Please click on photos to view them.

Playa Salagua

Playa Salagua can be a very treacherous beach with high waves and a strong undertow. However, the river is often used by locals for bathing and swimming. at the end of the beach, near the south side of the Karmina Palace, is a small ramada where you can rent umbrellas and enjoy seafood and a cold beer. You'll often see men and young boys fishing with and nets or lines in the surf, especially at sundown.

Manzanillo's small turtle sanctuary is located on this beach. Worth the trip if the turtles are hatching. They are released every day between 5-6 p.m. The new Camino Real is located in this area.

Manzanillo Bay

Beginning at Las Hadas and ending at the entrance to to the harbor, this is Manzanillo's biggest bay. 

At times the waves reach heights of more than 10 feet, crashing into the protective sea walls, and vibrating the walls of beachfront homes. On other occasions the waves are gentle and tranquil, quietly lapping the shore with nary a sound. The best place to swim is the southernmost point of the bay Near the Hotel Marina Dorado near the jetty that divides the harbor.

Playa Azul

More than 5 miles of empty beach, part of Manzanillo Bay, this area is known as the "Hotel Zone," or Zona Hotelera. 

There are many hotels and restaurants along this stretch, allowing visitors ample time to have lunch, sip a favorite beverage, cool off and enjoy the view.

Playa Las Brisas

The Las Brisas Beach is considered one of the nicest in Manzanillo, because it's clean, safe and deserted most of the time. The two-mile stretch (also part of Manzanillo Bay) ends at the entrance to Manzanillo's harbor. 

Today, Las Brisas is a dead-end peninsula, but at one time the road led directly to Manzanillo. The area has many older, inexpensive hotels., small sidewalk cafes, and numerous businesses. At the end, near the jetty, scuba diving and snorkeling are perfect watersports. More laid-back tourists like to watch the ships come and go from the port. It is a rare day when you won't be able to see large ships anchored outside the port, or cruising to deliver their cargo.

Playa San Pedrito

This beach is one of the oldest beaches in Manzanillo. San Pedrito is the beach closest to downtown, and was formerly the site of a shark fisherman's camp. (No sharks today, we promise!)  This beach is heavily used because of its accessibility and beauty.  Its waters are normally quiet and warm, with a few palm trees for shade, and a couple palapa-styled seafood restaurants, and a budget hotel. Recently refurbished as part of Manzanillo's renewal project, San Pedrito has a park area, bathrooms, and souvenir stalls.

Las Ventanas

Las Ventanas on the ocean side is spectacular, with a lookout point that often has waves so high you get a salty shower! People come from all over the world to visit its spouting "bufadora" or blowhole, which throws a vertical column of spray into the air accompanied by a roar. On the lagoon side you'll see numerous ramadas (thatched-roof seafood restaurants), and lots of locals swimming in the protected lagoon. Las Ventanas marks the spot where an effort was made at the beginning of the century to dig a channel through the mountain from Lake Cuyutlan to the sea. Today, it is the site of the power plant that is being converted to natural gas in the near future.

For more information about the ocean and beaches of Manzanillo, try  "Facts, Tips and Day Trips, guide to Colima and Manzanillo."

Back to Beaches page                                    Back to More Beaches