Chapala, Mexico

Chapala, Mexico the largest of the six Chapala lakeside communities was founded in 1538 and has been called home by such notables as President Porfirio Diaz and D.H. Lawrence (who wrote “The Plumed Serpent” while staying in the main house of the Q & Q Inn); many large properties along the lake were weekend homes to wealthy people from Guadalajara and Mexico City and also to some of the rich and famous from Mexico, United States and even Europe.

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.

Chapala's main street is blooming with trees, plants and flowers, making it a beautiful place to rest. Among the varieties found in the area are pine, evergreen oak, palo dulce, huizache, campanilla, caspire, madrono, saucillo, tepame and chaparral.

Chapala Real Estate in Mexico ...

Chapala Real Estate in Mexico could be the answer for many of the baby boomers who think they have to put their retirement on hold. Many want to be retirees are discovering Lake Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico as a place to visit for pre-retirement. This lakeside Mexican village of Ajijic with narrow cobblestone streets is drawing Americans about to retire.

The secret is out. Yes, you can own property in Chapala, Mexico. Chapala is a special village in the heart of the Mexican highlands on Lake Chapala, less than an hour south and east of Mexico’s second largest metropolis, Guadalajara.

Why have Canadian and American retirement types, expats they call em, been migrating to this part of Mexico for almost a century? One reason is the fabulous year round weather. Like the old Temptations song, with the lyrics of "I've Got Sunshine on a cloudy day", the residents of Lake Chapala, enjoy over 360 days of sunny spring like weather every year. So we have sunshine while others up north might be struggling through cloudy or snowy days.

Perhaps you are considering your retirement options and looking for that special place to hang your hat and call home, Lake Chapala, Mexico could be you ticket to retirement paradise. If you decide to move, owning a little piece of Chapala real estate can offer an idyllic home and a true Mexican experience. This charming, cobblestoned hamlet in the highlands of Mexico offers an array of options for your lifestyle and pocketbook.