Is it safe to travel to Mexico right now? Latest Foreign Office guidance - as Brits told to 'exercise extreme caution'
The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for Mexico after the killing of a notorious cartel boss.
Head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, who went by the nickname ‘El Mencho’, was killed on February 22, 2026, along with six alleged accomplices. His death has triggered an immediate outbreak of disorder — including roadblocks and car fires — an indicator of the drug lord’s huge influence across Mexico.
As a result, flights to and from the country, popular among UK holidaymakers, have been disrupted. The UK Foreign Office last updated its travel advice for British citizens on February 23, and it currently advises against all but essential travel to the city of Tijuana.
There are a few exceptions, though, as travel to and through the following destinations is permitted:
- Airside transit through Tijuana Airport
- The Cross Border Xpress bridge from the airport, which links terminals across the Mexican-US border
- The federal toll road 1D and Via Rápida from Tijuana to the border.
The Foreign Office has also advised against all but essential travel to Tecate, in Baja California, including the roads that link this city to Tijuana. The advice adds that while there’s another state with a similar name, Baja California Sur, this is not included in the warning.
The ‘all but essential travel’ warning also applies to the following:
- Chihuahua
- Sinaloa, including the cities of Los Mochis and Mazatlán
- Tamaulipas
- Zacatecas
- Guanajuato
- Michoacán (with the exception of Pátzcuaro, and boat trips out to the islands on Lake Pátzcuaro)
- Jalisco (including the northern areas of Bolaños, Chimaltitán, Colotlán, Hostotipaquillo, Huejúcar, Huequilla el Alto, Mezquitic, San Martin de Bolaños, Santa Maria de los Ángeles, Totatiche, and Villa Guerrero)
- Colima
- Guerrero
- Chiapas.
The Foreign Office adds that tourists who travel against this advice could see their travel insurance invalidated. In a new warning it says: “Serious security incidents have been reported on 22 February across the state of Jalisco, including in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta, following a federal law-enforcement operation against organised crime in the municipality of Tapalpa.
“Authorities in Puerto Vallarta have issued a public advisory to stay indoors. Routes to airports may be blocked. You should exercise extreme caution, follow local authorities’ advice, including orders to stay indoors and avoid non‑essential travel in affected areas.
“There are reports of blockades on intercity roads across affected states. Please monitor local media and follow advice from authorities and local transport companies before making a decision to travel. If you do decide to travel, we recommend intercity road travel during daylight hours.
“Security incidents have also been reported in other parts of Mexico. As the situation develops, wherever you are in Mexico, you should stay alert and follow local security advice.”
If you happen to be in an area to which the Foreign Office has issued a new warning – primarily Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara – then you can make arrangements to leave as soon as safely possible and seek recompense. But otherwise there is no prospect of claiming losses if you come back early or cancel a trip.