As chaos erupted on the streets of Puerto Vallarta, Nick Faye found himself taking shelter in a Mexican hotel, anxiously awaiting news on when he could return home to Regina. In a phone interview from the popular tourist destination, Faye told the Regina Leader-Post on Monday afternoon that he is stuck in limbo—along with his girlfriend and her children—after a two-week vacation that was supposed to end that day.
An Eerie Silence Descends on a Normally Lively City
"It's a bit weird," Faye said. "It's not awful—we're chilling, the kids are eating hamburgers and fries, but there's this uneasy feeling of 'when are we getting home' or not knowing what's going on." Faye is among thousands of travelers facing uncertainty due to violence and related travel advisories in parts of Mexico. The situation escalated after cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," was killed over the weekend in a special forces operation about 300 kilometers southeast of Puerto Vallarta.
The Jalisco New Generation Cartel has been cited as causing chaos in the area, prompting shelter-in-place orders from local and international officials. Global Affairs Canada reports that criminal groups began blocking roads and setting vehicles on fire in the state of Jalisco, including near Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara, with additional reports of explosions and shootouts with security forces.
Flight Cancellations Add to Travelers' Woes
In response to the violence, WestJet announced Sunday that all Canadian flights to and from Puerto Vallarta were canceled for Monday. Air Canada also temporarily suspended its Puerto Vallarta service on Sunday, canceling flights on Monday. These disruptions have left many tourists, including those from Saskatchewan, stranded and unsure of their return plans.
Faye described the surreal atmosphere on Sunday as the streets fell "eerily quiet" with no traffic, shops closed, and military helicopters flying overhead. "To see a city normally so lively under siege almost, it is a bit scary," he said. "My heart pours out to all the people who live here, where being affected by cartel violence is a daily part of their life, versus us as tourists."
Eyewitness Accounts of Violence and Military Response
Robert Letts of Saskatoon, who is staying in a condo close to the main marina, initially thought he was hearing a car backfire when violence erupted over the weekend. "At first I remember hearing a few pops," he said via telephone. Letts could see fire and smoke coming mostly from sites in the downtown area, but he also observed a semi-trailer and vehicles burning near a mall not far from his location.
Although Letts did not witness any direct violence, he saw the military move in to offer support. "We did have the Blackhawk helicopter go by the back of our place," he noted. By Monday, a sense of normalcy was slowly starting to return, with work underway to move burnt vehicles off the streets as the military began reopening some roads after locking down the city.
The ongoing situation highlights the risks for tourists in regions affected by organized crime, with travelers advised to stay informed through official travel advisories and airline updates. For now, Faye and others remain in a holding pattern, hoping for a safe and timely return to Canada.
