Unrest in Puerto Vallarta - airport shut down?
 

I am seeing a few news reports and also many social media posts from people who are in PV right now (Sunday Feb 22) that there is widespread unrest in PV and nearby areas because a cartel boss was arrested yesterday. Cars (many are taxis) are being set on fire, roads blocked, buildings on fire, a curfew is in effect, and now the airport is shut down. Incoming flights are apparently being diverted to Cabo or are returning to closer airports in the US midflight. Anyone have more info?

We are supposed to be flying down in six days for a two-week vacation in PV.

Lots of posts about this over on Trip Advisor. There it said the airport is not entirely shut down but significantly impacted. Also because people in PV now can't get to the airport because of the disruption on the roadways.

This is something unfortunate and brand new to PV so no idea how or who can predict if it is a one day thing or will go on long enough to affect your upcoming trip.

suze

I am reading all flights from Canada are diverted. Have read some flights leaving, none arriving. Even if airport is open, you can't get there because roads are blocked. Sounds like a scary mess. I am scheduled to go in a couple of weeks-

Message from friends in Oaxaca which isn’t on the list, from USA Today:

The U.S. State Department issued a security warning on Feb. 22 advising Americans in Mexico to “shelter in place” until further notice, after the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel was killed by the Mexican army.

“Due to ongoing security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity, U.S. citizens in the named locations should shelter in place until further notice,” the state department said in its security alert.

The areas listed by the state department include Jalisco State (including Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara), Tamaulipas State (including Reynosa and other municipalities), areas of Michoacan State, Guerrero State, and Nuevo Leon State.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...o/88814503007/

More.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/trave...o/88813697007/

It is big and it is bad. The way things are going I doubt it will be clear in time for your trip or at least nothing you'd want to take a chance going into. As of now everyone is being asked to shelter in place.

People are reporting things getting slowly back to normal even in Zona Romantica. Shops beginning to open again, some traffic on the streets, etc. I'm reading on Trip Advisor from people who are in PV now.

Thank you, Suze. That's what we are hearing, too. I think we are going to go ahead with our plans to leave on Saturday. Our condo does not appear to be directly on a street that was impacted (we're on the beach), and I hate the thought of cancelling, when what I want to do most is to support the people and economy of the city I love.

I plan to leave Mar 4. E-mailed with a friend who is there and encouraging me not to cancel. Things much calmer today. Daughter of a friend of mine owns a restaurant there- No Se Nada- She went to market by herself to get things for the restaurant without problems and is open. I am feeling optimistic.

Here's a shared NYT article, is it safe to visit Mexico:

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/24/t...smid=url-share

Hopefully this link comes thru OK. It's a live webcam on B. Badillo, a main street in old town/zona romantica... today.

https://www.ipcamlive.com/player/player.php?alias=66a7fb01a47a4&autoplay=1

Things seem crazy quick back to normal, as they do there. My 'worry' would not be about personal safety but rather if flights are going in and out on schedule.

buena surete/good luck!

Things returning to normal it looks like. Reports I am getting looks like flights international and domestic and getting in out. They say buses are running but I wonder if they are reliable since so many are destroyed.

We've texted with friends who are in PV now - in the same building where our rental condo is (Amapas area). They say it is very calm - things are pretty much back to normal. A few temporary shortages at smaller grocery stores, but deliveries were expected to catch up by the end of today. Alaska Airline flights are back on schedule - so as of right now our plans are to fly down on Saturday and enjoy the two weeks ahead. Very glad it appears to be resolved.

Scdreamer- post after you get there. I am coming Mar 4 as long as things stay calm. I am staying a little south of old town at the Costa Sur

Yes people in Puerto Vallarta now are posting that things are mostly back to normal today.

I will try to - I won't have my laptop with me, and sometimes I can't get on this site on my phone or tablet.

People are reporting everything is back to normal already.

yes am reading that too- except for airport which is crazy. Many Canadians still trying to get home with no help from airline- Westjet. One lady said she booked air through 3rd party booking agency and now neither airline or booking agency will take responsibility. Hours wait to talk to anyone at Westjet. I always book direct with airline.

It's very common after a few days of flight cancelations for it to be difficult for those who were directly affected to get another flight. Our daughter and her family of five were scheduled to fly out of San Juan, Puerto Rico, on the day that Trump's Venezuela "adventure" took place. Air space was closed for two full days, and they couldn't get rebooked for six days. The passengers holding tickets have priority over those who were canceled. Her in-laws, who had tickets to fly a couple days after our daughter's family's original tickets, were fine - and got out four days before our daughter did. And our daughter's "new" itinerary meant that instead of a one-stop route home, they had three stops and it took them 22 hours to get back to the west coast.

I understand and agree. When airports have to cancel (for whatever reason) it takes time to catch up. I've been twice stuck in PV for a day or two extra, once was because of a huge snowstorm in Seattle so they couldn't get the Alaska planes that go back and forth out from Seattle. The other time was a mechanical difficulty, where we were already in the air but returned to PVR because of no cabin pressure!

Good reminder not to book thru 3rd parties (something I never do).

Things are normal in Puerto Vallarta. I'm reading from more than one regular visitor who legitimately freaked with that one day terrible event and cancelled their future trips to PV in May and June and are now sorry they did so.

Friend here in Seattle just got back from a week in Puerto Vallarta staying in Centro and said everything was fine. Beautiful weather, somewhat less people on the plane, otherwise nothing out of the ordinary to notice.

I am just back too. Everything quiet. I saw some of the burned buildings but that is all. Tourism hurting though. And I heard the locals hurting as the damage not covered by insurance because it is an act of terrorism. Sad for them. My flight had many empty seats on the way down but almost full on the way back.

Visit Puerto Vallarta- its a good time to be there

We came home today after two weeks in Puerto Vallarta - our flight down from California was practically empty - we actually got upgraded to first class without even asking. Flight back today was about 2/3 full.

We saw very little evidence of the unrest that had occurred six days before our arrival. A few burned-out OXXO stores, as well as a larger pharmacy that had been torched. There was some uptick in police presence, but nothing that really stood out. Tourism is down - fewer people on the streets and in restaurants.

Weather was perfect - wish we were still there!