Hafen
Manzanillo

Board an 80 foot, double decker catamaran and sail across Manzanillo Bay, passing the popular hotel zone as you enjoy soft drinks, fresh fruit and light pastries. Upon arrival at the snorkel site, your crew will issue you with equipment, as well as provide instruction for beginners.

You'll break into smaller groups and with your guide, enter the warm waters in search of exotic marine life and secluded coves. You´ll have a full 90 minutes of swim and snorkel time. The upper deck of the catamaran is perfect for sunbathing and shaded areas are available on the main deck. Enjoy full domestic bar service, as you sail back to the pier.

Spend the day in the beautiful region of Colima. You’ll have some free time in the capital city of Colima, visit the ruins at La Campana and enjoy a delicious lunch in the charming village of Comala.

After a drive along the scenic coast, you’ll make a short stop at a colorful roadside coconut stand and then travel inland to Colima. Upon arrival, you’ll see the beautiful 19th-century cathedral and the Museum of Colima. Enjoy some free time to shop and take photos here.

Board your transportation for the drive to the ruins at La Campana. The low, pyramid-like structures feature shaft tombs, ceramics, storm drain systems, streets, and an administrative and religious center with numerous monuments. Enjoy a delicious lunch of local favorites in the charming village of Comala.

Traveling through the countryside on your way to Cuyutlan, you'll pass coconut and banana plantations, as well as lush and colorful bougainvillea and hibiscus plants. Upon arrival, chances are the first thing you will notice is the fine, black sand beach.

You’ll visit the Salt Museum, housed in a century-old salt storage barn made from hand-hewn boards from palm trees, the museum is a testament to the town's history. Among the displays, is an exhibit that illustrates how salt is mined.

Continue on to the Tortugario Ecological Center, where you'll learn how Mexico's largest turtle sanctuary is helping these endangered species thrive. After your tour, relax with a drink and a delicious local snack before returning to your ship.

OVERVIEW

Enjoy enlightening tours and tastings at a family-owned rum factory and at a chocolate factory located by an 18th-century hacienda. A maestro ronero or rum master will show you how the premium rums are produced with sugar cane, one of the main ingredients. It is a fascinating process especially when explained by the maestro, who is truly an artist in every aspect of the distillation. A sampling of premium rums will add another dimension to your understanding of how the production methods affect the taste. Similarly, you will learn about chocolate-making at a factory that uses a rare species of indigenous cocoa that is prized for its flavor. As you will discover through a tasting, the resulting chocolate is aromatic and not the least bit bitter like lower-quality chocolates. A tour of historical Hacienda de Chiapa – the former home of Mexico’s first female state governor – will enhance your understanding of rural life.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Follow a rum master through a distillery and see the process of making premium rums.
• Sample a selection of rums whose tastes reflect the sugar cane used to make them.
• See how chocolate is produced from a rare species of cocoa known for its distinct flavor.
• Tour an 18th-century hacienda, followed by a delightful restaurant light snack 2 Guacamole tostadas and 3 crispy potato tacos.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Escape to one of the area’s most beautiful resorts, the all-inclusive Karmina Palace is just a 30 minute drive from the pier. Upon arrival at the resort, your guide will give you a tour of the amenities and you’ll be free to select a spot to settle in, either poolside or on the beach. The resort boasts 4 pools and plenty of lounge chairs for everyone.

Beverage service is offered in all areas of the property and when you´re feeling hungry, there are two restaurants to choose from. One with full buffet meal service and another for American style snacks and treats. Your guide will be on hand at all times to assist with anything that you may require. After 4 hours of fun and relaxation, your guide will meet you in the lobby for your return to the ship.

OVERVIEW

Explore the flourishing agricultural area north of Manzanilla and see how a huge variety of orchids and tropical fruits are grown. Not long after leaving town, you will pause for photos at an elevated vantage point that will offer panoramic views of the countryside that hint at the fertile lands that lie ahead. In the nearby rural community La Central, you will visit Vive Plants, a branch of a company that has become Mexico’s largest producer of orchids. You will see how the exotic flowers are grown by the thousands in filtered light. The flowers are used in colorful bouquets and even lacquered to create orchid jewelry. The focus will turn to fruit in Rancho Peña Blanca, where you will be offered samples of products that will likely include Seasonal fruits (Mangoes, Bananas, Papaya, Guanabanas, Coconut, pineapples, star fruits, etc). To enhance the experience, a group of folkloric dancers will perform.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See how Mexico’s largest producer of orchids grows the flowers in huge quantities.
• Discover the ways that the orchids are used and even encapsulated in jewelry.
• Taste a selection of locally and seasonal grown fruits.
• Take in the spectacular scenery from an elevated inland lookout point.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Discover the magical charms of Nogueras and Comala, noted for their natural beauty, cultural riches, and historical relevance. You’ll first visit the small, picturesque 16th century town of Nogueras with its narrow streets and charming buildings. To learn its history, stroll to La Hacienda de Nogueras, a museum filled with impressive archaeological, historical and architectural displays.

A brief stop will be made at the optical illusion called the Magic Zone en route to the enchanting town of Comala. After strolling the cobblestone streets and admiring the white buildings that symbolize this colonial town, enjoy a lovely lunch at a sidewalk café in the central plaza followed by a tour and a tasting at a local coffee factory.

OVERVIEW

Discover the charms of Barra de Navidad, a mellow fishing village built on a sandbar between a crescent-shaped bay and an inland lagoon. To reach the village, you will travel through the Selva de Melaque nature preserve, a protected woodlands that eventually transitions into an agricultural area with abundant banana plantations. In the mid-16th century, the Spaniards built and repaired their galleons along the coast of Barra de Navidad or Sandbar of Christmas, the name they gave it to honor the day they arrived. While strolling the village’s winding cobblestone streets, you will pass a number of inviting shops and pause at a Catholic church where a miracle supposedly occurred that re-routed a potentially devastating hurricane. A boat ride in a covered but open-air water taxi will present another view of Barra de Navidad and the adjoining lagoon. Light snack light snack 2 Guacamole tostadas and 3 crispy potatoes tacos at a resort restaurant will round out this laid-back coastal experience.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy the carefree ambiance of the coastal village Barra de Navidad.
• Gain a historical perspective of the village on an enlightening guided tour.
• Admire the natural beauty as you ride along the coast in a water taxi.
• Dine on a light lunch prepared with locally sourced ingredients.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

See the highlights of Manzanillo in the air conditioned comfort of your coach and enjoy some refreshments at a local beach restaurant. Your knowledgeable guide will keep you well informed along the way and answer any questions that you may have. You´ll pass by the world class cargo port, the largest in Mexico, then set off to the very upscale residential community of La Punta.

You´ll stop for photos above the spectacular Las Hadas Yacht Club that offers stunning views of the entire region. From there, you’ll continue on to one of area´s largest beach-front restaurant for refreshments and Mexican snacks. The trip back to the pier takes only 20 minutes and an optional downtown drop-off will be offered for those who wish to explore further and return to the ship on their own.

OVERVIEW

Get a remarkably complete overview of Manzanilla through landmarks and lookouts that present the best of the city. From the Libramiento de Tapeixtles viewpoint, you will enjoy a panoramic view of the inner harbor. There will be plenty to see as Manzanilla is Mexico’s largest cargo port by volume. The Solidaridad viewpoint will offer a different coastal perspective that takes in Manzanilla’s twin bays. For a glimpse into daily life, you will drive along the Boulevard Costero Miguel de la Madrid, which runs parallel to the sea, and stop to browse the bustling beachfront Miramar Market. More spectacular views await you on the Peninsula de Santiago. While passing the resort Las Hadas by Brisas, film buffs may recognize it as a primary setting for the movie “10,” starring Bo Derek. The focus will turn to wildlife once you arrive in Manzanilla’s lagoons, where birds such as kingfishers and chachalacas are commonly spotted.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Gaze out over Manzanilla and its massive cargo port from atop several scenic lookouts.
• Drop by a bustling market along the beach for a look at daily life.
• Settle in for a scenic drive along the coast and onto a peninsula that juts into the sea.
• Admire the natural beauty in a nearby lagoon where seabirds congregate.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Delve into the natural beauty of Manzanillo on a scenic drive into the countryside and on a boat ride through an ecologically protected, mangrove-lined lagoon. Along the way, you will quick stop at a coconut plantation that follows sustainable practices that protect the environment. It makes for an excellent introduction to the cruise through the sheltered waters of the Palo Verde lagoon. Indigenous flora and fauna flourish in this pristine setting, especially birds as more than 130 species have been spotted there. The guide will point out and describe the most prominent ones, but you can easily identify others using the provided pamphlet on birds. Some of them may be nesting, which allows you a close-up view. One of the highlights will be cruising through a tunnel of mangrove trees on the way to El Paraiso black-sand beach. Light Snack light snack 2 Guacamole tostadas and 3 crispy potatoes tacos follows at a waterfront restaurant, after which you may browse the village Armería.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise through a placid lagoon lined with mangroves that protect the environment.
• Look for wildlife, especially indigenous and migratory birds.
• Pass through a tunnel of mangrove trees on the way to a black-sand beach.
• Dine on traditional Mexican cuisine at a beachfront restaurant.
• Spend a bit of free time browsing the inland village Armería.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Discover some of the ways that locals earn a living by visiting their work places, beginning with the salt flats at Cuyutlán lagoon. Salt has long been extracted from the lagoon and it is still produced through traditional techniques and with tools such as a gata – a triangular wooden harrow with large nails that break up the salty surface crust. You will be welcome to use a gata while learning how the salt is processed. Clay bricks are another product that are made through an age-old process, which you will watch at a factory in Armería. The clay is mixed with other ingredients, molded, baked and then slowly cooled to prevent cracking. At a nearby farm, you will see how the land is cultivated to grow a variety of fruits. A tasting of freshly picked fruits will reveal their attributes. These experiences will give you plenty to reflect upon over lunch at a beachfront restaurant.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit a lagoon to see how salt is extracted from the water using ancient tools and methods.
• Drop by a clay brick factory to watch how these building materials are made from scratch.
• Sample a selection of succulent fruits at a farm that grows them.
• Enjoy a light snack 2 Guacamole tostadas and 3 crispy potatoes tacos at a restaurant overlooking the beach.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.