Earlier this week, a precision military raid in Jalisco ended the reign of Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, the notorious leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The fallout for travelers to Mexico has been problematic.
Within hours of the kingpin’s death, his followers launched a wave of retaliatory strikes. We’re talking about 250 narco-blockades across 20 different states, burning buses, and even an attempted takeover of the Puerto Vallarta Airport. For a few days, the U.S. Embassy advised Americans everyone to stay put and shelter in place.
It’s enough to make any traveler wonder if a margarita on the beach is worth the risk of being caught in the crossfire. I’ve received several emails from concerned travelers, asking if it’s safe to go.
What’s happening in Mexico now?
The situation is fluid, but here is what we know right now:
- The aftermath. At least 25 National Guard members and dozens of cartel operatives have died in the clashes.
- The warnings. The State Department keeps Mexico at a Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution overall, but it has hit six states with “Level 4: Do Not Travel” warnings, including Sinaloa and Colima.
- Your travel status. Most shelter-in-place orders have been lifted as of February 24, but a curfew remains for U.S. government staff in parts of Jalisco.
I work in Mexico and am there often. Mexico gets a bad rap from the press. Your headlines are dramatic. Lets start with the US State Dept codes for safety. Mexico is yellow and was before and after the criminal damage. Other countries colored yellow are UK, France, Italy, Spain and most of Europe. Mexico remains yellow at writing so should we cancel trips to Europe?
No tourists were hurt. Scared of course but not hurt. Legit videos of Puerta Vallarta a few hours later showed people in outdoor cafes. Guadalajara is a major center for American ex pats who live there quite normally and permanently. The intent of the crime was for several gangs to show power; there was no intent to kill tourists. Other tourist areas like Punta Mita, Yucatan etc are normal.
If you are booked to Mexico, ask your travel insurer if they still cover your trip. The best way to gauge safety from an objective source is your travel insurer. It costs them $$$$$ if you have a problem.
Read more insightful reader feedback. See all comments.
Should you still go to Mexico?
Whether you should go depends entirely on your destination—and your appetite for risk.
- Your destination matters. Cancún and Los Cabos are generally rated Level 2, similar to parts of Western Europe, while Jalisco—home to Puerto Vallarta—is a more worrisome Level 3. (Related: Is the TSA finally at its breaking point?)
- Don’t travel at night. Most of the violence and carjackings happen on rural roads after dark. Stick to the toll roads during the day.
- Fly direct. If you’re heading to a resort, avoid long bus rides through the interior. Fly straight into your destination airport.
A note about travel insurance: Make sure your policy covers civil unrest or terrorism, or you might be out of luck if things go south. A vacation shouldn’t be a test of your nerves.
Will you cancel your spring break trip to Mexico?
All of which brings us to today’s question.
And a few follow-up questions:
- If you said yes, what was the dealbreaker? Was it the news of the airport blockades or the general State Department warnings?
- If you said no, are you staying in a major resort? Do you feel that the violence is isolated from where you’re going?
My take: The Mexican government took a big swing at the cartels, and while the head of the snake is gone, the body is still thrashing. I wouldn’t go near Jalisco or the border right now. If you have a trip booked for a gated resort in Quintana Roo, you’re likely safe, but you’re still visiting a country in the middle of a major security crisis. It isn’t a “business as usual” situation, and you shouldn’t treat it like one.
Your turn
What do you think about the latest violence in Mexico? Are the media reports blowing it out of proportion, or is it time for travelers to give the country a pass until things settle down?
What you’re saying
Readers overwhelmingly defended travel to Mexico, arguing that the media exaggerated the danger and that standard tourist destinations remain completely safe.
Geography and media hype
Tim and Phyllis Stoller pointed out the sheer size of Mexico, noting that canceling a trip to the Yucatan because of violence in Jalisco makes as much sense as canceling a Florida vacation over a crime in Minnesota. K Nierenberg, who was stranded in Puerto Vallarta, said the situation felt nothing like a “war zone” and noted the news heavily exaggerated the reality on the ground.
The unspoken cartel rule
Commenters including Joseph Blondo, Gerri Hether, and Brooklyn argued that cartels intentionally spare foreigners. Blondo theorized that criminals leave tourists alone because harming an American would trigger a massive U.S. military response, while Hether noted the local understanding that cartels stay in the mountains while tourists stay safely by the ocean.
Pointing the finger up north
When the conversation shifted to solutions, several readers flipped the script. CasaAlux, 7cats mom, and Brooklyn argued that the cartel violence is entirely fueled by America’s insatiable demand for drugs and the steady flow of U.S.-manufactured weapons across the southern border.
The “fancy cage” holdouts
Not everyone felt confident. Tina and Mary Anne Roller said they would cancel their trips, with Tina refusing to spend her vacation trapped in the “fancy cage” of a gated resort. Meanwhile, K Nierenberg added a classic travel grievance: she was ultimately far more upset that United Airlines completely abandoned her during the airport closure than she was about the cartel blockades.