Car Hire Manzanillo - Mini guide to Manzanillo

Located between Puerto Vallarta and Ixtapa on the Mexican Riviera, Manzanillo is a popular beach resort and a major port and industrial city. Manzanillo is nestled along two sparkling bays separated by the Santiago Peninsula, and features plentiful golden sand beaches surrounded by verdant fruit plantations and lush jungle vegetation.

Manzanillo is comprised of two areas: the resort area on the Santiago Peninsula, and the busy commercial area downtown and to the south. The city is famous for its world-class fishing, and the annual International Sailfish Tournament (November) draws hordes of visitors.

Scuba diving and snorkelling are popular sports. Although there are plenty of charter boats available, it is also possible to access great sites from shore. There is good surfing north of town at Miramar and Olas Altas beaches. Additionally, Manzanillo is quickly becoming one of the top golfing locations in Mexico.

Downtown, near the zocalo (main plaza), visitors will find a traditional Mexican town with colonial style houses and little streets. There is a selection of nice open-air seafood restaurants alongside the Playa Azul and Playa Las Brisas, and the shopping in Manzanillo is probably the best anywhere north of Acapulco. Most of the great shopping is located in the hotel area north of the main city, where there are two new superstores which are among the best multi-product stores you can find anywhere in the world.

For relaxation, Manzanillo offers a tranquil atmosphere with golden sand beaches and fantastic resorts. There is also an excellent and varied night scene.

Bahia de Manzanillo, to the south, boasts many fabulous resorts, with everything from water sports and deep-sea fishing to golf. Bahia de Santiago is a far less busy town, with only two resorts and plenty of secluded areas. The coastal highway offers restaurants, souvenir shops and nightspots. A daytrip to Guadalajara, the second-largest city in Mexico, is very convenient. Alternatively, enjoy Colima, a coastal town with a volcano, about 96kms south of Manzanillo.

By car, Manzanillo is 4 hours on the coastal road from Puerto Vallarta and 3.5 hours on the toll road from Guadalajara. Visitors can fly directly to Manzanillo from the US and other points in Mexico, including Chihuahua, Mazatlan and Mexico City. The airport is about 40kms away from Manzanillo on the north side. Travelling to Manzanillo by bus from Mexico City takes around 20 hours; from Guadalajara, the journey is four hours.