Manzanillo

Manzanillo is a safe destination in Mexico.   Both the Mexican army and navy have bases there.  It has the lowest crime rate of any city in the country and is in the least touristy part of Mexico’s Pacific cluster of ports.  Manzanillo is in Colima, which is Mexico’s 2nd smallest state.  It’s increasingly popular as Acapulco has fallen on hard times.

While still regarded as safe for tourists, Acapulco continues to have its troubles. It’s reported that 5 drug cartels are engaged in a turf war there.  Acapulco is often referred to as Mexico’s murder capital.

Manzanillo’s #1 attraction is fishing.  It’s known as the sailfish capital of the world.  Marlin, tuna, and other fish are also regularly caught.  It hosts national and  international fishing competitions every year that attract thousands of fishing fans.  A turquoise sailfish sculpture dominates its waterfront.  The sailfish competition is held in November at the beginning of the dry season, which lasts until May.  Manzanillo is also a popular place for snorkeling and diving because it sits on 2 attractive bays with coral reefs and dive sites nearby.

Not as big as the nearby city of Colima, Manzanillo has grown to about 140,000 residents and is thriving.   It benefits from being close to busy Pacific Coastal Highway #200, which runs from the Guatemalan border to Tepic, a distance of almost 1,300 miles.  It’s an increasingly important port because it handles lots of the cargo heading for landlocked Mexico City, which is now larger than New York and one of the largest cities in the world.  Mexico City is listed as one of the hot destinations for 2019 in the latest edition of National Geographic’s Traveler Magazine.  Manzanillo is also a well-used and satisfying cruise ship port with a Walmart.

Hank