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Manzanillo Basics |
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 © istockphoto.com/Sanruft |
Manzanillo is Mexico's busiest port, having surpassed Veracruz in 2005. But the city but still retains its tranquil, laid-back feel and authentic Mexican atmosphere. Manzanillo harbor is actually comprised of two bays: Manzanillo Bay is on the south side of the harbor, and serves as the city's industrial port, while Santiago Bay, on the north side of the harbor, is more tourist-friendly.
The mainstays of Manzanillo's economy are fishing, transportation services and tourism. Located in the State of Colima, Manzanillo's population is just over 100,000 people. A rail and road infrastructure takes the goods unloaded at Manzanillo's port to cities throughout Mexico.
Manzanillo has a tropical marine climate, with average Dry Season temperatures in the mid-70s F (about 27° C). Dry Season lasts between November and April, with pleasant daily temperatures and cool evenings, refreshed by Pacific Ocean breezes.
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Judging from the amount of commercial ship traffic, Manzanillo is a very busy port. And it is, as Manzanillo now ranks as the busiest port in Mexico. But the city has a lot to offer tourists looking for a pleasant day in the tropics. Situated on the Costa Allegre (Happy Coast), Manzanillo is also a resort town with wide, curving beaches, legendary sportsfishing and a highly praised diversity of dive sites. Manzanillo is also the self-proclaimed "sailfish capital" of the world.
Your ship will dock at the commercial pier in the port. Manzanillo is an industrial port, handling container ships and breakbulk and fishing cargoes. A couple of years ago, the port authority allocated US$2 million to construct a proper Cruise Terminal. But when they did the analysis, the decision was to spend the money on port improvements instead. Just wait a few more years!
There's nothing to do at the port itself, and the downtown area of the city holds little of interest to many visitors.
For these tourists, the main action takes place at the resort area. Sitting on a hilly peninsula dividing the two bays--Manzanillo and Santiago--is Las Hadas, a four star resort featured in the Bo Derek/Dudley Moore movie 10. There are several other high-end resort hotels in the area. When it comes down to it, Manzanillo is a resort town that doesn't have the over-commercialized feel of a resort town.
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 © istockphoto.com/shooka |
Manzanillo is on Central Time, six hours later than Greenwich Mean Time during standard time, or five hours during daylight savings time. In Mexico, daylight savings time begins on the first Sunday of April, and ends on the last Sunday of October.
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Spanish is universally spoken in Manzanillo; most of the shopkeepers catering to tourists also speak English.
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Currency
The Peso is Mexico's official currency, and uses the "$" sign to denote the peso amount. The exchange rate is currently around
12.75 Pesos per US dollar. Just be aware: larger notes (e.g., $500 Peso notes) are often difficult to change.
Banks and ATMs
Banks with ATM machines can be found in the downtown area as well as in the resort areas of the Santiago Peninsula. These ATM machines dispense pesos. Bank-specific ATM machines in the area can be found at the following locations:
- Banco Internacional: Blvd. Miguel de la Madrid, between Ave. Olas Atlas and Calle de la Cruz.
- BBVA Bancomer: At the Las Hadas resort; and Ave. Mexico #122, in downtown Manzanillo.
- Citibank: on Blvd. Miguel de la Madrid, Km. 13.5, on Hwy 200, Santiago; and Ave. Mexico #136, in downtown Manzanillo.
- HSBC: Ave. Mexico #99, in downtown Manzanillo.
Using US Dollars in Manzanillo
Pesos, or credit cards for that matter, would probably be a better way to pay for the things you're going to buy in Manzanillo. The larger hotels and higher-end shops do accept US dollars, but your exchange rate may be less than the market rate. And if you do use dollars in a smaller shop, they more than likely won't have change for anything larger than a $20 bill, unless the change is in pesos.
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 © istockphoto.com/Tyrannosaur |
| Manzanillo has the veneer of perfect weather: balmy temperatures and year-round sea breezes. During the Dry Season, lasting from November through April, the average high temperatures are in the mid-70s to the low 80s F. During the evenings, it frequently feels cool enough to wear a sweater. The wind blows off the Pacific, making the evenings feel quite pleasant.
The Rainy Season lasts from May to October, but as with most monsoonal areas, the rains tend to be fierce and brief in the late afternoon, leaving the evenings dry and refreshingly cool. Average temperatures are in the low 80s. September brings the highest levels of humidity and sees the heaviest rains.
The hurricane season stretches from June to the end of October.
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Manzanillo Average Temperatures |
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Jan |
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Feb |
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Mar |
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Apr |
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May |
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Jun |
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Jul |
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Aug |
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Sep |
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Oct |
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Nov |
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Dec |
| Avg High - F |
81 |
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79 |
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78 |
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79 |
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81 |
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85 |
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86 |
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86 |
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85 |
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85 |
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84 |
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81 |
| Avg High - C |
27 |
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26 |
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26 |
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26 |
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27 |
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29 |
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30 |
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30 |
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29 |
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29 |
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29 |
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27 |
| Avg Low - F |
66 |
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65 |
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65 |
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67 |
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70 |
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75 |
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75 |
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75 |
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75 |
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74 |
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71 |
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68 |
| Avg Low - C |
19 |
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18 |
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18 |
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19 |
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21 |
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24 |
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24 |
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24 |
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24 |
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23 |
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22 |
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20 |
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 © istockphoto.com/Sanruft |
Internet Cafes
Internet Cafes in Manzanillo and surrounding areas can be found in the downtown and on Santiago Peninsula. Rates at a cafe run from $25 to $35 pesos per hour. The following establishments provide internet access:
- Juanito's Cyber Cafe, Km. 14 Hwy 200. 333-1388. Excellent burgers, homemade sausage, public internet connection. $35 pesos/hour, 4 computers available.
- internetcafe la luna, Ave. Mexico #69, in downtown Manzanillo. 333-24803. $30 pesos/hour, 8 computers available.
Finding US Newspapers
US newspapers are tough to come by in Manzanillo, even at the larger hotels catering to international tourists. An English language newspaper from Mexico City, the News, is sometimes available, however.
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 © istockphoto.com/adamdodd |
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Local Holidays & Festivals |
The following local festivals, holidays and events are scheduled to take place in Manzanillo in 2010:
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- Ano Nuevo (New Year's Day), January 1. National holiday celebrated with dances and fiestas.
- Dia de los Santos Reyes (Day of the Three Kings), January 6. A national holiday when children receive their Christmas gifts as well as shoes full of candy.
- Dia de la Constitucion (Constitution Day), February 1. Public holiday commemorating the signing of the Mexican Constitution of 1917. The day is usually marked by a government-sponsored parade.
- Birthday of Benito Juarez, March 15. A public holiday celebrating the birthday of Benito Juarez, who rose from humble origins to occupy the Presidency of the Republic in the second half of the 19th century.
- Semana Santa (Easter Week), March 31 to April 4. The week before Easter is the busiest week of the year. The city provides free concerts, theater performances and fiestas.
- Fiesta de Mayo, End of April to May 10. Manzanillo's main celebration. Festivities include numerous events, such as art exhibits, parades, concerts, native dances and a carnival.
- Primero de Mayo (Labor Day), May 1. A national holiday.
- Cinco de Mayo, May 5. A national Mexican holiday that commemorates the Battle of Puebla in 1862, when the Mexican army defeated a French force twice its size just south of Mexico City.
- Independence Day, September 16. Look for the delivery of the "El Grito de Dolores," the offical grunt that marks the day.
- Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day), October 12. Dia de la Raza is how Mexico celebrates Columbus Day.
- Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), November 1 to 2. Celebrants build private altars to honor the deceased, using sugar skulls, flowers and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed.
- Revolution Day, November 22. A national holiday celebrating the Mexican Revolution of 1910.
- Fiesta de Guadalupe, December 1 to December 12. Celebrating Mexico's patron saint, the Virgin of Guadalupe, the event includes parades, native dances and costumes, displays and offerings for the Virgin of Guadalupe. This event includes the following two feast days:
- Fiesta de la Inmaculada (Feast of the Immaculate Conception), December 8. Marks the beginning of the Christmas celebration season.
- Dia de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe (Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe), December 12. Commemorates the Virgin of Guadalupe, Mexico's patron saint. In Acapulco, they have street parties, carnival rides, contemporary and folk music concerts, dancing and parties. It's a festive occasion.
- Navidad (Christmas Day), December 25. A public and religious holiday celebrating the birth of Christ.
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 © istockphoto.com/EstudioSteveLynch |
Manzanillo is a popular port for ships making 10- to 14-day Mexican Riviera cruises from Los Angeles and San Diego, Cruise ships arrive in Manzanillo on average 2 days per week.
The following cruise lines make port in Manzanillo:
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Carnival |
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Holland America |
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 © istockphoto.com/madisonwi |
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© 2008-2010 CruisePortInsider.com |
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