¡Hola amigos! This week, all attention is on the August 1 tariff deadline. Sheinbaum says talks with the U.S. are still underway, but the clock’s ticking.

Also in the mix: Mexico announces a new e-visa for air travelers, updates the biometric CURP timeline, and hosts 150 Haitian troops for military training. 

And on a lighter note… chile en nogada season is upon us. Forks up.

❓Mexico Trivia

In what mountain region of Mexico do some Indigenous communities still carry on whistled speech traditions?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

📣 Que Paso

💼 In her Monday mañanera this week, President Sheinbaum said negotiations are still underway to avoid Trump’s new tariffs before they take effect August 1. She raised the issue last week in meetings with the U.S. ambassador and U.S. congressmen.

🍅 A 17% U.S. tariff on Mexican tomatoes took effect July 14, triggering a domestic price crash and putting up to 200,000 rural jobs at risk. Some producers are locked into export contracts and forced to absorb the cost, while others scramble to pivot crops or renegotiate.

💳 Bybit just launched a crypto debit card in Mexico through Mastercard and Pomelo, which allows users to spend 8 types of digital assets at over 150 million merchants worldwide. The card is open to foreigners as well – no Mexican credit history or tax ID required. Just a passport or national ID for signup.

🏛️ President Sheinbaum scolded Morena party members caught vacationing in luxury abroad, reminding them that public funds “belong to the people.” She also said officials should live without luxuries, bodyguards, or hiding behind office walls.

🌿 Nayarit announced a major expansion of its sustainable tourism strategy, unveiling a new airport terminal in Tepic and plans for 33 microdestinations focused on cultural, ecological, and rural tourism.

⚖️ President Sheinbaum said she’s “very pleased” the newly elected Supreme Court will take office September 1, but hasn’t confirmed if she’ll attend the swearing-in, saying it depends on whether she’s invited.

🌊 The U.S. and Mexico signed a long-awaited agreement to clean up the Tijuana River, with Mexico pledging $93M in infrastructure and committing to a 2027 project timeline. Over 100 billion gallons of sewage have polluted California beaches since 2018, sickening residents, and even those on land.

🪖 Haiti deployed 150 soldiers to Mexico for a two-month training program to help combat gang violence back home — part of a larger plan to rebuild its armed forces and train 700 troops in total.

🚡 Mexico City announced Cablebús Line 4, set to become the world’s longest urban cable car at 11.4km. It will connect 39 neighborhoods in the south, cut commutes by 20 minutes, and integrate with UNAM and major transit lines.

🍎 Your Health Pulse

Don’t Let One Medical Bill End Your Mexico Dream

Medical costs in Mexico have skyrocketed and too many people are still relying on outdated info to make healthcare decisions. Join our live, 75-minute online workshop where we’ll unpack 7 costly healthcare myths that could put your savings – and even your residency plans – at risk. Walk away with clear, actionable steps to protect yourself, your finances, and your future in Mexico.

It happens Wednesday, July 30 at 6 pm CDMX time.

→ Reserve your spot now

🏠 Real Estate Roundup 

Address Change Rules for Temporary & Permanent Residents

Here’s a small but critical rule that often flies under the radar…

If you're a temporary or permanent resident in Mexico and you change your address, you’re legally required to notify INM within 90 calendar days.

Failure to notify INM in time may result in a fine under Article 158 of the Migration Law.

The process isn’t complicated, but you do need to get it right: You’ll need a letter signed under oath to tell the truth, that states your old and new address, the date of the move, and the original and a copy of your resident card.

The form must be filled out online through the INM portal, then printed and signed. If you’re updating for a minor, a parent or legal guardian must sign it.

Need to change your address? Click here to get started.

📍Immigration Essentials

New E-Visa for Foreign Nationals Arriving by Air

The Mexican government is introducing a new electronic visa (e-visa) system for foreign nationals entering Mexico by air who will not engage in paid work. 

The goal? Streamlining the application process with a fully digital system.

The e-visa will allow single-entry stays of up to 180 days and will only be valid for air travel – it cannot be used for land or sea entry.

Key highlights:

• The e-visa will be issued with a QR code and stored in a digital file.

• No photographs or physical copies will be needed — everything will be processed online.

• Applicants will upload a passport photo, an image of their passport’s data page, and complete an online form.

• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) will announce which nationalities qualify for the e-visa.

The e-visa system is expected to roll out within 180 days from when the official guidelines take effect, which is 15 days after their publication in the Official Gazette.

🇲🇽 Viva México

The Sacred Stingless Bees of the Yucatán

Deep in the jungles of the Yucatán there’s a golden treasure that’s been cherished by the Maya for over 3,000 years: Melipona honey.

Tiny, stingless bees (Melipona beecheii) produce just one to two liters of it per hive each year, compared to 30-60 liters from European bees.

It’s often called “liquid gold” for its rarity, medicinal properties, and cultural value. With nearly twice the water content of conventional honey, it has a wine-like consistency and a tangy, complex flavor that shifts with the seasons.

The rich biodiversity of the Yucatán gives these bees access to over 200 native plant species, creating honey that tastes like liquid flowers layered with earthy, spicy notes.

The Maya saw Melipona bees as divine messengers, linked to the honey god Ah Mucen Kab. 

Beekeeping was as much a spiritual practice as a livelihood. Priests presided over harvests and religious ceremonies, using the honey for offerings and medicine. Their deep reverence is recorded in the Madrid Codex, a sacred Maya manuscript that details both rituals and beekeeping methods.

While Melipona bees naturally build their nests in tree cavities, the Maya traditionally kept them in hollowed logs. 

But traditional meliponiculture is fading. The rise of European honeybees, deforestation, and pesticide use have pushed stingless bee populations into decline — and today, fewer than 500 Maya beekeepers are practicing in Yucatán.

One effort keeping it alive is Kuxtalil, a cooperative of 97 Maya women from nine towns across the region. Kuxtalil means “gift of life” – a name that reflects both the bees’ sacred role and the transformation of the women who care for them.

Through training in cooperative management, bee care, and business development, these women are helping protect these endangered native bees. Under their brand, Yaal-Kab, they sell not just honey, but also handmade soaps, creams, and shampoos.

These products create income while protecting endangered bees, preserving ancestral wisdom, and restoring balance between community and nature.

🪷 Viva Wellness

Build Your Mexican Herbal First Aid Kit

You don’t need a prescription to tap into Mexico’s most powerful healers. All you need are a few humble plants.

Passed down through generations, these botanical remedies remain part of daily life thanks to their simplicity and wide-ranging benefits.

Skip the pharmacy and stock your home with these time-tested Mexican plant remedies instead.

Tepezcohuite (pronounced: teh-pez-co-WEE-teh)
This bark gained national attention after helping treat burn victims after a major industrial accident. Nicknamed Nature’s Neosporin, it boosts collagen, speeds skin repair, and prevents infection. It’s a go-to for acne, rashes, sunburns, and minor wounds.

Manzanilla
In Mexican homes, Manzanilla is used for stomachaches, nervous tension, menstrual cramps. It’s also used in warm compresses for red itchy eyes and skin rashes.

Chilcuague (pronounced cheel-KWAH-geh)
This potent root has antibacterial, antifungal, and numbing properties. It’s great for everything from sore throats, toothaches, and even digestive discomfort. Start small…this root is powerful. Topically, it helps with cuts and insect bites.

Mexican Árnica
A trusted remedy for sprains, sore muscles, and bruises, Arnica is typically used as a salve, it reduces inflammation and speeds recovery. It’s also commonly used as a post sobada (a traditional healing massage) treatment. Read more about it in last week’s issue.

Mexican Tarragon
Traditional healers have treasured this herb, known as yauhtli in Nahuatl, for centuries. Valued not only as a flavorful cooking herb, but as a sacred plant of ceremony and healing. It has antispasmodic and calming effects. It’s steeped as tea to ease digestion, diarrhea, and flu symptoms, and also used for anxiety or insomnia

🎉 Vamos! Events

🌶️ Chile en Nogada Festival – Weekends in August, San Nicolás de los Ranchos, Puebla 
The 2025 edition, titled Entre Volcanes y Sabores (“Between Volcanoes and Flavors”), brings together over 50 traditional cooks serving Puebla’s most iconic dish. Held every weekend at Unidad Deportiva El Ciprés, the event also features live music, artisan markets, volcanic stone workshops, horseback rides, classic car expos, and guided tours to Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl. Plates start at $250 pesos. More info here.

🎭 FASMA – August 1–17, San Miguel de Allende
San Miguel becomes Mexico’s cultural capital this August as FASMA returns for its third edition. With Austria as this year’s guest country, expect 100+ events across music, theater, film, dance, literature, and more — many of them free or low-cost. Performances will pop up in plazas, public spaces, and beloved venues across the city. More info here.

🦐 Festival del Pescado y Marisco – August 2, Rosarito Beach Hotel
Rosarito’s tastiest seaside tradition returns with the 2025 Festival del Pescado y Marisco. Sample 10 ocean-fresh bites and 5 local wine tastings while enjoying live music and artistic performances – all with ocean views. Tickets cost $750 MXN in advance or $950 MXN day-of and include a commemorative glass. More info here.

🍎 Feria de la Manzana – August 9–17, Zacatlán, Puebla
Zacatlán’s biggest celebration of the year returns for its 40th edition with nine days of music, food, and tradition in this scenic Pueblo Mágico. General admission is $100 pesos and includes access to 20 fair rides and the Teatro del Pueblo. Events are held throughout town and at the Explanada Municipal. More info here.

🥜 Feria de la Nuez – August 13–17, Amecameca, Estado de México
This iconic walnut fair in Amecameca returns for its 40th year with food, music, and flavor-packed tradition. Shop for nuez de castilla, dig into regional dishes and desserts, browse artisan stalls, and catch free concerts — including Banda Jerez and the legendary Banda de Tlayacapan. Held at the Recinto Ferial across from Hacienda Panoaya. Free entry. More info here.

🌺 Hummingbird Festival – August 12–16, Vallarta Botanical Garden
Celebrate nature’s tiniest aerial acrobats at the Vallarta Botanical Garden’s Hummingbird Festival. Expect guided walks, origami and thaumatrope workshops, photo challenges, and hands-on crafts for all ages, plus a chance to cool off in the jungle river. Garden admission is $300 pesos and workshop spots fill fast, so plan ahead. More info here.

🍦 Heladiza Fest – August 16–17, Parque de la Paz, Mérida 
Icy treats take center stage at this free, family-friendly festival in Mérida’s Parque de la Paz. Now in its third edition, Heladiza Fest brings together local brands and Yucatecan entrepreneurs offering artisanal ice cream, popsicles, gelato, iced coffee, chamoyadas, and more. Expect live music, sweet snacks, and activities for all ages. More info here.

💡 Say It in Spanish

¿Necesito sacar turno?

Translation: Do I need to take a number?

This one will save you from awkward waiting room limbo. In banks, government offices, and even clinics, turnos (little number slips) determine your turn – and they’re not always obvious.

Here’s how to use it properly:

“Buenos días, ¿necesito sacar turno o me espero aquí?”
(Good morning, do I need to take a number or should I wait here?)

Ask this up front and you’ll avoid the guessing game — and waiting longer than you need to.

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🎯 Mexico Trivia Answer

In the highlands of Oaxaca, languages like Chinantec and Mazateco include a rare and beautiful tradition: whistled speech.

Used for generations by farmers in steep, forested terrain, these whistles mimic the tones and patterns of spoken language — allowing conversations to travel up to a kilometer across ravines. While the practice is fading, it’s still preserved in remote communities like San Pedro Sochiapam and in the northern part of Oaxaca by the Mazatec people.

Check out this video about the Mazateco whistling tradition.

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