These types of residences combine the exclusivity of recognized design brands — such as Armani, Nautica and Elie Saab, among others — with amenities and services equivalent to those of a five-star hotel. These properties are highly valued in the market and can fetch premiums of between 30% and 60% compared to non-branded developments.  

“The success of the branded residence model lies in achieving an optimal balance between a hotel with a globally prestigious brand, first-class residences with year-round hotel service, and a rental program that supports the investment of the parties,” Luis Ruiz, partner at Onirius Hospitality Advisors, told the news magazine Expansión.

These properties offer high-level services such as concierge, wellness experiences, specialized gastronomy and rental programs. 

Once concentrated in iconic luxury markets like Dubai and Miami, these types of residences now extend to other major cities worldwide. In Mexico, these cities include Mexico City, Los Cabos and beach destinations in Riviera Nayarit and the Mexican Caribbean.

Notably, Mexico is one of only two countries in Latin America (alongside Brazil) that are considered emerging powerhouses of branded residences. 

According to Ruiz, Mexico offers the ideal conditions for the sustained growth of this model, as it continues to see international demand, has an established tourism industry and is close to the United States. 

“The country offers unbeatable conditions for this type of development: connectivity, stable demand, and a consolidated offering of hotel brands that are now moving into the residential sector,” said Luis Ruiz, partner at Onirius.

With more than 50 projects in operation or development, Mexico is expected to exceed 50% growth in this real estate market by 2030, with the Caribbean as the main driver. The firm’s report revealed that the number of branded residences in the Riviera Maya is expected to grow a staggering 233% over the next five years. 

Mexico’s growth in branded residences is part of a global trend showing that the population of ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWI) is expected to increase by almost 30% by 2027.  

“High-net-worth buyers are no longer just looking for property. They’re investing in lifestyle, brand value and long-term growth,” Christopher Cina, Director of Sales at real estate agency Betterhomes, said. 

According to the luxury hotelier Four Seasons, “people now prioritize home offices, wellness areas and community-driven amenities. It also reinforces the importance of safety and thoughtful management.”

Leading the trend is Dubai, with a whopping 160% growth in these types of residences over the past 10 years, followed by Miami, New York and Phuket.

With reports from Real Estate Market, Obras Expansión and James Edition

The post Mexico is fourth-largest market for branded residences, with Riviera Maya to see major growth appeared first on Mexico News Daily

Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) director Zoé Robledo presented the preliminary results during President Claudia Sheinbaum’s daily press conference on Monday. 

“Of the 4 million public school children who have undergone [the screenings], 18 percent are obese,” President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Monday. “And if we consider both overweight and obesity, the number rises to nearly 37 percent.”

Robledo said that 1,986,117 of the children screened between March and July as part of the government’s Healthy Living (Vida Saludable) program have received referrals for free medical attention.

The study found that more than half of the school-age children in three states — Campeche (56%), Quintana Roo (52%) and Tabasco (51%) — were either overweight or obese.

The study also found that the problem increased with age. While 33% of first-graders were assessed as overweight, the prevalence for sixth-graders was found to be 45%.

Additional results showed that 55% of the children screened had cavities and 35% had impaired vision.

The objective of the government’s program, Sheinbaum said, is to assess students’ health, offer referrals to clinics for checkups as needed and to promote a healthy lifestyle, featuring a nutritious diet and exercise.

“The program is very important because, in the end, it’s not just about providing healthcare when someone gets sick, but about prevention, about being able to build a healthy life,” she said.

The program is being managed by IMSS and the Education Ministry.

A Gringa’s take on the Mexican childhood obesity crisis

Four million schoolchildren underwent health screenings in the final months of the school year that ended in July. The screenings will continue during the upcoming school year until 12 million children have been evaluated.

“Our goal is to help families and teachers demonstrate how to eat right, how to exercise properly in order to lead a healthy life,” the president said, adding that the nationwide ban on junk food at public and private schools is a key part of this strategy.

The junk food ban, approved last year, went into effect on March 31.

Schools were required to phase out food and beverages displaying one or more black warning logos identifying the product as high in salt, sugar, calories or fat. These banned items include donuts, carbonated drinks, French fries, chips and snacks, candy, ice cream and flavored milk.

School administrators who violate the ban risk fines of up to 5,450 pesos (US $290).

With reports from La Jornada Maya, Excelsior and El Universal

The post More than one-third of Mexico’s schoolchildren are overweight or obese appeared first on Mexico News Daily

Cancún is hosting Mexico’s second largest Guelaguetza festival while Isla Mujeres is having a monthlong birthday party. So make the most of the last days of summer, and get out and about for these events in the Riviera Maya and Yucatán!

Oceanman Cozumel

Come cheer me on — yes, that’s right, I’m entered in Oceanman! This 10-kilometer open-swimming race is a fun activity that fills up fast with swimmers arriving on Cozumel from all over the world. Offering great beaches, awesome food at the beach club and, of course, the exciting atmosphere of an Oceanman event. All with gorgeous Caribbean views!

Dates: Aug. 1–3
Location: Playa Palancar Beach Club, Cozumel
Cost: free to attend, entries now closed 

Oaxaca festival in Cancún

I would be heading to Cancún for this festival if I weren’t going to be in Cozumel swimming in Oceanman. The Guelaguetza, one of Mexico’s most iconic cultural celebrations, will be celebrated in Cancún in August. 

With its vibrant offerings of Oaxacan folklore, music, dance and cuisine, this is an opportunity to feel like you’re visiting Oaxaca, with over 80 artists. Pooches are welcome too. In fact, they encourage you to dress your dog in honor of Oaxaca’s famous Guelaguetza dancing dog, Mazapán! Fun for the whole family. 

Dates: August 1–3
Location: Parque de las Palapas. See here for more details about events.
Cost: Free

Founding of Isla Mujeres celebrations

Feliz Cumpleaños Isla Mujeres! Celebrate its 175th birthday this August with a monthlong lineup of activities — everything from art, dancing and lucha libre to gastronomy and concerts. And, naturally, plenty of processions. There’s something going on all the time during the first two weeks of August.

But August 17 is the focal point, when Isla Mujeres officially honors its birthday with ceremonies and concerts. There is also the big Descent of the Virgin procession on August 5. 

Dates: August 1–17
Location: various places on Isla Mujeres. See the full schedule here
Cost: Free

National Bee Day in Coba

Explore a Maya relationship dating back thousands of years — between man and the Melipona, a tiny stingless bee found in the quiet jungle village of Cobá. Taking place in Coba’s cultural center, this free event will teach you about the sacred Mayan practice of meliponiculture and its delicious offerings.

Try local honey-based recipes, and attend a cooking contest highlighting dishes, drinks and desserts sweetened with it. Kids, there’s also a drawing competition to express the ecological importance of bees. 

Dates: Aug. 9, 2 p.m.
Location: Casa de la Cultura, Cobá, outside Tulum
Cost: Free

Pirate Scavenger Hunt

Grab friends and family and explore Playa del Carmen on a scavenger hunt. Fun for all ages, this event allows you to take as long as you want and see sites from ancient Mayan ruins to colorful local markets. Included are iconic local spots such as the Portal Maya, Parque Leona Vicario and the Palacio Municipal Bell Tower. Don’t forget your camera, there are points for the best photo, and it’s a great way to see Playa. 

Dates: Multiple; check available dates and buy tickets here
Location: Playa del Carmen
Cost: 280 pesos or US $14.99 

Cancún’s Beach Festival

It’s fun in the sun as each August, Cancún celebrates its beautiful beaches with La Fiesta de la Playa. I can’t blame them, sugary-white-sand beaches are worth celebrating. 

You’ll find beach parties going on all along the hotel zone with live music, great food and lots of cocktail options available. Most hotels sell a day pass with all-inclusive food and drink so that you can party the day away. Just choose which place takes your fancy and grab your bikini!

Dates: August 11–13
Location: Various hotels and beach clubs in Cancun’s hotel zone
Cost: Free entertainment, optional day pass options to all-inclusives at varying costs

Tulum Lobster Festival 2025

Seafood lovers, grab your bibs. It’s time to enjoy the flavor of local langosta at this year’s lobster festival. Open to all, it’s a celebration of the Caribbean’s spiny lobster, presented every way possible.

From rustic wood-fire cooking to elegant professional presentations, there will be cooking demonstrations, competitions and much more starting in the afternoons, showcasing the region’s culinary and cultural identity.

Pro tip: If you attend the Punta Allen events, be aware that this small, unspoiled fishing village has no banks or ATMs. Bring sufficient cash since most places in Punta Allen don’t accept electronic payments.

Dates: Aug. 15–17
Location: At Tulum’s Municipal Palace esplanade on Aug. 15, and in Punta Allen Aug. 16–17
Cost: Free to enter 

Last Dance of Summer

I’ve lived in this region for eight years, and dancing the night away is a perfect end to summer. So, head to Isla Mujeres’ Bahía del Rey beach club and make memories dancing to live acts — including local Afro-House electronica artist made good Katia Crown, now based in Miami — all in front of gorgeous ocean views!

This is a time of fewer tourists, warm waters and clear nights under the stars — the perfect time to enjoy with hot tunes and cold drinks. 

Dates: Aug. 16, 3 pm–midnight
Location: Bahia del Rey beach club, Avenida Rueda Medina, Bahía, Isla Mujeres
Cost: 432 pesos

Frida Kahlo Experience

Open to all ages, I’ve got this one earmarked next time I’m in Tulum. Not just because I love Frida Kahlo, but because it’s an immersive guided tour that requires you to “open your eyes, ears, and nose,” which I am curious about. What is there to smell? 

You just can’t beat a good sensory experience in my book! 

Dates: Aug. 20, 3 p.m.
Location: Frida Kahlo Museum, Crucero de las Ruinas de Tulum, Tulum
Cost: Foreign adults: 400 pesos; Mexican adults: 300 pesos; Q.Roo residents with I.D.: 200 pesos

Get Lost in Art…Literally!

I adore art and am officially putting this on the “fun things to do in Playa del Carmen” list. The 3D Museum of Wonders is fun no matter your age. Your guide will take photos, so there’ll be fun keepsakes like this to keep for free.

In these illusions, I got trapped in a bubble, played ballerina on top of a giant cake, stood on a rock pinnacle in the Grand Canyon, broke into a bank vault, drank wine poured by a god and much more! 

Dates: Any day between 8 a.m.—10 p.m.
Location: 10 Avenida between 8th and 10th street, Playa del Carmen.
Cost: Adults 700 pesos, kids 600 pesos

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

The post What’s on in the Riviera Maya in August? appeared first on Mexico News Daily

The suspension was announced last week by Muelles del Caribe, the company in charge of the project, after lengthy discussions with the federal Environment Ministry (Semarnat) and state authorities.

Ayer tuvimos el privilegio de bucear en el área en donde pretenden construir el cuarto muelle en la isla de Cozumel.

Habíamos dado una leída al manifiesto de impacto ambiental y nos imaginamos un arenal con uno que otro ejemplar y ya.

La MIA de este proyecto es una colección… pic.twitter.com/8OygIo1aWL

— Guillermo DChristy (@gchristy65) June 15, 2025

The new dock was originally approved by Semarnat in December 2021 and the ministry issued a concession title in January 2022, but the project has faced increasing opposition ever since.

Especially vocal were activists and local tourism operators who claimed the dock would damage the Villa Blanca coral reef located just outside the island’s national marine park.

Greenpeace called the project “the continuation of a massive, predatory tourism model driven by a handful of private interests that devours nature and excludes the local population.”

Emergency responders also voiced concern, saying the pier project — which would occupy 59,000 square meters of federal maritime zone — would obstruct Coast Guard routes and potentially inhibit rescue missions in southern waters.

In June, Semarnat agreed to undertake a new environmental impact study with a particular focus on the reef and the rights of the local population to a healthy environment.

Construction on the dock — which would have been Cozumel’s fourth pier for cruise ships — had not yet begun as Muelles de Caribe was awaiting the issuance of municipal permits.

In a statement, the company said it had agreed to “a suspension” of the project.

“This determination reflects our firm commitment to social, environmental and corporate responsibility, and reaffirms our dedication to the sustainable economic development of the island of Cozumel and the state of Quintana Roo,” the company said in a press release.

However, on July 17, Cozumel Mayor José Luis Chacón said City Hall would not approve the new pier, adding that he had sent a letter to federal officials stating just that. 

Even without a new pier, activists worry about Cozumel being “over-touristed.” 

According to Cozumel authorities, in 2023, nearly 8.8 million people arrived on the island, which is home to roughly 110,000 people. In mid-April, officials were expecting upward of 80,000 tourists during Easter Week alone.

The proposed pier consists of an L-shaped dock covering 1.16 hectares with capacity for 362 meter-long ships. The project also features a terminal building for passenger boarding and disembarking and a road linking the dock to downtown Cozumel.

With reports from El Economista, Riviera Maya News, Greenpeace and Opportimes

The post Cozumel cruise ship dock indefinitely postponed amid environmental concerns appeared first on Mexico News Daily

“It will be two years of construction, in 2025 and 2026,” stated Sheinbaum at her Wednesday press conference. “We hope to be inaugurating at the end of 2026.”

During the press conference, General Gustavo Ricardo Vallejo Suárez, director of the Felipe Ángeles Engineering Contingent, discussed the progress of the freight project.

The Maya Train’s passenger service has been wholly operational since July 7, with 34 stations across the Yucatan covering 1,554 kilometers. Meanwhile, work on a Maya Train freight network commenced in April and is expected to be completed by November next year.

The freight network will include four main transfer terminals: Palenque, Poxilá, Progreso and Cancún.

Military engineers plan to rehabilitate 70 kilometers of railway, starting in the city of Mérida, to connect local industry with the existing Maya Tren railway line. The line will then be extended to Yucatán’s main port of Progreso to facilitate cargo transportation.

The military is developing the Progreso Multimodal Cargo Terminal in collaboration with port authorities, the state government and the Maya Train group, to prepare to launch operations in late 2026, Vallejo said.

The Maya Train  will eventually connect with the national railway network, he said, allowing for freight to move from Mexico’s northern borders to Chetumal and Cancún in the south.

The government aims to expand the railway network to the Nogales, Sonora, on the northern border by the end of Sheinbaum’s six-year term in office, in 2030.

The team is also working with the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) to excavate archaeological relics encountered along the route.

Vallejo stressed the importance of environmental protection, saying his team plans to relocate tree and wildlife species to protected natural areas.

“It is complicated in terms of its topography,” said Vallejo. “Every day, we move more than 15,000 cubic meters of materials.”

Vallejo said the resources, permits, personnel and machinery are ready to commence works across the freight network. Project progress stands at approximately 5%, he said, with greater progress expected once the INAH completes its preservation work.

Mexico News Daily

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Profepa plans to charge the Mennonite groups with unauthorized land-use over the seven properties in the states of Yucatán, Campeche, and Quintana Roo where inspectors discovered the removal of trees and other vegetation.

Por el desmonte ilegal de 39.6 hectáreas de selva, en Tekax, Yucatán, la Profepa clausuró un predio que ya tenía camino nivelado y una superficie aplanada con maquinaria pesada.

Todas las actividades de cambio de uso de suelo fueron detenidas y estamos trabajando en el… pic.twitter.com/6EIwTE7xsf

— PROFEPA (@PROFEPA_Mx) July 7, 2025

The authorities closed off the properties in late June after Profepa’s May 28-June 14 investigation revealed the extent of the damage.

Profepa’s Office of Natural Resources Litigation and Environmental Justice and the Special Prosecutor’s Office for Environmental Crimes (FEIDA) in the Federal Attorney General’s Office (FGR) are taking the lead in the criminal case.

“[The lead agencies] have already filed two criminal complaints related to the violations identified,” Profepa told the newspaper El Economista, adding that five more cases will be filed.

If found guilty of violating land-use regulations and destroying flora in natural protected areas, the defendants could be sentenced to prison and/or have their property confiscated.

Three of the seven properties identified are in Quintana Roo, totaling 1,300 hectares, two are in Campeche (702 ha) and two are in Yucatán (606.4 ha), and all are within a region where Mennonite populations have been expanding. The Mennonites, an Anabaptist Christian community that dates back to the 16th-century Reformation, has had a presence in Mexico since the 1920s, mostly in the state of Chihuahua.

The inspections found that the Mennonite communities had clear-cut several native jungle trees and other plants listed as native species at risk, including mahogany, Thrinax radiata (Florida thatch palm) and Zumaia loddigesii (a species of orchid). Additionally, Profepa seized 108.5 square meters of round and square timber.

Del 28 de mayo al 14 de junio, inspectores de la Profepa realizaron operativos intensivos en predios forestales ubicados en Campeche, Yucatán y Quintana Roo, lo que derivó en la clausura de 7 predios por la remoción de vegetación y el cambio de uso de suelo en terrenos… pic.twitter.com/nXfmCkJn9B

— PROFEPA (@PROFEPA_Mx) June 30, 2025

“The Mennonites in Yucatán are genuinely a very serious environmental problem,” Environment Minister Alicia Bárcena said last month, adding that some members of the group had brandished weapons in an attempt to prevent the authorities from inspecting their properties.

In addition to the damage to the flora, environmental activists complained that the clear-cutting and the Mennonites’ heavy use of pesticides has caused a massive die-off of bees in the Yucatán Peninsula.

This prompted the Environment Ministry (Semarnat) to establish a program with local Indigenous communities and apiarists to protect the bee communities in the region, the Diario de Yucatán reported.

Óscar Rébora, the Quintana Roo environment minister, told El Economista that his office is working with Profepa with regard to an eighth property.

“We’re looking for a strategy to evict [the Mennonites] and restore the damaged properties,” he said.

However, restoration efforts might not work since the pesticides the Mennonites are using are very harsh on the soil, Rébora said.

Bárcena also criticized the groups for their excessive use of pesticides, though she admitted the pesticides are not illegal. “But they ought to be,” she said.

With reports from El Economista, Aristegui Noticias and Diario de Yucatán

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Visiting again a couple of months ago, every meal I had in Bacalar’s restaurants were outstanding. I’ve always enjoyed the restaurants here, but this time I was seriously impressed, from delicious gourmet tlacoyos for breakfast to the best empanadas of my life for dinner. I’m still dreaming about the mint chip ice cream, the creamiest and most delicious I’ve had anywhere.

The food was good before, but it wasn’t like this. What’s changed?

An upgraded culinary scene

There’s no denying Bacalar has grown quite a lot over the last few years. Prices have gone up accordingly, and new restaurants have opened, so there’s more competition. Both local and international talented chefs — some classically trained, others trained in Michelin-star kitchens — are now calling Bacalar home.

So, is it any wonder we noticed the culinary scene has upgraded substantially? But the best thing is that the prices are still affordable. Colleen, the friend who accompanied me, was  visiting from Vermont, in the United States, and remarked that our meals were was half the price of what she’d expect to pay at home. 

Bacalar is still affordable. Unlike some of the bigger and more touristy areas in the Riviera Maya where they’re getting close to U.S. prices, Bacalar is delivering excellent food for a good price. 

What’s on the menu?  

In Bacalar, you’ll find the best flavors Mexico has to offer. From traditional pre-Columbian ingredients to fresh seafood, it seems everything is on offer. 

There’s a Japanese sushi bar. Vegan restaurants that even carnivores love. Plus a couple of hotels,  Boca de Agua and Casa Hormiga have been recognized with a Michelin Key from the Michelin Guide. So now you can see why we were impressed on our visit. Things have leveled up since my last visit. 

But don’t worry; there’s still the fresh seafood shacks on the lake. And the local taco stands and places where locals meet for a beer. That’s the great thing. There’s something for everyone at Bacalar, and every budget. You don’t have to spend a fortune for a great meal. 

Finding the right location

I’m a sucker for a view, so we headed along the waterfront for a great meal on our last night. We wanted a nice place to relax, enjoy a meal and have a glass of wine or two facing the magical blue waters of Lake Bacalar.

The lake is also called the Lagoon of Seven Colors, or the Maldives of Mexico, for a reason. There are seven shades of blue, from the sky blues and shining turquoise of the shallower water to the vibrant cobalt and azure of slightly deeper water through to the rich deep sapphire showing the depths of the Blue Cenote near shore. It’s a feast for your eyes. 

Waterfront dining was a must. Dawdling along, we came to La Playita, one of Bacalar’s  most popular restaurants, for good reason. I just love a place with hammocks that you can relax in after dinner while listening to music. 

Dinner on Lake Bacalar: A meal with a view

The only thing Colleen wanted when she got off the plane was ceviche. It was one of the first things she said to me: “I don’t care where we eat but I want good ceviche on this trip.” 

My friend got her ceviche, and I’m pretty sure she’s still smiling. Freshly caught fish, octopus and shrimp made up the dish, and she was one happy lady. That was followed by the catch of the day, mahi mahi. It was a sensational seafood dinner with amazing view. 

I’ve been a vegetarian for over a decade, and I was delighted with La Playita’s veggie options. 

For starters, cheese and spinach empanadas.  I’ve enjoyed empanadas here in Mexico, in Guatemala, Belize, Nicaragua and Honduras. So you can believe me when I say they’re the best I’ve ever had.

As a main, it was hard to go past the buffalo cauliflower bites. These delicious, melt-in-your-mouth morsels were crumbed, fried and served with two dipping sauces. They were so good that my friend stopped her seafood smorgasbord to dive in as well. We both agreed that they were amazing. 

The takeaway on Bacalar restaurants

No matter your budget, food philosophy, dining preference or restrictions, there is amazing food waiting for you in Bacalar. On many a menu, there were gluten-free, dairy-free vegetarian and vegan restaurants. And, as I said earlier, the best mint chip ice cream I’ve ever had was at Heladería Annie Delicias on the central square. 

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

The post Is Bacalar a foodie destination now? appeared first on Mexico News Daily

According to the government’s monthly National Security Strategy report, the National Guard took a man into custody after a customs luggage scan found the substance concealed inside plastic bottles. 

Ketamine, a psychotropic substance, is legal in Mexico for medicinal purposes if prescribed by a physician, but it is considered a controlled substance and illegal possession carries a four- to seven-year sentence.

The suspect, who appears to be in his mid-30s, had not been identified, nor had his nationality been made public as of Thursday, according to the newspaper Riviera Maya News. The authorities also declined to reveal the origin of the flight on which the man arrived in Cancún.

Official reports indicate 2 kilograms of ketamine were confiscated.

Other recent drug seizures in Mexico

The National Security Strategy report shared details of several other recent drug busts. They include:

• A joint operation carried out by the Defense Ministry, the National Guard and the Federal Attorney General’s Office (FGR) in Chihuahua netted the arrest of three men found in possession of weapons, cartridges and 950 grams of methamphetamine.
• Marines raided a residence in the Gustavo  A. Madero borough of Mexico City and apprehended three men, while also seizing weapons and drugs.
• The Naval Ministry seized nearly 560 kilos of cocaine and 685 liters of contraband fuel off the coast of Oaxaca.
• Operations in the states of Jalisco, Michoacán, Sonora and Sinaloa resulted in 11 total arrests and the seizure of three long guns, 180 cartridges, three chargers, 18 IEDs (improvised explosive devices), three illegal slot machines, four vehicles and more than 120 kilos of methamphetamine.

With reports from Milenio, Infobae and Riviera Maya News

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The investment will go toward strengthening Bimbo’s infrastructure, according to José Manuel González, president and director general of Bimbo México, who made the announcement during President Claudia Sheinbaum’s morning press conference.

¿Sabías que? Grupo Bimbo es dueño de todas estas marcas. pic.twitter.com/KNZ4XxgrBG

— Cerebros (@CerebrosG) May 16, 2022

The seven states that will benefit are Baja California, Yucatán, Nuevo León, Querétaro, Puebla, México state and Mexico City (which is a federal entity with legal standing similar to a state).

González said that in addition to the 2,000 direct jobs, the funding could result in an additional 10,800 indirect jobs. Since its founding in December 1945, Bimbo has created 80,000 jobs in Mexico, with another 460,000 jobs linked indirectly to the breadmaker’s operations.

“We will be celebrating our 80th anniversary this year,” González said, “and we have learned that when Mexicans work together we always make progress.”

González said the investment’s primary objectives are to increase productive and technological capacity, while also improving Bimbo’s research and development divisions.

The funds will boost the company’s sustainability model by modernizing its fleet of electric delivery vehicles and by creating more environmentally friendly packaging for its products. At least 30 factories will be modernized as well.

The Bimbo executive said the development project dovetails with Sheinbaum’s ambitious Plan México, which aims to align private investment with social development and sustainability as it reduces imports and boosts domestic production.

Sheinbaum applauded the Bimbo announcement, saying the investment demonstrates “confidence in our country among national and foreign businesspeople.”

“This is extremely important because it provides certainty for investors and serves to attract other domestic and foreign investments,” Sheinbaum said.

Bimbo will continue to work closely with Mexican farmers, González said. The breadmaker currently acquires 97% of the ingredients needed for its products from domestic sources.

“This investment demonstrates Bimbo’s commitment to the well-being of [Mexico’s] progress,” González said, adding that the company will continue to support government initiatives such as the anti-inflation package aimed at alleviating the prices of consumer goods and the Water Security and Sustainability Agreement.

When asked about the possible effects of U.S. tariffs on Mexican imports that are set to go into effect on August 1, González said he expects the impact will be minimal.

“We don’t believe we will be affected if tariffs are imposed,” González said. 

Bimbo has been exporting its products to the United States for more than 20 years. The U.S. and Canada are Grupo Bimbo’s primary export markets, accounting for nearly 50% of its sales.

By a sad coincidence, the announcement came on the same day of the passing at age 97 of  Bimbo co-founder Roberto Servitje, a key contributor to the company’s growth over the decades.

With reports from El Economista, Forbes, La Jornada and Expansión

The post Bimbo announces US $2 billion investment in 7 Mexican states appeared first on Mexico News Daily

A stunning indication of the current crisis — as well as of the locals’ heroism — took place in Isla Mujeres. Between Sunday night and Monday morning, 140 tonnes of the algae came ashore. In other words, in some 12 hours, the island received an amount of sargassum equivalent to 10% of what it had received in the previous three and a half months.

¡Continuamos trabajando en la limpieza de playas y retiro de sargazo!

Agradezco al personal de todas las áreas del Ayuntamiento, quienes se sumaron a la gran labor que realizan nuestras guerreras y guerreros de #Zofemat, para mantener nuestras playas limpias y ordenadas. pic.twitter.com/M1AmvLPG3T

— Atenea Gómez Ricalde (@soyateneadeisla) July 16, 2025

By 5 a.m. on Monday morning, response teams consisting of municipal workers, tourism service providers, Civil Protection personnel, Federal Maritime Terrestrial Zone (Zofemat) staff, firefighters, the Navy, taxi drivers and other civilians were working together to free the town’s coastline of sargassum.

After approximately four hours, the beach was clean.

Esteban Amaro, head of the Sargassum Monitoring Center, which issues red alerts, said that although there are no exact figures on the amount of sargassum arriving, the patches of algae are coming in bands, one after another, spanning from Punta Allen to Bahía Príncipe, in Tulum.

Amaro noted that the most critical areas are in the southern part of the state, particularly in Xcalak and Mahahual, where the algae enter the Mexican Caribbean, passing through Banco Chinchorro.

He added that the most critical recent sargassum cycles have lasted three to four years. The first massive grounding was in 2015, followed by one in 2018, another in 2022 and now this one in 2025, “which has been the most tremendous on record,” Amaro said. 

Experts had predicted that July would be the peak sargassum period this year. Indeed, the situation has become so critical this month that nearly all beaches from the northern part of Tulum to the southern coast of Playa del Carmen, as well as the eastern part of Cozumel, are on red alert for the seaweed.

¡Redoblamos esfuerzos por unas playas limpias y un mar saludable!
En el marco de la Estrategia de Atención al #Sargazo2025, la Secretaría de Marina continúa trabajando para proteger el litoral de #QuintanaRoo, desplegando:

1 Buque Sargacero Oceánico
11 Buques… pic.twitter.com/hmVpYNzY3P

— SEMAR México (@SEMAR_mx) July 13, 2025

On its official X account, the Navy said it has deployed in its sargassum control efforts an ocean vessel, 11 coastal vessels and 22 smaller support vessels, as well as 8,850 meters of containment barriers and 400 naval personnel along the beaches of Quintana Roo. 

Dayana Pérez Medina, director of Zofemat, explained that these types of accumulations are not constant and do not affect all beaches, but when they occur, clean-up efforts are immediately activated, as the Isla Mujeres case confirms.  

Sargassum is notorious for its negative effects on ecosystems, tourism and public health. It has indirect consequences for human health when it decomposes, releasing ammonia, methane and sulfuric acid. When it rots, it creates a sludge called “brown tide,” which reduces sunlight penetration and lowers oxygen levels in the water.

In early July, Governor Mara Lezama announced the creation of a new facility to monitor and manage sargassum along Mexico’s Caribbean coast, and eventually convert it to biofuel. Lezama expects the new project to promote new sustainable industries, create jobs and reduce the environmental impact of the sargassum. 

With reports from La Jornada and Quintana Roo Quadrantín

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