The city is well known internationally for deep-sea fishing and the green flash phenomenon during sunsets, as well as the warm waters of the ocean. Manzanillo is a great place to relax, do some boating and fishing, catch a game of golf. There are beaches that are crowded and alive, and ones that are peaceful and quiet so you can sunbathe or read a book without disturbance.

Situated on the Pacific coastline between Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco in the state of Colima. Manzanillo Mexico boasts miles of golden sandy beaches fringed by lush fruit plantations and jungle vegetation and three beautiful bays shaped by the foothills of the Sierra Madre.

The downtown area is a busy commercial port, considered the largest port in Mexico surpassing Veracruz, with railways to Mexico's interior. The main plaza overlooks the bay and is surrounded by local bars, restaurants and shops. Travel a short distance inland to visit the capital city of Colima for sightseeing in this historic and culturally rich city and get a taste of the local cuisine. Nearby the magic town of Comala is home to one of the top attractions in the region.

Manzanillo can be divided into two areas, Bahia De Santiago is the most northern bay, and Bahia De Manzanillo is the Bay directly north of the town of Manzanillo. Bahia de Manzanillo offers an array of luxurious resorts and hotels with fine restaurants offering everything from water sports and deep-sea fishing to golf. For those seeking more seclusion, Bahia de Santiago is a far less developed area with only two resorts.

At the North end of Manzanillo bay is the resort Las Hadas ("the fairies"), which is the most famous of the city's resorts. Excellent swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving is found in Santiago Bay. Ship channels are located at the southeast end of Bahia de Manzanillo where large cruise ships enter the port area. Manzanillo was once the scene of piracy and adventure. Nowadays, its peaceful bays and sophisticated tourist and port infrastructure have made it one of the main tourist resorts and trading centers in the west of Mexico.

Manzanillo still holds the charm and romance of an old-world Mexican fishing village with its narrow streets weaving up the hillsides, giving way to stunning ocean views, lush vegetation, and a breathtaking mountain coastline. Most travelers come to Manzanillo for two things fishing and golfing. The weather in Manzanillo is pleasant year-round, and Manzanillo beach sees an average of 350 days of sunshine each year. The best time to visit Manzanillo is during the winter months from November to April. The summer rainy season lasts from June to October when afternoon rainstorms turn the entire region a lush, tropical shade of green.

While locals might go swimming from the tiny harbour beach of San Pedrito and in the Laguna de Cuyutlán behind the town. You’re far better off heading for the beaches around the bay, along the Zona Hotelera. The nearest of these, at Las Brisas, is closer to town than you would think just across the entrance to the inner harbour though it seems further away due to convoluted routes around the lagoon. Frequent buses (20min) from the centre (marked “Las Brisas”) run all the way along the single seafront drive. The six-kilometre beach (which is known as Playa Azul at the top end) shelves steeply to the ocean, causing the tide to crash upon the shore; consequently, the beach is not as conducive to swimming as those further around the bay. Better and more sheltered swimming can be found along the coast further round, where the bay is divided by the rocky Península de Santiago. “Miramar” buses run all the way to the far side of the bay, past the settlements of Salahua and Santiago and a string of beaches. The best of these are around the far edge of the peninsula (get off the bus at Santiago); Playa Santiago, Playa Olas Altas and finally Playa Miramar, the best beach for surfing (shops rent boards on the beach). If you’re prepared to walk a little way, you can reach the calm and tranquil waters of the beautiful cove of La Audiencia, on the west side of the Santiago peninsula, beneath the Gran Costa Resort. From here, if you’re feeling reasonably energetic and looking smart enough to get past the guards, you can climb over the hill to the pseudo-private beach of Las Hadas Golf Resort & Marina, which is worth seeing even if you can’t afford a drink at any of the bars.