Introduction

Not your typical resort town, Manzanillo ranks as one of Mexico’s most important west coast ports, largely because of its rail connections to the interior. It is a shipping center for coconuts, bananas, limes, avocados, mangoes and sugarcane from local plantations. It is also Mexico’s main door to the increasingly important Pacific Rim. The downtown area is home to the docks and a seaside promenade.

A gargantuan four-story sailfish dominates Manzanillo’s downtown area, in recognition of the resort’s designation as Sailfish Capital of the World (each November, sport fishermen from around the globe come to compete for the biggest catch). But visitors to the Pacific coast town are today much more likely to zip above the treetops suspended by a pulley or do wheelies along the beach on an all-terrain vehicle than go fishing.

Whether traveling as a family or with friends, as a couple or a single, visitors are increasingly turning to the great outdoors for recreation. While fishing and scuba diving continue to lure travelers seaward, land-based activities are growing in popularity, especially canopy tours and ATV excursions. Ecotourism and adventure travel now top the list of activities at the resort, and a growing number of first-rate outfits offer everything from extreme sports to nature walks. Here, our favorite three options:

Natura Camp

Rigorously ecological, Natura Camp specializes in zipline tours, but its crowning achievement no doubt is that it lets visitors enjoy the great outdoors without guilt. Little has been built here to mar the natural landscape of gently rolling hills, except three wooden platforms that together form one of the longest ziplines in the Western Hemisphere. The longest line measures 480 meters (1,575 feet) and is 80 meters (262 feet) above ground at its highest point. They also offer nature hikes and camping, a meditation dome and sweat lodge. A zipline tour that includes lunch and hotel pick up costs about 50 dollars. Reservations are recommended as park attendance is kept small (fewer than 50 people at a time) to ensure low impact on the terrain.

Rancho Peña Blanca

At Peña Blanca, visitors decked out like outlaws (goggles, helmet, bandana) drive all-terrain vehicles along a dusty trail that wends its way towards the ocean. There you can take the ATV for a spin along the beach or kick off your shoes and dip your feet; swimming is discouraged here because of the strong undertow.

Ventanas Adventures

The newest of the three, Ventanas Adventures is set along a privileged stretch of coast just south of downtown Manzanillo. Take an ATV tour of the surrounding hillsides, and then zipline 315 meters (1,033 feet) from a 30-meter (98-foot) cliff-top, landing on the sandy beach. The package costs 70 dollars, including hotel pick up (at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.). The park also offers motorized water sports, rock climbing, rappelling, mountain biking and other activities.