Many American tourists are currently stranded in Mexico due to numerous flight cancellations and airport closures, as violence from the Jalisco New Generation cartel continues to affect the Puerto Vallarta region. Punta Mita, located about 22 miles north, is known for its luxury resorts like the Four Seasons and the Ritz-Carlton.
Wendy Puccetti from Wisconsin shared that she and her husband planned to depart Mexico on Sunday after enjoying a weeklong vacation. “We were checking out and approached the bellhop, and he mentioned, ‘There’s no one here.’ You can’t drive anywhere. The airport was closed,” she recounted, recalling the moment around 10 a.m. on Sunday.
Puccetti noted the strange atmosphere, saying, “You would never guess anything was going on from here.” She booked her trip through a travel agency but has only received email updates so far, which included a link to a portal that lists flight options, though she can’t book any flights through it.
She managed to extend her hotel stay while waiting for alternative flight arrangements. “The hotel feels quite empty,” she observed, suggesting many guests had either turned back or were redirected elsewhere. Although the hotel remained operational, it was only functioning at a fraction of its usual capacity, with just two of the 14 restaurants open.
Puccetti expressed her sympathy for the local community, noting, “There’s a woman who has been helping us all week, and she has a 5-year-old son. I could tell she was very anxious about him.” She added that the area, traditionally seen as safe, now faces stigma because of the cartel activities. “They don’t want to be associated with that reputation,” she commented.
After doing thorough research prior to her trip, Puccetti felt confident about visiting Puerto Vallarta and Punta Mita. “I have no regrets about coming here,” she remarked. Still, she acknowledged the unfortunate circumstances that have unfolded, comparing the risk to other urban areas in the U.S. “In some ways, it feels like a unique situation,” she said, reflecting on the overall experience.
Meanwhile, Gray Bull Rescue, a crisis response organization based in Florida, has initiated Operation Condor Reach to assist Americans stranded in Mexico. Brian Stern, the group’s founder and a combat veteran, described the operation as highly sensitive, akin to a “combat zone level.” He mentioned that violence is firmly under the control of the cartels, asserting that defeating them is beyond the capability of the Mexican military.
As the situation continues evolving, local and international support efforts carry on, aiming to ensure the safety of those caught in the turmoil.
