U.S. Removes Cancún and Riviera Maya from Security Alert as Normalcy Returns to Quintana Roo

Cancún, Quintana Roo — The U.S. government has updated its security alert for Mexico, removing Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Cozumel from the advisory issued Sunday afternoon after the situation in Quintana Roo returned to normal.

The “Security Alert – Update 4” issued February 23 by the U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Mexico still advises U.S. citizens to shelter in place in states including Jalisco — covering Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara — Baja California, Nayarit, and regions of Colima, Guanajuato, Guerrero, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí, Veracruz, and Zacatecas due to ongoing operations, roadblocks, and criminal activities.

However, the alert specifically notes that normalcy has been restored in Quintana Roo, including Cancún, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum, as well as in Sinaloa and Tamaulipas.

The U.S. Embassy had instructed consular staff in Cancún, Playa del Carmen, and Cozumel not to open offices on Monday and to work from home following violent acts stemming from the death of Nemesio Oseguera, known as “El Mencho,” leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). The Mexican Army led an operation on Sunday that resulted in his death.

The Mexican Caribbean Hotel Council reported that destinations in the Mexican Caribbean — Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Cozumel, and the rest of the region — continue operating with total normality, without interruptions to flights, lodging, tourist services, or daily activities, despite the violent incidents recorded on Sunday.

Authorities and the tourism sector reiterated that there are no disruptions to services, flights, or activities in the Mexican Caribbean. This comes as Quintana Roo recorded 601,108 tourists at the end of the week, vacationing in the 12 destinations of the Mexican Caribbean, with hotel occupancy between 90 and 95 percent.

For Monday, 602 air operations were scheduled at the state’s four airports, though with six delays and two cancellations recorded for flights to and from Guadalajara, Jalisco, and León, Guanajuato, according to the Southeast Airport Group (Asur). In total, three departure and three arrival flights from VivaAerobus experienced delays, while one departure and one arrival operation from Volaris were canceled, an Asur spokesperson specified.