Travel Writer Stands by Puerto Vallarta Despite Cartel Violence

Meagan Drillinger, who lived in the Mexican city for 5 years, says she feels safe and can't wait to return.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Writer Meagan Drillinger spent the last 5 years living in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, which she calls her home base. Despite recent cartel violence in the state of Jalisco that caused disruptions in the city, Drillinger says she has no hesitation about returning and feels safe in Mexico, as the country is much more than its worst moments.

Why it matters

The recent cartel violence in Jalisco has raised concerns about the safety of travel to Mexico, especially for popular tourist destinations like Puerto Vallarta. Drillinger's perspective as a long-term resident provides insight into how some travelers may view the situation differently based on their personal experiences and relationships with a place.

The details

Drillinger first visited Puerto Vallarta over a decade ago and it became a place she would return to regularly for breaks from her travels. Over time, it became her full-time home for much of 2024 and 2025. As a travel writer, Drillinger developed deep connections in the community, learning the city's rhythms and routines. When the recent violence erupted, she watched it unfold from afar in Seattle, hearing from friends and loved ones on the ground. However, Drillinger says this has not shaken her desire to return, as she understands these incidents are disruptions, not constants, in the city she considers a second home.

  • Drillinger first visited Puerto Vallarta in 2013.
  • She spent much of 2024 and 2025 living in Puerto Vallarta full-time.
  • Drillinger plans to return to Mexico in early March, this time to Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca.

The players

Meagan Drillinger

A travel writer who made Puerto Vallarta, Mexico her home base for 5 years.

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What they’re saying

“Watching the videos didn't make me want to run further from Vallarta. If anything, it made me wish I were there with the community I love.”

— Meagan Drillinger

What’s next

Drillinger plans to return to Mexico in early March, this time to Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, nearly 1,000 miles away from Puerto Vallarta.

The takeaway

Drillinger's perspective highlights how personal experiences and relationships can shape one's view of safety and risk when it comes to travel, even in the face of high-profile incidents of violence. Her desire to return to Mexico demonstrates how some travelers may see these events as disruptions rather than constants in places they consider a second home.