U.S. Embassy Issues Shelter-in-Place Order for Travelers in Puerto Vallarta Amid Cartel Violence

The killing of a major Mexican cartel leader by the Mexican government over the weekend is raising alarms for travelers in Puerto Vallarta, many of whom have been told to shelter in place amidst an increasingly volatile security situation.

According to the Associated Press, the Mexican government, with support from U.S. agencies, killed the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel during a capture attempt on Sunday. The AP is describing the event as the most “high-profile blow against cartels” in over a decade.

The killing immediately sent western Mexico into a state of chaos. Cartel members blocked roads and burned vehicles and storefronts—including a Costco in Puerto Vallarta—forcing the government to declare a state of emergency and cancel school in Guadalajara, the country’s second-largest city. For travelers, the reaction to the killing creates significant uncertainty just weeks away from the start of Spring Break, traditionally one of the busiest travel periods for Mexico.

Shelter in Place Warning

The U.S. Embassy in Mexico is currently advising Americans in Jalisco, Tamaulipas, and parts of Michoacán, Guerrero, and Nuevo León to shelter in place “until further notice.” Most notably for tourists, this warning includes the popular resort destination of Puerto Vallarta. At this time, there have been no additional warnings issued for the rest of the country.

The U.S. State Department still has a “Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution” advisory for Mexico as a whole, the same level currently assigned to France, Italy, and several other popular international destinations. Other major tourism hubs, including Cancun, Tulum, and Los Cabos, remain unaffected by the current situation.

Flight Cancellations

Most major U.S. and Canadian airlines began canceling flights in and out of Puerto Vallarta (PVR) and Guadalajara (GDL) on Sunday. These disruptions are expected to last for several days as the situation stabilizes. The cancellations were primarily driven by cartel members temporarily blocking roads surrounding the airports on Sunday, making access difficult for passengers and crew.

That includes United Airlines, Southwest, American, and Air Canada. Many also issued travel waivers for travelers who want to reschedule or are forced to rescheduled because of the cancellations. 

American Airlines has a waiver for travel through GDL and PVR through Feb. 24.

Delta Air Lines has issued a waiver for travel through PVR and GDL for travel through Feb. 26, allowing passengers to rebook for flights no later than March 7.

United Airlines has also issued a waiver for travel through GDL and PVR through Feb. 25. These waivers may be extended if the security situation remains dangerous.

Resorts

The shelter-in-place warning means many travelers vacationing at Puerto Vallarta resorts this weekend were confined to their properties. So far, there have been no reports of violence at the area’s major resorts, though travelers have posted social media footage showing smoke rising from nearby areas and the Mexican army patrolling the streets outside resort perimeters.

The “Code Red” declared by the local government has led to a total suspension of all taxi and rideshare services throughout Puerto Vallarta, effectively grounding guests who do not have private transportation. Many hotels have also suspended their own shuttle services and off-site excursions until the security situation stabilizes.

Most amenities inside the resorts remain ope, though some outdoor beach activities have been suspended due to the heavy military and naval presence patrolling the coastline.

For advisors with clients scheduled to arrive in Puerto Vallarta this week, most resorts are currently honoring the airline waivers. While the hotels themselves are generally not offering a flat “security refund,” they are allowing for penalty-free date changes in alignment with the waivers from American, Delta, and United.