When Travel Takes an Unexpected Turn: Our Experience in Puerto Vallarta

We came to Puerto Vallarta expecting what most travelers do—sun, good food, and a chance to relax.

And at first, that’s exactly what we got.

After a couple rounds of GI issues and some solid sunburns, we were finally feeling human again. This was supposed to be our day to explore the city. Up until then, we had only briefly ventured out—walking the Malecón, stopping into a jewelry store in the Romantic Zone, visiting Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, doing a tequila tasting, and heading into the mountains for lunch.

We were ready to really experience the city.

That morning started slow. I went to the gym, we met up for breakfast, and everything felt normal. But as I was getting out of the shower, I noticed something off—the harbor was covered in smoke.

At first, we assumed it was just a fire.

It wasn’t.

What we later learned—and what was being reported in the news—was that cartel-related violence had broken out in the region. Vehicles, including cars and buses, had been set on fire. Spikes were reportedly placed in roadways to block traffic. The airport had shut down.

In an instant, everything changed.

Sheltering in Place

We were fortunate to be staying at a resort, which meant we had access to food, water, and a secure place to stay. We followed instructions and sheltered in place.

We also enrolled in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which provided real-time updates as the situation developed. This is something I would strongly recommend for anyone traveling internationally—it becomes an important source of verified information when things feel uncertain.

We were actively sending articles, updates, and information back and forth throughout the day, staying informed as things unfolded. But we made a very intentional choice not to discuss any of it in front of the kids.

From their perspective, nothing felt out of the ordinary—we kept the day calm, normal, and steady for them.

It wasn’t until that night, after they had fallen asleep between us in bed, that we were finally able to talk through everything ourselves and decompress from the day.

At the same time, our phones were constantly going off. Friends and family were reaching out after seeing coverage in the U.S., and while it came from a place of care, it also added a layer of anxiety. The news back home often felt more intense than what we were directly experiencing on the ground.

That night, we packed a “just in case” bag—passports, water, and tennis shoes—ready in case we needed to move quickly.

Waiting It Out

By Monday afternoon, we began seeing reports that things were de-escalating and that cartel activity was retreating.

That evening, we saw the first flight land back in Puerto Vallarta—a United Airlines plane, which happened to be the airline we were flying. That moment brought a huge sense of relief.

By Tuesday morning, just before our scheduled ride to the airport, the shelter-in-place advisory was lifted.

Getting Home

The airport was chaos—standing room only, packed with travelers trying to get home.

We fully expected delays or to get bumped.

But we got lucky.

We made our original flight.

A Different Kind of Travel Experience

We didn’t get to experience Puerto Vallarta the way we had planned. Not even close.

But we did walk away with a different kind of travel story—one that reminded us that travel isn’t always predictable, and it isn’t always comfortable.

I’ll be honest—there were moments I felt responsible for putting my family in that situation. Moments where I hated not feeling fully in control or able to “fix” things the way you want to as a parent. Not having a car, not having an exit plan—it weighed on me.

And while situations like this are rare, they’re not impossible.

What We Took Away

For now, we’ll be sticking a little closer to home. There’s a lot to explore right here in the U.S., and that feels like the right choice for our family at this moment.

That said, I want to give major credit to Velas Vallarta. Throughout everything, they operated as “business as usual.” If you didn’t have access to outside information, you wouldn’t have known there were safety concerns. Their staff was calm, professional, and incredibly reassuring.

We’ll be sharing a full review soon.

Final Thoughts

Travel is never just about the highlight reel.

Sometimes it’s about how you respond when things don’t go as planned.

This trip didn’t look like we expected—but it’s one we won’t forget.