Lake Chapala

Lake Chapala is the largest freshwater lake in Mexico, straddling the states of Jalisco and Michoacán. It is an important regional water body and cultural centre with several lakeside towns and villages.

The lakeshore offers promenades, fishing piers and small marinas, with towns such as Chapala and Ajijic providing restaurants, galleries and seasonal markets. The surrounding lakeside and wetlands are frequented by birdwatchers and recreational anglers, and boat trips around the bay are common.

The lake has long been important to local communities for fishing and transport and has been affected by 20th and 21st century water use and urban pressure from nearby Guadalajara. Conservation and water management efforts have been focal points for regional planners in recent decades.

Lake Chapala lies in west-central Mexico, roughly south of the Guadalajara metropolitan area, with Jalisco towns and villages lining its shores and low hills rising around parts of the basin.

• Birdwatching season: Winters draw large numbers of migratory and resident waterbirds, making the lake a strong birdwatching destination from late autumn to early spring.
• Expat and arts community: Ajíjic is noted for its large English-speaking expatriate community and year-round arts scene, concentrated along the north shore.

What to See #

• Ajijic: Ajíjic on the lake's north shore is a long-established expatriate and arts community known for galleries, crafts and lakeside restaurants.
• Chapala: Chapala town sits on the lake's northwest shore and is a transport and tourist hub with a lakeside malecón and ferry connections across the bay.