Perfect Day Mexico involves the construction of a 80-hectare water park across from the Mahahual cruise ship pier in southern Quintana Roo. The initial plan calls for an operational capacity of up to 21,000 cruise ship tourists per day, in addition to 2,500 employees for the park’s operation.

Activists, however, warned that Mahahual has serious drainage and sewage management problems, and they worry that a mega-park would overload the town’s already saturated infrastructure.

The complaints prompted the non-profit Defending the Right to a Healthy Environment (DMAS) to file an amparo lawsuit (a legal action or writ in Mexico used to protect individuals from violations of their human rights) against the Perfect Day Project. 

In the lawsuit, DMAS challenges recent land use modifications to the municipal Urban Development Program (PDU), including the removal of roads and other restrictions to allow the construction of the water park planned by Royal Caribbean in Mahahual.

Antonella Vázquez Cavedón, head of DMAS, told newspaper El Economista that the modifications to the PDU are a clear violation of the Human Settlements Law.

She explained that given the project’s significance for the entire community, authorities were obliged to carry out a public consultation process to ensure that citizens understand the project’s scope and consequences to the urban growth of Mahahual.

According to Vázquez, Royal Caribbean’s interests prevailed over the interests of the community.

“The mayor presented the ruling to the city council and in just a few days, they granted [Royal Caribbean] every request,” she said.

Currently, an incomplete water treatment plant leaks raw sewage into Mahahual’s coastal mangrove forest and the nearby reef, Vázquez said.

Royal Caribbean has promised to clean up the area contaminated by the sewage leaks, but activists say the project’s operation will further strain the community’s already poor infrastructure and drainage system.

The company has also recognized the presence of endangered species like the ocelot, margay and white turtle. According to the Environmental Impact Statement (MIA), mitigation measures will be undertaken to “reduce stress and ensure the physical integrity of the individuals.”

With reports from El Economista

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There is a thing or two that make Uxmal one of the most distinctive expressions of the Puuc architectural style. In contrast with other magnificent Maya buildings, such as the main constructions of Chichén Itzá or Tikal, the spirit of the Soothsayer’s Temple (Pirámide del Adivino) feels almost mystical and, at the risk of sounding redundant, magical. This is a site that has enchanted every traveler who steps onto its ever-growing carpet of grass.

What we know about Uxmal

Uxmal lies in the western part of Yucatán, about 80 kilometers south of Mérida. It is considered the most representative site of Puuc architecture, which flourished roughly between 800 and 1,100 C.E. Yet archaeological evidence shows earlier occupations: one around 300 C.E. and another around 700 C.E. It was the final stage of the city, the one that produced its most iconic monuments. Such buildings continue to impress both locals and foreign visitors today.

Exploring Uxmal can feel overwhelming, but only because the city preserves endless secrets for those who look closely. As with all great architectural wonders, every engraving and every stone seems meticulously placed — sometimes for structural reasons, sometimes for symbolic meaning. From its interior corbel arches to its ornate façades, every corner has something to say.

Three Times Founded

The origin of Uxmal’s name remains uncertain, but many studies suggest it means “Three Times Founded” or “Three Times Harvested” in Yucatec Mayan. The name possibly refers to the city’s repeated resettlements during centuries of rivalry between Maya city-states.

Another possible meaning of the word Uxmal is “Future”. The name proves to be right, as the site, its silent stone monuments and its majestic architecture seem to always be waiting, sitting in expectation for future eyes to be laid upon them and new minds to decipher their hidden messages.

Uxmal’s buildings

Uxmal is known for its remarkably preserved buildings, among the finest in the Maya world. The main character of the site is, of course, the Soothsayer’s Temple, a 35-meter pyramid with an unusual oval base. It consists of five superimposed temples built at different moments, a common tradition in Mesoamerican sacred architecture. The structure was likely dedicated to Chaac, the Maya Lord of Rain and Thunder, to whom many Uxmal temples appear to pay homage.

Before the pyramid stands the Cuadrángulo de las Monjas (Quadrangle of the Nuns), named by the Spanish conquistadors for its convent-like layout. But, from what we know now, it likely functioned as a palace or administrative complex — the Maya were especially fond of enclosed courtyards.

The House of the Governor, one of the masterpieces of Puuc design, features exquisitely carved façades. The so-called “elephant trunks,” once misinterpreted by early explorers, are actually stylized masks of Chaac. On the other hand, the stone carvings that Empress Charlotte mistook for the biblical devil in the guise of a snake show is actually one of the most important deities of the Mesoamerican pantheon. Called Quetzalcoatl by the Nahua people of central Mexico, and Kukulkan by the Maya, the lord of light, creation and wisdom is a deity worshipped all over Mesoamerica, and, needless to say, it is not related to a devil of any kind.

Like many travelers whose hearts remain tied to these ruins, Stephens and Catherwood returned several times. “The ruins of Uxmal presented themselves to me as a home,” Stephens later wrote, “and I looked upon them with more interest than before.”

Your visit

If Uxmal is on your bucket list, here’s what you should know before you go:

How to get there: The easiest route is to drive from Mérida, though ADO buses also depart from the city’s main terminal.

Weather: Expect heat and sun year-round; bring a hat, sunscreen and plenty of water.

Entry fees: Visitors must pay two separate fees: one to the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) and another to the State of Yucatán. 

Time needed: Given the size of the site, set aside at least three hours for the visit.

Post scriptum for explorers

In case you have the adventurer expertise of Stephens and Catherwood, Uxmal must not appear to be a challenging visit. There are other sites on the Puuc route that are worth visiting: Kabah, Sayil, Xlapak and Labná.

Although the architectural resemblance is undeniable, each one has its own personality and exposes different aspects of the Maya cities of the moment. In contrast with Uxmal, these sites still have a lot of archaeological work to be done. The upside is that they are also less crowded and can be explored at a slower pace.

Lydia Leija is a linguist, journalist and visual storyteller. She has directed three feature films, and her audiovisual work has been featured in national and international media. She’s been part of National Geographic, Muy Interesante and Cosmopolitan.

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​The first Maya peoples

According to current research, the first people to inhabit this territory did so during the Holocene period, around 10,000 B.C. — the current geological era that began after the last Ice Age. One of the most famous finds from this period is the skeleton of a young woman nicknamed Naia, discovered in 2007 in the submerged cave of Hoyo Negro in Quintana Roo, Mexico. She is believed to be about 13,000 years old. Stone tools, along with rock shelters containing cave paintings, are among the other evidence pointing to an early human presence in the region.

Only with the domestication of the ancestor of maize — teosinte — around 5,000 B.C., and the appearance of the first distinct ceramic groups in the archaeological record, is it possible to trace the emergence of settled communities throughout the Maya area. Specialization in ceramic production and the development of distinct regional manufacturing traditions reveal not just the beginnings of sedentary life but also the rise of long-distance cultural and commercial networks.

​Societies in the Maya Lowlands​

During what is known as the Middle Preclassic period, roughly 1,000-450 B.C., monumental architectural complexes with large platforms appeared in the Maya Lowlands, especially in the Southern Lowlands. Initially built of earth, these platforms were gradually replaced by stone buildings. Among them are the so-called E-Groups — distinctive architectural complexes likely used for astronomical observation and commemoration. These massive pyramidal structures were crowned by three temples: a central one flanked by two smaller shrines.

At the same time, the earliest stone sculptures appear in the form of carved stelae and associated altars. Ceramic figurines with varied facial features and clothing, as well as burials accompanied by different types of offerings, all point to emerging social hierarchies that would fully crystallize in the Late Preclassic period.

This era, spanning roughly 450 B.C. to A.D. 250, marks the transition of settlements into fully urban, state-level societies with pronounced social differentiation. The earliest known examples of Maya writing, such as those from San Bartolo in Guatemala, date to this period. In the Petén region — on both the Mexican and Guatemalan sides — and the adjoining area of Belize in the Southern Lowlands, early cities such as Nakbé, Cival, Cahal Pech and El Mirador began experiencing significant growth.​

The great city of El Mirador

El Mirador lies in the Guatemalan Petén, north of the Maya Biosphere Reserve, within the area known as the El Mirador Basin. Hundreds of pre‑Hispanic settlements of varying size have been documented there, including Tintal, Xulnal, Balamnal, Nakbé and others. Throughout the basin, E‑Groups and large triadic pyramidal complexes — classic architectural markers of the Preclassic period — stand out.

El Mirador was first identified in the early 20th century during expeditions led by the Carnegie Institution of Washington. Since the 1980s, it has been the focus of ongoing archaeological projects directed by Dr. Richard Hansen. Occupied since the earliest phases of the Preclassic, the site reached its peak in the Late Preclassic, when both its population and monumental architecture expanded dramatically. Some buildings, such as the great Danta pyramid, exceed 70 meters in height — roughly equivalent to a 23-story building.

A well-organized and connected metropolis

Such monumental architecture in El Mirador implies strong control over population, ritual life and cosmological symbolism, likely exercised by a ruling elite. This group would also have overseen production systems and the circulation of goods, including water and a range of commodities from basic necessities to luxury items. Excavations by Hansen’s team have revealed a network of sacbeob, or “white roads” — true pre-Hispanic highways connecting El Mirador with both nearby and distant areas.

In the first case are roads leading to what have been interpreted as suburbs or neighborhoods near the political-ceremonial core, where obsidian artifacts were produced for later redistribution. Longer sacbeob linked El Mirador to other political centers such as Tintal, about 24 kilometers to the south, and Nakbé, about 14 kilometers to the southeast. The existence of these causeways radiating from El Mirador has led Hansen to propose an early “dendritic” model of regional political organization, with El Mirador as the main hub of a territory that may have covered some 80 square kilometers.

For these reasons, El Mirador is regarded as the great metropolis of the Preclassic period, with an estimated peak population of around 100,000 inhabitants between roughly 200 B.C. and A.D. 150. Along the margins of the La Jarrilla bajo — a seasonally inundated depression that borders the city — terraces and raised fields were constructed, enabling intensive agriculture to supply the entire population. This production was likely controlled by a ruling class about which we still know relatively little.

Many triadic complexes at El Mirador preserve remains of monumental masks associated with symbols of power, such as tied knots or jaguar claws. The faces often blend human and animal features, and the few written records available do little to clarify the rich iconography seen in sculptures and stelae. Together, these factors complicate efforts to reconstruct the sociopolitical organization of this major pre-Hispanic city.

Nonetheless, these images likely represent early manifestations of political power, in which cosmogonic ideas are closely tied to the city’s ruling groups. This is why the monument known as the “Popol Vuh Frieze,” or “Panel of the Swimmers,” associated with a structure used to collect and redirect water, is so important. According to Hansen’s hypotheses, the scenes depicted there may allude to episodes in the “Popol Vuh,” the famous K’iche’ Maya manuscript compiled in the colonial era. If so, the images at El Mirador would demonstrate the deep historical roots of these ideological concepts.

Crisis in El Mirador​

Around A.D. 150, El Mirador underwent a major sociopolitical crisis, probably linked in part to the intensification of building activity and exacerbated by environmental stress. Virtually all constructions — buildings, roads, monuments and so on — were coated in thick layers of white stucco and then painted in vivid colors. Because stucco erodes over time, it had to be reapplied in multiple layers. Limestone for stucco production was quarried near the site’s central sector and fired in large kilns that required enormous quantities of wood to achieve the temperatures needed to produce quicklime.

Hansen’s studies suggest that widespread deforestation and its consequences were among the key factors in El Mirador’s decline. At the same time, growing competition and political tension with other centers, such as Uaxactún and Tikal, likely contributed to the crisis.

After about A.D. 150, El Mirador’s population shrank and the construction of monumental buildings and complexes diminished drastically. Even so, the city and the basin were never completely abandoned. Archaeologists have discovered Chen Mul ceramics, characteristic of the Postclassic period (approximately A.D. 1000-1524) and the Northern Lowlands, as well as settlements with spatial patterns associated with late Kejache groups.

Despite this later occupation, the site’s decline was profound and irreversible. The once-great metropolis that had dominated the region for centuries faded into the jungle, its towering pyramids slowly consumed by vegetation. This collapse ushered in a new era that would give rise to what is known as the Classic period — a time when new centers of Maya power would emerge to fill the void left by El Mirador’s fall.

Pablo Mumary holds a doctorate in Mesoamerican studies from UNAM and currently works at the Center for Maya Studies at IIFL-UNAM as a full-time associate researcher. He specializes in the study of the lordships of the Maya Lowlands of the Classic period.

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Following the circulation of images showing fissures in the unions between concrete blocks that make up the bridge, SICT announced it will strengthen the structure and conduct dynamic and static resistance tests before the bridge enters operation, according to El Economista.

Guido Mendiburu Solís, SICT delegate in Quintana Roo, said the bridge structure poses no risk to users. Nonetheless, he said four additional support pillars and a metal beam will be constructed at at least three support points throughout the concrete structure as reinforcement measures.

Some parts of the structure have settled, Mendiburu said, because the bridge was built in an area with high karsticity, a geological feature of limestone areas prone to sinkholes.

“It is not structural damage, but before it is inaugurated we will conduct load tests, both with moving and static vehicles, to verify that the work fulfills the objective for which it was designed,” the official explained.

The images shared by social media users this month show pronounced cracks and irregularities in concrete joints, particularly in sections of the traffic distributor connecting Bonampak Avenue and Luis Donaldo Colosio Boulevard, according to local news outlet Expediente Quintana Roo. The photos also reveal fissures on lower and lateral surfaces of the structure, as well as areas with cracked concrete and chipped edges, generating concern among drivers and local residents about the structural safety of the megaproject.

El Puente Nichupté, en Cancún, Quintana Roo, será uno de los puentes más largos de América Latina sobre una laguna. Su construcción beneficiará a más de 1.3 millones de habitantes y a 20 millones de turistas que visitan la zona anualmente. 🏖️ pic.twitter.com/nHGqFwbkSl

— SICT México (@SICTmx) January 8, 2026

The 11.2-kilometer Nichupté Bridge, which officials had previously announced would open this month, has been plagued by delays since construction began in 2022. Originally proposed in 2006 as part of Cancún’s 2030 Strategic Plan for Sustainable Development, the project languished for 16 years before work finally commenced.

With the bridge scheduled to be inaugurated by the end of this month, builders are coming down to the wire, with Mendiburu reporting that construction is 93% complete.

The bridge will feature three lanes in each direction on its main section with one reversible lane, a bike path and pedestrian walkway. It is designed to reduce transit times between the city center and hotel zone by up to 45 minutes by crossing a portion of the Nichupté lagoon and avoiding the most congested traffic areas. Officials say it will benefit an average of 1.3 million residents and more than 20 million tourists annually, and have promised that there will be no tolls.

With reports from El Economista and Expediente Quintana Roo

This story was written by a Mexico News Daily staff editor with the assistance of Claude, then revised and fact-checked before publication.

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The premature arrival of the seaweed — which typically shows up between April and May — is already affecting several tourist beaches and has triggered environmental and economic alerts in the Mexican Caribbean. The hotel sector in this region spends some US $150 million each year to keep beaches free of macroalgae, in addition to government funds allocated to address the problem.

Esteban Jesús Amaro Mauricio, head of the Sargassum Monitoring Network in Quintana Roo, said that the first arrivals of sargassum were observed in Xcalac and Mahahual, in the southern part of the state. The algae were also present in Cozumel, Tulum, Puerto Morelos and Playa del Carmen. 

Amaro noted that while only a handful of beaches have reported the arrival of the seaweed, experts anticipate this year to be “as intense” as 2025, when some 73,224 tonnes of sargassum were collected. 

According to satellite images reported by the University of Florida, some seven million tonnes of sargassum are currently travelling from Africa to the Gulf of Mexico. 

Amaro explained that the satellite images don’t show a uniform patch of macroalgae. Rather, due to the heavy cloud cover caused by a new cold front, “large patches” can be seen in the ocean.

The Gulf and Caribbean Oceanographic Institute of the Mexican Navy issued a bulletin on Jan. 10 (valid for 48 hours), revealing that the largest accumulation weighs 85 tonnes and is projected to primarily impact the beaches of Puerto Morelos and Playa del Carmen, representing the highest concentration expected during this period.

Sargassum, a yellowish seaweed that floats in the central Atlantic Ocean for much of the year, provides food, shelter and breeding grounds for many marine species. But once it reaches shore and rots, it releases a foul smell that poses health risks to beachgoers.

Mexico, particularly its beaches along the Mexican Caribbean, has struggled with persistent sargassum invasions that have hurt tourism. In 2025, Mexican authorities officially declared sargassum a national fishing resource in a move to expand its management beyond beach cleanup and allow equipped vessels to capture the seaweed before it reaches shores and decomposes.

With reports from Quadratín and La Jornada

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According to Skyscanner data, domestic flights to Cancún start at 2,490 pesos (US $138), while hotel prices start at 2,890 pesos (US $161) per night. Moving around the city is also affordable, as car rentals are available from 175 pesos (US $10) per day.

✈️ Skyscanner presenta el Cheapest Destination Planner 2026, una guía basada en millones de búsquedas y reservas que muestra los destinos con mejores precios y las fechas más convenientes para viajar desde México. https://t.co/q7xZKPhhwc pic.twitter.com/ctmzI3BEXy

— Especiales El Economista (@EspecialesEE) January 8, 2026

Beyond Cancún, Skyscanner also revealed the cheapest international destinations for travelers booking from Mexico. Latin America was the cheapest region to travel to, thanks to good air connectivity and affordable cost of living.

Some of these affordable destinations include Asunción, Paraguay; Bogotá, Colombia; São Paulo, Brazil; and Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Flights to Asunción, according to Skyscanner, have average prices starting at 9,683 pesos (US $538) with lodging options starting at 6,246 pesos (US $347) per night. Flights from Mexico to Bogotá start at 8,833 pesos, (US $491) while lodging starts at 964 pesos (US $54), per night, making it one of the cheapest lodging alternatives on the list.

Traveling to the Brazilian metropolis of São Paulo is more affordable than expected, at 9,661 pesos (US $537), with prcie for hotels starting from 458 pesos (US $25) per night. Meanwhile, Skyscanner reports that flights to Argentina start at 10,125 pesos (US $563), with hotels starting from 718 pesos (US $40) per night.

Across the pond, Skycanner noted that Madrid, Rome and Barcelona are the cheapest destinations from Mexico to Europe, with price for flights starting at 11,720 pesos (US $652), 15,678 pesos (US $872)and 15,465 pesos (US $861) respectively.

While these destinations are listed for travelers booking flights from Mexico, users abroad can search for cheap flights to Mexico from Skyscanner’s homepage. The company’s “Planificador de los desinos más baratos” (Cheap destination planner) also includes cheap flights to and within Mexico for every month of 2026.

Skyscanner also advised budget-conscious travelers to look for tickets on Fridays, the cheapest day of the week to fly.

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup coming to Mexico in June, Skycanner’s tool may come in handy for visitors looking to explore the country while maximizing their budget.

As Lourdes Losada, Skyscanner’s Americas director, said: “Travel shouldn’t feel like an unattainable luxury, but like a real possibility when you have the right information.”

Mexico News Daily

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For most Mexico-based Venezuelans, however, the situation is far more complex than images of demonstrations and debates on social media suggest.

On Saturday morning, U.S. military forces entered Venezuelan territory, killing at least 80 people, including 32 Cuban members of the president’s security detail, before capturing Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in the capital of Caracas. The pair was transported to New York, where they now face trial on charges including cocaine trafficking, to which both have pleaded not guilty. 

Hours after the operation, U.S. President Donald Trump announced at a press conference that his administration would oversee Venezuela “until we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” adding that U.S. companies would start operating in Venezuela’s oil reserves.

Many Venezuelans living in Mexico, far away from most of their family members, experienced a mix of emotions as information trickled in.

Jessica Valero, who arrived in Mexico in August 2024 after a long and arduous overland journey that took her through the Darién Gap, woke up to a message from her father saying that Caracas had been bombed. “I was really scared, really, really scared. I have some relatives in the military, and I’m very concerned for their safety.” 

Valero immediately called her dad, who confirmed all her family members were safe, and told her that Maduro had been captured. “And I swear you won’t believe me, but I couldn’t feel my legs. I mean, I had to kneel down and lean on something because I couldn’t believe it.”

‘A necessary evil’

Many Venezuelans in exile shared a similar experience: initial confusion, followed by excitement after hearing the news of Maduro’s arrest. However, their perspectives on what is to come differ. 

“Certainly, the situation in my country is very complex, and everything that has happened has generated a lot of controversy, but in my opinion, I think that this surgical intervention by the United States is a step that was necessary to restore democracy and stability to the country,” Valero said, adding that, “deep down, Venezuelans know that the United States’ involvement right now is a necessary evil.”

Bárbara Guevara, who has owned a Venezuelan restaurant in Mexico City for 12 years, echoed a similar sentiment. “I think that if it hadn’t happened this way, we would be like Cuba, and that scares me much more,” she said. However, her fear still outweighs hope. “I want Venezuela to become a new Panama. But based on Trump’s own statements, it’s going to become an Iraq.”

Manuel Chacón, a Chief Operating Officer of a technology company in Mexico City, who left Venezuela in 2017 after being at the forefront of many anti-government protests, is also hesitant to celebrate. “I’m not truly content. Obviously, one feels joy at seeing Maduro imprisoned, but matters are far from being properly resolved.” Worse, he fears the situation could deteriorate. “If the U.S. oversimplifies the problem and only changes the middleman, replacing Maduro with Delcy Rodríguez [Maduro’s vice-president], the situation could become much more complex than it was with Maduro.”    

Chacón had brought a special bottle of rum from Venezuela to celebrate the eventual fall of the Chavista regime, but it remains in his cupboard. “I didn’t want to open it even though I saw the photo of Maduro’s arrest. No, there is still some way to go.”

Mariela Hernández, who has lived in Mexico City for 10 years and currently runs an art workshop business, has a more positive outlook. “A country like the United States is not going to invest millions of dollars for another actor of the same Chavista government to remain in power; that is not going to happen.” She noted that “the transition will certainly be difficult, but there will be a path to democracy for Venezuela that has undoubtedly already begun.”

A Mexican lens

Hernández voiced that some Mexicans have expressed to her that they oppose the United States’ military actions in her country because they violate the sovereignty of the people. To this, she responded, “The sovereignty of my people was violated 26 years ago; there is no longer any sovereignty, there is nothing left to protect.” She added, “Yes, it’s an invasion, but it’s an invasion that will bring freedom to a country that has been oppressed for 26 years.” 

Silvia Lopez, a market analyst with a bachelor’s degree in political science from Monterrey, agrees that, as a Mexican who has not lived in Venezuela during Maduro’s regime, she does not have the knowledge to comment on what the end of Maduro’s presidency means for the country. At the same time, she fears that the foreign invasion of Venezuela sets a precedent for other countries, especially Mexico, as immediate neighbors of the United States: “Today it’s them, and tomorrow it could be us.” 

“I see it as a double-edged sword,” Lopez commented. “On the one hand, you want to celebrate the good news for all the people who have lived in precarious conditions because of Maduro’s regime. But at the same time, it is also worrying to see how easily the U.S. government was able to intervene and kidnap the current president of a country, although not a legitimate or democratic president, and drop bombs and attack the civilian population.” 

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has also condemned the U.S. military operation. “We categorically reject intervention in the internal affairs of other countries,” she said during her daily press conference on Monday, after Trump suggested over the weekend that “something has to be done about Mexico.”

Sheinbaum: ‘Intervention does not bring democracy to the people’

Mariana Pinto, a communication sciences graduate from Mexico City, takes a different stance. “I am in favor of the intervention. Whether it was Russia, China or the United States, someone had to intervene because the country was under a dictatorship that had plunged it into extreme poverty.” 

Pinto prefers to trust the opinion of the Venezuelans she has spoken to, who seem happy, instead of casting her own judgment as an outsider. “You shouldn’t talk about a country’s government and give your opinion, because they are the only ones who know what is happening.”

Two communities, contrasting responses

Many Mexican protestors who joined demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday would disagree with Pinto.

In Oaxaca city, for example, members of the National Coordinator of Education Workers (CNTE) and other social organizations took the stage on the main square’s kiosk after marching through the city center on Jan. 3 to voice their disapproval of Maduro’s capture.

“The aggression against Venezuela is an aggression against all peoples who fight for their sovereignty, self-determination and control of their natural resources. It is a message of war to any nation that dares to break away from imperialist logic,” one of the spokespeople exclaimed. 

“That is why from Oaxaca, a territory of struggle, resistance and dignity, we call for immediate and permanent mobilization, reaffirming that peace can only be built with social justice and popular sovereignty,” she added. Meanwhile, the public chanted “Stop the imperialist war,” “Yankees out of Venezuela” and “Yankees out of Latin America.”

The same day, a group of protestors in Mexico City gathered at the U.S. and Venezuelan embassies to “express the total rejection of any kind of U.S. intervention,” as Jorge Rivas, a political activist and an active member of the Communist Party of Mexico, put it. 

“This is a clear message to Mexico and the entire continent that any country that does not bow to U.S. interests will be invaded or intervened in,” Rivas said. “Always with an excuse supported by a narrative, such as the weapons of mass destruction of Asian countries, and today, the word terrorism is replaced by drug trafficking, and the same approach is taken.”

Some Venezuelans in Mexico City struggled to understand Mexican protestors’ motives and felt that by using Venezuelan flags, they were posing as Venezuelans while defending Maduro’s government. 

Valero shares this opinion: “It would be very inconsistent of me, coming from a country where freedom of expression is not currently possible, to say these protests [by Mexicans] are wrong.” But she argued, “As a Venezuelan, I reject the fact that there are people of other nationalities who pretend to be Venezuelan, supporting something they don’t really know because they haven’t experienced it themselves.”

Hernández agreed. “We don’t understand why the Mexicans not only spoke, but also pretended to know more about the situation in Venezuela than we ourselves, who have suffered all these years.”

Contrary to these protests, following the capture of Maduro, some Venezuelans took to Mexico’s state capitals to celebrate.

Hernández herself was one of dozens of Venezuelans who gathered at Polanco’s Parque Lincoln in Mexico City. “What motivated me to join this gathering was to celebrate the beginning of the end of the dictatorship in Venezuela,” she explained.

Valero, on the other hand, noted that celebrations feel premature. “There are many families in Venezuela that are crying for their relatives,” she said, “and others cannot celebrate or raise their voices because they are not allowed to.” As the situation develops, for most people, joy and fear continue to exist side by side.

Vera Sistermans is a freelance journalist and security analyst based in Mexico City. Her work mostly focuses on Indigenous culture, violence and resilience.

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Of the 17 international routes launching through June 2026, 11 will connect to U.S. cities, five to Canadian cities, and one to Dublin, marking the first non-stop flight between Cancún and Ireland.

“We will continue to promote connectivity so that the Mexican Caribbean remains a world leader in tourism, said Mara Lezama, governor of Quintana Roo, Cancún’s state, in an announcement. “The transformation is moving forward.”

The confirmed routes include Oklahoma City–Cancún, operated by American Airlines from Dec. 6 to April 4; Toronto–Cancún and Hamilton–Cancun, operated by Porter Airlines since Dec. 12; and one from Cozumel to Calgary with WestJet from Dec. 20 until April 11. 

As of Jan. 6, Aer Lingus will start operating the route to Dublin. 

Breeze Airways will launch its Cancún–Charleston and Cancún–Norfolk routes this month, and its Cancún–New Orleans and Cancún–Providence routes in February. 

Air Transat will connect Cancún with Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and Fredericton, New Brunswick, both starting in February, while Southwest will inaugurate its Las Vegas–Cancún route on June 4. Sun Country Airlines will operate the Tulsa–Cancún route starting May 21, while Frontier Airlines will launch its Charlotte–Cancún, Chicago Midway–Cancún, and Raleigh-Durham–Cancún routes in March.

The Saltillo-Cancún national route will be operated by Viva Aerobus starting March 29.

Lezama noted that each new air connection represents more visitors, more jobs, and greater well-being for Quintana Roo families, and reiterated that she will continue working to ensure that shared prosperity reaches everyone in the state. 

While Cancún International Airport remains one of Mexico’s busiest airports, it didn’t perform as expected in 2025. Francisco Madrid Flores, head of the Center for Advanced Research in Sustainable Tourism (STARC) at Anáhuac University Cancún, said that the year showed irregular behavior, especially in the international market, due to “a lack of a sufficient supply of seats on routes to the Caribbean.”

However, the industry is beginning to show a sustained recovery with encouraging projections for 2026, in part due to the new announced routes, Madrid said. 

With reports from EFE

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Merida Fest 2026

Merida Fest is huge, celebrating the founding of Merida! Two weeks of fun activities for the whole family. It takes place throughout Merida city. In parks, along the street like Paseo Montejo, in the Cultural Center, and the Municipal Palace, so be sure to check the program. There’s musical groups, folkloric groups, International artists, concerts spread out in 39 venues, with more than 165 shows and 600 artists of dance, literature, visual arts, theater, and music.

Date: January 5-18

Location: Merida

Cost: Free, though some events may charge. See the full program here.

Tai Chi in the park

I’m tempted to catch the ferry across to Playa del Carmen for this. Tai Chi is a wonderful way to relax, move your body, and revitalize your mind. Healthful for every age, body type, and fitness level, enjoy the almost meditation experience, breathing, and gentle movement for your body in a natural setting. 

Date: 7 January, 9 a.m.

Location: Parque La Ceiba, Playa del Carmen

Cost: Free

Out of the Blue Music Festival

Out of the Blue attracts hundreds of music lovers who come back year after year. So much so, they offer discounts for returning visitors. More than just music, this festival is full of amazing food, pool parties, fun in the sun, water activities. There’s even a cooking class! Friendships are formed and great music serenades you al day and night.  

Date: 8-11 January

Location: Riviera Cancun, Cancun

Cost: Depending on package

Fire – K’AAK Vitality Ritual

Whether you choose the singles massage using traditional Mexican wellness practices. Or the couples massage experience with a reconnecting love ceremony, I love that they are using traditional methods handed down from generation to generation. With herbs to help heal your body in an oceanside treatment deck, so you can relax to the sound of the waves. Choose your 90-minute or 120-minute option when booking. 

Date: 8 January

Location: AZULIK Tulum

Cost: 333 pesos for singles, 889 pesos for couples

Clay Rebirth Ritual

If you’re like me and would prefer smaller, private healing ceremonies (up to 6 people), then this one is for you. Start your new year with a healing ritual of clay, sound and dance. Inspired by the turtle, guardian of the Maya, it helps shed what no longer serves, cleanse both body and spirit, reconnect with the earth and be reborn. 

Date: 10 January

Location: Tulum 

Cost: 5,000 pesos

Annual shoe giveaway

Here’s something different, and a fun event to volunteer at. Isla Mujeres has an annual shoe giveaway, supplying shoes to over 600 children. If you’d like to join in and feel your heart swell surrounded by little smiling faces, then head to Isla Mujeres for a day trip or stay a night or two and enjoy the island. 

Date: 10 January, 12 p.m.

Location: Isla Mujeres

Cost: Free

Movies in the park

Is there anything better than free movies in the park? I love to pack a picnic and sit under the stars watching movies. Especially in the Riviera Maya with their mild nights and clear skies. So come join us, relax and don’t forget your blanket and picnic basket! 

Date: 14 January

Location: Parque La Ceiba, Playa del Carmen

Cost: Free

Candlelight tribute to José José

If I weren’t traveling, I’d have front row seats to this one. Imagine the magic of musicians surrounded by a sea of candles. Add in the romance of the violin and cellos, and I’m in music lovers’ heaven. Just give me a glass of wine (or two), and this is my perfect night. Be sure to get there early to get the best seats, as it’s first come, first served. 

Wheelchair access is only available to the ground floor. The venue has its own parking lot for an additional fee.

Date: 16 January, 9 p.m.

Location: Stoa Auditorium, Cancun

Cost: From 350 pesos

Quebecean Blues and Rock

Calling all Canadians and blues lovers. Quebec is coming to Playa del Carmen for a night of chill blues under the Caribbean stars. Join Hugo Lapointe, Carl Tremblay, and Ritchy Lemay for an authentic, vibrant show under the stars which boasts 100% Quebec vibes. 

Date: 20 January, 8 p.m.- 11 p.m.

Location: Hotel Boutique Caché Rooftop – Playa del Carmen

Cost: 500 pesos

Hip Hop boat party

For an epic Cancun memory, join Rock Star Crawls for their party boat, voted #1 for eight years running. A day of top DJs, sweet Hip Hop and R&B beats, dancing, swimming, snorkelling, water activities, an open bar, and snacks, all while cruising through the Mexican Caribbean. There’s even a champagne shower!  You’ll receive fun photos of the day too. 

Date: 27 January, 12-3 p.m.

Location: Caribbean Carnival, Cancun.

Cost: US $102

Mexico Correspondent for International Living, Bel is an experienced writer, author, photographer and videographer with 500+ articles published both in print and across digital platforms. Living in the Mexican Caribbean for over 7 years now, she’s in love with Mexico and has no plans to go anywhere anytime soon.

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Here are the ten cultural moments that had foreigners and locals alike saying, “wait, what?”

1. Emilia Pérez: The musical that broke the internet (and many hearts)

Nothing says “international incident” quite like a French musical comedy about a Mexican drug lord’s gender transition that then swept the Golden Globes. Director Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Pérez won Best Picture (Musical or Comedy) and Best Non-English Language Film in January, but the celebration was muted in Mexico, to put it mildly.

‘Emilia Pérez’ is the most insensitive film I’ve seen in years

The film tells the story of a cartel boss who transitions and then creates a nonprofit to search for bodies of the disappeared — a premise that felt, to many Mexicans, like turning their country’s most painful crisis into entertainment. With over 121,000 people officially missing due to forced disappearance, the subject matter hits close to home. Critics argued that making the perpetrator of violence the hero was tone-deaf at best, insulting at worst.

Audiard issued an apology at the film’s Mexican premiere, admitting he may have approached the topic too lightly. Meanwhile, Mexicans online weren’t having it, and some even requested a refund after watching it in theaters.

2. Gulf of what now?

When Donald Trump announced his intention to rename the Gulf of Mexico “the Gulf of America” in January, President Claudia Sheinbaum had the perfect response: a history lesson with receipts.

Standing before an 1814 map at her morning press conference, Sheinbaum suggested that if Trump wanted to get into renaming games, perhaps the United States should be called “Mexican America” — a reference to how the Constitution of Apatzingán once referred to what’s now the U.S. Southwest. “It sounds nice, right?” she said with a smile that launched a thousand memes.

3. Oaxaca’s designs get appropriated (again)

For Oaxacan artisans, 2025 was another exhausting year of playing whack-a-mole with international brands that think Indigenous designs are free real estate. Multiple U.S. companies found themselves in hot water for appropriating traditional Oaxacan patterns without credit or compensation.

The backlash intensified when Adidas launched its Oaxaca Slip-On sandal in August, which takes inspiration from the huarache craftsmanship of the community of Villa Hidalgo Yalalág.

State authorities in Oaxaca and federal officials in Mexico City condemned Adidas for what they call cultural appropriation of the traditional Mexican sandals, calling for an immediate halt to sales.

In a statement, Adidas responded by saying it “recognizes and values the cultural richness of Mexico’s Indigenous communities and the meaning of their artisanal heritage,” and expressed willingness to work with local authorities on “restitution to the people who were plagiarized.”

4. Narcocorridos get the boot

The year saw an unprecedented crackdown on narcocorridos — the ballads that romanticize cartel life — with multiple Mexican states banning the genre at public events and some radio stations.

The move sparked fierce debate about censorship versus public safety, with authorities arguing the songs glorify violence while defenders claimed they’re just documenting reality.

The controversy reached peak absurdity when Los Alegres del Barranco, a popular narcocorrido group, had their U.S. visas revoked mid-tour over their lyrical content.

5. From street sweeper to NPR star: The artistic arc of Macario Martínez

Sometimes the internet gets it right. In February, Mexico City street sweeper Macario Martínez posted a TikTok in his work uniform with his song “Sueña Lindo, Corazón” playing in the background. Within 48 hours, the video had millions of views. By October, he was performing on NPR’s legendary Tiny Desk Concert series.

The 23-year-old’s story is the kind of feel-good narrative that reminds you why we’re all addicted to our phones. His indie-folk sound — complete with traditional instruments like the jarana jarocha and quijada de burro (yes, an actual donkey jawbone) — captured something genuine about longing and dreams that resonated across borders.

He’s since quit his sanitation job to focus on music full-time.

6. Shakira sings for 2 weeks straight in Mexico City

The Colombian superstar sold over 1 million tickets for her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour stops in the capital, setting a record for concert attendance in Mexico.

Her 12-date residency at GNP Seguros Stadium (formerly Foro Sol) also highlighted Mexico City’s growing status as a must-play venue for international superstars — a city where artists know they’ll get the kind of reception that makes the logistics of mounting massive stadium shows worth the effort.

7. Fyre Festival 2 fizzles out

You’d think after the spectacular 2017 disaster, the words “Fyre Festival” would be permanently retired. You’d be wrong.

When Billy McFarland announced in February that Fyre Festival 2 would take place on Isla Mujeres, Mexican officials responded with a collective “¿qué?” — because apparently nobody had bothered to inform them.

Later, in March, the organizers said the festival would move to Playa del Carmen. By mid-April, the festival — which was scheduled to take place from May 30 to June 2 — was inevitably postponed.

Fyre Festival 2 abandons Playa del Carmen plans

8. Gentrification goes from simmer to boil

The simmering tensions over gentrification in Mexico City neighborhoods like Condesa and Roma finally exploded in July when hundreds of protesters marched through the streets with signs reading “You’re not an expat, you’re an invader” and chanting “Gringos go home!”

The protest highlighted issues that had been building for years: skyrocketing rents, the conversion of residential buildings into Airbnbs, the displacement of long-time residents and the transformation of neighborhood shops into businesses catering exclusively to foreigners.

While most protesters demonstrated peacefully, a small group vandalized businesses, an optic that permeated the international newsfeed and led many to wonder if CDMX was still welcoming to tourists. Multiple MND articles explored whether rent control could help and presented alternative perspectives on the complex issue.

9. Sheinbaum, the trending topic

Mexico’s first woman president wasn’t just making headlines at home. Claudia Sheinbaum earned a spot on Time’s 100 Most Influential People list, was named by Forbes as one of the world’s most powerful women and even made the New York Times’ most stylish list for 2025.

The international recognition marked a shift in how Mexico’s leadership is perceived globally. Sheinbaum’s combination of scientific credentials (she has a PhD in energy engineering), progressive policies and diplomatic savvy made her a figure of international interest beyond typical political coverage.

10. When a baker got roasted

In December, British baker Richard Hart learned a valuable lesson about talking trash in your adopted country. The co-founder of Green Rhino bakery in Roma Norte called Mexican bread “ugly” on a Danish podcast, dismissed the country’s bread culture and criticized the quality of Mexican flour.

The backlash was swift and brutal. Mexicans — proud of their bolillos, pan dulce and the 600+ varieties of bread in their culinary tradition — were not here for some British guy with a James Beard Award dunking on their carbs. Social media erupted, with people pointing out that Hart’s bakery charges 165 pesos ($9.15) for a fancy sourdough loaf while traditional panaderías serve their communities at a fraction of the price.

Hart issued multiple apologies, promising to “listen more and speak less,” but the damage was done. The incident became a microcosm of larger gentrification frustrations, with Hart representing the foreign entrepreneurs who move to trendy neighborhoods, cater primarily to other foreigners, and then have the audacity to criticize local culture. The lesson? Don’t bite the bolillo that feeds you.

Mexico News Daily

This story was written by a Mexico News Daily staff editor with the assistance of Claude, then revised and fact-checked before publication.

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