Shakira Arrives in Mexico to Rehearse for Her World Tour

Shakira arrived on Tuesday (Jan. 21) in Mexico City, where she will stay for a few days to conduct general rehearsals for her stadium tour Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran, kicking off on Feb. 11 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Local TV station Milenio showed the moment the Colombian superstar arrived this afternoon on a private plane at the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA), on the outskirts of the Mexican capital. The publication Excélsior also shared a video on social media. Escorted by her private security and elements of the National Guard, Shakira spent a few minutes greeting dozens of fans who were waiting with items alluding to her, hoping to greet her up close or get her autograph.

Shakira said in front of the cameras that she was in Mexico City because she has seven concerts scheduled in the capital. The hitmaker of “Monotonía” and “Soltera” recently revealed on the Brazilian show Domingão com Huck that she had chosen the North American country to rehearse and finalize the details of her highly anticipated trek.

In brief statements to the Mexican press, Shakira shared how she’s been preparing her new adventure that will take her back to international stages after almost seven years since El Dorado, her previous world tour.

“It has been a very healing process, for me and for many women, and for many people who have accompanied me from the start,” said the singer-songwriter. “I am very happy to be here in Mexico, a country that has supported me, understood me, loved me, and I love you with all my heart,” she added.

In response to a question about what she liked the most about Mexican cuisine, the Colombian star said she was craving to taste some traditional tacos or flautas, a style of tacos filled with chicken or beef and topped with green or red sauce.

According to the promoter Ocesa, the Barranquilla native returns to the country setting a new record by becoming the first artist to give seven consecutive shows at the Estadio GNP Seguros (formerly Foro Sol), gathering about 455,000 people in total. The concerts will take place on March 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 28, and 30, with tickets sold out, as per Ocesa.

Prior to this, Shakira will arrive in the border city of Monterrey, where she has two shows scheduled at the BBVA Stadium on March 12 and 13. She will also make a stop in Guadalajara, where she will offer two concerts at the Akron Stadium on the 16th and 17th of March.

A source close to Shakira’s team confirmed to Billboard Español that the singer will remain in the Mexican capital for several days for rehearsals, without specifying how many, but clarified that they will not take place at the Estadio GNP Seguros. Billboard Español made a request for comment to the singer’s promoter and record label, which did not provide more details.

Shakira announced last October that the U.S. leg of her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran world tour would move from arenas to stadiums due to high ticket demand, so the dates for the U.S. were postponed for May, immediately after her tour through Latin America. In December, she added several additional dates for North America.