🇲🇽 MexicoFlow
Settle In, Branch Out
July 21, 2026
👋 Hello MexicoFlow Friends!
Summer is in full swing across Mexico. Afternoon rains are cooling off many parts of the country, seasonal festivals are beginning to pop up, and this is one of my favorite times to explore smaller towns that are a little quieter before the busy fall travel season.
Let’s jump into this week’s discoveries.
📰 Need to Know
🎭 Mexico continues expanding cultural festivals
If you’re looking for something different than the typical tourist attractions, August is shaping up to be a fantastic month. Across the country you’ll find traditional fairs, regional celebrations, dance festivals, and community events that are often completely free to attend.
One event that caught my eye is Festival Danzas Negras: Reflexiones Afrocaribeñas, taking place August 1–12 in Quintana Roo. It celebrates Mexico’s Afro-Caribbean heritage through dance, music, workshops, and performances by nearly 30 companies from Mexico and abroad.
💡 Mexico Living Tip
🌧️ Rainy season driving
One thing many newcomers don’t realize is that the first 20–30 minutes after a rainfall begins can actually be the slipperiest.
Oil, dust, and rubber build up on the pavement during dry weather. When that first rain arrives, everything mixes together before it washes away.
A few easy habits can make a big difference:
- Slow down a little earlier than you think you need to.
- Give motorcycles extra space.
- Watch for potholes that disappear under standing water.
- If you drive in mountain areas, don’t assume fog lights alone are enough—reduce speed.
It’s one of those small adjustments that quickly becomes second nature living in Mexico.
💎 Hidden Gem of the Week
Real de Catorce, San Luis Potosí
If you’ve never been, put this one on your bucket list.
Hidden high in the mountains, Real de Catorce is a former silver mining town that feels frozen in time. You enter through the long Ogarrio Tunnel before emerging into cobblestone streets, old churches, boutique hotels, art galleries, and incredible mountain scenery.
The town has become popular with photographers, hikers, and anyone wanting a slower pace than places like San Miguel de Allende.
Go during the week if possible—you’ll practically have the streets to yourself.
🌮 Food of the Week
Zacahuil — The Giant Tamal
Think tamales are big?
Meet the Zacahuil, one of Mexico’s most impressive traditional dishes from the Huasteca region.
Instead of being hand-sized, a Zacahuil can be several feet long and feed dozens of people.
Made with coarse masa, pork or chicken, dried chilies, and wrapped in enormous banana leaves, it’s traditionally cooked overnight in a wood-fired oven.
If you ever find yourself in San Luis Potosí, Hidalgo, or northern Veracruz, it’s absolutely worth trying.
🩺 Health & Insurance Corner
Medical emergencies are stressful enough without wondering whether your insurance will work outside your home country.
One question Brett receives surprisingly often:
“Will my policy let me choose my own hospital?”
The answer depends entirely on the plan.
Some international policies give you tremendous flexibility, while others require using specific networks or obtaining pre-authorization.
It’s worth reviewing before an emergency happens—not during one.
If you ever want someone to explain the differences in plain English, Brett is always happy to help.
👉 Get a free quote:
https://brettlamar.com/quote/?source=mexflo
📅 Coming Up Around Mexico
Here are a few events worth watching over the next few weeks:
🌸 Noche que Nadie Duerme — Huamantla, Tlaxcala
August 14
Residents spend the entire night creating elaborate carpets from colored sawdust, flowers, and seeds before a religious procession passes over them the following morning. It’s one of Mexico’s most beautiful traditions.
🎉 Feria de la Virgen de la Asunción
August 10–15
A traditional community celebration featuring music, food, religious festivities, and local culture.
🇲🇽 Did You Know?
Mexico has 177 officially recognized Pueblos Mágicos (Magic Towns).
The designation isn’t based simply on beauty—it recognizes communities that preserve important history, architecture, traditions, or cultural identity.
Many of the most memorable places in Mexico aren’t its largest cities—they’re these smaller towns that have kept their unique character alive.
🚗 Worth the Detour
If you’re road-tripping this summer, consider skipping one toll-road stop and pulling into the nearest town plaza instead.
You’ll often find:
- a family-owned bakery,
- a church over 200 years old,
- locals visiting in the evening,
- and coffee that costs less than bottled water.
Those little unplanned stops often become the stories you’ll remember most.
🛍️ This Week’s Recommendation
If you enjoy learning about Mexico beyond the beaches, spend an afternoon visiting a local municipal market instead of a supermarket.
Every market tells a story about its region through its produce, cheeses, breads, spices, and conversations. Even if you don’t buy much, you’ll learn far more about daily Mexican life than you will from any guidebook.
❤️ Thank You
Thank you for being part of the MexicoFlow community.
Whether you’ve lived in Mexico for ten years or are still dreaming about making the move, I hope each newsletter helps you discover one more reason to fall in love with this incredible country.
Until next week—
The MexicoFlow Team
🩺 Need international health insurance?
Brett LaMar has helped expats and travelers navigate international health coverage since 2019. If you’d like a personalized quote or simply have questions about your options, he’s always happy to help—no pressure, just straightforward advice.
👉 Request a Quote:
https://brettlamar.com/quote/?source=mexflo