Hola Reader,

It's been a couple of weeks since it all kicked off in Mexico and I've heard from some people wondering if it's still a safe place to visit.

So, I spoke to some of my friends and contacts across Mexico to get "boots on the ground" insight into the current safety level and reviewed what news sources are saying.

The short answer is, Mexico is safe to visit but I can understand the hesitation.

First, let's go over what happened and then we'll get into what the reality is on the ground in Mexico so you can be fully informed before you make your travel plans.

What Happened In Mexico?

On February 22nd, 2026 the Mexican Army conducted an operation which took out the head of a cartel based in the state of Jalisco (the home of tequila, Puerto Vallarta, and Guadalajara).

This action was complicated by the fact that the direct successor, the leader's son, is serving time in the US and this caused a scramble by cartel members to claim authority, which resulted in bursts of violence that same day.

The violence was very targeted and comprised almost entirely of vandalism and disruption. The main tactic used was burning empty buses and vehicles on major roads to cause traffic disruptions.

The other thing you may have seen was the targeting of OXXO stores (these are like 7Eleven convenience stores).

Importantly, there were no tourists hurt.

Also importantly, these events were not triggered by the cartel, they were triggered by a pre-planned military operation.

Cartels Don't Target Tourists

Regardless of what happened last month, there is one very important truth that anyone visiting Mexico should know.

Cartels don't target tourists.

It is highly, HIGHLY unusual to hear about tourists in Mexico experiencing cartel violence.

And almost every time this does happen it's because the tourist is involved in something criminal like purchasing, using, or selling drugs.

Or doing something irresponsible like picking fights, being belligerent, or wandering around places they shouldn't be at odd times.

In fact, Canadian investigative reporter Avery Haines met with a cartel boss shortly after the outbursts in February and he himself said, they never target tourists. You can watch the quick clip here.

That's not to say accidents don't happen, but it's important to note that the cartels have nothing to gain from hurting tourists.

Drops in tourism are bad for Mexico and therefore bad for cartels. They, just like the government, and business owners, want tourism to thrive.

What's It Really Like Now?

Things have returned to normal in Mexico. The Mexican Ambassador to the US said very clearly on CNN that the country is safe for tourism and that no tourists were hurt. You can hear his exact remarks at the 2:30 mark of this video.

And Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has also stated that things have returned to normal and that Mexico is a safe place to visit. You can read more about her remarks in this article by the Guardian.

I also spoke to some of my own contacts in Mexico and they are saying much the same.

My friend Javier attended the Shakira concert in Mexico City yesterday.

This free concert took place in the Zocalo (the huge plaza in the centre of Mexico City) and drew crowds of over 400,000 people.

The people here have not been impacted by these recent events and there is no sense of fear in the city at all.

I also spoke with Daniel, my friend and private driver in Querétaro and he said it is business as usual in the Querétaro and San Miguel de Allende area.

A close family friend, Omar lives in Huatulco and he and his family are renovating their home. They have seen no change to their day to day lives or their ability to access products and work on their renos.

And finally, Jacob who runs a small business in Puerto Vallarta, the hardest hit part of Mexico, said that things have really calmed down and started to feel normal in PV almost immediately.

They are still seeing the regular repeat visitors and although there are still some clean up efforts, the mood is relaxed.

So there you have it! This is the current situation and now you can make an informed decision about what you'd like to do.

I haven't changed any of my plans to travel to Mexico and don't intend to.

Of course if you have any questions or want to chat with me directly, my inbox is always open and I personally answer all of my DMs on Instagram.

Hasta luego,

-Ashlea

​​​