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

Lake Chapala Duplicate Bridge Club 

The Bridge Club recently ran a charity game in honor of Don Ross, who was a long-time Lake Chapala bridge player. Don passed away from complications of dengue fever, and his baritone voice and infectious laugh will be missed by us all. His wife, Janet, asked that we have a charity game for our local Red Cross. We raised 10,750 pesos which was critically needed to help our community. 

Below is a photo of Bridge Club President Louise Morel, Vice President Donnie Van Rooy, and Member at Large John Betz, presenting the check to Sub Administrator Victor Javier Benitez Puebla. A staff of Red Cross paramedics were also on hand and we applaud them for their dedication and selflessness. They often are the dividing line between life and death. They have saved countless lives but can only do it with the support of people like the members of the Chapala Bridge Club. Yoly Martinez, president of the Chapala Red Cross, expressed appreciation and thanks to all of us for our involvement and commitment to the community. 

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MORE ARTICLES

• TRANQUILITY IN THE PINES, TERROR IN THE BIRCH

  Carol Bowman shares the tranquility of growing up at her childhood Christmas tree farm, and how a discovery one morning the in her story entitled “Tranquility in the Pines, Terror in the Birch.”

• THE HEALING POWER OF WILDERNESS

  Dr. Lorin Swinehart shares his experiences in “The Healing Power of the Wilderness.” He describes how his connection with nature helps to heal his spirit, and empowers his soul.

• BEHIND THE GATE

  Christina Bennett has fun with her character Anne attempting to see “Beyond the Gate.” Anne has an unending curiosity about the wife of her neighbor across her street.

• FINDING YOUR ROOTS: The Life of pi and i

  “Finding Your Roots: The Life of Pi and I”  Humorist Neil McKinnon walks us through a mathematical maze.

• DICK SUTTON (UNJUST JUSTICE)

  Bob Drynan shares the story of “Dick Sutton (Unjust Justice)” Bob describes his military service with Dick and the unjust barriers that existed in the military. Not just in ranks, but also in regard to race. Bob shares the experience of Dick after a minor altercation in the mess tent, and Dick's treatment with military "justice."

• CHAPALA SUNRISE ROTARY EMERGENCY FOOD RELIEF PROGRAM

  With the onset of COVID-19, it soon became evident that many residents of Lakeside were unable to work and, therefore, unable to provide food for their families. Many organizations set about trying to alleviate this problem, and Chapala Sunrise Rotary was one of them.

• CATRINA CUMPLEAÑOS

  My simple birthday wish was to have my face painted in Day of The Dead makeup, have lunch in Ajijic, then wander aimlessly with my husband getting photos along the way. I had no idea that the heart and soul of the Mexican people would infuse my day with such revelry and joy.

• A BALLET DANCER IN RUSSIA 1986

  Gabriel Blair had a dream to visit Russia, now the Soviet Union, to see the best dancers in the world. In 1986 my dream came true and I was able to join a party of Canadian ballet students and teachers on a two-week tour of Leningrad, Minsk, and Moscow.

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):

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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