Tourists in parts of Mexico have been warned to stay inside after violence erupted across the country following the killing of a cartel boss.
Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho”, was killed during a shoot-out in his home state of Jalisco as the Mexican military attempted to capture him.
Cartel members have responded with violence, blocking roads and setting fire to vehicles.
Several countries have now issued advice to avoid travelling to parts of Mexico, and have said that those already inside the country should shelter inside their hotels or residences.
‘Stay indoors and avoid non-essential travel’
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has warned that “wherever you are in Mexico, you should stay alert and follow local security advice”.
“Authorities in Puerto Vallarta have issued a public advisory to stay indoors,” the FCDO said in a statement. “Routes to airports may be blocked. You should exercise extreme caution, follow local authorities’ advice, including orders to stay indoors and avoid non‑essential travel in affected areas.
“There are reports of blockades on intercity roads across affected states. Please monitor local media and follow advice from authorities and local transport companies before making a decision to travel. If you do decide to travel, we recommend intercity road travel during daylight hours.”
The US Embassy in Mexico has said that citizens in Jalisco State, Tamaulipas State, areas of Michoacán State, Guerrero State, and Nuevo Leon State should shelter in place until further notice.
The capital of Jalisco State, Guadalajara, is due to host four FIFA World Cup matches later this year, while Puerto Vallarta is a popular resort city.
Videos circulating on social media showed tourists in Puerto Vallarta walking on the beach with smoke rising in the distance.
Flight disruption in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta
All international flights to Puerto Vallarta Airport were cancelled on Sunday 22 February.
“The airport is under the protection of personnel from the National Guard (GN) and the Ministry of National Defense (SEDENA), as part of ongoing coordination efforts with federal authorities,” the airport said in a statement through its official account @VallartaAirport on X.
“However, by decision of the airlines, today, Sunday February 22, 2026, all international operations and most of the domestic flights have been cancelled.”
Passengers arriving at Guadalajara’s international airport Sunday night were told it was operating with limited personnel because of the burst of violence.
In a statement on X through its official account, @Aeropuerto_GDL, Guadalajara International Airport said that no flights have been cancelled or disrupted.
“It is important to clarify that no incidents have been reported inside the facilities, nor is there any risk to passengers, employees, or visitors,” the airport added. “The information and material circulating on social media does not correspond to risky situations within the terminals, but rather to panic among passengers, which has generated perceptions that do not reflect the actual situation at the airports.”
American Airlines, United and Delta have all waived change fees for those travelling to, through or from Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta over the next few days, while Air Canada has cancelled all flights to and from Puerto Vallarta on 23 February.
Airports in other parts of the country, including in the capital Mexico City, are operating normally.
“AICM [Aeropuerto Internacional de la Ciudad de México] is operating normally,” Mexico City International Airport said in a statement.
“We recommend that people with scheduled trips these days stay in contact with their airline to check the status of their flight.”
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