About the City
Manzanillo is 325
kilometers southwest of Guadalajara. After the Spanish arrived in
the early 16th century, Manzanillo was a port for more than 200
years for galleons shuttling to and from the Philippines. Today it
is also a beach resort famous for luxurious hotels and marlin
fishing. Manzanillo, in the state of Colima, serves as as a gateway
to the unspoiled and little-known Costa Alegre region of Mexico's
Pacific Coast. Stretching 240km, this secluded yet accessible area
is sprinkled with some of Mexico's loveliest beaches and bays. With
its fine natural harbors, Manzanillo was an important seaport even
before the Conquest. It was first settled by Europeans in 1522, and
was used as a departure point for Spanish expeditions to Baja and
Northern Mexico.
The name Manzanillo was derived from the
abundant groves of manzanillo trees that were used extensively in
the early days of shipbuilding. This convinced the Spanish
conquistador Cortez to establish the first Latin American shipyard
in 1531. IN 1564, the expedition that led to Spanish rule in the
Philippines set sail from Manzanillo, headed by Miguel Lopez
Legaspi. Today Manzanillo displays a certain paradox between resort
luxury and bustling commercialism. On the other hand, its fine
natural harbor and rail connections to Mexico's interior make it the
country's door to trade with the Pacific Rim. The city handles
enormous shipments of industrial and agricultural products. The
downtown area is considered a "marine beehive." Away fromthis
industrial center, one finds world class resorts, secluded beaches,
shopping areas, and sporting facilities.
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