Tourists Stranded in Puerto Vallarta Amid Cartel Violence

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel is causing significant disruptions in the Puerto Vallarta region, affecting many American tourists with flight cancellations and airport closures.

Just a bit north, Punta Mita offers luxurious accommodations like the Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton. Wendy Puccetti from Wisconsin shared her experience as she and her husband attempted to leave Mexico after a weeklong holiday.

“As we were checking out, the bellhop informed us, ‘There’s no one here. You can’t drive anywhere. The airport is closed.’ This was around 10 a.m. on Sunday,” Puccetti recounted.

She mentioned how calm the surroundings appeared, saying, “You would never guess anything was going on from here.”

Having booked her trip through a travel agency, Puccetti has only received email updates, which included a link to a portal for new flight options. Unfortunately, she found she couldn’t make any bookings through that site.

For now, she has managed to extend her stay at the hotel and is sheltering in place until she can secure another flight. “The hotel is really empty,” she noted. “I think many people either turned back or were rerouted to different cities.”

While the hotel remains operational, it has reduced its services; only two of the 14 restaurants are open at this time.

Puccetti expressed concern for the local staff, stating, “I feel really bad for the people who live and work here.” She mentioned a woman who has been assisting guests, emphasizing her worry for her young son during the turmoil.

“It’s important for them not to be associated with the cartel’s reputation,” Puccetti remarked. “This area has typically been safe.”

She had done considerable research prior to her trip, discovering that Puerto Vallarta and Punta Mita have been known as safe destinations. Reflecting on the situation, she said, “I have no regrets about coming here. It’s unfortunate that it ended up like this.”

However, she also acknowledged that danger exists in many places, comparing it to her visits to downtown Chicago and New York City.

In response to the turmoil, Gray Bull Rescue, a Florida-based emergency group, initiated Operation Condor Reach to assist Americans stranded in Mexico. Founder Brian Stern, who has extensive combat experience, noted that the situation is sensitive, comparable to a “combat zone.” He stressed that the cartels operate as both a business and an army, making the violence they inflict difficult to combat.

“The Mexican military will never fully defeat the cartels,” he concluded, underscoring the long-standing presence of these groups.