Mexico Travel Warning: Why Tourists Are Choosing Colombia Instead

What Happened in Mexico

On Sunday, February 22, 2026, the Mexican Army killed Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes — known as "El Mencho" — the 59-year-old leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) during a military operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco. He was wounded in a firefight and died while being airlifted to Mexico City. Seven cartel members were killed total in the operation.

The U.S. State Department had a $15 million bounty on El Mencho. The Trump administration recently designated CJNG as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. The cartel has an estimated 19,000 members operating across 21 of Mexico’s 32 states.

What Followed: Coordinated Retaliation

Within hours, CJNG launched coordinated retaliation across at least 8 Mexican states:

• Jalisco — Code Red declared statewide. Burning vehicles and narcobloqueos across Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta. Public transport suspended. Schools cancelled Monday. A Costco in Puerto Vallarta was set on fire.
• Guanajuato — Fires at pharmacies and convenience stores, blockades and attacks.
• Tamaulipas — Road blockades and armed clashes, including Reynosa.
• Michoacán — Road blockades reported across the state.
• Nayarit — Burning vehicles and highway blockades.
• Colima — Highway blockades on roads shared with Jalisco.
• Guerrero — U.S. Embassy shelter-in-place order issued.
• Nuevo León — U.S. Embassy shelter-in-place order issued.

Airport and Flight Disruptions

Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR) — Closed. All flights cancelled. Air Canada, WestJet, Delta, United, Southwest, and Alaska Airlines suspended operations. Incoming flights diverted to Cabo San Lucas or returned to origin. All taxi and rideshare services suspended. No timeline announced for reopening.

Guadalajara Airport (GDL) — Passengers fled for cover after hearing explosions outside the terminal. Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP) confirmed that no armed individuals entered the facility and the airport continued operating normally, though the panic was real and widespread.

Cancún and Mexico City — 62 flight delays and 29 cancellations across both airports.

Official Travel Warnings

The U.S. Embassy issued shelter-in-place orders for Americans in Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacán, Guerrero, and Nuevo León. Canada’s Global Affairs department issued travel advisories with shelter-in-place orders for Puerto Vallarta. Four Mexican states remain at Level 4 — "Do Not Travel" — including Guerrero, Tamaulipas, Michoacán, and Sinaloa.

World Cup Implications

Guadalajara is scheduled to host 4 FIFA World Cup matches in June 2026, just four months away. Security analysts warn that El Mencho’s death creates a leadership vacuum that could trigger prolonged internal power struggles within CJNG — meaning instability could extend well into the summer. The assumption that cartels would maintain a "tacit truce" during the World Cup is now in serious question.

Why Travelers Are Looking at Colombia

While Mexico grapples with this security crisis, Colombia’s tourism sector is experiencing record growth:

• 1.2 million foreign visitors came to Medellín in 2025 — a record year
• National Geographic named Medellín a top 2026 destination globally
• Colombia welcomed 22 million international visitors between 2022-2025, a 134% increase
• Tourism now generates $10 billion annually — Colombia’s second-largest economic sector
• Q1 2025 tourism revenue was 62.8% above pre-pandemic 2019 levels

What Medellín Offers

Medellín has transformed from its troubled past into one of Latin America’s most welcoming cities. Spring-like weather year-round (no humidity), world-class food and coffee culture, a thriving digital nomad scene, and neighborhoods like El Poblado, Laureles, and Envigado that feel safe and walkable. Direct flights from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, New York, and Houston.

Your Dollar Goes Further

At today’s rate of approximately 3,527 pesos per dollar, your money stretches significantly:

• $50 USD — roughly 176,000 COP — a nice dinner for two with drinks
• $100 USD — roughly 353,000 COP — a full weekend of dining and transport
• $200 USD — roughly 705,000 COP — several days of comfortable living
• $500 USD — roughly 1,763,000 COP — a solid week in Medellín

Check today’s rate on our calculator to see exactly what you would receive.

Get Your Pesos Before You Land

If you are redirecting your trip to Colombia — or planning one fresh — you can exchange your dollars to pesos before you arrive. DolarPeso lets you pay with Zelle, PayPal, USDC stablecoin, or card, and pick up cash at a verified partner location when you get to Medellín. No ATM fees, no airport exchange booths, no hidden markups.

Check today’s exchange rate and get your pesos ready.

This article reflects information available as of February 22, 2026. The situation in Mexico remains developing — check official travel advisories for the latest updates before making travel plans.