Manzanillo and the Las Hadas Peninsula

Manzanillo and its Las Hadas Peninsula lie about 98 km southwest of Colima City, roughly a 1.5-hour trip by car along Highway 110/54D or by first-class ETN or Primera Plus bus service departing from the Central Camionera in Colima City. The Santiago Peninsula on Manzanillo's western side is home to the Las Hadas resort, a whitewashed, Moorish-domed complex built in the 1970s that gained international attention as a filming location for the movie '10'; its grounds and adjoining Playa Las Hadas remain open to day visitors for a beach fee at some access points. A day trip typically starts with a morning on Playa Las Hadas or the neighboring Playa Audiencia, both known for calmer, more sheltered water than Manzanillo's open bay beaches, followed by an afternoon walking the peninsula's marina area, where sportfishing boats return with sailfish and marlin catches; Manzanillo bills itself as the sailfish capital of the world and hosts an annual international fishing tournament. Lunch is best taken at one of the seafood restaurants along the peninsula or the Manzanillo malecon, where camarones a la diabla, ceviche, and fresh red snapper are staples. Visitors with more time can extend the day with a walk along the malecon in downtown Manzanillo or a stop at the naval history museum near the port. The bus or car trip back to Colima City takes another 1.5 hours, so a mid-afternoon departure from Manzanillo keeps the return comfortable before evening traffic builds. November through April brings drier weather and calmer seas, making it the more reliable window for beach time, though the peninsula is a viable day trip throughout the year.