If you're wondering if a trip to Mexico's Pacific coast is a good idea, the short answer is: Not right now.
On Sunday, Mexican special forces reportedly killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, better known as 'El Mencho.' Within hours, cartel gunmen retaliated — torching buses, setting vehicles ablaze to block major highways, and effectively shutting down key routes.
Cities descended into chaos. Guadalajara fell eerily quiet as streets emptied. In Puerto Vallarta, smoke hung over once-busy areas. Popular tourist hotspots quickly became areas to avoid, leaving thousands of holidaymakers stranded amid the unrest.
The violence started almost immediately after the military operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco, roughly two hours southwest of Guadalajara. Cartel members set fire to vehicles and blocked roads in at least 15 Mexican states, according to PBS and Al Jazeera.
Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus activated a 'code red' emergency protocol. Public transport? Suspended. Schools? Closed on Monday across several states. His message to residents was blunt: stay home.
One long-term Puerto Vallarta resident told reporters he couldn't return to his house. A bridge near his ranch had been blown up. He'd lived there 23 years and had never seen anything like it.
Canadian tourists described the resort town as a 'war zone'. Shops, restaurants, and businesses are all shuttered.
Here's the problem for anyone trying to leave: airlines pulled out fast.
Delta, American, Southwest, Alaska, United, Air Canada, WestJet, and Porter Airlines all cancelled or suspended flights to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara on Sunday. Delta said it was 'closely monitoring the situation' and put safety first. American Airlines waived change fees for affected customers.
Mexico's Federal Civil Aviation Agency said airports in Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, and Tepic resumed operations by Sunday afternoon. But that doesn't mean much if you can't get to the terminal. Roadblocks are still disrupting ground transport.
Source: International Business Times UK
