Manzanillo is a major tourist and seaport destination in the state of Colima. It calls itself the Sailfish Capital of the World. Since 1957, it has hosted important national and international fishing competitions, such as the Dorsey Tournament.
Manzanillo consists of two twin bays — Manzanillo and Santiago — that are tucked within a larger bay. The Santiago Peninsula, a steep outcrop on whose slopes are some of the most beautiful hotels, separates the bays.
Manzanillo is Mexico’s most important commercial seaport. Ship channels are located at the harbor’s southeast end where large cruise ships can enter. It is a popular port of call. The Playa de Oro International Airport (ZLO) is located about 35 minutes north of the city.
Manzanillo’s proximity to the Sierra Madre helps to keep temperatures slightly cooler than in many of the other resorts on the Pacific Coast. The best time to visit is November to April. The summer rainy season lasts from June to October when rainstorms turn the region into a lush tropical garden.
Here are 5 attractions to help you learn more on what Manzanillo has to offer your clients:
1. Archeological Museum: The archaeological finds displayed prove the long history of human occupation and trade in the area. The museum, on the edge of the old downtown, includes Mesoamerican finds and pre-Hispanic jewelry.
2. Cuyutlán: Legends circulate about the ocean’s gigantic green waves that springtime brings to this town south of Manzanillo. It has a reputation as one of Mexico’s best places to surf. Phosphorescent marine animals give the waves a distinctive color. Its black sand beaches are a result of centuries of erosion of the volcanic rock lining this stretch of coastline.
3. Museo de la Sal (Salt Museum): This museum honors the product that comes from the lagoon and once was the village’s reason for existence. Visitors from July through November get to witness the release of sea turtle hatchlings.
4. Colima: The capital of Colima State is about 60 miles (96.5 km) northeast of Manzanillo and is the educational and governmental center of the region. It was the first Spanish town on the west coast. Rebuilt several times since 1522 because of earthquakes, it has gracious buildings, a colonial town feeling, and an active volcano.
Two spectacular volcanoes rise above its valley. Colima Volcano is the most active. It has erupted more than 40 times since 1576, including once in February 2015. The ash landed in towns more than 15 miles away. In Colima, shoppers can find quality folk art in the gift shop at the Museum of Popular Culture.
5. Canopy Tour: Zip line tours are available in the hills surrounding Manzanillo. One lasts about four to five hours with lunch and drinks. Originally, zip lines were built from treetop to treetop, hence the name “canopy tour.” New tours go from hilltop to hilltop, making tours higher, longer, and a lot more exciting.
