Travel agencies warn about Mexico travel after recent cartel attacks

As spring break approaches, travel agencies are issuing their own warnings about travel in Mexico following last month’s cartel attacks.

The State Department classifies Mexico at Level 2 – “be more careful” – for terrorism, crime and kidnapping threats.

“Many violent crimes are committed in Mexico,” the State Department’s warning issued last summer said. “These include murder, kidnapping, car theft, and robbery. There is a risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activities in Mexico.”

Threats also vary from region to region; for example, the State Department classifies many states in Mexico, including Jalisco and Baja California, as Level 3 – “Reconsider travel” and states where cartel violence is common, such as Sinaloa and Colima, as Level 4 – “Do not travel.”

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“Conditions vary significantly by state, and what happens in one area can look very different than what travelers experience in a major vacation corridor,” AAA wrote in a recent article about travel to Mexico on its website. he said. “Therefore, security is not a one-size-fits-all answer; it is a personal decision best made with up-to-date, destination-specific information.”

The travel agency noted that “ongoing cartel conflicts in some parts of Mexico have led to temporary increases in violence,” which has “led to increased U.S. security alerts, including shelter-in-place advisories in some popular vacation areas.”

“Based on U.S. Embassy alerts, these incidents are often linked to local security operations involving Mexican authorities and criminal groups,” AAA added. “While most tourist visits to Mexico are uneventful, short-term flare-ups underscore why travelers should review up-to-date, destination-specific guides before setting out.”

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Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, leader of the cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación, was killed in a Mexican military operation assisted by U.S. intelligence on February 22.

People walk next to a burned car in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico, on February 23, 2026. (Arturo Montero/AFP via Getty Images)

His death sparked widespread unrest in Jalisco and other states, home to popular tourist destinations such as Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara; The cartels launched retaliatory attacks that lasted several days, however, leaving travelers shaken.

During the unrest, the State Department issued a shelter-in-place advisory for Americans in Jalisco, some cruise lines skipped stops in Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara, and some U.S. airlines canceled flights, according to Town and Country.

Paul Tumpowsky, Fora Travel’s chief revenue officer, said cartels are encouraged to minimize their impact on tourism because tourism is a big part of the economy here.

“It’s a delicate balance to find their way in fighting the police or those who come after them,” he said.

Security members talk next to burning buses in Zapopan, near Guadalarjara, Mexico, on February 22, 2026. (Carlos Zepeda/Getty Images)

He added: “Mexico is a big place. That’s the first thing to remember. Baja California works completely differently than Jalisco compared to Mexico City, Cancun, Riviera Maya, etc. Generally speaking, it will be safe to travel outside of the directly affected areas.”

He said travelers “need to have a high sense of awareness to be smart, not to the point of ruining your holiday.” This is a time to think and plan a little more about what is the appropriate amount of risk you are willing to take.

“This marks a new phase in the cartels’ response to high-level enforcement. No trip to Mexico is ever risk-free,” Kent Webber, a senior executive at travel security organization Global Rescue, told The New York Times.

Guadalajara in 2019. (Credits Ruiz/AFP via Getty Images)

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Mike Ballard, director of intelligence at travel risk management firm Global Guardian, told The Times that he would advise clients to feel comfortable traveling to Cabo San Lucas, at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, which was not affected by the cartel violence in February, as long as they were aware and kept up with the news.

“But as we’ve seen, things can go wrong quickly,” he added, “so you want to be aware of what’s going on before you get going.”