The first travellers to return from Mexico’s Puerto Vallarta began arriving at the Vancouver International Airport Tuesday night after navigating a period of violence in the region.
The unrest erupted after a notorious cartel leader was killed during a government operation, triggering violence across several regions of Mexico. As reports of roadblocks, gunfire and arson spread, tourists were instructed to remain inside their hotels until authorities deemed it safe.
Several airlines cancelled flights to and from the region, but most had resumed offering those routes by Tuesday.
Mike Mann tells CityNews he stayed in an area near the Malecón esplanade in Centro, where he witnessed violence from a distance.
“Literally, around the corner on the block was a [convenience store] on fire. And while we were on the roof, there was like a 10-minute ongoing gun battle in the streets — guns going off,” Mann recalled.
“But I honestly say, I never felt in danger, because it was clear that they weren’t after the tourists; this was between the government and the cartel.”
He says he has a friend who nearly found themselves in the crosshairs.
“They were in an Uber on the way to the airport. They got stopped in a roadblock. The guys with guns said, ‘Would you please get out of the car? Please take your bags and go to that hotel. And the driver.’ And then they burned the car.”
Another arrival, Catherine, says she’s glad to be home and deeply relieved to make it home unscathed after being so near to chaos that resulted in some 70 deaths.
“On the day of the incident, we were on a boat tour that left from a dock near Puerto Vallarta. And while we were on the boat, my friend got a text from our hotel, saying, ‘Are you okay given the situation?’ And we had no clue what the situation was,” said Catherine.
“We could see plumes of smoke on shore. And eventually we were stuck on the boat for a while, because the highway was closed because there were burnt cars and trucks in the way.
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But she, too, says the experience wasn’t that bad.
“All in all, if you have to be stuck, it’s not a bad place to be stuck. It was lovely, and there was an open bar, and the staff was so kind and helpful.”
Another traveller, Ray, says the tropical paradise outweighed the trouble from his vantage point.
“We watched it from the rooftop pool — had a drink in hand, had the explosions, and the black smoke.”
Officials say the violence has subsided, but Canadians are returning in droves as airlines catch up on a backlog from the wide-ranging cancellations caused by the conflict.
—With files from Lucas Casaletto, Melissa Nakhavoly, and The Canadian Press