Manzanillo, Mexico

Puerto Santiago - Manzanillo needs it?

2009-10-29T17:05:00.007-06:00

Is this what Manzanillo needs at the expense of La Boquita beach, the palapa restaurants, the local fisherman, the mangroves and all the wildlife the mangroves support. Well, below is their dream ....

Imagine a Mediterranean-style seaside village constructed from bricks, freestone, masonry, adobe tiles, and wood. Soothing earth tones will complement the natural materials. Imagine Puerto Santiago:

Marina: The village-like marina will enchant visitors with over 150 boat slips, seaside benches, open plazas, and softly illuminated walkways.

Beach Hotel: Puerto Santiago looks forward to the addition of a quality, five-star 220-room hotel, committed to building in the development.

Shopping and Entertainment Center: Over one million square feet of retail space will enhance Puerto Santiago with a premiere shopping and entertainment district.

Condominium Projects: Condominiums will anchor the Puerto Santiago development. Approximately 132 condominiums will line the beach, while another 800 condominiums face the lagoon and boast a community-style center with tennis courts, an exercise facility, and other amenities.

Single Family Homes: Roughly 240 single-family lots rest alongside the marina and shopping area, as well as throughout the beach area.

Puerto Santiago Web Page

Manzanillo Tourist Website

2009-10-10T11:28:00.006-05:00

A blurb and video from the Manzanillo Tourist Website. Pretty typical for tourism but the website is well done as well as the video

MANZANILLO COLIMA MEXICO
Manzanillo is located in the State of Colima in the Mexican Pacific Gold Coast, considered the most important port, is located in the path of the shipping lanes in the Far East, North, Central and South America. Its geographical location allows it to offer stunning scenery, exotic sunsets, beautiful beaches, mixed with golden sands, spectacular view of the bay and sunny days with average temperatures above 22 ° C make the beaches of Manzanillo a very attractive destination. In recent years its growth and development benefited the tourism industry with facilities Resorts, Hotels, Golf Courses and service first class domestic and foreign.

Manzanillo Tourist Website

Faro de Campos - Manzanillo

2009-08-08T10:16:00.006-05:00

The reason I've never found the light house before is it's a little hard to find. Finally we tried a little harder and asked a number of people. You find the access road in the small community across from the power plant south of downtown Manzanillo on the road to Campos. It's about five blocks toward the beach at the base of the hill on the north side.

The road is paved with brick but is narrow so watch for traffic and be prepared to backup some distance to allow passing. Great view and I wanted to get a foto when it was green. So many pictures I've seen were taken in the dry season. There is another great view spot about a quarter of a mile before you get to the lagoon inlet. If the gate is open check it out. The caretaker will welcome you

Faro de Campos - Lighthouse

View over the edge

From the road looking back at the power plant

Tropical Storm Andres

2009-06-22T15:03:00.002-05:00

By NATALIA PARRA, Associated Press Writer Natalia Parra, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 28 mins ago

ACAPULCO, Mexico – A strengthening Tropical Storm Andres headed toward Mexico's Pacific coast Monday, prompting emergency preparations for a storm that forecasters said might become a hurricane.

Forecasters said Andres was likely to bring tropical storm force winds ashore between the port cities of Lazaro Cardenas and Manzanillo within a day, and the forecast track showed its center might scrape land at minimum hurricane force late Tuesday near picturesque towns such as Barra de Navidad that are home to some American and Canadian expatriates.

A hurricane watch was declared from Lazaro Cardenas to Cabo Corrientes.

The Acapulco city government prepared 120 shelters and warned residents to stay indoors, especially some 15,000 people in 20 zones most at risk for flooding. Heavy rains late Sunday downed a few trees in the resort city.

Late Sunday night, Andres became the first named storm of the Eastern Pacific hurricane season, which began May 15 and ends November 30 and is typically busiest between July and September.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Andres was centered about 240 miles (390 kilometers) southeast of Manzanillo at 11 a.m. PDT (2 p.m. EDT; 1800 GMT) Monday, and it had sustained winds near 60 mph (95 kph), with higher gusts.

It was moving toward the west-northwest near 5 mph (7 kph).

The forecast track showed it brushing the central Mexican coast on Tuesday before weakening and bending toward the west a little short of the Los Cabos resorts at the tip of the Baja California Peninsula Thursday night or Friday.

Forecasters said Andres could become a hurricane with sustained winds of at least 74 mph (119 kph) by Tuesday night.

It has been 40 years since it took so long for a named storm to develop in the Eastern Pacific.

"Normally that season gets under way somewhat earlier," said Richard Pasch, a senior hurricane specialist at the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida. "But it's not necessarily an indication that it'll be a quiet year in that basin. We've seen some years starting late and become quite active. We're just going to have to wait and see on that."

Federal forecasters have predicted a near-normal or below-normal season, with the possibility for 13 to 18 named storms, including six to 10 hurricanes.

Yahoo weather News

Jellyfish in the harbor

2009-05-30T15:12:00.004-05:00

I was in town last week to get my auto air conditioning fixed and check on Notario #1 downtown. I had to leave my car most of the day so took a taxi downtown and after locating the Notario decided to kill some time by walking back the waterfront to the Port Offices (port entrance).

Right in front of the sailfish and main malecon I noticed all these jellyfish bobbing around next to the docks. I've seen the very small ones wash ashore up the coast but never this size. Most were nearly a foot across. I guess they are just blown by the wind but I saw none on the Las Brisas beach. Must have been thousands of them all the way to the port offices. Nice walk by the way.

Jellyfish off the malecon

Port offices where Immigration is

Jellyfish in Manzanillo harbor

TransCanada wins CFE pipeline deal

2009-05-09T09:21:00.004-05:00

From The News

Canadian energy firm TransCanada Corporation has won a bid to build and operate a 304-kilometer (190-mile) gas pipeline in western Mexico, the Federal Electricity Commission, or CFE, said.

CFE said in a statement that the proposed Guadalajara Pipeline will transport gas from a liquefied natural gas, or LNG, terminal under construction near Manzanillo, Colima, to Guadalajara, the nation's second-largest city.

The pipeline will be 30 inches in diameter and will have the capacity to transport 500 million cubic feet per day. The CFE said the 25-year contract will be signed on May 27 and that the construction phase will last 22 months.

According to the CFE, the project is part of electrical infrastructure works that it is developing in the western part of the country that include building a LNG terminal in Manzanillo and converting the thermoelectric plant in that Pacific coast city to use natural gas instead of fuel oil.

The LNG project will supply gas to thermoelectric plants in the states of Colima, Guanajuato, QuerActaro and Jalisco.

The government began construction of the LNG terminal in Manzanillo last year with the eventual goal of processing 500 million cubic feet of natural gas per day beginning in 2011.

The $700 million plant will create 1,500 jobs and allow the CFE to save $230 million annually.

The News article

SECTUR (Tourism Ministry) invests 62 million pesos

2009-04-26T08:45:00.003-05:00

SECTUR (Tourism Ministry) invests 62 million pesos for tourism projects in the State of Colima

The federal government’s Tourism Ministry will invest an initial 62 million pesos into six touristic projects with the purpose of boosting the tourism sector of the state of Colima, the above was disclosed by the Mexican Government’s Tourism Minister, Rodolfo Elizondo Torres.

During a working session with Colima state governor, Jesús Silverio Cavazos Ceballos, both officers agreed to work in coordination to execute projects benefitting the entity’s touristic activity in order to increase the number of domestic and international visitors.

This year’s investments will be dedicated to the following projects: 8th stage of Manzanillo’s historic center refurbishment; building Manzanillo’s Convention Center, 5th stage of Tecoman’s historic center refurbishment; 2nd stage of Real-Pascuales pedestrian walk; urban image of El Paraíso beach resort and the state’s “señal-ética” program.

Source: Secretaría de Turismo (SECTUR)

Zeta Gas Terminal south of town

2009-04-03T16:55:00.008-06:00

Grupo Zeta in Manzanillo, one of the worlds largest distributors of LPG gas, now operates this deep water port which is the largest plant of its kind in Mexico and Latin America. Someday this site will also feed the oil fired electric plant located in the same area - after it's re-tooled. This plant was mostly funded by Pemex and CFE and is now operated by Zeta Gas.

Not many tourists get down to this end of town but it's interesting. The Cuyutlan lagoon inlet and outlet used for cooling the power plant, a company town across the street from the plant, a few large palapa restaurants, a second lagoon/ocean opening and finally the microscopic town of Campos

Improvements or just changes

2009-03-09T18:12:00.007-06:00

Improvements or just changes .... it's hard to say. Lots of gringos here don't like the changes because they came to Mexico for Mexico. Whatever your opinion or theirs below are some of the changes with the new Brisas Mall almost across from Walmart. Don't forget the first icon in this Plaza was Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). The most important changes I saw last weekend are the two new traffic lights on the highway in central Santiago

Dairy Queen

Office Depot

... and or course Starbucks with Dominos Pizza just around the corner

Manzanillo grows a bit more

Huizcolote behind Manzanillo

2009-01-04T11:20:00.004-06:00

The day after Christmas is not a good day to be shopping in Manzanillo so after giving up on hardware stores and a quick trip to Sorianas I headed east towards the mountains. Huizcolote and other small communities can be reached by following the road in front of Las Hades or from the road to Minatitlan behind the Port. If you rent a car and like cruzing in the country, these roads are usually in very good shape. Huizcolote is not the end of the road with much more valley beyond but it was getting late and over an hour back to Melaque.

Nativity scene in front of a very poor house

The river that runs next to Huizcolote

Christmas beach vacation

2009-01-04T11:10:00.003-06:00

Pre and Christmas Day crowds on Playa Miramar are not as large as the week following but never the less - Manzanillo is quite busy. There were fewer excursion buses and generally less people than last year. No doubt, a bit of the economy effect.

Robinson Crusoe classic filmed in Colima

2008-12-14T13:45:00.009-06:00

Robinson Crusoe by Luis Bunuel was filmed in Mexico near Manzanillo, Colima in 1952, actually Cuyutlan. This movie was one of Bunuel's first English language films and was sort of a guinea-pig as the film was flown to Los Angeles every day to be processed into Eastmancolor. It's probably the best version that's been made of the character created by Daniel Defoe.

DVD cover from the movie

Bunuel filming on the beach

Dan O'Herlihy on the beach

Luis Bunuel DOT org

Historical Slide Show of Manzanillo

2008-11-23T16:58:00.004-06:00

History of Manzanillo in a Slide Show

These fotos are from the Manzanillo Historical Web Site which also has a number of pages of written history from Prehispanic, Spanish occupation to the modern day. Very interesting site but all in Spanish.

In 1825 the official “Port of Manzanillo” opened. As an important sea port, Manzanillo opened the first telegraph office on the Pacific coast in 1869. Manzanillo was raised to the status of a city in 1873, and by 1890 train service arrived and made coast to coast travel much more convenient. The train boosted the commercial importance of the port, as the only train/port link on the Pacific. The railroad to Colima City (the capital city) was completed in 1889. In 1908, the link to Guadalajara was completed and Manzanillo was named an official port of entry into Mexico. Manzanillo was the temporary capital of the state of Colima for one week in 1915, when Pancho Villa’s troops were threatening to capture the Colima City.

Manzanillo Historical Web Site

Constaño Cafe in Las Brisas

2008-11-15T12:04:00.002-06:00

I've always admired this little Cafe in the Las Brisas beach section of Manzanillo but have never gone in. Now that I'm building a little place up the coast I'm always looking for ideas. I seldom see many people in the place and when I asked the girls that worked there, they said it's more of an evening and weekend place and busier when the tourist are here. I'm seldom in Manzanillo in the evening unless I'm staying overnight. Anyway, nice Starbucks kind of place with decent coffee and sweet pastry.

Manzanillo boat harbor off the Malecon

2008-11-01T19:07:00.004-06:00

Much of the Manzanillo fishing fleet moors off the Malecon close to downtown. There is also a fish market in the middle just off the street. You can now easily walk from downtown to the main harbor entrance where large ships enter and where Immigration is located. I've not tried the restaurant in the bottom foto but it must be perfect for watching harbor activities

Surfing at Bora's

2008-09-25T11:54:00.003-05:00

Stan, who lives in Santiago invited a few of us to lunch at LuLu's near the market in central Santiago yesterday. it worked out well for me since my fumigator showed up and I needed to be out of the house. Great food at LuLu's and met two other manzanillo Bloggers - New Beginnings and Manzanillo Blog. Nice group of people.

I went early as I had to get out of the house and the surf was decent (before the wind comes up) in front of Bora's. Normally I'm a little later and haven't seen the surfboard rentals and lessons signs before. Bora's is at the north end of Playa Santiago.

Road side fruit stands

2008-09-11T12:58:00.004-05:00

If you want some good fruit and probably things you've never seen before - try some of the road side stands. This one is about 5 miles north of Manzanillo on highway 200 along with 5 or six other stands.

National Institute of Fisheries and Ventanas

2008-08-31T12:42:00.004-05:00

Ventanas is the local name for the opening to the Cuyutlan lagoon and the jetty at the mouth of it on the ocean side. The name is as informal as the way surf locations are named. Also next to the jetty is National Institute of Fisheries building. The main reason for this canal opening is to feed water to the power plant which has an exit spillway on the open ocean side (also interesting to see).

To get to Ventanas go through downtown towards the power plant, through a lagoon side community to an area with beach palapa restaurants on the lagoon. Take a right just before the canal bridge and follow the dirt road along the canal out to the jetty. Just hope for no oncoming traffic as it is a one-laner.

The canal looking towards the ocean and Ventanas

Looking back through the canal towards the power plant

National Institute of Fisheries

Starbucks comes to Manzanillo

2008-08-28T18:58:00.005-05:00

Why they chose Manzanillo at this point I'm not sure. Maybe someone that owns a franchise up north wanted something to do on vacation. Maybe drug money is under invested. The article below just says Starbucks is following their normal pace of rapid expansion.

Anyway, I'm sure this will be open for the winter tourist season and it's located directly across from Walmart. Be careful crossing the street.

MEXICO CITY – Dozens of new Starbucks stores will open this year in Mexico, according to the chain's Mexican partner, part of an overseas expansion plan that could offset slower sales in an oversaturated U.S. market.

Fast-food franchiser Alsea has opened 201 Starbucks coffee shops since the brand first entered Mexico just over five years ago and now stores are popping up around the country at one of the fastest rates in the world.
Article - Centam Coffee-Starbucks expands shops in Mexico as U.S. slows

Office Max, Subway and Juega y Juega

2008-06-30T10:59:00.005-05:00

We went shopping in Manzanillo yesterday and noticed the new Office Max was open. Next door is a Subway, a Bings ice cream and a few small shops. Behind them all is 'the Casino', called Juega y Juega, filled with electronic betting machines. I assume these are not just video games but I don't know the betting proceedure. This little mall is between Walmart and Sorianas on the Walmart side.

As usual, Office Max has a decent selection of office furniture and supplies ... and is the best place for reading lamps

Office Max

Subway

Juega y Juega

PATA Manzanillo updates

2008-06-18T11:18:00.001-05:00

Hello all,
Here is a brief PATA Manzanillo update to our events and programs that we've implemented the last few weeks:

1. Educational outreach campaigns: We've been visiting the private schools in the area in an educational outreach pilot program that we'll extend to ALL the area schools once classes resume in the fall. We have brought recuperated street animals to classrooms and conducted interactive talks about the importance of responsible, compassionate and loving pet care. We have been well received by teachers and students alike, and have been delighted by the level of interest of the children. They seem genuinely open to learning about how to be good pet owners. We are hoping this will have a trickle down effect as they spread the message home to their families, friends and neighbors. We will work on an extended outreach plan with Campo Verde high school students, who are required to complete 200 hours of community service, to integrate them into the talks to school aged kids.... thus helping forward the message of humanity towards animals from local youth to local children.

2. First mini-campaign: We logged our first mini campaign in the downtown neighborhood of Alameda back in May. We set up shop in a garage and spayed/neutered 14 animals (10 cats, 4 dogs) with a skeleton crew of 5 people. It went surprisingly well, we were completely on top of all aspects of induction, surgery, recovery and post-op, and hope to have a few more done before the summer is through. Your wonderful financial donations throughout the year helped make this mini-clinic possible with ZERO adidtional cost to PATA.... we simply used supplies let over from the clinics in March and intend to do so throughout the year. Dr. Gaby in turn has also completed 20-30 free surgeries in her "down time" at her clinic to patients who we were unable to see at the clinics.....

3. Garage sale glory: Our Calgary, AB chapter, lead by the intrepid Chris Newbold and her animal-loving family, have done it again! They pulled off two incredible garage sales logging in $1,800 in sales of donated items. They had lots of help from the folks at Canada Post and the neighbors, who came out and supported our worthy cause from afar. When you see Chris upon her return in the fall, please don't hesitate to give her a very well-deserved pat on the back for her incredible efforts to help Manzanillo animals from near and afar.

4. Mini feria on Sun, July 6: Spread the word of PATA Manzanillo's first carnival for kids in Salon Azteca in Salagua!!! It will be an all day event with a jumpy castle, swimming pool, loads of kid-friendly games, balloons, hot dogs, cotton candy, hamburgers, fries, popcorn (** food is an additional cost)..... and a grand finale dog costume show. Tickets are 50 pesos but we have several packages to make things even more economical...... 150 pesos for a family pack of four. The event is sponsored by Monkey's Fried Chicken, Radio Levy (K-liente), Mexican Pacific Marketing, Boca de Iguanas EcoResort. THIS IS A GREAT EVENT TO INVITE YOUR MEXICAN NEIGHBORS TO PARTICIPATE IN, AND EVEN BETTER TO PURCHASE TICKETS FOR HOUSEKEEPING STAFF, GARDENERS, SECURITY, AND OTHER HIRED HELP TO TAKE THEIR FAMILIES FOR A FUN SUNDAY AFTERNOON. All proceeds go towards supporting PATA Manzanillo's spay/neuter programs and community outreach and educational initiatives to further our mandate to help make Manzanillo a safer, pet-friendly and animal-loving place!

That's all for now! Hope to see you and your Mexican friends at the fair in a few weeks! Those of you involved in other community groups who have an interest in our dealings, please feel free to pass the notice along and include us in your newsletter updates.

Saludos,
Renee Oveson

www.PATAManzanillo.com
info@PATAManzanillo.com

Manzanillo Colima Mexico

Juluapan Peninsula

2008-06-09T15:46:00.006-05:00

There's not a lot on the Internet about the Juluapan Peninsula except from real-estate developers. Lots of fancy homes and gated communities on the Pacific side high on the cliffs. Most of the area is not accessable unless you know someone or are staying there. There is the somewhat over rated L'Recif Restaurant at the Vida del Mar complex that is only open winter months. There's also a few public roads with good views but they are not always in the best repair.

On the La Boquita beach side you'll find a small public area past the grounds of Palma Real Villas with beach and lagoon access. Dive boats often take snorkle tours to this area so it might be good for beach access. The Juluapan Peninsula access is from the little town of 'El Naranjo' just north of Club Santiago off Highway 200

Looking south on Pacific side

Looking north on Pacific side

The lagoon on the La Boquita beach side

Palmas Real Villas with beach access

Manzanillo, Colima

Mexico Navy Day - June 1st

2008-06-01T08:55:00.003-05:00

Buque Mary Galante en Salagua 1989

The day is held on the 1 June and is a national holiday which has been recognised every year since 1942. It relates to 1 June 1917 when article 32 of the Constitution of the United Mexican States was applied for the first time. The article states that any vessel flying the Mexican flag must be crewed by seamen who are Mexican by birth and thus it is a celebration of national pride and identity. The day is marked throughout the country with special events taking place in many of the sea ports including Puerto Escondido and Puerto Angel on the Sierra Madre del Sur. Events include navy ceremonies in the harbours followed by traditional singing and dancing

Manzanillo Navy Day - Día de la Marina

Surf Trip to Pascuales

2008-05-01T10:18:00.003-05:00

These guys were on a surf trip down highway 200 through the Costalegre into Michoacan. Pascuales is one of their stops - and although the surf does not look great, they are just in time for a local festival. Nicely done video and sure feels like Mexico

Pascuales Colima Mexico

In Mexico, on the Lam With Ken Kesey

2008-03-22T07:13:00.000-06:00

New York Times
North America > Mexico > Manzanillo

I am in the ocean, doing nothing, just bobbing. I am facing a golden-sugar beach, a low pink hotel, a thatched palapa baking in the heat. To my left, a long crescent stretch of bay, a cradling arm around a basket of blue. To my right, a stone jetty. Beyond it, a port full of oceangoing tankers and the cliff-hugging city of Manzanillo. Behind me, the limitless Pacific. All around, pelicans loitering in the swells, which lift and gently drop me, my arms out, toes brushing velvet sand.

I said I was doing nothing, but I’m actually trying to summon somebody: Ken Kesey, novelist, psychedelic prophet, leader of the Merry Pranksters, hero of “The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test.” It was here, on this beach, that he took to the waves as I did, back in 1966. He was a hunted man then, on the run from the F.B.I. and Mexican federales, but even he, a man of great aplomb, found time for thoughtful bobbing.

New York Times article