Mexico’s Expat Haven Best Picks & Kept Secrets
Special Thanks to our contributors: Lakeside Concierge Betty Steinhauer and Casa Humo Mexican Cooking Classes.
Imagine relaxing on a sun-drenched balcony, admiring the splendor of a blue lake stretching into the distance, framed by imposing green mountains. The sky overhead is perfectly bright, heralding yet another clear, warm day.
Welcome to Lake Chapala, Mexico’s largest freshwater lake, and home to the largest expat community in the world - approximately 20,000 expats, most from the U.S. and Canada, and the vast majority being retired. The number of expats almost doubles during the cold Canadian winter months, when thousands more migrate to the area for about six months each year.
Located about an hour south of Guadalajara, the Lake Chapala region is also called Lakeside, and is dominated by two different quaint towns separated by only a few miles, Chapala and Ajijic (ah-hee-heek).
Lake Chapala’s enormous appeal is mainly due to a combination of one of the best climates in the world, affordability, and numerous pools of hot water, naturally heated by the geothermal activity, perfectly located against a stunning outdoor backdrop of mountains on one side and Lake Chapala on the other.
Visiting Lake Chapala is a must when living in or visiting the state of Jalisco.
In this guide you will learn:
🌅 How to experience the perfect weekend
🌅 The top yearly events to pick the right date to visit
🌅 The unmissable things to do
🌅 The less known gems in and around Lake Chapala
🌅 How to smoothly move to Lake Chapala
🌅 The main differences between Chapala & Ajijic
🌅 Best tips on real-estate, medical, legal, and more
Are you ready for Lake Chapala’s serenity? Let’s start!
