Manzanillo, Colima facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Manzanillo, Colima
City
Top: Santiago Bay in Manzanillo, Middle: Mandevillas and Palm Trees, Sculpture "Pez Vela", La Punta, Tesoro Manzanillo Hotel, Bottom: Barceló Karmina
Seal
Manzanillo, Colima Location in Colima Show map of Colima Manzanillo, Colima Location in Mexico Show map of Mexico
Country	Mexico
State	Colima
Municipality	Manzanillo
Area
• Municipality	1,578.4 km2 (609.4 sq mi)
Elevation	20 m (70 ft)
Population  (2020)
• Total	159,853
Time zone	UTC−6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Postal code	28200 through 28887
Website	www.manzanillo.gob.mx

Manzanillo (pronounced man-sah-NEE-yoh) is a lively city in the Mexican state of Colima. It's located right on the Pacific Ocean. Manzanillo is famous for having Mexico's busiest port, which handles a lot of cargo for the Mexico City area. It's also a major spot for business and tourism in Colima.

People often call Manzanillo the "sailfish capital of the world." Since 1957, it has hosted many national and international fishing competitions. This makes it a popular place for international tourism.

Welcome to Manzanillo!

Manzanillo is a city with a population of about 160,000 people. It's the second-largest community in the state of Colima. The city is also a popular beach resort. It's known for its beautiful beaches and warm ocean waters.

A Look at Manzanillo's Past

Early Explorers and Spanish Rule

In 1522, a Spanish explorer named Gonzalo de Sandoval arrived in the area. He was looking for safe harbors and places to build ships. Much of the fleet that sailed to conquer the Philippines was built nearby.

In 1527, another navigator, Alvaro de Saavedra, discovered Manzanillo Bay. He named it Santiago de la Buena Esperanza, meaning "St. James of Good Hope." Manzanillo became the third port created by the Spanish in the Viceroyalty of New Spain. It was a starting point for important expeditions. Even Hernán Cortés visited the bay to protect his ships from pirates. For 300 years, pirates from different countries attacked ships along this coast.

Becoming a Modern Port City

In 1825, after Mexico became independent, the Port of Manzanillo officially opened. It was named after the many native Manzanilla trees (also known as Manchineel) that grew there. These trees were used a lot in early shipbuilding. Manzanillo became a city on June 15, 1873. The railroad connecting it to Colima was finished in 1889. In 1908, President Porfirio Diaz made Manzanillo an official port of entry to Mexico.

Manzanillo Today: A Busy Port and Fun Resort

Manzanillo is a vibrant city that combines a busy port with a relaxing tourist destination.

Mexico's Busiest Port

Manzanillo's busy port

Manzanillo is the busiest port in Mexico. It handles a huge amount of cargo and containers. The port is connected by Ferromex rail lines to major cities like Guadalajara and Mexico City. It also has the most efficient port for tuna landings in Mexico. The port exports many goods, including fish, corn, lemons, bananas, and minerals.

Manzanillo is also home to the Mexican Navy's Pacific Naval Force. In 2010, a special dock for cruise ships was opened. This helps more tourists visit the city by sea.

The Sailfish Capital of the World

Manzanillo is known worldwide as the Sailfish Capital of the World. Since 1957, it has hosted important national and international fishing competitions. The Dorsey Tournament is one of these famous events. This makes Manzanillo a very popular place for fishing enthusiasts.

Fun Things to Do in Manzanillo

Manzanillo Bay at sunset

The city is famous for deep-sea fishing. It's also known for the "green flash" phenomenon during sunsets. This is a rare green light you can sometimes see just as the sun disappears below the horizon. Manzanillo has many hotels and resorts, especially on the De Santiago peninsula.

One of the most famous resorts is Las Hadas ("the fairies"). It was even featured in the movie 10 with Bo Derek. You can find excellent swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving in Santiago Bay. A cargo ship sank there in a hurricane in 1959, creating an interesting spot for divers. Other shipwrecks and reefs full of fish are also found in the bay.

Manzanillo has two main bays with beautiful crescent-shaped beaches. Bahía de Manzanillo is closer to downtown. Bahía de Santiago is newer and more upscale. These two bays are separated by the Santiago Peninsula.

Weather and Nature in Manzanillo

Manzanillo's Tropical Climate

Manzanillo has a tropical savanna climate. This means it has a dry season and a wet season. The dry season is from November to May. During this time, there's not much rain, and temperatures are a bit cooler. The wet season runs from June to October. It's warmer and more humid then.

Protecting Nature: The Lagoon Project

In 2012, the port of Manzanillo started an important environmental project. They dredged canals and created islands in the Lagoon of the Valle de las Garzas. This area is a protected wildlife zone. The goal is to improve the water flow in the lagoon. This helps the ecosystem, and they even planted 15,000 mangrove trees.

Hurricane Patricia's Impact

On October 23, 2015, Manzanillo was in the path of Hurricane Patricia. This was an extremely powerful storm. It was one of the strongest cyclones ever recorded in the Western Hemisphere. The storm made landfall just north of Manzanillo. This helped protect the town from the strongest winds. The hurricane caused significant damage in the region.

Getting Around Manzanillo

Manzanillo is well connected by roads. Highway 200 links it to Colima City and Puerto Vallarta. The Playa de Oro International Airport (ZLO) is a small airport about 35 minutes north of Manzanillo. It offers both international and national flights. The airport has been recently remodeled.

Manzanillo's Sister Cities

Manzanillo has special connections with several cities around the world. These are called sister cities. They include:

•  Minnesota,  USA Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States
•  Arizona,  USA Flagstaff, Arizona, United States
•  California,  USA San Pablo, California, United States
• Santiago de Chile, Región Metropolitana de Santiago
• Ningbo, China
• Valparaíso, Chile Región de Valparaíso
• Weihai, China

Images for kids

• 

  MS Queen Victoria at Manzanillo.

See also

In Spanish: Manzanillo para niños