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In the wake of a military operation that resulted in the death of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, the notorious leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, a wave of unrest has erupted across Mexico. The violent backlash from cartel members has disrupted several of the country’s popular tourist destinations, causing widespread chaos on Sunday.
In response to the escalating situation, the U.S. State Department has issued shelter-in-place advisories, urging caution for those within affected areas. Meanwhile, airlines have been forced to cancel flights amid the ongoing turmoil.
Amidst these turbulent events, Tripadvisor has unveiled its “2026 Travelers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best Beaches,” highlighting the top beaches in Mexico. Topping the list is Isla Pasion Beach in Cozumel, which was named the leading beach after an analysis of millions of traveler reviews from the past year. The announcement was made on February 17.
Isla Pasion Beach has earned accolades for its status as a secluded island paradise, renowned for its pristine waters, vibrant marine life, and exceptional snorkeling opportunities. Travelers have praised it as a tranquil retreat, offering both beauty and a unique experience.
The beach was touted for being a private island oasis and offering crystal-clear waters, marine life encounters and snorkeling opportunities.
The travel guidance platform noted the best time to visit the island is between November and April.
Isla Pasion has unique features such as protected coral reefs and sea turtle nesting sites — and is an exclusive day-trip destination.
Other beaches named in the top five were Elafonissi Beach in Crete, Greece; Balos Lagoon in Kissamos, Greece; Eagle Beach in Eagle Beach, Aruba; and Praia da Falésia in Algarve, Portugal.
Isla Pasion is located in the state of Quintana Roo — listed in a slew of travel alerts issued by the US State Department on Sunday, which cited “ongoing security operations.”
“US citizens in a number of locations in Mexico are urged to shelter in place,” the latest alert read.
Cartel members are terrorizing many regions by setting fire to businesses and with gunfire in public areas.
The latest travel advisories in Mexico marked the country as a “Level 2 – Exercise increased caution” — with other areas marked as a “Level 3 – Reconsider travel” and “Level 4 – Do not travel” on Aug. 12, 2025.
The advisory levels remain unchanged.
“Exercise increased caution in Mexico due to terrorism, crime and kidnapping,” the advisory says.
Crimes listed in Mexico include homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, robbery and terrorist violence.
“There is a risk of violence in the state from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations. Shootings between rival gangs have injured and killed innocent bystanders,” reads the advisory.
Travelmation travel advisor Brady Alumbaugh told Fox News Digital that tourists taking trips to Mexico should “be aware of [their] surroundings and trust [their] instincts.”
He added, “If you’re getting a strange gut feeling, pay attention to that and react accordingly.”
Alumbaugh also suggested traveling in groups of two or more. “The more people, the better,” he said.
“If you are a US citizen or national, enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) and register your trip,” he also said.
“The STEP program is free and allows the Department of State to contact you in the case of an emergency. It also helps them keep track of citizens that are abroad.”
He added that travelers should stay connected.
“If your cellular plan does not include coverage in Mexico, look into day-pass E-SIM options to ensure you can contact authorities, family and friends while out of range of WiFi. In Mexico, the ‘911’ of the US is 065 for ambulance, 068 for fire and 060 for police,” said Alumbaugh.