Travelers from British Columbia in Puerto Vallarta describe waking to explosions and burning vehicles amid violent clashes that triggered a shelter-in-place order and halted flights at the popular Mexican coastal resort.

Eyewitness Accounts of Chaos

Yogi Omar, a Vancouver resident celebrating his 40th birthday, initially mistook early Sunday morning blasts for fireworks. “Then my friend was like, ‘Oh my God, they’re blowing shit up,’” Omar recounted. He witnessed cars exploding across the city, creating a scene resembling a war zone. Guests at his apartment building evacuated briefly after a vehicle ignited near a nearby gas station. Omar later sheltered at a local home with around 200 others. “We’re all starving, so we’re just trying to find any crackers, anything that we can find,” he said. “More than anything else, we just want to make sure that we’re safe.”

Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco state attracts visitors, including the 2SLGBTQ+ community, for its welcoming vibe, culture, and art. Omar, a queer Vancouverite, calls it “a little slice of heaven” where people can “exist authentically” without explanation. The current unrest has shattered that security.

Leigh Carter from Courtenay, B.C., heard loud booms and apparent gunshots downtown while staying with friends. “There were constant explosions and constant siren sounds and then almost no other sound,” she noted. “It got very quiet. I didn’t even hear dogs or roosters.” Burned vehicles blocked key intersections and access points.

Ryan Voutilainen, another Vancouver regular at the resort, saw a group on motorbikes set a vehicle ablaze near his Airbnb in the Zona Romántica neighborhood before ransacking a nearby store. A frequent winter escapee from rainy B.C. weather, Voutilainen said this marks the first time he felt unsafe there. His return flight vanished, leaving him to hunker down for days. “Everything is closed,” he reported. “We have enough to get us going at least until tomorrow, and then we’ll figure it out as we go along.”

Flight Disruptions Ground Canadians

Widespread cancellations hit flights, including those between Vancouver International Airport and Puerto Vallarta. Some Canada-bound aircraft turned back mid-flight. Direct routes from Comox remain popular but grounded amid the turmoil.

Cartel Clashes Spark Unrest

The violence erupted after federal forces launched an operation targeting Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias “El Mencho,” leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. Authorities report he sustained wounds in a clash and died en route to Mexico City. Jalisco’s governor announced on social media that public transport stays suspended until calm returns, citing arson on vehicles and roadblocks hindering officials.

Global Affairs Canada issued an advisory for Puerto Vallarta and parts of Jalisco under shelter-in-place orders. Roughly 19,000 Canadians register in Mexico, with nearly 5,000 in Jalisco. Local authorities urge all residents and visitors to stay indoors until stability resumes.