The iconic Cinema Rex in Mérida’s Santiago neighborhood is preparing to reopen almost two years after closing its doors, marking another chapter in a story filled with false starts and unfulfilled promises. Cinespot, a Mexican cinema chain with locations in Mexico City, will take over the historic building on Calle 57 across from Parque de…
Mixologist Arni Murillo is pushing the boundaries of cocktail culture in Yucatán, with his Xtabentún-infused Sazerac.
All mobile phones in Mexico must be registered to an identifiable individual or company starting in January. This regulation states that telecommunications companies may block both new and existing lines that do not meet this requirement. The measure is part of a new regulatory framework approved by the telecommunications authority (IFT) and requires operators to…
The painted wooden bus rattles to life in Parque de Santa Lucía, its engine rumbling as passengers settle onto worn bench seats. Through open windows, warm air carries the scent of laurel trees and the distant sound of church bells. This is La Guagua (pronounced WAH-wah), and it moves through Mérida like a time capsule…
Mérida is the first city in Mexico to join the Global Initiative for the Humane Management of Dog and Cat Populations. The initiative is led by the International Companion Animal Management Coalition (ICAM), an organization based in England that includes prominent animal welfare groups such as Humane Society International and the Royal Society for the…
Mexico’s path to marriage equality has reached another significant milestone with a historic legislative vote in the state of Guanajuato. Long considered one of the country’s more conservative states, Guanajuato’s decision to reform its civil code and legalize same-sex marriage directly marks a profound shift in the national landscape. This move proves that the push…
When Saturday’s thermometer hit 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) in Mérida, hundreds of families lined up to do something that seems impossible in this tropical city: ice skating. The free “Magia sobre Hielo” rink opened Dec. 7 along Paseo de Montejo and Avenida Colon, transforming one of Yucatán’s hottest avenues into a winter wonderland. But…
A boutique retreat in Acanceh is hosting a series of international chef residencies that bring European culinary techniques to the Yucatán Peninsula’s regenerative agriculture scene. Galopina Casa Silvestre launched its chef residency program this winter, inviting five chefs from France, the United Kingdom and Turkey to create seasonal menus at the nature-focused property. Each chef…
Issue 16 of Yucatán Magazine is a meditation on Yucatán’s haciendas. More than architectural marvels—our haciendas are living chronicles that bind past to future, community to culture, memory to possibility. Our latest edition traces these threads through intimate portraits of restoration, reinvention, and resilience. Here’s a quick look at what’s inside this keepsake edition: At…
Popeyes is bringing its Louisiana-style fried chicken to Mérida. Construction crews are building the restaurant’s first location in Yucatán’s capital on Calle 41 x 34 in the La Castellana neighborhood behind the Galeria Mall and Via Montejo. Construction is moving quickly, with local reports suggesting an opening could come soon. The restaurant will occupy a…
When the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season officially ended on Sunday, we breathed a collective sigh of relief. For the first time in five years, the Peninsula had escaped relatively unscathed from the annual six-month gauntlet of tropical weather that typically brings anxiety to coastal communities from Celestún to Tulum. The final tally told an unusual…
Conceptual images showing what Mérida Centro might look like if the city pedestrianizes two major corridors have sparked debate on social media about the future of the historic center. While the images are not official city proposals, they visualize what planners have outlined in documents from the National Security and Public Transportation Commission. The conceptual…
Crochet corsets adorned with freshwater pearls, wide-leg pants inspired by mariachi uniforms, and one-shoulder tops shimmering in silk and rayon—these are the pieces that will walk the runway at Emmi Paez’s upcoming fashion show in Mérida, marking a natural evolution from the resort wear that established the Emmiknit Handmade name. The collection represents Emmiknit Handmade’s…
The future of Paseo de Montejo’s controversial flower beds remains unclear as government officials, business leaders and cycling advocates debate what should happen to the concrete planters that have divided the community for weeks. The flower beds, which eliminated a motor vehicle traffic lane to buffer a bike path from cars and trucks, have been…
Yucatán is chock-full of wonderful opportunities to take great photographs. While there is no denying the benefits of lugging around an arsenal of SLR cameras and lenses, the best camera is the one you have with you. By understanding the tools on your smartphone and applying fundamental principles of composition, you’ll return from the Yucatán…
Cyclists rallied at the Monument to the Homeland Saturday to oppose a proposal that would remove protective planters from bike lanes along Paseo de Montejo, saying the barriers are essential for preventing traffic deaths. Everardo Flores Gómez, president of Colectivo Cicloturixes, told the crowd that removing the planters would violate Mexico’s Constitution and the General…
Yucatán’s winter tourism season officially began Monday when a WestJet flight from Toronto landed at Mérida International Airport, marking the earliest start to snowbird season in years. The inaugural flight arrived with 130 passengers, filling 76% of the Boeing 737’s 174 seats. The season isn’t just starting earlier, it’s lasting longer. This is the first…
A federal judge has granted Uber in Mexico the right to operate at airports across the nation without drivers facing detention or fines, marking a significant shift in the country’s long-running transportation dispute. The ruling, issued by the 13th District Judge in Administrative Matters, provides a definitive suspension that allows Uber drivers to pick up…
I call the Yucatán Peninsula an energy island because it is dependent on a single 400 kV CFE transmission line linking it to the rest of Mexico. With daily demand exceeding 2,400 MW and only 1,800 MW of installed generation, even small disturbances can cause widespread blackouts. During the heat waves of recent summers, CFE…
The Yucatán Peninsula, a region basking in the glow of economic expansion and international tourism, is also confronting a deepening energy crisis. The problem isn’t a lack of sunshine or potential—it’s decades of systemic neglect. What was once Mexico’s most promising growth region has become a fragile energy island. This island, cut off from Mexico’s…
Mérida’s tourism and hotel sectors have ideas for major changes to the Paseo de Montejo after years of gridlock caused by controversial traffic medians and barely used bike lanes. And they are pushing hard for revisions that would restore the city’s iconic boulevard before it was rebuilt in 2021. Jorge Carrillo Sáenz, president of both…
Alberta beef has landed at Costco stores across Mexico. Canada’s Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week at a Costco outside Mexico City, celebrating the arrival of porterhouse, New York prime and other cuts of Alberta beef. The deal between JBS Canada and Costco Mexico will send about 20,000 tonnes (22,046 tons)…
Xtabentún’s origins trace back to the ancient Maya, but is the basis of countless modern cocktails.
The beaches of Tulum are again under scrutiny after Mayor Diego Castañón announced new rules that limit what visitors can bring, reigniting the debate over public access to Mexico’s coastline. The Morena-party mayor said the measure is meant to support local businesses while maintaining “free access” to Tulum’s shores. But the rules—banning outside food, drinks,…
That’s all for now
That’s all for now