World Press Photo 2025

The world’s leading international photojournalism competition returns once again to its home venue, the Franz Mayer Museum. For the 68th edition, the awarded photographers from around the globe were tasked with addressing several political, cultural, and climate-related conflicts. Out of roughly 59,320 documentary photographs, only 42 works were selected this year.

Date: Aug. 1 to Sept. 28
Location: Franz Mayer Museum. Av. Hidalgo 45, Centro, Cuauhtémoc.
Cost: 100 pesos for adults; 60 pesos for students, teachers and seniors

Gabriel Orozco: Politécnico Nacional

For the first time in almost 20 years, the Jumex Museum brings together an ambitious solo exhibition by Mexican multidisciplinary artist Gabriel Orozco. Born in Xalapa, Veracruz, Orozco has always been fascinated by objects and materials of everyday life, which confer “the possibility of giving materiality to time.” The exhibition features 300 works from throughout Orozco’s artistic career, “from small sculptures to complex installations, between photography and drawing, accompanied by painting, sculpture, assemblages and games.” 

Date: Runs until Aug. 3
Location: Museo Jumex. Blvd. Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra 303, Granada, Miguel Hidalgo.
Cost: Free of charge 

From the heart of the barrio. Tepito: deep roots, resonant voices

Beyond being a “barrio bravo,” Tepito is one of Mexico City’s most emblematic cultural districts — and it resonates with the voices of its emerging artists. This comes to show in “Desde el corazón del barrio,” a group exhibition that brings together more than 20 artists “who live, create, or maintain close ties to the Tepito neighborhood.” With over 80 pieces in various formats, the exhibition aims to highlight artistic practices linked to a historically stigmatized community, reclaiming its heritage and present through art.

Date: Runs until Aug. 3
Location: Galería José María Velasco. Peralvillo 55, Morelos, Cuauhtémoc.
Cost: Free of charge 

Mayotzincuepa circus festival

Le Monastère, a cabaret company based in Montreal (Canada), starred in the opening show of the Mayotzincuepa Circus Festival. Spectators will enjoy aerial dance performances, clown acts and thrilling circus shows in several locations across town. As the inaugural event, the program has created high expectations among theater connoisseurs and performance artists as one of the largest performing arts programs this year.

Date: Runs until Aug. 4
Locations: Teatro de la Ciudad Esperanza Iris, FARO Cosmos and open-air theaters in the Iztacalco, Magdalena Contreras and Tlalpan boroughs
Cost: Free of charge

A summer among chinampas

In an effort to preserve the chinampera tradition in Xochimilco, over 500 years old, the Chinampaxóchitl Museum will host a summer course for children. Designed for ages 7 to 13, kids will learn about “the natural and cultural importance of the Xochimilco lake area and the chinampa zone,” said the museum in an Instagram post. The course includes four sessions, in which children will enjoy fun activities as they learn about the history and cultivation techniques used in the chinampas today. 

Date: Aug. 5-9
Location: Museo Chinampaxóchitl at Parque Ecológico de Xochimilco. Periférico Oeriente 1, Ciénaga Grande. Xochimilco.
Cost: Free of charge

Watch Itatí Cantoral’s ‘Juicio a una zorra‘

Mexican actress and cabaret performer Itatí Cantoral returns to the theaters with one of the “most challenging performances of [her] career,” according to TimeOut México. Staged and directed by Alonso Íñiguez, this provocative monologue portrays Helen of Troy, the eternally condemned woman from Homer’s Iliad, with a new voice. Inspired by gender struggles and critically examining how the Trojan princess has historically been condemned, Juicio a una zorra rewrites the myth from a female voice filled with fury and dignity.

Date: From July 20 to Aug. 31
Locations: La Teatrería. Tabasco 152, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc.
Cost: Entrance fees may vary

Cri Cri symphonic concert

“El Ratón Vaquero”, “La Muñeca Fea” and other fan favorites will fill Sala Nezahualcóyotl concert hall this August. Performed by the Minería Symphony Orchestra, this concert will be an opportunity to hear the classics of maestro Francisco Gabilondo Soler, a Mexican composer and singer known for his children’s songs, as actor Mario Iván Martínez, nationally renowned for his children’s books readings, sings iconic Cri Cri pieces. 

Date: Aug. 9 & 30
Location: Sala Nezahualcóyotl. Insurgentes Sur 3000, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán.
Cost: Tickets starting at 400 pesos

Natsu Matsuri Festival 2025

Organized by the Mexico-Japan Association (AMJ), the Natsu Matsuri Festival is the capital’s yearly opportunity to taste genuine ceremonial matcha and try regional street food. Translated from Japanese as “summer festival,” the event features fashion runways, a culinary bazaar and tea ceremonies.

Massive drums and yukatas, Japan’s iconic ceremonial suit, will prance across the Natsu Matsuri Festival runway this year. Sipping on a delicious sample of traditional jasmine tea or Sapporo beer, spectators will enjoy a display of Bon Odori, the traditional dance of Japan. So, fetch your best kimono and stroll across Fujiyama Street to live your geisha fantasy at the Natsu Matsuri Festival. 

Date: Aug. 16-17
Location: Fujiyama 144, Águilas, Álvaro Obregón.
Cost: Workshop fees may vary

The Jazz Room: Journey to the Heart of New Orleans

Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong in CDMX?! Not exactly. Some excellent interpreters will come, though. Along with some cocktails and improv sessions, The Jazz Room comes to town after being a hit in Madrid, Barcelona and Santiago City. The ensemble will take us straight to the 20s in NOLA, birthplace of this iconic genre, to bring back the golden age of jazz.

Date: Aug. 16
Location: Hilton Santa Fe. Antonio Dovali Jaime 70, Santa Fe, Cuajimalpa.
Cost: Entrance fees vary

42nd Mexico City Marathon

As August comes to an end, runners from across the country will compete to beat their personal records on the Telcel Mexico City Marathon. As one of the major sporting events in the capital this year, the event is expected to attract thousands of runners. As stated by the Mexico City Government, the 2025 route will start on Avenida Insurgentes Sur, between the Central Library and the Olympic Stadium, and finish in the capital’s Zócalo.

Runners will enjoy iconic landmarks of Mexico City, including UNAM’s Olympic Stadium, the Angel of Independence, the Diana the Huntress roundabout and the Monument to the Revolution, among others.

Date: Aug. 31
Location: Follow the official route here
Cost: 800 pesos for Mexicans and residents and US $110 for foreign athletes

Andrea Fischer contributes to the features desk at Mexico News Daily. She has edited and written for National Geographic en Español and Muy Interesante México, and continues to be an advocate for anything that screams science. Or yoga. Or both.

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Coming across these ancient ruins can also happen when finding your way across the Metro. The Pino Suárez station is famous fthe Pyramid of Ehécatl, which was built in honor of the Mexica (Aztec) god of the winds and sits in the middle of the station.

Templo Mayor, the most important religious and political center of the ancient Mexica city of Tenochtitlan, the ruins of Cuicuilco and these other sites are a testament to how our pre-Columbian past has not abandoned us, despite the efforts made by European invaders to eradicate our ancient roots. Similarly, denizens of the capital keep some Mexica customs alive in our everyday lives. These are some of the most iconic.

Grocery shopping at a traditional market

The joy of grocery shopping at a traditional Mexican market comes from embodying a living, centuries-oldMesoamerican tradition. Mesoamerica’s largest market was built in Tlatelolco, near the present-day Historic Center in Mexico City, around 1337. This became the main market that supplied the population of Tenochtitlán with all the products that could be imagined at that time, as documented by the Institute of Historical Research of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Today, over 600 years later, markets and tianguis continue to be a form of social cohesion, where reminiscences of that Mexica past still resonate with the voices of the merchants. 

Training your palate to be resistant to spicy meals

Every time a foreign customer orders non-spicy salsa at a taquería, the great Mexica goddess Tlatlauhqui Cihuatl Ichilzintli, the Respectable Lady of Chilis, cries in desperation. But she finds solace when those of us who have found a home in this country bathe our daily meals with anything spicy. Hot peppers were a central part of Mexica cuisine and medicine and were even used to discipline unruly children. Be it having a bowl of salsa verde at the table or sprinkling chile en polvo on our freshly cut fruit, adding a spicy touch to whatever we eat is undeniably a Mexica heritage, which we have kept alive in our eating habits.

Eating bugs, mushrooms and flowers

Chapulines? Escamoles? Gusanos de maguey? Yes! Crickets, ant eggs and worms were at the center of Mexica tables,— and  if you’ve ever had lunch at a tianguis a taquero may have offered you one of these delicacies. Before the arrival of the Spaniards, as documented by the Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry, over 96 different species of insects were a fundamental part of Mexica cuisine. Even the most upscale restaurants in Polanco offer these delights.

However, you don’t have to eat anything previously alive to embody a living Mexica tradition. You can go veggie, as well! For example, eating mushroom quesadillas is a must at any mercado de antojitos. And of course, if you haven’t tried pumpkin flower tamales at Xochimilco, you’re absolutely missing out.

Including native corn in your daily diet

I can’t fathom a Mexican table without tortillas.  Tortillas serve both as sustenance and cutlery at Mexican tables. As a key ingredient for main Mexican courses, per capita consumption is recorded at around 331 kilograms per year, as suggested by the Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry’s latest figures. And how could we not? Our land has nurtured roughly 67 different species of corn for over 10,000 years. Tortillas — “tlaxcalli” in Nahuatl — were a staple food as important for the Mexica and other ancient Mesoamerican cultures as they are for modern day Mexicans.

Using a molcajete to pound grains, spices and veggies

If you ever go to a fonda serving comida corrida, an establishment where you can have a three-course meal for less than 100 pesos, you’ll probably see the cook making their own salsa in a molcajete. The term comes from Náhuatl words “molli,” which means sauce, and “caxtli,” or bowl: “mollicaxtli” therefore means the sauce bowl, as documented by the Exterior Relations Ministry (SRE). It’s usually made of volcanic rock, and traditionally has the face of an animal — usually, a pig — carved in the front.

If you live in Mexico and love to cook, a molcajete is an absolute kitchen must, especially if you’re into making your own spicy salsas. There is no bigger joy than smashing chilis and tomatoes against the pig’s volcanic back, and using the mortar to get the best of their juices. That, too, is a Mexica tradition that Mexican households have kept alive — and will probably persist through the passage of time. 

Andrea Fischer contributes to the features desk at Mexico News Daily. She has edited and written for National Geographic en Español and Muy Interesante México, and continues to be an advocate for anything that screams science. Or yoga. Or both.

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Heirs of Parisian bouquinistes, but with an undeniable Mexican bohemian feel, vintage bookstores in Mexico City sell used books, magazines and — if the seeker searches well — even coveted first editions of literary classics. Most of these bookstores offer titles in their original languages. You just have to head, for example, to the English Classics section.

Some of them, due to cold public disinterest and the advent of digital formats, tragically disappeared. For those of us rebels — or possibly hopeless romantics — who actually enjoy reading the old-fashioned way, these are some of the most iconic vintage bookstores in Mexico City.

Librería Las Tres Cruces

Librería Tres Cruces, part of the Museo Salon Posada, which holds one of the largest collections of the work of Mexico’s most celebrated cartoonosts, is one of Coyoacán’s secret treasures. There is even a local tradition of bringing someone to pick a book, with the promise that that person will bring someone else eventually. I like to believe that this chain of people bringing their acquaintances to the bookstore has kept it alive for decades.

The building — which looks more like an old warehouse than a library — consists of two floors filled with shelves of books. They are strategically divided by genre, as is the case in traditional secondhand bookstores. Librería Tres Cruces is so famous and has such cultural significance that it was recently added to Mexico’s Cultural Information System (SIC).

Tres Cruces 99, Coyoacán, Coyoacán

La Fiera

Indomitable: that is how true literature is. Wild, unapologetic, rebellious. And that is exactly what La Fiera, a small bookstore in Coyoacán’s Del Carmen neighborhood is. “Built on friendship and the intention of sharing independently created books,” as stated on their official website, the team crafts “unique objects,” and offers workshops and publishing services.

La Fiera also has an adorable mascot of the same name, which could well be a possum, a raccoon or a rat, or the mélange of these three. I came across a viral Instagram Reel of theirs, where La Fiera (the Beast) guides the viewer straight to the bookstore.  I just fell in love with it — as should any bookstore aficionado in Mexico City.

París 101, Del Carmen, Coyoacán

Librería El Gran Remate

Donceles Street is easily one of the oldest streets in Mexico City. It dates back to 1524, when it is believed to have been laid out. Ever since then, merchants of every specialty have established their businesses there and made it thrive.

Today, Donceles is well known for the dozen secondhand bookstores that line both sides of the street. “Some of the most important, out-of-print and hard-to-find books can still be found here,” assays the government of Mexico City by the Mexico City Government. El Gran Remate is among the most iconic of the city’s bookstores. This century-old business survives in the interior of a colonial building, whose quarry walls still let out dusty sighs.

Donceles 81 A, Centro, Cuauhtémoc

Niña Oscura

 

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I found out about Niña Oscura while dating a guy who thought of himself as a poet. And honestly, I wouldn’t have known about this place otherwise: only pseudo-badboys know about vintage bookstores like these in Mexico City. Hidden in a worn-down Porifiriato-era manor, this “librería de paso” — as they describe themselves —  hosts poetry readings, creative writing workshops and book presentations by emerging authors. It is said that the original owner’s daughter died here, and the current directors used the legend to imbue the space with an ominous halo — one that invites you to stay and read.

Salvador Díaz Mirón 142, Santa María la Ribera, Cuauhtémoc

El Desastre

“Etymologically,” El Desastre’s owner, Alonso Salmerón, told Mexico News Daily, “a ‘disaster’ happens when a star falls [from the heavens] in a place. It’s similar to when you open a bookshop.” Originally a law school graduate, he decided to open a cultural venue while studying a degree in Literature. Located in the residential Colonia Del Valle, Salmerón took a risk and opened during the Covid-19 pandemic. “I had no doubts about opening a bookstore,” he recalls.

Ever since he found the commercial premises for the first store, Salmerón knew that his project “would find a dimension of its own.” Almost half a decade later, El Desastre is situated in a typical Del Valle house, featuring a beautiful garden where readers can enjoy a flat white or a heat-warming matcha latte.

San Francisco 233, Del Valle Centro, Benito Juárez

Under the Volcano

Just around the corner from the famous Citlaltépetl roundabout, Under the Volcano Books exhales its vapors in the form of English books. In this place, I wouldn’t be surprised to find the ghost of Bram Stoker or Mary Shelley in this book-packed room. It’s the kind of place Established on the second floor of the American Legion, this is one of the very few exclusively English-language bookstores in Mexico City.

Celaya 25, Hipódromo, Cuauhtémoc

Andrea Fischer contributes to the features desk at Mexico News Daily. She has edited and written for National Geographic en Español and Muy Interesante México, and continues to be an advocate for anything that screams science. Or yoga. Or both.

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This question is fundamentally misguided for art historian Maira Montenegro, who recently graduated from the Master’s degree in Curatorial Studies at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Before answering why there was no Middle Ages in Mexico, Montenegro explains that defining what this period was is a good starting point.

“The Middle Ages,” the specialist told Mexico News Daily, “is a historiographical category created to study a historical period in Europe.” Temporally, it is located between the fall of the Eastern Roman Empire and early modernity in Europe. According to the historical magazine Medieval Times, the Middle Ages began in AD 476 and spanned a thousand years.

It was a period of profound theological exploration, translation of Greek philosophical texts and extensive artistic development, especially that related to the religious work of the Christian world. Furthermore, Montenegro adds, “this category [the Middle Ages] can be controversial and open to criticism,” as it depends on the local context in which a given work was created.

Dominated by the construction of magnificent and somber cathedrals, the Middle Ages — or Dark Ages, as the period is also known — was fundamentally influenced by the spread of Christianity. This historical period was characterized by profound religious violence and “great political unrest,” The Medieval Times points out, “which resulted in the founding of many modern European countries.”

Broadly speaking, this extensive historical period — which lasted over 10 centuries —can be divided into two main stages:

• The High Middle Ages, between the 5th and 10th centuries
• The Late Middle Ages, between the 10th and 15th centuries

 According to the University of Valencia, the High Middle Ages were characterized “by the struggle for supremacy between the three contemporary empires: the Byzantine, the Islamic and the Carolingian.” In the latter half, known as the Late Middle Ages, the geopolitical arrangements created during the preceding centuries began to decline.

What happened during the Middle Ages in Mexico?

Just as Europe had specific categories for this historical period, Mesoamerica and her cultures had their own. These historical processes had no connection with the European ones. Around the beginning of the Middle Ages, Mesoamerican civilizations were already deep into the Early Classic period, which lasted from around AD 150 to -600).

As archaeologist and anthropoligist George L. Cowgill wrote for Arqueología Mexicana magazine, by then, the ancient civilizations that populated Mesoamerica had already reached a “high level of development,” which was “evident in the complexity of their religious systems, the monumentality of their pyramids and other civic-ceremonial structures [as well as] the refinement of their artistic styles.”

Even in the most arid regions, entire cities had complex irrigation and water supply systems. For example, the sacred city of Teotihuacan, in the Basin of Mexico, and Monte Albán, the jewel of the Valley of Oaxaca, had already reached their architectural peak and were weaving their trade networks through present-day Mexico.

In the Yucatán Peninsula, the Maya had already developed a complex ritual calendar aligned with the stars and celestial cycles. Beyond the allegedly centuries-old cleansing rituals the Riviera offers today, this culture had already developed medical science and technology for dental procedures,  as shown by research published by UNAM’s FES Iztacala campus.

Although the Middle Ages never really happened in Mexico, the Spaniards brought some unique medieval souvenirs from Europe. “In the summer of 1520,” as documented by the UNAM’s Institute of Historical Research, “Mexico-Tenochtitlan was gripped by a smallpox epidemic.” The disease wiped out 90% of the original population of what was then Nueva España. Other sources suggest that it was only about half of the native population, which is nonetheless scandalous and grievous.

The consequences were so dire that this spread of the virus is now considered the first pandemic ever recorded in the new world.

Why was there no Middle Ages in Mexico?

Regarding why there was no Middle Ages in Mexico, Montenegro explains that “this is a historiographical category for understanding a European process, in a context with distinct traditions and ethnicities.” The only known “medieval” settlement in the Americas occurred in 1021 AD, after the Vikings arrived on the  island of Newfoundland, in what is now Canada. However, the University of Groningen (Norway) confirmed in 2021 that this settlement never truly prospered. Therefore, it is virtually impossible for Norse navigators to ever reach Mexican territory.

Half a century later, when the Spanish invaders arrived in the Americas, the Middle Ages were already coming to an end in Europe. Therefore, the art historian poses a question that seems more interesting to her: Why should Mexico have a Middle Ages? For her, this responds to this constant desire to “fit into European molds,” which seems to “impose a colonial category” on the country’s own historical processes.

Montenegro points out that historians and those dedicated to analyzing these historical processes must adapt these categories to more local issues. In the Mexican context, processes occurred completely unrelated to Europe. Mesoamerican timelines have nothing to do with medieval development on the theological, philosophical or scientific levels. Ultimately, “History should not always be as told by Europe,” the specialist concludes.

Andrea Fischer contributes to the features desk at Mexico News Daily. She has edited and written for National Geographic en Español and Muy Interesante México, and continues to be an advocate for anything that screams science. Or yoga. Or both.

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There’s a Mexico City for every taste this month. From art exhibits touring from the Dallas Museum of Art to the capital’s half marathon, chaotic CDMX will keep you on your toes this rainy July. 

Yeah Yeah Yeahs at the Teatro Metropólitan

“Hi, we’ve missed you,” The Yeah Yeah Yeahs recently wrote in a post on their official Instagram account. “They don’t miss you like we miss you.”

Frontwoman Karen O and the boys will be returning to Mexico after a two-year Yeah Yeah Yeahs drought, bringing anthems like “Gold Lion” and “Date With the Night” to the Teatro Metropólitano on the first two nights of July. They’re celebrating their 25th anniversary this year, so Mexicans are ready to bang our heads to their greatest hits. You could too!

Dates: July 1 and 2
Location: Teatro Metropólitan. Ave. Independencia 90, Centro, Cuauhtémoc
Cost: Varies due to reserved seating

Casa Botánica 2025: Plant Bazaar 

 

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Staycationers like myself just love these kinds of artsy local pop-up events, full of life, design and cute plants to light up our living rooms.

Casa Botánica 2025, a collective that combines plants, design, art, fashion and well-being, promises unique workshops on the first weekend of July where you’ll likely leave with something green you made to decorate your home. 

Eager to craft a therapeutic pillow stuffed with dry flowers? Looking to deepen your knowledge on how to grow your own orchids? This is your chance! 

Dates: July 4 through 6, 2025
Location: Lucerna 32, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc
Cost: Free admission. Workshop fees vary.

Mexicráneos exhibit

Mexico City usually awaits the annual Mexicráneos exhibit in November, just in time for Day of the Dead festivities across the capital. Traditionally occurring along Reforma Avenue, this exhibit showcases the talent of local artists and designers. 

This year, Mexico City gets an early treat: the J. García López exhibition, featuring 105 monumental skulls, will arrive months ahead at the Xochimilco Ecological Park. Opening July 5, Mexicráneos 2025 will awaken the scent of cempasúchil flowers along the Xochimilco canals months before Día del Muertos.

Date: July 5 to Nov. 31
Location: Xochimilco Ecological Park
Cost: Free

Dharma Day Festival at the Buddhist Center

Dharma Day is traditionally “one of the most important days in the Buddhist calendar,” explains the Buddhist Center of Mexico City, “on which the Buddha’s first teaching is celebrated.” 

Falling on July 10 this year, Buddhist temples and centers around the world will hold pujas — sacred chanting sessions — throughout the night and special meditations to honor Siddhartha Gautama. Mexico City’s Buddhist Center is no exception. 

Celebrations begin on July 10 and continue through July 11, when the Center will hold its very own chanting and meditation program. Free talks and discussion groups on the meaning of dharma are also held every year. You can book your spot online or go directly to the center, located in Roma Norte.

Date: July 10 and 11, 2025
Location: Centro Budista, Jalapa 94, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc
Cost: By donation

Mexico City Half-Marathon

This year, 30,000 people will compete in the capital’s annual half-marathon on July 13. Starting at the Torre del Caballito and heading out to Lomas de Chapultepec before looping back and speeding their way down Paseo de la Reforma to reach the finish line at the city’s iconic Independence Angel.

Competitors must sign up online and be over 18 years of age. There is an entry fee. 

By the way, unless you’re a participating runner or planning to attend, you may not want to leave home on Sunday, July 13, if you live in Mexico City. Authorities will close important roads along the route, starting with Reforma Avenue, and traffic will be chaotic. Take precautions!

Date: July 13, 2025
Location:  Along Paseo de la Reforma and in Chapultepec Park
Cost: Registration starts at 650 pesos for Mexican citizens and US $85 for foreigners

Celebrate spirits at the Barra México festival

The Barra México Festival will celebrate its 10th anniversary on July 12–13 with cocktails, fine spirits, craft beer and a lot of wine.

Some of Mexico’s finest distilleries will be on hand to showcase their latest products. Representatives from Miami and London bars will be featured in this year’s lineup. Over 30 seminars, talks and tastings will also be held at the festival location: a Porfiriato-era estate that now functions as the Proyecto General Prim cultural center.

Some events will be available in English.

Date: July 12 and 13, 2025
Location: Proyecto General Prim cultural center at General Prim 30, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc
Cost: Day passes start at 2,250 pesos

Guided architectural tour of the Tamayo Museum

Master painter Rufino Tamayo, a Oaxaca native, always dreamed that his work would be framed by the trees of Chapultepec Park, and the museum that bears his name is the realization of that dream. 

Renowned Mexican architects Teodoro González de León and Abraham Zabludovsky were in charge of the museum’s design, which won them the National Prize for Sciences and Arts in the Fine Arts category in 1972.

Given this site’s architectural importance, museum authorities host cultural walks every Sunday to appreciate the compound’s architectural details. Book your free tour a week in advance, as this activity is in very high demand.

Date: Every Saturday in 2025
Location: Museo Tamayo, Reforma Avenue 51, Polanco, Miguel Hidalgo
Cost: Free

Frida Kahlo: Life of an Icon

¡Fridalízate! (“Get Frida’d”) That’s the invitation this exhibit’s organizers make to the public with “Frida Kahlo: Life of an Icon.”

As an immersive biography experience, the Mexican artist’s entire pictorial work will dance before visitors’ eyes. The design agency Algo Studio collaborated with Museo Frida Kahlo to take a journey of the senses through the life and work of the surrealist painter.

For 60 minutes, visitors will indulge in immersive art on 1,000 square meters of screens. A mélange of historical photographs, original films, installations and digital art will make Kahlo’s legacy come to life.

Date: Runs until July 19
Location: Espacio ALTER. Laguna de Términos 260, Polanco, Miguel Hidalgo
Cost: 400-500 pesos

The Impressionist Revolution: From Monet to Matisse

This month is your very last chance to marvel at the great impressionist masters in the Palacio de Bellas Artes. Ending on July 27, this exhibit brings together some of the finest pieces from the Dallas Museum of Art collection. Renoir, Manet and some of the most renowned Impressionist painters have taken over the “Nacional” and “Diego Rivera” galleries of the Bellas Artes Museum.

The exhibition, according to organizers, seeks to reveal the “rebellious origins of the collective of independent artists known as the Impressionists,” in a statement earlier this year. If you haven’t had the chance to feast your eyes on Manet’s soft brushing technique, or Monet’s delicate “Le Pont Neuf”, this is your last chance! Plan a wonderful artsy Sunday morning and leave Centro Histórico feeling like a true art critic.

Date: Runs until July 27, 2025
Location: Palacio de Bellas Artes, Av. Juarez S/N, Centro Histórico
Cost: 95 pesos

Harry Potter: Visions of Magic

More interactive experiences with digital art in Mexico City? Yes, and this with a touch of whimsy, courtesy of every child’s favorite wizard — Harry Potter!

Harry Potter: Visions of Magic, taking place at the Gran Carpa Sante Fe circus hall, was designed for Potterheads who want to explore every corner of J.K. Rowling’s magical world. Inspired by the beloved film series, this exhibit recreates Harry Potter’s most iconic props and sets. From the Ministry of Magic to Knockturn Alley, visitors will be able to stroll their way across entire alleyways of screens. And yes, everyone gets an interactive magic wand too, to live out their Hogwarts fantasy.

Date: Runs until August 31, 2025
Location: Gran Carpa Santa Fe: Vasco de Quiroga 2000, Santa Fe, Álvaro Obregón
Cost: Tickets start at 630 pesos

Andrea Fischer contributes to the features desk at Mexico News Daily. She has edited and written for National Geographic en Español and Muy Interesante México, and continues to be an advocate for anything that screams science. Or yoga. Or both.

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I was surprised to be welcomed by a gorgeous Venezuelan woman in a bikini and a light beach wrap, addressing us both in English with a heavy accent. She was the hostess. When I answered in my Mexican Spanish, not only was she surprised, but she seemed to be taken aback, as if thinking: “Mexicans? Here?”

Her expression was everything.

Despite her clear uneasiness, she urged a team of three staff members to start the limpia ceremony. The hostess asked us to hold hands, as the rest of the team walked in circles around us. One of them held a great copalera between her hands, steaming with palo santo, and smoked us from head to toe as her teammate chanted something in what they later said was ancient Mayan. 

Why was a Buddha statue staring at us from above? Another staff member suggested we set an intention for our trip so that we could have Ixchel’s — the Maya goddess of fertility and the moon — blessing during our stay.

The hostess then instructed the team to guide us through the bungalows in the jungle to our rooms. Everyone was still surprised that we weren’t a foreign couple, as we were willing to take the 7 a.m. yoga class after a quartz meditation session while we admired the sunrise. By then, I assumed I was already high on copal smoke or whatever they were burning right in my face. Unfortunately, that was not the case: Before our eyes spread the phenomenon of spiritual tourism in Mexico, a profoundly misleading and gentrified understanding of local uses and customs.

Were limpias and other kinds of ‘traditional’ cleansing performed by the ancients?

The easy answer is yes. “Limpias” have been a part of “virtually all healing rituals in traditional Mazatec medicine,” as documented by the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). As its name suggests, limpias — or cleansings — are designed to cleanse spiritual and physical impurities from the human body.

Although there is no clear evidence as to when these practices began, historians suggest that several different pre-Colombian civilizations in what is now present-day Mexico shared these rituals. 

Intended to soothe pain, curses or even fright, a shaman or local doctor would cleanse the ill person “with fragrant plants, such as basil, and red flowers” if the ailment was easy to treat. If, however, they encountered a more serious matter, more complex rituals would be performed, featuring lotions and sacred fungi.

Limpias varied from culture to culture. However, these elements were shared by most pre-Colombian civilizations. Most Mazatec therapists, for example, used divination via corn kernels and eggs — usually referred to as “blanquillo” — to diagnose their patients. Moreover, most limpias were performed in holy places, such as the therapist’s private altar, cenotes and other sacred spaces.

Limpias, of course, were not the only kind of medical procedures performed by ancient civilizations in Mesoamerica. Evidence shows the Maya had enough technology for dental procedures, as shown by research published by the Iztacala Faculty of Higher Studies (FES Iztacala). The medicinal use of temazcal rituals among the Nahua cultures was a way of cleansing the body through sweat, as biologist Margarita Avilés wrote for the INAH Morelos Center, and is still practised across the country. Cacao ceremonies, by the way, did not feature among the cleansing procedures of any ancient civilization.

It is worth noting that these rituals and spiritual cleansings did not remain the same throughout time. On the contrary, with the expansion of the Mexica Empire — and the growing commercial networks built across the centuries — pre-Colombian civilizations influenced each other. With the arrival of the Spaniards on the American continent, medical practices in the Americas also changed drastically.

Why are these alleged ‘ancient rituals’ only performed in high-demand tourist centers? 

When Cortés wrote his Relation Letters in the 16th Century, addressing Emperor Charles V himself, he described México-Tenochtitlan as a highly advanced city. The builders of the great, ancient city likely did not perform cacao ceremonies half-naked in performative trances or dancing in circles.

That is more of a caricature of what actual ritualistic dancing was like before the Conquest. Not only that, it’s also probably not even close to the religious practices the Mexica performed in their holy city: Most documentary evidence was destroyed by the Spaniards upon their arrival, considering it all blasphemous and unworthy of “good” Christian customs. The surviving evidence dates only to the 16th century.

However, entire Mexican families today are sustained by such performances, targeted at foreigners trying to get a taste of what that pre-Hispanic era was like. Those who perform limpias in Mexico City’s Zócalo do so in a new kind of cultural fusion, taking whatever supposedly ancient practice they were taught and what works with folk from abroad.

Tulum was not built for the Tuluminati

Many of these so-called ancient rituals are a product of the New Age movement. Presented as a “new integral ecological and holistic awareness,” as described by anthropologist Elizabeth Díaz Brenis, “[the movement] takes up approaches from the main religious traditions,” including elements of the pre-Colombian belief system.

New Age believers truly think that cacao ceremonies connect their souls to something greater. When you ask them to what, exactly, they wander around the idea of a god/goddess, the universe or something that elevates their third eye.

Though this might not seem harmful at first, these scattered elements of ancient cultures, all mixed into a heterogeneous mass, are often out of context. And though it might bring “ceremonial grade cacao users” a great joy to sing to the Pacha Mama as they drink hot cocoa, the idea that this practice comes from a millennia-old tradition is, to say the least, misinformed.

Disguised as white magic or spiritual cleansing — through crystals, sacred smoke and more— practitioners of these New Age “ancient” activities are often charging their customers in dollars and using elements taken from other cultures. Not only that: Entire yoga retreats and “healing” rituals are performed by people who are not mental health professionals, and, at times, address deep trauma as if it were some sort of Kundalini energy awakening. 

That’s part of the reason there was a Buddha staring down at us during a supposedly Mayan blessing. And that is why, too, New Age rituals are potentially dangerous both for their consumers and to the general understanding of local traditional practices. Thai figurines, Hindu mantras and pseudoancient Mesoamerican practices are all brought together as if they were the same, each bastardized from its original culture. 

But spiritual tourism in Mexico has made many foreigners believe otherwise.

Andrea Fischer contributes to the features desk at Mexico News Daily. She has edited and written for National Geographic en Español and Muy Interesante México, and continues to be an advocate for anything that screams science. Or yoga. Or both.

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Why would I bother buying from a local market if multinational chains like Walmart or Costco are closer, you might ask? I could even use online supermarket services to have my groceries delivered to my door. My father often questions my shopping habits, curious as to why I choose to shop this way. There’s no straight answer. The main reason is that there is a unique joy to buying your groceries at a traditional Mexican market. It probably comes from embodying a centuries-old, living Mesoamerican tradition.

Embodying an ancient living tradition

Local markets in Mexico come from the tradition of the pre-Hispanic tianguis, a Mexican Spanish word adapted from the Nahuatl word “tianquiztli,” meaning “market.” Originally, Mesoamerican tianguis followed the barter exchange scheme. In Tenochtitlan — present-day Mexico City — for example, the Mexica and other peoples who came to trade with them used currencies including cacao beans, copper axe heads and cotton capes.

Mexican markets have always been crowded places. Hernán Cortés, the Spanish conquistador, could not help but marvel at the greatness of the Tlatelolco market, Mesoamerica’s largest. He and his party were “particularly astounded at the incalculable number of people gathered, between 40,000 and 60,000,” researcher Pascale Villegas wrote for the Institute of Philological Research of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).

Centuries later, under the influence of European markets brought by the Spanish, tianguis and mercados have become very different establishments. The former are usually set in the street on specific days of the week and have temporary stalls; the latter are open practically every day, and are permanent buildings with commercial premises inside of them. There are also many more tianguis in Mexico City as compared to markets: 1367 tianguis to 353 public markets, according to the capital’s Economic Development Ministry (Sedeco).

In a nutshell, tianguis are more like street markets, whereas mercados are local stores. In many cases, both mercados and tianguis are dedicated to the sale of one specific type of item. The Mercado de la Lagunilla, for example, specializes in selling antiques, whereas the Mercado de Sonora is world-famous for its witchcraft items. You may also have encountered vintage clothing tianguis every now and then in Roma Norte, or tianguis de fruta with the freshest fruit in the neighborhood. Depending on the area and specialty of merchants, you can find everything from textiles to cleaning products and fresh veggies.

Shopping at a Mexican mercado is a cultural experience

Merchants screaming every product in stock at the top of their lungs, workers rushing through the aisles with their classic diablito hand trucks and the scent of raw meat and champurrado. Everything seems to crowd your senses at once, while being watched over by the patron saint of the market in question. 

Geographer Adrián Hernández Cordero strikes a poignant note when he describes mercados as a new kind of museum “where, unlike traditional venues, tourists can witness and participate in the enactment of everyday city life.” Not only that. Unlike a typical museum, Hernández points out, both mercados and tianguis “also offer a feast of sensory possibilities, as the market offers the opportunity to touch, smell and taste.”

Beyond this museum-like experience, buying groceries at a Mexican mercado allows you to choose the freshest products available. Not only that, you can learn how to touch and feel fruits and veggies in order to buy them depending on when you want them to be ripe. Want an avocado that’s soft today? Tell your vendor you want one “para hoy.” Want a mango that will be ready in a few days? You’re looking for one “para la semana.” Grocers are often amazed by how foreigners cannot tell a mature avocado from an unripe one.

How to become a true marchanta

Now, how to buy your groceries at a local Mexican mercado, you may ask? Becoming a true “marchanta” — a local shopper — is an art to be honed. This is what merchants call you when you go and buy their products. No matter your hair color, you may also find yourself being called “güera” or “güero”: blondie.

If you feel ready to take in the mercado experience, locate your nearest local market by typing ‘Mi Mercado cerca de mí’ in your search engine. Official public markets are always named like that: Mi Mercado 24 de Agosto, Mi Mercado Nativitas, Mi Mercado Lázaro Cárdenas. You get the idea.

Keep in mind that many Mexican markets are large. Some spread up to an entire block. The market I go to has roughly 200 establishments, and you have to learn your way across the stores to finally get a grasp of your nearest market’s distribution. It will probably take a couple of weeks to locate your ‘señora de la verdura’ of preference, the man selling cooking utensils or the person who has the exact amount of bleach you need.

When you become a frequent customer, merchants even call you by your name and ask how everything’s going at home. You get this sense of community and belonging that we, Mexicans, are very proud of.

Not only that, going to a local mercado becomes a part of your routine, and you start planning your morning around that experience. For example, I start my Mercado 24 de Agosto endeavors by having breakfast at my beloved Antojitos Michoacán, a locale serving everything from quesadillas to carne asada. I go practically every day and order the exact same thing: a mushroom quesadilla with a café de olla. I never spend more than 100 pesos, and finish with a full belly to continue my shopping and daily tasks.

It’s not always true that buying your groceries at the mercado is cheaper than going to the supermarket, but to my family, at least, it is a lot more convenient: it’s closer to our apartment and, as a two-person, one-cat household, we don’t need to buy wholesale. My partner cooks every day and prefers fresher ingredients over frozen items from the supermarket. From the moment you taste the food, you can tell it’s fresher.

Once you integrate this dynamic into your daily life, you are also in tune with the passing of the seasons in Mexico and the traditions that accompany them. There are few pleasures as great as going to a traditional Mexican market in October and November for Day of the Dead. So yes, buying your groceries at a traditional Mexican market is an anthropological experience. But it’s more than that. It’s also a gateway to your local community, with its traditions, rhythms and flavors.

Andrea Fischer contributes to the features desk at Mexico News Daily. She has edited and written for National Geographic en Español and Muy Interesante México, and continues to be an advocate for anything that screams science. Or yoga. Or both.

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As a city that’s over 700 years old, the Mexican capital offers a unique variety of architectural styles and historical sites easily accessible on foot. Craving a colonial vibe? Chimalistac is your choice. Eager for a Porfiriato-era pedestrian street? The Historic Center is for you. How about a more Bauhaus feel? We’ve got plenty in the south of the city! After years of enjoying long walks in my hometown, here’s an insider’s digest of the most beautiful streets in Mexico City.

Avenida Francisco Sosa: Stroll like a hacendado

Running from Avenida Universidad to Calle Tres Cruces, Avenida Francisco was originally built in the 16th century as the main connection to the town of San Ángel when Coyoacán and San Ángel were separate municipalities.

After over 500 years of history, Francisco Sosa is today framed by old ash trees and offers magnificent baroque temples and colonial-era haciendas, as well as some of the best bakeries in town. One of my absolute favorites is Café Ruta de la Seda.

Although it’s not located exactly on Francisco Sosa, you can walk your way from Coyoacán’s zócalo to Calle Pino. If in doubt, search for Parque de la Aurora and you’ll find the spot on one of the park’s corners. Order a slice of Kyoto cake and thank me later. Also, try arriving early for breakfast, before 10 a.m., or expect a line of over an hour!

Calle Amargura: Stepping back into old San Ángel

With haciendas and convents gracefully built over centuries-old cobblestone streets, this is one of San Ángel’s most iconic streets. Gorgeous bougainvillea bushes frame the wooden doors that distinguish this southern neighborhood of Mexico City. Arched alleyways and Baroque churches can be found as you walk along Calle Amargura, offering interesting opportunities to appreciate the religious architecture of 17th-century Mexico.

If you’re free on a Saturday morning, do not miss the chance to visit the art market in San Ángel’s zócalo. After enjoying the exhibition offered by local artists that weekend, it is simply a joy to spend the afternoon walking through little streets like Amargura. Before you know it, you might find yourself on Plaza de los Arcángeles. Formerly the central piece of the San Jacinto Monastery, this baroque corner in San Ángel has three stone benches, each dedicated to an archangel: Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, alluding to the spot’s name.

Avenida Francisco I. Madero: The heartstring of the Historic Center

Often referred to simply as Madero, this avenue is currently the main access road to the Zócalo and one of the busiest pedestrian routes in terms of tourism and shopping in the entire capital.

If you’re an architecture nerd like me, do not miss the chance to visit Casa de los Azulejos, a luxurious example of how Talavera Poblana ceramics were once used to decorate the exteriors of Baroque buildings. Built in the 18th century, it is catalogued as one of the Mexico City’s “most spectacular” residential palaces, in the words of the city’s government.

Ever had breakfast at a Sanborns? This is your chance! With reasonable prices, you can enjoy traditional Mexican cuisine, with the restaurant’s special seasoning that feels like home. Having lunch at the Casa de los Azulejos’s Sanborns branch is like having grandma’s hot cocoa in a luxurious 300-year-old Baroque palace. On Madero, that’s actually possible.

Calle Isabel la Católica: Sor Juana’s old haunt

On the corner of Isabel la Católica and Avenida Cinco de Mayo, you’ll find a ceramic plaque: “This street was called Carreras (races), down which the conquistadors fled during the siege of Tenochtitlan.” Today, the street bears the name of the monarch who sent those conquistadors. Beyond the cultural breviary, Calle Isabel la Católica is dotted with wonderful cafes run by local chefs and baristas, often graduates of the Universidad del Claustro de Sor Juana.

When I was in high school, my mother taught business administration at the Claustro. Her students used to show me these trendy spots, and I learned to distinguish the taste of burnt coffee with them. Every now and then, I accompanied my mother to the university and enjoyed wandering around the Historic Center Center. That’s when I came across Museo del Estanquillo’s sky terrace. It’s easily one of the loveliest views downtown, where you can enjoy a nice cup of coffee and delve into what Italians call “dolce far niente”: the joy of doing absolutely nothing, watching passersby below.

Avenida Presidente Masaryk: For the couture connoisseur

Prada, Dior, Cartier, Louis Vuitton and other haute couture houses have found a home on Avenida Presidente Masaryk. As one of Polanco’s most walkable streets, with wide sidewalks and nice spots for brunching, the eyes can feast on Mexico City’s California-style architecture. Polanco screams expensive: the country’s most exclusive hotels and restaurants have thrived here, and people enjoy strolling across Masaryk on a Sunday morning.

If you want to dive into Polanco’s chic fantasy, do not miss the chance of brunching at Casa Portuguesa. You can walk from Masaryk to Avenida Emilio Castelar. Just in front of gorgeous Parque Lincoln, enjoy a wonderful croissant with jelly to start. Even though their specialty is bacalao, my personal favorite is their huevos cazuela. End your breakfast with a nice latte and rejoice in the neighborhood’s luxury.

Calle Colima: Where Roma Norte really lives

I think Calle Álvaro Obregón is overrated. Want to really dive deep into Roma Norte? Head straight to Calle Colima. Home to some of the capital’s trendiest fitness studios and bistros, this tree-lined median street could become the heart of your digital nomad era.

Just like the surrounding streets, Colima has textile design studios that combine traditional backstrap loom techniques with the latest fashion trends. In Roma Norte, not only can you wear fashion, but you can use fashion. Along with several vintage clothing stores, you can find designer houses in every specialty. Ceramics, candles, jewelry — the sky’s the limit.

So picture this: you just had the perfect yoga class on your perfect yoga mat in your perfect outfit, and you’re crave the perfect latte to finish the perfect morning. You walk across Colima and find Constela Café: a wonderful cafecito where you’ll order an iced coffee. You can also try their ceremonial grade matcha to go and enjoy the rest of the day walking around one of the most beautiful streets in Mexico City.

Andrea Fischer contributes to the features desk at Mexico News Daily. She has edited and written for National Geographic en Español and Muy Interesante México, and continues to be an advocate for anything that screams science. Or yoga. Or both.

The post The most beautiful streets in Mexico City appeared first on Mexico News Daily

Nothing brings capitalinos more joy than a cloudy CDMX. Yet, however excited we get when the rain comes — imagine anything worse than a dry season with pretty bad air quality? — we know that the rainy season in Mexico also brings hurricanes to folks in coastal areas.

Due to the global climate crisis, when hurricanes arrive nowadays, they tend to be wilder, more dangerous and more unpredictable. A disturbing example of this occurred in 2023 in Acapulco with Hurricane Otis, which grew in strength so quickly, it took Mexican officials by surprise and caused over 50 deaths and overwhelming damage to the resort community. 

Though it is practically impossible to know how many hurricanes there will actually be, or how hazardous they might become, authorities have outlined best practices and contingency guidelines to go through a hurricane safely.

If you’re living in Mexico in an area prone to hurricanes, read on to learn more about them and how to stay safe if you run into the path of one.

When does Mexico’s hurricane season start?

Hurricane season in Mexico officially started in the Pacific Ocean on May 15. The Atlantic hurricane season in Mexico will begin on June 1. Both end on Nov. 30. This period also coincides with the rainy season throughout much of the country.

According to the National Meteorological Service (SMN), hurricanes are tropical cyclones that have gained great strength. Heavy rain and winds come with these natural phenomena. “When a storm’s maximum sustained winds reach 74 mph,” says the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), “it is called a hurricane.”

Hurricanes are typically classified into five categories in the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, depending on wind strength and the danger they pose to the population:

• Category 1: 74–95 mph
• Category 2: 96–110 mph
• Category 3: 111–130 mph
• Category 4: 131–155 mph
• Category 5: Winds greater than 155 mph

This year, the SMN is predicting up to 37 cyclones in the Atlantic and Pacific combined, the first of which will be named Andrea.

Hurricanes more aggressive and unpredictable

Hurricane Otis was a grim reminder that the global climate crisis is not a hoax. Rising ocean temperatures, a consequence of the planet’s warming, has resulted in cyclones, hurricanes and related events becoming even more intense and hard to predict. 

“This change is likely related to warming ocean temperatures and more moisture in the air,” said a recent NASA report, “both of which fuel hurricanes.”

After the disastrous effect Hurricane Otis had on the coast of Guerrero in 2023, particularly in Acapulco, being wary of hurricane season in Mexico is a must. How to be safe, then?

How to stay safe during hurricane season

The northwestern states in Mexico, such as Sinaloa and the southern part of the Baja California Peninsula, are particularly vulnerable to the Pacific hurricane season in Mexico. In the Atlantic, the Yucatán Peninsula is frequently hit, too, along with the Caribbean coast. If you’re living around these areas, the first thing to do is stay up-to-date with the news through official media.

The Water Ministry (@Conagua_clima on the social media platform X and Conagua Comisión Nacional del Agua-SMNmx on Facebook) shares information on its social media accounts, particularly on X, and posts updates about each storm’s trajectory and behavior. 

Monitoring local news is key to knowing how each weather phenomenon is developing and what to do in case of an emergency. In case of a natural disaster, these outlets also typically publish where to get help or seek shelter. Local and state governments used to dealing with tropical storms and hurricanes year after year — such as in the Yucatán Peninsula — usually post important resident information on social media in the days before a dangerous storm makes landfall. Look also on social media for your state’s Civil Protection agency, which may have useful information posted. 

If your local or state government advises not to go out, or in an extreme case, to evacuate, by all means, listen to official instructions. Also, please, avoid misinformation at all costs: always try to verify your sources with reliable outlets. WhatsApp chains, unofficial individuals’ social media accounts or random Facebook posts are not reliable enough, and could even harbor a scam.

The following advice is always advisable, especially if you live in a risky area:

• Stay indoors, even during brief periods of calm
• Avoid flooded or affected areas
• Follow government guidelines and keep up to date with official information
• And, of course, if necessary, be prepared for any aftermath

Stay safe, folks!

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Born and raised in the Mexican capital, Gutiérrez knows that biking here comes with several obstacles. “In the last few months,” she told Mexico News Daily, “there have been some serious deficiencies [in the service].” Broken bicycles and little availability make it even harder to get to work on time. “But, well,” she sighs, “I use it because it’s practical.” Her main route is a five kilometer (three mile) ride, from residential Colonia Del Valle to Google HQ in Lomas Virreyes.

It takes Gutiérrez about 45 minutes to ride from her home to the office. During a normal week, she makes this trip twice a day. Even though many streets in Mexico City are not adapted for cyclists, she prefers to use an Ecobici rather than taking public transportation: “It’s too crowded in the mornings,” she says, “and the tumult makes me uncomfortable.”

Avoiding stressed and angry crowds — and potential for sexual harassment — Guitérrez decides to ride at her own pace to work every day. Although she admits the Ecobici service to be practical, she laments that “there is no civic culture of respect for cyclists.” From cars parked in bicycle lanes to drivers behaving aggressively toward cyclists on main avenues, riders face severe obstacles across the capital. Is Mexico City really safe for cyclists?

Mexico City was not built for bikes

In the 20th century, the capital expanded rapidly, and city planners prioritized car traffic rather than cyclists, creating massive highways that are still unsafe for bikes.

Launched in 2010, the Ecobici program was an attempt to make a proper space in the streets and dignify cyclists in Mexico City. Ever since then, over 124.7 million kilometers have been ridden across the capital, as documented by the Ministry of Mobility (Semovi) in the program’s anniversary this year. The institution equates this figure to having traveled around the world over 3,000 times in 15 years.

Today, Mexico City has a total of 689 Ecobici stations, “the largest and most widely used system in Latin America,” as the service reported in its 2019-2024 Performance Report. Although this seems like great news that would put Mexico City at the forefront of global mobility, the death figures from cyclist accidents put us far behind that position.

Mexico City weighs heavily on cyclists’ shoulders

Gutiérrez reports that she has not had any accidents in the seven years that she has used Ecobici. Moreover, she is certain she spends less than half the time on a bike than she would in a private car. Accidents, however, are common: newspaper El Sol de México reported that 2022 was the deadliest year on record for cyclists in Mexico City. Numbers have been similarly high since, with 20 cyclist deaths reported in 2024.

Since 2007, according to the Mexico City municipal government, protected cycle lanes have been constructed in both residential and business-oriented neighborhoods. But despite the government being ready to take this step of inclusion and environmental significance for the city, we capital residents, simply aren’t: in our minds, cars will always have the priority, which has led to a death toll of 1700 users up to date, as reported by news outlet N+.

“Cyclist deaths are linked to insufficient infrastructure, poor or no bike path planning and lack of training for public and private transport drivers, among other factors,” the report stated.

Despite how alarming these figures are, Mexico City’s Environment Ministry has promoted the use of bikes for over a decade now. With the creation of Traffic Regulations designed specifically for cyclists, Mexico City now has a network of over 530 kilometers of bicycle lanes, including exclusive lanes and shared lanes.

The Muévete en Bici program, which has helped riders enjoy main avenues like Reforma on Sundays, is just a facet of the entire apparatus the government has implemented across the capital. And how could they not? Bicycles have “[…] the most energy-efficient system: it doesn’t pollute, and its cost is extremely affordable,” Manuel Suárez Lastra, director of the Institute of Geography, told Gaceta UNAM. And still, Mexico City weighs heavily on cyclists’ shoulders.

How to ride safely in Mexico City

Much of the love-hate relationship that Capitalinos have with Mexico City has to do with the fact that it is practically impossible to walk around the city without being afraid of being run over. Even today, Mexico City has not been fully adapted to accept cyclists into its everyday traffic dynamics.

And yes, cyclists still stand against the system that marginalizes them simply by riding their bikes. Taking all of these issues into account, as a person who works in the Roma-Condesa area, I can’t help but notice that most people on bikes around here are foreigners — mostly unaware that these things happen every day.

How to ride a bike safely in Mexico City, you may ask? Well, as rudimentary and crude as this may seem, remember: Mexico City is not Amsterdam, folks. Most bike lanes are practically invisible these days. In more gentrified areas, the government has tried to actually define the dividing lines properly — but that is not the case in the entire city.

If, however, you do use a bike to transport yourself across town, the safest way to go is just to stick to the bike lane. Also, consider these as your cyclist’s mantras:

• Wear helmets and anything to protect vulnerable body parts
• Always follow the traffic lights
• Avoid main boulevards and avenues, where people usually speed
• Try not to dodge or speed against cars
• Do not ride in the wrong direction or if you’re sleepy

And above all, remember that, although cyclists do have right of way in the streets, local drivers usually do not respect anyone — not even other drivers. With that in mind, try to enjoy your rides in bike-friendlier neighborhoods. Roma Norte, Polanco, La Juárez and Condesa are great places to start! 

Andrea Fischer contributes to the features desk at Mexico News Daily. She has edited and written for National Geographic en Español and Muy Interesante México, and continues to be an advocate for anything that screams science. Or yoga. Or both.

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