Tourists and locals evacuated from Pascuales area

Mar de Fondo in Colima

Tecoman, Col.- The Municipal Civil Protection Unit and GERIEM, evacuated tourists and locals after the phenomenon "Mar de Fondo" caused strong waves and severe damage to infrastructure, so that a shelter was set up in a multipurpose building in the colony Ladislao Moreno.

The head of the UMP and GERIEM, said Luis Salazar Saborio they made rounds very early Saturday morning alerting locals to be prepared to leave the area in case of an increase in the tide, in the afternoon it began to grow with waves up to 8 meters high, causing severe damages to both booths, restaurants and some hotels.

In coordination with the DIF Municipal Community Development Center Cedeco  in colony Ladislao Moreno was enabled a shelter, with beds, mattresses, blankets, kitchen and medical services to care for evacuees, being so far 14 people that took shelter in that temporary shelter.

They have counted 14 booths with severe damage, a restaurant with major damage, at least four drawn vehicles and two main roads that were affected by flooding from high surf and others collapsed to be undermined sand, without any human losses The operation will continue until conditions have passed and does not represent a risk for the return of residents.

Peor que Jova -- Worse than Jova

Pawa Tube Fest

The first “Pawa Tube Fest Invitational 2013” will be held at Pascuales, Mexico. Waiting period will be from July 30th to August 11th. To increase your chances of getting fully barreled. Event’s call will be 8 days in advance depending on swell charts. Chances are event will run in 3 consecutive days so you don’t have to be here the whole period.

The contest is unique to most surf competitions; it runs only in perfect barreling conditions, requires a long holding period, and invites the most talented and skilled barrel riders in the world to compete. It is Mexico’s first tube invitational format event, and includes only 30 surfers.

Pawa Tube Fest Invitational 2013

Pawasurf - Facebook

Surf Trip to Pascuales

These guys were on a surf trip down highway 200 through the Costalegre into Michoacan. Pascuales is one of their stops - and although the surf does not look great, they are just in time for a local festival. Nicely done video and sure feels like Mexico

Pascuales Colima Mexico

Trip report - Manzanillo Colima November 2002

Trip report from Manzanillo November 2002

I've been to the Melaque/Barra Navidad area before but have wanted to visit Manzanillo and the beaches in the area. The interesting information found on the Go Manzanillo web site and Rolly Brook's Rolly Brook - Manzanillo were my reason for seeing for myself.

Full Report of the 2002 Trip



Manzanillo Waterfront


I bused into the main bus station from Guadalajara and walked 20+ blocks to the central waterfront where most of the downtown hotels were. One block from the water is the Colonial Hotel, a classic from 1940's, very well kept, nice restaurant and only 200 pesos ($20us) a night for a single. The new waterfront development is mostly completed, is very well done and a stark contrast to the rest of downtown - but then contrast is what Mexico is all about. The multi-colored houses in the downtown area climb the steep hills that surround - with stairs and walkways winding between.


There is no beach in the downtown area so I grabbed a taxi to Santiago which is a complete little Mexican town on the northern edge of Manzanillo. My taxi driver pointed me to the perfect little motel in the center of town (off the main road) called Ma (Maria) Christina (210 pesos). Santiago is great for walking either back into town by the Plaza del Toros (Bull Ring), the walking bridge that crosses the river - or to the beach which is only two blocks from the Plaza. The beach there is called Olas Altas (big waves) but I found it to be a fun beach with fisherman, surfers, families and lots of walkers. (March 2006 - Just stayed at Ma Christina and prices are $250mx single and $390 for two people).



Santiago Sunset


After about three days in Santiago I wanted to see more of the area so I rented a car from National Rentals for two days and drove north to the Manzanillo airport and south to Tecoman and the beaches south. National Rentals is between Sorianna and Commerical Mexicana shopping centers and close to Susan Dearings dive shop on the Santiago Peninsula. The Internet Cafe in the Commerical Mexicana is also the best I found.


I took the highway 200 (libre-no tolls) to Tecoman to see the countryside, small towns, coconut and banana plantations and passed the "brick yard" where they make them. About 2/3 of the way to Tecoman is the turnoff to Cuyutlan, a little beach town that looks to be waiting for weekend and holiday tourists and was nearly deserted. Cuyutlan has a number of hotels from what I'd call 3 stars to very cheap, black sand beaches, large waves and the turtle sanctuary.



Cuyutlan Beach


The Cuyutlan turtle sanctuary is definitely worth a visit and is south of town along the beach road (look for the sign at edge of town). When you arrive go up to the restaurant and buy your admission ticket (15pesos). There are tiled and covered "pools" with turtles of all ages, salt water and fresh water turtles - and a Caiman or two. If an older guy comes up to you acting as a guide and then offers a boat ride into the Laguna - don't be put off, he's a great guy and is authorized by the sanctuary. The boat ride is 40 pesos for a single or 50 for a boat load and well worth it - but have your Autan (repellant) ready, mosquitoes can be fierce. You will see, red and white mangroves, huge termite nests that like the soft wood of the white mangrove, lots of birds, beautiful scenery and possibly a caiman mother on her nest.



Turtle Pools


Back to Highway 200 and on south to Tecoman, a clean and busy working class town. Trying to find the beach roads can be tricky so I just wandered through downtown streets until I found a busy one heading west. After 3-4 miles I came out in El Real Tecuanillo on the beach. "El Real" is mostly beach palapas and a number of them have mini-waterparks. If you continue north on the beach road (partially washed out by hurricane) you end up in Boca de Pasquales - the surfing beach. Boca is much smaller, again black sand and very quiet. I got my first and only surfing pictures here.



Boca de Pascuales Surf


On the return to Manzanillo I took the toll road (quota) after a full days trip, returned the car to the rental agency and spent 3 more days relaxing in Santiago before heading to Melaque. Next trip I will include tours (guided) into the Colima and Comala areas and a scuba/snorkeling trip. Manzanillo is a great area if you are traveling independently or staying at an all inclusive hotel.


Address of Hotel Maria Cristina

Hotel Maria Cristina
28 de agosto No.36 Colonia Santiago Manzanillo
Colima C.P. 28860
telefonos (314) 333-09-66
333-07-67
333-23-70