MANZANILLO TODAY

From Comox BC to Guayabitos

Featuring Darlene & Bill Jones from Comox, British Columbia

We live in Mexico 4 to 5 months of the year. We started going south to escape the cold prairie winters. A couple of years ago we decided to invest in the property market in Mexico and we built Bungalows Casa Ana. We purchased a lot close to the beach, and the adventure building in Mexico and living through the construction process is something we will always remember. We chose the resort town of Rincon de Guayabitos in the state of Nayarit for its’ wonderful beaches, small town feel, lack of crowds and its proximity to Puerto Vallarta. We feel we chose wisely as property values along the entire Nayarit coast have appreciated significantly during the past few years. In fact, we are delighted because during our first year in business we were full for the entire tourist season!

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November 5th, 2008 | Tags: canadians, guayabitos, manzanillo, mexico | Category: Expats, Featured Articles, International, Living in Mexico, National |  Print This Post |  Email This Post

MIAMI (AP) — A tropcal depression is just below tropical storm strength as it swirls in the Pacific off the coast of Mexico.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami says the depression’s maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph early Friday.

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October 24th, 2008 | Tags: hurricane, manzanillo, october, Weather | Category: Weather |  Print This Post |  Email This Post

The Mexican airline Mexicana is having a fall sale for travel from the U.S. from now through December 15, as long as you buy tickets by October 30. The minimum stay is three days, and tickets are non-refundable. Roundtrip fares start as low as $200 roundtrip from Dallas/Ft. Worth to Mexico City. Other examples of roundtrip sale fares include: Denver-Cancun, $236; Chicago-Acapulco, $448; Los Angeles-Ixtapa, $390; New York-Cozumel, $475; and San Jose-Cancun, $259. Government taxes and fees of about $110 are extra. As part of the airline’s “More Mexico” promotion, you can also find a number of hotels offering a third night free through its web site.

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October 20th, 2008 | Tags: flight, mexicana, mexico, october, tour, travel | Category: Travel and Tourism |  Print This Post |  Email This Post

Today’s business world and world economies have increased their relations between economies and markets throughout all countries in the world. What occurs in China is felt in the New York Stock Exchange, and what occurs in the Middle East is also seen on the economic indicators of Europe. So naturally one would think, being that USA and Mexico are next door neighbours, the financial market and housing market conditions from the north should be reflected in Mexico’s markets.

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October 7th, 2008 | Tags: Economy, mexico, Real Estate | Category: Economy, Expats, Featured Articles, Living in Mexico, National, Real Estate |  Print This Post |  Email This Post

Getting There

By Air – You can fly to Manzanillo from the United States and and other points in Mexico including Mazatlan and Mexico City. Connect to the Mexperience Travel Center for Airlines in Mexico.

By Bus – You can travel to Manzanillo on a luxury bus from Mexico City – but note that the trip will take around 20 hours. These buses are also available from Guadalajara, which is a more sensible road journey taking just over 4 hours. Flying is the most sensible way to get to Manzanillo, unless you are on a budget, and don’t mind the wait (and want to see the sights along the way!). Connect to the Mexperience Travel Center for National Buses.

By Car – The road journey to Manzanillo from inland Mexico (e.g. Guadalajara, Mexico City, Chihuahua, et al) is mountainous in places, but not as challenging as the road to Puerto Vallarta (assuming you go over the mountains, not along Highway 200). Expect it to take longer that you may anticipate; especially if you have not driven the route before. Traveling out of Manzanillo by road north on Highway 200 will take you to Costalegre and Puerto Vallarta; the road south leads to Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo. See additional information on Mexperience about Driving in Mexico and Mexico’s Toll Roads.

Getting Around

From the Airport – The airport resides about 25 miles away from Manzanillo on the north side, and there is plenty of ground transportation to get you into the ‘hotel zones’. Your return trip to the airport may be booked with your hotel in advance.

Taxis – Manzanillo’s Taxis are not metered, so agree your price before you get in. Hotels and taxis post taxi rates on a board, and depending on how far you’re going to travel (defined by zones), the price will vary. If you speak Spanish, you will have a distinct advantage and be able to negotiate a better price! Another good reason to Learn Spanish.

Rent a Car – If you’re planning to stay in or around your resort, with infrequent trips into town, or sightseeing by local tours only, then you won’t need a rental car and it’s recommended that you give one a miss if those are your plans. If you do have specific tours in mind that you want to undertake independently, for example, exploring the coastal road and towns along the Costalegre, then renting a car will work out less expensive and more convenient than paying for a taxi. You may want to rent a car from your hotel/resort, if you only plan to explore one or two days.

http://www.mexperience.com/guide/beaches/manzanillo.htm

September 19th, 2008 | Tags: manzanillo, transportation, travel | Category: International, Local, Travel and Tourism |  Print This Post |  Email This Post

MEXICO’S MANY ARCHAEOLOGICAL treasures, its architectural wealth, and its diverse population provide physical clues to a past that has given rise to stories of migration, settlement, conquest, and nation-building. The cultural heritage of the Aztec, the Maya, and other advanced civilizations, seen in the ruins of their temples and in their artifacts, bears witness to the achievements of the early inhabitants of Mesoamerica (see Glossary). Following a pattern that spans the pre-Columbian era to modern times, new civilizations have been built on the ruins of the old. In this ongoing process of cultural superimposition, many elements of the past have endured, despite occasional efforts to root out traditional practices and native identities. A major change came with the Spanish conquest. The conquest caused a traumatic break in the ebb and flow of native kingdoms and led to a single, albeit stratified, society that was neither wholly native nor European, but mestizo.

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September 10th, 2008 | Tags: archeology, history, mexico | Category: Culture, Historical Events, National, Society |  Print This Post |  Email This Post

The Ministry of Exterior Relations through the Consulate General of Mexico in Los Angeles, the Ministry of Communications and Transports, and the Federal Mexican General Coordination of Ports and Merchant Marines in coordination with the Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach invites you to participate in the “Second Conference of the Mexican Pacific Ports and the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach”

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September 10th, 2008 | Tags: api, colima, International, manzanillo, Port | Category: International, Port |  Print This Post |  Email This Post

The first humans in the Americas were descendants of northeast Asian nomads who took part in a series of migrations across the Bering Strait perhaps as early as 30,000 B.C. Archaeological evidence testifies to the presence of early hunters and gatherers in Mexico around 10,000 to 8000 B.C. During the next few thousand years, humans domesticated indigenous plants, such as corn, squash, and beans. With a constant food supply assured, people became permanent settlers. Leisure time became available and was used for developing technical and cultural skills. Villages appeared as the number of people and food supplies increased. By 1500 B.C., the early inhabitants were producing handmade clay figurines and sophisticated clayware.

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September 9th, 2008 | Tags: history, mexico | Category: Culture, Historical Events, National, Society |  Print This Post |  Email This Post

Throughout its long history of human habitation, the Valley of Mexico drew people from Mesoamerica who were attracted by its abundant sources of water, easy communication, and plentiful game and vegetation. The valley was a corridor through which many migrating groups passed and sometimes settled. During the pre-Columbian era, the valley was in constant turmoil except when central authority and political hegemony existed.

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September 8th, 2008 | Tags: aztec, history, library of congress, mexican history, mexico | Category: Culture, Historical Events, National, Society |  Print This Post |  Email This Post