Tucson Travelers Unfazed by Mexico Violence, Plan Rocky Point Trips

Frequent visitors say localized incidents won't deter their upcoming travel plans.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Despite recent violence in parts of Mexico, travelers from Tucson, Arizona say they're not too worried about their upcoming trips to Rocky Point. Longtime Rocky Point homeowners and residents say the violence is far from where they plan to visit, and they don't see a reason to cancel or change their travel plans.

Why it matters

Rocky Point, also known as Puerto Penasco, is a popular spring break and vacation destination for many Tucson residents. This story highlights how travelers are weighing safety concerns versus their desire to continue visiting the Mexican coastal town, which is an important economic driver for the region.

The details

After a drug lord was killed, leading to violence in some parts of Mexico, some travelers may be reconsidering plans to visit. However, frequent Rocky Point visitors like John Teefy and Larry Miles say the violence is far from where they plan to go and they don't see a reason to cancel their upcoming trips. Teefy owns a home in Choya Bay and was set to fly to Puerto Vallarta but changed plans when violence broke out there. Miles has lived in Puerto Penasco for 12 years and plans to drive back from Tucson the next day.

  • On February 22, Teefy's family's flight to Puerto Vallarta was canceled due to the violence.
  • Teefy and his family are planning to drive to Rocky Point this upcoming weekend.

The players

John Teefy

A Tucson resident who owns a home in Choya Bay, Rocky Point and frequently travels to Mexico with his family.

Larry Miles

A Tucson native who has lived in Puerto Penasco, also known as Rocky Point, for 12 years.

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What they’re saying

“I would never take my family where it's not safe.”

— John Teefy (kold.com)

“Remember, this country is almost as large as ours, so just because there are localized areas of violence and trouble, it doesn't mean the entire country is having it happen.”

— John Teefy (kold.com)

“At this point, I'd have no reason to discourage someone from coming down. As I said, the weather is turning; it's going to be terrific for spring break, that's on the verge of here.”

— Larry Miles (kold.com)

What’s next

Many airlines have resumed flights to Mexico as the cartel-linked tensions start to ease following the recent violence.

The takeaway

While safety is always a concern when traveling, these frequent Rocky Point visitors demonstrate how localized incidents of violence in Mexico do not necessarily deter travelers from continuing to visit popular tourist destinations like Rocky Point, which remains an important economic driver for the region.