Lake Chapala and Ajijic
Lago De Chapala / Pueblo MáGico (Ajijic) · Ajijic, Jalisco
Lake Chapala is Mexico's largest lake, about 80 km long and 20 km wide at roughly 1,500 metres, an hour south of Guadalajara, and its north shore is home to one of the largest communities of American and Canadian retirees in the world. The lakeside villages of Chapala, Ajijic and San Juan Cosala sit between the water and a wall of mountains, with a mild climate year round and cobbled streets full of murals. D.H. Lawrence wrote The Plumed Serpent while staying in Chapala in 1923. On Isla Mezcala, independence insurgents held out against Spanish forces from 1812 to 1816, and the ruined fort still stands. American white pelicans winter on the lake from about November to March. The lake itself is under strain: it supplies much of Guadalajara, its level swings sharply between wet and dry years, and its water is not recommended for swimming. Stay in Ajijic rather than Chapala, swim in the hot-spring pools of San Juan Cosala instead, and expect expat-priced restaurants alongside cheap lakeside fondas.
Malecón de Ajijic, Ajijic, Jalisco, 45920, Mexico
The lakeside towns and malecones are open access. Boats to Isla de los Alacranes and Isla Mezcala leave from the Chapala and Mezcala shores during the day, priced per boat. ⚠ DO NOT SWIM IN THE LAKE - water quality is poor. ⚠ LAKE LEVELS SWING SHARPLY and affect boat access. American white pelicans winter roughly November to March. Ajijic market is on Wednesday. ⚠ JALISCO CARRIES A TRAVEL ADVISORY - no intercity highway travel after dark. ⚠ HOURS AND PRICES NOT VERIFIED FOR THIS FILE.
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