¡Hola amigos! This week, we’re diving into the land deal that’s tripped up more than a few foreign buyers, what to know before hiring household staff, and why Mexico’s health budget just hit a 15-year low.

Plus, Mazatlán sets a Guinness record in raw tuna, and Banxico lowers its 2025 growth forecast.

📣Que Paso

📉 Mexico’s central bank lowered its 2025 growth forecast from 1.5% to 1.4%, citing weak industrial activity, stagnant foreign investment, and global uncertainty as reasons for the downgrade.

🏥 Mexico’s public health spending dropped 14.3% in Q1 2025 – the lowest level since 2010 – as officials cite budget reallocations.

⚖️ President Sheinbaum defended Mexico’s judicial election after just 13% of voters turned out on Sunday, stating “Mexico is the most democratic country in the world”.

💊 Mexico is making moves to boost domestic pharmaceutical production of medicines, vaccines, and medical devices.

💸 Mexico recorded its steepest drop in remittances since 2012, with a 3.3% decline in April.

✈️ Aer Lingus will launch its first-ever direct flights from Dublin to Cancún on January 6, 2026. The seasonal route will run three times a week through April 29.

🍣 Mazatlán set a new Guinness World Record on May 31 with the world’s largest tuna sashimi – stretching over 1 kilometer and made with 2 tons of fresh tuna by more than 300 chefs and volunteers. Watch the highlights here.

🍎 Your Health Pulse

What Your International Health Insurance Might Be Missing

Most people living in Mexico assume their international health insurance has them fully covered – until they end up paying out-of-pocket for something they thought was included.

Many essential protections like emergency evacuation, outpatient care, or prescription benefits aren’t standard…they’re add-ons called policy riders.

And you usually can’t add them once your policy is active. Some riders only cost a few hundred dollars a year. Others can save you from 5-figure medical bills.

Choosing the right riders isn’t about over-insuring. It’s about protecting yourself from financial surprises and making sure your policy actually works when you need it.

Keep reading for the different types of international health insurance policy riders, key things to keep in mind, and how much you can expect to pay.

Mexican Hospitals Don't Have to Accept your Insurance

Even with "good health coverage," people are being forced to pay thousands out-of-pocket. Free workshop reveals the critical differences that catch most foreigners off guard and how to navigate Mexican healthcare without costly surprises.

Register for free!

🏠 Real Estate Roundup 

The Land Deal That Could Cost You Everything

It’s one of the most common (and costly) mistakes foreigners make when purchasing property in Mexico: Buying Ejido land.

Ejido land is communal land granted by the Mexican government after the 1910 Revolution. It was never meant to be sold to outsiders – it’s held by local communities (ejidatarios) and regulated under Agrarian Law.

Here’s the catch: Ejido land is not private property, and it can’t be legally sold to foreigners.

Yet it’s often found in attractive areas – including beachfront towns – where prices are low and deals seem too good to pass up.

If you buy land without verifying its legal status, you could be labeled a trespasser and lose your investment with no legal recourse. Some foreigners have unknowingly built homes or condos on Ejido plots, only to find out later they have no legal title.

While it's true that Ejido land can sometimes be regularized and converted into private property, the process is long, expensive, and uncertain – and still subject to right-of-refusal rules from community members and heirs.

Always verify title through a certified notary and work with a real estate attorney who understands local land laws.

If the land isn’t in the Public Registry, walk away. There are plenty of free-title properties in Mexico – and no reason to gamble with one that isn’t.

📍 Immigration Essentials

Household Staff in Mexico: What to Know Before You Hire

Mexican law requires you to formally register household workers – such as maids, gardeners, or nannies – with the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS). Yes, even part-time help.

Every domestic worker must have a contract, regardless of how many days they work. That contract should clearly state:

• Workdays and schedule (e.g. Monday–Friday, or 2 days/week)

• Daily wage (not hourly – this is required by Mexican labor law)

• Benefits and vacation entitlement, including holiday pay

• Social security coverage and your commitment to IMSS registration

• Type and term of contract (temporary or permanent)

• Termination clauses, outlining notice periods and severance rules

For part-time staff, vacation and benefits must be calculated proportionally. If they work holidays, the law requires pay at triple the daily rate.

Social security registration is mandatory. The process can now be done online, but monthly filings are still required, even when no payroll is being run.

It’s best to hire an accountant for accuracy, but don’t give them control of your IMSS payments. Instead, ask them to prepare your paperwork so you can make the payments yourself. It’s safer and keeps your records clean.

Always document payments (receipts or transfers) and keep them attached to the contract – this can protect you legally if any disputes arise later.

Click here for the full breakdown on staying compliant.

🇲🇽 Viva México

Papel Picado: From Aztec Ritual to Revolutionary Folk Art

The story of papel picado is often told as simple decoration, but its roots are far older and far more complex.

Before the Spanish arrived, the Aztecs made ceremonial paper from the bark of mulberry and fig trees (amate). This wasn't a party décor. It was sacred. They used it to craft banners for rituals and to honor gods.

After colonization, amate was suppressed by Spanish religious authorities, who saw it as pagan. But Indigenous communities adapted.

In the 1800s, people working on haciendas in Puebla encountered imported Chinese tissue paper (papel de China), sold in company stores. Artisans in San Salvador Huixcolotla began cutting it into layered designs – not just for visual beauty, but as an act of cultural continuity.

By the early 20th century, these banners began appearing at Día de Muertos altars, Catholic feasts, and civic festivals. But it wasn’t until the 1960s – when a Mexican anthropologist exhibited Huixcolotla’s work in Mexico City – that papel picado was recognized as a legitimate folk art.

Each banner holds layers of meaning: yellow and orange for death, purple for mourning, white for purity. Figures like skulls, saints, and national icons aren’t just decoration…they represent memory, resistance, and the living culture of the people who make them.

Today, artisans in Huixcolotla still chisel designs by hand, 50 layers at a time. And each sheet, fragile as it is, holds centuries of survival – fluttering above streets as a testament to joy, loss, and endurance.

🪷 Viva Wellness

Yauhtli: The Herb of Rain, Ritual, and Renewal

Known as yauhtli in Nahuatl, Mexican tarragon (Tagetes lucida) has been cherished for centuries as both medicine and ritual. Indigenous cultures burned it as incense in ceremonies honoring the rain god Tlaloc, calling in the life-giving storms of the season.

Yauhtli often blooms after the first rains, signaling renewal and abundance. In traditional medicine, it’s still used to ease colds, fevers, stomach upset, and even emotional ailments such as anxiety and susto – the "fright illness" rooted in trauma.

Its sweet anise flavor (like French tarragon, but bolder) makes it a standout in the kitchen. Fresh leaves add depth to salsas, tamales, and chicken dishes.

The golden flowers? They are 100% edible.

A pot of yauhtli on your patio brings more than color. Snip a few leaves for tea to calm the nerves, soothe digestion, or invite more vivid dreams.

Whether you’re seasoning dinner or steeping a mug before bed, this sunshine-hued herb is a true Mexican treasure.

🎉 Vamos! Can’t Miss Events

🎨 2nd International Mosaic Symposium – June 2–13, Rosarito
Watch art come alive by the sea as global mosaic artists gather in Rosarito for two weeks of color, creativity, and cultural exchange. Expect hands-on workshops, artist talks, and the unveiling of a collaborative public mural. Click for more info.

🏜️ SCORE Baja 500 – June 4-8, Ensenada, Baja California
Rev up for the legendary Baja 500 – a rugged off-road rally through desert, coastline, and mountain terrain around Ensenada. Part of the iconic SCORE World Desert Championship, this high-octane race draws elite drivers from around the globe and hardcore fans from across Mexico. Get more info here.

🍷 Festival Internacional del Vino – June 6–7, San Luis Potosí
Raise a glass at the 13th edition of Mexico's premier wine celebration. Held at the historic Centro de las Artes, this festival features over 500 wines from national and international wineries, alongside artisanal beers, mezcals, gourmet experiences, and live music. Enjoy premium tastings, culinary pairings, and a vibrant atmosphere perfect for wine enthusiasts and foodies alike. Get more info here.

🎬 40th Guadalajara International Film Festival – June 6–14, Guadalajara 
Portugal takes the spotlight as Guest of Honor at Latin America’s biggest film fest, with over 30 featured films from past to present. The 40th anniversary of FICG brings more than 170 screenings. Click for more info.

🌵 Nopal Fair – June 7–8, Monumento a la Revolución, CDMX
Celebrate Mexico’s beloved cactus at this free two-day festival featuring nopal-based dishes, drinks, cosmetics, and natural remedies. Enjoy live music, cultural talks, and family-friendly activities…all in the heart of the city. Get more info here.

🌈 Marcha del Orgullo GDL – June 7, Guadalajara
Join one of Mexico’s largest Pride celebrations as the Marcha del Orgullo GDL returns on Saturday, June 7. Gather at 2:00 pm at the iconic Glorieta Minerva, with the march commencing at 3:00 pm. This year's theme, "Rompiendo barreras, construyendo sueños" ("Breaking barriers, building dreams"), spotlights the inclusion of LGBTQ+ individuals with disabilities. Click here for more info.

🍷 Festival del Vino Mexicano – June 7, Guadalajara
Now in its 11th edition, FEVINO brings over 60 Mexican wineries, gourmet pairings, and live music to Jardín Parque Ávila Camacho. Sip, snack, and celebrate the best of Mexico’s wine scene. Get tickets here.

💡 Say It in Spanish

“¿Me puedes hacer un mandado?”

Translation: Can you run an errand for me?

This one’s gold when you’ve got a neighbor, housekeeper, or friend who’s already heading out – and you need something from the store, market, or pharmacy.

In Mexico, hacer un mandado is more than just "doing a chore" – it’s woven into everyday life. From grabbing tortillas to picking up a prescription, this phrase is your key to asking for a quick favor like a local.

Bonus: If your neighbor or someone in your building asks you this, it’s a great opportunity to say yes – and start building trust and connection in your community. 🙌

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.

Want to reach globally minded readers living in Mexico? Email us at [email protected] to chat about partnership opportunities.

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