Manzanillo

Cruise ships may use one of two berths: the purpose-built cruise dock, opened in 2010 beside the giant sailfish statue and 2 to 3 km from the centre, or an industrial area alongside container ships.

If you use the container port, now less common, taxis wait near the ship and a return bus to town costs $3.00.

Bring a printable map with you.

Dating to 1527, Manzanillo is Mexico's largest west-coast port city. Its two large bays, Manzanillo Bay and Santiago Bay, provide good beaches and plenty of ocean-based activities.

Central Manzanillo has a Malecon, or boardwalk, roughly a mile long.

Walk along the harbour to view anchored fishing boats, from tourist sail-fishing motor cruisers to local fishermen's small pangas. Numerous palm-shaded benches and sculptures by local artists line the route. An old ship's anchor from a cargo vessel sunk in the 1959 hurricane makes an interesting talking point and photo backdrop.

Downtown, the Jardin or garden is the town square. Drivers find the best parking north of it. People gather there to lunch, have shoes shined or watch others; on cooler evenings bands play in the gazebo and people dance in the plaza. Feeding pigeons is also popular.

Just off the Jardin, Av. Mexico has many shops selling tourist finds. Storefronts around the square offer everything from silver to T-shirts, while several restaurants serve reasonably priced Mexican food and seafood.

The town centre is easy to walk, with sights only a few blocks apart.

Manzanillo's bus system is very simple. Check the window: a bus marked "El Centro" or "Jardin" heads downtown, and these buses always go south. Carry 1 and 2 peso coins for the fare. Services usually arrive every 10 minutes in either direction; otherwise it may be siesta, from 2-4:30 p.m.

Taxis can be inexpensive if you agree the fare BEFORE entering. Most Manzanillo destinations, excluding Vida del Mar and L'Recif Restaurant, should cost 35-50 pesos or less.

Manzanillo is an energetic port with exquisite beaches. Its main attraction is Las Hadas, a resort village of whitewashed cottages blending Moorish, Mexican and Mediterranean styles. A multi-millionaire built it in the '70s, and it was the setting for the film "10." You can pay an all-inclusive day rate or as you go; a taxi is about 10 $.

Colima and Comala are options. Just north of Colima City, picturesque Comala is called Pueblito Blanco, or White Village, for its white buildings, red-tile roofs and vivid bougainvillea. It appears in Juan Rulfo's Pedro Paramo and was named a Pueblo Magico, Magic Town, by Mexico's Tourism Board in 2002.

Other activities near Manzanillo include deep-sea fishing, swimming and surfing.

Manzanillo's mercado sells many consumable items. For the freshest seafood, fruit and vegetables, visit from 8-10 in the morning. Although mainly a local market, tourists enjoy its authentic Mexican flavour and can also buy piñatas, pottery and leather goods. It stands on Av. Francisco I. Madero, behind Club de Leones, one block south of Av. Mexico.

Mexico uses the peso (MXN), marked with the same symbol as US dollars. Tourist-area dollar prices are labelled "US$" or use an S with a double stroke. There are about 17 peso to 1US$.

Across Mexico's far north and its tourist destinations elsewhere, US dollars have wide acceptance.

Credit cards are less widely accepted than in Europe or the USA, and some companies add about 5% to these payments.

Spanish is the primary language. English is widely spoken in United States border cities and at tourist destinations.

In town, several cafes provide customers with free WiFi.

Opening hours: Mon-Sun 1000/1100-2000/2200 in large towns and cities; Mon-Fri 0900-1400/1600 elsewhere.