Active Pursuits

Activities in Manzanillo revolve around its golden-sand beaches, which sometimes accumulate a film of black mineral residue from nearby rivers. Most of the resort hotels are completely self-contained. Manzanillo's public beaches provide an opportunity to see more local color and scenery. They are the daytime playground for those staying at places off the beach or without pools.

Beaches

Playa Audiencia, on the Santiago Peninsula, offers the best swimming as well as snorkeling, but Playa San Pedrito, shallow for a long way out, is the most popular beach for its proximity to downtown. Playa Las Brisas, located south of Santiago Peninsula as you're heading to downtown Manzanillo, offers an optimal combination of location and good swimming. Playa Miramar, on the Bahía de Santiago past the Santiago Peninsula, is popular with bodysurfers, windsurfers, and boogie boarders. It's accessible by local bus from town. The major part of Playa Azul, also south of the Santiago Peninsula, drops off sharply but is noted for its wide beach.

Birding

Birding is good in several lagoons along the coast. As you go from Manzanillo past Las Brisas to Santiago, you'll pass Laguna de Las Garzas (Lagoon of the Herons), also known as Laguna de San Pedrito, where many white pelicans and huge herons fish in the water. They nest here in December and January. Directly behind downtown is the Laguna de Cuyutlán (follow the signs to Cuyutlán), where you'll usually find birds in abundance; species vary between summer and winter.

Diving

Underworld Scuba-Scuba Shack (tel. 314/333-3678; www.divemanzanillo.com), located at Blvd. M. de la Madrid Km 15, is owned by longtime resident and local diving expert Susan Dearing and conducts professional diving expeditions and classes. Many locations are so close to shore that there's no need for a boat. Close-in dives include the jetty, with coral growing on the rocks at 14m (46 ft.), and a nearby sunken frigate downed in 1959 at 8m (26 ft.). Divers can see abundant sea life, including coral reefs, sea horses, giant puffer fish, and moray eels. A dive requiring a boat costs $60 per person for one tank (with a three-person minimum) or $85 for two tanks ($10 discount if you have your own equipment). You can also rent weights and a tank for beach dives for $10. A three-stop snorkel trip costs $45. All guides are certified divemasters, and the shop offers PADI certification classes in intensive courses of various durations. The owner offers a 10% discount on your certification when you mention Frommer's. MasterCard and Visa are accepted.

Escorted Tours

Because Manzanillo is so spread out, you might consider a city tour. Reputable local tour companies include HECtours (tel. 314/333-1707; www.hectours.com) and Bahías Gemelas Travel Agency (tel. 314/333-1000). Schedules are flexible; a half-day city tour costs around $25. Other tours include the daylong Colima Colonial Tour ($69), which stops at Colima's Archaeological Museum and principal colonial buildings, and passes the active volcano. Offerings change regularly, so ask about new tours.

Fishing

Manzanillo is famous for its fishing, particularly sailfish. Marlin and sailfish are abundant year-round. Winter is best for dolphin fish and dorado (mahimahi); in summer, wahoo and rooster fish are in greater supply. The international sailfish competition is held around the November 20 Revolution Day holiday, and the national sailfish competition is in February. You can arrange fishing through travel agencies or directly at the fishermen's cooperative (tel. 314/332-1031), located downtown where the fishing boats moor. A fishing boat is approximately $45 for eight people to $55 for 12 people per hour, with most trips lasting about 5 hours.

Golf

The 18-hole La Mantarraya Golf Course (tel. 314/331-0101) is open to nonguests as well as guests of Las Hadas. At one time, La Mantarraya was among the top 100 courses in the world, but newer entries have surpassed it. Still, the compact, challenging 18-hole course designed by Roy and Pete Dye is a beauty, with banana trees, blooming bougainvillea, and coconut palms at every turn. A lush and verdant place (12 of the 18 holes are played over water), it remains a favorite.

When the course was under construction, workers dug up pre-Hispanic ceramic figurines, idols, and beads where the 14th hole now lies. It is believed to have been an important ancient burial site. The course culminates with its signature 18th hole, with a drive to the island green off El Tesoro (the treasure) beach, directly in front of the Karminda Palace Resort. Greens fees are $150 for 18 holes, $90 for 9 holes; cart rental costs $50 for 18 holes and $35 for 9 holes.

The fabulous Isla Navidad Country Club 27-hole golf course associated with the Grand Bay Hotel (tel. 314/337-9024) in Barra de Navidad, an easy distance from Manzanillo, is also open to the public. The Robert von Hagge design is long and lovely, with each hole amid rolling, tropical landscapes. It is wide open, with big fairways and big greens, and features plenty of water (2 lagoon holes, 13 lakeside holes, and 8 holes along the Pacific). The greens fees, including a motorized cart, are $180 for 18 holes, $200 for 27 holes. Barra is about a 1- to 1 1/2-hour drive north of Manzanillo on Hwy. 200.

Shopping

Manzanillo has numerous shops that carry Mexican crafts and clothing, mainly from Guadalajara. Almost all fall on downtown streets near the central plaza. Shopping downtown is an experience -- for example, you'll find a shop bordering the plaza that sells a combination of shells, religious items (including shell-framed Virgin of Guadalupe nightlights), and orthopedic supplies. The Plaza Manzanillo is an American-style mall on the road to Santiago, and a traditional tianguis (outdoor) market in front of the entrance to Club Maeva sells touristy items from around Mexico. Most resort hotels also have boutiques or shopping arcades.

Sunset Cruises

To participate in this popular activity, buy tickets from a travel agent or your hotel tour desk. Most cost around $35. The trips vary in their combinations of drinks, music, and entertainment, and last 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Departing from Las Hadas are El Explorer and Antares.