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Lake Chapala Location – Where do I want to live?
Each charming town and village on the north shore of Lake Chapala has its own personality. So do their individual neighborhoods.
Ajijic
Ajijic is the undeniable favorite with the expat crowd for many reasons. It’s the nexus for fine dining, home of the Auditorio de la Ribera and – most importantly – the Lake Chapala Society, with its many activities. It is a meeting place for the entire north shore.
Village homes are some of the most prized, as they are located within walking distance of the plaza, banks and many of the better restaurants on the north shore.
In addition, the tianguis – a weekly open air market, sets up shop in Ajijic. The pier and seaside promenade or Malecon, are perfect for a morning and evening stroll.
San Antonio Tlayacapan
Next in popularity is probably San Antonio Tlayacapan, just east of Ajijic. It’s not as gentrified, so prices are lower. Yet it is a charming, traditional lakeside town with a church on the plaza and a dizzying array of stores and services. Several recently-developed gated communities here have new homes for sale or rent.
Along the highway, San Antonio has some of the best shopping at Lakeside. A number of protestant churches are located here, and the Catholic church offers Sunday mass in English. This is also a neighborhood for walking, and San Antonio tends to be a quiet town.
Chapala
Chapala, the municipal seat, is perfect for those who travel by bus – its modern central camionera links Lakeside with Guadalajara and points beyond.
The Malecon, municipal park with tennis courts and swimming pool, Victorian architecture and splendid San Francisco church give Chapala a more citified feel.
Taxes are paid in Chapala, and its downtowns streets are lined with restaurants, cafés and small stores of every kind. Shopping opportunities run the gamut from a large, modern supermarket to the traditional municipal market with stalls offering fresh produce and more every day of the week. Artisans offer their wares along the Malecon to the west of the pier.
In Chapala, as in most Lakeside towns, the downtown area invites walking. There are a number of subdivisions and beautiful gated communities on the edge of town, and most residents there will want a car.
Riberas del Pilar
Located between Chapala and San Antonio Tlayacapan, Riberas del Pilar is situated across the highway from the Chula Vista golf course, a little to the east. Set on the Chapala lake shore, Riberas offers a range of Mexico real estate in a variety of price ranges, most quite affordable. A small but equipped hospital, the Maskaras Clinic is located in Riberas, as is the Animal Shelter, which welcomes volunteers. Ajijic real estate on the mountain side of the carretera – the highway that runs along the northern shore – affords a beautiful view of the lake.
San Juan Cosala and Jocotepec
To the west, San Juan Cosala is ideal for hang-gliding and wake boarding, and its gated Racquet Club community attracts the active retiree. Since the 1950s, swimming spas have grown up around the thermal springs there.
East of San Juan, in El Chante, a new development by Casa Geo offers extremely affordable housing, with homes beginning around $57,000 USD.
At the western extreme of the lakeshore highway, Jocotepec is home to many more Mexicans than foreigners. The way of life is less impacted by expats, and real estate costs reflect this. Homesites tend to be large, the houses spacious and prices quite competitive.
Jocotepec is ideally situated, only 25 minutes from Chapala, 45 minutes from Guadalajara, and a short drive from the new Costco on the highway to Guadalajara that intersects with the lakeshore highway – known as the carretera – in Jocotepec.
It’s a good idea to see all these spots on Chapala’s north shore. A Go Mexico Way Discovery Tour takes you through the different towns and neighborhoods, personally answering any questions you may have.
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