Manzanillo, Mexico
This mostly commercial seaport on Mexico’s pacific coast, sits over 300 km south of Puerto Vallarta. Santiago Bay, and Manzanillo Bay, form a larger bay where a few resorts sit. A stark mountainous backdrop makes for an impressive landscape fused against lush tropical jungles. The area is known for excellent resorts, including the famous Las Hadas resort – where the famous beach scenes from the movie “10” with Bo Derek were filmed. Golf is also an important part of a vacation in this area, as there are several outstanding courses to play. Guaranteed warm weather and reliable sunshine are the reasons this destination remains popular. Beaches in Manzanillo are typical Pacific beaches. Waters are rougher, cooler, and darker than their Caribbean cousins. Beaches are very wide, but of a darker sand and rougher surf. As such, beaches are not they ideal for swimming, and often overrun with beach vendors. People who prefer to sit by the pool will find Manzanillo a great value destination. Watersports are available, as well as excellent deep sea fishing. Being a fairly large city, restaurants and bars are readily available, but they can be a fair taxi ride away from some resorts. Shopping too varies from upscale shops to local vendors. A new toll road makes the colonial and historic city of Guadalajara reachable as a day trip.
Large, sprawling resorts were mostly built in the 1980s, and offer exceptional value for money in a traditional Mexican setting. The diverse location of these resorts around the two bays, makes this a pretty sleepy destination.
| Manzanillo Quick Facts |
| Airport Name - | Manzanillo - ZLO |
| Geography - | Mountainous area, lush vegitation |
| Spectator Sports - | Limited |
| Museums & Galleries - | None |
| Duty Free Shopping - | None |
| Local Crafts & Souvenirs - | Good |
| Beaches - | Wide busy beaches, cool Pacific waters |
| Casinos - | None |
| Golf - | 2 - 18 hole resort courses 1 - 9 hole course |
| Bars & Nightclubs - | Limited to hotels for tourists |
| Restaurant Choice - | Mostly limited to hotels, some in town |
| Watersports - | Available |
| Self Drive - | Right-hand driving - available |
| Sightseeing & Excursions - | Limited |
| Scuba Diving - | Available |
| Credit Card Acceptance - | Widely Accepted |
| ATM Availability - | Available in town |
| Hotel Packages Available - | 8 |
| Water Quality - | Bottled water recommended for drinking and brushing teeth |
| Time Zone - | Central |
