Snow can be beautiful, that is a fact. The scenes of peaceful cabins with snow-dusted roofs and valleys decorated with white snow can be very picturesque. Those images are just breathtaking, that is if you are planning to go for a ski trip or if you are looking at it on a postcard. Actually living in place that has several months of snow can be very hard. The snow can be very hard on a person’s wallet and on the body. The gas bill increases, and the electrical bills go up. People have to shovel their driveways every morning, and the commute to work can become a little bit trickier. Putting salt on the driveways and sidewalks can get old with time.
Come to Santa Barbara & Suites and Hotel and spend the winter with us. Enjoy one of our two-bedroom, two-bathroom suites. Forget about the cold weather; come to the warm weather of Manzanillo with us. Enjoy of all the activities of our community. Our community is very close and welcoming.
In Santa Barbara Suites & Hotel we have developed a community that visits us year after year. Members of our community stay with us for one, two, or three months. Everybody is welcome to join our community. We have daily activities that help us build a stronger community.
What makes Manzanillo the perfect destination during the winter?
One of the greatest features of Manzanillo is the benevolence of its yearlong weather.
Manzanillo has a cold season which starts on January 22 and lasts until May 4. The average daily high temperature is below 28°C during the cold season. The coldest day of the year is February 25, with an average low of 19°C and high of 27°C. The temperature in Manzanillo is just perfect for staying all day at the beach and for wearing shorts and sandals. During the night, a light jacket or a sweater will suffice.
Manzanillo is very affordable and still holds the charm the old Mexican village. Most people never realize that they can have an extended vacation without stretching their budget to a breaking point. Most people take 2 weeks of vacation a year in the best cases. Santa Barbara Suites & Hotel offers a great Extended Stay Program.
Santa Barbara Suites & Hotel also welcomes you during the summer months. The weather makes Manzanillo a great beach to visit during the summer. Because of Manzanillo’s closeness to the Sierra Madre Mountains, temperatures do not get as hot as they do in some other popular beach destinations along the Pacific coastline. The temperatures reach around 30°C in the summer months. While other destinations can get hotter than 40°C Manzanillo maintains a very pleasant temperature.
The months of June through October are considered the rainy season. In Manzanillo, it may rain about five times a month during this time period. This rain helps to keep the vegetation green, adding to the beauty of the city. When planning a summer outing to the beach, checking the weather forecast for rain is wise.
by Jose Manuel TORRES
Manzanillo has two separate bays that are each more than 5 miles long. It is divided in half at a point that is known as Punta Santiago. The northern bay is known as the Bay of Santiago, or Bahia de Santiago in Spanish. The southern bay is known as the Bay of Manzanillo, or Bahia de Manzanillo.
Santa Barbara Suites & Hotel is conveniently located close to the beaches in the Bay of Manzanillo.
Bay of Santiago
La Boquita is a beach area in the northern end of the Bay of Santiago. It is considered generally safe for families with children. To gain access, visitors much go through Club Santiago. You will find restaurants and beach club facilities here.
Miramar is a beach area good for people who want to ride on boogie boards or surfboards or go windsurfing. Visitors can find this beach area in front of Club Maeva. A market is nearby where you can bargain for trinkets and souvenirs.
Located at the southern end of the Bay of Santiago, visitors can wade through the usually calm waters of Santiago Beach. It comprises one of the oldest tourist spots in Manzanillo. Visitors should be able to find budget-friendly restaurants here.
Audiencia Beach is located at Punta Santiago. If you have seen the movie 10 with Dudley Moore and Bo Derek, this area may look familiar. Visitors can find a large variety of water sports here. Visitors who want an underwater adventure can go snorkeling or diving along the rocks in the side of the bay.
Playa L’Recif is a more exclusive area. Visitors must enter this beach area through Vida del Mar, a private complex. It is not open to the general public. It is a small beach area with a large coral reef area off the shore.
Manzanillo Bay
Of the two bays, Manzanillo Bay is the largest. The best area to swim is the most southern part of the bay.
Playa Las Hadas, a man-made beach, is at the northern end of the bay. Visitors can only access it if they are guests at Las Hadas or hotels with privileges to Las Hadas. For the most part, this beach’s waters are calm. Visitors who want to go further out into the ocean can also go to Las Hadas Marina to charter a yacht.
Visitors who venture to where the Salagua River runs into the sea on the north end of the bay will find Playa del Tesoro. Here, the waves are stronger and more dangerous. Many of the city’s residents frequent this beach to bathe or swim. Visitors may to this beach area may even feel as if they are in an old-world Mexican fishing village while watching the locals fish with nets along the shore.
Many consider Playa Las Brisas to be one of the nicer beach areas in Manzanillo. It is about 2 miles long and is clean and safe. Visitors can find sidewalk cafés here. At the end of this beach is a good area for snorkeling and diving.
San Pedrito Beach is a popular area because it is close to the town center. However, it tends to be crowded.
We recommend the following beach activities:
• horseback riding along the beach
• swimming
• snorkeling
• scuba diving
• fishing (Manzanillo: The Sailfish Capital of the World)
• sailing
• jet skiing
• water skiing
• surfing
by José Manuel TORRES
Spend a fantastic and festive holiday in Mexico. Mexico offers you a very diverse culture. Come and experience it. When the cold weather is approaching, come down to Santa Barbara Suites & Hotel in Manzanillo to experience a different holiday. We recommend the following holidays.
Día de Muertos
November 2nd is Día de Muertos. This is probably one of the most iconic celebrations in the Mexican culture. If you are planning to visit Manzanillo during the Día de Muertos, stop by one of the older and traditional cemeteries. You will be pleasantly surprised. It has been said that this is one of the most colorful celebrations in the Mexican culture. For Manzanillo’s residents, it is a very important religious holiday and for others is an important cultural event. Early morning, the families visit the graves of the long relatives. They clean, paint, restore, and decorate the graves. The decorating consists of wreaths and bouquets of colorful flowers. All the family participates in the cleaning and the decoration of the gravesite. Once they finish decorating, the families usually bring the favorite meal of the deceased relative they are visiting. In some cases, they also bring the favorite music and drink of the deceased. This celebration takes place almost all day long. By dusk, they light hundreds of candles, giving the cemetery a very festive and unique look. The candles are left lit so that the spirits can find their way back. 
One of the most iconic images that you will see during this celebration is “La Catrina,” a skeletal dame with a plumed hat and dress. This iconic illustration is the product of José Guadalupe Posada (1852 – 1913), a Mexican artist and political cartoonist. 
Posadas
The festivities for Christmas are in full swing with the Posadas. In fact, that is a Novenario, or nine days of religious observance, that represents the nine months of pregnancy, specifically the pregnancy of Mary carrying Jesus. The Posadas is a nine-day celebration, yes you read it right. NINE days of parties. Its origins are from Spain, but it is now mainly celebrated in Mexico, Guatemala, and the southwestern part of the United States of America. The Posadas begins December 16 and ends December the 24; the celebration takes place during the evenings.
The word Posada means “lodging,” and it is an re-enactment of the cold and difficult journey of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem. This has been a tradition in Mexico for over 400 years. The roots of this celebration are in Catholicism.
At dusk, the guests gather outside the house that will hold the celebration that night. The children usually dress like shepherds and angels. One angel holding a candle leads the procession followed by guests carrying images of Mary and Joseph. The adults follow the procession carrying candles and singing. The pilgrims sing a song asking for shelter, and the host sings a reply. Finally, the host opens the door to the guest and offers food and beverages.
The party ends with a piñata in the shape of the Christmas star. 
Santa Barbara Suites & Hotel has a great community, come and enjoy with us the Posadas.
by José Manuel TORRES
Mexico is a great destination to spend a wonderful winter. Mexico has something for every type of traveler.
Canada and the Northern United States can experience very harsh winters; Mexico has a very friendly climate and welcomes people from all over the world. Manzanillo is a great place to spend January, February, and March. Make Santa Barbara Suites and Hotel your home away from home. When you decide to spend the winter abroad you need to consider a great number of factors. Santa Barbara Suites and Hotel is an affordable option for your extended lodging. The benefit that you will by staying at Santa Barbara Suites and Hotel is the sense of community. You will be gladly surprised to become a part of this community.
Here are some recommendations for your future travel to Mexico.
Travel documents
Make copies of your passport, credits cards, insurance cards, and id. Leave one copy behind with family or friends. The other copies you can carry them in your bag but never close to the originals. It is a great idea to write down the phone number of your country’s embassy or consulate. If you lose your original documents, you will have copies and will have an easier time getting the assistance you need.
Attire
During the winter months in Manzanillo, the temperature is perfect. During the day, temperatures average about 29 degrees Celsius. At night, temperature average about 20 degrees Celsius. You will enjoy the days in shorts, T-shirts, and flip flops. When you travel to larger cities like Guadalajara or Mexico City, you will want to wear pants and sensible shoes.
Avoid wearing or travelling with expensive jewelry or watches that could make you a possible target for a thief.
Smartphones, iPads, and Other Devices
While you are visiting the city do not walk around with the camera hanging from your neck or with your face buried in your Smartphone or iPad. The best place to have your cell phone is in the pocket of your pants or in your purse. Do not use a backpack. Flashing your iPad can get you mugged.
The wireless data in Mexico could be very expensive. There are several Internet cafés in the area. In Santa Barbara Suites and Hotel, there is a plan by 2014 to install a wi-fi network for your comfort.
We recommend buying a telephone card to call home.
Cash, Debit Cards, and Credit Cards
Call your bank and credit card companies before you leave. Let them know that you will be traveling to Mexico; otherwise, you may face some inconveniences when you try to use your card. Consider asking your bank and credit card company if you can set daily spending or withdrawals limits as well as a request that they contact you via telephone about suspicious charges.
Most of the developed countries run on plastic, but Mexico runs on cash. This means that use of cash in Mexico is very common, not all of the places accept debit and credit cards. It is wise to carry some cash for the times when you cannot use a debit or credit card. There are some local small restaurants that do not accept debit and credit cards. Most of the big retail stores will accept your cards.
by José Manuel TORRES
Planning a trip to Central Mexico?
Manzanillo’s unique location makes it the ideal location for a short trip to Central Mexico. Think about Santa Barbara Suites & Hotel as a great location so that you can build your “headquarters.” You can make day trips to charming and picturesque places.
With a two-and-a-half hour drive from Manzanillo, you can experience a complete change of scenery. If you want scenic diversity while you are in Manzanillo, the national park known as El Nevado de Colima is the place to go.
You can gain a glimpse of Mexico’s biodiversity. This trip is worth every single minute that you invest. This national park will take your breath away. Within the national park, there are two volcanoes. With an elevation of 4,339 meters, El Nevado de Colima, from which the national park gets its name, is the 26th most prominent peak in North America. Fortunately, hikers can trek up the sides of the volcano because it is inactive. Nine kilometers away lies the active neighbor El Volcán de Colima, also known as Volcán de Fuego. With an elevation of 3825 meter over the sea level this volcano still has fumaroles.
These volcanoes are surrounded by ravines and forests of pine, oak, and fir trees. You will be able to see hawks, pumas, armadillos, deer, and various reptiles living in the woods.
Within the park, you can practice ecotourism, hiking, mountaineering, and camping. The climate is colder within the national park. Be prepared by packing warmer clothing, snacks, water, and appropriate walking shoes.
In Santa Barbara Suites and Hotel, we can help you with the organization of the tour. All of our guests enjoy a sense of community and adventure. These excursions and their sense of community is what differentiate Santa Barbara Suites and Hotel from the rest of the hotels in Manzanillo.
If you are more interested in architecture and culture, the city of Colima is another great option. Just one hour away from Manzanillo, Colima is the capital of the state. The city is laid back but not boring. Its four public plazas display magnificent subtropical gardens. The architecture is just exquisite. Colima is also known as “The City of Palm Trees.”
The the name of the park, Parque de la Piedra Lisa, comes from the main attraction, a volcanic stone called La Piedra Lisa. The park was built around this stone which has the form of a slide, and there is a legend that says that you’ll have to come back to Colima once you slide from there. The park also has a science museum and recreational areas.
Museo Regional de Historia de Colima
This museum is housed in an 18th-century manor. There are 14 exhibit halls that tell the history of Mexico from the Pre-Hispanic era to the formation of Colima's state and capital.
Other Places of Interest to Visit
Palacio de Gobierno
Jardín La libertad
Catedral de Colima
Universidad de Colima
Teatro Hidalgo
If you want to learn more what to do in Manzanillo, download the following document.
by
José Manuel TORRES