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Barra de Navidad, which means Christmas Sandbar or The Bar
of Christmas, is a small farming and fishing community of approximately 6,000
people located on the east end of the Bahia de Navidad, 60 km north of the town
of Manzanillo, along the central Pacific coast. Its nautical history dates back to the 1500s when the Spaniards discovered the route to the Philippines
Located in the tropics with coconuts palms, bananas and mangoes, Barra has easy accessibility combined with the least travel time, making it your perfect winter get away. 
This sleepy little town is
popular with those looking for a quiet stretch of beach without the large hotels
and resorts of other larger Mexican cities. What you will find in Barra de
Navidad are colorful local markets, cobblestone streets, small, family owned
stores and thatched beachfront seafood restaurants. The main beach front with its many bars provide a perfect location for stunning sunsets every evening.
The best times to visit Barra are between October and May. You will find perfect 80 degree days and nite time temperatures of around 65. The water temp is between 75 and 85. The humidity is low and there are few bugs, it rarely rains. Winter in Barra is similar to summer time weather in southern California and therefore makes a perfect winter time home that allows you two summers a year!
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The heart of downtown Barra
de Navidad is blocked off for pedestrian only traffic and contains many small
stores, excellent for shopping. A center plaza is a popular gathering place for
locals and tourists. Recreational activities here include fishing and boat
trips,mountain biking, swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling, surfing and boogie
boarding.
A large lagoon separates Barra de Navidad from Isla Navidad, and it is
criss-crossed by small fishing boats gathering scallops and boats that transport
visitors to the luxurious Grand Bay Hotel, complete with a golf course, that is
the only resort of this type in the area.
Originally known as Puerto Xalisco, it was given the
name Barra de Navidad by Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza who arrived on the
25th of December, 1540.
Known to more adventurous travelers for some time, it's now receiving
more people looking for an alternative to places such as Puerto
Vallarta.
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Barra de Navidad has a beautiful golden beach on a small bay it shares with Melaque.
Facing northwest it regularly enjoys spectacular sunsets. The lagoon is
home to a fancy new marina and during the winter it's an anchorage for
many sailboats that love it's calm water. Numerous seafood restaurants
along the water's edge serve the catch of a small fishing fleet that
leaves the lagoon early each morning.
Take a water taxi across the lagoon where you'll find a smaller town
called Colimilla and belongs to the state of Colima. The Isla Navidad
Resort complex surrounds the village
with a 27 hole golf course and the Grand Bay Hotel which is the most
luxurious in the area.
Barra de Navidad offers a full range of hotels from the cheap to the
very expensive with most in the medium price range. Also available are
condos,bungalows and rental houses. Food options run
from traditional fare to fresh seafood and international cuisine. Most
are moderately priced.
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