her administration quickly introduced an alternative: Plan B. 

Unlike the original proposal, Plan B avoids constitutional changes and instead seeks to modify secondary laws, which only require a simple majority to pass – a threshold the Morena-led coalition can meet.

What’s Included in Plan B?

The reform focuses on reducing costs and restructuring parts of Mexico’s electoral system, including:

• Salary caps for party leaders and top electoral officials, tied to the presidential salary

• Broad budget reductions, including cuts to the INE, the Senate, and state legislatures

• Changes to local governments, including reducing the number of municipal council members (regidores)

• Expanded oversight of campaign financing and investigation of suspicious contributions

• Expansion of the timeframe citizens can request a recall referendum for the sitting president or state governors

Why It’s Raising Concerns

The government has framed these changes as part of a broader push for “austerity” and more participatory democracy.

Critics, including business groups, electoral experts, and opposition parties, argue the reform could weaken electoral institutions, create uncertainty, and raise concerns about its implementation. The use of secondary laws to enact these changes has also raised concerns about the integrity of Mexico’s constitutional framework.

PAN senator Ricardo Anaya said the proposal “does not serve the country,” and called key provisions on recall elections “deceptive.”

Others have gone further, describing the reform as a “democratic regression” that could tilt the system in favor of the ruling party.

Where Plan B Stands Right Now

As of March 23, Plan B is stalled in the Senate.

The delay is significant. Any electoral reform must be approved by May 30, 2026, to be applied to the 2027 elections.

The main issue holding it up is a technical flaw in the draft related to municipal council members (regidores). The current language could unintentionally increase the number of local officials in some municipalities, contradicting the reform’s goal of reducing costs.

Even Morena Senate Coordinator Ignacio Mier acknowledged the issue, noting it could conflict with the principle of “republican austerity.”

Lawmakers have paused discussions to revise the language and incorporate feedback from the National Electoral Institute (INE), while divisions within the ruling coalition continue to complicate the path forward.

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🇲🇽 Viva México

The Timeless Ritual of El Paseo

For generations, Sunday afternoons in Mexico followed a familiar rhythm. They called it dar la vuelta, which means “to go around.”

It was all part of el paseo – the tradition of strolling for its own sake.

Walking not to exercise or get somewhere, but to wander with family, linger with a novio/a, and take part in the timeless art of people watching.

Dar la vuelta found its stage in the central plazas across Mexico. Most were anchored by an elaborate kiosk and became the social heart of the community.

Every Sunday after Mass, musicians played from the kiosk, and the circuit began: young women circled in one direction, young men in the opposite.

Girls typically participated in el paseo after their quinceañera, marking their formal entrance into social life and courtship.

Every lap offered a chance for connection. If a man liked the look of a woman coming the other way, he wouldn’t stop to talk; instead, he might offer her a flower.

If the woman was still holding the flower when they passed again, it was a match, and they would fall into step – walking together on the same side.

Despite the romantic nature of the exchange, el paseo remained a highly supervised event. Interactions unfolded in full view of extended families and the rest of the village, ensuring that social norms and chivalric codes were carefully observed.

In Jalisco, dar le vuelta carried an extra layer of mischief…young men might crack a cascarón, an eggshell filled with confetti, over a woman’s head. A bold move, but a smile made it worth the risk.

While the tradition has become less formal over time, it never disappeared. Plazas and parks across Mexico remain vital hubs for social gathering and romantic strolls, continuing the legacy of a tradition that has shaped Mexican courtship for generations.

Linguistically, the tradition has even left its mark. It is widely believed that the common Mexican Spanish phrase andar con – literally “to walk with” – meaning “to date someone,” comes directly from couples walking together during el paseo.

🪷 Viva Wellness

Herba Mora: The Devil's Tomato

Roadside hierba mora may look like a tiny green tomato, but its nickname, tomatillos del diablo (devil’s tomatoes), is your first clue not to toss it raw into a salsa.

A member of the nightshade family (Solanaceae), this wild plant walks a fine line between remedy and risk. The green, unripe berries contain natural toxins, while the fully ripe black berries and tender young leaves have long been used carefully in traditional cooking and medicine.

Botanists distinguish several closely related species, including Solanum nigrescens in Mexico’s highlands and Solanum americanum in more tropical regions. Shared uses and precautions have been passed down through generations.

Taken as a tea on an empty stomach, the leaves soothe stomach inflammation. Crushed with lemon, they become a poultice for wounds, rashes, and irritated skin. 

Leaves are also steeped for baths to bring down fevers. Healers use the whole plant for warm chest compresses for pneumonia. The berry juice with lime is traditionally taken for fever and stomach complaints.

But like many plants in the nightshade family, its power comes with a warning. 

The same compounds that give it medicinal edge can also be toxic, especially when consumed improperly or before fully ripened.

Only when hierba mora berries ripen to a deep, inky black do they become safe to eat. Simmered with piloncillo and canela, the fruit can be transformed into a dark, syrupy, earthy jam, somewhere between wild plum and a savory tomato reduction.

🎉 ¡Vamos! Events

Semana Santa Starts This Sunday
Holy Week is here with processions, Passion Plays, and traditions taking over towns across Mexico. Don’t miss our guide to the 10 best places to experience it.

Aqüifera: Festival del Bosque – April 2–5, Chapultepec, CDMX 
Held in Chapultepec Forest, this environmental and cultural festival returns with a focus on water and its role in Mexico’s culture, featuring artistic exhibitions and cultural, educational, and recreational activities. More info here.

Festival Tabasco 2026 – April 4–5, Mexico City
Experience the flavors and traditions of Tabasco at Los Pinos in Chapultepec, with traditional dishes, music, dance, artisans, and cultural activities led by more than 100 participants from the region. Free entry. More info here.

Feria de la Primavera y de la Paz 2026 – April 5–12, San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas
San Cristóbal’s biggest annual celebration returns for its 156th edition, bringing together artisans, food vendors, amusement rides, and cultural festivities at the city’s fairgrounds. A long-standing tradition dating back to 1868, the fair runs for a week of local culture and entertainment. More info here.

Archery World Cup Stage 2026 – April 7–12, Puebla, Puebla
For the first time, Mexico hosts a stage of the Archery World Cup Series, bringing 300 of the world’s top athletes to Puebla for international competition in recurve and compound events. Part of a global circuit alongside cities like Shanghai, Antalya, and Madrid. More info here.

Semana Internacional de la Moto – Apr 8–11, Mazatlán, Sinaloa
Considered the most important motorcycle event in Mexico and Latin America, this four-day rally brings 25,000+ motorcyclists to Mazatlán for concerts, the massive biker parade, parties, races, and gatherings across the city, with major programming at the Mazatlán International Center. More info here.

Guanajuato Medieval Festival 2026 – April 10–12, Guanajuato
Step into the Middle Ages at this open-air festival at the Alhóndiga de Granaditas, featuring medieval music, performances, artisans, and cultural activities celebrating life from the 5th to 15th centuries. Free entry. More info here.

💡 Say It in Spanish

Ahorita vemos
Translation: We’ll see in a moment.

This is one of those phrases that doesn’t mean exactly what it says.

You’ll hear it when something is… undecided. Not a yes. Not a no. Just somewhere in between.

• ¿Vamos a cenar afuera?
  Ahorita vemos.

• ¿Arreglamos eso hoy?
  Ahorita vemos.

Sometimes it means “in a bit.” Sometimes it means “maybe.” And sometimes it quietly means “probably not.”

🎯 Trivia Answer

Museo del Enervante (often called the “Narco Museum”)

Located inside Mexico’s Ministry of National Defense, the headquarters of the Mexican army, this is a highly restricted museum.

It is not open to the general public. Access requires an application and approval from military authorities, and even journalists and researchers must request permission to enter.

It gets its unofficial nickname because it houses items seized during anti-drug operations, collected by the military over decades.

The museum began in 1986 as a training space to educate military personnel and students of criminology, law, and psychology about drug production, cultivation, and trafficking. In 2002, it became a museum as the collection of weapons and confiscated items grew, expanding into multiple rooms over time.

According to officials, its purpose is not to sensationalize, but to serve as an educational tool and a record of how drug trafficking has evolved – and the role of the Mexican Army in responding to it.

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¡Hola amigos! This week, Mexico scores one for potato lovers, Sheinbaum is rolling out a “Plan B” on electoral reform, and Mexico City just set a Guinness World record. Meanwhile, AMLO has resurfaced and is already stirring things up.

Plus, a massive cyberattack exposed millions of taxpayer records and 150GB of government data, how scammers are exploiting Mexico’s new phone registration rule, and why Mexico commemorates March 18 every year.

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❓México Trivia

Which ancient city in Mexico hid a tunnel lined with fool’s gold and pools of liquid mercury?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

📣 México News Roundup

🥔 Canada and Mexico reached a deal to allow Canadian potatoes to be exported to Mexico. 

🚕 Mexico City’s airport is cracking down on Uber again, with National Guard operations targeting drivers despite a federal court order protecting ride-hailing services.

💻 Hackers reportedly used AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude to breach Mexican government systems, exposing 150GB of data including taxpayer records, voting information, and government employee credentials.

🗳️ After the House of Representatives rejected her electoral reform proposal last Wednesday, President Sheinbaum unveiled a “Plan B” to cut political privileges and expand public consultation, which she will send back to Congress.

🤝 Economy Minister Ebrard said President Sheinbaum approved the USMCA review plan. Talks with the U.S. this week will focus on supply chains, rules of origin, and reducing reliance on Asia.

🔫 Mexico’s security chief met with the DEA in Washington on Monday to combat drug trafficking and curb the flow of U.S. weapons into Mexico.

🇨🇺 Former President López Obrador is urging Mexicans to donate to Cuba through a civil association, drawing criticism as he backs the island amid its economic crisis and U.S. pressure.

⚽ 9,500 people packed the Zócalo on March 15 as Mexico City set a Guinness World Record for the largest soccer class.

👑 Spain’s King Felipe said the conquest of the Americas involved “much abuse,” but stopped short of an apology sought by Mexico.

🍎 Your Health Pulse

Do You Really Need Health Insurance in Mexico?

Health insurance isn’t mandatory for foreigners living in Mexico, but going without it can get expensive fast. Many private hospitals require deposits of 20,000–30,000 pesos before treatment, and you may need at least 50,000 pesos available to cover medical bills upfront.

Before assuming you can self-insure, it’s worth understanding how healthcare really works here…especially in an emergency.

Read more here

🧩 Life in México

Scammers Exploit Mexico’s New Phone Registration Rule

A few months ago we informed readers about Mexico’s new requirement to register mobile phone numbers. The rule is now in effect, and scammers are already exploiting it.

Under the regulation, all mobile lines in Mexico must be linked to an official identity such as a CURP, passport, or RFC. The registration process began January 9, 2026, and all users must complete it by June 30, 2026 to keep their lines active. Any number not registered by that date may be suspended or deactivated if not registered.

New phone numbers activated after January 9 must be registered within 30 days.

This requirement applies only to phone numbers issued by Mexican mobile providers. If you are using a foreign cellphone number while visiting or living in Mexico, you do not need to register your number.

The goal is to reduce crimes such as extortion, fraud, and kidnapping by making phone numbers traceable.

But the new system has quickly become a target for phishing schemes.

Some people have reported receiving calls, emails, or text messages claiming to be from their mobile provider or a government authority asking them to “register” their number through a link or by sharing personal information.

These messages are designed to capture identity data or account credentials.

If you receive a message about registering your phone number, do not click the link. Instead, manually go to your provider’s official website or contact them directly to confirm the request. And never share passwords or two-factor authentication codes. No legitimate authority or phone company will ask for those.

At the same time, a black market for pre-registered SIM cards has already appeared online. 

Some sellers on social media are offering chips that are supposedly “already registered,” claiming buyers can skip the registration process entirely. Prices for these SIM cards have reportedly been advertised for as little as 27 pesos.

Authorities warn that these offers may involve stolen identities or fraudulent registrations and could expose users to legal or security risks.

To register your phone line, you must complete the process through your mobile provider.

Depending on how you originally acquired your Mexican cellphone number, it may or may not already be registered in your name.

Providers allow registration online through a dedicated portal on their official website. You will be asked to upload a photo of your government-issued ID – such as a passport if you are not a Mexican national – and take a live selfie so the system can verify your identity. You do not need to present a CURP if you are not resident in Mexico. Lastly, the system may also request the IMEI number of your phone.

Note: Some users have reported technical issues during the online registration process, including errors when uploading identification or completing the identity verification step.

You can also complete the registration in person at a customer service center operated by your mobile provider.

Official websites for Mexico’s major providers:

Telcel: https://www.telcel.com/
AT&T: https://www.att.com.mx/
Movistar: https://www.movistar.com.mx/

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🇲🇽 Viva México

March 18: The Day Mexico Took Back Its Oil

On the evening of March 18, 1938, President Lázaro Cárdenas went on the radio and declared that Mexico was taking its oil back. In that moment, he nationalized 17 foreign oil companies, putting the industry back in Mexican hands.

At the time, foreign companies controlled roughly 95% of Mexico’s oil industry, giving them enormous influence over the country’s most valuable natural resource.

In the late 1800s, President Porfirio Díaz opened Mexico’s oil sector to foreign investment, allowing private companies to control oil found beneath the land.

The Mexican Revolution pushed back against those policies. When the new 1917 Constitution was written, Article 27 declared that Mexico’s subsoil resources – including oil – belonged to the nation.

But the oil companies continued operating largely as before. 

Workers faced poor conditions and labor disputes grew. A federal labor board ruled that companies had the financial ability to improve wages and conditions, but the companies refused to comply.

Then President Lázaro Cárdenas stepped in.

He used his constitutional authority to expropriate their assets and bring the industry under state control. The decree applied not only to the oil itself, but also to the companies’ refineries, pipelines, ships, drilling equipment, and other infrastructure.

The decision led to the creation of Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX), the state-owned oil company established on June 7, 1938, less than three months after the expropriation.

Mexico still owed compensation to those foreign-owned companies for the assets it seized. 

What followed was a remarkable outpouring of public support: ordinary people lined up to help pay the oil debt. They brought whatever they could – cash, jewelry, family heirlooms, and even chickens. 

The donations would never cover the debt, but that wasn’t really the point. Expropiación Petrolera became a powerful symbol of national dignity and sovereignty.

The expropriation triggered an international backlash. Foreign oil companies retaliated by organizing an embargo against Mexican petroleum, cutting the country’s oil exports by roughly 50%. Despite the pressure, Mexico kept its oil industry running and much of its oil was sold to Germany.

This is why March 18 is commemorated across the country as El Día de la Expropiación Petrolera, with official ceremonies, school events, and speeches. 

🪷 Viva Wellness

From Sacred Ritual to Cocktail Bar: The Rise of Tejuino

On scorching summer days in western Mexico, locals beat the heat with tejuino. It’s a slightly sweet, a little sour, refreshing fermented drink  with ancient roots in Mexico’s corn-based food traditions and some surprising gut-friendly microbes.

Fermented corn beverages in Mesoamerica go back thousands of years, with some estimates around 6,000–7,000 years. For the Wixárika and other Indigenous groups, corn was sacred, a living gift from the gods, and fermented corn drinks were used for ceremonies and daily nourishment. 

Made from corn dough and piloncillo, tejuino ferments for a few days – a process that gives it its signature sweet-sour tang.

Research on traditional tejuino has found lactic acid bacteria with probiotic potential, along with other native microbes involved in fermentation. In laboratory digestive simulations, these lactic acid bacteria were shown to displace harmful bacteria in parts of the colon, suggesting tejuino may have gut-friendly properties. 

Its corn base provides carbohydrates for energy, while the traditional addition of lime and salt brightens the flavor. Researchers also found that adding lime lowers the pH, which may favor probiotic bacteria.

Despite being fermented, tejuino contains very little alcohol. It’s closer to a lightly fermented refreshment than an alcoholic drink.

Across western Mexico’s “tejuino belt,” Jalisco, Michoacán, Colima, Nayarit, and Sinaloa, every vendor swears their recipe is the best. 

But talk to the maestros tejuineros, and they’ll tell you the real secret is in the details. Recipes are guarded for generations, and some say even a few grains of salt can change the flavor.

Today, tejuino is turning up in new places beyond street stalls. Bartenders are now pairing its tangy depth with tequila, mezcal, and fresh citrus, giving this ancient drink a fresh place in Mexico’s modern cocktail scene.

🎉 ¡Vamos! Events

In Case You Missed It: Here are the 10 best places in Mexico to experience it this year.

ABC Art Baja San José del Cabo – Mar 18–22, Baja California Sur
The opening act of ABC Art Baja kicks off in San José del Cabo with the debut of Plataforma ABC, a hotel art fair transforming rooms at Hotel Drift into exhibition spaces for galleries, designers, and artists. The festival launches its three-week cultural program connecting collectors, creatives, and the public through contemporary art and design. More info here.

ABC Art Baja Todos Santos – Mar 26–29, Baja California Sur
ABC Art Baja continues in Todos Santos with immersive programming featuring ephemeral art, music, and cultural activations at venues including the Néstor Agúndez Cultural Center. The festival brings contemporary installations and performances into the artistic heart of this Pueblo Mágico. More info here.

ABC Art Baja La Paz – Apr 2–5, Baja California Sur
The final act of ABC Art Baja arrives in La Paz with exhibitions, performances, and cultural events including programming at the historic Teatro Juárez. The closing weekend brings together artists, galleries, collectors, and local audiences to celebrate contemporary art across Baja California Sur. More info here.

Festival del Bosque de Chapultepec: Aqüifera – Apr 2–5, Chapultepec Forest, CDMX
Mexico City’s annual environmental and cultural festival returns to Chapultepec Forest with the 2026 theme “El agua que nos habita.” The four-day program features art installations, concerts, workshops, guided tours, and immersive experiences exploring the role of water in the history, biodiversity, and daily life of the Valley of Mexico. Most activities are free and open to the public. More info here.

Semana Internacional de la Moto – Apr 8–11, Mazatlán, Sinaloa
Considered the most important motorcycle event in Mexico and Latin America, this four-day rally brings 25,000+ motorcyclists to Mazatlán for concerts, the massive biker parade, parties, races, and gatherings across the city, with major programming at the Mazatlán International Center. More info here.

💡 Say It in Spanish

Ordeñar vs. Ordenar

One little letter…two totally different vibes.

Say “ordenar” and you’re confidently ordering tacos or a garrafón of water. Say “ordeñar” and... well, you’re milking something. Literally.  

“Ordené un latte” = I ordered a latte.
“Ordeñé una vaca” = I milked a cow.

Big difference, right? 

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🎯 Trivia Answer

Teotihuacán.

Every spring equinox, thousands of visitors gather at Teotihuacán, about 30 miles northeast of Mexico City, to celebrate the changing season atop its famous pyramids. But beneath the ancient city lies one of its most mysterious discoveries.

In 2003, heavy rains opened a sinkhole near the Temple of the Feathered Serpent. Archaeologists investigating the area discovered the entrance to a roughly 100-meter-long underground tunnel reaching nearly 17 meters (about 55 feet) below the surface that had been sealed for nearly 1,800 years.

As researchers excavated the passage, they uncovered more than 75,000 objects including jade, serpentine, obsidian, seashells, and pyrite mirrors.

The tunnel walls were decorated with pyrite – known as “fool’s gold” – which would have reflected torchlight like a star-filled sky.

Archaeologists also found pools of liquid mercury – an extremely rare discovery in ancient ruins. The metal was discovered among ritual offerings inside the tunnel, which archaeologists believe represented the underworld in Teotihuacán cosmology. The passage itself was intentionally dug below the natural water table, helping recreate the dark, wet environment associated with that underworld.

Check out this video and see inside the tunnel. 

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¡Hola amigos! Oil, trade, and security are all back in the headlines this week, with Mexico preparing to extend its fuel price deal, trade talks with Washington about to begin ahead of the USMCA review, and the country notably absent from a new U.S.-led counter-cartel coalition summit. Meanwhile, drones seem to be the answer to World Cup security.

Plus, why medical costs in Mexico are rising faster than almost anywhere in the world, what to know about translating foreign documents for official procedures, and the best places to experience Semana Santa this year. 

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❓México Trivia

What Mexican winery holds the title as the oldest in the Americas?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

📣 México News Roundup

🌎 Mexico was notably absent from the U.S.-led “Shield of the Americas” summit, where a new Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition backed by 17 countries calls for lethal military force to destroy drug cartels.

⛽ Mexico is preparing to extend its 24-peso gas price stabilization deal before the current agreement expires this month, with officials considering adding diesel to the deal.

🛢️ Mexico’s export crude jumped 5% to $66.63 per barrel, boosting government oil revenues as disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz tighten global supply.

🤝 Mexico and the U.S. will begin talks March 16 ahead of the scheduled review of the USMCA free trade agreement.

📦 A new Mexican government report shows businesses want to tweak the USMCA rather than pursue a major renegotiation of the trade pact.

🛒 Mexico’s inflation rose to 4.02% in February as higher food prices pushed it above the central bank’s target range.

🗳️ Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies will begin debating President Sheinbaum’s electoral reform Tuesday afternoon, which proposes cutting Senate seats from 128 to 96 and replacing party lists with a new system for proportional representation seats.

👩 President Sheinbaum said about 100,000 women marched in Mexico City on International Women’s Day and noted that many of the violent incidents involved men.

🏆 FIFA said the 2026 World Cup is “too big” to postpone despite global tensions tied to the Iran war.

⚽ Mexico will deploy counter-drone systems to secure stadiums and fan zones in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey during the World Cup.

⚠️ Environmental groups say more than a dozen oil spill sites have been identified since March 1 along the coast of Veracruz and neighboring Tabasco.

🍎 Your Health Pulse

Mexico Set for World’s Highest Medical Inflation

Medical costs in Mexico are rising at one of the fastest rates in the world.

In 2025 alone, medical inflation in Mexico reached 14.5%, nearly three times the country’s overall inflation rate.

The outlook for 2026 is even more striking. A global analysis by risk advisory firm Aon projects medical costs in Mexico will rise 14.8% in 2026.

By comparison, global healthcare costs are expected to rise about 9.8% – meaning Mexico’s increase is significantly above the worldwide average.

The projected increase would make Mexico the country with the highest medical inflation rate in the world.

Medical inflation measures the annual increase in the cost of healthcare services such as doctor visits, hospital stays, diagnostic tests, prescription medications, and medical technology.

Several structural factors are pushing costs higher. Experts cite increased demand for private healthcare, rising drug prices, and the adoption of advanced medical technologies as key drivers.

Within Mexico, additional pressures include shortages of medicines, growing migration from the public health system to private hospitals, and long-standing weaknesses in the public healthcare system that are pushing more patients into the private sector.

Analysts say these structural pressures mean healthcare costs in Mexico are expected to remain high.

Does your insurance actually cover a return to your home hospital of choice?

Many policies don’t. Connect directly with a broker who can explain medical evacuation options clearly and help you understand what’s possible before you need it.

Find your broker here.

📍Immigration Essentials

Translation Requirements for Foreign Documents in Mexico

If you are submitting foreign documents for immigration, legal, or academic procedures in Mexico, they must be translated into Spanish by an authorized translator in Mexico before filing them with government authorities.

In many cases, these documents must also be apostilled or notarized in their country of origin before they can be accepted by Mexican government offices.

Documents commonly requiring certified translation include:

• Birth certificates

• Marriage, divorce, and death certificates

• Academic diplomas and transcripts

• Corporate or incorporation documents

Certified translators are registered professionals authorized to produce legally valid translations for government, judicial, and educational institutions. These translators are registered with a governing body or professional registry that authorizes them to produce official translations.

Translators often begin the process using a digital scan or photo of the original document provided by the client. Once the translation is complete, the translator prints and certifies the document with their signature and official stamp. This physical certified translation is required for official filings.

Some authorities may require the translator to be certified in the same Mexican state where the documents are being filed, so it’s important to confirm local requirements before arranging the translation.

🧩 Life in México

In partnership with SavvyNomad

The $3.6M FBAR Warning for Americans Abroad

In November 2025, the U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit against an elderly American couple living in New Zealand, seeking more than $3.6 million in penalties for allegedly failing to report foreign bank accounts between 2005 and 2012.

The funds reportedly came from normal salaries and inheritances earned abroad. 

No tax evasion was alleged. Yet the penalties alone could wipe out most of the couple’s retirement savings.

For Americans living outside the U.S., cases like this highlight the importance of FBAR (Foreign Bank Account Reporting).

If the combined value of your foreign financial accounts exceeds $10,000 at any point during the year, you are required to file an FBAR (FinCEN Form 114), even if you owe no U.S. tax.

Understanding the rules can help you avoid costly mistakes.

Read the full FBAR guide here.

🇲🇽 Viva México

From Orphan to President: Benito Juárez

Next Monday, March 16, Mexico observes Benito Juárez Day, a federal holiday honoring the country’s first Indigenous president. If you’ve lived here long, you’ve probably seen his statues in plazas, schools, and government buildings across the country.

Juárez is also the only historical figure in Mexico whose birthday is celebrated as a national holiday. He was born on March 21, 1806, but the holiday is observed on the third Monday of March, giving many people a long weekend.

Here are 7 interesting facts about Benito Juárez…

1. He walked alone to Oaxaca City as a child.
Juárez was born in 1806 in the Zapotec village of San Pablo Guelatao. Orphaned at age three, he was raised by relatives. At 12, after losing a sheep he was responsible for, he fled to Oaxaca City on foot, where he worked as a domestic servant alongside his sister.

2. He didn’t speak Spanish until he was a teenager.
Juárez grew up speaking Zapotec, the Indigenous language of his village, and only learned Spanish after arriving in Oaxaca City.

3. A Franciscan friar sponsored his education.
Seeing his potential, a Franciscan priest helped Juárez enroll in a seminary where he initially planned to become a priest. Later, he chose to study law.

4. He was jailed during Mexico’s political upheaval of the 1850s.
When conservatives rejected the liberal Constitution of 1857 and staged a coup, Juárez was imprisoned. After his release, he joined the liberal resistance that fought the conservatives in the conflict known as the War of Reform (or Three-Years War).

5. He lived in exile in Cuba and the United States.
After opposing the dictatorship of Antonio López de Santa Anna in 1853, Juárez was forced into exile and fled to Cuba, where he worked in a cigarette factory before later living in New Orleans. Years later, during the French invasion that installed Emperor Maximilian, Juárez’s republican government received support from U.S. President Abraham Lincoln.

6. He separated church and state.
Juárez’s Reform Laws reshaped Mexico by limiting the power of the Catholic Church and establishing a secular state.

7. His land reform laws hurt Indigenous communities. 
Juárez championed the Ley Lerdo, which seized church lands and auctioned them to the highest bidder. Indigenous communities couldn't afford to buy their own land back, so speculators and wealthy merchants acquired it instead. 

🪷 Viva Wellness

Cenizo: Mexico’s Purple Healing Plant

Cenizo, also known as Texas Sage or Cenizo de Monterrey, is named for the soft, silvery, ash-gray color of its leaves. In herbal markets, it’s often sold as hierba del cenizo.

Native to the desert landscapes of northern Mexico and Texas, this hardy shrub is famous for blooming after rain in pale violet, purple, and pink. That dramatic post-storm burst of color is what earned it the nickname barometer bush, since humidity and rainfall trigger its flowering.

For generations, cenizo has been valued in herbal medicine for respiratory relief and support for the liver and joints. Brewed as a tea from the leaves and flowers, it’s traditionally used to help ease coughs, congestion, asthma, sore throat, and fever.

Cenizo is also used for rheumatic pain, as a tea or topical remedy to ease inflammation. Early studies suggest it contains bioactive compounds with potential anti-inflammatory and liver-protective properties.

Beyond its medicinal reputation, cenizo is a true desert survivor. It thrives in rocky, alkaline soils, tolerates intense heat and drought, and brightens arid landscapes when little else is in bloom. Its flowers also attract bees and butterflies, supporting local ecosystems.

Like many medicinal plants, it's potent. It’s best avoided during pregnancy and lactation.

🎉 ¡Vamos! Events

Semana Santa 2026: Key Days & Best Places to Experience It

Semana Santa is one of Mexico’s most important weeks, when cities pause for processions, Passion Plays unfold in the streets, and centuries-old traditions take over entire towns. But each day of Holy Week carries its own meaning — from Palm Sunday through Easter.

See what each key day of Semana Santa means and the 10 best places in Mexico to witness this year’s celebrations.

Read more. 

💡 Say It in Spanish

Ratero(a)
Translation: Thief, pickpocket, robber, burglar 

If someone swipes a phone, wallet, or bag, you might hear someone yell:

“¡Agarren al ratero!”  Catch the thief!

Ratero is slang for thief, but it also carries a stronger tone and implies a despicable or dishonest person.

It’s often shortened to rata (literally “rat”).

The more general word for thief is ladrón, which you’ll hear in news reports or more formal situations.

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🎯 Trivia Answer

Casa Madero, Coahuila.

Located in the desert valley of Parras de la Fuente, Casa Madero holds the title as the oldest winery in the Americas, with vineyards first planted in 1597.

But the story began decades earlier. In 1568, Spanish explorers searching for gold arrived in the Parras Valley and instead discovered an oasis filled with natural springs and wild grapevines in the desert.

Jesuit missionaries later established the Mission of Santa María de las Parras in 1594 and began producing wine at the mission.

A few years later, colonial pioneer Don Lorenzo García secured royal permission from King Philip II of Spain to plant vineyards and produce wine and brandy, establishing Bodega San Lorenzo – the site of today’s Casa Madero.

The winery endured centuries of upheaval – from the expulsion of the Jesuits by the Spanish crown in 1767, which left the estate abandoned, to a devastating phylloxera outbreak in the late 1800s that wiped out many vineyards.

Revived in 1893 by the Madero family, the estate continues producing wine today – more than 400 years after its founding.

Visit their site here.

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¡Hola amigos! This week, Mexico rolled out a contingency plan to keep gasoline prices from spiking, the peso weakened, and Congress approved a gradual shift to a 40-hour workweek. Meanwhile, Sheinbaum is holding back her electoral reform to review the wording, and the Mexican Senate cleared temporary entry for U.S. Special Forces for joint training exercises.

Also in this issue: the residency updates you’re required to report, how to protect yourself from currency swings when buying property, and Mexico’s surprisingly powerful prescription for stress.

And speaking of stress relief…behold: a tiny hamster eating a tiny pizza off a tiny plate. No analysis required.

Giphy

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❓México Trivia

Why is St. Patrick’s Day officially commemorated in Mexico?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

📣 México News Roundup

⛽ Mexico said it has a contingency plan to prevent gasoline prices from soaring by lowering the IEPS fuel tax to shield consumers and keep inflation in check as tensions disrupt oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz.

🗳️In her March 3 mañanera, President Sheinbaum said she held back her electoral reform to review wording changes and ensure there were “no contradictions,” and did not confirm when it will be sent to Congress. 

🕒 Congress approved a gradual shift to a 40-hour workweek by 2030, with the first cut from 48 to 46 hours taking effect in 2027.

💵  The Mexican peso weakened 0.31% Monday to 17.2853 per dollar after U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran rattled global markets, with banks selling the dollar near 17.78 pesos.

⚖️ President Sheinbaum is weighing legal action against Elon Musk after he alleged on X that drug cartels control her administration. 

🚆 The Mexico City–Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) rail line is scheduled to launch before Easter. 

🎤 Shakira's free concert shattered the Zócalo attendance record Sunday, with around 400,000 fans filling the plaza.

🪖 Mexico’s Senate approved the temporary entry of 12 U.S. Special Forces personnel for joint training exercises in Cozumel and the State of Mexico through July 15.

📉 CJNG-related violence following the killing of El Mencho grounded nearly 300 flights and wiped out more than MX$28 billion in market value from Mexican airport operators and airlines in a single day.

⚰️ CJNG leader “El Mencho” was buried Monday in a golden casket in Zapopan, Jalisco.

📊 Mexico reached 22.5 million IMSS-registered jobs in February – the highest ever for a second month of the year – adding 157,882 new positions, 87.4% of them permanent.

🍎 Your Health Pulse

What Your International Health Insurance Might Not Cover

Most people living in Mexico assume their international health insurance has them fully covered…until they’re paying out-of-pocket for something they thought was included.

Many essential protections like emergency evacuation, outpatient care, or prescription benefits aren’t standard. They’re add-ons called policy riders.

And here’s the part most people miss: you usually can’t add them once your policy is active. Some riders cost a few hundred dollars a year. Others can protect you from five-figure medical bills.

Choosing the right riders isn’t about over-insuring. It’s about protecting yourself from financial surprises and making sure your policy actually works when you need it.

Read more. 

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📍Immigration Essentials

Mexico Residency: The Updates You’re Required to Report

If you’re a temporary or permanent resident of Mexico, staying compliant with the National Institute of Migration (INM) is a must.

One key obligation is notifying the INM when certain personal circumstances change.

What counts as a change? A whole lot.

• Change of home address.

• Change of name.

• Change of nationality.

• Change in marital status. This includes marriage, divorce, the death of a spouse, or a change in a common-law partnership.

• Change in economic activity. For example, switching employers, starting a new job, or opening a business.

The rule is simple: You have 90 calendar days to notify the INM after the change occurs.

Miss the deadline? A fine may be imposed for notifying INM after the deadline.

Notifications must be made in person at your local INM office.

Bring your resident card, proof of the change (like a marriage certificate or new passport), and a completed application form, which you can fill out online before your visit.

Keep in mind that documents issued abroad must be apostilled or legalized and translated into Spanish.

There’s no fee for filing these notifications. But don’t let the 90-day window close on you – staying ahead of this requirement ensures your residency remains hassle-free.

See the official INM guidelines for reporting changes.

🧩 Life in México

Protect Your Money When Buying or Building in Mexico

A couple buying a $400,000 USD condo in San Miguel thought they were set.

At 17.5 MXN, their numbers worked. By closing, the peso moved to 17.0. That small shift added about $12,000 USD to the exact same property.

Nothing changed about the condo. Only the exchange rate.

Most buyers focus on the purchase price. But if you’re buying or building in Mexico, the currency is part of the price – and it can move in days, not months.

Here’s where people get caught:

– Waiting for “the perfect rate”
– Assuming the bank will give them a fair deal
– Forgetting how quickly things can change between deposit and closing

That’s why Monica Wright, expat real estate expert, is hosting a free live webinar with George Reavis of MexEdge this Thursday at 12 pm CST.

Here’s what they’ll cover…

• How currency fluctuation directly affects your real estate purchase or construction costs in Mexico

• Proven strategies to protect yourself against unfavorable exchange rate moves

• The smartest ways to move money from the U.S. or Canada to Mexico

• Common (and expensive) mistakes buyers make with currency exchange

• How to keep more of your money through every transaction

It’s FREE and happens this Thursday, March 5 at 12:00 PM CST.

Register here.

🇲🇽 Viva México

Cantinflas: The Man Who Made Nonsense a National Treasure

In Mexico, his face is instantly recognizable: the pencil-thin, two-part mustache above a mischievous grin. One of the country’s most beloved comic legends, Cantinflas was the irresistible underdog who made wordplay an art form.

Mario Moreno was born in Mexico City in 1911. 

He adopted the name Cantinflas so his family wouldn’t know he was working in the “disreputable” world of show business. 

Cantinflas started out in the rough and tumble carpas, traveling tent shows where audiences were merciless. Be good, or get booed off. 

During one performance, stage fright seized him. Instead of freezing, Moreno began rambling – stringing together clever, circular phrases that sounded important but went nowhere. The audience loved it. 

He eventually refined it into the persona of a fast-talking underdog from Mexico City’s poorest neighborhoods. This scrappy character could outtalk authority figures with rapid-fire monologues that were dazzling and hilariously evasive.

This way of speaking became so iconic that it entered the dictionary: cantinflear- meaning to speak or act in a nonsensical and incongruous way, without saying anything of substance

Charlie Chaplin himself reportedly called him “the best comedian alive.”

He was a master of misdirection with words and in the bullring. As a torero bufo (bull-fighting clown), Cantinflas became wildly popular. 

In the arena, he distracted the bull with unorthodox antics: mimicking its movements, dancing rumba and danzón just out of reach, even calmly reading a newspaper beside the animal during a lull in the action.

His first starring film role, Ahí está el detalle (1940), made Cantinflas a national obsession. International fame came with Around the World in 80 Days (1956), which won five Academy Awards including Best Picture. Cantinflas won a Golden Globe for Best Actor for his role as Passepartout.

Offscreen, Mario Moreno kept his heart where Cantinflas lived: on the side of the little guy. He helped provide housing for working-class families and gave generously, especially to children’s causes. 

On the façade of Teatro de los Insurgentes, Diego Rivera’s sweeping mosaic tribute to Mexican theater, Cantinflas is at the center, passing coins from the rich to the poor.

If you’re in Mexico City and want to learn more, you can visit the Cantinflas Museum.

🪷 Viva Wellness

Mexico’s Wild Prescription for Stress

Research from King’s College London found that seeing or hearing birds is linked to improved mental wellbeing that can last up to 8 hours. Other studies show birding reduces stress, lowers cortisol, sharpens focus, and improves mood by encouraging mindful attention to the present moment.

And if there’s a country built for it, it’s Mexico.

With about 1,100 bird species – roughly 100 species found nowhere else – Mexico sits at a major ecological crossroads where temperate and tropical ecosystems collide. It’s one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, and one of the richest birding destinations in the world.

Check out our top 5 spectacular birding spots:

Río Lagartos, Yucatán: 8 distinct ecosystems converge here, including the pink lagoons of Las Coloradas. During breeding season, North America's largest flamingo colony performs synchronized displays like a pink-feathered flash mob. You can also see the Yucatán woodpecker – found nowhere else on Earth. 

El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve, Chiapas: Visit this rare cloud forest (one of Mexico's most threatened ecosystems) March-May to see male quetzals display their meter-long tail plumes. Keep an ear out for the critically endangered Horned Guan’s haunting, low-frequency booms.

Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, Campeche: Mayan ruins and Mexico’s largest tropical forest create a lost-world vibe. Home to toucans, parrots, and the Ocellated Turkey with metallic blues, oranges, and peacock-like “eye” spots. 

San José del Cabo Estuary, Baja California Sur: This freshwater oasis in the desert protects the critically endangered Belding's Yellowthroat. It's the species' largest remaining habitat and survives thanks to grassroots conservation by local residents. 

Copper Canyon (Barrancas del Cobre), Chihuahua: The dramatic landscape makes this a deep-breath, slow-your-steps kind of place. Watch for Military Macaws circling the cliffs and Blue-throated Mountain-gems (hummingbirds) flashing electric color. After dark, keep an ear out for the Colima Pygmy-Owl — tiny, fierce, and way louder than you’d expect.

🎉 ¡Vamos! Events

Festival Eurojazz 2026 – March 1–15, Cenart, CDMX
The 29th edition of Eurojazz returns to the green areas of the Centro Nacional de las Artes with free, open-air concerts every Saturday and Sunday. Two daily performances at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. feature artists from Europe and Mexico. More info here.

Feria Nacional de la Michelada 2026 – March 12–16, Cholula, Puebla
Held at Soria Park next to the Pyramid of Cholula, this 5-day festival celebrates one of Mexico’s most iconic drinks with 200+ types of micheladas and completely FREE admission. Expect classic and creative variations, food vendors, and free live performances. More info here.

La Samaritana – March 13, Oaxaca City, Oaxaca
Held on the 4th Friday of Lent, La Samaritana fills Oaxaca City with decorated stalls offering free aguas frescas in churches, homes, schools, and businesses. Inspired by the biblical passage of the Samaritan woman offering water, locals share traditional drinks like chilacayota, horchata, jamaica, and tejate. More info here.

Ensenada Beer Fest 2026 – March 20–21, Ensenada, Baja California
Ensenada Beer Fest returns to the Riviera Cultural Center with 130+ breweries, 35 restaurants, a bazaar, and 8 stages featuring live music and DJ sets. The festival also features guided tastings and food pairings. More info here.

Running Las Vacas 2026 – March 20–22, Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila
This 3-day celebration returns to Ciudad Acuña with a lively program that includes a callejoneada with band, live music, mojigangas, donkey races, a greased pig contest, folk dance performances, regional gastronomy, and cultural exhibitions. More info here.

💡 Say It in Spanish

Al frente de vs. Enfrente de
Translation: In front of vs. Across from

Mix these up, and you could end up on the wrong side of the plaza.

Al frente de usually means at the front of – close up, right there.

• El jardín está al frente de la casa.
  (The garden is in front of the house.)

• Estoy al frente de la fila.
  (I’m at the front of the line.)

Enfrente de is most often used for across from – facing it, with space in between.

• La tienda está enfrente de la plaza.
  (The store is across from the plaza.)

In everyday speech, enfrente de can sometimes also mean “in front of,” depending on context, but when giving directions around town, it almost always implies across from.

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🎯 Trivia Answer

Mexico commemorates St. Patrick’s Day because of El Batallón de San Patricio – a unit of mostly Irish immigrants who defected from the U.S. Army and fought for Mexico during the Mexican-American War (1846–1848). 

They fought in at least 5 major battles, but are best remembered for their stand at the Battle of Churubusco on August 20, 1847, just outside Mexico City. 

As Mexican troops attempted to raise a white flag of surrender three times, members of the San Patricios reportedly tore it down each time, choosing to continue fighting despite being nearly out of ammunition. It was a losing battle. 

Within weeks, 50 captured members of the battalion were hanged by U.S. forces. 

The executions sparked public outrage in Mexico. 

Today, a plaque in Mexico City’s San Jacinto Plaza honors them as martyrs. They are commemorated each year on September 12 – the anniversary of the executions – and on St. Patrick’s Day. Though the battalion was later disbanded, surviving members continued serving Mexico after the war, helping protect civilians from bandits before the unit was dissolved.

Check out the St. Patrick’s Day commemoration parade in Mexico City.

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¡Hola amigos! It’s been a tense few days in Mexico. After the operation against El Mencho, banks are beginning to reopen in affected states, flights are resuming, and President Sheinbaum is publicly denying rumors about her whereabouts and clarifying what happened.

Also in this issue: how to replace a lost or stolen driver’s license, new digital platform rules raising serious cybersecurity questions, and the two-word phrase that says it all.

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❓México Trivia

Which volcano in Mexico is referred to as the smallest in the world, but isn’t actually a volcano? 

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

📣 México News Roundup

🚢 President Sheinbaum denied social media claims that she was hiding on a Navy vessel during the operation against El Mencho.

💸 Businesses in Querétaro reported estimated losses of 60 to 70 million pesos after preventive closures on Sunday.

🏦 Major banks will reopen branches today in states hit by weekend violence, though some locations remain closed. See which banks are affected.

✈️ Air Canada resumes flights today from Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver to Puerto Vallarta. Flights from Toronto to Guadalajara will resume Wednesday.

🛡️ President Sheinbaum said the operation that killed El Mencho was carried out solely by Mexican federal forces, with only intelligence sharing from the U.S.

🛄 Viva and Volaris reported on Monday the gradual normalization of their operations at the Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta airports.

🥩 Beef prices in Mexico rose 16.5% year-over-year in January 2026.

🚗 The U.S. launched a review of USMCA auto rules that decide whether Mexico-made vehicles qualify for duty-free entry into the U.S.

😷 Mexico has confirmed 8,889 measles cases and 28 deaths across all 32 states.

🏦 Banco Plata, known for its Plata Card, is now a licensed digital bank operating through a mobile app in Mexico.

📉 Mexico’s economy grew 0.8% in 2025, according to final INEGI data.

🏦 Citigroup agreed to sell 24% of Banamex to seven investors, including Blackstone and Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, in a 43 billion peso deal pending approval.

🍎 Your Health Pulse

What Is the MIB and Why It Matters

When you apply for international health insurance while living in Mexico, your disclosures don’t exist in isolation. Insurers may compare your answers against prior applications submitted in the U.S. or Canada.

Most U.S. and Canadian carriers participate in the Medical Information Bureau (MIB), a cooperative database designed to identify material inconsistencies in insurance applications. It doesn’t store full medical records, but it does contain coded entries reflecting conditions disclosed on prior applications, typically for up to seven years.

When you apply for international insurance, you give permission for the insurer to check the MIB. If there are discrepancies between your current application and past submissions – say, a forgotten surgery or a previously diagnosed but low-grade condition – your insurer may flag it. 

If an insurer determines you withheld information, that condition could be classified as a non-disclosed pre-existing condition and excluded. In more serious cases, your policy could be rescinded.

The MIB is essentially your “insurance credit score,” and you have the right to request your own report. 

If you have a complex medical history or are unsure whether something was previously disclosed, review your records or speak with your broker before submitting the application. 

Need Health Insurance in Mexico?

Get connected with a vetted broker who knows the system. Whether the priority is private coverage, long-term insurance, medical evacuation, catastrophic care, or travel insurance – there’s a trusted professional ready to guide the search.

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📍Immigration Essentials

Replacing a Lost or Stolen Driver’s License in Mexico

If your Mexican driver’s license is lost or stolen, the replacement process is handled by the state that issued it. There is no federal standard. Requirements, fees, and whether you must appear in person vary across Mexico’s 32 states.

Some states require an in-person appointment. Others allow limited online processing. In cases of theft, a police report may be mandatory. Certain states require proof of no outstanding traffic violations before issuing a duplicate.

For foreign residents, identification and proof of legal stay in Mexico are typically required, but the specific documentation depends on the state.

The key step is verifying the procedure directly with your state’s Secretaría de Movilidad, Control Vehicular office, or state finance authority. Search “Reposición de licencia de conducir” plus your state name.

As with lost or stolen license plates (which we’ve covered previously), assume nothing is standardized nationwide. State rules control the process.

🧩 Life in México

Mexico’s New Digital Platform Rules Raise Security Questions

If you use Amazon Mexico, Mercado Libre, Airbnb, Uber, delivery apps, or similar platforms in Mexico, there is a regulatory change you should be aware of.

New requirements stem from a 2025 amendment to Article 30-B of the Federal Tax Code and applies to both Mexican and foreign digital platforms operating in the country.

This reform builds on Mexico’s 2020 VAT regime for digital services, which already requires foreign-based platforms serving users in Mexico to register, charge 16% VAT where applicable, and remit it to the government.

According to Mexico’s Tax Administration Service (SAT), access will be limited to information necessary to verify tax compliance as recorded in the platforms’ systems. This includes transaction volumes, product origin, whether goods were subject to foreign trade taxes, and applicable tariff restrictions.

Platforms already report this data periodically. 

Beginning April 1, 2026, SAT will require continuous, real-time digital access to information necessary to verify tax compliance.

The government’s stated objectives are increased tax collection, reduced evasion through digital marketplaces, and stronger control over smuggling linked to online commerce.

For individual consumers, this does not create new personal tax obligations.

The concern instead centers on data security and system integrity.

Industry groups have raised cybersecurity questions. Creating permanent live connections between private-sector systems and government infrastructure introduces new vulnerability points. 

It also raises broader questions about how securely that information will be stored, accessed, and protected once inside government systems. 

Earlier this year, a large-scale cyberattack compromised multiple Mexican public agencies, including the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) and various federal and state entities. That breach heightened scrutiny around government data protection practices.

SAT maintains that access will be limited to fiscal data. The technical standards governing how that access will function have not yet been fully detailed publicly.

Platforms that fail to comply may face temporary suspension of internet access in Mexico, effectively taking the service offline until compliance is restored.

🇲🇽 Viva México

The Chachalaca: Mexico’s Unmistakable Call

If you've lived anywhere in coastal or jungle Mexico, you know the sound – a raucous, relentless dawn chorus that slices through the humid air. That’s the chachalaca, a no-snooze jungle alarm clock.

Their calls, which sound like “cha-cha-LAW-ka,” echo across the canopy in sharp, rhythmic bursts.

There are several species of chachalaca across the Americas, ranging from Texas through Mexico and into Central and South America. 

The West Mexican Chachalaca, endemic to the Pacific slope from Jalisco to Chiapas, thrives in tropical deciduous forests and mangroves. Other species – such as the White-bellied and Rufous-bellied Chachalacas – occupy overlapping regions in southern Mexico, adapting to dry forests, scrubland, and coastal jungle.

All of them share the same social temperament. They travel in tight-knit groups, often six or more, moving branch to branch high in the forest canopy.

Despite their size (adults measure about 65 cm long), they blend easily into the foliage and are rarely seen on the ground. More often than not, you’ll hear them long before you catch a glimpse of them.

Though often compared to turkeys because of their long legs and rounded bodies, chachalacas are not true turkeys. They belong to the Cracidae family, along with guans and curassows.

Dating back to pre-Hispanic times, chachalacas were hunted for food and remain part of traditional diets in parts of Oaxaca and Chiapas. Their presence in villages was both practical and cultural – a source of protein, but also a constant auditory backdrop to daily life.

In many rural areas, farmers still pay attention when the chachalacas grow especially loud. The surge in calling is often associated with shifts in humidity or approaching rain. 

Today, the word chachalaca has taken on a life of its own. 

Cháchara usually refers to junk, but it can also mean chatter. In Mexican slang, a chachalaca is someone who talks excessively or without thinking – a playful reflection of the bird’s famously loud, communal “conversations.”

That’s why the name lives on – in slang, in stories, and on the signs of neighborhood bars and restaurants – places with the same loud, unapologetically social energy.

🪷 Viva Wellness

Chayote: An Ancient Mexican Staple

That unassuming green squash at your local mercado? It’s one of Mexico’s oldest superfoods.

Long before the Spanish arrived, the Aztecs and Mayans cultivated chayote across Mesoamerica. Known as chayohtli in Nahuatl, this climbing vine thrived in humid highlands, producing an abundant harvest of edible fruit, seeds, leaves, and even roots. Unlike corn, which needed grinding and cooking, chayote could be eaten straight from the vine — raw, roasted, or mashed into stews.

It’s packed with fiber, folate, vitamin C, and powerful antioxidants that support digestion, heart health, and youthful skin.

Studies suggest it may even help regulate blood sugar and reduce inflammation. And with just 39 calories per squash, it’s a weight-loss-friendly alternative to potatoes.

Chayote comes in a few varieties — some smooth and pale green, others dark and covered in soft spikes. While often boiled into oblivion, chayote shines in fresh preparations.

Try it raw in salads, spiralized into noodles, or blended into a bright green agua fresca. Its crisp texture and mild, slightly sweet flavor pair well with citrus and herbs.

Next time you spot chayote at the mercado, take a cue from the ancients – bring it home and make it part of your diet. This Mesoamerican staple has stood the test of time for a reason.

💡 Say It in Spanish

Ni modo
Translation: Oh well. / It is what it is.

You’ll hear ni modo when something doesn’t go your way and there’s nothing left to do about it.

Missed the bus?
Power went out?
Paperwork delayed…again?

Ni modo.

Sometimes it’s sympathetic. Sometimes it’s final. Either way, it means: we move on.

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🎯 Trivia Answer

Cuexcomate.

It’s often called “the smallest volcano in the world.” At just 13 meters (43 feet) tall, it barely rises above the plaza in Puebla’s La Libertad neighborhood.

But here’s the twist: it isn’t a traditional volcano at all.

Cuexcomate is an inactive geyser, geologically classified as a maar – a crater formed when magma violently interacts with groundwater. It was created after an eruption of Popocatépetl reactivated thermal waters in the region. 

Its cone measures 23 meters across, with an 8-meter-wide crater that drops about 17 meters deep. Visitors can descend into the crater via a spiral staircase.

Its last recorded activity occurred in the early 1660s, when it expelled gases and hot water rather than lava.

The name comes from the Nahuatl cuexcomatl, meaning “storage jar” or “granary,” a reference to its rounded, clay-pot shape.

During the colonial period, local accounts say suicides were thrown inside because they were denied burial in consecrated ground. In later years, it was used as a dumping site before being cleaned and restored.

Take a video tour of Cuexcomate here.

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¡Hola amigos! This week, Canada’s in Mexico talking trade, Mexico asks China to buy more of its goods, Salma Hayek speaks at the National Palace, and President Sheinbaum moves to negotiate lower medicine prices directly with pharmaceutical companies. Meanwhile, the Senate just shut down its beauty salon.

Plus, why “we’ve been together forever” may not count legally in Mexico, the young innovators redefining Mexico’s future, and the two-word Spanish phrase that somehow works in almost every situation.

Giphy

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❓México Trivia

Which Mexican city is famous for its underground Chinatown and once had more Chinese than Mexicans?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

📣 México News Roundup

🚨 The seismic alert will sound at 11:00 am on Wednesday, Feb. 18 in Mexico City and the State of Mexico as part of a regional earthquake drill.

✈️ Mexican officials feared last Wednesday’s temporary closure of El Paso airspace signaled a possible U.S. incursion into Chihuahua.

💊 President Sheinbaum will seek lower medicine prices through direct talks with pharmaceutical companies (not price caps) and expand domestic vaccine production.

🇨🇦 More than 370 Canadian business leaders are in Mexico this week on Canada’s largest trade mission in decades, aiming to deepen ties ahead of the CUSMA review.

🇨🇳 Mexico urged China to buy more Mexican goods during high-level meetings in Beijing, despite new tariff reforms that make China the most impacted supplier. 

🇯🇵 Farmacias Similares is eyeing expansion into Japan. 

💇 Morena permanently shut down the beauty salon operating inside the Senate, ending in-house styling services for lawmakers. 

🎬 Salma Hayek joined President Sheinbaum at the National Palace, where she spoke in support of a new tax incentive program to boost domestic film and series production.

🎬 Mexico moved to overhaul its 1992 film law, introducing a 10% national screen quota and new protections against unauthorized AI use.

🥩Mexico’s basic food basket rose 5.1% in urban areas in January, exceeding the 3.8% headline inflation rate.

🛫 Aeroméxico temporarily paused plans to launch new U.S. routes after U.S. regulators revoked authorization for 13 routes.

🥊Mexico launched the “Boxing for Peace” program to train 100,000 young people in contact sports with government-backed monthly support for instructors.  

🍎 Your Health Pulse

Palliative Care in Mexico: Is It Covered by International Insurance?

Palliative care in Mexico can feel like uncharted territory, especially when dealing with international insurance. While many plans cover pain relief, nursing, and medical supplies, the fine print matters — pre-certification is mandatory and coverage often maxes out at 30 days.

Some policies include “home nursing,” but insurers demand detailed documentation before approval. Facing a denial? A strong appeal backed by medical records and clear communication could be the key to unlocking coverage.

Here’s what you need to know about palliative and hospice care coverage under international insurance policies.

Read more here

📍Immigration Essentials

Not Married in Mexico? You May Have No Legal Standing.

If you’re living together in Mexico but not legally married, your relationship may not be automatically recognized under Mexican law.

In Mexico, concubinato is the legal recognition of a common-law relationship – when two people live together as a couple without being formally married.

It grants certain rights similar to marriage, including inheritance, property rights, and in some cases, legal standing in medical, civil, or immigration matters.

Concubinato is not automatic…even if you’ve been together for years. 

To make it official, you’ll need to register your status with the civil registry (Registro Civil) or local DIF office in your state. Depending on your state, registration may be completed through the Civil Registry, before a notary, or through a Family Court judge.

To qualify, you typically need to prove: You’ve lived together in a stable, exclusive, and public relationship for at least two years OR you share a biological child. Also, both partners must be legally single and free of marriage to third parties.

To validate your status, some states may require:

• Signed declarations from both partners

• Proof of cohabitation (like a shared address)

• Statements from witnesses

• Birth certificates if you have children

• Valid ID and immigration documents

Once registered, you’ll receive a constancia de concubinato (official certificate), which can be used for legal processes like inheritance claims, accessing a partner’s medical care, or family legal proceedings.

Without it, your relationship may not be recognized by institutions under Mexican law – even if everyone around you sees you as a couple.

You may need to prove concubinato when:

• Applying for local benefits or health access

• Handling legal matters like wills or property disputes

• Medical emergencies where you need next-of-kin authority

• Entering into contracts or resolving civil matters together

Requirements and procedures vary by state. Check with your local Registro Civil or DIF office for up-to-date guidance where you live. If you’re not formally married and living in Mexico long-term, this is a step worth clarifying before you ever need it.

🇲🇽 Viva México

Mexico’s Rise on the Global Robotics Stage

Typically, Viva México stories look to the past. This week, we’re looking ahead to the young innovators redefining Mexico’s future.

Mexico’s brightest young minds aren’t just participating in global tech and innovation… they’re leading it.

In April 2024, students from PrepaTec San Luis Potosí made history as the first Mexican and Latin American team to advance to the finals of their division (Newton Division) at the FIRST Robotics World Championship. Held in Houston, it featured nearly 600 teams from 15 countries. Competitors design and program complex robots to solve real-world challenges. See the highlights here.

The team, known as LamBot, didn’t just reach the division finals – they also earned the prestigious Engineering Inspiration Award and the Champions Division Award, achievements that automatically qualified them for the 2025 championship.

Then, in August 2025, students from Chihuahua claimed first place at the World Robot Contest in Beijing. Their winning project, the “DOBOT Intelligent Manufacturing Challenge – Moon Landing Challenge,” featured a high-precision robotic arm designed to simulate lunar landings.

Mexico’s momentum in robotics isn’t new. 

In 2018, Mexican students earned silver medals at the FIRA RoboWorld Cup in Taiwan, demonstrating that the country’s STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) talent has been building steadily on the world stage.

The country’s commitment to young innovators also extends beyond its own borders.

In 2021, after the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, Mexico granted asylum to 5 members of the all-girls Afghan Dreamers robotics team. They found not only protection, but also a country actively investing in the next generation of technical talent.

These wins, and the values behind them, reflect something larger. 

In cities across Mexico, robotics competitions are drawing crowds and sponsorships once reserved for major sporting events. From Guadalajara’s tech sector to aerospace hubs in Querétaro and research centers in Monterrey and Mexico City, it’s clear…

Mexico isn’t just preparing for the future. It’s helping build it.

🪷 Viva Wellness

The Supergreen Growing Wild Across Mexico

Move over kale. Step aside, spinach. There’s an ancient plant that outperforms both. While the modern wellness world is just now catching on to their powerful health benefits, amaranth greens have been a nutritional cornerstone for millennia.

Long before it was called a superfood, the Aztecs and other Mesoamerican cultures cultivated amaranth, consuming both its grains and the leafy greens. 

In Mexico, amaranth greens are known as quintonil – from the Nahuatl quiltonilli, meaning tender edible greens.

Quintonil belongs to a traditional category of edible wild greens known as quelites, resilient plants that sprout up in untended corners and thrive alongside crops. 

These humble greens are nutritional gold. Just one cup of cooked leaves delivers more calcium than a glass of milk, along with a significant dose of vitamin K. They’re also a good source of iron and provide more plant-based protein than most leafy greens.

Quintonil also delivers a powerful concentration of antioxidants – including betalains, the same potent pigments found in beets – which helps reduce inflammation and combat stress, environmental toxins, and aging.

Magnesium and potassium help regulate blood pressure, support steady blood sugar, and maintain proper muscle and nerve function. 

When you add naturally occurring phytonutrients that promote gut health and healthy cholesterol levels, you have a leafy green that supports everything from bone strength to metabolic balance.

Quintonil leaves have a slightly earthy, nutty flavor that works anywhere spinach does. Try them sautéed with garlic, folded into blue corn quesadillas, or prepared as a Mexican classic: quintonil con rajas with roasted poblanos and local cheese.

One note of caution: Like many leafy greens, quintonil contains naturally occurring nitrates, so it isn’t recommended for infants under six months.

If you missed last week’s article on amaranth grains, read it here.

🎉 ¡Vamos! Events

Festival del Papalote Tequisquiapan 2026 – Feb 21–22 & 28–Mar 1, Tequisquiapan, Querétaro
Tequisquiapan fills the skies over two festival weekends with kite exhibitions, workshops, and cultural activities at Parque La Pila. The event runs from 11 am to 7 pm and features invited kite flyers and food vendors in this Pueblo Mágico. More info here.

Rosarito Bachata Salsa Festival 2026 – Feb 27–28, Rosarito, Baja California
This two-day dance festival features regional and international instructors for workshops, showcases, and social dancing at the Rosarito Beach Hotel. Enjoy classes, performances, and late-night socials as part of the 2026 edition. More info here.

Feria Internacional de la Pirotecnia 2026 – February 28–March 14, Tultepec, Estado de México
Tultepec, known as Mexico’s fireworks capital, hosts its International Pyrotechnics Fair with competitions, cultural events, and large-scale displays honoring the town’s long-standing pyrotechnic tradition. Founded in 1989, the fair features national and international artisans showcasing their craft through nightly exhibitions and themed contests. More info here.

World Aquatics Diving World Cup 2026 – Stop 2 – Mar 5–8, Zapopan, Jalisco
Zapopan hosts Stop 2 of the World Aquatics Diving World Cup as part of the official World Aquatics calendar, bringing international competitors to Mexico as the country returns as a 2026 host venue. More info here.

WesMex International Small Boat Regatta 2026 – Mar 4–9, Banderas Bay, Nayarit
The 20th edition of WesMex returns to Banderas Bay, hosted by the Vallarta Yacht Club and sanctioned by the Mexico Sailing Federation. This youth sailing regatta draws competitors from across Mexico and abroad and serves as a qualifying event for select international competitions. More info here.

Vinoma Fest 2026 – Mar 5–7, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco

Held at Pier 2 of the Puerto Vallarta Maritime Terminal, this wine and food pairing festival features 300+ wine labels, chef-led pairings, guided tastings, and live music. The event brings together national and international wineries for its fourth edition in Puerto Vallarta. More info here.

International Orchid Festival 2026 – Mar 13–22, Coatepec, Veracruz
One of Mexico’s most important orchid events features 600+ orchid specimens, expert judging, workshops, artisan vendors, and a dedicated Vanilla Pavilion in this Pueblo Mágico. Collectors and growers from Mexico and abroad gather for exhibitions, sales, and conferences celebrating one of the country’s most iconic flowers. More info here.

💡 Say It in Spanish

A ver

Translation: Let’s see.

You’ll hear a ver…(and then a pause) when someone is:

• Thinking something through

• About to check something

• Slightly skeptical

• Trying to solve a problem

You’ll hear it at repair shops, markets, offices, and dinner tables:

• A ver, espérate. – Okay, hold on a second.

• A ver qué pasa. – Let’s see what happens.

• A ver si funciona. – Let’s see if it works.

It’s small, but once you start noticing it, you’ll hear it everywhere.

**If you’re studying Spanish, I’ve been using Easy Spanish Step-by-Step, and it’s helped more than anything else. Highly recommend it.

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🎯 Trivia Answer

Mexicali.

In the early 1900s, Chinese laborers arrived in the Mexicali Valley to help build the irrigation canal system that would transform desert into farmland. It was cheaper for landowners to hire Chinese workers than local labor, and many men came from the U.S. and China, some bringing their families after facing anti-Chinese discrimination and exclusion laws in the United States.

Mexicali’s population in 1902 was just 80 people. Within a few years, thousands of Chinese immigrants had settled there. At one point, the Chinese population in Mexicali outnumbered Mexican residents – a demographic shift that shaped the city’s identity for decades.

Facing brutal desert heat, many built below ground. What began as a practical escape from the climate evolved into something far more complex.

By 1918, La Chinesca was formally established. Beneath the streets, residents constructed an extensive network of basements and tunnels stretching across Mexicali’s Chinatown. It became a functioning subterranean community with its own businesses, social organizations, and internal governance.

During U.S. Prohibition in the 1920s, La Chinesca became a cross-border nightlife hub. Bars, restaurants, casinos, and entertainment venues served American visitors seeking alcohol and gambling, and parts of the underground network were used to discreetly move people and contraband.

It’s one thing to read about it. It’s another to see it. Check out the underground world of La Chinesca. 

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¡Hola amigos! This week, Sheinbaum draws a hard line on U.S. security involvement as Mexico and the U.S. juggle a busy agenda – from water treaty negotiations to uncomfortable questions about weapons flowing south of the border. There’s also a sweeping new infrastructure plan on the table and a measles outbreak that’s forcing schools to adjust.

Also in this issue: the 9% fee hiding in plain sight every time you swipe your card in Mexico, the IRS tax test for U.S. citizens abroad, and why the Rarámuri never stop running.

Let’s do this!

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❓México Trivia

What remote Mexican island went from feared prison colony to protected biosphere reserve?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

📣 México News Roundup

🚫 In her Monday mañanera, President Sheinbaum said Mexico will no longer grant permits to U.S. agents and ruled out joint security operations, adding that cooperation would continue only through information exchange.

✈️ An Aeromexico Boeing 787 was forced to abort its landing at Mexico City International Airport on Sunday after a 5.7-magnitude earthquake triggered air safety protocols. Watch the moment here. 

🤝 Mexico sent more than 814 tons of humanitarian aid to Cuba aboard 2 Mexican Navy vessels.

🏗️ The government unveiled a 2026–2030 infrastructure investment plan totaling MXN 5.6 trillion, targeting energy, rail, roads, ports, health, water, education, and airports. Infrastructure spending will rise by MXN 722 billion in 2026, roughly 2% of GDP.

💰 Mexico’s central bank unanimously voted to keep interest rates at 7% and pushed back its inflation target timeline to 2027.

🪨 The U.S. and Mexico unveiled a 60-day plan to coordinate trade policies on critical minerals as they move to shore up supply chains ahead of the USMCA review.

✈️ Volaris will add 33 new domestic and international routes beginning in June 2026 as it expands service across key Mexican cities.

😷 Jalisco is the epicenter of Mexico’s measles outbreak, prompting mask mandates in some schools in Guadalajara and online classes in parts of Jalisco and neighboring Aguascalientes.

🚨In response to a New York Times report that U.S. military–only ammunition is being used by Mexican cartels, President Sheinbaum said her government is reviewing the report and will raise the issue with U.S. authorities.

🕯️ Mexican authorities confirmed that 5 of the 10 workers abducted last month from a Canadian-run mine in Sinaloa have been found dead.

💧 Mexico and the U.S. reached a technical deal under the 1944 Water Treaty that will help Mexico remain in compliance with its water delivery obligations.

🍎 Your Health Pulse

Red Flags to Watch for When Searching for a Medical Specialist

Finding a specialist in Mexico isn’t the hard part…finding the right one is.

From doctors who won’t share credentials to clinics that rush procedures, skip second opinions, or push unnecessary tests, the red flags aren’t always obvious until it’s too late. And once you’re already in a medical situation, switching providers can be stressful and expensive.

Knowing what to watch for before you need care can make all the difference.

Read more here

📍Immigration Essentials

Bona Fide Residence Test: How It Can Reduce U.S. Taxes

As tax season approaches, American citizens living abroad should understand how the IRS determines eligibility for expat tax benefits that can reduce U.S. taxes owed.

The IRS recognizes two tests used to determine eligibility for certain U.S. tax benefits for citizens living abroad.

Many are familiar with the Physical Presence Test, which is based on spending at least 330 full days outside the U.S. The IRS also recognizes a second test – the Bona Fide Residence Test, which is based on your intention to live abroad.

To qualify, you must establish a real, permanent home in a foreign country and make it your primary place of residence for an extended period. When met, this test can reduce your tax liability through the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and the Foreign Tax Credit.

However, the requirements are stricter and require careful documentation.

Keep reading to find out how the test works, who qualifies, and what the IRS expects.

Read more here

🧩 Life in México

The Convenience Fee That’s Costing You 9% or More

Every time you tap your card or withdraw cash in Mexico, you may be overpaying without realizing it.

A little-known practice called dynamic currency conversion can add 9% or more to everyday purchases like groceries, dining out, medical visits, and even ATM withdrawals. The worst part? It’s usually framed as a convenience option on payment screens, so most people accept it without a second thought.

This markup can add up to hundreds — even thousands — of dollars lost each year, especially if you live in Mexico full time.

Before your next transaction, find out how dynamic currency conversion works, where it shows up most often, and exactly how to avoid it.

Read more here

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🇲🇽 Viva México

Why the Rarámuri Never Stop Running

In the remote highlands of Chihuahua, the Rarámuri people have been running for centuries, not for sport, but for necessity, community, and tradition.

Sometimes called Tarahumara by outsiders, their name for themselves roughly translates to “those who run fast” or “light-footed ones.” They are renowned worldwide for their extraordinary endurance running abilities.

Their home, the Barranca del Cobre (Copper Canyon), is larger and deeper than the Grand Canyon. It is a dramatic wilderness of steep gorges, sheer cliffs, and plunging ravines that can drop more than 6,000 feet. 

In this demanding landscape, everyday tasks, such as visiting neighbors, trading goods, or traveling to markets, require covering vast distances across punishing vertical terrain. 

Running is simply the most practical way to move, but it is also something more. 

For the Rarámuri, running is a form of walked prayer. Movement itself is spiritual. Traditional belief holds that God gave them the gift of endurance so they could care for the world – running to keep balance, harmony, and even to help the sun continue its journey across the sky. To stop running would be to risk the order of things.

Rarámuri runners wear huaraches, thin sandals with rubber soles and leather straps. Women run in layered skirts that are as functional as they are colorful and distinctive.

Their fuel is just as practical. Pinole, a pre-Hispanic superfood made from toasted and ground corn, often mixed with chia seeds, provides slow-burning energy for long distances.

When the Spanish arrived in the 1500s, many Rarámuri chose not to submit. Instead, they moved deeper into the canyons. The harsh landscape protected their independence and helped preserve their culture, including the running traditions that have defined them for centuries. 

Today, that way of life is under threat from economic hardship, land loss, climate change, and migration.

In response, organized races have become a way for runners to earn food, supplies, and prize money. Yet even in competition, running is rarely about winning alone – it remains communal, ceremonial, and deeply tied to identity.

One of the most well-known races is the Ultra Maratón Caballo Blanco, held each year in Urique, deep in the Copper Canyon. The event brings together international runners and more than 800 Rarámuri athletes to run side by side in a place where endurance is both cultural and sacred. See what it looks like to run with the Rarámuri.

The 2026 event runs February 27 to March 1 and includes multiple distances all under intense heat and rugged canyon terrain. Registration closes February 27. 

Get race info here

🪷 Viva Wellness

The Forbidden Grain Making a Comeback

Amaranth was once up to 80% of the local diet in some Mesoamerican communities.

Before the arrival of Europeans, this powerhouse grain was a staple, and it’s easy to see why Indigenous Mesoamericans were so enamored with it – every part of the plant was edible and beneficial.

The tiny, round grains are rich in amino acids, iron, and protein and are the only grain that contains Vitamin C. This wealth of nutrients was especially important given that the traditional Mesoamerican diet was mostly plant-based, with only elites consuming significant quantities of meat.

But amaranth wasn’t just food – it was deeply woven into spiritual life.

For one Aztec festival, puffed amaranth grain and honey were sculpted into a statue of Huitzilopochtli, the patron god of the Aztec capital. The effigy was carried through the streets before being cut up and eaten by celebrants.

The Spanish, seeing an unsettling resemblance to the sharing of bread in Christian Communion, banned the cultivation of amaranth when they took control of Mexico.

Naturally, this only made the grain even more sought after. It continued to be cultivated in secret, and today, amaranth is a common ingredient in traditional Mexican treats.

Today, this once-banned grain is having a quiet comeback. 

Nutrition experts now recognize amaranth as a complete plant-based protein, rich in iron, fiber, and essential amino acids – and naturally gluten-free. It’s also high in lysine, a rare amino acid in grains that supports muscle repair and calcium absorption.

In Mexico City, amaranth is also being reintroduced through school nutrition programs, replacing ultra-processed snacks like pork rinds and quesadillas. And health and food security groups are calling for a national strategy to expand amaranth production and consumption across Mexico. 

🎉 ¡Vamos! Events

Mexico’s 2026 Carnaval Lineup 

Carnaval in Mexico is a nationwide explosion of music, dance, and unforgettable traditions. From coastal parades to historic battle reenactments, Carnaval in Mexico is anything but one-size-fits-all.

See the can’t-miss Carnavals of 2026.

💡 Say It in Spanish

Se me perdió

Translation: It got lost on me.

If you want to say you lost something in Spanish, this is the phrase you’ll hear – and use – most often.

Instead of saying “Yo perdí…” (I lost…), Spanish flips the structure. The thing got lost, and it happened to you.

• Se me perdió la llave – I lost my key

• Se me perdió el celular – I lost my phone

• Se me perdió la cartera – I lost my wallet

• Se me perdieron los lentes – I lost my glasses

• Se me perdió el cargador – I lost my charger

**If you’re studying Spanish, I’ve been using Easy Spanish Step-by-Step, and it’s helped more than anything else. Highly recommend it.

🎯 Trivia Answer

Islas Marías.

For more than a century, Islas Marías was one of Mexico’s most notorious prisons – a remote island penal colony in the Pacific where inmates were sent to disappear. Located about 70 miles off the coast of Nayarit, escape was nearly impossible, and the islands became synonymous with isolation and punishment.

In 2010, while the prison was still operating, UNESCO designated the archipelago a Biosphere Reserve, recognizing its extraordinary ecological value. The prison itself officially closed in 2019, marking the end of the last island penal colony in the Americas.

In 2022, it opened to visitors on restricted, navy-organized tours, where former prison buildings stand beside pristine beaches, mangroves, and wildlife found nowhere else on earth. 

Visit the official site here.

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¡Hola amigos! This week kicks off with a round of he said, she said, Mexico’s Navy will send aid to Cuba, Chinese automakers abruptly exit the country and leave car owners scrambling, and lawmakers approve a new 10-peso coin for 2026.

Also in this issue: how to replace stolen license plates, what to do if you’re denied a factura, the 1984 treaty that reshaped Mexico, and where to catch the wildest parades of the 2026 Carnaval season.

And if you're in the path of the cold front – stay warm, stay dry, and check on your vecinos.

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❓México Trivia

What iconic Carnaval dancers were created to secretly mock Spanish colonial elites and wealthy hacienda society?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

📣 México News Roundup

🤝 President Sheinbaum acknowledged on Sunday that Mexico has halted oil shipments to Cuba, saying the Navy will provide food and supplies while Mexico works diplomatically to resolve oil deliveries for humanitarian reasons.

📞 President Sheinbaum said she did not discuss Cuba during a phone call with President Trump last Thursday, contradicting Trump’s claim that he told Mexico not to send oil to Cuba. 

🥶 Cold front No. 33 enters Mexico today and is expected to linger through the end of the week, bringing freezing temperatures, frost, rain, and strong winds to several regions.

🪙 Mexico will issue new 10-peso coins in 2026 after lawmakers approved changes to cut minting costs and improve anti-counterfeiting security.

🚗 Several Chinese automakers have pulled out of Mexico, leaving vehicle owners without access to spare parts, technical support, or aftersales service.

🌽 Mexico’s agricultural sector grew by 3.7% in 2025, outpacing the rest of the economy.

🚲 The State of Mexico will invest US$6.3 million in new bike lanes and existing cycling infrastructure across several municipalities.  

🚚 Transport operators and local authorities report rising cargo theft along routes serving Felipe Ángeles International Airport.

🎶 In her Monday mañanera, President Sheinbaum said South Korea’s president responded to her request for more BTS (the K-pop band) concerts in Mexico and has contacted the group’s production company.

🎟️ Mexico’s consumer protection agency Profeco initiated proceedings to fine Ticketmaster more than 5 million pesos over alleged irregularities in BTS concert ticket sales.

🍎 Your Health Pulse

What to Do If Your Doctor Refuses to Give You a Factura

When filing an international insurance, travel insurance, or medevac claim, you know the factura is everything. It’s the official electronic invoice required by law for any business transaction – whether you’re buying a coffee, a car, or paying for surgery.

Under Mexican tax law, any individual or business that receives payment for a product or service must issue a factura upon request.

To be clear, you MUST request the factura – they won’t automatically give it, and they don’t always offer it. This applies to every business in Mexico, including doctors, hospitals, and clinics.

To issue a factura, you’ll need an RFC number (Registro Federal de Contribuyentes). Always request your factura on the day of your appointment or within the same month, since businesses file taxes monthly to SAT (Mexico’s tax authority).

Many clinics generate their facturas through accountants, which is done either daily, weekly, or monthly. It’s best to request it immediately.

If your doctor or clinic refuses to issue one even when you requested it the month of your service, know this: it’s illegal.

You can report them to SAT online through the portal “Solicitud por la no emisión de factura” (sometimes listed under “Conciliación de Factura”) or by email at denuncias@sat.gob.mx. 

Include your information, proof of payment, dates, the amount paid, and the business’s RFC. You can also include your doctor’s license number (cédula profesional) if you have it – it’s usually listed on their letterhead.

No factura means no claim. So always ask, always document, and know your rights.

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Get connected with a vetted broker who knows the system. Whether the priority is private coverage, long-term insurance, medical evacuation, catastrophic care, or travel insurance – there’s a trusted professional ready to guide the search.

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📍Immigration Essentials

How to Replace Lost or Stolen Car Plates

If your plates are lost or stolen, you’ll need to report it and request replacements at your state’s Control Vehicular office.

Steps to replace your plates…

• File a police report (acta de denuncia) if your plates were stolen.

• Visit your state’s Control Vehicular office or website. Just search “Reemplazo de placas en [Fill in the state you are in].”

• Submit required documents (tarjeta de circulación, residency documents, proof of address).

• Pay the fee (typically 1000–2,500 MXN; for example, Edomex charges ~1,500 MXN for replacements).

• Pick up your new plates. Note that some states require an appointment.

🇲🇽 Viva México

The Treaty That Reshaped Mexico

On February 2, 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, forever altering Mexico’s border and its identity.

This pivotal treaty ended the U.S.-Mexico War but at a staggering cost. 

“Mexico lost over half its territory, including what is now California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, and parts of Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming, and relinquished its claim to Texas. In exchange, the United States agreed to pay Mexico $15 million and assume certain Mexican debts owed to U.S. citizens.

Practically overnight, approximately 80,000 to 100,000 Mexican citizens found themselves living in what was now foreign territory.

The treaty promised to protect the property and civil rights of the Mexican families who suddenly found themselves living under U.S. rule. Those guarantees were laid out in Articles VIII and IX. However, when the U.S. Senate ratified the treaty, it removed Article X – the provision that would have explicitly recognized Mexican land grants. 

Its removal opened the door to widespread legal challenges and the loss of Mexican-owned land across the U.S. Southwest.

For Indigenous communities like the Kumeyaay, Tohono O’odham, and Yaqui, the consequences were even more complex. 

These communities had never fully recognized the authority of either government. They were not consulted during the treaty negotiations, and the new border cut directly through their ancestral homelands.

What followed were decades of forced displacement, broken agreements, and deep disruption to cultural, spiritual, and familial ties on both sides of the line.

Mexico’s defeat, driven by internal political turmoil and the military strength of the U.S, left a lasting mark on the national identity.

It gave rise to the phrase commonly attributed to Porfirio Díaz, “Pobre México, tan lejos de Dios y tan cerca de Estados Unidos” (Poor Mexico, so far from God and so close to the United States).

And yet, out of this fracture came a resilient cultural fusion. It’s reflected in everything from corridos sung on both sides of the frontera, to the flavors of Tex-Mex and Cal-Mex cuisine, to community festivals where papel picado flutters beside the Stars and Stripes.

Although the treaty was signed on February 2, 1848, its effects unfolded over months: it was ratified between March and May of that year and officially proclaimed on July 4, 1848 – prolonging uncertainty for thousands of people whose lives had already been upended.

🪷 Viva Wellness

Estafiate: Mexico’s Bitter Healing Herb

Walk through almost any market in Mexico, and you’ll find bundles of a silvery-green herb known for its bitter tea and powerful healing reputation: estafiate.

In Nahuatl, it’s known as iztauhyatl, "bitter water," and for good reason. One sip is enough to make your face scrunch.

In Maya, it’s sometimes called zizm, and in English you may hear it referred to as white sagebrush or western mugwort. In Mexico, most people simply know it as estafiate (Artemisia ludoviciana).

It grows wild across much of the country and is easy to recognize by its slender stems and pale gray-green, velvety leaves.

Behind that bitter bite is a long history of traditional healing. For centuries, estafiate has been used to ease everything from stomach troubles to sore muscles. 

An infusion made from the stalks and leaves is commonly used for digestive woes, including nausea, diarrhea, gastritis, and even parasites.

It’s also a go-to for respiratory relief. The leaves are brewed and inhaled to ease coughs and congestion, and the liquid can be gargled for sore throats.

Topically, crushed leaves are used to calm bug bites, rashes, sore muscles, and the pain of arthritic joints.

Estafiate’s magic lies in naturally occurring compounds like camphor and thujone, which are known for their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties.

But its power goes beyond the physical. In spiritual limpias (cleansing rituals), bundles of the dried herb are burned to clear heavy energy, emotional distress, and lingering tension. The smoke is said to chase off bad thoughts and even nightmares. Some tuck a sprig under their pillow to keep the malas vibras at bay.

**Note: Because estafiate is traditionally used short-term and contains potent compounds, it’s not meant for daily use and should be avoided during pregnancy.

🎉 ¡Vamos! Events

Where to Carnaval in Mexico This Year 

Carnaval in Mexico is a nationwide explosion of music, dance, and unforgettable traditions. From coastal parades to historic battle reenactments, Carnaval in Mexico is anything but one-size-fits-all.

See the can’t-miss Carnavals of 2026.

💡 Say It in Spanish

Echar

Translation: To throw or to toss. 

But in Mexico, echar is a multi-purpose verb that shows up in all kinds of everyday situations that have nothing to do with throwing anything. 

Here are a few examples…

• Echarle ganas – Give it your all 

• Echar la mano – Lend a hand

• Echarse un taco – Grab a taco

• Echarse una siesta – Take a nap

• Echar la culpa – Place blame

• Echar relajo – Joke around or goof off

• Echar un vistazo – Take a look

• Echar a perder – To ruin or spoil (like milk... or your weekend)

The trick isn’t memorizing every version – it’s getting used to the rhythm. Echar is one of those words where meaning comes from context, tone, and how people actually use it.

If you’re studying Spanish (or want to), I highly recommend getting a copy of Easy Spanish Step-By-Step. Check it out here.

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🎯 Trivia Answer

The Chinelos of Morelos.

With their flowing velvet robes, towering embroidered hats, and exaggerated bearded masks, Chinelos are some of the most recognizable figures of Carnaval in Mexico – and some of the most rebellious.

The tradition emerged in the 19th century in what is now the state of Morelos, when Indigenous communities used Carnaval’s permission to disguise themselves as satire. Masked and anonymous, dancers exaggerated Spanish colonial features – pale skin, sharp noses, bushy beards, fine clothing, and arrogant posture – a parody of Spanish elites and wealthy hacienda owners.

The name chinelo comes from the Nahuatl word zineloquie, meaning “disguised” or “masked.” Their signature dance – the rhythmic brinco – is performed to the pounding sound of brass bands, often for hours at a time.

What began as mockery has become pride. Today, Chinelos anchor Carnaval celebrations in towns like Tlayacapan, Tepoztlán, Yautepec, and Jiutepec. Costumes can take months to make and cost thousands of pesos, with hand-stitched sequins and masks crafted with horsehair beards.

Watch the Chinelos in action here. 

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