Violence in Puerto Vallarta Affects American Tourists

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel in Mexico is causing chaos in the Puerto Vallarta area, which has resulted in canceled flights and closed airports, leaving many American tourists stranded.

Just a bit north, Punta Mita features luxurious resorts, including well-known names like Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton.

Wendy Puccetti from Wisconsin shared her experience with planning to leave Mexico on Sunday after enjoying a weeklong vacation. She recounted, “We were in the process of checking out when the bellhop informed us that ‘there’s no one here.’ It was about 10 a.m.—no vehicles available, and the airport was shut down.”

She mentioned that from her perspective at the resort, everything seemed normal. “You would never guess anything was going on from here,” she noted.

Puccetti had booked her trip through a travel agency but said the communication has been limited; she’s mainly received emails. They did send her a link for flight options, showing flights available from Friday, but booking wasn’t possible.

She managed to extend her stay at the hotel, which is now quite empty. “I think many people who were supposed to be here chose to turn back, or their flights were redirected,” she explained.

The hotel’s operations have been reduced, with only two of the fourteen restaurants open the previous day. “It feels different here,” Puccetti said. “I feel really bad for those who live and work here.” She also shared her concern for a local woman who’s been helping the guests. “She has a 5-year-old boy, and you could tell she was worried about him during Sunday school.”

Puccetti expressed sentiment for the locals, noting, “They don’t want the whole cartel stigma attached to this area because it’s never been like this before.” Before traveling, she had done considerable research and found Puerto Vallarta and Punta Mita to be generally safe. “I have no regrets about coming here, though it’s unfortunate that it ended up like this.” She added, “It’s a bit like going to areas in Chicago or New York City—it’s all about where you go.”

As many tourists remain unable to leave, a Florida-based group named Gray Bull Rescue has initiated an operation to assist those trapped. Brian Stern, the founder of the group, explained that conditions in Mexico are sensitive and they view it as a “combat zone.” Stern pointed out, “The cartels function like a business and military. The violence is under their control, and the Mexican military is unlikely to defeat them.” He noted, “They’ve been entrenched for a long time.”