Playa San Pedrito is the closest beach to the central part of the city. It is about 1km from the zocalo. However, it is not the cleanest beach due to its proximity to the port. Playa Las Brisas is slightly further from the city; it is used by guests at several resorts but is also open to the general public. Playa Azul is a long beach that curves around the Bahia de Manzanillo Bay. Our favorite beaches in the region are on the … [Read more...]
Manzanillo, Mexico – Las Hadas
Words cannot begin to describe the beauty of Las Hadas Resort. It is listed as one of the top 400 resorts in the world. Almost every amenity that that one can think of can be found on site. It attracts a wealthy set of of well-heeled travelers from all over the world. Besides the main hotel the resort features numerous white washed Arabian looking buildings nestled into the sides of a steep hill. Las Hadas is located on the Santiago Peninsula … [Read more...]
Manzanillo, Mexico – Cuyutlan & Paraiso
Cuyutlan & Paraiso are located 30 miles southeast of Manzanillo. Not built up, a number of smaller fishing villages are located in the region along with several fine seafood restaurants. I like this area compared to the city of Manzanillo because this is rural Mexico and is well-removed from the beaten path of many tourists. It is a popular spot for vacationing Mexican families, many of whom are from Guadalajara. Cuyutlan like several of the … [Read more...]
Manzanillo, Mexico – Restaurants
Most of the fancier restaurants are located on or quite close to beaches. There is also a good selection of restaurants in or near the center of town surrounding the primary zocalo (public square). Most of the good restaurants will serve bottled water instead of tap water. However, I recommend asking if they serve bottled water at all restaurants you eat at. Or simply drink beer. Restaurant Bar Roca del Mar is located on the east side of … [Read more...]
Manzanillo, Mexico – Hotels
There are many hotels in Manzanillo. Most of the hotels listed below are located very close, if not actually on the beach. All hotels listed below are in the (333) code unless otherwise specified. Lastly, the prices tend to be generally higher during the busy season - from December to April. Dave is always looking for hotel recommendations in Manzanillo across a diversity of budgets - if you have any comments regarding the hotels listed below … [Read more...]
Manzanillo, Mexico – More Info
Numerous excellent travel books have been written about Mexico and Manzanillo in particular. The Lonely Planet Mexico travel book is the authority on Mexican travel in general. This book should be available at any major book or travel book store and online. It sells for about $20. A tourist office is located on Boulevard Miguel de la Madrid. This is the offical tourist office for the state of Colima and they have lots of information for not … [Read more...]
Oaxaca, Mexico
We first visited the city of Oaxaca in December, during the dry season so some of our mentions in this article may be seasonally related. For example, some of the fruits we saw in the markets are only ripe during that time of year, and some of the festivals we experienced certainly only occur during December. Oaxaca (elevation 5,084 feet, population 265,000) is located in the state of Oaxaca in southern Mexico. The Oaxaca airport offers … [Read more...]
Oaxaca, Mexico – Important Info
Here are some useful notes for travelers visiting the city of Oaxaca. Transportation There used to be no nonstop USA flights to the city of Oaxaca. Normal stops included Guadalajara or Mexico City or both and still do on some routes. However, Aeromexico, Delta and United Airlines now have daily nonstop flights from Houston (IAH) and Dallas (DFW) to Oaxaca. Mexicana airlines offers nonstop flights to Oaxaca from Mexico City. A toll road … [Read more...]
Oaxaca, Mexico – Markets
Oaxaca is known for both its artisan crafts and local foods. Brilliantly colored wood carvings are much sought after by visitors. These carvings often differ dramatically in both quality and price. A general rule is to spend time shopping around - do not purchase the first item you see just because you like it. With so many similar items available, competition is high for your peso. Perhaps you will return to that original item but chances are … [Read more...]
Oaxaca, Mexico – Attractions
A Short Walk One day I decided to walk due west and see where I ended up. I left the phone at the hotel, I didn't research anything. I just began walking. I passed by Mercado de Abastos (a market) and then drifted by an extremely polluted river, an ecological disaster so to speak. I spent some time watching people wade back and forth through the water. I witnessed several people use the soil behind small bushes as a bathroom. I watched the wind … [Read more...]