From the very beginning, the Mayan Train was ambitious. Perhaps too ambitious, in fact. The $30 billion rail project—more than three times over budget—has faced a long list of fair criticisms: environmental damage, potential structural risks, cost overruns, and allegations of corruption. But without discounting these many problems, the Tren Maya is at last…

Tim Hortons executives joined state and local authorities to unveil Yucatán’s first Tim Hortons location in Yucatán. The glamorous nighttime press event also heralds the first “Timmy’s” in southeast Mexico.

With an estimated 5.5 million tourists expected to move across the three host nations during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Mérida is launching an aggressive campaign to capture a share of that traffic. Although the city will not host any matches, local officials are betting on its connectivity and cultural appeal to attract up to…

Yucatán is experiencing a crisis unfolding along its once pristine coast. Beachfront property owners are preparing multi-million dollar lawsuits against the Mexican government. They assert the expansion of Progreso’s pier is rapidly destroying beachfront property. The argument is backed by official studies and by residents’ growing desperation as the sea creeps closer to their homes…

Preserving traditional crafts and boosting the small-scale economy of low-income communities, Casa Pich is a model of social intervention.

The Mérida English Library will mark three decades of service with a formal anniversary gala on Feb. 1, 2026, at the Hotel Fiesta Americana. The event celebrates an institution that has grown from a modest community vision into a cultural anchor for English-speaking residents and visitors in Yucatán’s capital. Tickets for the evening are priced…

Nichupté Bridge in Cancún is almost complete and aims to tackle one of the resort city’s most infamous problems: traffic. The goal of the Nichupté bridge project is to provide a fast and safe connection between the city’s mainland, where most residents live, and the Hotel Zone, where tourists stay. Right now, the only routes…

A devastating fire swept through Mahahual’s palapa-covered beach early Christmas morning, destroying more than 50 beachfront businesses. These thatched-roof structures are the primary source of income for many local families, casting a shadow over the community during peak tourism season. The blaze erupted around Krazy Lobster beach restaurant. Quick action by restaurant staff, neighbors, and…

In cities near Mexico’s southern border, such as Tapachula and Chetumal, groups of immigrants recently gathered to mark International Migrants Day on December 18. For an increasing number of these migrants, the hope is not to cross into the United States but to gain legal status and build a new life in Mexico itself.  This…

Yucatán’s State Congress unanimously approved a motion that formally establishes the Mérida Metropolitan Area. This agreement legally recognizes the territorial, urban, and social integration of 13 municipalities that share growth patterns and public services. According to the motion, the move to formally recognize the Mérida Metro Area is the beginning of a new stage of…

Ancient structures at the archaeological site of Tzemé are being destroyed to make way for the expansion of a poultry farm, residents of Kinchil in Yucatán, Mexico, report. The demolition, allegedly carried out by Crío — one of Mexico’s largest egg and chicken producers — has also resulted in the deforestation of several acres of…

A 12-hour blockade by fed-up residents forced Yucatán’s state government to send a mediator to Progreso after neighbors shut down a major intersection to demand an end to heavy truck traffic through their neighborhoods. Residents blocked the intersection at Calle 25 and 62 starting at 1 p.m. Friday, preventing tractor-trailers from reaching the port’s remote…

Residents in Motul took matters into their own hands Sunday night when they caught a serial thief red-handed trying to steal from a parked car. It’s the latest in a pattern of vigilante justice vs. crime inYucatán. The incident unfolded around 9 p.m. on Calle 22 between 35, where neighbors spotted a man they knew…

The Mérida Seminary is upholding a tradition has become deeply woven into Mexican Catholic culture, particularly from late summer through fall.

A municipal microfinance initiative in Mérida is giving women entrepreneurs the financial boost they need to start or grow their businesses. Business loans have already benefited more than 200 women this year. Mayor Cecilia Patrón Laviada’s “Crédito De Mujer a Mujer” program delivered its fourth round of loans in 2025 at a ceremony in the…

Residents, local business owners, and tourism service providers have begun to protest at the entrance to the Parque del Jaguar and announced plans to shut down access to Tulum’s archaeological site. The protest comes as a result of what organizers regard as empty promises by the Grupo Mundo Maya to allow residents free access to…

It has been nearly a year since Mérida’s Plaza Grande, the city’s historic central square, reopened. But public opinion remains divided. While officials say the changes modernize the space, many residents argue the remodel was unnecessary and has stripped the plaza of its colonial character. What Changed in the Renovation? One of the most controversial…