We’ve been to Mexico many times, exploring places like Guanajuato, Mexico City, Valladolid, and San Cristobal de las Casas. What we love most about Mexico is that every visit feels unique, with each state offering its own special cuisine and culture.
Mexico is truly one of our favorite countries. With many friends here, it almost feels like a second home, drawing us back more than once.
This was our first visit to Colima state. Sitting in our Manzanillo apartment with just six days left in this Pacific coast city, which has been our home for six weeks, I’m finding it tough to sum up our experience. Our arrival was chaotic—24 hours of travel from Japan, six days of lost luggage—and our stay came with a lot of uncertainty about almost everything.
Manzanillo isn’t a top tourist spot in Mexico, but I’m sharing our personal experiences here, from where we ate to what we did and where we stayed. Read on if you’re curious about Manzanillo and whether it’s right for you.
Colima is one of Mexico’s smallest and least populated states, known for its mountains, rivers, beaches, lagoons, and two volcanoes: the active Volcán de Fuego and the inactive Nevado de Colima. Tourists haven’t discovered much here, so outside of major holidays, the place feels almost deserted.
Manzanillo, the main beach city, has two primary bays—Santiago and Manzanillo—plus “centro,” which is mostly the harbor area.
The northern part of Manzanillo Colima is where you’ll want to spend most of your time. Santiago Bay is beautiful with its hard-packed, blackish sand, ideal for long beach strolls. The ocean has generally been calm, though we experienced a few rough days.
In the center of Santiago Bay is Playa Miramar, popular during winter months with tables, chairs, and umbrellas lining the shore. Small restaurants serve beachside fare like ceviche, seafood, tacos, nachos, and beer.
Further north in Club Santiago, a gated community with charming cobblestone streets and Mexican-style homes, is Oasis Beach Club—a standout spot. We visited Oasis frequently because of its consistently fresh and delicious food. The atmosphere is beautiful, and the service is excellent.
Further north is Playa la Boquita, another spot with more tables, chairs, and umbrellas, often filled with locals playing soccer and listening to music. You can rent jet skis and book boat trips here.
I highly recommend Santiago Bay. Outside the Christmas/New Year holiday period, it’s practically empty and probably one of the best beaches we’ve seen in Mexico.
Manzanillo Bay, where we’re staying at an Airbnb, has a rougher beach with less packed sand but fantastic sunsets. Though the area features some condos and restaurants, there’s no shade, beach bars, or vendors. Swimming here can be dangerous due to strong tides, but it’s a good spot for sunsets.
The centro area is the industrial port with cruise and cargo ships. Unlike other Mexican cities with beautiful plazas and Spanish colonial architecture, this place isn’t picturesque and lacks charming streets or attractions.
We took a day trip to the city of Colima and while the city itself didn’t impress us, the La Campana ruins from 1500 BCE were intriguing. If you’ve seen other impressive Mexican cities, Colima might not stand out, but it has its own appeal.
In Manzanillo, there aren’t many activities. Unlike other Mexican cities filled with food tours, historical sites, and numerous bars, Manzanillo is more about relaxing on the beach.
Here’s a list of things to do in Manzanillo Colima:
1. Visit Santiago Bay: This is the best beach. Oasis Beach Club has great food, and small craft markets appear during the high season.
2. Watch the Sunset: Head to Manzanillo Bay in the evening for a beautiful sunset view.
3. Day Trip to Barra de Navidad: About an hour north, this small town has colorful buildings, many restaurants, and a nice beach.
4. Melaque: Another cobblestone town close to Barra with excellent beachside restaurants and bars.
5. Go Golfing: Manzanillo has two golf courses: Las Hadas Golf Club and El Corazon Golf Club.
6. Attend Events: During the high season, Oasis Beach Club hosts events like dinners, mariachi nights, and more.
7. Try Surfing: Santiago Bay is great for beginners.
8. Fishing: Manzanillo is famous for billfishing with many tours and guides available.
9. Snorkeling/Diving: Not as impressive as other spots in Mexico, but still available, especially around Santiago Bay.
10. Go to a Movie: When there’s not much else to do, catch a film at one of the local Cinepolis theaters.
We struggled a bit with the food scene but found a few gems:
– Oasis Beach Club: Great food consistently.
– El Vaquero: A steakhouse with delicious meat dishes.
– La Huerta: An oceanside restaurant with consistently good food.
– Taco Loco: Known for fantastic tacos, including adventurous options like brain and stomach.
– Mahalo: While hit or miss, the garlic shrimp with rice here never disappoints.
– Cafe Bean: Excellent coffee and a large breakfast menu.
– Food Truck by Walmart: Serves delicious tacos and other Mexican fare.
We stayed in an apartment on Manzanillo Bay. The buildings around here are rundown, but inside they’re much nicer. Manzanillo Bay is convenient with restaurants, grocery stores, gyms, and movie theaters, but it’s loud and not very secure.
If we were to return, we would likely stay in Club Santiago, a peaceful and beautiful community that feels secure, though it’s a bit of a drive for groceries and other dining options.
For fitness, check out Capital Fitness Plus in the Punto Bahia mall. For working online, Starbucks and Cafe Bean offer free WiFi with a purchase. It’s also a good idea to get a SIM card with a data plan.
Car rentals in Manzanillo can be tricky due to additional insurance fees. We managed to bargain our way to a decent deal. Buses and taxis are also available and inexpensive.
Before coming, we couldn’t find much recent information about Manzanillo. Conversations with locals and our experiences shaped our opinion of this place. The past few years have seen an increase in cartel activity due to the busy port, which made us uneasy during our stay.
Despite the crime issues, many “Snowbirds” enjoy Manzanillo, particularly in the Santiago and Las Hadas areas. The cartels aren’t targeting tourists, but one should be wary of getting caught in any crossfire.
We chose Manzanillo partly due to a family member retiring here and having family visits planned. Despite some concerns, we had a great time, enjoying the beach and spending time with family and friends.
If we could do it again, we might choose Barra de Navidad, Melaque, or Puerto Vallarta. For those looking to visit Manzanillo, consider staying in Club Santiago or along Santiago Bay for a more relaxed and enjoyable experience.
In conclusion, Manzanillo—or rather, Santiago—is ideal for a beach holiday or for retirees. For those seeking more activities, culture, and safety, areas like Puerto Vallarta, Puerto Escondido, or the Yucatan Peninsula might be better. For a delightful and quieter stay, it’s best to focus on Santiago Bay or Las Hadas and use a car for essential trips into the city.
