🇲🇽 Moving to Mexico — Weekly Update | Scouting Trip Can Save Thousands, Passion of Christ in Iztapalapa, Mexico City - April 5, 2026

🟩 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 - FOR YOU.

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!

Last call!!!

👉 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

Why a scouting trip to Mexico can save $, new Unesco World Heritage event, a coastal spotlight on Mexico City, and the Community Tips: “What’s one mistake you see new expats make over and over?”

🟥 Why a Scouting Trip to Mexico Can Save You Thousands

A lot of people think a scouting trip to Mexico is optional. In reality, it can be one of the smartest parts of the moving process.

It is easy to build a plan from videos, Facebook groups, and online advice. But Mexico feels very different when you are the one trying to rent an apartment, get around the city, compare grocery prices, and figure out what daily life actually looks like. What seems perfect online may not feel right in person.

A scouting trip helps you test your move before you fully commit. You can compare neighborhoods, check transportation, visit grocery stores, look at rentals, and see what the area feels like during the day and at night. Those details matter more than people think.

It also helps correct bad assumptions. Some people think they want one city, one lifestyle, or one budget, then realize the reality is different once they arrive. A short visit can prevent expensive mistakes.

This does not need to be a perfect research trip. But it should be more than a vacation. Stay in the kind of area you might actually live in. Use the transportation you would really use. Check the places that match your real budget and lifestyle.

For many people, one scouting trip ends up saving far more money than it costs. It can help you make a better decision before the full move becomes real.

❓ MX Quiz

❓ What peninsula is home to thousands of cenotes?

See answer below 👇

 Mexico Weekly Roundup

📰 Mexico News

🇲🇽 183RD REENACTMENT OF THE PASSION OF CHRIST IN IZTAPALAPA RECEIVES UNESCO RECOGNITION

Mexico City’s long-running Passion of Christ reenactment in Iztapalapa was held this year with new global recognition after being formally added to UNESCO’s representative list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in December 2025. The tradition dates back to the 1800s and began after residents linked the end of a cholera epidemic to the Cristo de the Cuevita, turning the annual Holy Week event into one of Mexico’s most important religious and community traditions.

This year’s reenactment continued that legacy with strong local participation from Iztapalapa’s eight traditional neighborhoods. The event drew on a large community effort, with 135 speaking actors, 150 musicians, and around 2,000 people in the procession. Organizers also prepared major security and mobility operations for the event, which regularly attracts massive crowds and now carries even greater international visibility because of the UNESCO status.

Why it matters: 

This is more than a religious event. It shows how local traditions in Mexico can carry deep historical meaning, shape community identity, and gain international cultural recognition. For readers living in or visiting Mexico City, it is also a reminder of how major public events can affect mobility, public space, and daily life during holiday periods.

Source: Grupo Animal

⛽ GOVERNMENT SEEKS SECOND DEAL WITH GAS STATIONS TO PUSH DIESEL PRICES LOWER

President Claudia Sheinbaum said the federal government is pursuing a second voluntary agreement with gas station owners to reduce diesel prices further, while continuing efforts to keep regular gasoline prices stable. According to the government, the current arrangement has helped about 85% of gas stations nationwide keep Magna at 23.99 pesos per liter or less, supported by talks with Pemex and federal fiscal measures aimed at avoiding sharp price increases.

Sheinbaum said diesel prices had climbed as high as 30 pesos per liter because of international tensions affecting energy markets. She also warned that the government will carry out enforcement operations against stations that raise prices unfairly, with Profeco expected to help monitor compliance. At the same time, she tied the policy to Mexico’s broader energy strategy, arguing that domestic refining and fuel self-sufficiency are helping limit the impact of global oil volatility on Mexican consumers.

Why it matters: 

Fuel prices affect transportation costs, shipping, inflation, and everyday expenses across Mexico. Any new deal that lowers diesel prices could have a wider effect on the cost of goods and services, while also showing how the government is trying to manage pressure from global energy markets at home.

Source: El Universal

🌎 Foreign News About Mexico

🇲🇽 UN COMMITTEE ASKS GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO EXAMINE DISAPPEARANCES IN MEXICO

A United Nations committee focused on enforced disappearances said Mexico’s disappearance crisis remains widespread and unresolved, and took the unusual step of asking the U.N. General Assembly to review the situation and consider measures to help address it. The report said the problem has continued for years, that impunity remains in place, and that Mexico cannot solve the crisis on its own.

The article says Mexico now has more than 132,000 disappeared people in the official registry, along with roughly 72,000 unidentified human remains. The committee also said there are well-founded indications that enforced disappearances in Mexico may amount to crimes against humanity, while Mexico’s government rejected that framing and called the report biased and lacking legal rigor.

Why it matters: 

Disappearances remain one of Mexico’s most serious human rights and public security crises. International scrutiny at this level increases pressure on the Mexican government, keeps the issue in the public eye, and could shape how families, activists, and institutions push for accountability, investigation, and reform.

Source: AP News

🛢️ WILDLIFE KILLED, REEFS DAMAGED IN ‘ACTIVE’ GULF OF MEXICO OIL SPILL

Mexican authorities said an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has spread across seven nature reserves and more than 600 kilometers of coastline. Officials said the contamination appears to be coming from three sources, including an unidentified vessel and two natural seep sites, and that the spill point remains active.

The article says environmental groups and local communities have reported serious damage, including dead sea turtles, a manatee, and different fish species, while around 17 reefs have also been affected. Mexican environmental authorities said at least six species have been contaminated so far, and activists criticized the government’s response as too slow and too weak.

Why it matters: 

This is not just an environmental story. Oil spills can hurt fishing communities, damage protected ecosystems, disrupt local livelihoods, and raise bigger questions about offshore energy oversight in Mexico. When contamination continues for weeks, the long-term cost can go far beyond the immediate cleanup.

Source: Al Jazeera

💱 Peso Watch

🇺🇸 USD → 🇲🇽 MXN: 17.87 📉

🇨🇦 CAD → 🇲🇽 MXN: 12.83 📉

🇪🇺 EUR → 🇲🇽 MXN: 20.60 📉

🗺️ Explore Mexico

🟥 CENTRAL SERIES — Mexico City (CDMX)

Mexico City is the cultural center of the country, mixing food, art, history, and daily life in one massive urban hub. It’s fast, modern, traditional, and endlessly interesting.

Pueblo Mágico: No

Food: Street tacos, mercados, high-end dining.

Culture: Museums, neighborhoods, music, festivals.

History: Aztec capital → Spanish colonial center → modern megacity.

Nature: Mountains, forests, urban parks.

Known for: Culture, food, and walkable barrios.

Cost of Living: Medium–high depending on the neighborhood.

🍽️ MX Food of the Week

Molletes

Molletes are a classic Mexican breakfast made with warm bolillo bread, creamy refried beans, melted cheese, and fresh pico de gallo on top. They are simple, comforting, and easy to make at home, which makes them perfect for anyone who wants a quick taste of everyday life in Mexico.

INGREDIENTS

2 bolillo rolls

1 cup refried beans

1 cup shredded Oaxaca cheese or mozzarella

1 tomato

1/4 white onion1 jalapeño

2 tbsp cilantro

1 tbsp lime juice

salt to taste

butter optional

🍽️ STEPS

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F or 190°C.

2. Slice the bolillo rolls in half lengthwise and lightly toast them.

3. Spread a layer of refried beans on each half.

4. Top with shredded cheese.

5. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

6. While they bake, mix diced tomato, onion, jalapeño, cilantro, lime juice, and salt to make pico de gallo.

7. Remove the molletes from the oven and spoon pico de gallo over the top before serving.

🔎 Quick Insight

🔎 Fiber internet isn’t available everywhere – Telmex and TotalPlay coverage depends heavily on the street.

🎉 What’s Happening

🗓️ April 5 — Easter Sunday / Domingo de Resurrección

Easter Sunday marks the end of Semana Santa. In Mexico, it is widely observed with family gatherings, church services, and the close of the Holy Week period.

🗓️ April 10 — Emiliano Zapata Death Anniversary / Aniversario luctuoso de Emiliano Zapata

April 10 marks the anniversary of Emiliano Zapata’s death in 1919. It is a commemorative historical date in Mexico, especially noted in official and cultural contexts.

🗓️ April 10 — Last Day of SEP Easter Break

For many students in Mexico under the SEP calendar, the Easter school break runs through April 10, so this is an important planning date for families.

🤓 Fun Fact / Mexican Phrase

Pozole, the famous soup, was once made with ingredients used in Aztec ceremonies.

Con gusto. — Friendly Mexican version of “you’re welcome.”

👥 Community Wisdom

Here’s what our Facebook community shared this week — 3.3K views · 418 comments (and counting)

📌 Top 5 Community Tips (Summarized):

1. Learn Spanish and Use It Daily.

This was easily the biggest theme. Many people said newcomers make life harder by expecting English, avoiding Spanish, or not making any effort to communicate. Even imperfect Spanish was seen as a sign of respect and a big step toward integrating better.

2. Stop Comparing Mexico to Back Home.

A huge number of comments said people struggle when they expect Mexico to work like the U.S. or Canada. The repeated advice was to stop trying to remake Mexico into the place you left and instead accept it for what it is.

3. Patience and Flexibility Matter More Than People Expect.

Many comments pointed to impatience as a major mistake. People mentioned slower timelines, different social norms, and a more relaxed pace of life. The overall message was that things usually get done, but not always on the schedule newcomers expect.

4. Respect the Culture, Laws, and Local People.

Another strong pattern was respect. Commenters said entitlement, rude behavior, ignoring local laws, and acting like the rules should bend for foreigners creates problems fast. People repeatedly emphasized that life goes better when newcomers stay humble, polite, and culturally aware.

5. Integrate Into Real Life Instead of Staying in a Bubble.

Many people warned against only sticking to tourist zones, gated expat circles, or familiar comforts. They said everyday life improves when people build local relationships, explore beyond foreigner-heavy spaces, and actually participate in the community around them.

See the full post + comments:👉 Facebook Group post

Quiz Answer: The Yucatán Peninsula.