Shopping in Lake Chapala / Ajijic

Half an hour south of the metropolitan zone, grand, cloud-tipped Lake Chapala and its diadem of shoreline villages—Chapala, San Antonio, Ajijic, San Juan Cosala, and more—make up the celebrated Chapala Riviera. Lake Chapala’s colony of permanent North American and well-to-do Mexican residents supports a bounty of amenities.

In the last decade or so, it is estimated that more than 10,000 foreigners have purchased property on the Northshore of Lake Chapala. Long prized as a weekend retreat by wealthy Guadalajarans, the villages from Lake Chapala to Jocotepec now boast an expatriate community said to be the largest in the world.

Trying to find a job in Lake Chapala or Ajijic is not easy. Most expatriates living here are either retired, have their own business or are simply living off their savings. The area appeals to the more entrepreneurial-minded foreigner who comes out here with a bright idea and sets out to achieve his or her goal.

Living close to Lake Chapala affords one the opportunity to get out on the water, with activities such as swimming, waterskiing, and boating, as well as a few triathlons each year. The local yacht club even organizes a few regattas for the sailing enthusiasts. There are also two golf courses in the area.

If you are planning for retirement and thinking about Mexico, consider the sunny northern shore of Lake Chapala, Mexico's largest freshwater lake. With a community of more than 7,000 seasonal and full time foreign residents who call "Lakeside" home, Ajijic has one of the world's two best climates and a low cost of living.

In addition to the Spanish-language public schools, the Lake Chapala area offers several private bilingual schools for ages pre-school and kindergarten through 12th grade. For those wishing to learn Spanish, there are several language instructors who offer classes, in addition to the Lake Chapala Society.