Los colores de La Manzanilla, Mexico

Posted by Lynn on March 22, 2017 in Advice + Tips, Beaches, Bookstores, Coast, Ex-pat living, Featured, Food, La Manzanilla, Landscaapes, Local Color, Markets, Mexico | 53 comments

La Manzanilla, Mexico is a sleepy little fishing village and laid back beach town, so what is there to tie a nomad like me down for 6 whole months? Turns out plenty!

First, there’s never a shortage of local color, especially for a photographer …

Endless walks on the 6km stretch of sandy beach enthrall, delight, and soothe the soul day after day after day. Some weekends and holidays are filled with frolicking swimmers and sandcastle-building kids…

…while many times you’ll have the edge of the sea virtually all to yourself!

Ever-changing sunsets greet you each evening…

…including plenty of seats with a view.

And as for activities, where do I start? Perched on the edge of the ocean, La Manzanilla offers fishing, swimming, snorkeling, paddle boarding, boating, beach walking, whale and dolphin watching…

…while on land land look for hiking, yoga, dancing, gallery hopping, theater, and cooking classes!

Don’t forget to check out the crocodile and birding eco-tours.

Or just kick back and read a good book – there are plenty to pick up at the used bookstore, which is also a community charity. Funds go to help several local causes, including student scholarships.

And speaking of community fundraisers, there are lots to get involved in. “A Night Under the Stars” includes music, dance performances and a silent auction, and there are also art and spoken-word events, which benefit such causes as local children’s art programs, health care, animal spaying and neutering, and much, much more.

Festival days add to the color and joy in La Manzanilla (and there are LOTS of fiestas!), including Day of the Dead, Las Posadas, and Semana Santa…

There are lots of sights in La Manzanilla, but also lots of sounds – barking dogs, crowing roosters, chirping crickets, chortling chachalacas, calls of “Hola!” and “Buenos dias!,” the soft rush of waves on the shore, and mariachi bands, as well as nighttime jams…

La Manzanilla is loaded with artists, writers and musicians – you can attend a painting or mosaic workshop, join a writer’s group, or make music with local bands!

Market days are colorful and lively – head to the jardin on Fridays if you want ceramics, rugs, jewelry, fresh veggies, or clothes, or just to stop and chat with your fellow La Manzanillans.

And speaking of local color, check out the flora and fauna – a profusion of flowers blooms everywhere…

…and unusual critters creep, crawl, fly, or swim out to greet you – tarantulas, scorpions, stingrays, jellyfish, turtles, crocodiles, iguanas, pelicans, and cotamundis, among others.

Looking to get around, other than on foot? Options include buses, bicycles, boats, taxis, trucks, scooters, golf carts, and ATV’s. You never know who you might see out driving…

Where should you stay in La Manzanilla? There are big houses with views of the sea for rent, as well as more humble abodes, many with palapa roofs. And the town also sports a few small hotels.

Or what about camping on the beach?!

If you’re wondering about what to eat, in La Manzanilla you’ll find everything from delicious Mexican street food to seafood straight from the sea, plus Italian, American, and even fusion cuisine. And plenty of coconuts!

Or pick up some tortillas and just cook at home.

What’s the climate like in La Manzanilla? And I don’t mean those perfect, cloud-free blue sky days, I mean the political climate. I’ve found that local Mexicans here are most gracious hosts to us invading gringos, and everyone has been friendly and kind. They are patient with my halting attempts at beginner’s Spanish, and generous with their smiles. And sometimes we all come together, young and old, from here as well as several other countries, to support a good cause…

La Manzanilla has taken me in, embraced me, and stolen a piece of my heart. For the many new friends that I’ve made, the beautiful scenery, cultural experiences, and the start of learning a new language, I’m so very grateful for my time here in Mexico.

PS – If you’re looking for a hidden paradise to escape to, you may have just found it in La Manzanilla. But ssshhhhh, don’t tell too many people, por favor!!