Manzanillo Gateway
The Colima & Michoacán zone starts at Manzanillo–Playa de Oro Airport (ZLO), about 40 km from Manzanillo center. This is the logistics page for the arrival: where to sleep, where to eat, who drives, how Highway 200 runs south, and where to find a surf shop.
Getting There
Manzanillo–Playa de Oro International Airport (ZLO), about 40 km northwest of Manzanillo center, is the one real gateway for the Colima & Michoacán zone. The zone page lists nonstops from Alaska (Los Angeles), United (Houston), American (Dallas–Fort Worth, plus Phoenix from November to April), WestJet (Calgary, October to April) and Aeroméxico (Mexico City, year-round). Winter carries the most flights, and summer usually routes through Mexico City or Guadalajara instead (all reported on the zone page).
No visa is needed for tourism on a US or EU passport. You fill in a paper Forma Migratoria Múltiple (FMM) handed out in flight or at a counter before the immigration line, the officer sets the number of days (180 is the ceiling) and staples the exit half into your passport, and you hand that half back when you fly out. The MXN 983 fee is built into your airline ticket, so there is nothing to pay at the airport (reported on the Mexico entry page). Rules depend on your passport, so check the official source before you book. The full list is in Getting Into Mexico.
Getting Out of the Airport
- By road from Guadalajara: about 197 km of mostly toll autopista to Manzanillo, 3.5 to 4.5 hours, roughly 24 USD in tolls (reported).
- The coast road south: Highway 200 runs the whole corridor from Manzanillo to Lázaro Cárdenas. It is fully paved, and the zone page says to budget a full daylight day with stops (reported).
- Daylight only: the zone page's one hard rule is no night driving, because of road hazards and because reported incidents skew to nighttime. Checkpoints along Highway 200 are routine, so keep your documents ready (reported).
- Advisories: the zone page reports that the US State Department lists both Colima and Michoacán at Level 4, Do Not Travel. Read its Good to Know section before you plan the drive (reported).
- Money and medical: pesos in cash for nearly everything south of Manzanillo, and full hospitals only in Manzanillo, Tecomán and Lázaro Cárdenas (reported).
Other Gateways for This Zone
- Manzanillo (ZLO): the zone's one real gateway (this page).
- Colima City (CLQ): thin domestic service, occasionally useful for the Tecomán side of the zone (reported on the zone page).
- Zihuatanejo (ZIH): the southern approach, flying in and driving or taking a bus north through Lázaro Cárdenas (reported on the zone page). See the Zihuatanejo Gateway.
- Guadalajara: a drive-down route of 3.5 to 4.5 hours from the north (reported).
For the full route notes, see the Colima & Michoacán Getting There section.
Stays
Manzanillo and Santiago
- Hotel ParotasManzanillo Hotel with a solid rating from nearly 500 reviews. About 11 km from central Manzanillo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.2 from about 500 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Hostal Olas AltasManzanillo Hostel with a high rating from over 200 reviews. About 9 km from central Manzanillo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.5 from about 230 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Hotel Royal PacificoSantiago, Manzanillo Hotel with a top rating from just over 100 reviews. About 7 km from central Manzanillo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from about 100 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Hotelito EscondidoSalagua, Manzanillo Hotel with a high rating from over 800 reviews. About 3 km from central Manzanillo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.3 from about 840 reviews. Google Maps listing
The zone page says the Manzanillo hospital, pharmacies and supplies are here, so this is the stocking-up stop before the coast road south (reported).
Near the Airport (Barra de Navidad)
- Hotel Barra de NavidadBarra de Navidad Hotel with a solid rating from nearly 1,300 reviews. About 15 km from Manzanillo Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.2 from about 1,300 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Hotel Del MarBarra de Navidad Hotel with a top rating from over 200 reviews. About 15 km from Manzanillo Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from about 200 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Hotel Villa AzulBarra de Navidad Hotel with a top rating from nearly 170 reviews. About 14 km from Manzanillo Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from about 170 reviews. Google Maps listing
Barra de Navidad is in Jalisco, up the coast from the airport and the opposite way from the Colima and Michoacán corridor, so use it only for a night before an early flight.
Where to Eat
Manzanillo Seafood
- Mariscos CarlosManzanillo Seafood restaurant with a top rating from over 3,000 reviews. About 5 km from central Manzanillo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from about 3,000 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Mariscos La HuertaManzanillo Seafood restaurant with a solid rating from nearly 2,500 reviews. About 4 km from central Manzanillo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.3 from about 2,400 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Pacifica Ocean GrillManzanillo Seafood restaurant with a top rating from over 1,200 reviews. About 3 km from central Manzanillo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from about 1,300 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Mariscos El CapiManzanillo Seafood restaurant with a high rating from nearly 1,600 reviews. About 5 km from central Manzanillo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.4 from about 1,600 reviews. Google Maps listing
Bakeries
- Maison AmélieManzanillo Pastry shop with a top rating from under 100 reviews. About 3 km from central Manzanillo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from 76 reviews. Google Maps listing
- ValleManzanillo Bakery with a solid rating from over 100 reviews. About 5 km from central Manzanillo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.3 from about 120 reviews. Google Maps listing
Transport Companies
Tours and Transfers
- Tlaloc Tours ManzanilloManzanillo Local tour and transfer company with a high rating from under 50 reviews. About 9 km from central Manzanillo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.4 from 48 reviews. Google Maps listing
- DanitoursManzanillo Local travel agency and tours with a high rating from under 30 reviews. About 11 km from central Manzanillo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.5 from 25 reviews. Google Maps listing
Confirm the airport price and pickup point before you book. No shared airport shuttle is named on the zone page.
Car Rental
- America Car Rental ManzanilloManzanillo Local car rental with a top rating from over 900 reviews. About 4 km from central Manzanillo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.9 from about 900 reviews. Google Maps listing
- My Car Your CarManzanillo Local car rental with a top rating from just under 100 reviews. About 7 km from central Manzanillo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.9 from 91 reviews. Google Maps listing
- MCL Renta de AutosManzanillo Local car rental with a high rating from over 50 reviews. About 7 km from central Manzanillo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from 53 reviews. Google Maps listing
International rental brands are left out. Mexican liability auto insurance is mandatory for drivers, and the zone page says to drive in daylight only (reported).
Board & Luggage Storage
Every luggage-storage listing we found in Manzanillo belongs to a network, which we leave out. Ask your hotel first.
Surf Shops and Board Repair
- X3M BoardshopManzanillo Surf and board shop with a top rating, though from under 20 reviews. About 6 km from central Manzanillo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from 17 reviews. Google Maps listing
We found no board-repair business in Manzanillo that we could place with confidence, so sort out repairs before you travel.
Getting Out to the Zones
Colima & Michoacán: see Getting There. Plan a full daylight day for Manzanillo to Lázaro Cárdenas on Highway 200 and carry pesos in small bills (reported).
Questions People Actually Ask.
Which airport do I fly into for Colima and Michoacán?
Manzanillo–Playa de Oro (ZLO), about 40 km northwest of Manzanillo center, is the zone's one real gateway (reported on the zone page).
Do I need a visa for Mexico?
Not for tourism on a US or EU passport. You complete a paper FMM, and the MXN 983 fee is built into your airline ticket. Check the official source for your passport (reported on the Mexico entry page).
Is it safe to drive the coast road?
The zone page reports a US State Department Level 4 advisory for Colima and Michoacán, and also that the coast road is a working daily route. Its one hard rule is daylight driving only (reported).
Can I rent a car at Manzanillo?
Yes, there are local rental companies in Manzanillo. Mexican liability auto insurance is mandatory for drivers (reported on the zone page).
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