Cabo San Lucas Update Today: Is It Safe After Mexico's Cartel Crisis?
Social media is flooded with alarmed travelers wondering whether their upcoming Cabo San Lucas vacation is still on. Here is the full, verified picture of what is happening across Mexico today — and the clear verdict on Cabo San Lucas specifically — as of Monday, February 23, 2026.
What Triggered the Mexico Travel Emergency
The chaos started Sunday, February 22, when Mexican military forces carried out a targeted operation in Tapalpa, in the western state of Jalisco, killing Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes — the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and one of Mexico's most wanted criminals, who carried a $15 million USD U.S. bounty on his head. Within hours of his death, CJNG retaliated by setting roadblocks ablaze, burning vehicles, and shutting down transportation infrastructure across several Mexican states. Puerto Vallarta International Airport canceled all international and most domestic flights. The governor of Jalisco declared a "Code Red" state of emergency, urging residents to stay indoors.
Where the U.S. Embassy Shelter-In-Place Warning Applies
The U.S. State Department issued and then expanded a shelter-in-place advisory covering specific states and cities. Cabo San Lucas and Baja California Sur are NOT on this list.
| State / City | Status |
|---|---|
| Jalisco (Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara) | ⛔ Shelter-in-place |
| Quintana Roo (Cancún, Tulum, Playa del Carmen) | ⚠️ Advisory caution |
| Baja California (Tijuana, Ensenada) | ⚠️ Advisory caution |
| Michoacán, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Nuevo León | ⚠️ Advisory caution |
| Baja California Sur (Cabo San Lucas, SJD) | ✅ Not included — operating normally |
Cabo San Lucas: The Verdict for Travelers
Cabo San Lucas is safe and operating completely normally today. The Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) has not experienced cancellations related to the cartel unrest. Rideshare services, resort operations, beaches, and tourist corridors are fully functional. The current safety index for Cabo San Lucas sits at 93 out of 100, reflecting a calm and secure environment for visitors.
The key geographical fact that puts panic into context: Cabo San Lucas sits on the southern tip of the Baja California Sur peninsula, separated from the mainland of Mexico by the Sea of Cortez. The violence in Jalisco is roughly 1,000 miles away. Canceling a Cabo trip because of Puerto Vallarta is geographically equivalent to canceling a trip to Honolulu because of a crisis in Los Angeles.
What Travelers Should Still Do
While Cabo San Lucas itself is unaffected, any traveler heading to Mexico right now should take these steps before departure: monitor your airline app for any network-wide delays caused by airspace disruptions over Jalisco, check the U.S. Embassy Mexico alerts directly for the latest updates, and avoid Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara entirely until the situation stabilizes. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau called El Mencho's killing "a great development for Mexico, the U.S., Latin America, and the world," signaling that U.S. officials regard the operation as a positive step — but the short-term aftermath remains volatile in the directly affected states.
Spring Break and Tourism Outlook for Cabo
With Spring Break weeks away, Cabo San Lucas is expected to remain one of the top fly-in destinations for American travelers. Mexico's tourism industry — which accounts for roughly 8% of the country's GDP — is watching the situation closely. Destinations like Los Cabos, with its geographic isolation from mainland cartel activity, are well-positioned to absorb demand from travelers rerouting away from Puerto Vallarta and other disrupted areas.
Bottom line: Keep your Cabo San Lucas trip. Monitor your airline. Stay away from the affected mainland states. And enjoy the sun.
