Welcome to Ajijic and Lake Chapala Retirement Area

We want to congratulate you for looking into Mexico's largest North American retirement community. As pioneers in real estate (1st one lakeside) and the publishing business, we have introduced many to our local idyllic scene. We feel this is what we do best, showing you what graceful and carefree retirement is all about. Let us share with you our excitement and knowledge on the lake area. Be among the many that have already begun a new and enjoyable life.

Lake Chapala, the Area Known as “Lakeside”

This area is known as “Lakeside” to residents from the U.S., Canada, Great Britain and Europe, among other places, and “la ribera” to Mexicans.  Due partly to the eclectic mixture, it has developed a continental Old World charm which blends smoothly with a distinctly Mexican ambiance.

Cobblestone streets, tile-roofed homes, riotously colorful gardens blooming year around, and incredible open-air markets and restaurants are common sights, backdropped by lush green mountains surrounding the lake. The hills are laced with flowering trees and plants, and accented by waterfalls, caves, petroglyphs, indigenous sacred sites, and a variety of hiking trails and places to explore.

Over 10,000 retirees call lakeside their home, call us, we can show you around!  

Ajijic Real Estate information - Chapala Real Estate information

Lakeside Little Theatre introduces ART:

We are pleased to take a first step to Lakeside Little Theatre’s re-opening with the introduction of Ajijic Readers Theatre (ART) at LLT. Our first show is Women in Jeopardy, with September dates as below. COVID-19 precautions will be in place for rehearsals and performances.

Operating as part of LLT’s Playhouse, and alongside our MainStage events, ART will expand our offerings to our patrons, and enable more opportunities for actors, directors, and support staff.

While COVID-19 restrictions are in place, we will provide a safe environment by rehearsing and staging on the open-air Angel Terrace with seating for approximately 40 individuals while maintaining a minimum of six feet social distancing.

Continue Reading Lakeside Living...

MORE ARTICLES

• THE FATHER OF MEXICO
  Herbert W. Piekow tells the how the Roman Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla began the Mexican Revolution for independence from Spain by ringing his parish church bells at 2:30 AM on September 16th to call his parishioners, not to Mass, but to revolt against tyranny and bad government and what lead him to do it in: “The Father of Mexico.”

• HOW TO CELEBRATE A BIRTHDAY DURING A PANDEMIC
  COVID-19 has put many obstacles in our path, and Tom gives us his experience in his unique sense of humor.

• BEYOND THE FOREST GATE
  Lorin Swinehart shares his walk with his faithful companion beyond the forest gate, as he describes his spiritual experience in the healing company of nature.

• SAVING THE WILD ORCHIDS
  She described the dire straights of the wild orchids, and their need for protection, mostly from our own actions.

• NEVER FALL FOR A HERO
  Sue Schools describes a humorous tale of the downside of loving a hero.

• A PERFECT MATCH
  Margie Keane humors us by a special kind of “Perfect Match”

• THE FUN SIDE OF THE WALL
  A Book Review of written by Blue. “The Fun Side of the Wall” by Travis Scott Luther, about Baby-Boomers retiring to Mexico.

• ACTS OF KINDNESS
  Karl Homann share more about his recent travel experiences in the Ukraine.

• WORD SALAD
  A lover of words and their origins, Sally has presented a few educational words about the origins of the words surrounding the world of COVID, while also sharing some fun.

• RACHEL MCMILLEN—A LIFE OF SEA CHANGES
  Kiera writes about Rachel's “Life in Three Acts.” Highlighting her birth in Britain, her youth in Australia, and her education.  Read about her life of travel, love, and her journey, which led her to become the author of an award-winning mystery series as well as an incredibly accomplished and giving human being.

20 Reasons Not to Retire to Lake Chapala

By John Comando

For a variety of reasons more and more Americans and Canadians are contemplating moving abroad for retirement. For many, Mexico ranks high on their list of places to explore. You may fit that category – here snowbirding and checking out the Lake Chapala area. However, there are many back in the states who would never think of taking even the first step.

For starters, they must believe what they read and hear in the U.S. media. Why would anyone want to retire in Mexico anyway…especially the area around Lake Chapala. That’s OK with us. You see, the Lake Chapala region is our little secret. We expats here today like it that way. If too many Gringos and Canadians come down here, they might spoil it for the rest of us.

Luckily, most retirees north of the border would rather stay where they are and worry about whether they’ll remain healthy enough to see their grandchildren graduate college…or whether they’ll have enough money saved to live out their years short of poverty…or how long they’ll be able to maintain that middle-class life style they’ve become accustomed to.

So, to make them feel better, I’ve compiled a list of the top 20 reasons NOT to retire to Lake Chapala (in no particular order):

Continue reading...

More articles:

• Writers at Lakeside
• Chapala Railway Station to Become Museum
  
• THE TIANGUIS: A Mesoamerican Legacy
• The Battle Of Mezcala Island
• A Brief History Of Ajijic
• 15 Activities to Enjoy in Lake Chapala
• I Live In Ajijic
• The History of Lakeside
• Flora and Fauna in Lake Chapala
• Climate And Weather in the Chapala Area
• Archaeological sites near Chapala

Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico

"The Place Where the Water Springs Forth"

Ajijic is situated on a narrow strip of land between the mountains to the north and the Lake to the South. It is flanked by San Antonio Tlayacapan to the east and San Juan Cosala to the west. It is seven kilometers west of Chapala. Its average annual temperature is 19.9 degrees Centigrade "68F".

In 1522, the Spanish Olid Expedition reached the eastern shores of what is today called Lake Chapala. When it arrived, its leader, Captain Avalos, met with little resistance. A royal grant from the king of Spain gave joint ownership of the area to Avalos, who was a cousin of Hernan Cortez. Soon other cousins arrived, and one of them by the name of Saenz acquired almost all of the land that is now Ajijic.

By 1530, the Saenz property was one huge hacienda. The principal crop was mezcal, which was used in the making of tequila. The hills were covered with mezcal plants. Coffee and corn were also planted. Later, when a tequila distillery was built, the beverage was shipped, along with the coffee, back to Spain.

More about Ajijic: Location, Meaning, History, Flora, Fauna, Art, Festivities....

HOMES FOR SALE IN AJIJIC

"Grasshoppers Over the Water" - Nahuatl "Very Wet Place" - Coca "Place Where the Pots Abound"- Nahuatl

Chapala is located on the north shore of Lake Chapala, 26 km. (16 mi.) east of the Lake's western end, and 42 km. (25 mi.) south of Guadalajara. It is the oldest, most populated, and the most easterly of a string of villages - Chapala, San Antonio Tlayacapan, Ajijic, San Juan Cosala and Jocopetec - known locally as Lakeside.

Its altitude is 1530 meters (5020 feet). Its average temperature is 19.9 degrees C (68 degrees F).

Founded in 1538, the town probably took its name from Chapalac, one of its earliest Indian chiefs. Or perhaps it came from the Mexican "Chapatla," the "place where pots abound," referring to the primitive Indian practice of appeasing the gods by throwing pots, spotted with blood from earlobes, into Lake Chapala.

More about Chapala: Location, Meaning, History, Flora, Fauna, Art, Festivities....

HOMES FOR SALE IN CHAPALA