© 2025 © 2025 Gobierno de Santa María Huatulco Billal Rahman is an immigration reporter based in London He specializes in immigration policy and border security He has uncovered allegations of misconduct among border agents under investigation and exposed claims of abuse at ICE-run detention centers in the U.S He joined Newsweek in 2024 from The Independent He has covered the British Post Office scandal and the conflict between Israel and Hamas he studied Journalism in Edinburgh and then worked for STV News before moving to London in 2022 You can contact Billal at b.rahman@newsweek.com either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content feared to be those of missing students vacationing in Mexican state of Oaxaca were discovered beside a highway on Sunday The remains were found inside and around an abandoned car according to El Financiero and Periodico Central A bag containing eight pairs of severed hands was also recovered Mexican Cartels are infamous for amputating hands of victims The bodies had bullet wounds and visible signs of torture The car was located in San José Miahuatlán ID cards found at the scene matched missing people Angie Lizeth Pérez García (L) and Angie Lizeth P.G. who was reported missing from Santa María Huatulco in Oaxaca on February 28 Others reported missing include Brenda Mariel N. Chilling CCTV footage captures the last known sighting of the group on February 24 The friends were seen driving along the Atlixcayotl highway near the town of Atlixco approximately 90 miles west of where the remains were later discovered The gruesome discovery of their bodies came on the same day that José Alfredo who had previously run for mayor in Oaxaca's Huatulco resort area 'That's what you get for being a thief,' NVI Noticias reported Authorities have not confirmed the discovery of the bodies is cartel-related; the manner of the killings could suggest criminal organizations were involved driven by the high stakes of drug trafficking and organized crime employs ruthless tactics—from mass executions and brutal dismemberments to widespread kidnappings—to assert their power Homicides in Mexico declined last year to the lowest level since 2016 according to preliminary 2023 official data a 6.7 percent decline on the 33,287 recorded in 2022 the head of Puebla's State Attorney General's Office but I cannot reveal them due to confidentiality All relevant investigations are being carried out When we have a response and the investigation is complete we will be in a position to provide more information." Investigations into the discovery remain ongoing Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground Newsletters in your inbox See all Authorities are still trying to find out how nine young people's remains ended up in and around a car on the side of a highway Attorney General of the State of Oaxaca Facebook  Attorney General of the State of Oaxaca Facebook; Attorney General for Missing Persons from Tlaxcala Facebook Getting to the Magic Waterfalls is all part of the adventure—just keep telling that to yourself as you bounce over bumpy back roads in the Sierra Madre Mountains you’ll be ready to scramble down to the waterfall swimming under the cascade and even venturing into a cave behind the falls Wearing water shoes and bringing a change of dry clothes is highly recommended Information on this page, including website, location, and opening hours, is subject to have changed since this page was last published. If you would like to report anything that’s inaccurate, let us know at notification@afar.com. AFAR participates in affiliate marketing programs, which means we may earn a commission if you purchase an item featured on our site.© 2025 AFAR LLC Hurricane Agatha weakened after it made landfall as a category 2 hurricane in La Redonda municipality of San Pedro Pochutla in Oaxaca on 30 May 2022 Winds of 165 km/h and waves of up to 6 metres were reported on the coast of Oaxaca Agatha is thought to be the strongest ever hurricane to make landfall in May in the eastern Pacific Mexico’s Comisión Nacional del Agua (CONAGUA) issued warnings for heavy rain in the states of Oaxaca Santa María Huatulco in Oaxaca recorded 240 mm of rain in 24 hours to 31 May La Cangrejera in Veracruz 96 mm and Monclova in Campeche 90.4 mm announced on 31 May that 11 people are thought to have lost their lives in the storm with a further 32 people still missing or unaccounted for These are preliminary figures and are expected to change as the situation becomes clearer The governor said many of the fatalities were a result of flooding or landslides The worst affected areas include San Juan Ozolotepec Areas of Santa Maria Tonameca municipality were flooded after the Tonameca river overflowed Civil Protection in Oaxaca said levels of the Copalita River jumped rapidly in parts of San Miguel del Puerto municipality wind damage and landslides blocked several roads including the federal highway 175 which connects the Oaxaca coast with Veracruz At least 2 bridges have been severely damaged Damage to power infrastructure left over 200,000 people without electricity The remnants of Agatha moved northeast towards Veracruz state before dissipating The US National Hurricane Center warned that remnants of Agatha are expected to produce heavy rainfall across southeastern Mexico during the next day or two Life-threatening flash floods and mudslides are possible Richard Davies is the founder of floodlist.com and reports on flooding news Cookies | Privacy | Contacts © Copyright 2025 FloodList Municipal Palace s/n, Center of the Population, 70980 Santa María Huatulco, Oax. © 2025 © 2025 Gobierno de Santa María Huatulco. All rights reserved. I arrive at the concrete perch to see three of my dearest friends already preparing to bask in the glow To my left is a palm-studded lagoon full of crocodiles resting behind an old To my right is an undeveloped swath of golden-sand beach that spills into a jumble of silvery boulders I watch as he casts his fishing line into the ocean who live together in the home behind our weekend rental which Felicita prepares into some delicacy like white-fish ceviche or buttery prawns we’ve walked a dirt path to the organic garden out back: habanero peppers two-bedroom abode by the sea located about 45 minutes outside of Santa María Huatulco in Mexico’s southern state of Oaxaca—is sequestered along one of the most unspoiled beaches I’ve ever been to in Mexico that I chose Casa del Sapo as the setting to ring in my 33rd birthday According to a study by the Journal for The Theory of Social Behavior solitude is typically a positive state—one to be sought rather than avoided The study lists the benefits of solitude: increased freedom travelers past and present have long sought solitude through remote environmental settings—namely natural landscapes that lend themselves to introspection It’s destinations like these that tend to call forth a sense of freedom where we feel small within the grandeur of nature and are free of noise that cityscapes often produce fostering a liberating effect and awe and deeper presence It’s this desire for solitude, coupled with the last few years of disrupted travel plans, health concerns, and a staggering increase in connectivity, that could be leading to a desire for travelers to venture to more remote places than ever before. Nearly 97 percent of Americans own a cellphone of some kind, according to the Pew Research Center with 85 percent of them owning a smartphone device like an iPhone It’s no wonder we may feel the urge to get away from it all when it seems as if we never truly can She explains this rise in our need to disconnect because humanity has an excess of Vata energy due to almost everything we use to stay virtually connected—the internet The behavioral side effects of excess Vata in an individual include restlessness as well as feelings of being ungrounded and an urge to run away especially to areas one may deem to be more wild is a very reasonable impulse to counterbalance our culture's lack of true connection,” says Silcox “While we are hyper-connected through our intellects our physicality and soul may feel less connected than ever We can balance this sense of excess Vata by spending time outdoors According to the world’s preeminent travel providers experiences similar to what Silcox suggests are being increasingly requested Not only are travelers looking to disconnect from technology but they’re also increasingly interested in connecting with cultures in a more thoughtful way especially in isolated locations that provoke a natural sense of solitude “I’ve noticed a surge in inquiries for tailor-made tours that offer off-the-beaten-path activities,” says Abd-AlKareem “Travelers are looking for unique experiences that allow them to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of everyday life to find peace of mind in the serenity of nature.” Similarly, at the four-bedroom luxury homestead Flockhill Lodge in New Zealand it feels as if you’re consumed by the scale and majesty of its boundlessness Manager Andrew Cullen views this as one of the lodge’s greatest assets he lets the rugged wilds of the lodge’s surrounding 36,000 acres in the country’s sparsely populated South Island lead experiences “While going to a remote destination is typically seen as disconnecting I view it as you’re actually connecting,” says Cullen “When the wild nature of your environment dictates what your experience on any given day you learn how to be patient and let a journey take you to places or realizations you may not have expected.”  The chance to explore one of the most rugged landscapes on Earth in private is what keeps guests of the hotels coming back for multiple visits “This type of travel exposes us to new cultures often forging lifelong memories that shape the way we think,” says Matías de Cristóbal it can be a humbling experience to realize that we are a part of nature and do not just coexist alongside it It’s when we connect more deeply with nature that we may also discover a missing part of ourselves.” I reflect on the gratitude I feel for being able to spend my birthday in such a remote paradise how appreciative I am that a place like this exists So many friends I know have left cities like New York and Mexico City behind in the search for something different others have created organic gardens and farms in the countryside It makes me question if there’s something innate in us that yearns to feel connected to the land in places that stir this sense of solitude and introspection At a time when the world felt chaotic and our futures were completely out of our control this is what we reverted to—literal grounding by becoming more enmeshed with the land that’s where we should have been all along The Danish Home Lighting Trend That Can Improve Your Mental Health In America’s Cities, Saunas Are Becoming the Hottest Social Spot Millie Bobby Brown Shares Her Favorite Paella Recipe—and Details About Her Wedding to Jake Bongiovi A Day-by-Day Guide to Hiking the Legendary Nakasendo Trail in Japan Never miss a Vogue moment and get unlimited digital access for just $2 $1 per month seaside restaurants and poised pools with a view in Huatulco The town of Huatulco rests alongside the sweeping Sierra Madre mountains on Oaxaca state’s pristine Pacific coast Here you’ll find the pre-Hispanic ruins of the Parque Eco-Arqueológico Copalita and the bountiful bays chalky white sands and sapphire waters of the protected Huatulco National Park also known as Bahias de Huatulco National Park All of this makes the area a great choice for those who want to combine culture with a Mexican beach break in and around town – all bookable with Culture Trip Courtesy of Casa Mauna / Booking.com Casa Mauna is a boutique hotel best-suited to courting couples a short walk from the sand of Salchi beach There are only six luxurious suites here so you’ll be guaranteed attentive service and a stay away from the crowds minimalist rooms all have views out over the ocean as does the infinity pool and its luxurious loungers The restaurant offers uniquely plant-based like potato curry samosas and cucumber pineapple ceviche Courtesy of Princess Mayev Hotel / Expedia Hotel Princess Mayev looks out onto the white sand and blue water of Chahué Bay are the perfect place to wake up before a day of exploring Choose from a golf session or a more rigorous expedition of white-water rafting quad biking or horseback riding on the beach before kicking back by the pool to wind down on return The hotel’s tour desk is on hand for trips to spy turtles and dolphins Courtesy of Camino Real Zaashila / Expedia Camino Real Zaashila Huatulco sits on its own private beach within the Tangolunda Bay its whitewashed village-style setup features a series of arches and alcoves popping with just the right amount of tropical color whether it’s knocking a ball about on the tennis court doing laps of the 120m (394ft) pool or hitting the on-site gym wind down in the poolside loungers and look out at the Pacific’s blue waters Courtesy of Barceló Huatulco / Expedia Barceló Huatulco is a reliable all-inclusive resort with 351 rooms that looks out onto the ocean at Tangolunda Bay two buffet-style and four with gourmet à la carte offerings It’s also the only hotel in the area with its own water park Sign up to our newsletter to save up to $800 on our unique trips See privacy policy Courtesy of Quinta Real Huatulco / Expedia Quinta Real Huatulco is a beautiful fusion of Mexican and Moroccan-inspired architecture marble bathrooms and individual balconies with supreme bay views La Cuija Beach Club is a swanky place to relax poolside by day and by night Courtesy of Quinta Bella Huatulco / Expedia Hotel Quinta Bella sits in exquisite Chahué Bay spacious rooms all have their own balconies and petite private pools so you can soak up the ocean breeze while taking a dip this is the place for you – since there are five restaurants offering deluxe cuisine from salmon tartare at the Terrazza del Mar to marinated meats on Japanese Shinpo grills at the Asian-inspired Restaurante Uno Courtesy of Dreams Huatulco Resort & Spa / Expedia Dreams Huatulco is a luxurious all-inclusive resort it’s safe to say you won’t be without bathing options exploring the nearby Sierra Madre waterfalls or even chartering your own private boat to see more of the coastline there’s the beautiful Dreams Spa by Pevonia where you can treat yourself to treatments like a Swedish massage or a seaweed body wrap Courtesy of Villas Fa-Sol / Expedia Villas Fa-Sol Huatulco comprises 17 oceanfront suites all decorated in bright whites with soft wooden furnishings for that ultimate beach-villa feel With private access to two of Huatulco’s scenic beaches (there are over 30 in total) you can enjoy simply sunbathing on the beach or snorkeling to see some of the Pacific Coast’s underwater creatures Courtesy of Agua Azul la Villa / Expedia If big resorts aren’t your thing set up as a bed and breakfast with traditional palapa palm-thatched roofs The charming and cozy rooms are named after local wildlife and the virgin beach of Punta Arena is a short stroll away – best seen at daybreak An abundant continental breakfast is served each morning and includes freshly squeezed juices baked goods and locally grown Oaxacan coffee See & Do The 10 Best Things to See and Do in Pachuca See & Do The Most Beautiful Plazas in Mexico City Guides & Tips A Guide To The Palacio De Bellas Artes See & Do Must-Visit Attractions in the Copper Canyon See & Do The Top 10 Things to See and Do in Tlaxcala See & Do The Most Magical Sites to Visit in Mexico See & Do 16 Must Visit Attractions in Guadelejara See & Do A View of Mexico City Through the Xochimilco Canals See & Do Mexico's Most Stunning Lakeside Towns and Villages Guides & Tips 14 Things You Should Never Say to a Mexican See & Do Unique Indigenous Towns in Mexico See & Do How to Spend Christmas and New Years in Mexico City US: +1 (678) 967 4965 | UK: +44 (0)1630 35000 tripssupport@theculturetrip.com © Copyright 2025 The Culture Trip Ltd This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a 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Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience Police found the remains of four women and five men in Mexico Sunday,who were reportedly students vacationing the bodies were found in the municipality of San José Miahuatlán Investigators discovered the dismembered bodies, believed to belong to missing students vacationing in Oaxaca, Mexico, near a highway. They found body parts from at least nine people inside and around an abandoned car covered by a blood-stained tarp, El Financiero reports They also located a bag containing eight pairs of hands but I cannot reveal them due to confidentiality,” Idamis Pastor Betancourt the head of the State Attorney General’s Office Central Puebla Irreverente reports that police identified only two of the bodies through their ID cards: Angie Lizeth P.G. missing from Santa María Huatulco in Oaxaca since Februay 28 missing from San Pedro Pochutla in Oaxaca on the same day Betancourt indicated that all of the victims have not been publicly identified According to FOX  News Digital, other missing students included Brenda Mariel N. a gray Volkswagen Vento with aTlaxcala  license plate around 90 miles west of the site where police found the bodies “When we have a response and the investigation is complete we will be in a position to provide more information,” Betancourt added For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast Join Nancy Grace for her new online video series designed to help you protect what you love most — your children. [feature Photos: Lesly Noya Trejo and Angie Lizeth Perez Garcia/ The Attorney General of the State of Oaxaca Attorney General for Missing Persons from Tlaxcala.] Listen to the Crime Stories with Nancy Grace podcast Watch Crime Stories with Nancy Grace on YouTube CHANNEL FINDER: Watch Crime Stories with Nancy Grace on your TV winding road through the mountains is a wonderland of sweeping vistas and regional specialties that are more than worth the time If you buy something from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy Ivan Vásquez hopped on a recycled bike made from a refurbished frame and scraps and headed off to ride 118 miles along treacherous high-altitude mountain roads from Oaxaca City to Iglesia de Santa Catarina Juquila a black “Venice” hoodie his aunt had sent him from LA Vásquez made the exhausting trip — which takes a full 24 hours — as part of a grueling ritual pilgrimage that ends at the feet of the Vírgen de Juquila The petite wooden figurine of the Virgin Mary was given to a local Indigenous man in the 16th century by Fray Jordán de Santa Catalina and became an even greater object of devotion after surviving a fire in 1633 that decimated the church but left the statue intact — with a new morena complexion that resembled the native Chatinos and other Indigenous groups Each year in the days leading up to the Virgin of Juquila’s Day worn Federal Highway 131 that rises and falls with the contours of the Sierra Madre del Sur mountains accommodates thousands of Zapotecos and Maya groups from Guatemala and Chiapas as well as other Indigenous people from the region they make the trek for all sorts of reasons — to pray for a loved one or to make a vow of self-change Vásquez made the journey with the hope of helping his father overcome his alcohol dependency and to somehow come up with the money to make the payments on their family home The trip was undoubtedly hard — at one point Vásquez’s cousin found him stalled on the road leg muscles burning and cramped — but it was also riddled with pit stops that served a vast array of fortifying Oaxacan delicacies Vásquez remembers stopping roadside for memelas brushed with salty lard and topped with black bean puree and cheese helped along by the nourishment of good food he successfully completed the journey that year and repeated it twice more before ultimately leaving Oaxaca for the States at the age of 16 Vásquez now owns a mini-chain of acclaimed Oaxacan restaurants in Los Angeles known as Madre and cramps were preparing me to leave Oaxaca,” he says “It gave me the courage to come to the U.S Today, in addition to serving as the challenging path for thousands of religious pilgrims each year, the 131 Highway is one of two main roads from Oaxaca City to the Oaxacan coast and its beautiful beach towns of Puerto Escondido and Huatulco Those who choose to drive the six-plus hours to the beach and back pass through the same small villages and roadside food stands that Vásquez and his fellow journeymen stopped at during their trips the long-awaited Oaxaca-Barranca Larga-Ventanilla superhighway is slated to open nausea-inducing 131 and 175 highways and turning the trip to the coast into a short two-and-a-half-hour drive shortcuts in Oaxaca are ill-advised; what one saves in time Should you then choose to embark on your own pilgrimage down the 131 an itinerary of mouthwatering dishes awaits — as well as welcoming villages full of talented local cooks ready to cure your road weariness Vásquez shares his favorite stops and dishes found along the way wistful memories formed during childhood treks Note: You can complete this itinerary in as few as two days or up to a week depending on how long you want to stay on the coast or in any of the scenic villages Also note that while the mileage may look low Pancita de res with all the fixings at the cliffside Comedor “el rincon del sabor.” Eat this: Antojitos at Empanadas y Memelas Irlanda After you leave Oaxaca International Airport your first taste of Oaxaca is just 20 minutes down the highway at the Mercado Gastronómico in the small town of Villa de Zaachila — specifically the antojitos at Empanadas y Memelas Irlanda empanadas de verde are filled with a pungent green mole that’s tart and minty from a mixture of green tomatoes Irlanda’s giant memelas — big enough to share — come coated with porky asientos (unrefined lard) but add an upgrade in the form of a huevo de comal: a fried egg cooked hard over a wood fire on a clay comal Eat this: Pollos Asados a la Cubana Lencho Verano Just a little farther down the highway at Ñatipaa, a rare taste of the Cuenca del Papaloapan region can be found at Pollos Asados a la Cubana Lencho Verano wood-fired roasted chicken and whole suckling pig make for an exciting break from the mostly Valles Centrales cuisine you’ll be eating the rest of the way The crispy birds and pigs are marinated in Cuban mojo de ajo a recipe adopted by Oaxacans in Papaloapan from Cuban immigrants “Arriving in Sola de Vega in the morning was a great feeling of accomplishment of completing the first leg of the ride,” remembers Vásquez of his first trek. “Then I had a café de olla, frijoles de la olla, surrounded by the beauty of the Sierra Madre Sur.” After your first ascent up the lush, green mountains, it’s time for a café de olla at Comedor Juquilita a humble blue-painted restaurant obscured by a large tree with leaves that stretch over the restaurant’s quartet of parking spaces There are also fortifying bowls of pollo enchilado — browned chicken legs and stock in a salsa of pure chile guajillo garnished with epazote — and caldo de pollo (chicken soup) bulked up with Mexican rice with a side of black beans with tortillas blanditas Drink this: Mezcal de marihuana at the roadside market sample a flight of mezcals at the small stand on the market’s right Among the many unlabeled bottles are mezcal infusions like gusano (grubs) and showstopping glass carboys loaded with pounds of mountain marihuana floating in espadin mezcal but don’t expect much in the way of mind-altering effects it’s not a bad bet to grab some chips and Maruchan to go Eat this: Sopa caldosa and café de olla at Comedor Emi Comedor Emy and Comedor Beather are just past the intersection of the roads to Juquila and Puerto Escondido “Here is where we’d always stop for one last café de olla before arriving in Juquila and this is also the first time you feel the cooler climate of La Costa,” says Vásquez A jolt of cinnamon-spiked café de olla is best enjoyed with sopa caldosa the next-level fideo soup from the Valles Centrales made with an anise- and eucalyptus-scented chicken stock with hierba santa leaves and served with cilantro and a dash of hospitality to sustain the descent into Puerto Escondido Eat this: Check out the city’s essential destinations here Once you settle into your lodging for the night it’s time to explore the trendy scene on the beaches of Puerto Escondido — to sip tropical cocktails enjoy the local seafood at popular restaurants and dance to electronic music with your feet in the sand Eat this: Piña rellena at Ay Caray and pancita de res and agua fresca de guanabana at the unnamed morning stand unnamed morning stand encircled by a parade of colorful aguas frescas and a pair of anafres asadores (stainless steel charcoal grills) where women cook memelas and goat barbacoa tacos There is also a large bubbling pot of inky pancita de res (menudo) stained a dark red by chile cascabel Finish with a refreshing cup of agua fresca de guanabana Save room for a second breakfast in the mountains Eat this: Oaxacan breakfast at Comedor “el rincon del sabor” Just an hour or so drive up the mountain overlooking a cliff is a quiet wood-framed hut lined with aluminum siding that offers perhaps the best breakfast on planet earth: a plate of warm “Memories of special places like this are why I’ll still be using the old highway,” says Vásquez echoing the sentiments of many who worry what might be lost with the new road Peer through the open window at hazy mountains and the forest obscured by morning fog as winding plumes of steam waft from your plate Indigenous communities throughout Oaxaca cook a similar breakfast of black beans with epazote with dry cooked eggs that soak up the bean liquid and a side of tasajo of course — shaped from masa made with landrace corn — and stone-ground salsas of foraged fresh chiles and dried ones from the local market If there’s one meal that’s worth the extra miles The early morning sun shines on the simple breakfast offerings at Comedor “el rincon del sabor.” Eat this: Los hongos sagrados in San José del Pacífico if you so wish; mole coloradito at Comedor Familiar Legend has it that the Beatles’ George Harrison and John Lennon came to this sacred land of magic mushrooms in 1969 to expand their minds in ritual ceremony under the guidance of the high priestess of psilocybin mushrooms The city has since become a favorite of spiritual seekers but its status as a drug tourism hot spot has its drawbacks — namely the overharvesting of the mushrooms and a lack of infrastructure for dealing with inexperienced trippers there are plenty of nonhallucinogenic things worth eating here “because of the altitude and cold weather in San José del Pacifico but also because the people eating those mushrooms really were in the clouds.” a cozy restaurant at the entrance to the adjacent town of San Mateo Rio Hondo home to many of Oaxaca’s most revered maestro mezcaleros and wild agaves STOP 4: San Guillermo, Municipality of Mihuatlán de Porfirio Dīaz (35 MILES before Oaxaca City)Drink this: Mezcal at Palenque de Francisco Garcia Léon (Cuishe) “The terroir in Mihuatlán has been an essential stop for me in learning about mezcal and represents the historical taste of Oaxaca,” says Vásquez “It’s the town of great mezcaleros: Francisco García While the Cuishe property is now more inviting for new customers the rugged copper stills — and García himself — keep this heritage brand true to tradition but I imagine now he’ll have to get used to it,” says Vásquez Buy a few bottles to take back to your hotel in Oaxaca City — it’s the ideal cap off to all the flavors Bill Esparza is a James Beard Award-winning writer and author of LA Mexicano, covering Latino food and culture. Juan de Dios Garza Vela is a photographer specializing in food and travel When he isn’t doing photo work he also does illustration work and murals The freshest news from the food world every day A magnitude 5.0 earthquake in Oaxaca state set off cell phone alerts in Mexico City on Thursday morning but initial reports indicated it caused no injuries or significant damage The quake struck near the Oaxaca coast at 8:40 a.m., with an epicenter in Crucecita, about 25 kilometers from Santa María Huatulco. It occurred at a shallow depth of about 19.4 kilometers (12 miles), according to Mexico’s National Seismological Service (SSN) Light shaking was felt in Oaxaca and in parts of southern Veracruz and western Chiapas but it could take several hours for comprehensive assessments Though mobile alerts popped up on many people’s phones throughout Mexico City — including on reporters’ phones during the morning press conference of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador — the magnitude and depth of the quake some 500 kilometers away did not warrant the activation of the seismic alert over loudspeakers Mexico City Mayor Martí Batres said on the social media site X that “everything is calm and orderly” in Mexico City where the quake “was totally imperceptible.” The earthquake did not activate the seismic alert in Oaxaca city either The National Civil Protection Coordination (CNPC) relayed an assessment from the Navy’s Tsunami Warning Center (CAT-SEMAR) that there would “be no danger to port operations or the population” along the Oaxaca coast. Mexico’s Ministry of Risk Management and Civil Protection (SGIRPC) noted on X that it was in communication with mayors’ offices Oaxaca’s Civil Protection office wrote on X at 11:10 a.m. that “because the earthquake was perceptible in the majority of the state with a moderate intensity the regional delegations began their monitoring in the [state´s] eight regions to verify possible damage Oaxaca and other areas suffered significant damage in a magnitude 8.2 earthquake on Sept. 7, 2017 that struck off Mexico’s southern coast near the state of Chiapas generated a tsunami with waves 1.75 meters (5.75 feet) above tide level and killed at least 98 people Oaxaca also experienced a 7.4 earthquake on March 20 With reports from Milenio, Proceso and Quadratin ADVERTISE WITH MND COMMUNITY GUIDELINES Subscription FAQ's Privacy Policy Mexico News Daily - Property of Tavana LLC adobo-rubbed spiny lobsters and octopus-stuffed pineapples make for a mind-blowing feast Careful steps are required to navigate the slippery sandy ramp that drops you into Bahía Maguey a popular tourist beach in the municipality of Santa Maria Huatulco the tight palapa-lined cove seems not unlike so many other great Pacific beaches in Mexico But a few clues let you know immediately that you’re on the Oaxacan coast: Coronas and Vickys (Victoria beer) are de rigueur shots of mezcal in vasos veladoras (glass cups for candles) are on nearly every table and corn tortillas are cooking on a clay comal outside the unparalleled seafood shrine known as Ay Caray Head straight to that restaurant’s worn thatched roof and recline in one of its plastic chairs for a front-row seat to families playing in the bay’s gentle blue waters and the hum of the pangas whisking groups away for ocean excursions and you might just drift away entirely if it weren’t for the sudden gleam off a silver platter that is heading your way and rosy red snappers — the catches of the day all and sit back as your soon-to-be feast succumbs to the smoke and flames of the restaurant’s traditional clay oven the way Zapotecos in the eastern Costa region have been cooking seafood here for hundreds of years — and now for you at what’s probably the best seafood restaurant in all of Oaxaca International tourists make up a fraction of visitors but locals from Oaxaca City and CDMX are drawn to its family-friendly beaches and famed marisquerías and Baja California are the standard-bearers of mariscos mexicanos a reputation based on an abundance of fine seafood products and an expansive canon of tantalizing fish dishes and cured meats of the Valles Centrales that garner the most attention but the seafood-focused cooking of the Costa region is not to be overlooked Here you’ll find tamales de tichinda (mussel tamales); a variety of spicy moles with fish and iguana; pescado a la talla (wood-roasted whole fish); fiery seafood soups; and the showstopping piña rellena — a seafood-stuffed baked pineapple “They can’t get this food there [in Oaxaca City],” says Sandra Cardenas Even among the great seafood traditions of the region thanks to the dedication of its chef and the aforementioned domed clay oven This pre-Hispanic mode of cooking seafood evolved alongside the region’s Indigenous cuisines “Cooking seafood in a clay oven is a tradition here but most people don’t do it anymore because it takes longer to cook and you need to take extra care but it’s important to keep this alive,” says Cardenas “Our ancestors used them to make a variety of dishes and has a unique texture that you don’t get on a grill.” Any proper feast at Ay Caray begins with the piña rellena With smoke billowing from the oven and a bright yellow fire cracking at the back end Cardenas slides in a halved pineapple packed with a mixture of octopus and pineapple chunks topped with a blanket of manchego Costa-grown pineapples are especially plump and for decades tourists have driven hours from Oaxaca City just to experience them At Ay Caray they emerge from the oven slightly charred and imbued with the savory scent of mesquite smoke which she enhances with a spicy adobo rub of charred red chiles — including the pungent chile de arbol and chile guajillo — as well as mayonnaise The extra time required to cook the whole fish in the horno de barro gives diners the opportunity to take advantage of the roaming vendors passing by with freshly shucked wild oysters and flesh-toned strips of salty raw clams When the barbecued parrotfish finally arrives it’s a deep brick red from the spicy adobo and served with warm tortillas for pulling the soft white flesh straight from the bone The lobsters Cardenas serves are local Pinto spiny lobsters — bulky horn-studded creatures with shells the color of polished brown leather They’re caught daily by free divers just beyond the cove and serving them on a platter surrounded by elaborately cut radishes Use a tortilla to drag a bit of the sweet flesh through the black bean paste perfumed with epazote and top it with smoky salsa for a lobster taco unlike anything on earth of course — a rich seafood mole amarillo that Cardenas will make on request The reddish-orange mole can be served with fish or shrimp (traditionally Traditional Oaxacan cooks are often thought of as austere defenders of tradition yet Cardenas happily borrows recipes from other regions “I really like the food and renditions from Juchitán de Zaragoza,” a town just three hours east of Huatulco in the neighboring Istmo region “I make puré de papa horneado in the busy season.” The baked creamy dish of which she speaks features mashed carrots and potato enriched with Mexican cream and stained with yellow mustard It’s a popular dish with Ay Caray’s regulars and the perfect rich foil to a meal of roasted spiny lobsters and Cardenas’s divine pescado a la talla When Oaxacans from the Valles Centrales began to open restaurants in Los Angeles in the mid to late ’90s Costa specialties like the piña rellena were on just about every menu But there’s something different about eating it all here now: It’s your feet in the sand the whir of pangas backed by the sound of a roving musician’s strumming guitar Bill Esparza is a James Beard Award-winning writer and author of LA Mexicano, covering Latino food and culture. Juan de Dios Garza Vela is a photographer specializing in food and travel A presidential plane was put up for raffle again but this time it was a lot less controversial was actually a whimsical painting of Mexico’s presidential plane Oaxaca artists Sergio Xross and Ángel Pacheco Soriano created the painting It was raffled off to benefit people with disabilities in Santa María Huatulco along with a series of other paintings by the artists The raffle poked fun at the fiasco surrounding President López Obrador’s attempts to dispose of Mexico’s presidential plane since he was elected in 2018 Calling the $130-million luxury jet “an insult to the people,” López Obrador has refused to use it and has flown commercial throughout his presidency The paintings’ raffle beneficiary was the nonprofit organization Acceptando mi Destino (Accepting My Destiny) which raises funds for people with disabilities in Huatulco said they conceived of the raffle because the organization’s normal fundraising figures have been affected this year by the coronavirus Source: El Heraldo de México (sp) Albany now has a sister-city relationship with Santa Maria Huatulco a fabulous resort community on the southwest Pacific coast of Mexico This brings up some thoughts about what’s going on in America’s and Oregon’s relationship with Mexico as a nation as well Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon The best of Time Out straight to your inbox We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Mexico City just live to take a break and mojito near the blue ocean and enjoy life on the best beaches of Oaxaca Photo: Courtesy FlickrHuatulco is a paradise for those who enjoy getting their feet wet in the sea One of its main attractions is its crystal clear waters and golden sand along with a tropical climate that remains largely unchanged for most of the year There are several pristine beaches for snorkeling along with the natural wealth of the Huatulco Biosphere Reserve it is an authentic Oaxacan seaside experience retaining the rustic atmosphere and tranquillity of the bay its worldwide fame is ideal for travellers and surfers from all over the world looking for exciting and authentic experiences Its barrels and waves are perfect for a variety of water sports such as bodyboarding The beachfront dining embodies everything you'd expect from Oaxaca everything you need for the experienced surfer Foto: Cortesía Gobierno del Estado de OaxacaPuerto is rather a meeting place —not in a bad way— with the calm that waves and surf promise Its relaxed atmosphere and and warmth of local people make it an ideal destination for travelers with a wellness vibe For example,  releasing turtles in Bacocho or eating great food in Zicatela Mauricio NavaHundreds of turtles hatch annually on its pristine golden sands Not only is it a serene beach ideal for swimming but it also boasts reasonably priced local dining options Its crystalline waters are as enchanting as the Turtle Museum Don't miss out on touring the nearby organic shampoo and cosmetics factories Foto: Cortesía Wikimedia CommonsThe ideal place to find freedom isn't just any nudist beach; it's a sanctuary where tranquility reigns amidst the soothing waves and breathtaking sunsets Whether you seek endless nights of revelry or holistic relaxation This bay actually has two beaches: Playa Cacalutilla and Playa San Agustín with crystal clean waters of a light blue hue making it perfect for snorkeling and exploring the marine depths San Agustín is a perfect retreat if you dislike crowds It's peaceful with a kilometer-long stretch ideal for those seeking to avoid crowds but still enjoy amenities like restaurants The entrance is through Villa Mexicana Hotel this price includes a hamburger and a soda but it is also possible have two beers instead There are not many people so you will find a calm environment with low swell Foto: Playa Maguey | Maguey BeachOne of the many beaches that can be visited in the tourist center of Bahías de Huatulco is Maguey Beach This beach is one of the best options to relax This beach is a perfect choice if what you want is to enjoy a calm breeze the beach can also be the perfect place for adventures we can tell you that you will find many restaurants on the seaside with typical dishes from the area It's a perfect option if you don't want to stray far from the beach Thanks for subscribing! 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The ads promise Canadians an “incredibly private and unique ocean-front opportunity” in Oaxaca Far from the overcrowded beaches of Cancun but still accessible from Canada’s biggest cities Huatulco Beach Properties bills its new development as a chance for snowbirds to buy land and trade winter for “live musicians and cold cervezas.” On offer: nearly a dozen beachfront homes and six condominiums part of a residential project developed by two Albertans from St “Huatulco is full of friendly locals, who are eager to welcome you to your second home,” their promotions assure he is working hard to prevent their plans from coming to fruition Mendoza is part owner of 16,500 hectares stretching inland from the coast of Oaxaca at Santa María Xadani including the beachfront land Canadians claim they legally acquired Mendoza helped organize a meeting of communal land authorities six kilometers inland from where the Canadians are building there’s a pool near the beach and they’ve been cutting trees and removing plants and changing the land use without the consent of the general assembly of communal land owners,” Mendoza told The Breach Mendoza was elected president of the Communal Lands Commission which represents the legal owners of lands belonging to Santa María Xadani and its associated communities While some in his community are involved in low-wage jobs in hotels and the service industry in Huatulco others remain connected to traditional lifeways the Communal Lands Commission is in a battle against land theft by outsiders environmental degradation and unchecked water use and its members are deeply concerned about the future of their territory the Communal Lands Commission has used every legal recourse available to prevent the division and sale of their lands.  conflicts between communal land owners and government authorities have led to a great deal of confusion which has often been exploited by those attempting to claim communally-owned beachfront as their own Mendoza said previous members of the Communal Lands Commission allowed a Mexican national to build a single house on the beach and now a group of Canadians think they’re the owners a representative of Huatulco Beach Properties told The Breach in an interview that prospective buyers shouldn’t worry about the risks of buying coastal land in Mexico a lawyer who works with the Communal Lands Commission Santa María Xadani irregularities and corruption in land titling are so common in Oaxaca that a piece of paper saying you own a lot isn’t a guarantee of much at all it’s like if I wanted to sell you Oaxaca City’s Central Park referring to the imposing Zapotec ceremonial site built over 2,500 years ago.  and I have a friend who is a notary,” said Morales “I can give you a piece of paper that says you own Monte Albán a Mexican government expropriation legalized the buying and selling of formerly communal land in Huatulco And though the Canadians marketing their residential project say their development is in Huatulco it is in fact in another municipality.  Add to that the fact that Mexico’s constitution prevents foreigners from owning land within 50 kilometers of the coastline which means Canadian buyers must employ bank trusts to acquire ocean view properties The Breach asked Carse what his response is to Santa María Xadani’s Communal Lands Commission which says it owns the very same beachfront land Huatulco Beach Properties is building on.  “The easiest way to put it is that the locals are asking for donations,” said Carse “They act like all the land is theirs…but they know it’s not.” Overlooking the activities of Indigenous and rural communities while wilfully ignoring their ownership over the land has contributed to the myth that Oaxaca is undeveloped Efforts to remove sought-after beachfront lots from the jurisdiction of communal landowners have accelerated following the government’s massive expropriation at Huatulco in the mid 1980s The expropriation decree legalized the sale of formerly communal land local mayors in urban areas issued irregular titles for Santa María Xadani’s town center developers have started subdividing ecologically sensitive beachfront lands.  While the Canadians marketing the properties claim land sales in Mexico are protected by trade agreements the real issue isn’t seizure by the federal government it is the possibility that communal landowners could access justice and win the return of lands under their jurisdiction Many of the rural residents of the villages in Santa María Xadani have roots on the Pacific coast that reach back to time immemorial Their ancestors were granted collective title by Spanish colonial authorities in the 18th century.  became president of México and passed a law requiring the division and privatization of all of the country’s communal land This process was aggravated over the decades that followed and was a key factor in the rise of revolutionary figures like Emiliano Zapata in the early 20th century.  a series of Presidential Resolutions were passed enshrining collective ownership Indigenous land into law which are collective land grants made to groups of farmers Indigenous communal property was how the Mexican state recognized and returned lands to Indigenous people.  “Indigenous communities collectively worked these lands before the Spanish arrived to the continent communal Indigenous land isn’t a new idea,” said Salvador Aquino Centeno a Zapotec anthropologist at the Center for Research and Graduate Studies in Social Anthropology in the city of Oaxaca Indigenous communal land in Mexico cannot be bought or sold “Approximately 85 per cent of the territory in the state of Oaxaca is Indigenous communal land,” said Aquino Centeno That’s a considerably higher rate than in other states.  It wasn’t until 1980 that a highway was built along Oaxaca’s coast a presidential decree legalized the expropriation of 21,000 hectares of communally owned land to create a centrally planned tourist destination in Huatulco.  Local landowners never accepted the expropriation and continue to struggle for restitution The tension between authorities and communal landowners contributes to a “social context which is permanently in conflict,” according to a 2007 federal government White Paper on Huatulco.  which resonates through the entire state of Oaxaca is minimized by authorities who continue to promote tourism and ignored by tourists from Canada and the U.S. most of whom seem oblivious to the land theft that gave them access to the white sand beaches and cold margaritas they consume The fight in Santa María Xadani is one of three similar land conflicts along the coast of Oaxaca communal landowners erected blockades after they learned of efforts to privatize 300 hectares of beachfront land known as Tilzapote beach the solitary beach without a single hotel might conjure up the ultimate tropical escape is a key harvesting and fishing site.   “We are the owners of the entire rural area,” said Antonio Ramírez Hernández the President of the Communal Lands Commission of Cozoaltepec he survived an assassination attempt for his role in defending part of the 27,000 hectares of land his community collectively owns Their claim is backed up by a colonial era communal title a post-revolutionary Presidential Resolution He told The Breach his community’s main concern with new developments on the beach are the water shortages that will most certainly follow we’ll have to share our water,” said Ramírez Hernández Most of the 300 rural families in Cozoaltepec are Indigenous Zapotec and Black and keep their traditions alive through subsistence agriculture they have united around protecting their land the same way they come together for the traditional celebrations of Saint Francis in October and San Isidro in May A major housing and hotel development built by the Canadian ski champion and motivational speaker Carey Mullen stands as a stark warning for what can go wrong for communal land owners if their territory is fractured and developed A stone’s throw from the international airport in Puerto Escondido Mullen’s Vivo Resorts complex was built on 40 hectares of Indigenous communal land.  which is the gentrification of the beaches of Oaxaca,” said Morales in which native people are being illegally displaced.” Canadian realtors might manage to convince some retirees that they’ll sleep easy in brand new homes on empty beaches near towns full of friendly Oaxacans who will serve them cold drinks and delicious food.  and they have centuries of experience defending their ancestral lands we’re defending our rights as communal land owners and as citizens,” said Ramírez Hernández and we’ll continue this fight til the very end.” and voices mapping a just future—delivered straight to your inbox.  You can unsubscribe at any time. Questions? Contact us or check out our privacy policy. Meta has blocked journalism on Facebook and Instagram in Canada Sign up for our free newsletter to keep seeing our stories a state official reportedly said on Thursday You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience The Mexican beach where the body of a slain Canadian student was discovered last week appears to be the latest mass burial site for victims of local organized crime The bodies of 39-year-old Carmen Ximena Osegueda Magana — who went by the name Ximena Osegueda — and her boyfriend were found on a beach in Santa Maria Huatulco on Dec Santa Maria Huatulco is a popular tourist town in the southwestern Mexican state of Oaxaca Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The two were on vacation there when they went missing on December 14 told local reporters that the bodies were found partially buried on a beach according to a January 4 news report from Mexican newspaper Milenio Lopez said both appeared to have been stabbed in the neck and set on fire Lopez said more human remains were found in a plastic bag on the same beach The body was identified as Jesus Alberta Altamirano Milenio reported that bodies have been found buried in other beaches as well including that of a tourist who was attacked by gunmen No details are mentioned on that tourist’s name or nationality was finishing her doctoral degree in French Spanish and Italian studies at the University of British Columbia “We received notification from her family that (Ms Osegueda’s blog said she specialized in colonial Latin American literature She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees at McGill University in Montreal She had travelled to the Huatulco to investigate its “foundational myth,” Ms “I am looking at how this myth has morphed from its first publication A memorial service will be held Saturday in Mexico City Osegueda is the second person with ties to B.C to have been killed in Mexico in recent days Saltspring Island native Robin Wood was shot to death during a home invasion in Melaque Wood was married to a Mexican woman and had lived in Puerto Vallarta for about four years Tourists are believed to be reconsidering trips to Mexico because of the crime rate transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. 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By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy You can manage saved articles in your account Its nine bays are spread across 22mi (35km) and some sections of coast can be people-free for days at a time where you’ll find everything from cocktail bars to live music pubs © Magdalena Bujak / Alamy Stock Photo Cocktails come in kaleidoscopic colors at this smart bar in La Crucecita Try the pool-blue High Tide or the blood-red mezcalinis – the Mexican take on the martini The best tables are on the open-fronted terrace at the entrance to the bar where wooden benches and bucket seats overlook the greenery of the main square park Order a plate of tacos filled with tasajo – a cured beef that’s local to Oaxaca Two words sum up this bar near La Crucecita’s main square – micheladas and mezcal The micheladas are Mexico’s spin on the bloody mary tomato juice and a beer that’s upended and sunk into the cocktail while still in the bottle Every shot comes with a plate of chili-dusted lemon and the obligatory shaker of salt © Elena Veselova / Alamy Stock Photo This palapa-style bar The bar menu is classic – cold beers and margaritas are the orders most regularly ringing through the till Head here on a Friday or Saturday and you’ll be able to sup to the sound of live music – usually an acoustic soloist serves more kinds of margarita than there are days of the week On balmy days you can sip your drinks from the open-air courtyard at the back Located close to the main square in La Crucecita this playful bar is decorated with murals and colorful furniture – some of which is pinned to the walls rather than the floor is given by fairy lights strung up inside tequila bottles This place wins the title of Huatulco’s quirkiest bar and everything about it is Medieval-themed Wrought-iron chandeliers hang from the ceiling the place specializes in German beers and mezcals © Rimma Bondarenko / Alamy Stock Photo Hand-painted murals and frames full of Mexican-inspired artwork fill the walls of this bar just around the corner from the main square in La Crucecita pull up one of the stiletto-shaped seats and order a tequila cocktail – try the Mariachi Melon soak up your drinks with a pizza from the bar’s clay oven © David Parker / Alamy Stock Photo For drinks that go on into the early hours head to La Papaya near Chahué Marina and Beach Find a spot in one of the red leather booths and start the night with a tamarind vodka then graduate onto the dancefloor; DJs play until 5am on Fridays and Saturdays where there are two circular tanks built into the wall – you’ll sometimes see mermaids swimming about in the water