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Manzanillo mixes a working port with a resort coast, so the list of things to do spans beaches, deep-sea fishing, a landmark hotel and easy day trips. Most sights cluster around two bays, Bahía de Manzanillo and Bahía de Santiago, joined by the Santiago Peninsula. You can cover the headline stops in two or three days, and the Manzanillo weather by month guide will tell you which months are driest. This is one of seven articles in our Manzanillo travel guide.
Things to Do in Manzanillo: Beaches and Water Sports
Playa La Audiencia
Playa La Audiencia sits on the Santiago Peninsula just below Las Hadas and is the calmest swimming beach in the city, with gentle waves and clear water. It is the best choice for families and for snorkeling, with rental gear and kayaks available on the sand from roughly 9:00 to 18:00. Parking is free along the access road, and beach vendors rent umbrellas and chairs for about 100-150 pesos a day. Get there early on weekends.
Playa Miramar
Playa Miramar, on the north side of Bahía de Manzanillo, gets the steadiest surf and is where local and visiting surfers go. The break is best in the summer and autumn swell, and boards can be rented on the beach for around 200-300 pesos an hour. It is less protected than La Audiencia, so it suits confident swimmers, and a line of casual seafood palapas backs the sand.
Playa La Boquita
Playa La Boquita sits at the far end of Bahía de Santiago and is the most local-feeling beach, shallow and calm, popular with families on Sundays. Thatched palapa restaurants serve fresh fish, ceviche and micheladas at the water’s edge, with a full lunch running about 150-250 pesos. The best neighborhoods in Manzanillo guide explains how La Boquita fits into the Santiago side of town.
Scuba Diving and Snorkeling
Local dive shops run trips from the Santiago Peninsula and the port to reefs where guides hand-feed octopus and moray eels. A two-tank dive typically costs 1,200-1,800 pesos and a half-day snorkel tour 600-900 pesos per person. Winter, from November to April, offers the clearest water; see the best time to visit Manzanillo guide for the full picture.
Things to Do in Manzanillo: Landmarks and Culture
Las Hadas Resort and Marina
Las Hadas is the white, Moorish-style resort that put Manzanillo on the map and starred in the 1979 film “10” with Bo Derek. Non-guests can walk the marina, snap photos of the domes and arches, and have a drink at the clubhouse bar, and the adjacent 18-hole golf course is open to visitors. If you like the setting enough to stay, it is a top pick in the where to stay in Manzanillo guide.
Malecón Espíritu Santo
The Malecón Espíritu Santo is the renovated seafront promenade in El Centro, running along the harbor and anchored by a giant blue sailfish sculpture that marks Manzanillo as the Sailfish Capital of the World. Bronze monuments to fishermen, dock workers and the merchant marine line the walkway. It is free, open around the clock, and best walked at sunset when the port lights come on.
Archundia Iguana Sanctuary
The Archundia Iguana Sanctuary is a small protected plot near the city center where dozens of green iguanas live in a fenced garden. Admission is free, though a small donation is appreciated, and the caretakers let you photograph the iguanas at close range. It is a quick 30-minute stop that kids enjoy.
Things to Do in Manzanillo: Fishing, Golf and Day Trips
Deep-Sea Sport Fishing
Manzanillo has called itself the Sailfish Capital of the World since a 1957 tournament landed 336 sailfish. Charters leave from the downtown marina and the Santiago Peninsula, with a full-day boat running roughly 8,000-15,000 pesos for up to four anglers. Target sailfish and marlin from November to March, and dorado and tuna in the warmer months. The annual Manzanillo events and festivals calendar covers the November tournament.
Las Hadas Golf Course
The 18-hole, par-71 Las Hadas Golf Course wraps around the Santiago Peninsula with several holes running beside the ocean and the marina. Green fees run about 1,200-2,000 pesos depending on season and tee time, with club rental extra. The neighboring El Corazón Golf and Spa Resort offers stay-and-play packages.
Day Trip to Comala and the Colima Volcano
About 90 minutes northeast, the whitewashed town of Comala, a Pueblo Mágico, offers coffee, ponche and views of the active Volcán de Fuego and the dormant Nevado de Colima. Buses to Colima city run from the Manzanillo bus terminal, then local buses continue to Comala. Check the Manzanillo travel tips page for bus details before you set out.
