🇲🇽 Living in Mexico — Weekly Update | What Gets Easier With Time In Mexico, Humanitarian Boats to Cuba Disappear, Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca - March 29, 2026

🏡 Living in Mexico 🇲🇽 – Weekly Update

🟩 Important Updates - BEFORE We Dive In

💼 LIVE WEBINAR: WORK & INCOME IN MEXICO

Thinking about working or earning income in Mexico — and unsure what is actually allowed?

Join me for a live, step-by-step breakdown of how work and income options really work in Mexico — and how to avoid the costly mistakes many expats make when trying to earn money here.

We’ll cover:

• Real work and income options expats actually use

• How the tax side actually works

• Remote work vs local work vs starting a business

• Common work and income mistakes expats make

• How to think through which path may make the most sense

📅 Work & Income → Wed, Apr 8 (8pm Mexico City time)

📍 Live on Zoom

👉 Register here

🟨 QUICK 1-MINUTE SURVEY

I want to make this newsletter more useful, more interesting, and more worth opening each week.

So I put together a quick 1-minute survey to learn what you actually like, skip, and want more of in future issues.

As a thank you, when you finish, you’ll get my free: A Complete Guide to: Learn Spanish, Mexican Food & Drinks, History, Culture, & Traditions of a Vibrant Nation!

👉 Click Here

🎥 Podcast Feature

I joined Taniel Chemsian on Live By Design: Mexico Edition to talk about what it’s really been like moving to Mexico City, adjusting to life here, and building Into Mexico We Go along the way. Check it out!

🟦 THIS WEEK

What living in Mexico gets easier with time, humanitarian boats to Cuba disappear, a coastal spotlight on Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, and the Community Tip: “What’s your best tip for dealing with utilities or services in Mexico?”

🟥 What Living in Mexico Gets Easier With Time

A lot of things feel awkward at first when you live in Mexico. The systems work differently, the pace is different, and even simple tasks can take more energy than expected. That can make the first months feel heavier than people planned for.

But many parts of daily life do get easier with time. You learn where to shop, how to handle errands, what apps to use, how local routines work, and what is normal versus what only feels frustrating because it is new. What felt confusing at the beginning often becomes part of your regular flow.

Living in Mexico usually gets easier once you stop expecting everything to work like it did back home. The more you adapt to the rhythm, the less draining daily life feels.

❓ MX Quiz

What volcano erupted from a cornfield in 1943?

See answer below 👇

Mexico Weekly Roundup

📰 Mexico News

🇲🇽 SHEINBAUM SAYS DISAPPEARANCE-REFORM MEASURES HAVE HELPED AUTHORITIES LOCATE 31,000 PEOPLE

Mexico’s president said recent legal reforms on missing persons have helped build a more structured national search system. She said the changes have pushed federal and state prosecutors to open investigation files for every disappearance report, which has improved how cases are recorded, tracked, and followed up.

She also said authorities have been able to cross-check disappearance records with activity in public and private institutions, which helped locate thousands of people who were still listed as missing. The broader review, according to the government, is meant to clean up inconsistencies in the registry and improve how search efforts are carried out.

Why it matters: 

Disappearances remain one of Mexico’s most sensitive and serious national issues. Any reform that improves investigations, data quality, and case follow-up could have a major impact on families waiting for answers, while also shaping public trust in how the government handles security and justice.

Source: La Jornada

✈️ MEXICO IS IN FASHION, PRESIDENT HIGHLIGHTS INCREASE IN TOURISM

President Sheinbaum said Mexico is seeing strong tourism growth and described the country as being “in fashion.” Speaking at her morning briefing, she pointed to year-over-year increases in both international visitors and international tourists, saying Mexico continues to attract global attention despite negative narratives about the country.

The message was also tied to confidence in Mexico’s image ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The government is clearly trying to reinforce the idea that Mexico remains a major destination for travel and that international demand is still growing.

Why it matters: 

Tourism is a major part of Mexico’s economy, so growth in international arrivals matters beyond travel alone. It affects jobs, local businesses, foreign perception, and the country’s momentum going into a high-profile global event like the World Cup.

Source: Excelsior

🕯️ MEXICO SAYS A THIRD OF 130,000 MISSING PEOPLE MIGHT BE ALIVE, FUELING CRITICISM FROM FAMILIES

Mexico’s government said it found signs of life for about a third of the country’s 130,000 registered missing people by cross-checking records such as vaccinations, birth and marriage registries, and tax filings. Officials said that process showed recent activity for more than 40,000 people and helped authorities confirm over 5,000 as found.

But the announcement quickly drew criticism from search groups and families, who said the report could understate the real scale of Mexico’s disappearance crisis. Critics questioned the methodology and said changes to the registry could weaken trust in the data and make it harder to search for people who are still missing.

Why it matters: 

This is a major national issue in Mexico. The story is not just about the number itself, but about whether families can trust the government’s data, methods, and response in one of the country’s most painful and politically sensitive crises.

Source: Washington Post

🌎 Foreign News About Mexico

🚤 TWO HUMANITARIAN AID BOATS HEADING TO CUBA HAVE GONE MISSING, MEXICO SAYS

Mexico’s navy said it launched a search-and-rescue operation in the Caribbean after two sailboats carrying humanitarian aid to Cuba failed to arrive in Havana on schedule. The boats had left Isla Mujeres in Quintana Roo with nine crew members of different nationalities on board and were expected to arrive on March 24 or 25, but authorities said there had been no contact and no confirmed arrival.

The vessels were part of a grassroots aid convoy organized to bring supplies such as rice, beans, baby formula, medicine, and other goods to Cuba, which has been dealing with prolonged blackouts and a deepening economic crisis. Mexico said it also contacted maritime rescue centers in other countries as the search expanded.

Why it matters: 

This story touches both humanitarian aid and regional coordination. It also puts attention on Mexico’s role in a sensitive international effort involving Cuba, while raising concern over the safety of those on board and the reliability of maritime routes in the Caribbean.

Source: The Guardian

💱 Peso Watch

🇺🇸 USD → 🇲🇽 MXN: 18.09 📈

🇨🇦 CAD → 🇲🇽 MXN: 13.04 📈

🇪🇺 EUR → 🇲🇽 MXN: 20.86 📈

🗺️ Explore Mexico

🟥 COASTAL SERIES — Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca

Puerto Escondido is Mexico’s surf capital with beaches ranging from beginner-friendly to world-class waves. It’s youthful, international, and growing fast.

Pueblo Mágico: No

Nearby Pueblo Mágicos: Mazunte (became Pueblo Mágico in 2020)

Food: Seafood, Oaxacan dishes, beach cafés.

Culture: Surf scene, yoga community, nightlife, global travelers.

History: Grew from a small fishing port into a surf destination.

Nature: Strong waves, cliffs, lagoons, beaches for all skill levels.

Known for: Surfing, sunsets, backpacker culture.

Cost of Living: Medium–high. Cheaper than Huatulco; rising due to tourism.

Link: Visit Mexico

🍽️ MX Food of the Week

Chilaquiles

Chilaquiles are one of Mexico’s most loved comfort foods. They’re made with tortilla chips lightly simmered in salsa, then topped with crema, cheese, onion, and extras like egg or shredded chicken. They’re simple, flavorful, and commonly eaten for breakfast or brunch.

INGREDIENTS

• 12 corn tortillas, cut into triangles or store-bought tortilla chips• 2 cups red salsa• 1/2 cup Mexican crema• 1/2 cup crumbled queso fresco• 1/4 red or white onion, thinly sliced• 1 avocado, sliced• 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped• 2 eggs, optional• Oil for frying• Salt to taste

🍽️ CHILAQUILES STEPS

1. Heat oil in a pan and fry the tortilla triangles until golden and crispy. Remove and place on paper towels. Add a little salt.

2. In a large skillet, heat the red salsa over medium heat until hot.

3. Add the fried tortilla chips to the salsa and stir gently for 30 to 60 seconds. Do not overmix. The chips should soften a little but still keep some texture.

4. Transfer the chilaquiles to plates right away.

5. Top with crema, queso fresco, onion, cilantro, and avocado.

6. If using eggs, fry them separately and place one on top of each serving.

7. Serve immediately. Chilaquiles are best eaten fresh, while the chips still have some bite.

🔎 Quick Insight

🔎 Noise rules are rarely enforced – Fiestas and fireworks can run late.

🎉 What’s Happening

📅 March 29 — Palm Sunday (Domingo de Ramos)

Marks the start of Semana Santa in Mexico. Churches get busier, religious events begin, and many people start traveling ahead of the holiday period.

📅 March 30–April 10 — Semana Santa School Break

SEP schools are out during this period, so expect heavier domestic travel, busier roads, and more activity in beach towns and tourist areas across Mexico.

📅 April 2 — Holy Thursday (Jueves Santo)

A major Holy Week day in Mexico. Many businesses operate on reduced hours, and banks are closed.

📅 April 3 — Good Friday (Viernes Santo)

One of the most important religious observances of the year. Processions and church events take place in many cities, and banks are closed.

📅 April 4 — Holy Saturday (Sábado de Gloria)

Still part of the main Semana Santa travel and observance period. Many destinations remain busy, with crowds and holiday traffic continuing through the weekend.

🤓 Fun Fact / Mexican Phrase

Mexico is the world’s largest producer of silver.

Mexican Phrase: Chido. — Cool / nice.

👥 Community Wisdom

Here’s what our Facebook community shared this week — 2.1K views · 29 comments (and counting):

📌 Top 5 Community Tips (Summarized):

1. Bring the Right Documents From the Start. Many said to bring your passport, residency card, and any other requested paperwork when opening accounts. It also helps to use your exact legal name as it appears on your passport to avoid problems later.

2. Patience Is Part of the Process. This came up a lot. People said to stay patient, friendly, and calm because setup tasks can take time and things do not always move quickly.

3. Pay Utility Bills On Time or Risk Shutoff. Several comments warned that bills like CFE can be cut off fast if you miss the due date. Some people said it is best to check when the bill posts and pay it right away.

4. Most People Pay Through Apps, Bank Portals, or OXXO. Many said the easiest payment methods are bank apps, online portals, auto-pay, or paying directly at OXXO. People mentioned these as the most common ways to handle utilities and phone bills.

5. Have a Backup System and Do Not Rely Only on the Paper Bill. Some said not to wait for the physical bill to arrive. A good backup is using calendar reminders, checking the online portal, prepaying when needed, and confirming the bill shows as pagado after payment.

See the full post + comments:👉 Facebook Group post

Quiz Answer: Paricutín.