Shelter-In-Place Alert Disrupts Travel to Puerto Vallarta and Other Mexican Destinations
U.S. travelers are urged to shelter in place as airline waivers, roadblocks, and airport disruptions ripple across Jalisco and other key markets.
Photo: Miguel Naranjo / Unsplash
A U.S. Embassy security alert is urging American citizens in several Mexican destinations, including Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum, to shelter in place after a military operation that killed Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” triggered widespread unrest, roadblocks, and flight disruptions across multiple states on Sunday, Feb. 22.
The advisory applies to parts of Jalisco, Quintana Roo, Baja California, Tamaulipas, Michoacán, Guerrero, and Nuevo León, with authorities warning travelers to remain inside hotels or residences as criminal groups respond to the operation. The embassy instructed visitors to “seek shelter and minimize unnecessary movements” and “remain in your residences or hotels,” noting that taxis and rideshares were suspended in Puerto Vallarta and that some businesses temporarily closed.
Air travel has been particularly affected. According to airport operator Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico, Puerto Vallarta International Airport remained protected by Mexico’s National Guard and Secretariat of National Defense, but roadblocks around the city disrupted access and led to widespread cancellations. Airlines, including United, American, and Delta, issued change waivers, while Air Canada suspended flights to Puerto Vallarta and other carriers reported diversions and delays through Guadalajara.
Mexican authorities said the army’s Special Forces carried out the operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco, targeting Oseguera, longtime leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. His death was followed by burning vehicles, highway blockades, and reports of gunfire across several regions, with local governments urging residents and visitors to stay indoors. In some areas, public transportation was paused, and hotels were instructed to advise guests not to leave properties.
Videos circulating online showed travelers running through terminals at Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara airports, while local reports described shuttered shops and restaurants in resort towns such as Sayulita. A hotel employee quoted by USA Today warned guests, “The narcos are coming towards Sayulita,” as resorts advised visitors to return to their rooms.
For travelers with imminent departures, airlines are offering rebooking flexibility. American Airlines issued waivers for travel through Feb. 24, and United extended flexibility through Feb. 25, allowing itinerary changes without fees under certain conditions. Under U.S. Department of Transportation rules finalized in 2024, passengers are entitled to automatic refunds when flights are canceled or significantly changed, and they decline alternative arrangements.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum urged calm, writing online that “there is complete coordination with all the state governments,” while federal forces continued operations to contain the unrest. For now, authorities recommend closely monitoring airline updates and local advisories, as security conditions and flight schedules evolve.
