Mexico Travel Alerts 2009

With Mexico making headlines daily and with that the concerns about travel south of the border, we thought we would address some issues and answer some questions that you may have.

The majority of danger that has been associated with Mexico and specifically the drug cartels, is located near the town of Cuidad Juarez in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. The border town in the USA is El Paso and is located about 800 miles from Harlingen, Texas. Other trouble spots that have made the news are further west, with the borders of Arizona and California being affected.

Both the Mexican government and the USA are sending money and man power to stop this trend; this will take time but can be done.

With our parent company in Minnesota, we have a full time manager who lives and works out of our Brownsville, Texas office. For your trip to Pintail Lodge, our bi-lingual staff members meet you at either the Harlingen, Texas airport or a local hotel. Our crossing point is Los Indios, in the state of Tamaulipas Mexico. We have built up a 15-year relationship with the border patrols on both sides of the fence, and our staff and vehicles are recognized as such.

The transfer to Pintail Lodge is about 2 hours and 20 minutes. Most of the hunting that you will experience will be on our private land leases - or in the vast Laguna Madre itself. For our premium duck hunts, you do not have to travel far to be sitting in a blind and experiencing some of the very best duck hunting available in North America.

For a little more peace of mind, the Mexican Army has a post within 10 miles of the lodge, and again we have established a working relationship with them. Their presence in the area alone keeps the local population more secure, as well as our guests.

Mexico is experiencing some difficulties and we hope and pray for their future. We feel confident in offering you a safe and wonderful journey to our Pintail Lodge and will strive to make your trip one to always remember.
 

Frequently asked questions:

What does the 2009 Mexico Travel alert say?

The Mexico Travel Alert dates back to April of 2008 and was UPDATED on February 20, 2009 as a result of increased violence along the U.S. border towns of Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua City. While millions of U.S. citizens safely visit Mexico each year, violence in the country has increased recently, predominantly amongst the Mexican drug cartels.

Is Mexico an unsafe place to travel?

The violence is predominantly in U.S. border towns, more than 800 miles from Harlingen, Texas, which is where we cross the border and travel to the lodge.   While travel to Pintail Lodge remains safe, we encourages our customers to take proper precautions when traveling anywhere, not just Mexico. Travelers should stick to main tourist areas and be aware of their surroundings.

Should international visitors be concerned with the drug situation in Mexico?

Drug dealing and possession are a social problem that every nation faces, and Mexico is no exception. Fortunately, in Mexico and elsewhere, the violence associated with drug trafficking is concentrated in cities that are far away from Pintail Lodge and our hunting areas.