I Went On A Trip To Mexico And Everything Was Great (Because I Knew Where To Go)
It wasn’t too long ago that Mexico was in our national headlines because of an outbreak of violence. For those who need a refresher, the Mexican military carried out an operation against the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of the largest and most violent cartel in Mexico.
El Mencho reportedly died from his wounds while he was being transferred to Mexico City. As a result, CJNG sicarios unleashed mayhem in the parts of Mexico they control. It was in a lot of places.
Even the resort city of Puerto Vallarta was caught in the violence and acts of arson, spooking many vacationers. Though no foreigners were killed in the day of violence, the rampage of revenge has given many people pause on whether to go to Mexico on vacation or business.
My Mom and I have a saying when it comes to Mexico: When things are good, they are great! The food, culture, people, and yes, the good exchange rate for U.S. dollars, is why I love visiting whenever I can. But, when things are bad, they are really bad. CJNG’s reaction to their leader’s death was another reminder of that.
As someone who has been to Mexico multiple times throughout the years, the sad reality is there is an uneasy peace that can be shattered in an instant because of the cartels’ power in many parts of the country. The main reasons for dangerous zones in Mexico is because different cartels or different factions of the same cartel fight for control. The flip side, some “safe” cities or states are simply due to one cartel being firmly in control. Which is why Puerto Vallarta is technically safe, so long as nothing happens to piss off CJNG. Naturally, the death of their leader pissed them off.
That said, there are places you can still go to where such concerns are minimal. As my headline states, I just returned from Mexico and I felt safe because of where I went.