Mexico Travel Returns to ‘Business as Usual’—But Advisories Vary by State

Travel in Mexico was getting back to business as usual this week days after violence rocked the country following the killing of a cartel leader.

The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico updated its advisory on Wednesday, lifting all restrictions on U.S. government staff in the country.

“While flight schedules have returned to normal, if your direct flight to the United States is cancelled, you might consider booking a connecting flight through another Mexican or U.S. city,” the embassy wrote. “We have no reports of road closures directed by local authorities.”

The embassy recommended travelers check with their airlines to confirm their flight status and allow extra time at the airport if they need to change their flight. Travelers in Mexico should also monitor local media for updates.

In Puerto Vallarta, a spokesperson for the local tourism department confirmed to Travel + Leisure flights were back to normal there and hotels continue to operate normally.

As a whole, the U.S. Department of State classifies Mexico is under its second-lowest Level 2 travel advisory, recommending Americans exercise increased caution when heading there. However, that varies depending on the state.

Several states within Mexico are classified under the highest Level 4 advisory, coming with a “do not travel” warning attached. These include the states of Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas. 

The state of Jalisco, where the violence broke out over the weekend, is classified under Level 3, indicating Americans should “reconsider travel” there. That advisory level extends to several other states as well, including Baja California, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Guanajuato, Morelos, and Sonora. 

The popular tourism areas of Cancun, Tulum, and Playa del Carmen are located in the state of Quintana Roo, which is listed under Level 2 by the State Department. The agency encourages travelers there to stay vigilant after dark and remain on well-lit pedestrian streets and in tourist zones.

Only two states in Mexico fall under the State Department’s lowest Level 1 advisory: Campeche and Yucatan.

In general, the State Department encourages all international travelers to sign up for its Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), a free service that provides urgent alerts and allows the department to more easily locate and contact Americans in an emergency. The program provides updates on everything from extreme weather conditions to safety information, travel alerts, and potential health outbreaks.

The department also offers an online international travel checklist travelers can use to see active travel advisories, understand potential visa requirements, and more.