Boating, The Manzanillo and the Costa Alegre Route in the Mexican Pacific

This segment of the Mexican pacific coast has various tourist developments which can be reached by air, land or sea and the main port is the city of Manzanillo, Colima. We will start our review with this place, and we will later mention the most characteristic places of the so called Costa Alegre (Happy coast).

Manzanillo

At this Mexican coast, in the state of Colima, sailing enthusiasts will find “Las Hadas - Golf Resort and Marina,” which is one of the most exclusive beach clubs of the region.

Its Arabian-style architecture and ample spaces, as well as its magnificent golf course, make of Las Hadas a high-end resort. With 43 luxury suites with a terrace, 14 of them including a private pool, and 10 professional tennis courts, it has been the scene of important tournaments. The marina has a capacity for 70 yachts, providing full services such as electricity, hydraulic infrastructure, satellite TV, telephone line, and Internet, amongst others. Additionally, it provides cleaning services, and has controlled access to the area, offering visitors a greater security.

The 18-hole golf course of this beautiful resort was designed by the renowned architects Roy and Pete Dye. An interesting feature of this golf course is that within its grounds meanders the Salahua River which makes of every shot a challenge and a memorable experience.

On the other hand, shopping in Manzanillo offers the visitor a wide variety of jewelry, crafts and apparel. The most well-known stores are located at the Shopping Centers of Plaza Pacífico, Plaza Manzanillo and Plaza Gaviotas .

Costa Alegre

Costa Alegre is the name given to a series of beaches, capes and bays located in the Pacific, off the coast of Jalisco, between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo, Colima. The most important bays and beaches are: Cape Corrientes, Costa Majahuas, Chamela Bay, Costa Careyes, Tenacatita Bay and Navidad Bay. The following will outline some of the bays and beaches you should not miss!

Tenacatita

Located in the state of Jalisco, this is one of the most beautiful bays of the so called Costalegre. Its 6.5 kms comprises the beaches of Boca de Iguanas, Tenacatita and La Manzanilla. Its sand is thin, with blue-green waters and regular waves, making this place suitable for sport fishing, diving, snorkeling and all types of aquatic sports. If you travel by land, the bay is located 45 minutes away from the Manzanillo airport. The Blue Bay Village “Los Angeles Locos”, is the only hotel available in this area, however, it offers an all inclusive plan with all kinds of amenities for the whole family. It has more than 200 rooms, all with a wonderful ocean view, and four restaurants, including “El Arrecife”, which offers an excellent cuisine in order to enjoy a very pleasant dinner.

The Careyes Coast

Converted into a luxury housing development, with several bays of white sand and small islands, the Careyes Coast has recently been promoted as a VIP destination as well as a place to live and an exclusive place where you can enjoy either watching or participating in Polo championships held on grass. The Careyes Coast is an area out of the reach from the average tourist, which makes this bay a very exclusive and private place to stay.

Navidad Bay

South of Costa Alegre is the town of Barra de Navidad. Navidad Island which is in front of the bay, is a tourist resort that hosts the Grand Bay Isla Navidad Hotel, which has recently been chosen by the Travel Channel as the Number One Hotel in Mexico. This place has a readily available marina where you can tie up your boat, a 24 hole golf course, that has won the Gold Medal granted by the “Golf Magazine,” and combines the impressive view of its greens with its interior sweet water lagoons and its beach. You can also practice aquatic sports such as snorkeling, sailing, and windsurfing, among others.

Other beaches of this bay are Melaque, Cuastecomates and Tamarindo. At Melaque fishing is a great attraction having a variety of fish such as the marlin, sail fish, golden, yellow fin tuna, Wahoo and others. Fishing tours usually start at six o´clock in the morning, to return at three o´clock in the afternoon. Cuastecomates is a small community in the secluded bay, about two kilometers west of Melaque. It is a calm place to swim, practice snorkeling or simply rest being surrounded by nature. Here, the four-star 60 room hotel “Portico del Mar”, offers an “all inclusive” lodging.

As you have seen, the Manzanillo and the Costa Alegre Route, provides the visitor a variety of places to visit, from the most developed tourist centers like the Port of Manzanillo, to the beaches and most exclusive developments like Careyes Coast. We invite you to visit this region of the Mexican Pacific, and let yourself be taken away by nature and the great hospitality of its people…We guarantee you will enjoy the most pleasant stay!



Article produced by the Editorial Team of "Explorando Mexico".
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Photo: IslaNavidad.com