Manzanillo
Introduction
Manzanillo sits on Mexico's Pacific coast in the small state of Colima, where it serves as the state's most populous city and the seat of its municipality. Its port is the busiest in Mexico, handling Pacific cargo bound for the Mexico City area, and that port activity shapes much of daily life: the municipality is the state's leading producer in both the business sector and tourism, and its relatively young workforce is heavily engaged in service, retail, and logistics work tied to the port.
Before you go
Manzanillo sits on the Pacific coast and is known internationally for deep-sea fishing, which has earned it the nickname "sailfish capital of the world." It has hosted national and international fishing competitions since the late 1950s. The city is also known for the green flash phenomenon at sunset and for the warmth of its ocean waters. It is a resort destination, with many hotels and self-contained resorts, and it is a popular cruise ship port of call.
The city is built around two bays with crescent-shaped beaches, each roughly the same length. Bahía de Manzanillo, closer to downtown, is the older tourist section; Bahía de Santiago, to the west, is the newer and more upscale area. The two are separated by the Santiago Peninsula, which juts into the Pacific north of the centre and where many of the resorts are built. At the north end of Manzanillo bay you'll find the resort Las Hadas. Santiago Bay, a few miles north, offers excellent swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving, including a cargo ship that sank in a hurricane in 1959, with other wrecks and fish-rich reefs scattered through the bay. Ship channels at the southeast end of Bahía de Manzanillo are where large cruise ships enter the port.
Plan around the seasons. The dry season runs from November to May, with little rain and cooler temperatures; March is the coolest month. The wet season runs from June to October, when it is warmer and more humid, with July among the warmest and wettest stretches.
Getting there
Manzanillo is served by Aeropuerto Internacional de Playa del Oro, also known as Manzanillo International Airport or Manzanillo Costalegre Airport. The terminal sits along the beach off Carretera Manzanillo-Barra de Navidad (Hwy 200), west of town, and it handles commercial flights for Barra de Navidad, Manzanillo, Colima City and the surrounding parts of Colima and neighbouring Jalisco. Aeromexico Connect flies from Mexico City, Alaska Airlines from Los Angeles, Mesa Airlines as United Express from Houston Bush Intercontinental, and Westjet seasonally from Calgary; further domestic and international connections are made through Mexico City, Los Angeles and Houston depending on the airline. There is no public transport to or from the airport, so you will need to hire a cab or shuttle, or rent a car. Many travellers instead fly into Puerto Vallarta International Airport to the north and reach Manzanillo by bus from the nearby bus station or by rental car. Long-distance buses arrive at the Terminal de Autobuses de Manzanillo, which serves routes to cities outside the state. Operators include Autovias, ETN and Turistar, Grupo Estrella Blanca (which also runs the Elite, Futura and Pacifico brands and connects Manzanillo with towns across Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Jalisco, Mexico state and Mexico City), Omnibus de Mexico, Nuevo Horizonte and Sur de Jalisco, and Primera Plus. To reach downtown from the street in front of the bus station, take the Rt 7 (Centro-Valle-Jardines Santiago-Valle-Vista del Mar) or 7-A (Centro-Valle-Sta Carolina) bus heading south.Getting around
Manzanillo has no metro, tram, or passenger rail, so you will get around by bus, taxi, ride-hailing app, or on foot. The city bus system is the backbone of local transport, linking the tourist zones of Las Brisas, Santiago, and La Audiencia with Centro and the inland neighborhoods. The buses are older but functional, and fares are cheap, fixed, and paid in cash to the driver, so keep coins ready. Route maps are not always available or strictly followed; instead, destinations appear on the windshield, so look for signs reading "Centro," "Santiago," or "Miramar." You board by waving the bus down at designated stops, with the main hubs being the Central de Autobuses and points along Boulevard Miguel de la Madrid, the main coastal road. Ask locals or hotel staff for route guidance, since signage can be unreliable, and note that buses are generally not wheelchair accessible, with high steps and limited space. For longer journeys, the Terminal de Autobuses de Manzanillo serves routes out of state, and from the street in front of the station you can take a Route 7 or 7-A bus south to downtown.
Licensed taxis are typically white or yellow, carry a taxi sign, and often display a sitio number; you can hail them on the street, find them at stands outside hotels and attractions, or call one by phone, and fares are often negotiated before the ride, so ask your hotel or a local for an estimate first. Ride-hailing apps are another option, with Uber offering transparent pricing and cashless payment and Didi also common in Mexico; confirm the driver and vehicle match the app before you get in. Walking is pleasant along the Malecón in the city center and in the coastal zones around Playa Miramar and Playa La Audiencia, but beyond those areas the primary roads are unsuitable for walking or cycling, dedicated bike lanes are limited, and you should avoid walking alone in poorly lit or isolated areas at night. Major international car rental agencies operate at the airport and in the city; you will need a valid driver's license and a credit card for the deposit, and Mexican law requires liability insurance. If you drive, keep right, wear seatbelts, avoid using a cell phone, and watch for unmarked speed bumps, potholes, and pedestrian or animal crossings. Note that there is no public transportation to or from Manzanillo International Airport, so you will need a cab, a shuttle, or a rental car.
Where to stay
Where you stay in Manzanillo depends largely on which stretch of coast you want as your base. On the secluded bay of Bahía la Audiencia, Tesoro Resorts Manzanillo sits along the beach and leans into a full resort experience, with live music at dinner, dancing, an outdoor theater, group activities and classes, outdoor adventures, sports instruction, and childcare with social activities for kids. If you would rather be near Las Hadas, the hotel where the film "10" was shot is an exquisite place and worth the extra bit of money to stay there. Barceló Karmina, on Avenida Vista Hermosa, is another option in the same area.Food & drink
Dining in the Peninsula de Santiago area centres on the Seccion Audiencia strip, where several venues share a single contact number and a buffet-led approach. Café Coral is a warm, spacious and bright buffet-style restaurant serving continental breakfast, a breakfast buffet, lunch and dinner. For an evening out, La Plaza Esmeralda sits in the beach bay area of La Audiencia and offers a romantic setting with a buffet dinner and live music entertainment.
Drinking options are equally concentrated in Seccion Audiencia. Nirvana Lounge opens daily, while 7/24 Lounge lives up to its name by staying open around the clock; a flash of the wristband is all you need to gain entry into the Tesoro All Inclusive Club at any time of the day.
What to see and do
For outdoor adventure, several operators run excursions from Manzanillo. Coco Loco Tours leads hikes and walks suited to your skill level, passing hidden lakes and waterfalls and small villages, and climbing to scenic mountain tops for sweeping views over the city and the Pacific. A rainforest tour with an expert local guide takes you along jungle trails where you can look for sloths, lizards, frogs, spiders and the so-called "walking trees" — bring a raincoat or poncho and good shoes. On the water, Manzanillo is known as the Sailfish Capital of the World, and Ocean Pacific Adventures offers fishing trips with experienced captains. Beginners are welcome and can learn the technique for catching marlin, dorado and rooster fish.When to go
Manzanillo splits its year into a dry season and a wet season, and the two feel quite different. From November to May, rainfall is scarce and temperatures are cooler than at any other time of year, making this the more comfortable stretch for a visit, with reliably dry days. March stands out as the coolest month.
From June to October, the wet season brings warmer and more humid conditions. Expect frequent rain and muggy days throughout these months, with July among the warmest and stickiest.
Three days in Manzanillo
Day one: Base yourself on the Santiago Peninsula, where the Bahía de Santiago curves around to Las Hadas and the pace stays slow. Settle in, then walk the sands of Playa Santiago and watch the Pacific roll in. As evening comes, stay out for the sunset over Santiago Bay — the light here is the reason people plan trips around this stretch of coast.
Day two: Head into Manzanillo proper and along the Carretera Manzanillo to see how the port city and its neighbourhoods fit together. Spend the warm, humid hours near the water, then retreat for a long lunch of the region's seafood. In the afternoon, make the run south into Colima state toward Barra de Navidad, a low-key beach town that pairs well with a lazy half-day.
Day three: If you have time before your flight, push inland to Colima City for a change of scene from the coast, or simply linger on the peninsula and take one last swim. Manzanillo International Airport and Manzanillo Costalegre Airport both serve the area, with connections through Mexico City, Houston Bush Intercontinental and Los Angeles on carriers such as Aeromexico Connect, Alaska Airlines, United Express and Westjet. The dry months from November through May are the most comfortable for this kind of trip; the wetter stretch from June to October is greener and quieter.