The skies above Puerto Vallarta are reopening, but a shadow of unease lingers. Flights, grounded just days ago amidst a surge of cartel violence, are resuming, yet Canada’s foreign affairs minister remains hesitant to offer a clear reassurance to Canadians dreaming of sun-soaked escapes.
The recent chaos erupted following a government operation targeting Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, a notorious cartel leader. The resulting clashes plunged several regions of Mexico into a state of fear, forcing both tourists and residents to seek shelter as violence flared.
Minister Anita Anand acknowledges a shift towards stability, but cautions against complacency. The situation, she emphasizes, is far from uniform across the country, demanding a day-to-day assessment of risk. A blanket recommendation for or against travel remains elusive.
Ottawa is closely monitoring the situation, with registration numbers of Canadians in Mexico more than doubling in a single day – leaping from 26,000 to over 55,000. This surge underscores the significant number of citizens potentially exposed to the ongoing instability.
Despite the resumption of flights by major airlines like Air Canada, Air Transat, WestJet, and Porter, the Canadian government’s travel advisory maintains a stark warning: exercise a high degree of caution throughout Mexico. Several states are specifically flagged as areas to avoid for non-essential travel.
The advice to Canadians already in Mexico is direct: heed the guidance of local authorities. This underscores the unpredictable nature of the situation and the importance of remaining vigilant and informed. The normalization process, while underway, is fragile.
Beyond Puerto Vallarta, flights to Guadalajara and Manzanillo have also resumed, with Flair Airlines set to follow suit on Wednesday. However, the memory of recent days – reports describing scenes akin to a “war zone” – remains fresh in the minds of those considering a trip.
