(Expanded and updated Oct 15, 2024)
Thinking of retiring to Lake Chapala? Have you only heard of Ajijic? Well, there is lots more to Lake Chapala than just Ajijic. In fact, after taking people on my Communities Tour, the most common response is "I can't believe that there are so many places here to live in!"
Here is a brief overview of the many communities and areas where you can buy a home, areas that together form what locals call “Lakeside”.
Use this blog when watching our new video and take a Virtual Tour Of Lakeside's communities.
From the town of Chapala - North and East directions
Buenavista - A former gated community on the flat farmland closest to the airport. Inexpensive homes and nice lots.
Ixtlahuacan - A Mexican Village 10 minutes drive North of Chapala, across the mountains towards Guadalajara and the Guadalajara International Airport
Aqua Escondida - A gated community of lower cost homes homes in a forested, rural environment across Highway 23 from Ixtlahuacan
Brisas de Chapala - An open plateau hillside community of homes with mountain and lake views, 5 minute drive North of Chapala. Great value!
Chapala Haciendas - A forested area of homes 5 minutes North of Chapala across Highway 23 from Brisas de Chapala. A few homes located at the top of the development have fabulous lake views. Great value!
Rancho Santa Monica - A gated subdivision of 110 homes with access to hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking. Five minutes outside of Chapala on the highway to the airport.
Nuevo Chapala - A gated community in behind Soriana on the outskirts of Chapala. Flat lots with homes built mainly for Tapatios. Nice common facilities.
Chapala - The municipal hub of the area. Chapala is more than a village and less than a city. A variety of housing options are available – and more affordable than in/near Ajijic - condominiums, village homes and a few gated communities.
Santa Cruz de Soledad - The first small village from Chapala heading east.
San Nicolas de Ibarra - A Small village just before the Chapala Golf and Country Club
Vista del Lago - A gated community surrounding the Chapala Golf and Country Club, 10 minutes east of the town of Chapala. A variety of housing from low $200,000 to million dollar view homes.
From Chapala - West to San Antonio
Lomas del Manglar - A hillside residential area just west of Chapala, with fantastic lake and mountain views. Under new and improved management.
Riberas del Pilar - A residential area below and above the carretera (highway that runs between Chapala & San Antonio) with houses of various ages, sizes and architectural styles.
Mirasol - A small community within Riberas del Pilar originally built as weekend getaway homes for Guadalajara residents, now a delightful mix of colorful, smaller homes with brick-lined streets.
Hamacas - A development of townhouses and detached homes that share a lovely common area pool and clubhouse.
Jacarandas - A new development of townhouses in behind Mirasol with common pool/clubhouse.
El Pueblito Residencial - A small, more Mexican community of mixed sized homes. Great value for the location. Features a small pool and common area.
Real San Antonio - 6 two story homes with miradors and small courtyards
Villas Pacifica - Attached 2-story homes built around a pool and clubhouse.
Blue Parrot - A small development of homes with small pool, right beside the new San Antonio Hospital
Chula Vista (Upper) - Up the hill and just east of the hilly 9-hole Chula Vista golf course. Some homes have incredible views while others were built in a treed valley, at the base of the mountain, East and North of the golf course.
Chula vista (Lower) - One of the oldest Lakeside communities of prestigious homes and estates, built on former mango orchards starting some 50 years ago.
Trece Cielos - A new gated community above Chula Vista (lower). Thirty one lots and builder spec homes are now being offered for sale.
El Parque - A gated community of unique, detached homes, built on the site of a former trailer park. Has a large common area pool, hot tub, and clubhouse. A very desirable location, minutes walk to many restaurants, shopping, and services.
San Antonio - The Village of San Antonio Tlayacapan spreads north east from the Carretera-Libramiento intersection, the Libramiento being the Chapala bypass road to the Guadalajara airport. San Antonio encompasses all of the gated communities along the Libramiento as well.
Haciendas San Antonio - Centrally located condominium complex in San Antonio. Mostly attached 2 story units with access to common pool and clubhouse.
Las Redes - A small gated sub-division of attached homes with small community pool located south of San Antonio village.
Los Lirios - Smallish two story 2 and 3 bedroom condominium units with access to small pool/clubhouse.
Villa Formoso - Small 1 and 2 bedroom units built with units upper and lower. Expansive and gorgeous mature common areas with common pool make this a delightful community. Located right on the edge of La Floresta.
Libramiento (Chapala Bypass) Communities
Mission Chula Vista - Intimate gated community with only 18 homes in mostly "Mexican contemporary" style. Lake and mountain views. Features a pool and club house but no other facilities. This is a great location if you are looking for tranquility on the outskirts of Ajijic and closer to the airport and Guadalajara.
Chula Vista Norte – A prestigious area of large, detached homes with fabulous lake and mountain views. The quality of the views directly relates to the price of property.
Cumbres – A new development at the very top of Chula Vista Norte with outstanding views and a helicopter pad.
Las Terrazas - 15 attached homes that share a common pool and club house.
Birds of Paradise – A 64 unit condominium complex built at end of the 90's, favored by snowbirds for lock-and-leave and outstanding easy living.
El Dorado Tower – Five story residential tower with fabulous views from every floor and top notch common area facilities, including 2 tennis courts, large infinity pool, hot tub, jacuzzi, large club house and lovely terraces.
El Dorado Villas – Gorgeous homes with views and pretty gardens. Many have “miradors” - to watch the glorious sunsets and sunrises over the lake. The "Tower" common facilities noted above are available for your use.
Vista Alegre – Higher-end detached homes on slate lined streets. This prestigious, well located, gated community offers a clubhouse, 2 tennis courts and pool.
Cielo Vista (older) – Gated community of mostly 2 bedroom/2 baths homes sharing a pool, tennis/pickleball court and clubhouse. Great location! A short walk to Walmart and across from the Laguna Mall with outdoor shops, bakery, food court, movie theater, casino, and banks.
Cielo Vista (newer) – Newer homes, most with views, of various sizes and designs. Each street will eventually have an additional gate. Beautiful common pool, tennis/pickleball court, clubhouse, and library
From Walmart (at the Carretera-Libramiento intersection) to Ajijic
La Villita – Older gated community with two pools, large common grounds and tennis courts.
La Floresta – Prestigious area with wide, cobblestone streets and boulevards, tree-lined and beautiful. Generally large properties and estates and no views.
Riviera Alta – Quiet and private, yet close to town. Gated community above La Floresta with full facilities and tennis court.
Los Olivos – Right beside and smaller than Riviera Alta, various sized lots and houses,
some with views. Pool and clubhouse.
Condominio San Juan de las Colinas - A variety of mid-high priced single family detached homes, most with views except for the smaller ones near the end of the street.
El Palmar Condominiums and Estates – Beautiful, European style homes and condominium complex built by renowned German architect and builder Siegfried Grotte. Overlooking Ajijic, on a smooth brick road that the builder himself funded.
Ajijic – The Village of Ajijic, the heart of the action! There is a wide variety of homes from fabulous, large estates close to the lake, to smaller, town house style village homes. Many foreigners have bought and renovated, thus transforming the old village landscape.
Upper Ajijic - Real village life among mostly Mexican businesses and homes. Some great views and a huge variety of homes to choose from.
Mission del Lago - Older two story units attached to each other surrounding a pool and beautiful common grounds.
Lomas del Lago - Very nice single family detached homes in the Mediterranean style and colors. Many have view. Common pool and clubhouse.
Lomas de Ajijic – At the very top of Ajijic. Elegant homes with outstanding views. Common pool and clubhouse.
West Ajijic
Las Salvias – An area of large, higher priced homes and estates just west of Upper Ajijic on the north side of the Carretera.
Villa Nova – Minutes west of Ajijic on the north side of the Carretera is a former gated community of independent, various size homes. Some lots still available. The higher streets have million dollar properties with million dollar views.
La Huerta – A small, well run, gated community of homes on good sized lots. Older and mostly excellent construction, 2 bedroom 2 baths predominantly.
Rancho del Oro – A rural area of estates with a sprinkling of small farms and Mexican homes. Most come on large lots with views.
Las Ciebas - The newest (still being built on) Interlago gated community with pool and clubhouse. Interlago is the premier builder in the Lake Chapala area. They have been around for 30+ years and have successfully built many excellent communities Lakeside.
Los Sabinos – Gated community by Interlago with excellent quality, full facilities. Homes on the top row sit on large lots with wonderful views and covered “miradors”.
Los Arroyos Sur & Norte – Two smaller high end gated communities higher on the hill, with excellent views and 24 hour security but no amenities.
Las Quintas - Small gated community with individual homes on lots.
Puerto Arroyo – Gated community by Interlago with very nice pool, clubhouse area.
Arroyo Alto - Double gated community above Puerto Arroyo. Larger view homes. Most have their own pools as there are no common facilities.
Sierra Viva - A new gated community with ultra modern homes for the Tapatio market. Pool and clubhouse.
Piedra Viva - Two towers and 12 attached homes built as weekend homes.
La Canacinta – A mixed area of rural homes and some gated communities with and without facilities. Some of the “weekend homes” have lower standard construction.
Las Catarinas – Gated, mostly weekend homes beside the gated La Canacinta condos.
La Reserva – A prestigious gated community of newer homes developed by the same builder as Los Sabinos, Puerta Arroyo, etc. Top quality facilities, including a large clubhouse, clay tennis courts, lovely pool, and it's own marina. Twenty hotel rooms close to the pool were built for residents' use only, to supplement the need for accommodations for family and friends. The newer La Reserva West is being built in 3 phases with phase 1 already completed.
Latitude (Margaritaville) - This Jimmy Buffet inspired development offers 30 casitas and about 170 apartments in 5 towers. Live your life "wasting away in Margaritaville"!
Tres Canadas – High end homes on large lots with outstanding views. Built on the hillside, airy and quiet.
Cuatro Vientos - New gated community. Modern style two story homes for the 'tapatio' market with common areas featuring a huge hot tub.
Los Mezquites - Small gated community with homes on lots. No common facilities.
La Cristina – Another mixed area of rural homes and small gated communities, some with, some without facilities.
Laguna Vista, Los Arrayanes, Lago Encantado – Hillside gated communities with views but no common facilities.
Natura Village - New gated community of modern 2 and 3 bedroom homes with clubhouse and pool built for the 'tapatio' market.
Rancho La Salud - First of it's kind "co-housing" community. Individual, independent homes. You need to be "approved" before buying into this development.
Lago Encantado - Small community of only 16 detached custom homes. No common facilities.
Racquet Club and West
Racquet Club – A large gated community with tennis courts (clay and hard surface), pickleball courts, Olympic-size pool filled with hot springs water 3 times a week, an older gym, clubhouse, etc. Wide streets and large homes/estates, most have views.
San Juan Cosala – The Village of San Juan Cosala is home to mostly Mexican families and unequaled “Mexican flavor”. Mixed housing accommodates a few foreigners along with the locals, both on the lake side of the Carretera and up the mountain.
El Limon – An area just west of San Juan Cosala with mixed single family dwellings and a couple of gated communities without facilities. Worth the drive from Ajijic for homes with views at a lower price.
El Chante – The Village of El Chante offers a variety of housing, from rural, Mexican-owned properties to small gated communities.
Las Fuentes – Gated community on the North side of the Carretera across from El Chante.
Jocotopec – Located at the west end of the lake, Jocotopec is a bustling town that benefits from the riches of the farm land around it. There are enough berry greenhouses to feed the locals and be exported to the North American market. Much of our fresh food comes from the surrounding area. There is a variety of single family dwellings, townhouses, and village homes to choose from, at lower prices than Ajijic or San Juan Cosala.
Roca Azul – Just South of Jocotopec, a gated, rural community of smaller homes. They share a large pool and common facilities.
San Luis Soyotlan and Puerto Corona ( South Side of the Lake) – Offer village and rural Mexican living at its finest. Mixed village housing and rural acreages. Lakeside properties can be purchased at a reasonable price in Puerto Corona. Perfect for writers and artists who are looking for a quiet place to create or to get away from it all and become a hermit.
Please keep in mind that it's impossible to cover every single Lakeside community and I have left out many of the very new 'Pre-sale' communites. I have highlighted the biggest and most popular for this blog.
Get a sense of the Lake Chapala area by watching our Lake Chapala Communities Video
(note: there is no sound to the video)
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