Tips for travel to Manzanillo & Costa Alegre
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Introduction
Manzanillo is a dichotomous place -- it is both Mexico's busiest
commercial seaport and a tranquil, traditional town of multicolor
houses cascading down the hillsides to meet the central commercial
area of simple seafood restaurants, shell shops, and a few salsa
clubs. The activity in Manzanillo divides neatly into two zones:
the downtown commercial port and the luxury Santiago Peninsula
resort zone to the north. The busy harbor and rail connections
to Mexico's interior dominate the downtown zone. A visit to the
town's waterfront zócalo provides a glimpse into local
life. The exclusive Santiago Peninsula, home to the resorts and
golf course, separates Manzanillo's two golden sand bays.
What To Do
Archeology University Museum
The structure of this museum in Manzanillo is the result
of the idea of establishing the knowledge of this cultural region.
Any person that visits the museum learns about a whole and complete
vision of what America is and used to be before Columbus, what
the state of Colima is and has to offer and of course mainly Manzanillo,
in the Pre Colombian age. It has become an important site to visit
because it provides our tourists with a complete view of what
this land and people were in the past.
Álvaro Obregón Garden
Relaxing place, located right across the street from
the boardwalk. The famous artist did its design from the State
of Colima Alejandro Rangel Hidalgo. Beautiful cantera fountains
in the middle, a colonial style kiosk and the gorgeous lamps all
around it constitute it.
Colima
Only an hour drive separate Manzanillo from the city
of Colima. There is a four-lane highway to take you there. This
is a very interesting trip. Colima, state capital with its same
name, has worldwide recognition as the "Palm Tree City".
This is where the cultural, political and economic life of the
state is concentrated.
This city brings together the traditions modernity and beauty
with its wonderful and always smiling people wanting to receive
all visitors with open arms. Colima has many things to be proud
of today. One of them is the lowest rate of illiteracy in the
country. The state university is a magnificent one and also the
great quality in service that its museums offer. Something else
to be proud of is its saline production, its sugar crops and its
tropical fruit production also the maximum production of ferrous
mineral in the whole country.
But above all the cordiality locals use to receive their visitors.
Colima invites you to visit its historic sites, with all its culture
and recreation of ages and regions. Its various and magnificent
crafts, museums, building from different stages of its history.
Also its beautiful garden ornamented with Palm Trees from which
she obtains her name. If you are looking for fun metropolitan
parks such as the Piedra Lisa one, or the Regional Metropolitano
or the Hidalgo one invite you to enjoy the warm weather and all
the green sparkle that surrounds the vegetation and palm trees.
Some places you must go to are:
Colima's Cathedral
Government Palace
Church and Convent of San Francisco of Almoloyan
Culture House
Occidental Cultures Museum
University Museum for Popular Art María Teresa Pomar
Alfonso Michel University Art Gallery
Regional History Museum
Gregorio Torres Quintero Garden
Liberty Garden
Piedra Lisa Park
Lo de Villa (or Villa's Ranch)
Note: This information was accurate when it was published,
but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates
and details directly with the companies in question before planning
your trip.
Dining
Roca del Mar - Join the locals at this informal
cafe facing the plaza. The large menu includes club sandwiches,
hamburgers, carne asada a la tampiqueña (thin grilled steak
served with rice, poblano pepper, an enchilada, and refried beans),
fajitas, fish, shrimp, and vegetable salads. A specialty is its
paella (served on Sun and Tues), and the economical pibil tacos
are outstanding. This cafe is very clean and offers sidewalk dining.
La Toscana - You're in for a treat at La Toscana,
one of Manzanillo's most popular restaurants, located on the beach
in Las Brisas. It's homey, casual, and small, so reservations
are highly recommended. The exquisite cuisine belies the atmosphere,
with starters that include escargot and salmon carpaccio. Among
the grilled specialties are shrimp imperial wrapped in bacon,
red snapper tarragon, dorado basil, sea bass with mango and ginger,
and tender fresh lobsters (four to a serving). Live music frequently
sets the scene.
Legazpi - This is a top choice in Manzanillo
for sheer elegance, gracious service, and outstanding food. The
candlelit tables are set with silver and flowers. Enormous bell-shaped
windows on two sides show off the sparkling bay below. The sophisticated
menu includes prosciutto with melon marinated in port wine, crayfish
bisque, broiled salmon, roast duck, lobster, veal, and flaming
desserts from crepes to Irish coffee.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published,
but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates
and details directly with the companies in question before planning
your trip.
Entry Requirements
* As of October 1, 2007, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens,
traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico,
Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be
required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S.
Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document, or an Alien Registration
Card, Form I-551, if applicable.
* As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens,
traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South
America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea, may be required
to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by
the Department of Homeland Security. While recent legislative
changes permit a later deadline, the Departments of State and
Homeland Security are working to meet all requirements as soon
as possible. Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the
public to obtain passports or passport cards for land/sea entries.
Please be sure the name you give to our Reservations Specialists
matches your Driver's License and your Passport. Married women
with a different last name should carry a marriage license or
a notarized affidavit with their married name.
Money
Banks & ATMs
Banks in Mexico are rapidly expanding and improving services.
They tend to be open weekdays from 9am until 5pm, and often for
at least a half day on Saturday. In larger resorts and cities,
they can generally accommodate the exchange of dollars (which
used to stop at noon) anytime during business hours. During times
when the currency is in flux, a particular bank may not exchange
dollars, so check before standing in line. Some, but not all,
banks charge a service fee of about 1% to exchange traveler's
checks. However, you can pay for most purchases directly with
traveler's checks at the establishment's stated exchange rate.
Don't even bother with personal checks drawn on a U.S. bank --
the bank will wait for your check to clear, which can take weeks,
before giving you your money.
Travelers to Mexico can easily withdraw money from ATMs (automated
teller machine) in most major cities and resort areas. In most
resorts in Mexico, the use of ATMs is perfectly safe -- just use
the same precautions you would at any ATM. Universal bank cards
(such as the Cirrus and PLUS systems) can be used. This is a convenient
way to withdraw money and avoid carrying too much with you at
any time. The exchange rate is generally more favorable than that
at a casas de cambio. Most machines offer Spanish/English menus
and dispense pesos, but some offer the option of withdrawing dollars.
The Cirrus (tel. 800/424-7787) and PLUS (tel. 800/843-7587) networks
span the globe; look at the back of your bank card to see which
network you're on, then call or check online for ATM locations
at your destination. Be sure you know your personal identification
number (PIN) before you leave home and be sure to find out your
daily withdrawal limit before you depart. Also keep in mind that
many banks impose a fee every time a card is used at a different
bank's ATM, and that fee can be higher for international transactions
(up to $5 or more) than for domestic ones (where they're rarely
more than $1.50). On top of this, the bank from which you withdraw
cash may charge its own fee.
Traveler's Checks
Traveler's checks are something of an anachronism from
the days before the ATM made cash accessible at any time. Traveler's
checks used to be the only sound alternative to traveling with
dangerously large amounts of cash. They were as reliable as currency,
but, unlike cash, could be replaced if lost or stolen.
You can get traveler's checks at almost any bank. You can also
get American Express traveler's checks over the phone by calling
tel. 800/221-7282.
Visa offers traveler's checks at Citibank locations nationwide,
as well as at several other banks. Call tel. 800/732-1322 for
information. AAA members can obtain Visa checks without a fee
at most AAA offices or by calling tel. 866/339-3378. MasterCard
also offers traveler's checks. Call tel. 800/223-9920 for a location
near you.
If you choose to carry traveler's checks, be sure to keep a record
of their serial numbers separate from your checks in the event
that they are stolen or lost. You'll get a refund faster if you
know the numbers.
Credit Cards
Credit cards are a safe way to carry money: They also provide
a convenient record of all your expenses, and they generally offer
relatively good exchange rates. You can also withdraw cash advances
from your credit cards at banks or ATMs, provided you know your
PIN. If you've forgotten yours, or didn't even know you had one,
call the number on the back of your credit card and ask the bank
to send it to you. It usually takes 5 to 7 business days, though
some banks will provide the number over the phone if you tell
them your mother's maiden name or some other personal information.
Charges will be made in pesos, then converted into dollars by
the bank issuing the credit card. Generally you receive the favorable
bank rate when paying by credit card. However, be aware that some
establishments in Mexico add a 5% to 7% surcharge when you pay
with a credit card. This is especially true when using American
Express. Many times, advertised discounts will not apply if you
pay with a credit card.
Dear Visa: I'm Off to Manzanillo! -- Some credit card companies
recommend that you notify them of any impending trip abroad so
that they don't become suspicious and block your charges when
the card is used numerous times in a foreign destination. Even
if you don't call your credit card company in advance, you can
always call the toll-free emergency number if a charge is refused
-- a good reason to carry the phone number with you. But perhaps
the most important lesson is to carry more than one card on your
trip; if one card doesn't work for any number of reasons, you'll
have a backup.
Emergency
Mexico has a health national service and almost in every city
you can find a National Hospital or clinic. Most hotels have doctors
that will respond any time during in the 24-hour range. Guests
from the U.S. and Canada don't need shots in order to enter Mexico;
following there is a list of local hospitals and clinics
Mexican Red Cross: 33 657 70
General Hospital: 33 200 89
IMSS: 33 211 50 / 33 212 04
Centro Médico Quirúrgico Echauri:
33 416 66 / 33 404 44
Hospital Manzanillo: 33 672 72
Médica Pacífico: 33 4 03 85
Sanatorio San José: 33 255 50
Hospital Civil: 33 200 29
ISSSTE Manzanillo: 33 650 60
Map of Manzanillo & Costa Alegre
Manzanillo & Costa Alegre Weather
Fun Things To Do in Manzanillo & Costa Alegre
Attractions & Activities
Manzanillo & Costa Alegre Attractions
Museo de las Culturas del Occidente
The museum covers the history of the area and has an impressive
collection of pre-Columbian artifacts dating back thousands of
years. You will see a Viking helmet with two horns, and other
displays indicating a link between the Mayas and Viking civilizations.
The Town of Colima
About an hour from Manzanillo this colonial town has a charming
atmosphere with fertile valleys and two volcanoes, Volcan de Fuego
is still active. Visit the city's cathedral built in 1527 or take
free art music and dance classes a the Casa de la Cultura.
El Chanal Archeological Site
This site houses pre-Hispanic art of the Colimense. See the six
important plazas or ceremonial centers: The Altars Plaza, Time
Plaza, Water Plaza, Upper Patio, Circular Altar Plaza. Each with
its own significance and beauty.
La Campana Archeological Site
This site is divided into two parts: The first part exhibits buildings
formed by superimposed platforms with stairways. The second part
is the plaza which has a series of altars and ceremonial enclosures
on platforms. Many tunnel tombs are found here.
Colima Regional History Museum
The museum, built in the 18th century, has archaeological collections
of Velasco Curiel and Stavenhagen, historical collections of the
University of Colima, Ferrocarriles de México (information
of Mexican railways), and Fabrica de telar (Loom Manufacture)
and more.
Manzanillo & Costa Alegre Activities
Shopping
Thanks in part to its proximity to Guadalajara (Mexico's arts
and crafts capital), Manzanillo offers several interesting shopping
opportunities. Most shopping is centered around the area's resorts,
and the Plaza Manzanillo mall is a popular new addition.
Water Sports
Manzanillo offers some of Mexico's best and most pristine beaches,
spread out across Santiago and Manzanillo Bay. Water conditions
are favorable for snorkeling, particularly near the rock outcroppings
that surround Santiago Peninsula.
Golf & Tennis
La Mantarraya, located near Las Hadas Resort, has been named among
the world's top 100 golf courses by Golf Digest. And no less than
six separate resorts boasts excellent tennis facilities.
Dining
More than two dozen dining establishments - ranging from casual
to elegant - put a premium on the area's spectacular natural beauty
and exotic jungle setting. Several discos and bars are also popular
with both locals and visitors.
Fishing
Manzanillo is renowned for its incredible array of sailfish, and
charters departing from the marina at Las Hadas can be easily
arranged. An international tournament each February draws competitors
from around the world.
Flight Overview Manzanillo & Costa Alegre
All prices listed are approximate.
The airport (information on 7/466-9446 or 466-9434), 30km east
of the city, is linked only by taxis and the Transportaciones
Aeropuerto shuttle service. If you intend to leave by plane, you
save money by buying a return ticket for the shuttle on your arrival.
Frequent flights leave Acapulco for Mexico City and numerous other
Mexican and US destinations. For up-to-date details, contact the
airlines. To get to the airport from the city you can take an
expensive taxi or contact the Shuttle service (tel 7/462-1095).
They'll pick you up at your hotel at a pre-arranged time and take
you to the airport for US$7.50. Cheaper still is to take a town
bus to Puerto Marquéz, then another from there to the airport.
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