Thirty five miles southeast of Guadalajara lies Lake Chapala, accessible by several good roads. Stretching alongside Highway 15, this hyacinthdotted lake is the largest lake in Mexico, measuring 65 miles long and 20 miles wide. It is fed by the Lerma River and empties into the Grande de Santiago River. An 18 mile paved road connects the villages that circle the lake. The road from Highway 15 skirting the southern shore to the village of Chapala on the north shore passes through the picturesque villages of Jocotepec, with its narrow cobblestone streets and a profusion of tropical flora, and Ajijic, where you can buy beautiful handloomed textiles. It also passes several residential subdivisions where many of the homes are occupied by retired Americans.
The climate is temperate and mild year round in the lake region, and the lake is surrounded by mountains. Fishing for sunfish and Chapala whitefish is a popular sport, as are boating, bird watching, and swimming.
Thirty five miles southeast of Guadalajara lies Lake Chapala, accessible by several good roads. Stretching alongside Highway 15, this hyacinthdotted lake is the largest lake in Mexico, measuring 65 miles long and 20 miles wide. It is fed by the Lerma River and empties into the Grande de Santiago River. An 18 mile paved road connects the villages that circle the lake. The road from Highway 15 skirting the southern shore to the village of Chapala on the north shore passes through the picturesque villages of Jocotepec, with its narrow cobblestone streets and a profusion of tropical flora, and Ajijic, where you can buy beautiful handloomed textiles. It also passes several residential subdivisions where many of the homes are occupied by retired Americans.
The climate is temperate and mild year round in the lake region, and the lake is surrounded by mountains. Fishing for sunfish and Chapala whitefish is a popular sport, as are boating, bird watching, and swimming.
