Despite the recent renovations to the Highway 554 linking the Jalisco town of Mascota with Puerto Vallarta (reported in last week’s edition), the U.S. State Department believes the road is far from safe for travel.
The road is highlighted in the Jalisco section of the department’s Mexico travel advisory, with U.S. government employees prohibited from using the section of the highway between Mascota to San Sebastian del Oeste, one of seven pueblos magicos (magic towns) in the state.
“Violent crime and gang activity are common in parts of Jalisco,” notes the advisory, which classifies the state in the “Reconsider Travel” bracket.
U.S. government employees are also prohibited from within 20 kilometers (12 miles) of the Jalisco/Michoacan border, south of Route 120, and from traveling on Highway 80 south of Cocula.