Colima - Principal Communities

Principal Communities

The city of Colima is capital and after which the state is named. It is located in the north central part of the state, just south of the foothills of the Colima Volcano in the Valley of Colima. The city began as a Spanish settlement which was originally established further south in 1523 but moved to the current location in 1527. The capital remains the state’s economic, political and cultural center.

Villa de Álvarez is part of the city of Colima’s metropolitan area. However, it maintains a distinct identity with its combination bullfighting and charreada events which is one of the oldest of its kind in northwestern Mexico. It is also known for late evening meals called cenadurias with often feature sopes, enchiladas, tostadas, pozole, atole and tamales. The city has its origins from the end of the 18th century, established by someone known only by his last name of Martínez, and called Los Martínez. In 1818, a strong earthquake sent many from nearby San Francisco to the area and it was renamed San Francisco de Almoloyan. It was recognized as a town in 1860, with the name of Villa de Álvarez in honor of the first governor of the state. It was designated a city in 1991.

Manzanillo is the state’s primary port and tourist destination, located on the Pacific coast less than two hour’s drive from the capital. Manzanillo is mostly popular with regional tourists and sports fishermen but there have been efforts to broaden its appeal. The city is one of Mexico’s important Pacific ports, handing regional merchandise and acting as an overflow port for other ports from Mexico to Los Angeles. Most of the state’s recent economic development has been related to this port.

Coquimatlán comes from a Nahuatl phrase meaning “land of networks” referring to the interconnected ravines in the area. It was founded in the very early colonial period and still maintains its narrow streets and old houses with large main doors of wood and balconies with simple ironwork. Tecomán is located in what has been an agricultural valley since the colonial era, today best known for its production of limes. The town is marked by an abstract sculpture depicting a lime tree created by sculptor Sebastián, which measures thirty meters in height and weighs 110 tons. In addition to being the main lime producer, the Tecoman Valley also produces cocoa, cotton, coconuts, mangos, papaya, avocados and melons.