History of Manzanillo
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Manzanillo
The name Manzanillo emerged by the abundant trees from manzanilla that grew in the place. The fruit of these trees was small bittersweet balls of red and yellow colors.The wood of these trees was resistant to the water, flexible and strong; therefore it was one of the main sources of raw material to construct boats during centuries.
For the year 1752 this place was known as "Port of Manzanillas". With the passage of time, after almost all the trees had been cut for year 1821, it was gotten to know as "Port of Manzanillo".
Manzanillo's Ancestors
For centuries this place had been inhabited and bloomed by native indians; according to historians: náhuatl indians, one of the oldest tribes, named this place "Cozcatlan"; that means: "Place of Pearls". This region was also inhabited by an indigenous tribe known as Tlacotla; also known as "Caxitlan".
In 1522, Hernán Cortés and the Spaniards who accompanied him in search of natural wealth in the Pacific, they arrived to this bay; which Hernán Cortés called: "Bay of Good Hope". They disembarked on today known Audiencia Beach; being Gonzalo de Sandovál, one of his sailors, the captain of best confidence of Hernán Cortés was the first spanish who met with the Indian chief in this place.
In 1527 with the Arrival of the Navigator Alvaro Saavedra to this place, naming Audiencia beach as "Port of Santiago of the Good Hope".
Since then this bay was considered a safe and ideal place for boats construction and wharf.
Development of Manzanillo
Manzanillo as city has been growing since the introduction of the Railroad of Colima, Water and Electricity.
In 1908 President Porfirio Diaz inaugurated the Railroad that would give service from the port of Manzanillo to the city of Guadalajara; and he declared Manzanillo as port of official marine entrance.
At the present time, Manzanillo is the greatest Mexican port of the Pacific. By its geographic location, Manzanillo is the entrance of the international commerce from Asia and different parts from the world and due to the increase of this commerce, Manzanillo has been greatly modernized in the last two decades in order to receive the international boats.
Manzanillo has diverse beautiful natural beaches as: Playa de Santiago, Playa la Audiencia, Playa Miramar , Playa Las Brisas, among others. Their warm climate and its friendly and hospitable people invite to spend unforgettable vacations at the border of the sea.
Manzanillo is also known as the Pearl of the Pacific, the world-wide Capital of Sail Fish; this due to the numerous variety of this fish and the annual Sail Fish fishing tournament for professional, amateurs, and tourists.