Summary: Mexico tourism received a lift after the United States lifted its shelter-in-place order for affected areas on 24 February 2026. Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara and other destinations are restoring flights, cruise calls and hotel operations, even as security concerns persist in pockets of the country following the death of cartel leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes.

Mexico tourism got a welcome boost after the United States removed its shelter-in-place order for several regions on 24 February 2026, enabling travel and business activity to begin resuming in cities including Puerto Vallarta, Cancún and Guadalajara. The decision follows a period of heightened violence in parts of the country and comes as authorities and operators work to re-establish normal service.

US lifts shelter-in-place for affected Mexican areas

On 24 February 2026 the United States lifted its shelter-in-place order that had applied to Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara and other areas. Officials said the move followed a de-escalation in the immediate security threat, allowing residents, visitors and businesses to resume more routine activities while advising continued caution in zones with active security operations.

Security backdrop: cartel leader killed and subsequent unrest

The disruptions followed the 22 February 2026 death of Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes. A military operation, carried out with US coordination, triggered retaliatory actions by cartel elements including roadblocks, arson and armed clashes across several states, which temporarily affected key tourist centres.

Airlines: flight suspensions and gradual restorations

Many carriers paused services to Puerto Vallarta (PVR) and Guadalajara (GDL) on 22–23 February amid the security situation. By 25 February several airlines had resumed flights or announced staged recoveries. Rebooking waivers were issued by multiple carriers to help affected travellers adjust plans.

  • Air Canada: Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver → PVR resumed 24 Feb; GDL resumed 25 Feb; Boeing 787-9 added for capacity.
  • WestJet: Canadian routes to PVR operating as scheduled from 24 Feb.
  • Air Transat: service to PVR resuming; check airline for details.
  • Porter Airlines: PVR service restarted 24 Feb with modified schedules.
  • United Airlines: cancelled 22 Feb; resumed services with waivers on 25 Feb.
  • American Airlines: waiver in place; flights resuming 26 Feb.
  • Southwest Airlines: waiver covering changes through 25 Feb.
  • Delta Air Lines: resumed PVR and GDL services and added seats; new travel must begin by 7 Mar 2026 under waiver terms.

Cruise disruptions: thousands of passengers rerouted

Security concerns forced three major cruise ships to skip Puerto Vallarta port calls this week, affecting about 9,566 passengers across three lines. Operators adjusted itineraries by rerouting to alternative ports or substituting at-sea days.

  • Mon 23 Feb — ms Zuiderdam, Holland America Line (~1,964 passengers): skipped PVR; rerouted to Ensenada.
  • Tue 25 Feb — Royal Princess, Princess Cruises (~3,600 passengers): cancelled PVR call and proceeded to Cabo San Lucas.
  • Wed 25 Feb — Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Cruise Line (~4,002 passengers): cancelled PVR call; itinerary adjusted with a sea day or Mazatlán substitute.
Puerto Vallarta cruise port with ships and beachfront hotels showing impact on tourism operations
Cruise calls to Puerto Vallarta were disrupted this week, with ships rerouted to Ensenada, Cabo San Lucas and Mazatlán.

Foreign travel advisories remain cautious

Several governments updated guidance as the situation evolved. While the US narrowed its advisory and lifted shelter-in-place for some regions, other countries continue to urge caution and, in some cases, maintain stricter warnings.

  • United States: Shelter-in-place for Jalisco and Nayarit lifted; Americans advised to exercise increased caution and avoid areas with ongoing security operations.
  • Canada: Global Affairs Canada advises “extreme caution” across Mexico; shelter-in-place in Jalisco and Nayarit remains noted and the situation could worsen rapidly.
  • India: Indian Embassy in Mexico issued an advisory urging Indian nationals to remain cautious.
  • United Kingdom: FCDO recommended British nationals in Jalisco remain indoors during the initial violence.

Accommodation and insurance: flexible options for affected travellers

Hotels in Puerto Vallarta have been coordinating with airlines to help guests change plans without penalties, while Airbnb activated its Major Disruptive Events policy for Jalisco to permit cancellations without fees. Travellers with trip cancellation or interruption insurance that covers port-of-call changes are advised to keep documentation and file claims as needed.

Recovery dashboard: where services are returning to normal

  • Puerto Vallarta (PVR): Shelter-in-place lifted 24 Feb; flights resuming; some cruise calls still skipped; hotels mostly open — allow 5–7 days for fuller recovery.
  • Guadalajara (GDL): Shelter-in-place lifted 24 Feb; flights normalising; hotels mostly open — allow 5–7 days.
  • Cancún / Riviera Maya: Cleared and operating normally — flights, hotels and cruises open.
  • Tijuana (TIJ): Cleared 24 Feb; normal operations resumed.
  • Mazatlán (MZT): Cleared 25 Feb; flights and cruises operating normally.
  • Riviera Nayarit: Monitoring continues with flights operating via Puerto Vallarta.

The easing of some restrictions and the staged restoration of transport and hospitality services point to a gradual recovery for Mexico's tourism sector, but officials and foreign governments stress that localised security risks persist and travellers should stay informed.

What this means for travellers: plan with flexibility, monitor advisories, and confirm bookings. For the tourism industry, the lift of the US shelter-in-place order signals a step toward restoring confidence, though operators will need to manage the backlog of disrupted flights and cruise itineraries carefully to rebuild momentum.