The search for Melissa and Violeta leads Puerto Vallarta’s Nov. 9 news, with a school strike, Punta Paraíso demolition plans, and two city deadlines.
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, November 9, 2026 – A Puerto Vallarta search collective says it joined Jalisco officials this weekend to look for Melissa Carranza and Violeta Santana, missing since July 27.
Una Luz Para Nuestros Desaparecidos said it worked with the Comisión de Búsqueda de Personas del Estado de Jalisco on Saturday and Sunday. Teams searched in and around Ixtapa, El Zancudo, El Aguacate, El Colorado, El Ranchito and La Desembocada. The collective’s Sunday account gave no indication that either woman had been found.
Melissa Anahí Carranza Contreras, 19, and Violeta Alejandra Santana Bueno, 21, traveled from Acatlán de Juárez to Puerto Vallarta for what they believed was a job offer. NoticiasPV reported that security footage from the Central Camionera confirmed they arrived in Vallarta.
Their families and supporters organized an Oct. 31 protest that blocked Avenida Francisco Medina Ascencio for several hours. State officials offered to meet with Violeta’s mother to follow up on the families’ demands. The weekend searches followed those talks.
“If we don’t see any movement, if they don’t actually do what they’re promising, we’ll come back to Puerto Vallarta,” Claudia Bueno, Violeta’s mother, said at the protest.
San Pancho prepares to take down Punta Paraíso’s Tower 1
Heavy equipment has arrived at Punta Paraíso in San Pancho, where the damaged condo tower shifted again last Monday. Bahía de Banderas is preparing to take down Tower 1 if the owners and developer fail to meet the deadlines in their notices. They have three days to submit a demolition plan and five days after that to carry it out.
Darío García, a municipal public works official, estimates the operation will take about 90 days once it gets underway. The plan calls for a temporary rock road so excavators can reach the tower and two barriers in the water to keep debris from drifting out to sea. Access to the work area will be closed during demolition.
Nearly 300 students are out of class in La Cruz
An indefinite teachers’ strike has suspended classes for nearly 300 students at CETMAR 06, a technical high school in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle. Teachers are still reporting to campus, but they’ve stopped teaching, giving exams, and handling school paperwork.
Section 20 of the Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educación says the Secretaría de Educación Pública owes teachers seniority payments, retirement benefits and other compensation. Parents have called for the payments to be released so classes can resume. No return date has been announced.
Revolution Day parade registration closes Wednesday
Public and private schools in Puerto Vallarta have until Wednesday, Nov. 11, to register for the Revolution Day parade. The parade starts at 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 20, in Emiliano Zapata and heads north.
Schools can enter groups of up to 150 people. To register, they can call 311 270 4787 or 322 121 5995, or email [email protected].
Free human rights course takes applications through Sunday
Puerto Vallarta’s Instituto Municipal de la Mujer and DIF are taking applications through Sunday, Nov. 15, for a free 120-hour course on human rights, equality and peacebuilding. It’s open to the public and government employees.
The course starts Nov. 16 and runs through July 2027. It combines recorded classes and online assignments with one three-hour in-person workshop for each of its six modules.
