Canada Issues New Travel Advisories Ahead of March Break Amid Mexico Violence
Canadian travelers planning spring getaways are navigating a particularly complicated booking season as new travel advisories emerge just weeks before March Break. From cartel violence in Puerto Vallarta to simmering tensions with the United States, vacation plans are being reshaped by geopolitical and security concerns.
Violence Disrupts Mexican Tourism Hub
The killing of one of the world's most wanted drug lords on February 22 triggered retaliatory violence across Mexico's western state of Jalisco, creating chaos in the popular tourist destination of Puerto Vallarta. Cartel members set vehicles ablaze and blocked roads, forcing tourists to shelter in place as the coastal city transformed from sunny paradise to what resembled a war film set.
Air Canada initially suspended flights to Puerto Vallarta in response to the violence, though service resumed on February 23 alongside WestJet and Air Transat. Guadalajara flights were reinstated by February 25. The timing is particularly concerning as the violence unfolded just three weeks before thousands of Canadian families traditionally head south for March Break vacations.
"We have been responding to a lot of hesitation and concerns over the last few days," said Amra Durakovic, head of communications at Flight Centre Canada. "But it's important to understand that Mexico is a massive country, much like Canada. To get from Puerto Vallarta to the Mayan Riviera and Cancun area, it'll take you 30-plus hours to drive there."
U.S. Tensions Reshape Travel Patterns
Compounding the Mexico situation, ongoing tensions with the United States are significantly impacting Canadian travel preferences. A recent Flight Centre Canada survey found that 62 percent of travelers are less likely to visit the U.S. in 2026 compared to the previous year, with political and cultural climate cited as the top reason.
Flight Centre booking data reveals reservations to the United States are down approximately 40 percent compared to early 2025. "It points to this idea that Canadians aren't feeling welcomed right now in the U.S.," Durakovic explained. Travel experts at Flight Centre's Ottawa Westboro location reported consistent sentiment among local clients, with many expressing reluctance to spend vacation dollars south of the border.
The friction extends beyond psychological factors. The Nexus and Global Entry trusted traveler programs have been suspended at Ottawa International Airport since February 22, leaving cardholders in regular pre-clearance lines with no restoration timeline. This represents just the latest in a series of irritants complicating U.S.-bound travel for Canadians.
Industry Adapts to Changing Preferences
The travel industry is responding to these shifting patterns with significant adjustments. Sales for Caribbean cruises, a March Break staple, have declined because most major departure ports are located in Florida. Several cruise lines have responded by repositioning sailings to Panama and the Dominican Republic to accommodate travelers who prefer avoiding U.S. stopovers entirely.
Displaced demand has redirected toward European travel, with growing interest in river cruises along the Rhine or Danube as Canadians who might have booked Caribbean sailings seek alternatives. "You had Cuba, now Mexico tensions as well — and there was the hurricane in Jamaica," Durakovic noted. "It has all really impacted and disrupted Canadians' travel patterns."
For Ottawa travelers specifically, the Mexico situation creates immediate concern as Mexico, particularly the Mayan Riviera, has become one of the most-booked alternatives to the United States, served by direct flights from the capital. The convergence of security concerns in Mexico and diplomatic tensions with the U.S. creates unprecedented challenges for Canadian families planning their spring vacations.
