The Lake Chapala Area

As long as you are visiting us, we’ll tell you a little about the physical environment of this part of Mexico. Lake Chapala is about 25 miles South of Guadalajara, Mexico’s second largest city. We are in the Southern half of the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range, some of which surrounds Guadalajara and Lake Chapala. Nearby, there are many picturesque small colonial towns and villages, some date from the time of the Spanish conquest in the mid-1500’s, and others are prehistoric indigenous settlements. And, of course, Celia and I can show you these. Lake Chapala is Mexico’s largest lake, and on the north side are the principal towns of Chapala and Ajijic (ah-hee-heek). It is estimated that there are about 10,000 full-time expatriate residents here, but during the ‘high season”, September to April, the population will double.

The Climate

The weather at Lakeside and in Guadalajara is considered by National Geographic Magazine as the “Second Best Climate in the World”. (some place in Africa is supposed to have the “best”). This is one of the most attractive things about living here. So, why is this? This area is over 5200 feet above sea level, about as high as Denver, but it is so far South that it never freezes here and the humidity is still relatively low. This semi-tropical area with palm trees is sunny almost every day with an average annual temperature of 75 F. degrees (24 C. degrees). Simply put, we have just two here seasons, Spring-Dry and Spring-Wet. The rainy season is typically between June and October, and most of the rain occurs at night, so it is usually dry by mid-morning. And, we have no violent weather such as tornadoes, violent winds, ice storms, snow, etc. Lake Chapala is surrounded by mountains and the effect of the lake water moderates the temperature. Air conditioning and heating in homes? Most do not have them, and if they do, they are seldom used. Most of the year, you will see the homes and businesses with their windows and doors open, and many people spend their leisure time on flowered patios and garden terraces.

Amenities & Activities

The Lake Chapala area with its lush green mountains that surround it are reason enough to live here, but there is much, much more. One will find a wealth of natural and man-made amenities that are a feast for the eyes. The views of the Lake with a multitude of flowers, flowering trees, exotic plants & birds, fresh air, sunny days, and hiking trails are just a few of the natural ones. There are open-air markets and restaurants of every kind, from cozy and casual to exceptional, depending on what suits your fancy. And Celia and I enjoy sampling them all.

Coming to the Lake area usually begins with a stop in the town of Chapala. There, one will find a spectacular “malecon” or boardwalk that runs along the shore of the lake. There are also “launchas”, or boat operators, who can take visitors to nearby islands and to view the small villages along the shore.

To the west, the village of Ajijic displays its quaint charm with it’s cobblestone streets, red tiled roofs, bouganvilla vines, and it’s exceptional homes, restaurants, etc. Many expatriates call this village and it’s surroundings “home”. This is where the Lake Chapala Society is located. It is a social organization that offers many events to it’s members. It has a large library of books and tapes available in English to its members.

Lakeside expatriates have choices of more than two-dozen social, cultural, civic, and philanthropic organizations. There is an English language newspaper that is published weekly and two English language magazines that are on the stands monthly.
Lakeside has many painters, sculptors, and writers who make their permanent home here. And, as a result, there are many cultural events and galleries that display the local and international art. There are also organizations here for Canadians and French speaking languages. There is a Tri-Plex theater and two live theater groups for your entertainment. Lakeside also has several churches and religious places for most faiths. And it has a nice yacht club, two golf country clubs, spas with natural hot springs, a very nice racket club, and several fitness centers. There are also hiking trails, boating facilities, horseback riding, fishing, a modern water park, tour boats, and much, much, more. We have charities here that benefit the Red Cross and several children’s organizations. And, the US Consulate makes regular visits to Lakeside to assist expatriates with any immigration needs.

And if you want some humidity, you can spend some time on the ocean beaches of Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo which are a 4 hour drive away. Need to go back to the States to see the grandkids? Remember, our international airport is only a 30 minute drive from Lakeside.

The People

Many of our local residents are Americans (retired and not yet retired), Canadians, British, French, and all other European countries, as well as the local Mexicans. Celia and I have many friends here from virtually all over the world. Life in Lakeside is a very harmonious, eclectic society, and for us that makes it a cultural delight.

Nearby Guadalajara

For a more cosmopolitan weekend, Guadalajara is only a few miles away and it has a large selection of big city entertainment. They have the Guadalajara philharmonic orchestra, a professional ballet company, the opera, Folklorico, Mariachis, and numerous touring concerts from the US and all over the world. You will also find many first class shopping malls, 4 & 5 star restaurants & hotels, dining clubs, night-clubs, and bars. The world famous Chivas are but one of four professional soccer teams in the city.

Guadalajara was founded in 1541 and it has a lot of historical sites and structures from the Spanish Conquest that you can enjoy visiting. After all, Guadalajara was 235 years old when the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. Just think about that! And, if you are the Indiana Jones-type like us, there are ancient pre-historical sites for you to explore within the city and on the outskirts.

Next to Guadalajara are the two famous artisan villages of Tlaquipaqui and Tonala where every kind of artistic trade and craft is on display in the artist’s shops.