Manzanillo, Colima

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Dead fighters of the 1926-1929 uprising known as the "Cristero War", in Manzanillo

Manzanillo is a city as well as its surrounding municipality in the Mexican state of Colima. The city, located on the Pacific Ocean, contains Mexico's busiest port. In the 2005 census the city of Manzanillo had a population of 110,728 and its municipality had 137,842. It is the second-largest community in the state, after Colima, the capital. The municipality covers an area of 1,578.4 km² (609.42 sq mi), and includes such outlying communities as El Colomo, in addition to many smaller communities. Manzanillo is also a beach resort and, as the self-proclaimed "sailfish capital" of the world^{[citation needed]}, hosts a yearly sailfish fishing tournament. The Revillagigedo Islands, off the west coast of Mexico in the Pacific Ocean, are part of the municipality.

In 2004 the port of Manzanillo surpassed Veracruz as Mexico's largest port per volume of cargo.^{[citation needed]} Port business experienced a significant surge during the USA's West Coast Lockout in Long Beach, California, in 2002. Manzanillo also hosts the most efficient port for tuna landings in Mexico. The city is also well known internationally for deep-sea fishing and the green flash phenomenon during sunsets.

Manzanillo is a sister city of Flagstaff, Arizona, San Pablo, California, and Saint Paul, Minnesota.

[edit] Airport

The Playa de Oro International Airport (ZLO) is a small airport located about 35 minutes north of Manzanillo along Highway 200. Ground transportation is limited to taxis and car rentals. It has daily flights from the US and has recently been remodeled.