Despite an ongoing violent drug war, Mexico continues to be one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world. While Acapulco has fallen from the travel radar due to an astronomical murder rate since 2005, places like Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, and Cancun have remained largely untouched. However, that all changed when a crude explosive device detonated on Feb. 21 aboard a ferry that operates between the resort areas of Playa del Carmen and Cozumel.
Fortunately, no one was killed as a result of the detonation, but 26 people were injured (including U.S. citizens). But then authorities found an object a few days later attached to the underside of another ferry belonging to the same company near Cozumel Island, which they described as a similar “rudimentary artifact.” That one never detonated.
Ferry Security Alerts for Mexico
Within a week, the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs started issuing security alerts for Mexico. The first one was posted on March 1, and stated, “U.S. Government employees are prohibited from using all tourist ferries on this route until further notice. Mexican and U.S. law enforcement continue to investigate.” No more details were provided. On March 7, another warning indicated that the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City “received information about a security threat in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico.” The restriction for government employees was extended to Playa del Carmen resorts, and no further details were provided regarding the security threat.
After this alert was published, travel agency phones started ringing off the hook as U.S. citizens with travel plans to Cancun, Cozumel, and Playa del Carmen started panicking and canceling their trips. The warnings came right in the middle of Spring Break season, so parents across the U.S. with children in Mexico scrambled to reach them and try to bring them home. Brides and grooms with weddings scheduled at one of the endless all-inclusive luxury resorts along the Riviera Maya wondered of any of their guests would show up.
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