The Best Manzanillo Travel Guide – Manzanillo is a Mexican Riviera resort town with wide, curving beaches, legendary sport fishing, and a highly regarded diversity of dive sites. Golf is also an attraction here. One reason for its popularity could be Manzanillo’s tropical geography with vast groves of tall palms, abundant mango trees, and successive coves graced with smooth sand beaches. To the north, mountains blanketed with palms rise alongside the shoreline. And Manzanillo has perfect weather, with balmy temperatures and year-round sea breezes.
Manzanillo is both Mexico’s busiest commercial seaport and a tranquil town of multicolor houses flowing down the hillsides to meet the central commercial area of simple seafood restaurants, shell shops, and salsa clubs. The activity in Manzanillo is divided into two zones: the downtown commercial port and the luxury Santiago Peninsula resort zone to the north. A visit to the town’s waterfront zócalo provides a glimpse into local life. The exclusive Santiago Peninsula, home to the resorts and golf course, separates Manzanillo’s two golden-sand bays.
Manzanillo is one of Mexico’s safest destinations. Law enforcement is around and there to help if you need it. Standard precautions apply about watching your possessions, and it’s best to avoid walking around the port at night. Area beaches are a mixed lot; La Boquita and Miramar are regarded as safe for swimming, but others less so. To learn more about all the beautiful beaches of the Mexican Riviera, visit here, or visit us on Pinterest. Now view our Manzanillo Travel Guide to help plan your next Mexican Riviera vacation!
Manzanillo Weather – When to Visit
The best time to visit Manzanillo would be a time when you can completely soak in the experience. The weather of Manzanillo is the most enjoyable with the best of activities during June thru December. This is their peak season. The temperatures range between 48℉ and 91℉ making it the perfect time to head out and check out the best things to do in Manzanillo.
Best Manzanillo Beaches
Playa Los Muertos
Playa Los Muertos is the most popular, the best known and the most visited beach in Puerto Vallarta. This beach is very popular among families, the locals, and visitors from the neighbor cities and states. Enjoy the local culture here. It’s a great place to drink a beer by the edge of the sea and watch the beautiful sunset.
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Playa Las Gemelas
Las Gemelas Beach is a pair of small beaches south of the Puerto Vallarta’s main square. It offers blue-green waves and clear, soft sand, and is a wonderful place to get away from all the most popular beaches of Puerto Vallarta. The north beach is easily accessible, but the south beach is protected by a stretch of rocks you’d need to climb over or swim along the coast.
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Camarones Beach
Camarones Beach (a blue flag beach) is of the cleanest beaches in Puerto Vallarta. It is a wide beach that extends from Villa Premiere to the northern edge of the Malecon. This is an excellent sunbathing beach, where you can also enjoy the food and drinks from one of the many bars and restaurants along this beach. Activities incluse parasailing, jet skiing, SUP, or just relaxing on the shore.
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Playa Conchas Chinas
Conchas Chinas Beach is one of the most fascinating beaches in downtown Puerto Vallarta. There is a great variety of birds and reptiles, and in the natural pools that form along the edge of the sea, you can see all kinds of fish, mollusks, crustaceans, and other marine animals. It is the perfect place to spend time with your family, relaxing in the warm waters and walking on the rocks.
Las Glorias Beach
Just north of downtown, is Playa Las Glorias, one of the most popular beaches in Puerto Vallarta. There are plenty of water sports, volleyball tournaments and boat rentals. This beach covers a broad stretch of sand from Playa Pelicanos to Marina Vallarta.
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Best Manzanillo Restaurants
El Marinero $11 – 30
This restaurant’s superb ocean front location makes it an ideal place to enjoy the essence of Manzanillo, long beaches, sun, and some great sea food dishes. While the menu does not offer endless options, it certainly makes a smart and well thought out choice of local and Spanish-inspired cuisine such as fish, meat, and chicken fillet dishes, mariscos paella, cream corn soups and cannelloni. El Marinero is a perfect location to enjoy an elegant-yet relaxed-meal in Manzanillo. Telephone: 52-314-333-1103 Web: El Marinero.
Toscana Ristorante $11 – 30
Toscana serves some of the best fine dining cuisine in Manzanillo. It offers a perfect romantic setting with breathtaking ocean front views, candle lit tables and live music. The Italian-inspired cuisine includes classics like green pepper steak, artichoke salad, and Italian pasta dishes, but also grilled lobsters and other fresh seafood. A popular place among expats that are looking for a sophisticated menu in a unique location. Telephone: 52-314-333-2515 Web: Toscana Ristorante.
Mariscos Carlos $ 11 – 30
If you are looking for the real delicious mariscos cuisine, Mariscos Carlos in downtown Manzanillo is the place to go. Offering a variety of local sea food dishes like fresh camarones (shrimps) tacos, tostadas, pescado zarandeado (fresh grilled fish), and pulpo a la Mantequilla (octopus cooked in butter), it is widely considered to be one of the top places to try local cuisine. The restaurant has ample space to accommodate big groups and is overall good value for money. Telephone: 52-314-336-5458 Web: Mariscos Carlos.
Paraiso Restaurant $ 11 – 30
Paraiso Restaurant has picturesque views of the gorgeous bay of Las Hadas, making it an ideal place to enjoy Manzanillo’s natural beauty and high end charms. Its stunning high patio is decorated with colourful tables and chairs, set under a grand thatched roof. Paraiso restaurant offers popular Mexican classics (including fresh fish dishes) and a variety of international dishes like pizzas, pastas, burgers, salads and fantastic margaritas. A small piece of paradise in Manzanillo. Telephone: 52-314-334-1515 Web: Paraiso Restaurant.
Bistro Marina $ 31 – 60
In the marina near luxurious Las Hadas hotel, Bistro Marina is an elegant spot to wine and dine in style. This classy French inspired bistro offers refined menu options like lobster bisque, chateaubriand, chicken breast with a balsamic glaze and apples, as well as a good selection of wines and fresh cocktails. The ambience has an air of exclusivity with the tables set right in front of the yachts in the elegant marina of the bay of Manzanillo. A rooftop balcony is also available from where you can enjoy more dramatic views. Telephone: 52-314-336-5006 Web: Bistro Marina.
Best Manzanillo Nightlife
Bar de Felix
Bar de Félix is a large bar with crimson faux-velvet settees; a dance floor for Latin tunes, Spanish rock, some American oldies, and electronica; and a giant-screen TV. Telephone: 52-314-333-9277 Web: Bar de Felix.
Colima Bay Café
People of all ages enjoy a night out at the lively Colima Bay Café, with its whimsical style, jazzy background music, and variety of seating options—including pigskin barstools. Call ahead to ask what’s on the schedule for the evening; some nights get pretty rowdy here. Telephone: 52-314-333-6187 Web: Colima Bay Café.
Vog Disco/Vog Bar
Vog Disco invites its guest to dance all night to the throbbing beats in its lively disco. This disco opens its doors at 10 p.m. and the music continues into the night until 3 a.m. As it nears midnight, grab an ice cold drink from the bar and get ready to enjoy the exciting light show. Vog Disco is one of the nicest night clubs in town and is frequented by a younger crowd ready to let loose. Right next door is Vog Bar which satisfies with its great selection at the bar and numerous pool tables. Telephone: 52-314-333-1875 Web: Vog Disco.
Bare Club & Music Hall
Visitors are encouraged to come comfortable, enjoy ice cold cocktails and dance until they can’t dance anymore. Telephone: 52-222-192-6236 Web: Bare Club & Music Hall.
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Yes — Manzanillo is a wonderful first stop along the Mexican Riviera. It’s easy to reach, very safe, and gives you a true mix of everything: golden beaches, great dining, friendly locals, and that relaxed coastal charm. From there, you can easily continue north toward Puerto Vallarta or Mazatlán to experience even more of Mexico’s beautiful Pacific coast.
I’ve always heard Manzanillo was one of Mexico’s hidden gems, but I didn’t realize how much there is to do beyond the beaches! The seafood restaurants sound amazing. Do you think it’s a good destination for first-time travelers to the Mexican Riviera, or would somewhere like Puerto Vallarta be easier to start with?
That’s such a great question! Manzanillo is actually perfect for first-time travelers who want a more authentic, relaxed experience. It’s quieter than Puerto Vallarta, but it has everything you need — beautiful beaches, great restaurants, and friendly locals. Plus, it’s one of Mexico’s safest coastal towns, which makes it an easy place to explore at your own pace. Puerto Vallarta is livelier, but Manzanillo feels more genuine — a wonderful place to really slow down and enjoy the Riviera lifestyle.
Wow, Manzanillo sounds like such a hidden gem! I love that it has both a busy port vibe and a more luxurious resort side—it seems like you get the best of both worlds in one trip. The beaches like La Boquita and Miramar sound perfect for swimming, but I’m also intrigued by the nightlife scene you mentioned. Would you say Manzanillo is better for a relaxed beach holiday or for people who want a mix of adventure and nightlife?
Great question! Manzanillo really does offer a balance between relaxation and fun. If you want quiet days on safe swimming beaches like La Boquita, it’s easy to enjoy that slower pace. At the same time, the nightlife—especially at spots like Vog Disco or Colima Bay Café—keeps things lively after dark. I think it’s ideal for travelers who want a bit of both: sun-filled beach days and evenings with good food, music, and atmosphere. Do you usually prefer your beach getaways to be more laid-back, or do you like having nightlife options nearby?