Retire in Lake Chapala

Restaurant on the shores of Lake Chapala, Mexico Unless you have a serious aversion to Mexico, Ajijic, on the shores of Mexico's largest lake, Lake Chapala, is one of the finest places on the planet that you could consider retiring to. True, it's not the commercial advertisement of a hot bikini clad body sipping a margarita on the beach, but it has enough development, a large expat community and a perfect year around climate to make settling here easy and stress free. After

Day Of The Dead, Ajijic, Mexico After traveling to Mexico for vacation purposes and staying at resort hotels on the beach, it is easy to forget that Mexico is a different country and it has it's own quirks that are seemingly outlandish compared to the U.S or Canada. Now that I have been living in the interior of Mexico, the Real Mexico starts to shine. There are things to get used to here and it's best not to expect everything to be the same as you're used to. So read below

Heart Of Ajijic Sign, Ajijic, Mexico You can retire anywhere in the world right? Maybe even retire right in your own home town? So why even contemplate a retirement move to Lake Chapala, Mexico? Great question! Answer = Because there is so much that the Lake Chapala area has to offer and all at half the cost ( see my cost of living blog for 2022 ) and all within close and easy proximity to your home in the U.S. or Canada should you wish to or need to return. Read on to find

A selection of Mexican pesos and a debit card Many visitors to Lake Chapala who are used to paying for their groceries or restaurant meals with credit cards are totally surprised to discover that in most places, credit cards are not accepted. There are exceptions, of course, like Walmart or the larger liquor stores such as La Paz or Vinos Americas but in general it a cash society. In this blog article we'll look at the ways of buying and paying for stuff in Lake Chapala, Mex

Ajijic malecon in Ajijic, Lake Chapala, Mexico Why all the hoopla about retirement in Lake Chapala? Why would you even consider moving to another country? For many it is an economic necessity and for others facing a mid-life crisis or change in a family relationship, it is an opportunity to begin a new and exciting life abroad and reinvent yourself all over again; even spark new love in an existing relationship or start a brand new one. In this blog we'll take a look at the

Lake Chapala Farmers Market, Ajijic, Mexico Questions, questions! I get lots of great questions from all of you wonderful people exploring the possibility if living in Lake Chapala is right for you. So what are some people asking and are they questions that you were wondering about too? Let's find out. Q. Where are the markets and when do they take place? A. There are markets on Monday through Thursday. The Monday market is a small one with many prepared food vendors loc

Expats in Lake Chapala Mexico People come from all over the world to retire in Lake Chapala, Mexico. Why? What motivated them to make the transition to a different county and more specifically to Lake Chapala? In this blog I sit down with three recent expats and ask them a series of questions to help us understand their reasons for leaving their home country and moving here to beautiful Lake Chapala, Mexico. Interview No. 1: Bruce Dugdale Thank you for taking the time to

I truly feel that the move to Ajijic 11 years ago has changed my life! For the better! What a wonderful, fantastic opportunity this has been for me. And to top it all off, I met the love of my life in Ajijic. In this incredibly small town, in a different country, here of all places it magically came to pass. So what, you might ask, has been so significant that I want to put it all down on paper and tell the world? Read on and find out how living in Ajijic has changed my life.

Coffee Vendor on the streets of Ajijic Every day street vendors set up their merchandise along the side of the carretera (highway) in Ajijic. Indeed, part of the color and flair of living in Ajijic (or Mexico in general) are the the street vendors. Day in, day out, you'll find these hard working entrepreneurs working to sell their wares from their 'street front' store. They all have their spots and are found in the exact same place day after day. As the seasons come and go y

I think it's safe to say that the months of April and May are the least favorite months for most of the expats living in Lake Chapala. Even though our climate here is touted as having the second best climate in the world, it does tend to get hot for a brief 2 months at the end of the dry season. The good news is that during this time the humidity is very low, around 15-40%, making it more bearable than if it was the same temperature along the ocean. But still, temperatures ca

Donkey on the streets of Lake Chapala How different is life in Ajijic compared to where you are from in the U.S or Canada? Is it possible for you to adapt to the unusual bureaucracy, driving, language, food and general overall lifestyle of the Mexican people? Depending on where you come from you might find that living in Ajijic is a little like living in the wild west. Laws are often only a suggestion and people do what they want to do. That's part of the reason why many lik

Looking for something to do in Ajijic, Mexico? It shouldn't be hard. With one of the largest and oldest expat communities in the world,...

# 1. Stroll on the Malacon - The Ajijic Malacon is the the jewel of Ajijic. Take a leisurely stroll down the path along the lake past...

She was gone. I still couldn't believe it. It had all happened so fast. It ended with me reading the last line of a 3 page printed...

(that the other blogs are not telling you about) (updated May 17, 2024) There are so many blogs about retiring in Lake Chapala all saying...

This question is often asked by future expats on web boards and social media platforms. Is this something to be concerned about when...

Retirement and the encroachment of old age means you need to view life differently. It takes planning in finances and health. How do you...

As a frequent viewer of social media such as Facebook, I come across a lot of information that is misleading if not outright false about...

I recently had Retirement Seminar clients who came down for my week long Seminar. They ended up returning to the U.S after spending only...

I was dreaming of birdies singing outside my bedroom window. The covers were low over my naked body but I was not cold. The temperature...