Colima's 87 miles of coastline is a tourist mecca with a yearly average of 350 days of sunshine. Facilities for sportfishing and unlimited quiet beaches attract large numbers of Mexican and foreign tourists.
Three-quarters of the state is mountainous. Located where the Sierra Madre joins the Southern Sierra Madre, Colima contains four major mountain systems. Sharing the same latitude as Hawaii, the state of Colima has some of the best weather in Mexico. From November through April the daily temperature ranges from 75-82 degrees Fahrenheit, while nights cool off to a comfortable 63-75 degrees. In May, the climate starts to change--becoming more humid, and building up to the beginning of rainy season in June. After the first rain, which is celebrated among the locals, the hills turn from drab brown to the vibrant greens of a tropical rain forest.
Rainy season, however, doesn't mean it rains all day, every day. Usually it rains every three or four days, when the humidity finally builds up enough to create a soft rain shower in the late afternoon or evening, cooling everything off, and washing the dust off the tropical foliage. After more than 6 months without rain, the forest seems to come alive overnight. Most tourists are unaware of the advantages of visiting Manzanillo in the summer, and miss the spectacular tropical rain forests, the deserted beaches and lower prices, but for those who live here year-round, it's a favorite time to enjoy Colima to the fullest.
At higher altitudes, there is more rain, and cooler breezes. Residents who live in the hills surrounding Manzanillo enjoy cooler temperatures, and stronger breezes. Those who live on the beach generally have a sea breeze in the afternoon. Overall, Manzanillo has cooler temperatures than Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, Ixtapa or Acapulco. Its close proximity to the Sierra Madres, and its two bays provide better wind currents to keep the area cool and fresh.
Hurricane season is generally
