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Voykit pocket guide · Mexico
Colima
Give Colima 2 nights as a colonial base, then move to Comala or the coast: the city itself is a half-day of sights, not a beach.
Colima is the small capital of Mexico's fourth-smallest state, founded in 1523 and one of the oldest cities in the country. It is a working university town, not a resort: a compact colonial centre, two good museums, a volcanic-rock slide, and two volcanoes on the skyline. Most travellers use it as a base for Comala, the Pacific beaches at Manzanillo and Boca de Pascuales, and the archaeological sites at El Chanal and La Campana. Two nights covers the city; three to four lets you add the coast or the volcano foothills.
- Country
- Mexico
- Best months
- Nov–May (dry season)
- Avoid
- Jun–Oct (heavy rain, hurricane season)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- MXN
- Money
- Currency is the Mexican peso (MXN, $). Cards work in hotels, chains and many restaurants; markets, street food, small shops and colectivos are cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget M$500–900 excl. bed · Mid M$900–1,800 excl. bed · High M$1,800+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Telcel has the widest coverage; AT&T and Movistar are cheaper in cities. SIMs sell at OXXO shops and phone stores; registration with an ID may be requested — check.
- Emergency
- All emergencies 911 · Tourist assistance 078
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 127 V · 60 Hz · US plugs fit; many older sockets have no earth pin.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10–15%; check the bill for an included 'servicio'.; Bars: MXN 10–20 per drink or 10%.; Petrol station attendants: MXN 10–20; more for windscreen and tyres.; Guides and drivers: 10% or MXN 200–400 a day.; Supermarket baggers (often older volunteers): MXN 5–10.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; garrafón (20-litre jugs) and filtered water in hotels.
- Toilets
- Put paper in the bin, not the toilet, in most places; public toilets charge MXN 5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee or atole | M$30–60 |
| Taco or sope | M$20–40 |
| Sit-down lunch (comida corrida) | M$120–200 |
| Beer: draught in a bar / can at a shop | M$50–80 / M$20–35 |
| Museum entry (Pinacoteca, Artes Populares) | M$2 |
| City taxi ride | M$50–80 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | M$200–400 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CLQ · Colima Airport
- About 15 km (9.3 mi) north of the centre; taxi to downtown is the practical option, roughly US$20.About 9.3 mi (15 km) north of the centre; taxi to downtown is the practical option, roughly US$20.
- GDL · Guadalajara International
- More flights; bus from Guadalajara to Colima takes about 3 h.
Typical fares
- Airport taxi CLQ → centro
- about US$20
- Taxi centro → Comala
- M$100–150
- Bus Colima → Guadalajara
- about US$25, 3 h
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The centre is walkable; taxis and ride-hailing cover the rest. City buses run but there is no published route map, so ask the driver before boarding. Regional buses leave from Terminal Nuevo Horizonte; first-class and executive buses use Central de Autobuses Colima.
See and do
Known for
- Jardín Libertad and the colonial centre
- Piedra Lisa slide
- Regional History Museum and Pinacoteca
- Volcán de Colima and Nevado de Colima
- Comala and the coffee highlands
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Comala | Taxi or local bus from Colima, about 15 min | About 30 min |
| Manzanillo | Bus or car on Highway 200, about 1.5–2 h | About 2 h |
| Boca de Pascuales | Car or taxi via Tecomán, about 1 h 15 min | About 1.5 h |
| Tecomán | Bus or car south on Highway 200, about 45 min | About 1 h |
Sleep
- Centro (around Jardín Libertad)
- Walk to the cathedral, museums and Andador Constitución; best for a short stay without a car.
- Jardines Vista Hermosa III
- Modern north-side strip with cafés and brunch spots; needs a taxi or car to reach the centre.
- Villa de Álvarez
- Adjacent town, cheaper rooms, close to the La Petatera bullring; 10–15 min by taxi to Colima centro.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Disculpedees-KOOL-peh |
| Thank you | GraciasGRAH-see-as |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?KWAN-toh KWES-tah |
| Can I pay by card? | ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?PWEH-doh pah-GAR kon tar-HET-ah |
| Where is the toilet? | ¿Dónde está el baño?DON-deh es-TAH el BAH-nyoh |
| The bill, please | La cuenta, por favorlah KWEN-tah por fah-VOR |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; a kiss on the right cheek among friends; avoid: Skipping 'buenos días' when entering a shop
- Punctuality: Be on time for tours and buses; avoid: Expecting social events to start on time
- Talking: Warm small talk, family, food, football; avoid: Jokes about cartels, the wall or migration
- Churches: Covered shoulders, quiet; avoid: Photos during mass
- Dining: Say 'provecho' to other diners when leaving; avoid: Rushing the waiter
Scams and watch-outs
- June–October is the rainy and hurricane season; heavy rain can close roads.
- Taxis may quote higher fares to visitors: agree the price or use a metered app before you get in.
- Local buses from the Central de los Rojos terminal are basic and not recommended for tourists; use a taxi for the 10–15 min ride to Comala.
- Some park playground equipment is in poor repair: check before letting children use it.
Colima is a small, calm university city by day, but the state has had cartel-related violence and the US government advises increased caution in parts of Colima state: stay in the centre and Villa de Álvarez after dark, avoid empty roads at night, and check your government's current advisory before booking.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Colima yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Jardín Libertad and the colonial centre
- Piedra Lisa slide
- Regional History Museum and Pinacoteca
- Volcán de Colima and Nevado de Colima
- Comala and the coffee highlands
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Colima, revision 5256915 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5256915
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Colima
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No US consulate in Colima; the nearest is the US Consulate General in Guadalajara. Most other countries: embassies in Mexico City.
Tipping: 10–15% in restaurants; M$20–50 for porters and guides' helpers.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/colima). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.