¡Hola amigos! This week, tomatoes just got cheaper, CIBanco drops its lawsuit against the U.S., Intercam’s being acquired, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio is headed to Mexico to sign a bilateral security deal.

Also, we’re breaking down the best money transfer apps, what your temporary residency card actually gets you, and the Spanish phrase for when that deposit’s taking its sweet time.

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❓México Trivia

What ancient jungle murals shocked scholars by revealing Maya kings weren’t so peaceful after all?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

📣 Qué Paso

Mexico’s Ministry of Finance confirmed last week that Kapital Bank will acquire a significant portion of Intercam Grupo Financiero's brokerage, asset management, and operational banking assets. Read the official release here.

⚖️ CIBanco dropped its lawsuit against the U.S. Treasury and FinCEN, citing the negative impact the money laundering allegations have had on its business.

📱 Banamex app returned to normal operation on Monday after a 12-hour outage that left 75% of users unable to access mobile banking, with disruptions also reported at ATMs and online platforms.

📉 Annual inflation in Mexico stood at 3.49% in mid-August — little changed from 3.48% in the second half of July. Core inflation, which excludes energy and fresh-food prices, slipped to 4.21% from 4.22%.

🍅 Tomato prices in Mexico dropped 8.78% in mid-August, after the end of the Tomato Suspension Agreement led to U.S. tariffs and a surplus of tomatoes in the domestic market. 

🇲🇽 U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Mexico the first week of September to sign a binational security agreement aimed at combating narcoterrorism. The date and time are expected to be finalized this week, according to President Sheinbaum.

🍞 Grupo Bimbo announced it will remove all artificial colorants from its products worldwide by the end of 2026.

📚 In her Monday mañanera, President Sheinbaum explained that thanks to the new “Mi Derecho, Mi Lugar” platform (My Right, My Place), students can now choose the school of their choice instead of having to compete through entrance exams. This year, 68.4% were admitted to their first choice — compared to just 26.2% under the old exam system.

🗳️ President Sheinbaum says she is not seeking to impeach, fine, or jail Senator Lilly Téllez after the Mexican senator appeared on Fox News last week.

🍎 Your Health Pulse

What You Risk without Health Insurance in Mexico

Whether you're just visiting or living in Mexico full-time, being uninsured can leave you vulnerable – both medically and financially. Here's what you need to know:

High Out-of-Pocket Costs: Private hospitals require upfront payment with costs ranging anywhere from MXN 5,000 – 50,000 to start treatment.

Limited Access to Quality Care: Private hospitals in Mexico offer modern facilities and, in some cases, English-speaking staff. But without insurance, they may be out of reach. Public hospitals are more affordable, but often have long wait times, limited resources, and Spanish-only communication.

Inaccessibility for Non-Residents: Only temporary or permanent residents or spouses of Mexican nationals can enroll in IMSS. Tourists and temporary workers without residency must rely on private care.

Tourist Area Price Surges: In places like Cancún or Los Cabos, private clinics may charge inflated rates to uninsured foreigners.

Want to know what navigating the system without coverage really looks like?

Read the full article here.

🧩 Life in México

Which Money App Gives You the Most Pesos?

When the U.S. sanctioned Intercam and CiBanco a few weeks back, many of us were left scrambling for new ways to move money safely into Mexico.

Many turned to money transfer apps. But which one is actually the cheapest, easiest, and safest way to send money?

Friend of the newsletter George Revis from MexEdge put them to the test. He transferred $6,000 USD using six of the most popular international money apps – including Wise, Remitly, Revolut, Xoom, XE, and DolarApp – to find out which one gives you the most pesos for your dollars.

He breaks it all down in this quick video, including:

• Which app gave the most (and least) pesos

• How some apps hide fees in terrible exchange rates

• How long transfers actually took to arrive

• Which apps were the easiest to use

Watch the full breakdown here.

📍Immigration Essentials

What You Can (and Can’t) Do With a Temporary Residency Card

Holding a Residente Temporal card gives you more than just the legal right to live in Mexico – it comes with privileges, and a few important limits. Here’s what you need to know once your temporary residency is approved:

Rights and obligations of temporary residents include:

• Living in Mexico full - or part-time for up to 4 years

• Traveling freely in and out of Mexico

• Opening Mexican bank accounts

• Applying for public healthcare (IMSS)

• Registering a Mexican-plated vehicle

• Temporarily importing a foreign-plated car with a TIP

• Applying for an RFC (Mexican tax ID)

• Importing household goods duty-free (one time)

• Applying for permanent residency after 4 years – or after 2 if married to a Mexican national

Working is possible, but only with permission from INM, unless your visa was sponsored by an employer. 

You’ll also be issued a CURP, Mexico’s population ID number, which you’ll need for many legal and financial processes.

But keep in mind, temporary residents cannot vote and can’t directly own land within 50 km of the coast or 100 km from a border. If you’re buying property in those zones, you’ll need to do so through a fideicomiso (bank trust).

Also required? Notifying INM within 90 days of any major change, such as a new address, new job, marriage, or divorce. Don’t overlook this…there’s a fee for not filing these notifications in the designated timeframe.

🇲🇽 Viva México

Mexico’s Secret Wrestling Priest

In the late 1970s, a new luchador by the name of Fray Tormenta entered Mexico's world of wrestling. Unknown to fans at the time, the man behind the mask was Father Sergio Gutiérrez Benítez – a Mexican priest devoted to caring for orphans.

Father Sergio, who battled addiction in his youth before joining the priesthood, opened an orphanage in 1976. But funding was tight.

So, he made a bold and unexpected move…he entered the wrestling ring as Fray Tormenta..

His training regime was punishing – four hours at the gym every morning, finishing just in time for 7 am mass. Parishioners never suspected why their priest sometimes appeared at church with mysterious bruises and wincing in pain.

Although it’s common in Mexican wrestling for a fighter’s identity to be revealed after losing a mask match, Fray Tormenta’s secret was revealed by accident.

One day, he let slip that he had to turn down a fight because he had to officiate a wedding.

Within days, word spread that the red-and-gold masked luchador Fray Tormenta was a real priest.

The revelation turned out to be a blessing. It opened doors to exhibition matches around the world and brought more support to his orphanage mission. Donations to his orphanage increased as Mexicans were charmed by their wrestling priest.

Over the next 23 years, he fought across Mexico and abroad, using his fame to support his orphanage – which has cared for over 2,000 children.

Father Sergio's remarkable story inspired the 2006 comedy "Nacho Libre," starring Jack Black, where he even made a cameo.

Although Fray Tormenta is retired from wrestling (he’s now in his 80s), his legacy lives on. A new wrestler dons the same mask, and Fray Tormenta Junior fights to raise funds for the orphanage.

See the moment Fray Tormenta’s secret identity was revealed to the world.

🪷 Viva Wellness

Plumeria’s Place in Mexico’s Healing Traditions

Plumeria, also known as Frangipani, Flor de Mayo, or Cacaloxóchitl in Mexico, has long been cherished not only for its beauty and intoxicating fragrance but also for its spiritual symbolism and natural healing benefits.

Native to Mexico and Central America, Plumeria held sacred meaning for both Nahuatl-speaking peoples and the Maya. 

To the Aztecs, it represented fertility, power, and divine favor – often reserved for noble gardens. The Maya saw it as a symbol of resilience and renewal – a flower that continues to bloom even after being uprooted, mirroring life’s eternal cycles.

That symbolism carries into modern rituals. During Día de los Muertos, plumeria serves as a spiritual messenger – its hypnotic scent is believed to guide souls back to the world of the living. It’s placed on altars as an offering of love, protection, and remembrance. 

But Plumeria’s magic goes beyond ceremony.

Traditional healers used its sap and flowers for toothaches and earaches, while bark and root preparations were made for digestive troubles, fevers, and rheumatism. Such remedies were always handled with care, since parts of the plant can be toxic in excess.

Modern studies show that the plant contains potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. Its flowers, in particular, show promise for soothing skin irritation. 

Plumeria also holds a place in Mexico’s culinary traditions.

While not eaten, its blossoms are sometimes used to scent ceremonial drinks – from warm maize-based atole and chocolate drinks like bu’pu, to aguas frescas like horchata and even fruit wines. 

🎉 Vamos! Events

🎺 Festival Internacional del Mariachi y la Charrería – August 27–September 7, Guadalajara, Jalisco 
Guadalajara goes full fiesta mode as more than 500 mariachi musicians from Mexico, Colombia, the U.S., and beyond fill the city with color, parades, galas, and open-air concerts. Expect colorful parades, galas at Teatro Degollado, arena-style charrería events, and open-air concerts in plazas and parks. It’s one of Mexico’s most iconic cultural festivals – and a must-see for lovers of music, horses, and heritage. More info here.

🎤 Two Nights of English Comedy in CDMX – Aug 28 & Sept 5, CDMX
Get your belly laughs in en inglés! On August 28, head to #Hashtag Gallery in Condesa for MejijicoCity: English Comedy Night, hosted by Bryan Yañez and featuring comics from Mexico, Venezuela, and the US. The laughs start at 7 pm. Get ticket info here. Then on September 5, don’t miss Identity Crisis at Woko Comedy Club – a double-headliner show with Martín León and Bryan Yañez, two legends of Mexico’s English comedy scene, joined by Mariana Ramírez. Tickets MX$250. More info here.

🎡 Feria de Torreón 2025 – Sept 5–Oct 5, Torreón, Coahuila
Get ready for the 79th edition of the Feria de Torreón, bringing a month of music, food, and family fun to the Laguna region. From Los Primeritos de Colombia on opening night (Sept 5) to Tropicalísimo Apache closing the fair (Oct 5), the lineup includes Josi Cuen & Jorge Medina, Liberación, El Poder del Norte, and more. Beyond concerts, visitors can enjoy Illusion on Ice, Circo Roncaly, carnival rides, and local cuisine. More info here.

🍷 Festival del Vino Norteño – September 13, Ensenada, Baja California
Sip, swirl, and celebrate Independence Day weekend at Taelum Viñedos with northern wines, mariachi, muralists, and Baja ranch flavors. Enjoy tastings, wine competitions, artisan food pairings, horse shows, and live painting in the Valle de los Atenuautas. Tickets start at MX$950 and include all food, drink, and events. More info here.

🏃 Maratón León 2025 – September 21, León, Guanajuato
Whether you're gearing up for a 10K, half marathon, or the full 42K, join runners from across Mexico in one of the country’s most beloved endurance races. Starting and finishing at Distrito León MX, the certified course weaves through leafy parks and city streets. More info here.

🎨 Feria Xcaret de Arte Popular Mexicano – September 25–28, Xcaret, Quintana Roo Celebrate Mexican folk art in all its color and craftsmanship at the 15th annual Xcaret Art Fair. Over 140 artisans from across Mexico gather to showcase textiles, pottery, woodwork, jewelry, and more. Expect live demos, regional cuisine, and cultural performances. More info here.

💡 Say It in Spanish

“¿Ya cayó el depósito?” 

Translation: Did the money come through?

This is the go-to phrase when checking if money has landed in your account – whether from a bank transfer, app, or payment.

You might hear the more formal version “¿Ya se reflejó el depósito?” at the bank, but ¿Ya cayó...? is much more common in everyday conversation.

🎯 Trivia Answer

Bonampak, in the Lacandon jungle of Chiapas.

Tucked deep in the rainforest and largely untouched until 1946, Bonampak is home to the most elaborate and best-preserved Maya murals ever found.

Three small rooms – known as the Temple of Murals – are completely covered in floor-to-ceiling paintings, showing everything from courtly celebrations to brutal battles. Dating back to 790 CE, the murals offer a rare, technicolor look into royal life during the Classic Maya period.

You’ll find them inside a pyramid platform locked behind doors to protect the ancient frescoes. Visitors must peer in from a wooden ramp to glimpse the stunning scenes still preserved inside.

See the murals for yourself.

Why El Expat Insider Mexico? Life abroad isn’t just about relocating — it’s about reinventing. Every sunrise in Mexico brings new opportunities to explore, learn, and connect. Whether you’re here for a season or a lifetime, we’re your compass for making the most of every moment. Because life’s too short to live on autopilot.

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