| Are you debating whether to visit a place with | | | | romantic Hollywood film, right? If you're into |
| beaches or a place with swamps and waterfalls? | | | | something more exiting and adrenaline pumping, then |
| Well, visit Manzanillo and you'll get both! Or visit | | | | rent a few jet skis and race onto the ocean. You can |
| Patawalk and virtually get both, as well. | | | | also go kayaking or simply bring your boogie board |
| Manzanillo is a port city that lies on the Pacifi Ocean. | | | | and enjoy the soft ocean waves craddleing you |
| In the 1500's, while in search of a safe harbor and an | | | | along the coast. However, the further into the ocean |
| excellent location for shipbuilding, the Spanish Explorer | | | | you go the more likely you'll be to encounter ocean |
| Hernan Cortez along with his tripulation landed on the | | | | life. In fact, Manzanillo has an enourmous dolphin |
| shore of what is now known as Manzanillo. | | | | population. So if you're lucky enough, you might just |
| Interestingly, Cortez also used this site as the parting | | | | encounter a dolphin swimming right next to you! |
| place to go in quest of the Phillipines. This only proves | | | | Kayaking is even more exciting when done in a |
| what an important point of departure Manzanillo was | | | | mangrove. All you have to do is take a small trip |
| for the Spaniards upon their arrival. It was the | | | | about 15 to 30 minutes from the city and you'll arrive |
| Spaniards who baptized this beautiful bay with the | | | | at some of the most incredibly scenic mangroves |
| name of Manzanillo due to the abundance of | | | | ever. These mangroves will take you around the |
| Manzanillo trees found here. Also of importance is the | | | | lagoon; here you'll have the opportunity to observe a |
| fact that this tree was specifically used to build ships. | | | | diversity of bird species. This is quite a unique |
| Nowadays, the port of Manzanillo maintains its place | | | | experience for the bird aficionado. After this really |
| as an important harbor. It has become a stopping | | | | neat experience you'll have to treat yourself to the |
| point for cargo ships all over the world, so much that | | | | 100-foot waterfall, called El Salto (The Jump), which is |
| it is the largest port on the Pacific coast of Mexico. | | | | also withing a 45 minute trip north of Manzanillo. |
| But Manzanillo isn't just all harbor bussiness; it is an | | | | Getting there is pretty much an awesome vehicle |
| excellent adventure destination as well as a resort | | | | ride along with some walking; it is quite the best way |
| destination. Don't forget that Manzanillo is the "Sailfish | | | | to include some exercise in your day. The place |
| Capital of the World!" Multitudes of fishing | | | | surrounding the waterfall is virtually untouched by |
| tournaments are held throughout the year on the | | | | civilization is one of the few spots around the world |
| pristine and magnificent beaches of Manzanillo. Upon | | | | boasting of being a true natural beauty. It literary is a |
| disembarking on the beautiful Manzanillo coast you | | | | jungle-rainforest combination; it might even seem like |
| should head to one of the local scuba shops and | | | | you've travel back in time, for a place like this is hard |
| submerge into a full-blown underwater adventure. For | | | | to believe it still exists in today's society. Note that |
| starters you should try some snorkeling or scuba | | | | the best time to visit the waterfall, that is if you wish |
| diving. The waters of Manzanillo are so clean and | | | | to swim in it, is between November through May. |
| clear that make them an ideal location to snorkel or | | | | During these times the waters are pristine and very |
| dive. Not only this, but Manzanillo is filled with lots of | | | | calm. Durin the rainy season, it is not recommended, |
| natural coral and fish. While snorkeling, don't forget to | | | | for it might become dangerous due to possible |
| ask your guide to show you The Aquarium, which is | | | | mudslides. |
| a 10,000 year-old reef and it it but 3 to 7 feet under | | | | If you'd like to take a small break from the ocean |
| the surface. This particular reef is huge and can | | | | adventures and visit the city, then I must |
| almost be compared to the size of a football field, | | | | recommend the Museo de la Perversidad (Museum of |
| about 100 yards or about 300 feet. Another | | | | Perversity). But don't get the wrong idea based on |
| must-see while snorkeling is San Luciano, which is a | | | | its name. In actuality, the museum is much like a |
| 300-foot-long shipwreck. This is one of the many | | | | house of horrors based on historical facts. The |
| ships that were wrecked during the 5 storm | | | | museum features "scenes" of torture and artifact or |
| category hurricane of 1959. This ship is completely | | | | tools of torture. It's important to mention that all the |
| made of metal, and has become a "man-made" coral | | | | artifcats including the mannequins were created by |
| reef, for it is now filled with all types of marine life | | | | local artisans. Nevertheless, the museum is more than |
| from octopuses hiding to aquatic plants wrapped | | | | just a scary house straight out of a horror movie; its |
| around it. Roca Elefante (Elephant Rock) is a true | | | | purpose it is bring consciousness to the public about |
| natural wonder; this is an underwater rock in the | | | | inhumanness; this museum was created to promote |
| shape of an elephant, which is where the name | | | | and bring to life the issue of human rights. |
| comes from. I was told that at one point a piece of | | | | As you shop through the streets of Manzanillo, your |
| the rock was in the shape of the trunk running | | | | attention will be caught by the fact that all of the |
| upwards, but that it was destroyed during an | | | | shops have small sculptures of a particular hairless |
| earthquake. Nevertheless, the rock still maintains it's | | | | canine. You'll find images of this dog throughout the |
| similarity to that of an elephant but now with a trunk | | | | city. The fact is that, the hairless dog known as |
| facing downward or in a resting position. The shape | | | | Techichi or Escuincle is the national dog, although it |
| of the rock isn't the only interesting component of it; | | | | has been concluded that this was the first native dog |
| in addition, the rock forms what we know as a blow | | | | of the American continent. The dog was named |
| hole, or as they call it in Manzanillo a "bufadora," which | | | | during pre-Hispanic times by the Aztecs after the |
| blows water up to several feet in the air. Another | | | | pagan god, Xolotl, who was the twin brother of the |
| natural wonder that can be observed in Manzanillo is | | | | more well-known god Quetzacoatl. Escuincle comes |
| the Green Flash Phenomenon. This is when you're | | | | from the Aztec word for dog, or itzcuintli. The |
| able to see a green light coming at a distance only | | | | Aztecs used this dog for several purposed including |
| over the ocean. It is seen on the line that divides the | | | | watchdog, healer, and most interestingly as a food |
| ocean from the sky. The best time to observe this is | | | | source. The Mayans believed that the Xolotl dog |
| between sunset and sunrise; this is definitely worthy | | | | were guardians of the afterlife and so they |
| of a picture. | | | | mummified them and put them in tombs with their |
| The underwater adventure is only a piece of all the | | | | owners, talk about man's best friend being a true |
| activities and fun that Manzanillo provides to its | | | | companion. Its popularity was such that not only are |
| visitors. Along the beach you'll find areas where you | | | | their images throughout the city, but even great |
| can go horseback riding. Imagining that: hoserback | | | | artists such as Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo feature |
| riding along the beach, it's like something out of a | | | | them in their art. |