Tourists describe hunkering down as cartel violence erupts in Mexico

• The US State Department urged American tourists in parts of Mexico to shelter in place on Sunday.
• Violence erupted across the country after the local government killed a cartel leader.
• The US warned tourists of violence in Puerto Vallarta, Cancún, Tulum, and elsewhere.

The US and Canada urged their citizens in parts of Mexico to shelter in place on Sunday as a Mexican cartel retaliated for the death of its leader.

In videos shared online, burning vehicles and plumes of smoke could be seen rising from Puerto Vallarta and other cities in Mexico.

On Monday morning, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said in a press conference that the situation had de-escalated.

"Peace, security, and normalcy are being maintained in the country," Sheinbuam said.

Ricardo Trevilla Trejo, Mexico's Secretary of National Defense, said in the press conference that 2,500 reinforcements had been sent to Jalisco, meaning roughly 7,000 military personnel were in the state on Monday to maintain control.

In a post shared on X Monday afternoon, the Department of State Consular Affairs wrote that US government staff were continuing to shelter in places in the following areas: Guadalajara (Jalisco), Puerto Vallarta (Jalisco/Nayarit), Ciudad Guzman (Jalisco), Tijuana (Baja California), Chiapas, and Michoacan. The agency also urged Americans in those locations to shelter in place.

Business Insider spoke to Steven Polito, a drag performer from New York who spends five to six months a year in Puerto Vallarta, about what he saw on Sunday.

He described seeing the "juxtaposition of everyday life still going on" set against "horrendous property damage."

"There were these burnt-out cars in flames, and then there was this older Mexican woman still sweeping the leaves in the street," Polito said.

Linda Armijo, 70, told Business Insider she's been traveling from the US to Puerto Vallarta regularly for 25 years and has "never, ever felt scared or anxious" there. In an interview on Monday, she said she still feels safe in her building.

"It's a minor inconvenience not being able to leave, but my biggest emotions are sadness and concern for the people of Puerto Vallarta," Armijo said.

Puerto Vallarta media reported that cars near a Costco and several other stores were set on fire. Costco did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Satellite imagery captured by US spatial intelligence firm Vantor on Sunday showed fires across Puerto Vallarta, as well as burning cars in a Costco parking lot.

Impact on airlines, cruises, travel

The US Embassy in Mexico said in a statement on its website that no airports have been closed, but most domestic and international flights have been canceled in both Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta. All ride-hailing services are suspended in Puerto Vallarta.

On Sunday, flights already on their way to the region from the US turned around, and Air Canada said it was suspending operations to Puerto Vallarta on Sunday and Monday.

On Monday evening, Air Canada said in an X post that it would "resume full operations" of flights from Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver to Puerto Vallarta on Tuesday. Operations from Toronto to Guadalajara would resume on Wednesday. The airline added that it would fly larger Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners so that more guests can reach home sooner.

The US State Department said roadblocks have affected airline operations and told travelers to seek shelter and remain in residences or hotels.

Flights to Mexico City, Edmonton, Houston, Minneapolis/Saint Paul, Denver, Detroit, and Toronto were canceled early Monday morning, per the Puerto Vallarta Airport.

On Monday, Airbnb said it was monitoring the situation and would provide cancellation and refund support for bookings in Jalisco and other affected regions.

Holland American Line canceled a scheduled stop in Puerto Vallarta on Monday. Norwegian Cruise Line said it canceled a scheduled call for Wednesday.

"We are closely monitoring the ongoing situation and any additional itinerary updates for ships scheduled to call to Mexico in the near future will be communicated directly with impacted guests," a spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line said in a statement to Business Insider.

The Department of State Consular Affairs said on Monday that flights in Puerto Vallarta continued to be disrupted, but that other airports in Mexico were operating normally. In another update, it said some airlines were operating from Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta as of Monday afternoon.

"If you are traveling via any airport other than Guadalajara or Puerto Vallarta, we have received no indication of any security-related flight disruptions," the agency said.

Puerto Vallarta is one of Mexico's most popular tourist destinations for Americans and Canadians. The area gained fame from the 70s and 80s show "The Love Boat," which was often set there.

The town, which is more popular during winter months, received 232,200 foreign visitors in December 2025, according to economic data curator CEIC. It has been attracting more foreign tourists over the last 10 years.

As the violence spread, the State Department updated its travel warning to include other popular tourist destinations in Mexico, including Cancún and Tulum.

The region is slated to host two major tennis tournaments this week: the Women's Tennis Association's Merida Open in Merida and the Association of Tennis Professionals' Mexican Open in Acapulco. The two organizers did not immediately respond to questions from Business Insider about whether the games will still take place.

Retaliatory violence

The Mexican government said the retaliatory violence came after it killed Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, on Sunday.

The US provided intelligence support to Mexico in the operation, the White House said.

The State Department announced last week that it had sanctioned Kovay Gardens — a Mexican timeshare resort — and 17 other companies and five individuals linked to "timeshare fraud schemes" organized by the Jalisco cartel.

"Many of these individuals and entities are based in or near Puerto Vallarta, a popular tourist destination that also serves as a strategic stronghold for CJNG," a press release from the Treasury Department said.

In 2024, the US State Department said it would pay a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Cervantes. The department said that under Cervantes, the cartel has killed rival trafficking groups and law enforcement.

If you are on the ground in Mexico and have a story to share, get in touch with our reporters via email: ccheong@insider.com (Charissa) and @rshahidi@insider.com (Roya).

Kelly Burch contributed reporting.