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Canada is advising travellers to exercise a high degree of caution and avoid travel to Mexico amid civil unrest.
Amid warnings of escalating violence in Mexico, airlines are cancelling flights as thousands of Canadians remain stranded amid shelter-in-place orders and ongoing cartel clashes.
At 10:15 a.m. on February 23, 2026, the Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, will hold a media availability to address the security situation in Mexico.
According to a report by the CBC, thousands of Canadians are stranded and there is currently a shelter in place order in Puerto Vallarta.
What is the travel advisory for Mexico?
According to the Government of Canada site, Canadians should avoid non-essential travel to areas in Chiapas, Chihuahua, Colima, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Jalisco, Morelos, Michoacán, Nayarit, Nuevo León, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas due to high levels of violence and organized crime.
Key exceptions include certain cities, airports, highways, and air/sea-accessed zones such as Palenque, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, and San Cristobal de las Casas (and connecting highways) in Chiapas; Chihuahua City in Chihuahua; Manzanillo by air in Colima; Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo by air in Guerrero; Morelia and Patzcuaro in Michoacán; Monterrey in Nuevo León; Los Mochis and Mazatlán (specific areas and routes by air or sea) in Sinaloa; Hermosillo, Guaymas/San Carlos, and Puerto Peñasco in Sonora; Tampico by air or sea in Tamaulipas; and Zacatecas City in Zacatecas.
Is it safe to travel to Mexico right now?
The site continues to detail violence and travel disruptions in Mexico.
Criminal groups have caused roadblocks, shootouts, and explosions in multiple states, disrupting travel and highways across the country.
Most affected areas:
Jalisco (Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta)
Guerrero (Acapulco)
Michoacán
Sinaloa (Mazatlán)
Quintana Roo (Cancun)
Baja California (Tijuana, Tecate)
Nayarit
Shelter-in-place orders are active in Jalisco and Nayarit; other areas may face curfews or sudden restrictions. Flight delays and cancellations are widespread.
Safety guidance for Canadians in Mexico:
Avoid affected areas
Keep a low profile and limit movements
Follow local authorities’ instructions
Monitor news for updates
Check with airlines before traveling to airports
Has Air Canada cancelled flights to Mexico?
Air Canada recently issued a statement about civil unrest in Mexico.
According to the website, due to unexpected civil unrest in the Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta regions, Air Canada is advising all customers in the area to remain at their hotel or current accommodations until further notice and to avoid travelling to the airport. The airline emphasizes that passenger safety is its top priority.
Air Canada has revised its ticketing policy to allow customers on affected flights to make changes to their bookings without penalty, subject to availability. Passengers whose flights are impacted can retrieve their booking to change their flight free of charge.
Customers who purchased tickets through Air Canada Vacations are advised to contact them directly at 1-800-296-3408.
For the latest information about the Canadian Government's Mexico travel advice, click here.
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