Tourists From Coachella Valley Describe Fear as Cartel Violence Erupts in Puerto Vallarta

What was meant to be a relaxing getaway quickly turned into a tense and uncertain situation for some Coachella Valley travelers in Mexico.

Tonight, visitors are sharing their firsthand accounts after cartel violence erupted in and around Puerto Vallarta. One Palm Springs resident says the sudden chaos forced him and others to shelter in place while they figured out how to get home safely.

NBC Palm Springs spoke with local resident Randy Bissett, who traveled to the popular beach destination last week for what he described as a “boys trip.” He says everything was going smoothly—until violence broke out Sunday.

Bissett says at first he noticed smoke rising nearby.

Off to the right, what he initially thought was a brush fire quickly became something far more alarming. He soon realized a bus had been set on fire. The vehicle had been evacuated, but flames had completely engulfed it.

That moment made it clear something serious was unfolding.

According to Bissett, the normally lively tourist area suddenly became tense and quiet as reports of cartel activity spread. While he says he never believed he would be directly targeted, he admits there were moments he feared being caught in the crossfire.

“At one point I thought, how severe is this going to get?” Bissett said. “Are they going to take over buildings or cause havoc throughout the city?”

As the situation developed, daily life in the area quickly shut down. Bissett says many grocery stores and restaurants closed their doors during the violence, leaving tourists struggling to find food and basic supplies.

Even as some businesses reopened, long lines formed outside stores as visitors and residents rushed to stock up.

Another Coachella Valley resident currently in Mexico, Wesley Eure, says the situation has been unsettling. He spends part of the year in the country and says seeing the violence unfold has been concerning for both locals and travelers.

Meanwhile, Bissett says he is closely watching travel plans. As of now, his group is scheduled to fly back to the United States tomorrow afternoon, though the uncertainty has made the situation stressful.

What was supposed to be one more day in paradise has now become a waiting game—hoping flights leave on time and that the violence stays away from the tourist areas.