Manzanillo, Virtually Untouched by Tourism's Crush Meagan Drillinger - Travel Weekly | |
go to original January 6, 2016 |
The sleepy Mexican town of Manzanillo sits between two large bays on the Pacific Coast: Santiago Bay and Manzanillo Bay. (Mexico Tourism Board)
The first time you heard of Manzanillo may have been in October when Hurricane Patricia was making a destructive beeline for it. This coastal port city lies four hours south of Puerto Vallarta in the Mexican state of Colima and is a picture of what now-bustling Puerto Vallarta used to be. Patricia, as it turns out, never did visit the city; but there are countless reasons why vacationers should visit, especially those who seek an authentic beachfront south of the border. These days, that is becoming increasingly difficult to find.
By Mexico tourism standards, Manzanillo remains relatively untouched. The Manzanillo Airport received only 36,425 passengers in 2014. Its hotels received 506,012 tourists the same year. Compare that with a destination like Cancun, which received 4.8 million visitors in 2014 with 3.9 million hotel stays in the first three quarters, and Manzanillo is truly a sleepy Mexican town.
Manzanillo's beaches can be found along twin bays, Santiago Bay and the Manzanillo Bay, each of which stretches for five miles and separated by the Santiago Peninsula. Santiago Bay is home to Miramar Beach, Olas Atlas Beach, Santiago Beach and Audiencia Beach, all of which are considered to be Manzanillos’ best. Swimming is at its best along Audiencia Beach, but for a stronger surf visit Miramar beach, which attracts windsurfers and kite boarders. Along Manzanillo Bay you'll find Azul Beach, Las Brisas Beach and San Pedrito Beach. San Pedrito is the most crowded as it extends off of the downtown district. For the best in barefoot dining, try the seafood palapas that line Las Brisas and Azul beaches; marlin and sailfish should be your picks when ordering seafood.
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