Posted August 14, 2018 by travelaroundthegalaxy mexico

Colima

Colima is not the most famous or well known of the 32 States that make up Mexico, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worthy of your attention. Here you can find beautiful beaches, dense sub-tropical jungles surrounded by wild – and very much active – volcanoes. It is the 4th smallest state in Mexico, has the lowest population, but boasts one of the highest standards of living, and low unemployment rates. It is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the West and the states of Jalisco and Michoacan to the North and East. Arriving here, you definitely feel as if you have left the beaten track.

We took an overnight bus from Guadalajara, arriving in Colima early in the morning before sunrise. Our friends picked us up and drove us up a long winding road to the viewpoint at La Ermita where we watched the sunrise over the city – with amazing views of the nearby Colima Volcano – before beginning our day of adventure. On our way down the mountain, we got to see a wild tarantula on the side of the road, which was a pleasant surprise.

Visiting Colima was part of our 2-week long adventure through Central and Western Mexico before we departed for our big trip to South America. Our friends live in Manzanillo, a couple hour drive from Colima, and they were excited to share this adventure with us. We visited the Puebla Magico of Comala, spent a few hours floating in inner-tubes along a river, before finally settling down at a campsite in the foothills of the Volcano that we had watched the sunrise over.

Camping on the side of an active volcano was definitely one of the highlights of our short stay here. We got to see a very intense lightning storm just after sunset and woke up to the views of the amazing volcano steaming in the morning. Later that day, after packing up our campsite, we drove to some small villages where we drank freshly roasted coffee grown in the volcanic soil before driving towards the coast, where we would spend a few days in Manzanillo before continuing on to Mexico City.

We hope you enjoy sharing in our adventures!