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MANZANILLO
Lined with 20 beaches, Manzanillo is the busiest Pacific seaport in Mexico.
LOCATION:
Manzanillo is located 256-km (160 MI) southeast of Puerto Vallarta and 267 km (167 MI) southwest of Guadalajara.
HISTORY:
In search of Chinese treasure Hernan Cortes was the first to visit this area. Alvaro de Saavedra discovered the Bay of Manzanillo in 1527. The bay became a departure point for many expeditions. During the next 300 years there are accounts of pirates from France, England, and Portugal burning ships and stealing their cargo. The port of Manzanillo opened in 1825. On June 15, 1873 Manzanillo acquired the status of city. In 1908 President Porfirio Dias initiated the railway with Guadalajara and named Manzanillo a port of entry. With renovations the harbor can now allow access to all major shipping line.
WEATHER:
From November to June the average daily temperature ranges from 78 to 83 degrees Fahrenheit with nighttime temperature around 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The rest of the months see average temperatures of 74 to 76 degrees Fahrenheit.
ACCOMMODATIONS:
Most hotels have their own restaurants and sports activities on the premises. Reservations should be acquired for Easter, Christmas and the New Years holidays. The Camino Real Las Hadas has an 18-hole golf course, shaded tents on the beach, two pools, four restaurants, a marina which holds 70 boats, 10 tennis courts and offer many water sports. The rate at the Karmina Palace, Manzanillos newest hotel, includes a kids club, eight pools, health club, spa facilities, and steam and sauna rooms. Rates for accommodations in Manzanillo can range from US$20 for a budget hotel to US$400 for a suite.
RESTAURANTS:
Many hotel restaurants offer fine and casual dining to guests and visitors. Willys is one of the most popular restaurants in Manzanillo. A live guitarist plays jazz after 8 pm. While eating a meal at LRecif, you can watch waves crashing up on the rock below. Huge portions, wandering singers, the festive atmosphere, and the proximity to the water makes Bigotes III popular with locals and tourists.
NIGHTLIFE:
Carols n?Charlies and VOG are good spots for drinking and dancing and tend to draw the younger crowd. The nightclub at the Maeva Hotel is also very popular. Olga offers oldies rock and roll and pool tables. Some clubs may have a dress code prohibiting shorts and sandals. For a quiet evening, try the Lobby bar with its romantic piano music.
SHOPPING:
Most hotels have a gift shop, boutique, or souvenir store located inside. Many stores are closed during siesta hours, 2 pm until 4 pm. The Centro Artesenal Las Primaveras is an excellent store for handcrafted folk art. There a quite a few shops that stock Mexican crafts and clothing from Guadalajara.
CUISINE:
While Italian, French, international and Mexican are served, the emphasis in Manzanillo is seafood with a Mexican twist.
SERVICES:
Banks: The Banamex is open Monday to Friday from 9:30 am to 5 pm. Money can be exchanged until 12:30 pm.
Internet: Net Caf? located in Juanitos restaurant, is the only internet caf?located in Manzanillo. While surfing the net enjoy breakfast, burgers or coffee. Cost per hour is US$2.50.
Transportation: Taxis have fixed rates by zones, within town, and other areas located out of town. Buses are an inexpensive way to see Manzanillo. Their routes take them downtown and to the beaches. It may be wise to rent a car if you are going to do a lot of exploring. Agencies may offers discounts, such as the first 200-km free. Rates may vary depending on where you rent your car.
SURROUNDING AREA:
Colima: Located 98 km (61 MI) northeast of Manzanillo, Colima is famous for its pre-Hispanic "Colima Dogs" and other archaeological pieces. Another popular attraction is viewing one of the two volcanoes that border the town. |
| WHERE TO GO: |
Beaches: Playa San Pedrito, with its shallow waters and close-
ness to downtown, make this beach the most popular. Playa Miramar is
popular with boogie boarders, surfers, and bodysurfers. The best swimming
and snorkeling can be found at Playa Audiencia.
Museum of Archeology and History: Opened in 1996, this museum
has displays of the areas history plus shows on contemporary Mexican
art. Every Friday evening there are free cultural events staged.
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WHERE TO EAT: |
There is an assortment of cuisines available in Manzanillo; from Mexican
to French, Italian to International, as well as lots of seafood, theres
something for everybody. The Guadalajara Grill, extremely popular with
tourists, serves up large plates of Mexican specialties such as
enchiladas, fish, and fajitas. With its proximity to Carlos n?Charlies,
this restaurant starts to hop in the evenings. For a taste of Paris, head
to Willys, where people have been known to dine every night of their
vacation. With its beachfront setting, a solo guitarist and heavenly
meals, this restaurant stays quite busy. Porto Finos, the citys best
Italian restaurant, also delivers its delicious wood-fired pizzas to your
hotel if you cant make it to the restaurant. At LRecif, you can enjoy
gourmet seafood specials while watching the waves break on the shore
below. Juanitos, reputed to be the most popular eatery for breakfast
dishes, has a large screen TV where tourists and locals go to watch US
football. For budget, but filling meals, head to the food stalls and
stands at the daily market. |
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| WHAT TO DO: |
Golf: The 18-hole course, designed by Roy Dye, at La Mantarraya was
rated in the worlds top 100 golf courses in Golf Digest. At the Club
Santiago you will find a nine-hole course designed by Larry Hughes. A 27-
hole course, which was designed by Robert Von Hagge, is located on Isla
Navidad.
Fishing: Manzanillo is known for its sportfishing. Depending on
what season you head out to the waters you can expect to catch sailfish,
marlin, dorado, dolphin fish, rooster fish, and wahoo. There is a national
and international sailfish competition each year. Trips can be arranged
directly at the fishermans cooperative or through a travel agency. Fishing
trips last about 5 hours and cost approximately US$35 per hour.
Scuba Diving and Snorkeling: Rocky points and coves make for
excellent diving and snorkeling. Underworld Scuba offers professional
diving tours and classes. Giant puffer fish, moray ells, coral reefs, and
an abundance of marine life are some of the things you will see while
diving.
Water Sports: Jet skiing and windsurfing are becoming popular
activities.
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| WHERE TO SHOP: |
Shopping isnt a big activity in Manzanillo; most people come for the
sand and sun. The majority of the hotels have some sort of boutique or
shop located inside selling a selection of jewelry, art and fashionable
clothing. Local craftsmen make exquisite mother of pearl shell engravings,
as well as silver jewelry and woven clothing, which are sold in little
tourist shops around town. On several street corners youll come across
vendors selling tourist items such as T-shirts, belts, hats and clothing.
The Plaza Manzanillo, the largest mall in town, has multiple shops,
selling jewelry, fashions, gifts and souvenirs, and a large department
store inside. There are a few dive shops that sell a variety of
professional dive gear. Bargaining is encouraged in Manzanillo, among
the many vendors, except in the retail shops and stores, normally located
in malls. |
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